Voucher management device, electronic value return method, and voucher management program

Abstract

The present invention provides a voucher management device, an electronic value return method, and a voucher management program that enable users to safely utilize two or more types of electronic value when purchasing vouchers. [Solution] In a communication system, the exchange ticket management server 1 that performs processing related to the exchange ticket service includes: a purchase procedure unit that stores usage quantity information indicating the quantity of electronic value used for each of the two or more types of electronic value when an exchange ticket redeemable for goods is purchased using two or more types of electronic value, associating it with the user who purchased the exchange ticket; a report information receiving unit that receives report information from the terminal device of the user who purchased the exchange ticket indicating that the store does not have any goods redeemable for the exchange ticket; and an electronic value conversion unit that returns electronic value to the user in the type and quantity of each of the two or more types of electronic value used, based on the usage quantity information stored as associated with the user of the terminal device that sent the report information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for refunding electronic value used to purchase a voucher.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, systems for exchanging electronic value such as points for vouchers that can be redeemed for products are known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that a server of a point intermediary transmits purchase ticket data including a purchasable amount corresponding to points held by the owner of a credit card to a retail store terminal in response to a request from the retail store terminal that has read credit card information, and the retail store terminal prints a product purchase ticket including the content of the purchase ticket data. Further, Patent Document 1 discloses that when the validity period of an unused product purchase ticket has expired, points corresponding to the purchasable amount of the product purchase ticket are refunded.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the conventional technology does not address the refund of electronic value for vouchers purchased using two or more types of electronic value.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an example of its problem is to provide a voucher management device, an electronic value refund method, and a voucher management program that enable a user to safely use two or more types of electronic value for purchasing a voucher.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a voucher management device characterized by comprising: a storage control means that, when a voucher redeemable for a predetermined product is purchased using two or more types of electronic value, stores usage quantity information indicating the quantity of electronic value used for each of the two or more types of electronic value in a usage quantity information storage means in a manner that allows the type of electronic value used to be identified, in association with the user who purchased the voucher; a report information receiving means that receives report information from the terminal device of the user who purchased the voucher indicating that the store does not have any products redeemable for the voucher; and a return means that returns electronic value to the user in the type and quantity of each of the two or more types of electronic value used, based on the usage quantity information stored in the usage quantity information storage means in association with the user who uses the terminal device that is the source of the received report information.

[0007] According to this aspect, a voucher redeemable for a predetermined product can be purchased using two or more types of electronic value. In this case, for each of the two or more types of electronic value, usage quantity information indicating the amount of electronic value used is stored. At this time, the usage quantity information is stored in association with the user who purchased the voucher. Furthermore, the usage quantity information is stored in a way that allows for the identification of the type of electronic value used. If the user who purchased the voucher determines that the product redeemable with the voucher is not available at the store, report information indicating that the product is not available at the store is sent from the user's terminal device to the voucher management device. When the report information is received, the electronic value is returned to the user based on the usage quantity information stored in the usage quantity information storage means, which is associated with the user using the terminal device that sent the report information. If two or more types of electronic value were used, the return is made for each of those two or more types of electronic value, according to the type of electronic value and the quantity of electronic value used. Therefore, if the store does not have the product redeemable with the voucher, the user can report this, and each of the two or more types of electronic value used to purchase the voucher will be returned to the user in the quantity used. This allows users to confidently use two or more types of electronic value to purchase vouchers.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is a voucher management device characterized in that, when the two or more electronic values ​​used to purchase the voucher include a first electronic value granted to the user upon payment of consideration, and a second electronic value different from the first electronic value, which is returned to the user upon use of a predetermined service, the return means returns the first electronic value and the second electronic value, respectively.

[0009] According to this aspect, the purchase of a voucher can be made using both the first and second electronic values. The first electronic value is the electronic value granted to the user upon payment of consideration. The second electronic value is the electronic value returned to the user upon use of a designated service. If the store does not have any products redeemable with a voucher purchased using both the first and second electronic values, the first and second electronic values ​​will be returned to the user upon notification. Therefore, users can confidently use the first and second electronic values ​​to purchase vouchers.

[0010] Another aspect of the present invention is a voucher management device characterized in that, if the two or more electronic values ​​used to purchase the voucher include a time-limited electronic value with a set expiration date, the return means extends the expiration date of the time-limited electronic value and returns the time-limited electronic value.

[0011] According to this aspect, time-limited electronic value can be used to purchase exchange vouchers. Time-limited electronic value is electronic value with a set expiration date. If the store does not have the product redeemable with the exchange voucher purchased using time-limited electronic value, the time-limited electronic value will be returned upon report. In this case, the expiration date of the returned time-limited electronic value will be extended. This prevents situations where the time-limited electronic value becomes unusable due to its expiration date even after being returned. Therefore, users can use time-limited electronic value to purchase exchange vouchers with peace of mind.

[0012] Another aspect of the present invention is a voucher management device characterized in that the return means extends the validity period of the time-limited electronic value to be returned only if the validity period of the time-limited electronic value has expired by the time the electronic value is returned.

[0013] According to this aspect, if the expiration date of a time-limited electronic value expires by the time the electronic value is returned, the expiration date of that time-limited electronic value will be extended; otherwise, the expiration date will not be extended. Therefore, the expiration date of the time-limited electronic value to be returned can be extended under reasonable conditions.

[0014] Another aspect of the present invention is a voucher management device comprising a voucher management device that transmits voucher information to a user's terminal device so that the terminal device can output the voucher information for exchanging the purchased voucher for the product, and further comprises a voucher management device that transmits the voucher information even after the report information has been received, until the expiration date of the voucher has passed.

[0015] According to this aspect, redemption information is transmitted to the terminal device of the user who purchased the redemption voucher. This redemption information is the information for exchanging the voucher for the product. The terminal device outputs this redemption information, allowing the user to exchange the voucher for the product. Here, even after the report information is received from the terminal device, the redemption information is transmitted to the terminal device until the expiration date of the voucher has passed. Therefore, even after a user reports that the store does not have the product that can be redeemed with the voucher, they can still use the voucher until the expiration date has passed. Even if the product is not available at the store identified by the user in the report, it may be available at another store. Therefore, the user can go to the store that has the product and use the voucher to receive the product. This increases the likelihood of using the voucher.

[0016] Another aspect of the present invention is a voucher management device characterized in that, if the return means has received the reporting information, the electronic value of the purchased voucher has expired without being used.

[0017] According to this aspect, a user can still use a voucher even after reporting that the store does not have the redeemable item, but if they use the voucher, they will not receive a refund of its electronic value. A user can receive a refund of its electronic value if they report the situation and do not use the voucher before its expiration date. Therefore, the electronic value can be refunded under appropriate conditions.

[0018] Another aspect of the present invention is a voucher management device characterized in that the return means does not return the electronic value even if the purchased voucher has not been used and its validity period has expired, if the report information has not been received.

[0019] According to this aspect, even if a user does not use a voucher and its expiration date passes, the electronic value will not be refunded unless the user reports that the store does not have any redeemable items. Therefore, this encourages the use of purchased vouchers.

[0020] Another aspect of the present invention is a voucher management device further comprising: a report information storage control means that stores the received report information in a report information storage means each time the report information is received; an aggregation means that aggregates the number of reports indicating that the product is unavailable based on the report information stored in the report information storage means; and an aggregation information transmission means that transmits the aggregated number of reports to a terminal device of a business operator that provides the product in order to supply the product to the store.

[0021] According to this aspect, the number of reports indicating that a store does not have the product redeemable with the voucher is tallied. This tallied information, showing the number of reports, is transmitted to the terminal equipment of the business that supplies the product to the store. Therefore, the business can understand the extent of the shortage in the supply of the product to the store.

[0022] A further aspect of the present invention is a voucher management device characterized in that the received report information includes series identification information for identifying the series to which the store identified by the user as a store that does not have the product belongs, the aggregation means aggregates the number of reports for each series of stores, and the aggregation information transmission means transmits the aggregation information indicating the aggregated number of reports in association with the series of stores.

[0023] According to this aspect, the number of reports indicating that a store does not have the product redeemable with the voucher is aggregated for each chain to which the store identified by the user as lacking the product belongs. Aggregated information showing the number of reports in relation to the store chain is then transmitted. Therefore, businesses that supply products to stores can understand the extent of the shortage in product supply to each store chain.

[0024] In still another aspect of the present application, each of the plurality of vouchers that can be exchanged for a plurality of different products can be purchased, the received report information includes product identification information for identifying a product that can be exchanged for the purchased voucher, the aggregation unit aggregates the number of reports for each product, and the aggregation information transmission unit transmits the aggregation information indicating the aggregated number of reports in association with the product. This is a voucher management device.

[0025] According to this aspect, the number of reports indicating that a product exchangeable for a voucher is not present at a store is aggregated for each product. Then, aggregation information indicating the number of reports in association with the product is transmitted. Therefore, a business operator that provides the product to supply the product to the store can grasp, for each product, the extent to which the supply amount of the product to the store is insufficient.

[0026] In still another aspect of the present application, in an electronic value redemption method executed by a computer, when a voucher exchangeable for a predetermined product is purchased using two or more types of electronic value, for each of the two or more types of electronic value, usage quantity information indicating the quantity of the used electronic value is stored in a usage quantity information storage unit in association with the user who purchased the voucher, such that the type of the used electronic value can be specified; a report information receiving step of receiving, from the terminal device of the user who purchased the voucher, report information indicating a report that a product exchangeable for the voucher is not present at a store; and a redemption step of redeeming electronic value to the user in the type and quantity of each of the two or more used electronic values based on the usage quantity information stored in the usage quantity information storage unit in association with the user who uses the terminal device that is the transmission source of the received report information. This is an electronic value redemption method characterized by including these steps.

[0027] Yet another aspect of the present application is a voucher management program that causes a computer to function as: a storage control unit that, when a voucher exchangeable for a predetermined product is purchased using two or more types of electronic value, stores usage quantity information indicating the quantity of the electronic value used for each of the two or more types of electronic value in a usage quantity information storage unit in association with the user who purchased the voucher, such that the type of the used electronic value can be identified; a report information receiving unit that receives, from the terminal device of the user who purchased the voucher, report information indicating a report that the product exchangeable for the voucher is not present at a store; and a refund unit that refunds the electronic value to the user in the respective type and quantity of each of the two or more types of electronic value used, based on the usage quantity information stored in the usage quantity information storage unit in association with the user who uses the terminal device that is the transmission source of the received report information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0028] According to the present invention, a user can use two or more types of electronic value for purchasing a voucher with peace of mind. [Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a communication system S according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] (a) is a diagram showing an example of electronic value that can be used for purchasing a voucher. (b) is a diagram showing an example of types of points. [Figure 3] (a) is a diagram showing an example of a state of purchasing a voucher. (b) is a diagram showing an example of a state of an out-of-stock report. (c) is a diagram showing an example of a state of refund of electronic value. [Figure 4] It is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a voucher management server 1 according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing an example of content stored in a database of the voucher management server 1. [Figure 6]This block diagram shows an example of the overview configuration of the point management server 2 according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of the contents stored in the database of point management server 2. [Figure 8] This block diagram shows an example of the outline configuration of an electronic money management server 3 according to one embodiment. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of the contents stored in the database of the electronic money management server 3. [Figure 10] This block diagram shows an example of the outline configuration of a code management server 4 according to one embodiment. [Figure 11] This figure shows an example of the contents stored in the database of the code management server 4. [Figure 12] This figure shows an example of a functional block of the system control unit 11 of the exchange ticket management server 1 according to one embodiment. [Figure 13] This is a diagram showing an example of the home screen for the voucher service. [Figure 14] This is a diagram showing an example of a redemption voucher screen. [Figure 15] This figure shows an example of a purchase confirmation screen. [Figure 16] This is a diagram showing an example of the list screen for previously purchased exchange vouchers. [Figure 17] This figure shows an example of a code screen. [Figure 18] This figure shows an example of how code is displayed on the code screen. [Figure 19] This figure shows an example of the code screen for a redemption voucher whose redemption period has expired. [Figure 20] This diagram shows an example of extending the expiration date of refunded limited-time points. [Figure 21] This figure shows an example of the purchase details confirmation screen information transmission process executed by the system control unit 11 of the exchange ticket management server 1 according to one embodiment. [Figure 22] This figure shows an example of the process for determining the number of points with a limited usage period, which is executed by the system control unit 11 of the exchange ticket management server 1 according to one embodiment. [Figure 23] This figure shows an example of the process for determining the number of normal points used, which is executed by the system control unit 11 of the exchange ticket management server 1 according to one embodiment. [Figure 24] This figure shows an example of a purchase confirmation process executed by the system control unit 11 of the exchange ticket management server 1 according to one embodiment. [Figure 25] This figure shows an example of the code screen information transmission process executed by the system control unit 11 of the exchange ticket management server 1 according to one embodiment. [Figure 26] This figure shows an example of the reporting information storage process performed by the system control unit 11 of the exchange ticket management server 1 according to one embodiment. [Figure 27] This figure shows an example of an electronic value return control process executed by the system control unit 11 of the exchange ticket management server 1 according to one embodiment. [Figure 28] This figure shows an example of an electronic value return process executed by the system control unit 11 of the exchange ticket management server 1 according to one embodiment. [Figure 29] This figure shows an example of the aggregation screen information transmission process executed by the system control unit 11 of the exchange ticket management server 1 according to one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0030] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0031] [1. Communication System Configuration] First, the configuration and functional overview of the communication system S according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the general configuration of the communication system S according to this embodiment.

[0032] As shown in Figure 1, the communication system S consists of a voucher management server 1, a point management server 2, an electronic money management server 3, a code management server 4, multiple store terminals 5, multiple product provider terminals 6, and multiple user terminals 7. These devices are connected to a network NW. The network NW is constructed using, for example, the internet, a dedicated communication line (e.g., a CATV (Community Antenna Television) line), a mobile communication network (including base stations, etc.), and a gateway.

[0033] The voucher management server 1 may be a server device that performs processing related to the voucher service. The voucher service may be a service that issues electronic vouchers to users and enables the use of the issued vouchers. The voucher may be a voucher that can be exchanged for goods sold at the store. The voucher may have a predetermined list of goods that can be exchanged for it. The voucher management server 1 may issue only one type of voucher, or it may issue multiple types of vouchers that can be exchanged for multiple different goods. In addition, the voucher may be usable only at a predetermined store chain or store. A store chain is a collection of stores belonging to the same chain. Examples of stores belonging to the same chain include chain stores, directly managed stores, and sister stores. The store chain to which the voucher can be used is called the target store chain. The store to which the voucher can be used is called the target store. In the following explanation, the type of store is a drug store. However, the type of store is not limited to a drug store. The voucher may have a predetermined redemption deadline. The redemption deadline indicates the date on which the period during which the redemption voucher can be used expires. The redemption deadline may also indicate the expiration date of the redemption voucher. Once the redemption deadline has passed, the user cannot redeem the voucher for goods. Users can purchase the desired redemption vouchers. The redemption voucher management server 1 enables the purchase of redemption vouchers using electronic value. Electronic value may be something of value that can be exchanged for a transaction item, and may be managed as digital data. The transaction item may be anything that can be commercially traded. Examples of transaction items include goods and services. Using electronic value to purchase a redemption voucher may mean paying all or part of the purchase price of the redemption voucher with electronic value. Electronic value may be a type of medium or means of exchange, for example. Examples of electronic value that can be used to purchase redemption vouchers include reducible electronic value and quiescent electronic value. Reducible electronic value is electronic value that is returned to the user when the user uses a specified service. Electronic value obtained through consideration is electronic value that is granted to a user in exchange for payment. The payment made as consideration may be, for example, a different type of electronic value than the electronic value obtained, or legal tender.The electronic value available for purchasing the voucher may include electronic value that possesses both reducible electronic value and quid pro quo electronic value properties. The voucher management server 1 may issue a voucher upon purchase.

[0034] The voucher management server 1 may transmit redemption information for the purchased voucher to the user terminal 7 of the user who purchased the voucher. The redemption information may be information for exchanging the voucher for a product. The redemption information may be, for example, information contained in the voucher. By outputting the redemption information from the user terminal 7, the user may be able to receive a product exchangeable for the voucher from the store. For example, by having the store terminal 5 receive or read the redemption information output from the user terminal 7, a store employee may provide the product to the user. The redemption information may be, for example, a code. The code may be, for example, optically or electrically readable information, a pattern, or a picture. Optically readable means a code that can be detected using a device such as a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) sensor, a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor, or other light sensor or laser sensor. The code may include, for example, multiple geometric figures. Examples of geometric figures include rectangles, triangles, circles, lines (thin rectangles), etc. Figures formed by combining multiple such basic geometric shapes are also recognized as geometric shapes. Normally, it is extremely difficult for a human to identify the original encoded information simply by looking at the code. The code may be, for example, a one-dimensional barcode or a two-dimensional code. There are no particular limitations on the code's specifications. Examples of two-dimensional codes include QR code (registered trademark), Data Matrix code, and Maxicode. Alternatively, the redemption information may be information that can be transmitted wirelessly. For example, redemption information may be transmitted from the user terminal 7 to the store terminal 5 via short-range wireless communication between the user terminal 7 and the store terminal 5.

[0035] Users who become members of a predetermined service may be able to purchase and use exchange vouchers. Examples of such services include exchange voucher services and comprehensive internet services. Comprehensive internet services may be a collection of multiple services. For example, services included in comprehensive internet services may be services provided using information and communication technology. At least one of the services included in comprehensive internet services may be a service provided through a network such as the Internet or other networks. At least one of the services included in comprehensive internet services may be an online service. At least one of the services included in comprehensive internet services may be a service provided through the WWW (World Wide Web) or a website. Comprehensive internet services may also include transaction services. Transaction services may be services that enable electronic commerce between consumers and businesses or between consumers. Comprehensive internet services may also include payment services. Payment services are services that enable users to settle payments for purchasing transaction items by sending and receiving data. Examples of services included in the comprehensive internet service include online shopping malls, flea market services, facility reservation services, service reservation services, online securities brokerage, online banking, web search, video streaming, point programs, coupon services, mobile communication services, carrier billing, fiber optic internet connection services, credit card payments, app payments, electronic money, online securities brokerage, and online banking. For convenience, in this embodiment, the predetermined services are assumed to be the comprehensive internet service. Each user who becomes a member of the comprehensive internet service may be assigned a user ID. The user ID is identification information used to identify members within the comprehensive internet service. Users who become members of the comprehensive internet service may be able to use many of the services included in that comprehensive internet service.To use some services, users may be required to enter into a separate user agreement or register as a member, which may be conditional on them being a member of the comprehensive internet service.

[0036] The point management server 2 may be a server device that performs processing for managing each user's points in the points program. Points are an example of the redeemable electronic value described above. Points held by a user are called available points. The points program may be a service that awards points to a user when the user uses a predetermined service. For example, the points program may be a service in which a user can earn points on the condition that the user pays the transaction price. For example, points equivalent to a predetermined percentage of the transaction price may be awarded to the user. The exchange rate between points and money is predetermined. Hereafter, it will be explained that 1 point is equivalent to 1 yen. Furthermore, the points program may be a service that allows users to use their points to pay for transactions. Using points for payment means paying all or part of the amount to be paid with points. The points program may or may not be included in the comprehensive internet service.

[0037] The electronic money management server 3 may be a server device that performs processing for managing the balance of each user's electronic money in the electronic money service. Electronic money is an example of the aforementioned electronic value of consideration. The electronic money service may be a service that enables the settlement of transaction prices with electronic money. The electronic money service may or may not be included in the comprehensive internet service.

[0038] The code management server 4 may be a server device for managing codes used in the store, as described above. An example of code use is when a user presents a code to the store and receives something. For example, using a code included in a voucher to exchange that voucher for a product is considered code use. The code management server 4 may, for example, receive code information from the store terminal 5 and manage that code as a used code. The code management server 4 may also send a response to the store terminal 5 indicating whether or not the code has already been used, based on the code information received from the store terminal 5.

[0039] Each store terminal 5 may be a terminal device used by employees of the store that sells the goods. The store terminal 5 may be a terminal device used primarily for settling transaction payments made by users to the store, or it may not be used for that purpose. Examples of store terminals 5 include POS (Point of Sales) registers, personal computers, tablet computers, smartphones, etc. Each store terminal 5 may be equipped with a code reader. The code reader may be a device that reads the code output from the user terminal 7. Examples of code readers include barcode readers, cameras, etc.

[0040] Each product provider terminal 6 may be a terminal device used by the product provider. A product provider may be a business that supplies products redeemable with exchange vouchers to a store. Examples of product providers include manufacturers, wholesalers, and importers. A product provider may also be a person who has the right to provide products with a trademark attached. Generally, retailers such as businesses that operate stores or chains of stores do not qualify as product providers.

[0041] Each user terminal 7 may be a portable terminal device used by users who are eligible to use the voucher service. Examples of user terminals 7 include smartphones, other mobile phones, tablet computers, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), etc. A web browser may be installed on each user terminal 7. A points app may also be installed on each user terminal 7. The points app may be an application for managing points that a user has accumulated in a points program. By using the points app, users may be able to purchase and use vouchers. An electronic payment app may also be installed on each user terminal 7. The electronic payment app may be an application that enables settlement of transaction amounts using the electronic money and other payment methods mentioned above. For example, it may enable payment via code payment. An example of other payment methods is a credit card.

[0042] Figure 2(a) shows examples of electronic value that can be used to purchase vouchers. In a voucher service, each of several predetermined types of electronic value may be used to purchase vouchers. As shown in Figure 2(a), the predetermined types of electronic value may include points as an example of redeemable electronic value and electronic money as an example of consideration-based electronic value. As mentioned above, the methods of obtaining the electronic value differ between points and electronic money. Points are awarded to users when they use a designated service. The uses under which points are awarded to users may be predetermined by the service. For example, points may be awarded to a user when they purchase an item in a transaction service. Also, for example, points may be awarded to a user when they settle a transaction using a payment service. Electronic money is awarded to a user when they pay consideration. For example, a user charges electronic money by paying cash. For example, charging can be done using a credit card, bank transfer, cash transfer from an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine), or PIN.

[0043] Figure 2(b) shows examples of point types. A points program may offer one type of point or multiple types of points. Points may be classified according to how their expiration date is determined. Points held by a user expire after their expiration date. As shown in Figure 2(b), examples of point types include regular points and limited-time points. The expiration date for regular points may be a predetermined period of time after the last time regular points were awarded to the user. In other words, the expiration date of regular points held by a user may be extended each time new regular points are awarded. Generally, regular points may be points awarded to a user in exchange for paying for the transaction. The expiration date for limited-time points may be managed for each limited-time point awarded. The expiration date of each limited-time point cannot be extended. Generally, limited-time points may be points awarded to a user without the user paying for the transaction. Also, for example, if a user purchases a transaction during a limited-time campaign, regular points may be awarded to the user, along with bonus points which may be awarded to the user as limited-time points. Here, multiple points of different types may be considered as different types of electronic value. Therefore, users can use three types of electronic value—regular points, limited-time points, and electronic money—to purchase vouchers.

[0044] The electronic money in this embodiment is online electronic money. Online electronic money is electronic money whose balance is managed online. That is, the electronic money management server 3 manages the electronic money balance. However, the electronic money may also be IC-type electronic money. IC-type electronic money is electronic money whose balance is managed by an IC (Integrated Circuit) chip installed in the user terminal 7. In addition, multiple types of electronic money may be available for purchase of exchange tickets. The expiration date of the electronic money may or may not be set. Generally, the expiration date of electronic money is considerably longer than that of points, or the conditions for extending the expiration date are more lenient compared to points. Therefore, the expiration date of electronic money will not be mentioned hereafter.

[0045] In the voucher service, users can purchase vouchers using either one or more types of electronic value from a predetermined set of electronic value. Figure 3(a) shows an example of how vouchers are purchased. As shown in Figure 3(a), suppose user 10 wants to purchase a voucher worth 800 yen. To purchase this voucher, user 10 uses limited-time points, regular points, and electronic money. For example, user 10 pays with 500 limited-time points, 100 regular points, and 200 yen worth of electronic money. In this embodiment, 1 point is equivalent to 1 yen.

[0046] User 10, who has purchased a voucher, goes to the designated store and searches for an item redeemable with the voucher. If the item is available, User 10 displays the voucher code screen on, for example, the user terminal 7 and presents it to the store employee. The code screen includes the code mentioned above. The employee has the store terminal 5 read the code. If the code is unused, the store terminal 5 displays information indicating, for example, that the voucher is unused or that it is available. After seeing this information, the employee provides the item to User 10.

[0047] Figure 3(b) shows an example of how an out-of-stock report is made. On the other hand, there are cases where the target store does not have the product in stock. For example, user 10 may search the store but cannot find the product. Or, for example, user 10 may inquire about the product's stock with a store employee, and the employee informs user 10 that it is out of stock. In this case, user 10 cannot use the voucher. Therefore, as shown in Figure 3(b), user 10 can operate user terminal 7 to report an out-of-stock item to the voucher management server 1. An out-of-stock report may also mean reporting that the store does not have the product redeemable with the voucher the user possesses. User terminal 7 sends the report information to the voucher management server as information indicating an out-of-stock report. By reporting an out-of-stock item, the purchase of the voucher can be canceled.

[0048] Figure 3(c) shows an example of how electronic value is returned. After receiving a report that the item is out of stock, the voucher management server 1 processes the return of the electronic value used to purchase the voucher to the user 10. At this time, if two or more types of electronic value were used to purchase the voucher, the voucher management server 1 returns the electronic value to the user 10 in the form and quantity of each of those two or more types of electronic value. For example, as shown in Figure 3(c), 500 limited-time points, 100 regular points, and 200 yen worth of electronic money are returned.

[0049] [2. Equipment configuration] [2-1. Exchange Ticket Management Server] Next, the configuration of the voucher management server 1 will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the outline configuration of the voucher management server 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 4, the voucher management server 1 includes a system control unit 11, a system bus 12, an input / output interface 13, a storage unit 14, and a communication unit 15. The system control unit 11 and the input / output interface 13 are connected via the system bus 12.

[0050] The system control unit 11 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11a, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11b, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 11c, and the like.

[0051] The input / output interface 13 performs interface processing between the storage unit 14 and the communication unit 15 and the system control unit 11.

[0052] The storage unit 14 is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive. This storage unit 14 may store databases such as the voucher DB 14a, store series DB 14b, store DB 14c, non-target store DB 14d, voucher purchase DB 14e, report DB 14f, and used voucher code DB 14g. "DB" is an abbreviation for database.

[0053] Figure 5 shows an example of the contents stored in the database of the voucher management server 1. The voucher DB 14a may store voucher information for each voucher that can be purchased through the voucher service. For example, as shown in Figure 5, the voucher DB 14a may store voucher information such as product ID, product provider ID, product name, catchphrase, product standard price, voucher price, redemption deadline, and product image URL, all associated with each other. The product ID is identification information that identifies the product that can be redeemed with the voucher. The product ID also serves as identification information for identifying the vouchers that can be purchased. However, vouchers that can be purchased may be identified by identification information other than the product ID. For example, vouchers that can be purchased may be identified by the voucher ID. The product provider ID is identification information that identifies the product provider that offers the product. The product name indicates the name of the product. The catchphrase is a short advertising slogan for the product. The product standard price indicates the standard price for the product. Examples of standard prices include the manufacturer's suggested retail price and the standard price. The voucher price indicates the price of the voucher. The voucher price may be set lower than the standard product price. The redemption deadline indicates the date on which the period during which the voucher can be used expires. The product image URL indicates the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the image data of the product image. The product image is the image of the product. The storage unit 14 may store the image data of the product image in association with the product image URL.

[0054] The store series DB14b may store store series information for each target store series where the exchange voucher can be used. For example, as shown in Figure 5, the store series DB14b may store store series information such as the store series ID and store series name, associated with each other. The store series ID is identification information for identifying a store series. The store series name indicates the name of that store series.

[0055] Store DB14c may store store information for each store belonging to the target store series to which the exchange voucher can be used. For example, as shown in Figure 5, Store DB14c may store store information such as store series ID, store ID, and store name, all associated with each other. The store series ID indicates the store series to which the store belongs. The store ID is identification information for identifying that store. The store name indicates the name of that store.

[0056] The Non-Eligible Stores DB14d may store a list of non-eligible stores for each store series, which are stores belonging to the eligible store series but do not accept the exchange vouchers. For example, as shown in Figure 5, the Non-Eligible Stores DB14d may store a list of non-eligible stores, in association with a store series ID and one or more store IDs. The store ID indicates a store belonging to the store series indicated by the store series ID that does not accept the exchange vouchers.

[0057] In this embodiment, the target store chain and target stores are uniformly defined for all products. However, the target store chain and target stores may be defined for each product.

[0058] The voucher purchase DB14e may store voucher purchase information related to the purchase of vouchers in the voucher service each time a voucher is purchased. For example, as shown in Figure 5, the voucher purchase DB14e may store the following as voucher purchase information, associated with each other: purchase number, purchase date and time, product ID, user ID, number of regular points used, number of limited-time point units used, limited-time point information, amount of electronic money used, code information, code image URL, reporting status, usage status, store chain ID, store ID, etc. The purchase number is a number that identifies the purchase. The purchase date and time indicates the date and time the voucher was purchased. The product ID indicates the product that can be redeemed with the purchased voucher. The user ID indicates the user who purchased the voucher. The number of regular points used indicates the number of regular points used to purchase the voucher. If no regular points were used, the number of regular points used is set to 0. The number of limited-time point units indicates the number of limited-time point units used to purchase the voucher. The limited-time points awarded to each user may not be managed collectively, but rather separately each time limited-time points are awarded. The number of limited-time point units may indicate how many units of the separately managed limited-time points have been used. If no limited-time points are used, the number of limited-time point units is set to 0. The limited-time point information is information about the limited-time points used to purchase the exchange voucher. A number of limited-time point entries corresponding to the number of limited-time point units may be stored. Each limited-time point entry may include the number of limited-time points and the expiration date. The number of limited-time points indicates the number of limited-time points used. The expiration date indicates the last day of the period during which the limited-time points are valid. The amount of electronic money used indicates the amount of electronic money used to purchase the exchange voucher. If no electronic money is used, the amount of electronic money used is set to 0. The code information indicates the information that forms the basis of the code included as exchange information in the purchased exchange voucher. The voucher management server 1 may generate image data of a code image by encoding the code information according to the code standard. The code image is an image of a code.The code information is different for each purchased voucher. Therefore, the code information can also be said to be identification information that identifies the purchased voucher. The code image URL indicates the URL of the image data of the code image generated based on the code information. The storage unit 14 may store the image data of the code image in association with the code image URL. The reporting status indicates whether or not an out-of-stock report has been made for that voucher. The reporting status may be set to, for example, "Not Reported" and "Reported". "Not Reported" indicates that an out-of-stock report has not yet been made. "Reported" indicates that an out-of-stock report has been made. The usage status indicates the usage status of that voucher. For example, the usage status may be set to, for example, "Not Used", "Used", and "Returned". "Not Used" indicates that the voucher has not been used. "Used" indicates that the voucher has been used. "Returned" indicates that the voucher was not used and the electronic value has been returned. The store chain ID and store ID are valid when the usage status is set to "Used". The store chain ID and store ID indicate the store chain and store where the voucher was used, respectively.

[0059] Report DB14f may store report information indicating each out-of-stock report. For example, as shown in Figure 5, Report DB14f may store report information such as report number, report date and time, product ID, user ID, store series ID, and store ID, all associated with each other. The report number is identification information for identifying the report information. The report date and time indicates the date and time the out-of-stock report was made. The product ID indicates the product that was redeemable with a voucher purchased by the user but was not in stock at the store. The user ID indicates the user who made the out-of-stock report. The store series ID indicates the store series to which the store identified by the user as not having the product belongs.

[0060] The used code DB14g for redemption tickets may store used information for each redemption ticket code among the purchased redemption tickets that have been used. For example, as shown in Figure 5, the used code DB14g for redemption tickets may store used information such as the date and time of use, used code information, store series ID, and store ID, all associated with each other. The date and time of use indicates the date and time the code was used. The used code information is obtained by decoding the used code. The store series ID indicates the store series to which the store to which the code was used belongs. The store ID indicates the store to which the code was used. For example, the operator of the redemption ticket service may obtain a list of used information from the operator of the code management server 4 at a predetermined time. For example, the operator of the redemption ticket service may obtain a list of used information each time the redemption deadline set for each purchasable redemption ticket has elapsed. For example, the list of used information may be recorded on a recording medium and given to the operator of the redemption ticket service. Alternatively, the list of previously used information may be sent to the operator of the voucher service by email or other means. Alternatively, the list of previously used information may be sent directly from the code management server 4 to the voucher management server 1. The voucher management server 1 may store each piece of previously used information included in the acquired list in the voucher used code DB 14g.

[0061] The storage unit 14 further stores various programs such as an operating system, a database management system (DBMS), and a voucher management server program. The voucher management server program may be a program that causes the system control unit 11 to execute various processes related to the voucher service. The voucher management server program may be acquired from another device via a network NW, for example, or it may be recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, optical disc, or memory card and read via a drive device.

[0062] The communication unit 15 is composed of, for example, a network interface card. The communication unit 15 connects to a device different from the exchange ticket management server 1 via the network NW and controls the communication status with the connected device.

[0063] [2-2. Point Management Server] Next, the configuration of the point management server 2 will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the schematic configuration of the point management server 2 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 6, the point management server 2 includes a system control unit 21, a system bus 22, an input / output interface 23, a storage unit 24, and a communication unit 25. The system control unit 21 and the input / output interface 23 are connected via the system bus 22.

[0064] The system control unit 21 is composed of a CPU 21a, ROM 21b, RAM 21c, etc.

[0065] The input / output interface 23 performs interface processing between the storage unit 24 and the communication unit 25 and the system control unit 21.

[0066] The storage unit 24 is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive. This storage unit 24 may store databases such as a normal points DB 24a and a time-limited points DB 24b.

[0067] Figure 7 shows an example of the contents stored in the database of the point management server 2. The normal points DB24a may store information about normal points among the available points held by a user, for each user. For example, as shown in Figure 7, the normal points DB24a may store the user ID, the number of normal points, and the expiration date in relation to each other. The user ID may indicate the user who holds those normal points. The number of normal points may indicate the number of normal points. The expiration date may indicate the end date of the period during which those normal points are valid.

[0068] The Limited-Time Points DB24b may store information about limited-time points among the available points held by a user, for each set of limited-time points awarded. For example, as shown in Figure 7, the Limited-Time Points DB24b may store limited-time point information such as the user ID, the number of limited-time points, and the expiration date, all associated with each other. The user ID may indicate the user who holds the limited-time points corresponding to the limited-time point information. The number of limited-time points may indicate the number of those limited-time points. The expiration date may indicate the end date of the period during which those limited-time points are valid.

[0069] The storage unit 24 further stores various programs such as an operating system, a DBMS, and a point management server program. The point management server program may be a program that causes the system control unit 21 to execute various processes related to the point program. The point management server program may be acquired from another device via a network NW, for example, or it may be recorded on a recording medium such as magnetic tape, optical disk, or memory card and read via a drive device.

[0070] The communication unit 25 is composed of, for example, a network interface card. The communication unit 25 connects to a device different from the point management server 2 via the network NW and controls the communication status with the connected device.

[0071] [2-3. Electronic Money Management Server] Next, the configuration of the electronic money management server 3 will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. Figure 8 is a block diagram showing an example of the schematic configuration of the electronic money management server 3 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 8, the electronic money management server 3 includes a system control unit 31, a system bus 32, an input / output interface 33, a storage unit 34, and a communication unit 35. The system control unit 31 and the input / output interface 33 are connected via the system bus 32.

[0072] The system control unit 31 is composed of a CPU 31a, ROM 31b, RAM 31c, and the like.

[0073] The input / output interface 33 performs interface processing between the storage unit 34 and the communication unit 35 and the system control unit 31.

[0074] The storage unit 34 is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive. A database such as an electronic money balance DB 34a may be stored in this storage unit 34.

[0075] Figure 9 shows an example of the contents stored in the database of the electronic money management server 3. The electronic money balance DB 34a may store information about the balance of electronic money held by each user. For example, as shown in Figure 9, the electronic money balance DB 34a may store the user ID and balance in association with each other. The user ID may indicate the user who holds the electronic money. The balance may indicate the number of electronic money items. The expiration date may indicate the end date of the period during which the electronic money is valid.

[0076] The communication unit 35 is composed of, for example, a network interface card. The communication unit 35 connects to a device different from the electronic money management server 3 via the network NW and controls the communication status with the connected device.

[0077] [2-4. Code Management Server] Next, the configuration of the code management server 4 will be described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. Figure 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the schematic configuration of the code management server 4 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 10, the code management server 4 includes a system control unit 41, a system bus 42, an input / output interface 43, a storage unit 44, and a communication unit 45. The system control unit 41 and the input / output interface 43 are connected via the system bus 42.

[0078] The system control unit 31 is composed of a CPU 31a, ROM 31b, RAM 31c, and the like.

[0079] The input / output interface 43 performs interface processing between the storage unit 44 and the communication unit 45 and the system control unit 41.

[0080] The storage unit 44 is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive. A database such as the previously used code DB44a may be stored in this storage unit 44.

[0081] Figure 11 shows an example of the contents stored in the database of the code management server 4. The used code DB 44a may store used information for each code that has been used. For example, as shown in Figure 11, the used code DB 44a may store used information such as the date and time of use, used code information, store series ID, and store ID, all associated with each other. The definition of each piece of information included in the usage information may be the same as the definition of the information included in the usage information stored in the used code DB 14g for redemption tickets. When a user uses a code at a store, the user displays the code on the user terminal 7. The store employee has the displayed code read into the store terminal 5. The store terminal 5 decodes the code to obtain the code information from which the code originated. The store terminal 5 may send a code registration request to the code management server 4. The code request may include, for example, the obtained code information, the store ID of that store, and the store series ID of the store series to which that store belongs. When the code management server 4 receives a code registration request, it searches the used code DB 44a for used code information that matches the code information included in the code registration request. If the search does not find any matching used code information, the code management server 4 may store new used information in the used code DB 44a, including the code information included in the code registration request, the store ID, the store chain ID, and the usage date and time indicating the current date and time. At this time, the code information is stored as used code information. The code management server 4 then sends a code registration success response to the store terminal 5. Upon receiving the code registration success response, the store terminal 5 displays a message indicating that the code registration was successful. Upon seeing this message, the employee authorizes the user to use the code. For example, the employee hands the user the product that is redeemable with the redemption voucher. If the search finds matching used code information, the code management server 4 sends a code registration failure response to the store terminal 5. Upon receiving the code registration failure response, the store terminal 5 displays a message indicating that the code registration failed. Upon seeing this message, the employee does not authorize the user to use the code. For example, an employee does not hand the product to the user.As described above, the operator of the code management server 4 provides the operator of the voucher service with a list of previously used information stored in the previously used code DB 44a. Here, the code information for the voucher service may include information that identifies that the code information is for the voucher service. Based on this information, the operator of the code management server 4 may extract previously used information from the previously used code DB 44a to provide to the operator of the voucher service.

[0082] The communication unit 45 is composed of, for example, a network interface card. The communication unit 45 connects to a device different from the code management server 4 via the network NW and controls the communication status with the connected device.

[0083] [3. Functional Overview of the System Control Unit of the Voucher Management Server] Next, the functional overview of the system control unit 11 of the voucher management server 1 will be described with reference to Figures 12 to 20. Figure 12 is a diagram showing an example of the functional blocks of the system control unit 11 of the voucher management server 1 according to this embodiment. The system control unit 11 may function as a purchase procedure unit 1101, an electronic value utilization unit 1102, a usage quantity information storage control unit 1103, a report information receiving unit 1104, a report information storage control unit 1105, an exchange information transmission unit 1106, an electronic value return unit 1107, an aggregation unit 1108, and an aggregation information transmission unit 1109, etc., as shown in Figure 12, by the CPU 11a reading and executing various program codes included in the voucher management server program.

[0084] The purchase procedure unit 1101 may perform processing related to the purchase procedure of the exchange voucher. For example, if the user selects to purchase an exchange voucher, the purchase procedure unit 1101 may obtain the exchange voucher price of the selected exchange voucher. The purchase procedure unit 1101 may also obtain the exchange voucher price associated with the product ID of the product redeemable with the selected exchange voucher from the exchange voucher DB 14a.

[0085] Furthermore, the purchase procedure unit 1101 may obtain the quantity of electronic value currently owned by the user who has selected to purchase the voucher, for all or some of the multiple types of electronic value predetermined to be available for purchase of the voucher. For example, the purchase procedure unit 1101 may obtain the quantity of electronic value currently owned by the user from a server device that manages that type of electronic value.

[0086] If a predetermined set of electronic values ​​includes points, the purchase procedure unit 1101 may obtain the quantity of points by sending an available points information request to the point management server 2. The available points information request indicates a request for information regarding the available points of a specified user. The available points information request may also include the user ID of the user who selected to purchase the exchange voucher. The point management server 2 obtains the user ID of the specified user from the available points information request. The point management server 2 obtains the number of regular points associated with the specified user ID from the regular points DB 24a. The point management server 2 also obtains all limited-time point information, including the user ID of the specified user, from the limited-time points DB 24b. The point management server 2 sends the list of obtained regular points and limited-time point information to the exchange voucher management server 1.

[0087] If a predetermined set of electronic values ​​includes electronic money, the purchase procedure unit 1101 may obtain the amount by sending an electronic money balance request to the electronic money management server 3. The electronic money balance request indicates a request for the electronic money balance of a specified user. The electronic money balance request may also include the user ID of the user who selected to purchase the exchange voucher. The electronic money management server 3 obtains the user ID of the specified user from the electronic money balance request. The electronic money management server 3 obtains the balance associated with the user ID of the specified user from the electronic money balance DB 34a. The electronic money management server 3 sends the obtained balance to the exchange voucher management server 1.

[0088] Furthermore, the purchase procedure unit 1101 may determine whether or not a user who has selected to purchase a voucher will use a particular electronic value for the purchase of the voucher, and the quantity of that electronic value to be used, for each of the multiple types of electronic value predetermined to be available for purchase of the voucher. For example, a priority order for the use of multiple types of electronic value for the purchase of the voucher may be predetermined. For example, the priority order may be set so that electronic value that is more likely to expire is used first. For example, limited-time points may be used first. Regular points may be used second first. And electronic money may be used last. Based on this priority order, the quantity of each type of electronic value acquired by the user as the quantity of electronic value currently owned by the user, and the voucher price, the purchase procedure unit 1101 can determine the type and quantity of electronic value to be used for the purchase of the voucher. Alternatively, the user may select the priority order of the electronic value to be used at the time of purchase. Alternatively, the user may set the priority order of the electronic value to be used in advance. Alternatively, when purchasing the voucher, the user may specify the type and quantity of electronic value they wish to use.

[0089] Furthermore, the purchase procedure unit 1101 may transmit screen information to the user terminal 7 that indicates the screens necessary for purchasing the exchange voucher. The screen information may also be information that causes a specific screen to be displayed on the user terminal 7. The screen information may be, for example, an HTML (HyperText Markup Language) document. In this case, the screen can be replaced with a web page or a page. Alternatively, the screen information may be information about the content or individual elements displayed on the user terminal 7. Alternatively, the screen information may be information that instructs the user terminal 7 to display a specific screen.

[0090] Figure 13 shows an example of the home screen of the voucher service. The voucher service home screen may be the screen that serves as the entrance to the voucher service. Alternatively, the voucher service home screen may be a screen that displays a list of vouchers that can be purchased with the voucher service. For example, when a user selects the voucher service on the screen of a points app, the user terminal 7 may display the voucher service home screen. As shown in Figure 13, the voucher service home screen 100 may include multiple voucher information display areas 110. The voucher information display area 110 is an area that displays information about the vouchers that can be purchased. Each voucher information display area 110 may include the product name 111, catchphrase 112, product image 113, product base price 114, redemption deadline 115, number of points required for purchase 116, and voucher price 117. The product name 111 indicates the name of the product that can be redeemed with the voucher. The catchphrase is a short advertising slogan for the product. The product image 113 is an image of the product. The standard product price 114 indicates the standard price of the product. The redemption deadline 115 indicates the date on which the period during which the redemption voucher can be used expires. The required points 116 indicates the number of points required to purchase the redemption voucher. The redemption voucher price 117 indicates the price of the redemption voucher. In this embodiment, the required points 116 and the redemption voucher price 117 are the same. In the redemption voucher information display area 110 of a redemption voucher already purchased by the user, the required points 116 and the redemption voucher price 117 are not displayed, and a code display button 118 may be displayed. The code display button 118 is an element that can be operated to display the previously purchased redemption voucher screen, which will be described later. The redemption voucher service home screen 100 may also display a previously purchased redemption voucher list button 130. The previously purchased redemption voucher list button 130 is an element that can be operated to display the previously purchased redemption voucher list screen, which will be described later.

[0091] Figure 14 shows an example of a voucher screen. The user selects a voucher they have not yet purchased by selecting the voucher information display area 110 from the voucher service home screen 100. In response to this operation, the user terminal 7 displays the voucher screen. The voucher screen displays information about the selected voucher. In Figure 14, elements identical to those in Figure 13 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in Figure 14, the voucher screen 200 may include a selected voucher information display area 210, a list of eligible store series 220, a link to a list of ineligible stores 230, an eligible store confirmation checkbox 240, and a purchase procedure progress button 250. The selected voucher information display area 210 is an area where information about the selected voucher is displayed. The selected voucher information display area 210 may include the product name 111, catchphrase 112, product image 113, redemption deadline 115, required points 116, and voucher price 117. The list of eligible store chains 220 shows a list of eligible store chains where the exchange voucher can be used. The link to the list of ineligible stores 230 is a link to display the list of ineligible stores screen. The list of ineligible stores screen displays a list of stores belonging to eligible store chains where the exchange voucher can be used, but where the exchange voucher cannot be used. By viewing the list of eligible store chains 220 and the list of ineligible stores screen, users can effectively confirm which eligible stores accept the exchange voucher. The eligible store confirmation checkbox 240 is an element that users can operate to acknowledge that they have confirmed the eligible stores. The purchase procedure progress button 250 is an element that users can operate to display the purchase details confirmation screen, which will be described later. The purchase procedure progress button 250 may only be operable if the eligible store confirmation checkbox 240 is checked.

[0092] Figure 15 shows an example of a purchase confirmation screen. The purchase confirmation screen is a screen for the user to confirm the purchase details before purchasing the exchange voucher. In Figure 15, the same elements as in Figure 13 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in Figure 15, the purchase confirmation screen 300 may include an electronic value usage information display area 310, a purchase target exchange voucher information display area 320, and a purchase button 330. The electronic value usage information display area 310 may display a breakdown of the electronic value used to purchase the selected exchange voucher. For example, the electronic value usage information display area 310 may include the number of regular points used 311, the number of limited-time points used 312, and the amount of electronic money used 313. The number of regular points used 311 indicates the quantity of regular points used. The number of limited-time points used 312 indicates the total quantity of limited-time points used. The amount of electronic money used 313 indicates the amount of electronic money used. In accordance with the aforementioned priority order, the purchase procedure unit 1101 determines the quantity of each type of electronic value to be used. The purchase target voucher information display area 320 is an area where information about the selected voucher is displayed. The purchase target voucher information display area 320 may also include the product name 111, the redemption deadline 115, the number of points required for purchase 116, and the voucher price 117. The purchase button 330 is an operable element for confirming the purchase of the voucher with the purchase details displayed on the purchase confirmation screen 300.

[0093] The electronic value utilization unit 1102 may perform processing to utilize electronic value for the purchase of the exchange voucher. For example, the electronic value utilization unit 1102 may perform this processing in response to the operation of the purchase button 330 from the purchase confirmation screen 300. The electronic value utilization unit 1102 may request the server device that manages the electronic value of each type of electronic value that has been determined by the purchase procedure unit 1101 to be used from among a predetermined number of types of electronic value to subtract the quantity of electronic value to be used from the quantity of electronic value currently owned by the user. For example, the electronic value utilization unit 1102 may send a request for subtraction of electronic value to be used, including the user ID of the user who selected to purchase the exchange voucher and the quantity of electronic value to be used, to the server device corresponding to that type of electronic value. The request for subtraction of electronic value to be used indicates a request to subtract the electronic value to be used from the electronic value held by the user. The server device may subtract the quantity of electronic value to be used from the quantity of electronic value owned by the user, which is stored in the database in association with the user ID of the user who selected to purchase the voucher.

[0094] If the electronic value used to purchase the voucher includes points, the electronic value utilization unit 1102 may send a request to the point management server 2 to deduct points used. The request to deduct points used may include the user ID of the user who selected to purchase the voucher, the point type, the number of points used, and the expiration date. The point type indicates whether the points used are regular points or limited-time points. The number of points used indicates the number of points used. The expiration date is valid if the points used are limited-time points. The expiration date indicates the date on which the validity period of the points used ends. If there are multiple units of limited-time points used, the request to deduct points used includes a list of combinations of the number of points used and the expiration dates for the multiple units.

[0095] If the points used to purchase the exchange voucher include regular points, the electronic value utilization unit 1102 may receive a point deduction request that includes the point type indicating regular points and the number of points used indicating the number of regular points to be used. If the point type included in the point deduction request indicates regular points, the point management server 2 updates the number of regular points by subtracting the number of points used included in the point deduction request from the number of regular points stored in the regular points DB 24a associated with the user ID included in the point deduction request as the user ID of the specified user.

[0096] If the points used to purchase the exchange voucher include limited-time points, the electronic value utilization unit 1102 may receive a point deduction request that includes the point type indicating limited-time points, the number of points to be used, and the expiration date of those limited-time points. If multiple units of limited-time points are used, the electronic value utilization unit 1102 may include a list of combinations of the number of points to be used and the expiration date for each of those multiple units in the point deduction request. If the point type included in the point deduction request indicates limited-time points, the point management server 2 searches the limited-time point information stored in the limited-time point DB 24b associated with the user ID of the specified user for limited-time points, and searches for limited-time point information that includes an expiration date that matches the expiration date included in the point deduction request. The point management server 2 updates the number of limited-time points by subtracting the number of points included in the point deduction request from the number of limited-time points included in the searched limited-time point information. If the number of limited-time points becomes 0 as a result of the deduction, the electronic value utilization unit 1102 deletes the limited-time point information, including the number of limited-time points, from the limited-time point DB 24b. If the usage point deduction request includes a list of combinations of usage point amounts and expiration dates in multiple units, the electronic value utilization unit 1102 performs the above processing for each combination.

[0097] If the electronic value used to purchase the voucher includes electronic money, the electronic value utilization unit 1102 may send a request to the electronic money management server 3 to deduct the electronic money used. The request to deduct the electronic money used may include the user ID of the user who selected to purchase the voucher and the amount of electronic money used. The amount of electronic money used indicates the quantity of electronic money used. The electronic money management server 3 obtains the user ID of the specified user and the amount of electronic money used from the request to deduct the electronic money used. The electronic money management server 3 updates the balance by subtracting the amount of electronic money used from the balance stored in the electronic money DB associated with the user ID of the specified user.

[0098] When a voucher is purchased, the usage quantity information storage control unit 1103 may store usage quantity information indicating the quantity of electronic value used for the purchase of the voucher in the storage unit 14, associating it with the user who purchased the voucher, so that the type of electronic value used can be identified. The quantity of electronic value used may be the quantity determined by the purchase procedure unit 1101. Examples of usage quantity information include the number of regular points used, the number of limited-time points used, and the amount of electronic money used. Identifying the type of electronic value used means, for example, that in the database, a field for storing usage quantity information is predetermined for each type of electronic value. For example, in the voucher purchase DB 14e, fields are defined for each of the number of regular points used, the number of limited-time points used, and the amount of electronic money used. Alternatively, the type of electronic value used can be identified by storing usage quantity information in separate databases for each type of electronic money. Alternatively, information indicating the type of electronic value used may be stored in the storage unit 14 in association with the quantity used information, thereby enabling the identification of the type of electronic value used.

[0099] In this case, if the exchange voucher is purchased using two or more types of electronic value, the usage quantity information storage control unit 1103 may store usage quantity information indicating the quantity of electronic value used for each of those two or more types of electronic value in the storage unit 14 in a way that identifies the type of electronic value used, in association with the user who purchased the exchange voucher.

[0100] The report information receiving unit 1104 may receive report information from the user terminal 7 of a user who purchased a voucher, indicating that the store does not have the product that can be exchanged for the voucher. The report information may include the user ID of the user who made the report. The report information may also include identification information for identifying the product that can be exchanged for the voucher. This identification information may be, for example, a product ID or the voucher ID mentioned above. Each type of voucher that can be purchased has a predetermined product that can be exchanged for it. Therefore, the voucher ID can also be considered identification information for identifying the product that can be exchanged. The report information may also include at least one of the store ID of the store that did not have the product and the store chain ID of the store chain to which that store belongs. It may be possible to input the report information on a predetermined screen of the voucher service. The report information receiving unit 1104 may receive the input report information.

[0101] Figure 16 shows an example of a screen displaying a list of previously purchased vouchers. The previously purchased voucher list screen displays a list of vouchers that the user has purchased. In Figure 16, elements identical to those in Figure 13 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in Figure 16, the previously purchased voucher list screen 400 may include one or more previously purchased voucher information display areas 410. The previously purchased voucher information display area 410 is an area where information about purchased vouchers is displayed. Each previously purchased voucher information display area 410 may include a product name 111, a catchphrase 112, a product image 113, a standard product price 114, an expiration date 115, and a code display button 118. In addition, the previously purchased voucher information display area 410 for vouchers that have been reported as out of stock may display cancellation request information 120.

[0102] Figure 17 shows an example of a code screen. The code screen may be a screen that displays a code for a purchased voucher. In Figure 17, the same elements as in Figure 13 are denoted by the same symbols. As shown in Figure 17, the code screen 500 may include code voucher information 510 and a report input form 520. The code voucher information 510 is an area that displays information about the voucher on which the code will be displayed. The code voucher information 510 may include a product name 111, a product image 113, an expiration date 115, and a code 511. The code 511 corresponds to a code as information for redemption. The report input form 520 is a form that accepts input of out-of-stock reports. The report input form 520 may include, for example, a store series selection list 521, a store selection list 522, and a submit button 523. The store series selection list 521 is a pull-down menu that can be operated to select the store series to which the store to which there was no product redeemable with the voucher belongs. The store selection list 522 is an operable pull-down menu for selecting stores where there were no items redeemable with the exchange voucher. The submit button 523 is an operable element for submitting the report information.

[0103] The report information storage control unit 1105 may store the received report information in the storage unit 14 each time it receives report information from any user terminal 7. For example, the report information storage control unit 1105 may add a report number and a report date and time indicating the current date and time to the received report information. The report information storage control unit 1105 may also store the report information in the report DB 14f.

[0104] The redemption information transmission unit 1106 may transmit redemption information for exchanging a redemption voucher purchased by a user for a product to the user terminal 7 in a manner that the user terminal 7 can output. As mentioned above, the redemption information may be a code displayed on the screen or information that can be transmitted wirelessly. The redemption information may include information that identifies the purchased redemption voucher as a combination of the user who purchased the voucher and the product that can be redeemed with that voucher. The redemption information transmission unit 1106 may transmit the redemption information, for example, in response to a request from the user terminal 7.

[0105] Here, even after the report information receiving unit 1104 has received the report information from the user terminal 7, the exchange information transmission unit 1106 may transmit the exchange information in response to a request from the user terminal 7 until the exchange deadline for the exchange voucher has passed. As mentioned above, even if the store the user visited does not have the product in stock, another store may have the product in stock. By allowing the user terminal 7 to output the exchange information until the expiration date has passed, the user can use the exchange voucher to obtain the product. The exchange information transmission unit 1106 may transmit the exchange information without determining, for example, whether or not the report information has already been received for that user.

[0106] The redemption information transmission unit 1106 does not need to transmit redemption information to the user terminal 7 after the redemption period for the redemption voucher purchased by the user has expired. As a result, the user will not be able to use the redemption voucher after the redemption period has expired.

[0107] Figure 18 shows an example of the display state of a code on the code screen 500. For example, as shown in Figure 18, a user purchased a voucher on October 1st. From October 1st, the code is displayed on the code screen 500 on the user's terminal 7. Subsequently, on October 15th, the user goes to the target store and looks for a product that can be redeemed with the voucher. However, the store does not have the product in stock. Therefore, the user reports that the product is out of stock on that day. The code continues to be displayed on the code screen 500 even after October 15th. The redemption deadline for the voucher is November 30th. The code is displayed on the code screen 500 until November 30th. Therefore, regardless of whether or not a report of out of stock was made, the user can use the voucher between October 1st and November 30th. After December 1st, the code is no longer displayed on the code screen 500.

[0108] Figure 19 shows an example of the code screen 500 for a redemption voucher whose redemption period has expired. In Figure 19, the same elements as in Figure 18 are denoted by the same symbols. As shown in Figure 19, the code screen 500 may include code redemption voucher information 510 and a redemption period end message 530. The report input form 520 is not displayed. The code redemption voucher information 510 may include product name 111, product image 113, and redemption deadline 115. Code 511 is not displayed. The redemption period end message 530 indicates that the redemption period has expired.

[0109] Furthermore, the redemption information transmission unit 1106 does not need to send redemption information to the user terminal 7 that sent the report information after it has received the report information. The received report information is stored in the report DB 14f by the report information storage control unit 1105. Therefore, the redemption information transmission unit 1106 can control whether or not to send redemption information by referring to the report DB 14f.

[0110] The redemption information transmission unit 1106 may continue to transmit redemption information in response to a request from the user terminal 7 of the user who purchased the redemption voucher, even after the voucher has been used, until the voucher's expiration date has passed. Whether or not the voucher has been used can be determined based on the used code DB 44a of the code management server 4 or the used code DB 14g for vouchers of the voucher management server 1. The redemption information transmission unit 1106 may transmit redemption information without referring to these databases. As mentioned above, once a user uses the code on the voucher by using the voucher, the code management server 4 controls it so that the code cannot be used again. Therefore, there is no problem even if the code remains displayed on the code screen 500.

[0111] Furthermore, the redemption information transmission unit 1106 does not need to transmit redemption information to the user terminal 7 of the user who purchased the redemption voucher after the voucher has been used. As mentioned above, the used information stored in the used code DB 44a of the code management server 4 is transmitted to the voucher management server 1 after the redemption deadline of the voucher. However, the code management server 4 may be controlled to transmit the used information to the voucher management server at the same time that it receives code information from the store terminal 5 and stores the used information in the used code DB 44a. This allows the redemption information transmission unit 1106 to determine in real time whether or not the voucher has been used. For example, as mentioned above, the voucher management server 1 stores the used information transmitted in real time from the code management server 4 in the used code DB 14g for vouchers. The redemption information transmission unit 1106 may obtain code information from the redemption ticket purchase information stored in the redemption ticket purchase DB 14e, which includes a combination of the user ID of the user who purchased the target redemption ticket and the product ID of the product that can be exchanged for that ticket. The redemption information transmission unit 1106 may also search the redemption ticket used code DB 14g for used code information that matches the obtained code information. If no matching used code information is found, the redemption ticket has not been used. If matching used code information is found, the redemption ticket has been used.

[0112] The electronic value refund unit 1107 may refund electronic value to a user based on the type and quantity of electronic value used to purchase the exchange voucher, based on the usage quantity information stored in the storage unit 14 in association with the user using the user terminal 7 that is the source of the report information received by the report information receiving unit 1104. For example, as mentioned above, the report information includes the user ID of the user who reported that the item was out of stock and the product ID of the item that was out of stock. The electronic value refund unit 1107 may also refund based on the exchange voucher purchase information stored in the exchange voucher purchase DB 14e in association with the user ID included in the report information. If multiple types of exchange vouchers can be issued, each redeemable for multiple different products, the electronic value refund unit 1107 may also refund based on the exchange voucher purchase information associated with the combination of user ID and product ID included in the report information. The exchange voucher purchase information includes, as an example of usage quantity information, the number of regular points used, the number of limited-time points used, and the amount of electronic money used. Electronic value can be refunded based on this information. The electronic value return unit 1107 may request the server device that manages the electronic value of a given type to add the quantity of electronic value used to purchase the voucher to the quantity of electronic value currently owned by the user. For example, the electronic value return unit 1107 may send a request to add returned electronic value to the server device corresponding to that type of electronic value, including the user ID of the user who reported the item being out of stock and the quantity of electronic value used. The request to add returned electronic value indicates a request to add the returned electronic value to the electronic value held by the user. The server device may add the quantity of electronic value used to the quantity of electronic value held by the user who reported the item being out of stock, which is stored in the database in association with the user ID of the user who reported the item being out of stock.

[0113] If the electronic value used to purchase the exchange voucher includes points, the electronic value return unit 1107 may send a request to the point management server 2 to add the points to be returned. The request to add the points to be returned may include the user ID of the user who reported the item being out of stock, the point type, the number of points to be returned, and the expiration date. The point type indicates whether the points to be returned are regular points or limited-time points. The number of points to be returned indicates the number of points to be returned. The expiration date is valid if the points to be returned are limited-time points. The expiration date indicates the date on which the validity period of the points to be returned ends. If there are multiple units of limited-time points to be returned, the request to add the points to be returned includes a list of combinations of the number of points to be returned and the expiration date for each of the multiple units.

[0114] If the points used to purchase the exchange voucher include regular points, the electronic value return unit 1107 may receive a return point addition request that includes the point type indicating regular points and the number of return points indicating the number of regular points to be returned. If the point type included in the return point addition request indicates regular points, the point management server 2 updates the number of regular points by adding the number of return points included in the return point addition request to the number of regular points stored in the regular point DB 24a associated with the user ID included in the return point addition request.

[0115] If the points used to purchase the exchange voucher include limited-time points, the electronic value return unit 1107 may receive a request to add points to be returned, which includes the point type indicating limited-time points, the number of points to be returned, and the expiration date of those limited-time points. If multiple units of limited-time points are used, the electronic value utilization unit 1102 may include a list of combinations of the number of points to be returned and the expiration date for each of those multiple units in the request to add points to be returned. If the point type included in the request to add points to be returned indicates limited-time points, the point management server 2 searches the limited-time point DB 24b for limited-time point information, which includes the combination of the user ID and expiration date included in the request to add points to be returned. If there is matching limited-time point information, the point management server 2 adds the number of points to be returned included in the request to add points to the number of limited-time points included in that information and updates the number of limited-time points. If there is no matching limited-time point information, the point management server 2 generates limited-time point information, which includes the user ID, the number of limited-time points to be returned, and the expiration date included in the request to add points to be returned. The point management server 2 stores the generated limited-time point information in the limited-time point DB 24b. If a refund point addition request includes a list of combinations of the number of refund points in multiple units and their expiration dates, the electronic value refund unit 1107 performs the aforementioned processing for each combination.

[0116] If the electronic value used to purchase the exchange voucher includes electronic money, the electronic value return unit 1107 may send a request to the electronic money management server 3 to add the returned electronic money. The request to add the returned electronic money may include the user ID of the user who reported the item being out of stock and the amount of electronic money to be returned. The amount of electronic money to be returned indicates the quantity of electronic money to be returned. The electronic money management server 3 obtains the user ID of the specified user and the amount of electronic money to be returned from the request to add the returned electronic money. The electronic money management server 3 updates the balance by adding the amount of electronic money to the balance stored in the electronic money DB associated with the user ID of the specified user.

[0117] Here, if two or more types of electronic value were used to purchase the voucher, the electronic value return unit 1107 may return electronic value to the user in the form and quantity of each of the two or more types of electronic value used. For example, if the two or more types of electronic value used include reducible electronic value and quid pro quo electronic value, the electronic value return unit 1107 may return each of the reducible electronic value and quid pro quo electronic value. The electronic value return unit 1107 may also send a request to add returned electronic value to the server device corresponding to the type of electronic value for each of the two or more types of electronic value used.

[0118] The electronic value return unit 1107 may return the electronic value after the redemption period for the purchased voucher has expired. The received report information is stored in the report DB 14f. Therefore, report information about vouchers whose redemption period has expired can be obtained from the report DB 14f. The timing of the return of the electronic value may be predetermined. Alternatively, an approximate return period may be predetermined. The electronic value return unit 1107 may then return the electronic value during or around that approximate return period.

[0119] The electronic value refund unit 1107 may refund the electronic value if it has received the report information, provided that the purchased voucher has not been used and its redemption period has expired. As mentioned above, after the redemption period for the voucher has expired, a list of used information is sent from the code management server 4 to the voucher management server 1 and stored in the used code DB 14g for vouchers. The electronic value refund unit 1107 may then refund the electronic value. The electronic value refund unit 1107 may obtain code information from the voucher purchase information stored in the voucher purchase DB 14e, including the combination obtained from the report information, which is the combination of the user ID of the user who purchased the voucher whose redemption period has expired and the product ID of the product that can be exchanged for that voucher. The electronic value refund unit 1107 may search the used code DB 14g for vouchers for used code information that matches the obtained code information. If no matching previously used code information is found, the voucher has not been used. If matching previously used code information is found, the voucher has been used.

[0120] The electronic value refund unit 1107 does not have to refund the electronic value if it has not received any reporting information, even if the purchased voucher has not been used and its expiration date has passed. For example, the electronic value refund unit 1107 may only refund the electronic value for voucher purchase information stored in the voucher purchase DB 14e that includes combinations of user ID and product ID that match the combinations included in the reporting information stored in the reporting DB 14f.

[0121] The electronic value return unit 1107 may extend the expiration date of the time-limited electronic value and return it if the electronic value used to purchase the voucher includes time-limited electronic value with a set expiration date. For example, time-limited electronic value may be electronic value whose expiration date is not extended according to the rules of the service for that electronic value. For example, time-limited electronic value may be electronic value in which the expiration date of the electronic value that the user previously possessed is not extended when the user acquires new electronic value. Also, time-limited electronic value may be electronic value in which the expiration date of the electronic value that the user still possesses is not extended when the user uses a portion of the electronic value. Time-limited electronic value may be, for example, limited-time points. The expiration date of regular points is renewed each time the user acquires new regular points. Therefore, when regular points are returned, the expiration date of those regular points does not need to be extended. The electronic value return unit 1107 may change the extended expiration date to a date later than the original expiration date and later than the date on which the electronic value is returned. The length by which the expiration date is extended may be predetermined. Alternatively, the extended expiration date may be predetermined. Alternatively, the length by which the expiration date is extended may be determined according to the length of time from when the report information is received to when the electronic value is returned. Alternatively, the length by which the expiration date is extended may be determined according to the length of time from the original expiration date to when the electronic value is returned. When the electronic value return unit 1107 sends a request to the exchange ticket management server 1 for the return points to be added, it may set the expiration date to be included in this request to add points to be added to a date later than the original expiration date.

[0122] The electronic value return unit 1107 may extend the expiration date of all used time-limited electronic values. Alternatively, the electronic value return unit 1107 may extend the expiration date of the returned time-limited electronic values ​​only if the expiration date of the time-limited electronic values ​​has expired by the time of return of the electronic value.

[0123] Figure 20 shows an example of extending the validity period of refunded limited-time points. For example, as shown in Figure 20, a user purchased a voucher on October 1st. The redemption deadline for this voucher is November 30th. The user used 500 limited-time points to purchase this voucher. The validity period for these limited-time points is October 31st. Subsequently, the user reported that the item was out of stock on October 15th. The electronic value is refunded on December 31st, after the expiration date and redemption deadline have passed. At this time, the electronic value refund unit 1107 decides to extend the validity period of the limited-time points by 4 months. In this case, the validity period of the 500 limited-time points used by the user to purchase the voucher is extended to February 28th of the following year.

[0124] Furthermore, the electronic value return unit 1107 may return the electronic value before the redemption period for the voucher expires. For example, the electronic value return unit 1107 may immediately return the electronic value upon receiving the report information. In this case, the electronic value return unit 1107 may return the electronic value on the condition that the purchased electronic value has not been used. If it is possible to determine in real time whether or not the voucher has been used using a method similar to that described above, the electronic value can be returned immediately. If the electronic value is returned immediately, the redemption information transmission unit 1106 does not need to transmit redemption information to the user terminal 7 after receiving the report information.

[0125] The aggregation unit 1108 may aggregate the number of reports indicating that no products are available, based on the report information stored in the storage unit 14 by the report information storage control unit 1105. For example, the aggregation unit 1108 may calculate the number of reports by counting the number of report information stored in the report DB 14f. The aggregation unit 1108 may calculate the number of reports for each product provider, for example. The report information includes the product ID of the product that can be exchanged for the purchased voucher. The voucher DB 14a includes the product ID of the product that can be exchanged for the voucher and the product provider ID of the product provider that provides that product. Therefore, the aggregation unit 1108 may aggregate the report information separately for each product provider based on the product ID and product provider ID. The aggregation unit 1108 may aggregate the number of reports for each store series. The report information includes the store series ID of the store to which the store identified by the user as a store that does not have any products redeemable with the purchased voucher belongs. The aggregation unit 1108 may aggregate the report information separately for each store series based on the store series ID included in the report information. Furthermore, the aggregation unit 1108 may aggregate the number of reports for each product. The aggregation unit 1108 may aggregate the reported information by store chain based on the product ID included in the reported information. Furthermore, the aggregation unit 1108 may aggregate the number of reports for each store. Furthermore, the aggregation unit 1108 may aggregate the number of reports for at least two combinations of product provider, product, and store chain. Furthermore, the aggregation unit 1108 may aggregate the number of reports for at least two combinations of product provider, product, and store.

[0126] The aggregation unit 1108 may aggregate, for each product, at least one of the following: the number of users who purchased the voucher for that product, the number of users who used the voucher, and the number of users who received a refund for the electronic value of that voucher. The number of users who purchased the voucher can be calculated based on the product ID included in the voucher purchase information stored in the voucher purchase DB 14e. In addition, the number of users who used the voucher and the number of users who received a refund for the electronic value can be calculated based on the usage status included in the voucher purchase information.

[0127] The aggregated information transmission unit 1109 may transmit aggregated information, which shows the number of reports aggregated by the aggregation unit 1108, to the product provider terminal 6. Here, the aggregated information transmission unit 1109 may transmit aggregated information about the number of reports aggregated for product providers using the product provider terminal 6. Product providers can understand from the number of reports shown by the aggregated information how much of the products they supply to the store are in short supply, or whether they are in short supply at all. This allows product providers to adjust the quantity of products they will supply in the future. The aggregated information may be screen information such as an HTML document as described above. The aggregated information may be displayed on the screen of the product provider terminal 6. For example, the aggregated information transmission unit 1109 may transmit aggregated information in response to a request received from the product provider terminal 6. The aggregation unit 1108 may perform the aggregation in advance, or it may aggregate the number of reports for a product provider when a request is received from the product provider terminal 6. The number of reports may be shown, for example, as a number or graph on the screen. If the aggregation unit 1108 aggregates the number of reports for each store chain, the aggregation information transmission unit 1109 may transmit aggregation information that shows the aggregated number of reports in association with the store chain. For example, the aggregation information transmission unit 1109 may generate aggregation information so that the number of reports is displayed on the screen of the product provider terminal 6 along with the name of each store chain. If the aggregation unit 1108 aggregates the number of reports for each product, the aggregation information transmission unit 1109 may transmit aggregation information that shows the aggregated number of reports in association with the product. For example, the aggregation information transmission unit 1109 may generate aggregation information so that the number of reports is displayed on the screen of the product provider terminal 6 along with the name of each product. If the aggregation unit 1108 aggregates the number of reports for each store, the aggregation information transmission unit 1109 may transmit aggregation information that shows the aggregated number of reports in association with the store. If the aggregation unit 1108 aggregates at least one of the following: the number of users who purchased the exchange voucher, the number of users who used the exchange voucher, and the number of users who received a refund of the electronic value, the aggregation information transmission unit 1109 may transmit aggregation information that further indicates the aggregated number.

[0128] [4. Operation of the communication system] Next, the operation of the communication system S will be described with reference to Figures 21 to 29. The system control unit 11 of the voucher management server 1 may execute the processes shown in Figures 21 to 29 according to the program code included in the voucher management server program. The processes shown in these figures are illustrative, and any processes may be executed as long as the objective is achieved. The order of the processes is not limited to the order shown in these figures. Also, at least one of the steps shown in these figures may be omitted.

[0129] Figure 21 shows an example of the purchase confirmation screen information transmission process executed by the system control unit 11 of the voucher management server 1 according to this embodiment. For example, a user selects a voucher by selecting one of the voucher information display areas 110 displayed on the voucher service home screen 100. In response to this selection, the voucher management server 1 sends the HTML document of the voucher screen 200 for the product corresponding to the selected voucher information display area 110 to the user terminal 7. The user terminal 7 displays the voucher screen 200 based on this HTML document. On the voucher screen 200, the user changes the target store confirmation checkbox 240 to checked and operates the purchase procedure proceed button 250. Upon detecting this operation, the user terminal 7 sends a purchase confirmation screen request to the voucher management server 1, including the user's user ID and the product ID of the product redeemable with the selected voucher. The system control unit 11 may execute the purchase confirmation screen information transmission process in response to receiving the purchase confirmation screen request.

[0130] As shown in Figure 21, the purchase procedure unit 1101 obtains voucher information, including the product ID included in the purchase confirmation screen request, from the voucher DB and obtains the voucher price 117 included in this voucher information as the remaining price (step S101). Next, the purchase procedure unit 1101 sends a request for available points information, including the user ID included in the purchase confirmation screen request, to the point management server 2 to obtain a list of normal points and limited-time point information from the point management server 2 (step S102). Next, the purchase procedure unit 1101 sends an electronic money balance request, including the user ID included in the purchase confirmation screen request, to the electronic money management server 3 to obtain the electronic money balance from the electronic money management server 3 (step S103).

[0131] Next, the purchase procedure unit 1101 determines whether the voucher is available for purchase (step S104). For example, the purchase procedure unit 1101 may calculate the sum of the regular points, the limited-time points included in the limited-time points information, and the balance of the electronic money. If this sum is equal to or greater than the voucher price, the purchase procedure unit 1101 may determine that the voucher is available for purchase. If the voucher is not available for purchase (step S104: NO), the process proceeds to step S105. In step S105, the purchase procedure unit 1101 generates an HTML document for the purchase confirmation screen 300 indicating that the voucher is not available for purchase (step S105). At this time, the purchase procedure unit 1101 generates the HTML document in such a way that the purchase button 330 cannot be operated. After step S105 is completed, the process proceeds to step S110.

[0132] If the exchange voucher is available for purchase (step S104: YES), the purchase procedure unit 1101 executes the process to determine the number of points with a limited usage period (step S106).

[0133] Figure 22 shows an example of the process for determining the number of limited-time points executed by the system control unit 11 of the exchange ticket management server 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 22, the purchase procedure unit 1101 determines whether the total number of limited-time points is greater than 0 (step S201). If the total number of limited-time points is 0 (step S201: NO), the purchase procedure unit 1101 sets the number of limited-time points to 0 (step S202), and the process for determining the number of limited-time points ends.

[0134] If the total number of limited-time points is greater than 0 (Step S201: YES), the purchase procedure unit 1101 determines whether the total number of limited-time points is greater than the remaining price (Step S203). If the total number of limited-time points is greater than the remaining price (Step S203: YES), the purchase procedure unit 1101 sets the total number of usable limited-time points as the remaining price (Step S204). Here, if the user has only one unit of limited-time points, the purchase procedure unit 1101 may set the number of usable limited-time points as the remaining price. If the user has multiple units of limited-time points, the purchase procedure unit 1101 may determine the number of usable limited-time points for each unit of limited-time points. For example, the purchase procedure unit 1101 may determine the number of usable limited-time points for each limited-time point so that the sum of the number of usable limited-time points corresponding to each of the multiple units of limited-time points matches the balance. At this point, the purchase procedure unit 1101 may determine the number of limited-time points to be used for each limited-time point, so that limited-time points with an expiration date closer to today are used with greater priority. Next, the purchase procedure unit 1101 sets the remaining price to 0 (step S205).

[0135] If the total number of limited-time points is less than or equal to the remaining price (step S204: NO), the purchase procedure unit 1101 sets the number of usable limited-time points to the total number of limited-time points (step S206). Here, if the user has only one unit of limited-time points, the purchase procedure unit 1101 may set the number of usable limited-time points to the number of limited-time points for that unit. If the user has multiple units of limited-time points, the purchase procedure unit 1101 may determine the number of usable limited-time points for each unit of limited-time points. In this case, the purchase procedure unit 1101 may determine the number of usable limited-time points corresponding to each unit of limited-time points to be the number of limited-time points for that unit of limited-time points. Next, the purchase procedure unit 1101 subtracts the total number of usable limited-time points from the remaining price and updates the remaining price (step S207).

[0136] When step S205 or S207 is completed, the purchase procedure unit 1101 obtains the expiration date of each limited-time point for which the number of limited-time points to be used (1 point or more) has been determined from the limited-time point information, and generates a list of limited-time point information including the number of limited-time points to be used and the expiration date (step S208). Next, the purchase procedure unit 1101 sets the number of limited-time point units to the number of limited-time point information included in this list (step S209), and the process of determining the number of limited-time points to be used is completed.

[0137] Returning to Figure 21, once the process for determining the number of points with a limited usage period is complete, the purchase procedure unit 1101 executes the process for determining the number of regular points to be used (step S107).

[0138] Figure 23 shows an example of the process for determining the number of normal points used, which is executed by the system control unit 11 of the exchange ticket management server 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 23, the purchase procedure unit 1101 determines whether the number of normal points is greater than 0 (step S301). If the number of normal points is 0 (step S301: NO), the purchase procedure unit 1101 sets the number of normal points used to 0 (step S302), and the process for determining the number of normal points used ends.

[0139] If the total number of regular points is greater than 0 (Step S301: YES), the purchase procedure unit 1101 determines whether the number of regular points is greater than the remaining price (Step S303). If the number of regular points is greater than the remaining price (Step S303: YES), the purchase procedure unit 1101 sets the number of regular points used to the remaining price (Step S304). Then, the purchase procedure unit 1101 sets the remaining price to 0 (Step S305).

[0140] If the number of regular points is less than or equal to the remaining price (step S304: NO), the purchase procedure unit 1101 sets the number of regular points to be used to the regular number of points (step S306). Next, the purchase procedure unit 1101 subtracts the number of regular points to be used from the remaining price and updates the remaining price (step S307). When step S305 or S307 is completed, the process of determining the number of regular points to be used is finished.

[0141] Returning to Figure 21, once the process for determining the number of regular points to be used is complete, the purchase procedure unit 1101 sets the amount of electronic money to be used as the remaining price (step S108). Next, the purchase procedure unit 1101 generates an HTML document for the purchase confirmation screen 300 that includes the determined number of regular points to be used, the set number of limited-time point units, a list of generated limited-time point information, and the determined amount of electronic money to be used (step S109). For example, the purchase procedure unit 1101 may include in the HTML document a script for the user terminal 7 to send a purchase confirmation request to the exchange ticket management server 1 in response to the operation of the purchase button 330. The purchase procedure unit 1101 may add the following information to the script so that the sent purchase confirmation request includes the user ID and product ID obtained from the purchase confirmation screen request, the number of regular points to be used, the number of limited-time point units, a list of limited-time point information, and the amount of electronic money to be used. Furthermore, the purchase procedure unit 1101 may add the text of these values ​​to the HTML document so that the total number of points used (regular points used 311, limited-time points used 312) and the amount of electronic money used 313 are displayed in the electronic value usage information display area 310. In addition, the purchase procedure unit 1101 may add the product name 111, redemption deadline 115, required points for purchase 116, and redemption ticket price 117 to the purchase target redemption ticket information display area 320 based on the redemption ticket information.

[0142] When step S109 or S105 is completed, the purchase procedure unit 1101 sends the generated HTML document to the user terminal 7 (step S110), and the purchase confirmation screen information transmission process ends. The user terminal 7 displays the purchase confirmation screen 300 based on this HTML document.

[0143] Figure 24 shows an example of a purchase confirmation process executed by the system control unit 11 of the voucher management server 1 according to this embodiment. For example, the user terminal 7 displays the purchase details confirmation screen 300. The user operates the purchase button 330 included in the purchase details confirmation screen 300. Upon detecting this operation, the user terminal 7 sends a purchase confirmation request to the voucher management server. The system control unit 11 may execute a purchase confirmation process in response to receiving the purchase confirmation request.

[0144] As shown in Figure 24, the electronic value utilization unit 1102 obtains the user ID, product ID, number of regular points used, number of limited-time point units used, a list of limited-time point information, and the amount of electronic money used from the purchase confirmation request (step S401). Next, the electronic value utilization unit 1102 determines whether the number of limited-time point units is greater than 0 (step S402). If the number of limited-time point units is greater than 0 (step S402: YES), the electronic value utilization unit 1102 sends a point deduction request, including the obtained user ID and list of limited-time point information, to the point management server 2 (step S403).

[0145] If the number of limited-time point units is 0 (step S402: NO), or after step S403, the process proceeds to step S404. In step S404, the electronic value utilization unit 1102 determines whether the number of regular points used is greater than 0. If the number of regular points used is greater than 0 (step S404: YES), the electronic value utilization unit 1102 sends a point deduction request, including the acquired user ID and the number of regular points used, to the point management server 2 (step S405).

[0146] If the number of regular points used is 0 (step S404: NO), or after step S405, the process proceeds to step S406. In step S406, the electronic value utilization unit 1102 determines whether the amount of electronic money used is greater than 0. If the amount of electronic money used is greater than 0 (step S406: YES), the electronic value utilization unit 1102 sends an electronic money deduction request, including the acquired user ID and the amount of electronic money used, to the electronic money management server 3 (step S407).

[0147] If the amount of electronic money used is 0 (step S406: NO), or after step S407, the process proceeds to step S408. In step S408, the usage quantity information storage control unit 1103 generates code information specific to the voucher being purchased, and generates image data of the code based on this code information (step S408). Next, the usage quantity information storage control unit 1103 generates voucher purchase information including the acquired user ID, product ID, number of limited-time point units, list of limited-time point information, number of regular points used, amount of electronic money used, and code information (step S409). At this time, the usage quantity information storage control unit 1103 may also generate voucher purchase information including the purchase date and time indicating today's date, report information set to "Not Reported", "Usage Status" set to "Not Used", and the code image URL of the generated code image data. Next, the usage quantity information storage control unit 1103 stores the generated voucher purchase information in the voucher purchase DB 14e (step S410). Furthermore, the usage quantity information storage control unit 1103 stores the generated code image data in the storage unit 14, associating it with the code image URL. When step S410 is completed, the purchase confirmation process is finished.

[0148] Figure 25 shows an example of the code screen information transmission process executed by the system control unit 11 of the voucher management server 1 according to this embodiment. For example, the user terminal 7 is displaying the list of previously purchased vouchers screen 400. The user selects a voucher by operating the code display button 118 included in any of the previously purchased voucher information display areas 410 displayed on the list of previously purchased vouchers screen 400. Upon detecting this operation, the user terminal 7 sends a code screen request to the voucher management server. The code screen request may include the user's user ID and the product ID of the product redeemable with the selected voucher.

[0149] As shown in Figure 25, the redemption information transmission unit 1106 obtains the user ID and product ID from the code screen request (step S501). Next, the redemption information transmission unit 1106 obtains the HTML document of the code screen 500 for the product indicated by the obtained product ID from the storage unit 14 (step S502). For example, the HTML documents of the code screen 500 for each type of redemption ticket may be stored in the storage unit 14 in advance. The HTML document stored in the storage unit 14 is the HTML document of the code screen 500, which does not include the code 511 and the report input form 520. Next, the redemption information transmission unit 1106 obtains the redemption ticket information, including the obtained product ID, from the redemption ticket DB 14a (step S503). Next, the redemption information transmission unit 1106 determines whether today is within the redemption period included in the obtained redemption ticket information (step S504).

[0150] If today is within the redemption period (Step S504: YES), the redemption information transmission unit 1106 retrieves the redemption voucher purchase information, including the combination of the acquired user ID and product ID, from the redemption voucher purchase DB 14e (Step S505). Next, the redemption information transmission unit 1106 adds an IMG tag containing the code image URL included in the acquired redemption voucher purchase information to the HTML document of the code screen 500 (Step S506). As a result, code 511 is displayed on the code screen 500. Next, the redemption information transmission unit 1106 adds data for displaying the report input form 520 to the HTML document of the code screen 500 (Step S507). This data includes a script for the user terminal 7 to send report information, including the acquired user ID and product ID, the store series selected by the user, and the store series ID and store ID for each store, in response to the operation of the send button 523.

[0151] If the redemption deadline has expired (step S504: NO), or after step S507, the redemption information transmission unit 1106 sends the HTML document of the code screen 500 to the user terminal 7 (step S508), and the code screen information transmission process ends. Based on this HTML document, the user terminal 7 displays the code screen 500 as shown in Figure 17 or Figure 19, for example.

[0152] Figure 26 shows an example of the report information storage process executed by the system control unit 11 of the voucher management server 1 according to this embodiment. For example, the user terminal 7 is displaying the code screen 500. The user selects the store chain and store in the report input form 520 included in the code screen 500 and operates the send button 523. Upon detecting this operation, the user terminal 7 sends the report information to the voucher management server. The system control unit 11 may execute the report information storage process in response to receiving the report information.

[0153] As shown in Figure 26, the report information storage control unit 1105 adds the report number and the current date and time to the received report information and stores this report information in the report DB 14f (step S601). Next, the report information storage control unit 1105 changes the report status stored in the exchange ticket purchase DB 14e, which is associated with the combination of user ID and product ID included in the report information, to "reported" (step S602), and the report information storage process ends.

[0154] Figure 27 shows an example of the electronic value return control process executed by the system control unit 11 of the voucher management server 1 according to this embodiment. The electronic value return control process is executed after the redemption period for each type of voucher that can be purchased has expired, and after the used information for that voucher has been stored in the used voucher code DB 14g. For example, the system control unit 11 may execute the electronic value return control process at a timing instructed by the operator of the voucher management server 1. At this time, the operator may specify the product ID of the product that can be redeemed with the voucher that is subject to the electronic value return control process from among the vouchers whose redemption period has expired. A terminal device (not shown) used by the operator transmits the specified product ID to the voucher management server 1.

[0155] As shown in Figure 27, the electronic value refund unit 1107 searches the voucher purchase DB 14e for voucher purchase information that includes the specified product ID (step S701). Next, the electronic value refund unit 1107 selects one of the retrieved voucher purchase information (step S702). Next, the electronic value refund unit 1107 obtains code information from the selected voucher purchase information (step S703). Next, the electronic value refund unit 1107 searches the used code DB 44a for used code information that matches the obtained code information (step S704). As a result of the search, the electronic value refund unit 1107 determines whether or not there is any matching used code information (step S705). If there is matching used code information (step S705: YES), the electronic value refund unit 1107 changes the usage status included in the selected voucher purchase information to "used". Furthermore, the electronic value return unit 1107 adds the store chain ID and store ID included in the previously used information, which includes the relevant previously used code information, to the selected exchange ticket purchase information.

[0156] If no matching previously used code information is found (Step S705: NO), the electronic value refund unit 1107 obtains the user ID from the selected voucher purchase information (Step S707). Next, the electronic value refund unit 1107 searches the report DB 14f for report information including the obtained user ID and the specified product ID (Step S708). Based on the search results, the electronic value refund unit 1107 determines whether or not there is matching report information (Step S709). If there is matching report information (Step S709: YES), the electronic value refund unit 1107 executes the electronic value refund process (Step S710).

[0157] Figure 28 shows an example of the electronic value refund process executed by the system control unit 11 of the voucher management server 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 28, the electronic value refund unit 1107 determines whether the number of limited-time point units included in the limited-time point information included in the selected voucher purchase information is greater than 0 (step S801). If the number of limited-time point units is greater than 0 (step S801: YES), the electronic value refund unit 1107 sets the refund amount to the number of limited-time points (step S802). Next, the electronic value refund unit 1107 determines whether the expiration date included in the limited-time point information has expired (step S803). If the expiration date has expired (step S804: YES), the electronic value refund unit 1107 changes the expiration date to a date later than today (step S804). If the selected voucher purchase information includes multiple limited-time point information, the electronic value refund unit 1107 executes steps S802 to S804 for each limited-time point information. If the expiration date has not passed (step S803), or after step S804, the electronic value refund unit 1107 sends a request for added points to the point management server 2, including the acquired user ID, the point type indicating the limited-time points, the number of points to be refunded, and the expiration date (step S805). If the selected voucher purchase information includes multiple limited-time point information, the electronic value refund unit 1107 includes a list containing multiple combinations of the number of points to be refunded and the expiration date in the request for added points.

[0158] If the number of limited-time point units is 0 (step S801: NO), or after step S805, the electronic value refund unit 1107 determines whether the number of regular points used included in the selected voucher purchase information is greater than 0 (step S806). If the number of regular points used is greater than 0 (step S806: YES), the electronic value refund unit 1107 sets the refunded points to the number of regular points used (step S807). Next, the electronic value refund unit 1107 sends a refund point addition request to the point management server 2, including the acquired user ID, the point type indicating regular points, and the refunded points (step S808).

[0159] If the number of regular points used is 0 (step S806: NO), or after step S808, the electronic value refund unit 1107 determines whether the amount of electronic money used included in the selected voucher purchase information is greater than 0 (step S809). If the amount of electronic money used is greater than 0 (step S809: YES), the electronic value refund unit 1107 sets the refund point amount to the amount of electronic money used (step S810). Next, the electronic value refund unit 1107 sends a refund electronic money addition request including the acquired user ID and the refund electronic money amount to the electronic money management server 3 (step S811), and the electronic value refund control process ends.

[0160] Returning to Figure 27, once the electronic value return control process is complete, the electronic value return unit 1107 changes the usage status included in the selected voucher purchase information to "returned" (step S711).

[0161] If no relevant report information is found (step S709: NO), the process proceeds to step S712. Similarly, after step S706 or S711, the process also proceeds to step S712. In step S712, the electronic value return unit 1107 determines whether all retrieved voucher information has been selected (step S712). If there is still unselected voucher information (step S712: NO), the process proceeds to step S702. In step S702, the electronic value return unit 1107 selects one of the unselected voucher information items. If all voucher information has been selected (step S712: YES), the electronic value return control process terminates.

[0162] Figure 29 shows an example of the aggregation screen information transmission process executed by the system control unit 11 of the voucher management server 1 according to this embodiment. For example, a product provider operates the product provider terminal 6 to select aggregation of the number of out-of-stock items. In response to this selection, the report information receiving unit 1104 of the voucher management server 1 searches the voucher DB 14a for voucher information including the product provider ID of that product provider. Based on the product IDs included in the retrieved voucher information, the report information receiving unit 1104 sends an HTML document of a screen listing the products offered by that product provider to the product provider terminal 6. The product provider selects one or more products from the products displayed on the product provider terminal 6 and selects to perform aggregation. Upon detecting this operation, the product provider terminal 6 sends an aggregation screen request to the voucher management server 1, including a list of product IDs for the selected products. The system control unit 11 may execute aggregation screen information transmission processing in response to receiving the aggregation screen request.

[0163] As shown in Figure 29, the aggregation information transmission unit 1109 obtains a template for the HTML document of the report count aggregation screen from the storage unit 14 (step S901). Next, the aggregation unit 1108 selects one of the products specified by the product provider based on the list of product IDs included in the aggregation screen request (step S902). Next, the aggregation unit 1108 searches the voucher purchase information, including the product ID of the selected product, from the voucher purchase DB 14e (step S903). Next, the aggregation unit 1108 calculates the number of purchasing users, the total number of users who used the voucher, and the number of users who returned the voucher based on the retrieved voucher purchase information (step S904). The number of purchasing users indicates the number of users who purchased the voucher for the selected product. The aggregation unit 1108 may also count the number of retrieved voucher purchase information entries as the number of purchasing users. The total number of users who used the voucher indicates the number of users who used the voucher. The aggregation unit 1108 may count the number of voucher purchase information entries from the retrieved voucher purchase information that include a usage status set to "used" as the total number of users. The number of users who have returned their vouchers indicates the number of users whose electronic value used to purchase the voucher has been returned. The aggregation unit 1108 may count the number of voucher purchase information entries from the retrieved voucher purchase information that include a usage status set to "returned" as the number of users who have returned their vouchers.

[0164] Next, the aggregation unit 1108 calculates the number of users for each store chain based on the store chain ID included in the voucher purchase information that includes a usage status set to "used" among the retrieved voucher purchase information (step S905). The number of users for each store chain indicates the number of users who used the voucher at that store.

[0165] Next, the aggregation unit 1108 searches the report DB 14f for report information including the product ID of the selected product (step S906). Next, the aggregation unit 1108 calculates the number of reports found as the total number of reports (step S907). Next, the aggregation unit 1108 calculates the number of reports for each store series based on the store series ID included in the searched report information (step S808). The number of reports for each store series indicates the number of out-of-stock reports indicating that the selected product is not available at the stores belonging to that store series.

[0166] Next, the aggregated information transmission unit 1109 associates the selected product with the number of purchasing users, the total number of users using the product, the number of users returning the product, and the total number of reports, and adds data to the HTML document of the aggregation screen to display the product name, the number of purchasing users, the total number of users using the product, the number of users returning the product, and the total number of reports (step S909). Next, the aggregated information transmission unit 1109 associates the number of users using the product and the number of reports with the store chain for each store chain, and adds data to the HTML document of the aggregation screen to display the name of the store chain, the number of users using the product, and the number of reports (step S910).

[0167] Next, the aggregation unit 1108 determines whether all of the specified products have been selected (step S911). If there are still products that have not been selected (step S911: NO), the process proceeds to step S902. In step S902, the aggregation unit 1108 selects one of the unselected products. If all of the specified products have been selected (step S911: YES), the aggregation information transmission unit 1109 sends the HTML document of the aggregation screen to the product provider terminal 6 (step S912), and the aggregation screen information transmission process ends. The product provider terminal 6 displays the aggregation screen showing the number of reports, etc., based on this HTML document.

[0168] As explained above, according to this embodiment, if the store does not have the product redeemable with the voucher, the user can report this, and each of the two or more types of electronic value used to purchase the voucher will be returned to the user in the quantity used. Therefore, users can use two or more types of electronic value to purchase vouchers with peace of mind.

[0169] Here, if the two or more types of electronic value used include both quiescent electronic value and reducible electronic value, the voucher management server 1 may return both the quiescent electronic value and the reducible electronic value. In this case, the user can confidently use the quiescent electronic value and the reducible electronic value to purchase vouchers.

[0170] Furthermore, if the voucher management server 1 receives two or more types of electronic value used to purchase a voucher, including time-limited electronic value, it may extend the validity period of the time-limited electronic value and return it. In this case, it is possible to prevent situations where users become unable to use the time-limited electronic value after receiving it back due to its expiration date. Therefore, users can use time-limited electronic value to purchase vouchers with peace of mind.

[0171] Here, the voucher management server 1 may extend the validity period of the time-limited electronic value to be returned only if the validity period of the time-limited electronic value has expired by the time of return of the electronic value. In this case, the validity period of the time-limited electronic value to be returned can be extended under reasonable conditions.

[0172] Furthermore, the voucher management server 1 may send the voucher information to the user terminal 7 so that the user terminal 7 can output the information. In this case, the voucher management server 1 may continue to send the voucher information even after receiving the report information, until the voucher's redemption deadline has passed. In this case, even after reporting that the store does not have the product that can be redeemed with the voucher, the user can still use the voucher until the redemption deadline has passed. Even if the store identified by the user in the report does not have the product, it may be available at other stores. Therefore, the user can go to a store that has the product and use the voucher to receive the product. This increases the likelihood of using the voucher.

[0173] Here, if the voucher management server 1 has received the report information, it may return the electronic value of the purchased voucher, provided that the voucher has not been used and its redemption period has expired. In this case, the electronic value can be returned under appropriate conditions.

[0174] Furthermore, if the voucher management server 1 has not received any reported information, it does not have to return the electronic value of the purchased voucher even if the voucher's expiration date has passed without it being used. In this case, the server can encourage the use of the purchased voucher.

[0175] Furthermore, the voucher management server 1 may store the reported information in the storage unit 14 each time it is received. The voucher management server 1 may also aggregate the number of reports indicating that the product is unavailable based on the stored reported information. The voucher management server 1 may also send aggregated information showing the aggregated number of reports to the product provider terminal 6. In this case, the product provider can understand the extent to which the supply of products to the store is insufficient.

[0176] Here, the voucher management server 1 may aggregate the number of reports for each store chain. Alternatively, the voucher management server 1 may transmit aggregated information that shows the aggregated number of reports in relation to the store chain. In this case, product providers can understand the extent of the shortage in the supply of products to each store chain.

[0177] Furthermore, the voucher management server 1 may aggregate the number of reports for each product. Alternatively, the voucher management server 1 may transmit aggregated information that associates the aggregated number of reports with the product. In this case, product providers can understand the extent of the shortage in the supply of each product to the store.

[0178] (Note 1) When a voucher redeemable for a predetermined product is purchased using two or more types of electronic value, the voucher management device is characterized by comprising: a storage control means that stores usage quantity information indicating the quantity of electronic value used for each of the two or more types of electronic value in a usage quantity information storage means in association with the user who purchased the voucher, so as to be able to identify the type of electronic value used; a report information receiving means that receives report information from the terminal device of the user who purchased the voucher indicating that the store does not have any products redeemable for the voucher; and a return means that returns electronic value to the user in the type and quantity of each of the two or more types of electronic value used, based on the usage quantity information stored in the usage quantity information storage means in association with the user who uses the terminal device that is the source of the received report information.

[0179] (Note 2) The exchange ticket management device according to Note 1, wherein the return means returns the first electronic value and the second electronic value when the two or more electronic values ​​used to purchase the exchange ticket include a first electronic value granted to the user by the user paying a fee and a second electronic value different from the first electronic value which is returned to the user by the user using a predetermined service.

[0180] (Note 3) The exchange ticket management device according to Note 1 or 2, characterized in that, if the two or more electronic values ​​used to purchase the exchange ticket include a time-limited electronic value with a set expiration date, the return means extends the expiration date of the time-limited electronic value and returns the time-limited electronic value.

[0181] (Note 4) The exchange ticket management device according to Note 3, characterized in that the return means extends the validity period of the time-limited electronic value to be returned only if the validity period of the time-limited electronic value has expired by the time the electronic value is returned.

[0182] (Note 5) A voucher management device according to any one of Notes 1 to 4, comprising a voucher information transmission means for transmitting voucher information to a user's terminal device so that the terminal device can output the voucher information for exchanging the purchased voucher for the product, the voucher management device further comprising a voucher information transmission means for transmitting the voucher information even after the report information has been received, until the expiration date of the voucher has passed.

[0183] (Note 6) The voucher management device according to any one of Notes 1 to 5, characterized in that the return means returns the electronic value on the condition that the purchased voucher has not been used and its validity period has expired when the report information has been received.

[0184] (Note 7) The voucher management device according to any one of Notes 1 to 6, characterized in that the return means does not return the electronic value even if the purchased voucher has not been used and its validity period has expired if the report information has not been received.

[0185] (Note 8) A voucher management device according to any one of Notes 1 to 7, further comprising: a report information storage control means that stores the received report information in a report information storage means each time the report information is received; an aggregation means that aggregates the number of reports indicating that the product is unavailable based on the report information stored in the report information storage means; and an aggregation information transmission means that transmits the aggregated number of reports to a terminal device of a business operator that provides the product in order to supply the product to the store.

[0186] (Note 9) The voucher management device according to Note 8, characterized in that the received report information includes series identification information for identifying the series to which the store identified by the user as a store that does not have the product belongs, the aggregation means aggregates the number of reports for each series of stores, and the aggregation information transmission means transmits the aggregation information that shows the aggregated number of reports in association with the series of stores.

[0187] (Note 10) The exchange ticket management device according to Note 8 or 9, characterized in that each of the multiple exchange tickets, each redeemable for each of the multiple different products, is available for purchase, the received report information includes product identification information for identifying the product redeemable for the purchased exchange ticket, the aggregation means aggregates the number of reports for each product, and the aggregation information transmission means transmits the aggregation information indicating the aggregated number of reports in association with the product.

[0188] (Note 11) An electronic value return method performed by a computer, characterized in that, when a voucher redeemable for a predetermined product is purchased using two or more types of electronic value, the method includes: a storage control step of storing usage quantity information indicating the quantity of electronic value used for each of the two or more types of electronic value in a usage quantity information storage means in association with the user who purchased the voucher, so as to be able to identify the type of electronic value used; a report information receiving step of receiving report information from the terminal device of the user who purchased the voucher indicating that the store does not have any products redeemable for the voucher; and a return step of returning electronic value to the user in the type and quantity of each of the two or more types of electronic value used, based on the usage quantity information stored in the usage quantity information storage means in association with the user who uses the terminal device that is the source of the received report information.

[0189] (Note 12) A voucher management program characterized in that, when a voucher redeemable for a predetermined product is purchased using two or more types of electronic value, a storage control means stores usage quantity information indicating the quantity of electronic value used for each of the two or more types of electronic value in a usage quantity information storage means in a manner that allows the type of electronic value used to be identified, in association with the user who purchased the voucher; a report information receiving means that receives report information from the terminal device of the user who purchased the voucher indicating that the store does not have any products redeemable for the voucher; and a return means that returns electronic value to the user in the type and quantity of each of the two or more types of electronic value used, based on the usage quantity information stored in the usage quantity information storage means in association with the user who uses the terminal device that is the source of the received report information. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0190] 1. Exchange ticket management server 2. Point Management Server 3. Electronic money management server 4. Code Management Server 5 Store terminals 6. Product Provider Terminal 7 User terminals 11, 21, 31, 41 System Control Unit 12, 22, 32, 42 System Buses 13, 23, 33, 43 Input / Output Interfaces 14, 24, 34, 44 storage section 14a Exchange Ticket DB 14b Store Series Database 14c Store Database 14d Non-Target Stores Database 14e Exchange Ticket Purchase DB 14f Report DB 14g Redemption Voucher Used Code Database 24a Normal Point DB 24b Limited-Time Points Database 34a Electronic Money Balance Database 44a Existing Code Database 15, 25, 35, 45 Communications Department 1101 Purchasing Procedures Department 1102 Electronic Value Utilization Section 1103 Usage Quantity Information Storage and Control Unit 1104 Report Information Receiving Unit 1105 Report Information Storage Control Unit 1106 Exchange Information Transmission Unit 1107 Electronic Value Return Department 1108 Aggregation Department 1109 Aggregation Information Transmission Unit NW Network S Communication System

Claims

1. When a voucher redeemable for a predetermined product is purchased using two or more types of electronic value, a storage control means stores usage quantity information indicating the quantity of electronic value used for each of the two or more types of electronic value in a usage quantity information storage means, associated with the user who purchased the voucher, so as to identify the type of electronic value used. A reporting information receiving means that receives reporting information from the terminal device of the user who purchased the aforementioned exchange voucher, indicating that the store does not have any products that can be exchanged for the voucher. A return means that returns electronic value to the user in the type and quantity of each of the two or more types of electronic value used, based on the usage quantity information stored in the usage quantity information storage means in association with the user using the terminal device that is the source of the received report information, A voucher management device characterized by comprising the following features.

2. The exchange ticket management device according to claim 1, wherein the return means returns the first electronic value and the second electronic value respectively when the two or more electronic values ​​used to purchase the exchange ticket include a first electronic value granted to the user by the user paying a fee and a second electronic value different from the first electronic value which is returned to the user by the user using a predetermined service.

3. The exchange ticket management device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the return means extends the expiration date of the time-limited electronic value and returns the time-limited electronic value if the two or more types of electronic value used to purchase the exchange ticket include a time-limited electronic value with a set expiration date.

4. The exchange ticket management device according to claim 3, characterized in that the return means extends the validity period of the time-limited electronic value to be returned only if the validity period of the time-limited electronic value has expired by the time of return of the electronic value.

5. A voucher management device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: a means for transmitting exchange information to a user's terminal device so that the terminal device can output the exchange information for exchanging the purchased voucher for the product, the means for transmitting the exchange information even after the report information has been received, until the expiration date of the voucher has passed.

6. The voucher management device according to claim 5, characterized in that the return means returns the electronic value on the condition that the purchased voucher has not been used and its validity period has expired, provided that the report information has been received.

7. The voucher management device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the return means does not return the electronic value even if the purchased voucher has not been used and its validity period has expired if the report information has not been received.

8. Each time the aforementioned report information is received, a report information storage control means is provided to store the received report information in the report information storage means, Based on the report information stored in the report information storage means, a counting means for counting the number of reports indicating that the product is unavailable, Aggregated information transmission means for transmitting aggregated information showing the aggregated number of reports to a terminal device of a business operator that supplies the product to a store, The exchange ticket management device according to claim 1, further comprising the following:

9. The received report information includes series identification information for identifying the series to which the store identified by the user as a store that does not have the product belongs. The aforementioned aggregation means aggregates the number of reports for each store chain, The exchange ticket management device according to claim 8, characterized in that the aggregated information transmission means transmits the aggregated information showing the aggregated number of reports in relation to the store chain.

10. Each of the aforementioned exchange vouchers, which can be exchanged for each of several different products, is available for purchase. The received report information includes product identification information for identifying the product redeemable for the purchased voucher, The aggregation means aggregates the number of reports for each product, The exchange ticket management device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the aggregated information transmission means transmits the aggregated information indicating the aggregated number of reports in association with the product.

11. In a computer-based electronic value return method, When a voucher redeemable for a predetermined product is purchased using two or more types of electronic value, a storage control step is performed to store usage quantity information indicating the quantity of electronic value used for each of the two or more types of electronic value in a usage quantity information storage means in association with the user who purchased the voucher, so as to be able to identify the type of electronic value used. A report information receiving step, in which the terminal device of the user who purchased the aforementioned exchange voucher receives report information indicating that the store does not have any products that can be exchanged for the said exchange voucher, A return step in which, based on the usage quantity information stored in the usage quantity information storage means in association with the user using the terminal device that is the source of the received report information, the electronic value is returned to the user in the type and quantity of each of the two or more types of electronic value that were used. A method for returning electronic value, characterized by including [a certain element].

12. Computers, When a voucher redeemable for a predetermined product is purchased using two or more types of electronic value, a storage control means stores usage quantity information indicating the quantity of electronic value used for each of the two or more types of electronic value in a usage quantity information storage means, associated with the user who purchased the voucher, so as to identify the type of electronic value used. A reporting information receiving means that receives reporting information from the terminal device of the user who purchased the aforementioned exchange voucher, indicating that the store does not have any products that can be exchanged for the voucher. A return means that returns electronic value to the user in the type and quantity of each of the two or more types of electronic value used, based on the usage quantity information stored in the usage quantity information storage means in association with the user using the terminal device that is the source of the received report information. A voucher management program characterized by its function as such.

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