Payment server, payment method, and program

Abstract

To provide a payment server, a payment method, and a program capable of improving user convenience. [Solution] A payment server that provides electronic payment services in cooperation with a payment app running on a user terminal device, and is equipped with a communication unit that communicates with the user terminal device and a first store terminal device, a voucher management unit that manages information about electronic vouchers that have an expiration date and can be used at pre-set stores among stores where electronic payment services are available, and a payment processing unit that executes the electronic payment when an electronic payment using the voucher is requested from the user terminal device or the first store terminal device, and if the amount of the voucher is lower than the purchase amount when the electronic payment is executed, the payment processing unit executes the electronic payment using the voucher in combination with a combined payment method pre-set by the user.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a payment server, a payment method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are electronic payment services in which a voucher such as a gift certificate held by a user is automatically applied to make an electronic payment. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7348419 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, if the voucher amount is less than the purchase amount, the voucher is not automatically applied and is instead deducted from the user's charge balance or another payment method is applied, making the voucher unusable, which can be inconvenient for users.

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

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a payment server that provides an electronic payment service in cooperation with a payment app running on a user terminal device, and includes a communication unit that communicates with the user terminal device and a first store terminal device, a voucher management unit that manages information about electronic vouchers that have an expiration date and can be used at pre-set stores among stores that offer electronic payment services, and a payment processing unit that executes the electronic payment when an electronic payment using a voucher is requested from the user terminal device or the first store terminal device, and the payment processing unit executes the electronic payment using the voucher in combination with a combined payment method pre-set by the user if the amount of the voucher is lower than the purchase amount when the electronic payment is executed. Effect of the Invention

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

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration for realizing an electronic payment service. [Diagram 2] This is a sequence diagram (part 1) illustrating the general flow of electronic payment. [Diagram 3] This is a sequence diagram (part 2) illustrating the general flow of electronic payment. [Figure 4] 1 is a configuration diagram of a payment server 100 according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of user information 172. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of affiliated store / store information 176. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of voucher information 178. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by the payment application 20 during store scanning when a voucher is automatically applied. [Figure 9]FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a general flow of electronic payment using a voucher. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen of a payment application 20 for performing electronic payment using a voucher scanned by a user. [Figure 11] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a process flow when the payment server 100 performs electronic payment. [Figure 12] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a user who has set automatic application of a voucher to on and has set the concurrent payment method to deferred payment when making an electronic payment. [Figure 13] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation when processing is performed taking into consideration auto-charge. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an embodiment of the payment server, the payment method, and the program of the present invention will be described. Various devices for providing services to users and performing internal analysis, such as the "server," "management device," and "information providing device" that will appear below, may be realized by a group of distributed devices, and each device may be operated by a different business operator. Furthermore, the owner of the hardware of the device (the cloud server provider) and the business that actually operates the device may also be different. The application program and the payment server work together to provide an electronic payment service. In the following description, the application program is referred to as a payment application. The electronic payment service is a service that supports payments related to the purchase of goods and services at a store. The store is, for example, a physical store (real store) that exists in the real world, but may also include a virtual store for electronic commerce. The virtual store may include one provided by an entity different from the operator of the electronic payment service. In that case, when making a payment for shopping at the virtual store, the screen is controlled to transition to an interface screen of the electronic payment service. In the electronic payment service, the store is treated as belonging to, for example, an affiliated store (brand), and processing such as payment when a purchase is made at the store is mainly performed between the user and the affiliated store. Alternatively, processing such as payment may be carried out between the user and the store.

[0010] [Electronic payment service] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration for realizing an electronic payment service. The electronic payment service is realized mainly by a payment server 100. The payment server 100 communicates with, for example, one or more user terminal devices 10, one or more first store terminal devices 50, and one or more second store terminal devices 70 via a network NW. The network NW includes, for example, the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), a wireless base station, a provider device, and the like.

[0011] The user terminal device 10 is, for example, a portable terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. The user terminal device 10 is a computer device having at least an optical reading function, a communication function, a display function, an input reception function, and a program execution function. In the following description, components for realizing these functions are referred to as a camera, a communication device, a touch panel, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), etc. In the user terminal device 10, a processor such as a CPU executes a payment application 20, thereby operating to provide an electronic payment service to a user in cooperation with a payment server 100. The payment application 20 is installed in the user terminal device 10 from, for example, an application store, and controls the camera, communication device, touch panel, etc.

[0012] The first store terminal device 50 is installed, for example, in a store. The first store terminal device 50 is a computer device having at least a product price acquisition function, an optical reading function, a program execution function, and a communication function. The first store terminal device 50 includes a so-called POS (Point of Sale) device, and the product price acquisition function and the optical reading function may be realized by the POS device. The store code image 60 is placed in the store, and is a code image such as a QR code (registered trademark) printed on a paper or plastic medium. The store code image 60 may be displayed on a display placed in the store (which may be the display of a terminal device such as a smartphone).

[0013] The second store terminal device 70 is used by the operator of the affiliated store. The second store terminal device 70 is a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, or the like. An interface 72 for affiliated stores runs on the second store terminal device 70. The interface 72 for affiliated stores may be an app for affiliated stores or a browser. The interface 72 for affiliated stores accepts coupon settings and the like made by the operator of the affiliated store and transmits them to the payment server 100. The second store terminal device 70, which is a smartphone, has the function of displaying a code image corresponding to a store code image and reading a code image displayed by the user terminal device 10 by executing the app for affiliated stores.

[0014] The payment server 100 realizes electronic payment based on payment information received from the user terminal device 10 or the first store terminal device 50. The first store terminal device 50 may include a POS device and an affiliated store server, in which case the payment information is sent from the POS device via the affiliated store server to the payment server 100. In the following explanation, no distinction is made between these two and it is assumed that the payment information is sent from the first store terminal device 50.

[0015] 2 and 3 are sequence diagrams illustrating the general flow of electronic payment. There may be two patterns of electronic payment: pattern 1 and pattern 2.

[0016] In the case of pattern 1 (hereinafter referred to as user scan) shown in FIG. 2, the user terminal device 10 with the payment application 20 activated decodes the store code image 60 by the optical reading function (S1). The store code image 60 includes store URL (Uniform Resource Locator) information. This store URL is an electronic payment service domain to which store-identifying information is added, and is associated with an affiliated store ID, a store ID, etc. in the payment server 100 (described later). The payment application 20 transmits the first payment information including the store URL and the account ID to the payment server 100 (S2). The payment server 100 searches for store information (described later) from the affiliated store ID and the store ID corresponding to the store URL, acquires the affiliated store name and the store name information (S3), and transmits it to the payment application 20 (S4). The user inputs the payment amount into the user terminal device 10 on the screen on which the affiliated store name and the store name are displayed (S5). Then, the user terminal device 10 generates second payment information including at least the payment amount, and transmits it to the payment server 100 (S6). The payment server 100 performs electronic payment based on the received second payment information (S7). The payment server 100 then transmits a payment completion notice (information for displaying a payment completion screen) to the payment application 20 (S8), and the payment application 20 displays the payment completion screen (S9). Note that when the store code image 60 is displayed on a display installed in the store, the store code image 60 may include not only the store URL but also information on the payment amount. In this case, the step of the user inputting the payment amount is omitted, and the information on the payment amount is included in the first payment information and transmitted to the payment server 100. Information on the affiliated store name and the store name may be included in the payment completion screen and displayed.

[0017] In the case of pattern 2 (hereinafter referred to as store scan) shown in FIG. 3, when the payment application 20 is started, when a payment operation is performed in the payment application 20, when an automatic update timing (e.g., every minute) occurs, and at other timings, the payment application 20 transmits a request for issuing a one-time code to the payment server 100 (S11). The payment server 100 generates a one-time code (S12) and transmits it to the payment application 20 (S13). The payment application 20 displays a code image such as a QR code or a barcode generated based on the one-time code (S14). The user holds (presents) the display surface of the user terminal device 10 over the first store terminal device 50, and the first store terminal device 50 decodes the code image by an optical reading function and obtains the one-time code, etc. (S15). The first store terminal device 50 then generates payment information including the one-time code, payment amount, affiliated store ID, store ID, etc., and transmits it to the payment server 100 (S16). The payment amount information is acquired in advance by reading a barcode or manually entering it. The payment server 100 identifies the user corresponding to the one-time code based on the received information and performs electronic payment (S17). The payment server 100 then transmits a payment completion notice to the payment application 20 (S18), and the payment application 20 displays a payment completion screen (S19).

[0018] Note that electronic payment may be performed using only one of the above patterns. Furthermore, the "account ID" described in FIG. 2 may be other information (e.g., a phone number) that can be used as user identification information. Furthermore, issuance of a one-time code may be omitted in the store scan, and the payment application 20 may display a code image generated based on the user's account ID. In this case, the payment server 100 identifies the user corresponding to the account ID instead of identifying the user corresponding to the one-time code.

[0019] [Payment server] FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the payment server 100 according to the first embodiment. The payment server 100 includes, for example, a communication unit 110, a payment content providing unit 120, a payment processing unit 130, an information management unit 140, a voucher management unit 150, and a storage unit 170. The components other than the communication unit 110 and the storage unit 170 are realized by, for example, a hardware processor such as a CPU executing a program (software). Some or all of these components may be realized by hardware (including circuitry) such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or may be realized by cooperation between software and hardware. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device (a storage device with a non-transient storage medium) such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or flash memory, or may be stored in a removable storage medium (non-transient storage medium) such as a DVD or CD-ROM, and installed in the storage device by inserting the storage medium into a drive device.

[0020] The storage unit 170 is a HDD, a flash memory, a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The storage unit 170 may be a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device that the payment server 100 can access via a network. The storage unit 170 stores information such as user information 172, payment content information 174, affiliated store / shop information 176, and voucher information 178.

[0021] The communication unit 110 is a communication interface for connecting to the network NW. The communication unit 110 is, for example, a network interface card.

[0022] The payment content providing unit 120 has, for example, a function of a Web server, and provides information (content) for displaying various screens of the electronic payment service to the user terminal device 10. The payment content providing unit 120 appropriately reads necessary content from the payment content information 174 and provides it to the user terminal device 10. The user terminal device 10 accepts various inputs by the user while the content is being played by the payment application 20, and transmits the above-mentioned payment information and the like to the payment server 100.

[0023] The payment processing unit 130 performs payment processing based on the payment information transmitted by the user terminal device 10 or the first store terminal device 50. The payment processing unit 130 performs payment processing while referring to the user information 172.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the user information 172. The user information 172 is an example of the registration information of a user. The user information 172 is associated with information such as a user URL, an account ID, a telephone number, a password, an email address, a user ID, a name, an address, a date of birth, a registration date, a charge balance, a post-payment setting, a post-payment limit, a post-payment usage amount, a post-payment available amount, a voucher ID, a terminal payment method, a payment priority setting, a priority order 1, a priority order 2, a card payment method, an affiliated card number, a bank account, a credit card number, charge history information, and a payment history information. The user URL is used for a remittance process between users. When registering for the electronic payment service, it is necessary to register a telephone number and a password. The account ID is issued to the user by the payment server 100, and the user ID is an ID that can be set by the user at will (does not have to be set). Similarly, the email address, the name, the address, and the date of birth are information that can be set by the user at will (does not have to be set). The registration date is the date on which the user registered with the electronic payment service (the date on which the account was created). Hereinafter, the user instance (electronic payment account) to which this information is associated will be referred to as the account.

[0025] The charge balance is information indicating the balance of electronic money that is set by a user by transferring money to an account in advance. The means of transfer include transfer from an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) of a designated company (bank) and transfer from a registered bank account. The deferred payment setting is information indicating whether or not the setting for enabling electronic payment by deferred payment has been completed, and is set to either "completed" or "not completed." The deferred payment limit is the limit of deferred payment that can be used each month, the deferred payment usage amount is the amount of deferred payment that has already been used in the current month, and the deferred payment available amount is the amount of deferred payment that can be used in the current month, which is calculated by subtracting the deferred payment usage amount from the deferred payment limit. Although only one deferred payment limit is shown in the figure, in reality, there is also a daily upper limit, and the lower of these may be set as the deferred payment limit. Further details of deferred payment will be described later. The payment method setting is setting information indicating whether the user will perform electronic payment using the charge balance or payment by deferred payment at that time. The bank account and credit card number are information on a bank account or credit card number (account number, card number) that can be used to deposit funds into an electronic payment service. Charge history information is a history of the user's previous transfers to the electronic payment service to increase the charge balance. Payment history information is information that indicates the details of payments made by the user for each payment (date and time, store ID of the store where the purchase was made, payment amount, payment method, etc.).

[0026] The voucher ID is identification information that can identify a voucher. The voucher ID stored in the user information 172 is linked to the voucher ID stored in the voucher information 178 described later. A single user may be linked to multiple voucher IDs. The automatic voucher application setting includes information indicating whether or not to automatically apply the voucher to perform electronic payment when a user has a voucher that can be used when making an electronic payment. Furthermore, the automatic voucher application setting includes a payment method (combined payment method) to be used in conjunction when the amount of the voucher is equal to or less than the purchase amount. The automatic voucher application setting can be set by the user himself. The combined payment method is set to either payment by the charge balance in the electronic payment service or post-payment by credit card.

[0027] The payment priority setting is information indicating whether or not the user has set priorities for the payment methods of electronic payments. If the payment priority setting is enabled, it indicates that the user has set priorities for the payment methods of electronic payments. If the payment priority setting is disabled, it indicates that the user has not set priorities for the payment methods of electronic payments. As the payment priority setting, for example, two payment methods can be set (priorities 1 and 2). The payment method is set, for example, to either payment with the charge balance or payment on delivery.

[0028] 6 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of affiliated store / store information 176. The affiliated store / store information 176 includes, for example, a first table 176A in which an affiliated store ID and a store ID are associated with a store URL, a second table 176B in which an affiliated store name and sales amount (described above) are associated with an affiliated store ID, and a third table 176C in which a store name and a local government that issues a usable voucher are associated with a store ID. In addition to this information, the affiliated store / store information 176 may also include information such as the category of the affiliated store or store, the location of the store, and payment patterns.

[0029] The information management unit 140 manages user information 172 and affiliated store / store information 176 based on information acquired from the user terminal device 10 and the second store terminal device 70. The information management unit 140 adds new records to, edits, and deletes the user information 172 and affiliated store / store information 176.

[0030] The voucher management unit 150 manages information related to vouchers owned by users. Information related to vouchers is stored in voucher information 178. The voucher management unit 150 obtains information from the voucher information 178 as necessary, and updates the information every time an electronic payment is made using a voucher.

[0031] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the voucher information 178. The voucher information 178 is information in which, for example, information such as the amount, the amount used, the available amount, the expiration date, the usable store, and the usable city, ward, town, and village is associated with a voucher ID, which is identification information of the voucher. The amount is the amount purchased for each voucher. The amount used is the amount already used for the voucher. The available amount is the amount obtained by subtracting the amount used from the amount. The expiration date indicates the date by which the voucher can be used. The usable store is a store where the voucher can be used. The usable municipality is information equivalent to the usable store when the voucher is issued by a municipality. The municipality may be a prefecture, a city, ward, town, and village, or an independent organization such as a shopping district.

[0032] [Electronic payment] When payment information is acquired from the user terminal device 10 or the first store terminal device 50, the payment processing unit 130 refers to the user information 172 to acquire the "payment method setting" of the user. For a user whose "payment method setting" is set to "charge balance", the payment processing unit 130 performs electronic payment as follows. For example, the payment processing unit 130 performs electronic payment by decreasing the charge balance managed in association with the user ID and increasing the item value of the affiliated store's sales. The item value of the affiliated store's sales is not used as electronic money itself, for example, and an amount corresponding to the item value of the sales is transferred to a bank account in a cycle according to an agreement between the affiliated store and the electronic payment service.

[0033] The payment processing unit 130 performs electronic payment for users whose "setting information" is set to "deferred payment" as follows. Deferred payment is set separately from "credit payment" in cooperation with a credit card company, which is a separate entity from the operator of the electronic payment service, and the operator of the electronic payment service acts as a creditor and allows electronic payment that is not dependent on the charge balance within the deferred payment limit. In order to receive the deferred payment service, a credit card provided by the operator of the electronic payment service may be required. The amount used for deferred payment is settled on the payment date of the following month in a lump sum for one month, for example, by debit from a bank account. In this case, the payment processing unit 130 performs provisional payment by adding the payment amount to the deferred payment amount and subtracting the same amount from the available deferred payment amount, and when the closing date comes, it performs processing to debit the payment for the current month on the payment date of the following month as described above, or requests the operator of the credit card company to perform such processing. In addition, if the payment amount exceeds the available deferred payment amount at the time of provisional payment, an error notification is returned to the payment application 20.

[0034] The payment processing unit 130 may execute auto-charge when the charge balance falls below a certain amount. The user sets in advance on the payment application 20 whether or not to execute auto-charge when the charge balance falls below a certain amount. For example, the setting is that 5000 yen is auto-charged when the charge balance falls below 1000 yen. If the auto-charge setting in the user information 172 is enabled, auto-charge is executable, and if disabled, auto-charge is not executed. The payment processing unit 130 performs electronic payment and compares the charge balance with a certain amount each time the charge balance is updated, and executes auto-charge if it is determined that the charge balance falls below the certain amount. When the payment processing unit 130 executes auto-charge, it updates the user information 172 with the latest charge balance, which is the sum of the auto-charge amount and the charge balance.

[0035] When an electronic payment using a voucher is requested from the user terminal device 10 or the first store terminal device 50, the payment processing unit 130 performs the electronic payment as follows. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by the payment application 20 in the store scan scene when the voucher is automatically applied. The interface screen IM1 is a screen that displays a code image in the store scan scene. When the voucher automatic application setting is on, the interface screen IM1 displays an area AR1. The area AR1 displays the text "If there is a usable gift certificate, I will pay with the gift certificate," indicating that the voucher will be automatically applied. In addition, the AR1 has a link to a setting screen related to automatic application, "Change settings." The interface screen IM2 is a screen where a store scan is performed and payment is completed. The interface screen IM2 displays areas AR2 and AR3. The area AR2 displays the name of the voucher and the amount used, and the area AR3 displays the name of the voucher used as a payment method, indicating that the voucher has been automatically applied and the electronic payment has been completed.

[0036] When the payment processing unit 130 obtains payment information for electronic payment at a store where a voucher can be used from the user terminal device 10 or the first store terminal device 50, it obtains information about the voucher held by the user from the voucher information 178. Upon obtaining the information about the voucher, the payment processing unit 130 applies the voucher and performs electronic payment using the voucher.

[0037] When an electronic payment using a voucher is requested, the payment processing unit 130 subtracts the usage amount from the total amount, and updates the voucher information 178 with the subtracted amount as the available amount (balance).

[0038] If the user has previously turned on automatic application of the voucher, the voucher will be automatically applied when sending an electronic payment request from the user terminal device 10 or the first store terminal device 50, without the user having to perform an operation to select the voucher.

[0039] Even if the user turns off the automatic voucher application setting, selects a voucher when selecting a payment method using the user terminal device 10, and requests to make an electronic payment, the payment processing unit 130 performs an electronic payment using the voucher based on the request for electronic payment. Even if the automatic voucher application setting is turned off, a voucher can be used, but it is necessary to execute an operation to make a payment using the voucher.

[0040] Fig. 9 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the general flow of electronic payment using a voucher. The following mainly describes the differences from Fig. 2. In the case of user scanning, the user terminal device 10 with the payment application 20 running decodes the store code image 60 using an optical reading function (S1). The payment application 20 transmits first payment information including the store URL and account ID to the payment server 100 (S2).

[0041] Next, the payment server 100 searches for store information from the affiliated store ID and store ID corresponding to the store URL to obtain the affiliated store name and store name information (S3). Next, the payment server 100 identifies vouchers that can be used at the store among the vouchers granted to the user (S3#), and transmits the information obtained in the above S3 and S3# to the payment application 20 (S4).

[0042] The user selects a voucher on a screen that displays the member store name, shop name, and available vouchers, and inputs the payment amount into the user terminal device 10 (S5). The user terminal device 10 then generates second payment information including at least the payment amount, and transmits it to the payment server 100 (S6). The payment server 100 performs electronic payment based on the received second payment information (S7). The payment server 100 performs electronic payment, for example, by subtracting the payment amount from the amount available on the voucher. The payment server 100 then transmits a payment completion notice (information for displaying a payment completion screen) to the payment application 20 (S8), and the payment application 20 displays the payment completion screen (S9).

[0043] If the user has set the automatic voucher application setting to on, the operation of selecting a voucher in the process of S5 in Figure 9 will be eliminated, and a voucher that can be used at the store where the user is attempting to make an electronic payment will be automatically applied.

[0044] If the available credit on the voucher falls below the purchase amount when making an electronic payment, the payment processing unit 130 makes the electronic payment using the voucher in combination with a combined payment method preset by the user.

[0045] When a user turns on the automatic application setting for vouchers and sets the combined payment method to the charge balance, and the available amount of the voucher is less than the purchase amount, electronic payment is made using both the charge balance and the voucher.

[0046] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen of the payment application 20 for making an electronic payment using a voucher scanned by a user. The interface screen IM3 is a screen where the member store name and the store name are displayed and the payment amount is input to the user terminal device 10. The interface screen IM3 displays areas AR4 and AR5. Area AR4 displays the name of the gift certificate and the available amount, and area AR5 displays the text "The shortfall in the gift certificate will be paid with the charged balance." These displays indicate that if the available amount of the voucher falls short of the purchase amount, the charged balance and the voucher will be used together to make the electronic payment.

[0047] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the process flow when the payment server 100 performs electronic payment. The process of this flowchart starts when payment information is acquired from the user terminal device 10 or the first store terminal device 50. In FIG. 11 and subsequent figures, the voucher balance is indicated as "VB( The remaining balance is referred to as "Voucher Balance (Voucher Balance)", the remaining charge balance is referred to as "CB (Charge Balance)", and the purchase amount is referred to as "PA (Purchase Amount)".

[0048] First, the payment processing unit 130 determines whether or not the user associated with the payment information has set the automatic voucher application setting to ON and has set the charge balance as the concurrent payment method (S100).

[0049] In the process of S100, if the automatic voucher application setting is not set to ON, the payment processing unit 130 performs a normal payment without using a voucher as described above (S110), and ends the process of this flowchart.

[0050] In the process of S100, if the user associated with the payment information has set the automatic voucher application setting to on and has set the concurrent payment method to postpaid, the payment processing unit 130 executes the process of the flowchart in FIG.

[0051] The payment processing unit 130 causes the voucher management unit 150 to obtain information about the vouchers owned by the user, and judges whether or not the user owns a usable voucher (S120). The criteria for judging whether or not a voucher is usable are, for example, that the expiration date of the voucher is a date after the date of use, and that the usable amount of the voucher is 1 yen or more.

[0052] If the user has a usable voucher, the payment processing unit 130 judges whether the voucher owned by the user can be used at the store where the user is going to make the electronic payment (S130). The criteria for judging whether the voucher owned by the user can be used are, for example, whether the store where the user is going to make the electronic payment is registered in the voucher information 178 as a store where the voucher can be used, whether the local government of the store where the user is going to make the electronic payment is the same as the local government that issued the voucher, etc.

[0053] If the payment processing unit 130 determines in the processing of S120 that the user does not possess a usable voucher, or if it determines in the processing of S130 that the store where the electronic payment is to be made cannot use the voucher possessed by the user, it executes the electronic payment using the charge balance (S110) and terminates the processing of this flowchart.

[0054] If the payment processor 130 determines that the store where the electronic payment is being made can use the voucher owned by the user, it compares the voucher balance with the purchase amount and determines whether the voucher balance is equal to or greater than the purchase amount (VB≧PA) (S140).

[0055] If the payment processor 130 determines that the voucher balance is equal to or greater than the purchase amount (VB≧PA), it uses the voucher balance to make an electronic payment (S150).

[0056] When the settlement processing unit 130 determines that the voucher balance is less than the purchase amount (VB < PA), it obtains from the user information 172 and compares the purchase amount with the total amount of the voucher balance and the charge balance, and determines whether the total amount of the voucher balance and the charge balance is greater than or equal to the purchase amount (VB + CB ≥ PA) (S160).

[0057] When the settlement processing unit 130 determines that the total amount of the voucher balance and the charge balance is less than the purchase amount (VB + CB < PA), the settlement fails, and an error notification is output to the settlement application 20 (S170). The settlement processing unit 130 may prompt the selection of another settlement method together with the error notification.

[0058] When the settlement processing unit 130 determines that the total amount of the voucher balance and the charge balance is greater than or equal to the purchase amount (VB + CB ≥ PA), it performs an electronic settlement using the total amount of the voucher balance and the charge balance (VB + CB) (S180). When the electronic settlement is completed, this flowchart ends.

[0059] Even when the voucher owned by the user is automatically applied and the available amount of the voucher is insufficient compared to the purchase amount, an electronic settlement can be performed by using it in combination with the charge balance, improving the convenience for the user.

[0060] When the user sets the automatic application setting of the voucher to on, sets the combined settlement method to deferred payment, and the voucher balance is less than the purchase amount (VB < PA), an electronic settlement is performed by combining deferred payment and the voucher.

[0061] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a user who sets the automatic application of the voucher to on and sets the combined settlement method to deferred payment for performing an electronic settlement. From FIG. 12 onwards, the available amount for deferred payment is expressed as "DP (Deferred Payment)". The description will focus on the differences from FIG. 11.

[0062] In the processes of S200 to S240, similar to S100 to S150 in the flowchart of FIG. 11, the settlement processing unit 130 acquires settlement information from the user terminal device 10 or the first store terminal device 50. When the settlement processing unit 130 determines that the user does not own a voucher or the store is not a voucher - available store, it performs electronic payment using deferred payment.

[0063] When the remaining voucher balance is less than the purchase amount (VB < PA), the settlement processing unit 130 acquires the user's available deferred - payment amount (DP) from the user information 172, and compares the total amount of the voucher balance and the available deferred - payment amount (VB + DP) with the purchase amount (PA) (S250).

[0064] When the total amount of the voucher balance and the available deferred - payment amount is less than the purchase amount (VB + DP < PA), the settlement fails, and the settlement app 20 is caused to output an error notification (S260).

[0065] When the total amount of the voucher balance and the available deferred - payment amount is greater than or equal to the purchase amount (VB + DP ≧ PA), the settlement processing unit 130 performs electronic payment with the total amount of the voucher balance and the available deferred - payment amount (VB + DP) (S270). When the electronic payment is completed, this flowchart ends.

[0066] The user can select a combined payment method to be used in combination with the voucher, and the settlement server 100 can improve the convenience of the user.

[0067] The settlement processing unit 130 causes the voucher management unit 150 to acquire voucher information 178. When the user owns multiple vouchers, the voucher with the expiration date closest to the use date is automatically applied to the electronic payment. For example, when the user makes an electronic payment and there are multiple vouchers available for use at the store, one with an expiration date 10 days after the use date and the other with an expiration date 1 year after the use date, the settlement processing unit 130 automatically applies the voucher with the expiration date 10 days after the use date.

[0068] If there are multiple vouchers and the available credit of the voucher whose expiration date is closest to the date of electronic payment (use date) is less than the purchase amount, the payment processing unit 130 performs electronic payment using the voucher in combination with another voucher, the other voucher being a different voucher issued by the same issuer as the voucher.

[0069] By automatically applying multiple vouchers at the same time, a user can use multiple vouchers at once even if the user owns multiple vouchers with amounts lower than the purchase amount, thereby enabling the payment server 100 to improve convenience.

[0070] If the total amount of the multiple vouchers is less than the purchase amount, the payment processor 130 executes electronic payment using the combined payment method and the multiple vouchers. If the user has set the automatic voucher application setting to ON and the combined payment method to charge balance or deferred payment, the user can subtract the total amount of the multiple vouchers from the purchase amount and electronically pay the remaining amount using the combined payment method.

[0071] In addition, when the combined amount of the voucher balance and the combined payment method is less than the purchase amount, the payment processing unit 130 combines the payment method set to the second highest payment priority, or increases the charge balance through auto-charge to make an electronic payment.

[0072] If the total amount using both the combined payment method and the voucher is less than the purchase amount, the payment processing unit 130 makes up the shortfall using a payment method based on the payment priority order of the pre-set electronic payment service and executes the electronic payment.

[0073] In addition, when the total amount of the combined payment method with the voucher and the upper limit amount of the payment method based on the priority of payment is less than or equal to the purchase amount, and the user has enabled the auto-charge of the remaining charge amount in the payment app in advance, the payment processing unit 130 may execute the auto-charge and perform the electronic payment by combining the payment method based on the priority of payment with the combined payment method of the voucher and the remaining charge amount for which the auto-charge has been executed.

[0074] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation when performing processing considering auto-charge. In the figures after FIG. 13, the auto-charge amount is expressed as "AC (Auto Charge)". The user owns one voucher, sets the combined payment method as the remaining charge amount, and sets the first priority of payment as post-payment.

[0075] The processes of S400 to S435 are the same as the processes of S100 to S180 in FIG. 10, so the description is omitted. In the process of S430, when it is determined that the total amount of the voucher balance and the remaining charge amount is less than the purchase amount (VB + CB < PA), the payment processing unit 130 adds the available amount of the voucher and the remaining charge amount, and further adds the available amount of the user's post-payment, and determines whether the total amount of the voucher balance, the remaining charge amount, and the available amount of post-payment is greater than or equal to the purchase amount (VB + CB + DP ≧ PA) (S440).

[0076] When the total amount of the voucher balance, the remaining charge amount, and the available amount of post-payment is greater than or equal to the purchase amount (VB + CB + DP ≧ PA), the payment processing unit 130 performs the electronic payment using the voucher balance, the remaining charge amount, and the post-payment (S445).

[0077] In the process of S440, when the total amount of the voucher balance, the charge balance, and the available amount for deferred payment is less than the purchase amount (VB + CB + DP < PA), the settlement processing unit 130 executes auto - charge and determines whether the total amount of the voucher balance, the charge balance, the available amount for deferred payment, and the auto - charge amount is greater than or equal to the purchase amount (VC + CB + DP + AC ≧ PA) (S450). If the user has invalidated the auto - charge setting or the auto - charge process itself fails, the electronic payment fails and this flowchart ends.

[0078] When the total amount of the voucher balance, the charge balance, the available amount for deferred payment, and the auto - charge amount is greater than or equal to the purchase amount (VC + CB + DP + AC ≧ PA), the settlement processing unit 130 performs electronic payment using the total amount of the voucher balance, the charge balance, the available amount for deferred payment, and the auto - charge amount (S455). In the process of S450, when the total amount of the voucher balance, the charge balance, the available amount for deferred payment, and the auto - charge amount is less than the purchase amount (VC + CB + DP + AC < PA), the settlement processing unit 130 determines the payment as failed and outputs an error notification to the payment application 20 (S460).

[0079] According to the embodiment described above, vouchers can be automatically applied. When the purchase amount cannot be settled with the remaining voucher balance, other settlement methods can be used in combination to complete the electronic payment, thereby improving the convenience for users.

[0080] As described above, the embodiments for implementing the present invention have been described using the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0081] 10 User terminal device 20 Payment application 100, 100A Payment server 120, 120A Payment content providing unit 122A Display control unit 130 Payment processing unit 140 Information Management Department 150 Voucher Management Department 172 User information 178 Voucher Information

Claims

1. A payment server that provides an electronic payment service in cooperation with a payment application that runs on a user terminal device, A communication unit that communicates with the user terminal device and a first store terminal device; a voucher management unit that manages information on electronic vouchers that have an expiration date and can be used at preset stores among stores that can use electronic payment services; a processing unit that executes electronic payment when an electronic payment using the voucher is requested from the user terminal device or the first store terminal device, when the amount of the voucher with the shortest expiration date among the multiple vouchers is less than the purchase amount when the electronic payment is executed, and the sum of the amount of the voucher with the next shortest expiration date and issued by the same issuer as the multiple vouchers and the amount of the voucher with the shortest expiration date included in the multiple vouchers is equal to or greater than the purchase amount, the processing unit performs electronic payment for the purchase amount using the voucher with the shortest expiration date and the voucher with the same issuer; If the total is less than the purchase amount, the electronic payment is executed using the voucher with the nearest expiration date, the voucher from the same issuer, and a combined payment method preset by a user with a higher priority; referring to information on the local government that is the issuer of the voucher associated with the identification information of the voucher stored in a storage unit, and determining whether the issuers are the same based on whether the local government associated with the identification information of the voucher is the same; Payment server.

2. A payment server that provides an electronic payment service in cooperation with a payment application that runs on a user terminal device, A communication unit that communicates with the user terminal device and a first store terminal device; a voucher management unit that manages information on electronic vouchers that have an expiration date and can be used at preset stores among stores that can use electronic payment services; a processing unit that executes electronic payment when an electronic payment using the voucher is requested from the user terminal device or the first store terminal device, when the amount of the voucher with the shortest expiration date among the multiple vouchers is less than the purchase amount when the electronic payment is executed, and the sum of the amount of the voucher with the next shortest expiration date and issued by the same issuer as the multiple vouchers and the amount of the voucher with the shortest expiration date is equal to or greater than the purchase amount, the processing unit performs electronic payment for the purchase amount using the voucher with the shortest expiration date and the voucher with the same issuer; If the total is less than the purchase amount, the electronic payment is executed using the voucher with the nearest expiration date, the voucher from the same issuer, and a combined payment method preset by a user with a higher priority; The electronic payment is made by reading code information of a store related to the electronic payment, displaying an interface screen on a display unit of the user terminal device in response to reading the code information; the interface screen includes an area for inputting the amount of the electronic payment, information indicating the type of the voucher, the available balance of the voucher, and information indicating a method of electronic payment to be used in combination when the available balance of the voucher is insufficient to cover the amount of the electronic payment; Payment server.

3. When an amount obtained by combining the total amount and the amount using the charge balance, which is the combined payment method, falls below the purchase amount, and auto-charge is enabled, the processing unit performs auto-charge using the auto-charge so that the combined amount becomes the purchase amount, and performs electronic payment for the purchase amount. The payment server according to claim 2.

4. The processing unit includes: Obtaining information regarding the voucher owned by the user from the voucher management unit; If there are a plurality of vouchers and the value of the voucher whose expiration date is closest to the date of making the electronic payment is less than the purchase amount, the electronic payment is made using the voucher in combination with another voucher. The payment server according to claim 1.

5. When the total amount of the plurality of vouchers is less than the purchase amount, the processing unit executes the electronic payment using the combination payment method and the plurality of vouchers. The payment server according to claim 4.

6. When the total amount of the combined payment method and the voucher falls short of the purchase amount, the processing unit makes up for the shortfall using a payment method based on a preset payment priority order in the electronic payment service and executes the electronic payment. The payment server according to claim 1.

7. the processing unit, when the total amount of the voucher, the combined payment method, and the upper limit of the payment method based on the payment priority order is less than the purchase amount, and the user has enabled auto-charge of the charge balance in the payment app in advance, executes the auto-charge, executing the electronic payment using the voucher, the combined payment method, the payment method based on the payment priority order, and the charge balance after the auto-charge; The payment server according to claim 6.

8. A processor of a payment server that provides an electronic payment service in cooperation with a payment application running on a user terminal device, Communicating with the user terminal device and a first store terminal device; Manage information on electronic vouchers that are set to an expiration date and can be used at preset stores among stores that can use electronic payment services; When an electronic payment using the voucher is requested from the user terminal device or the first store terminal device, the electronic payment is executed; when the electronic payment is made, if the value of the voucher with the shortest expiration date among the multiple vouchers is less than the purchase amount, and the sum of the value of the voucher with the next shortest expiration date and issued by the same issuer as the multiple vouchers and the value of the voucher with the shortest expiration date is equal to or greater than the purchase amount, the electronic payment for the purchase amount is made using the voucher with the shortest expiration date and the voucher with the same issuer; If the total is less than the purchase amount, the electronic payment is executed using the voucher with the nearest expiration date, the voucher from the same issuer, and a combined payment method preset by a user with a higher priority; referring to information on the local government that is the issuer of the voucher associated with the identification information of the voucher stored in a storage unit, and determining whether the issuers are the same based on whether the local government associated with the identification information of the voucher is the same; Payment method.

9. A processor of a payment server that provides an electronic payment service in cooperation with a payment application running on a user terminal device, A process of causing the user terminal device to communicate with a first store terminal device; A process for managing information on electronic vouchers that are set to an expiration date and that can be used at preset stores among stores that can use electronic payment services; a process of executing electronic payment when electronic payment using the voucher is requested from the user terminal device or the first store terminal device; a process of making an electronic payment for the purchase amount using the voucher with the nearest expiration date and the voucher with the same issuer as the voucher when the electronic payment is made and the value of the voucher with the nearest expiration date among the multiple vouchers is less than the purchase amount, and the sum of the value of the voucher with the next nearest expiration date and the voucher with the nearest expiration date included in the multiple vouchers and the value of the voucher with the nearest expiration date is equal to or greater than the purchase amount; If the total amount is less than the purchase amount, a process of executing the electronic payment using the voucher with the nearest expiration date, a voucher from the same issuer, and a combined payment method preset by a user with a high priority; A process of referring to information on the local government that is the issuer of the voucher associated with the identification information of the voucher stored in a storage unit, and determining whether the issuers are the same based on whether the local government associated with the identification information of the voucher is the same; A program for executing.

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