Cashless payment integrated system

Abstract

To provide a cashless settlement integrated system that enables the integrated use of multiple settlement systems.SOLUTION: A cashless settlement integrated system 100 includes a user terminal 1 held by a customer and an integrated management device 5. The integrated management device 5 acquires the balance of points held by the same customer or the balance of electronic money from each of settlement systems, generates payment detailed data indicating the breakdown when paying the billed amount from multiple settlement systems as a combination of points or electronic moneys, and transmits it to the user terminal 1. The user terminal 1 transfers the received payment detailed data to a store-side system 7. The store-side system 7 transmits transaction request data to a settlement system indicated in the payment detailed data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an integrated cashless payment system that can be used in conjunction with various cashless payment systems in which payment is completed by a settlement machine reading a code displayed on a user terminal. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, so-called smartphone payments have become popular, in which payment is completed when the payer reads a two-dimensional code displayed on a mobile terminal such as a smartphone carried by the payer when paying for purchases at a store, or when the mobile terminal reads a two-dimensional code showing bill information.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a payment system in which the billing amount is input at a vendor terminal, converted into a two-dimensional code and shown on a display, the two-dimensional code is photographed by a user's mobile terminal, and the billing amount is shown on the display; if the user approves this, card designation information and a user-specific ID are sent to an operating company server, and the operating company server carries out payment procedures with the financial institution based on the card information obtained based on the user-specific information.

[0004] For these cashless payment services using QR codes, various payment service providers have developed their own payment systems, and payments are processed by the payment system when the user installs the payment application program (hereafter referred to as "app") provided by the provider on the user's device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Re-tabled publication No. 2017-029824 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] With so many payment providers available, users install apps from multiple providers based on the services they provide, and then make smartphone payments by selecting the appropriate app each time they make a payment at a store.

[0007] Each payment system allows users to choose between points equivalent to a certain amount, pre-charged electronic money, or credit cards as a payment method. Points are awarded by each payment company to users who make payments using their own payment system.

[0008] However, users cannot use points across payment systems, for example by combining the points they have in each system and using them to pay the bill.

[0009] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an integrated cashless payment system that enables multiple payment systems to be integrated and used. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of user terminals and a cashless payment service for the users. ofa plurality of payment systems operated by a payment service provider that provides the service, a plurality of payment machines installed by retail stores that have a contract with the payment service provider, a store-side system that manages the plurality of payment machines, a plurality of cashless payment terminals provided corresponding to the payment machines, and an integrated management device that serves as a platform for integrating and making the payment systems available, all of which are connected via a communications network; the user terminal is connected to the integrated management device and the plurality of payment systems via the communications network, a registration screen showing a list of payment methods from the plurality of payment systems is displayed on the user terminal, a priority order of the payment methods to be used for the payment of the user's purchases at the retail store is input, and the priority order of the payment methods for the payment amount and the usage limit for each of the plurality of payment systems are set based on a usage limit setting screen showing the balance of points or the remaining amount of electronic money held by the user, and By input User ID and billing amount The payment process for the purchase is carried out according to the The integrated management device receives the priority order and the usage limit of the payment method from the user terminal, generates payment details data for settling the billing amount, and transmits the payment details data to the user terminal of the user. The present invention provides an integrated cashless payment system characterized by the above.

[0011] The integrated management device may determine the breakdown based on the payment priority of the points and the electronic money in each of the payment systems registered in advance by the user.

[0012] The detailed payment data is also transmitted to the store system through a cash register that manages sales by handling money with shoppers.

[0013] In one embodiment, the payment details are represented in an optically readable code.

[0014] In another embodiment, the payment details data is transmitted via near field communication. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the cashless payment integrated system of the present invention, the integrated management device obtains the remaining points or electronic money balance held by the same customer from each payment system and generates payment details data showing the breakdown of payments made using these combinations, making it possible to make cashless payments across each payment system, thereby increasing customer convenience when making payments in stores. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] An explanatory diagram of the basic processing flow for cashless payment is shown. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a cashless payment integrated system according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] The block diagram of the cashless payment integrated system is shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] 4 shows the processing steps of a user terminal when a user registers registration information in the integrated management device. [Diagram 5] 13 is a schematic diagram showing an input screen displayed on a user terminal when a user registers account information, which is registered in advance for each payment application, in the integrated management device. [Figure 6] 13 is a schematic diagram showing an input screen displayed on a user terminal when a user registers in the integrated management device the priority order of payment methods to be used for settling billed amounts for shopping. [Figure 7] 13 shows a schematic diagram of an input screen displayed on a user terminal when a user registers a limit on points or coupons to be used for payment of a shopping charge. [Figure 8] 13 shows a schematic diagram of an input screen displayed on a user terminal when a user ID and password are registered in the integrated management device. [Figure 9] 3 illustrates a data format of a storage device in the integrated management device. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 shows a schematic explanatory diagram of the configuration of payment details data. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a payment processing procedure by the cashless payment integrated system according to the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the payment processing procedure by the cashless payment integrated system of the present invention. [Figure 13] 13 is a schematic diagram showing a screen displayed on a user terminal when a payment is completed using the cashless payment integrated system according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a cashless payment integrated system for implementing the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0018] First, we will provide an overview of the current cashless payment system. Figure 1 shows the basic data flow between the payment service provider that provides the cashless payment service, the user (store customer) who uses this service, and the store that has entered into a contract with the payment service provider to allow the user to make cashless payments.

[0019] First, a user who uses a cashless payment service installs an application (payment application) released by a payment service provider on the user terminal 1A (step S100). As a result, the link between the user terminal 1A and the payment application and the payment method set by the user are registered in the payment system 2A on the payment service provider side (step S101). The payment method here is electronic money charged in advance, a credit card, points given by the payment service provider, etc.

[0020] After registration, when using a cashless payment service provided by a payment service provider at the time of payment at a contracted store, the user terminal 1A requests the payment system 2A to generate a QR code (registered trademark) for payment through the payment app (step S102). At the same time, the payment app transmits to the payment system 2A the payment method selected by the user from among the registered payment methods. Therefore, the payment system 2A generates a payment ID that identifies the payment and a payment QR code indicating the payment method, and issues it to the user terminal (step S103), and the user terminal 1A displays the payment QR code sent (step S104).

[0021] The store system 7A reads the payment QR code displayed on the user terminal 1A (step S105) and issues transaction request data (step S106). This transaction request data includes the payment ID and payment method indicated by the QR code, as well as information on the amount to be charged to the user. The payment system 2A then verifies the payment ID and determines whether the amount can be paid using the specified payment method, and notifies the user terminal 1A and the store system 7A of the result (step S107).

[0022] If this notification indicates that payment is possible, the store system 7A issues a receipt indicating completion of payment (step S108), and the user terminal 1A displays the completion of payment (step S109). Then, when the payment system 2A determines that payment is possible, it performs the payment process specified by the user (step S110).

[0023] However, there are multiple payment providers that provide the above cashless payment services, and users install payment apps released by each payment provider on the user terminal 1A and use them accordingly. The present invention provides a cashless integrated system that can integrate and use the cashless payment services of each payment provider.

[0024] 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a cashless payment integrated system 100 according to the present invention. The system is configured by connecting a user terminal 1, each payment system 2 operated by payment businesses A, B, C, and D that provide cashless payment services to users, each settlement machine 3 installed in each contract store that has a contract with the payment businesses A, B, C, and D, a cashless payment terminal 4 installed corresponding to the settlement machine 3, an integrated management device 5 that serves as a platform for integrating and using these payment systems 2, and a credit company server 8 via a communication network 6. The communication network 6 here includes various communication paths such as the Internet, a mobile communication network, a public line network, and a dedicated line.

[0025] The payment system 2 and the store-side system 7 may be considered to be basically the same as the existing payment system 2A and the store-side system 7A described with reference to FIG.

[0026] The settlement machine 3 is a register that manages sales by exchanging money with shoppers, and is included in the store's system 7 that is installed in the contracted store. In recent years, so-called POS registers that manage sales information at the time of monetary exchange have been adopted.

[0027] The user terminal 1 is a smartphone, a general-purpose mobile terminal, or a tablet terminal, and an app for users (a payment integration app) that can be used by users to integrate cashless payments is installed on the user terminal 1 along with the above-mentioned payment apps released by the payment providers A, B, C, and D. By activating this payment integration app, the user terminal 1 can be used to pay for items at stores.

[0028] The cashless payment terminal 4 is connected to the settlement machine 3, and outputs the payment details data indicated by the user terminal 1 to the settlement machine 3. As will be made clear later, the payment details data indicates the payment system 2 to be used for the payment and the payment method at that time, i.e., whether the payment will be made with points, pre-charged electronic money, or a credit card. Therefore, the settlement machine 3 performs sales processing based on the payment details data received from the cashless payment terminal 4.

[0029] The integrated management device 5 controls the user who has installed the payment integration app on the user terminal 1 to make a payment by integrating the points and electronic money balances held by the user in each payment system 2. Therefore, the payment details data is generated by the integrated management device 5 and transmitted to the user terminal 1.

[0030] An example of a schematic configuration of each device of the user terminal 1, the settlement machine 3, the cashless payment terminal 4, and the integrated management device 5 in the above-mentioned cashless payment integrated system 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0031] (User terminal 1 configuration) The user terminal 1 is a general smartphone equipped with a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, an input unit 13, a display unit 14, and a communication unit 15. In this case, the function of the user terminal 1 of the cashless payment integrated system 100 is realized by running a payment integration app pre-installed on the smartphone in the background of the mobile OS.

[0032] The control unit 11 executes the mobile OS and the integrated payment application stored in the storage unit 12 to perform overall control of the user terminal 1.

[0033] The storage unit 12 stores a mobile OS and an integrated payment application. The storage unit 12 also stores a user ID and user information input by the user. The user ID can be an email address owned by the user.

[0034] The communication unit 15 is controlled by the control unit 11 to communicate with the integrated management device 5 via the communication network 6, to transmit a user ID and user information, and to receive payment details data.

[0035] (Configuration of cashless payment terminal 4) The cashless payment terminal 4 has a control unit 41 , a communication unit 42 that communicates with the settlement machine 3 , a memory unit 43 , and a reading unit 44 that reads the QR code displayed on the display unit 14 of the user terminal 1 .

[0036] The control unit 31 is a CPU that performs overall control of the cashless payment terminal 4, and realizes various control-related functions by reading and executing programs pre-stored in the memory unit 43.

[0037] In this example, the payment details data is indicated by a QR code, and the reading unit 44 reads the QR code, thereby causing the cashless payment terminal 4 to acquire the payment details data from the user terminal 1. The transmission of the payment details data is not limited to reading a QR code, and a barcode may also be used. Also, instead of the reading unit 44 using optical means, the cashless payment terminal 4 may acquire the payment details data by communicating with the short-range communication unit 16 of the user terminal 1 using a short-range communication unit 45 that uses the 2.4 GHz frequency band (Bluetooth (registered trademark)).

[0038] (Configuration of the integrated management device 5) The integrated management device 5 is configured as a general server computer having a control unit 51, a storage device 52, and a communication unit 53.

[0039] The control unit 51 is composed of a CPU, a RAM which serves as a working memory area during operation, and a ROM which stores programs and various data which realize the functions unique to the present invention, and the CPU executes these programs to perform overall control of the integrated management device 5.

[0040] The storage device 52 stores user registration information sent from the user terminal 1. When the user sets this registration information in the user terminal 1 in accordance with a processing procedure by the integrated payment application, the registration information is transmitted from the user terminal 1 to the integrated management device 5 and stored in the storage device 62.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a processing procedure of the user terminal 1 using the integrated payment application when the user registers user information from the user terminal 1 to the integrated management device 5.

[0042] In the figure, the control unit 11 of the user terminal 1 first searches for payment applications stored in the storage unit 12 (step S01). Then, the control unit 11 displays an input screen for account information registered in advance by the user for each detected payment application, as shown in Fig. 5 (step S02).

[0043] Next, the control unit 11 displays a registration screen on the display unit 14, for example, as shown in Fig. 6 (step S03). This registration screen shows a list of payment methods for each of the businesses A, B, C, and D that provide the user with payment services. In the example shown, the payment system 2 operated by the business A has payment methods using A-Pay (cash charge), A-Points, and credit card (post-payment by the card company), the payment system operated by the business B has payment methods using B-Pay (cash charge) and B-Points, the payment system operated by the business C has payment methods using C-Pay (cash charge), C-Points, and credit card (post-payment by the card company), and the payment system operated by the business D has payment methods using D-Pay (cash charge), D-Points, and D-Coupon (discount).

[0044] From this registration screen, the user inputs the priority order of the payment methods to be used for payment of shopping charges ("Payment Method Priority Order"). In the example shown, it is input that B-Points held in B Company's payment system 2 are used as the top priority, followed by C-Points held in C Company's payment system 2, coupons held in D Company's payment system 2, and A-Pay held in A Company's payment system 2.

[0045] After inputting the priority order of the payment methods, tapping the "Confirm" button causes the control unit 11 to display a usage limit setting screen on the display unit 14, for example as shown in Fig. 7 (step S04). The usage limit setting screen displays the payment methods according to the "payment method priority order" input by the user, and also displays the number of points and remaining charge amount information held by the user, which the control unit 11 has obtained by logging in to the payment system 2 with each of the input accounts.

[0046] In this usage limit setting screen, the user inputs the "usage limit" of points or electronic money when making a payment using the payment method shown on the screen. In other words, if the number of owned points or remaining balance information is to be applied to one payment, the user selects "Use up to the limit", and if only a portion of the points is to be applied, the user enters the limit number of points or amount.

[0047] Next, after setting the usage limit, tapping the "Confirm" button causes the control unit 11 to display an input screen for the user's email address (user ID) and password on the display unit 14, for example as shown in Fig. 8 (step S05). After inputting the email address, tapping the "Send" button sends the registration information to the integrated management device 5, and the information is stored in the storage device 52 for one user, for example in the storage format shown in Fig. 9.

[0048] Here, we will explain the aforementioned payment details data. When billing amount information is sent from the user terminal 1, the integrated management device 5 generates payment details data indicating which payment system 2 to use and which payment method (points, electronic money, credit card) to use to pay the billing amount based on the "payment method priority order" and "usage limit" stored in the storage device 51 corresponding to that user.

[0049] When a payment is made across multiple payment systems 2, the payment details data indicates the breakdown of the costs to be borne by each payment system 2. For example, the payment details data shown in Fig. 10(a) indicates information that a total of 3,358 yen will be paid, including 1,500 points held in the account registered by the user in the payment system 2 of payment service provider A together with the account information registered by the user in this account, and 1,850 points held in the account registered by the user in the payment system 2 of payment service provider B together with the account information registered by the user in this account.

[0050] The payment details data shown in Fig. 10(b) indicates that a total of 3358 yen will be paid, consisting of 1500 yen in electronic money that has been pre-charged to the account registered by the user in the payment system 2 of payment service provider C along with the account information, and 1850 yen in electronic money that has been pre-charged to the account registered by the user in the payment system 2 of payment service provider D along with the account information. Alternatively, it may be a combination of points and electronic money.

[0051] The payment details data shown in Figure 10(c) indicates a payment by credit card, and indicates billing amount information together with account information registered by the user in the payment system 2 of payment service provider A. In this case, the credit card name, card number, etc. are registered in advance in the payment system 2.

[0052] (Configuration of Payment Machine 3) The settlement machine 3 is in a store-side system 7 constructed within a store or across multiple stores in the same chain, and handles monetary transactions with shoppers, and is equipped with a control unit 21, a memory unit 22, an input device 23 such as a touch panel or keyboard, a scanner 24 for reading various codes, a communication unit 25 for communicating with the cashless payment terminal 4, and a display unit 26. The store-side system 7 withdraws the amount of claimed points or the amount of electronic money for each payment system indicated in the payment details data received by the settlement machine 3 from the cashless payment terminal 4 through each payment system 2, to collect the payment from the user.

[0053] (Processing operation of payment system 1) The payment processing procedure by the cashless payment integrated system 100 configured as above will be described with reference to Figures 11 and 12. In these figures, when the settlement machine 3 calculates the amount of the user's purchases, determines the billing amount, and displays it on the display device 26, the user launches the payment integration app on the user terminal 1 and inputs the billing amount into the app. As a result, the user terminal 1 transmits the user's user ID and billing amount information to the integrated management device 5 (step S1).

[0054] The integrated management device 5 logs in to the payment system 2 using the account information stored in the storage device 52 corresponding to the transmitted user ID, and obtains the point information and electronic money amount information held by the user (step S2).

[0055] The integrated management device 5 then generates payment details data for paying the billed amount from the usage priority and usage limit information of the user stored in the storage device 52 (step S3). That is, according to the payment priority order illustrated in Fig. 6, it first determines whether the billed amount can be paid with the points held in B company's settlement system 2. If the billed amount is less than the held points, or if a usage limit for one transaction is set and it is less than this usage limit, the payment details data for paying the billed amount will be B points alone.

[0056] On the other hand, if the billing amount is greater than the points held, or if a one-time usage limit has been set and the amount is greater than this usage limit, it is determined whether the difference can be paid with the points held in the settlement system 2 of the next-ranked company, C. If the difference is less than the points held, or if a one-time usage limit has been set and the difference is less than this usage limit, the difference will be paid with C-points, and as a result, the payment details data will consist of two sets of B-points and C-points. To give a specific example, if the billing amount is 3,358 yen, the breakdown will be 1,500 B-points, which is equivalent to 1,500 yen, and 1,858 C-points, which is equivalent to 1,858 yen.

[0057] However, if the difference is greater than the number of points held by C-points, or if a one-time usage limit has been set and the difference is greater than this usage limit, a further determination is made as to whether the difference can be paid with a coupon from Company D, which has the next highest priority.By repeating this process in the order of usage priority, the integrated management device 5 determines the breakdown for paying the billed amount and generates payment details data.

[0058] The integrated management device 5 generates a QR code including a payment ID that identifies the payment along with payment detail data indicating the breakdown of the determined payment, and transmits this QR code to the user terminal 1 (step S4), and also transmits the same payment ID to the corresponding payment system 2 requesting payment (step S5).

[0059] The user terminal 1 displays the received QR code on the display unit 14 (step S6). Then, the cashless payment terminal 4 reads the QR code with the reading unit 33 (step S7) and transmits the payment details data and the payment ID indicated by the QR code to the store system 7 (step S8).

[0060] 12, the store system 7, having received the payment details data and the payment ID, transmits transaction request data indicating the payment ID and the amount of points or electronic money (payment amount) to be paid by each payment system 2 indicated in the payment details data (step S9). For example, if the payment is to be made with a total of 1500 B-points and 1858 C-points as mentioned above, the store system 7 creates and transmits transaction request data to the payment systems 2 of companies B and C to pay the corresponding amount of points.

[0061] As a result, each payment system 2 that has received the payment ID and payment amount checks the payment ID, determines whether the payment amount can be paid with the specified payment method, and notifies the integrated management device 5 and the store system 7 of the result (step S10). Then, if notification that payment is possible is received from both the payment systems 2 of companies B and C, the store system 7A issues a receipt to indicate completion of payment (step S11).

[0062] The integrated management device 5 further transmits the received result notification to the user terminal 1 (step S12). When the notification indicates that payment is possible from both the payment systems 2 of companies B and C, the user terminal 1 displays a payment completion screen such as that shown in Fig. 13 (step S13).

[0063] On the other hand, when the payment system 2A determines that the payment is possible, it performs the payment process using the payment method indicated in the transaction request data (step S14).

[0064] In the cashless payment integrated system 100 according to the present invention, cashless payment services operated by multiple payment service providers are integrated to perform payments, so that when the payment detail data indicates the breakdown of payments from multiple payment systems 2, the store system 7 transmits transaction request data to each payment system 2 of the payment service provider to which payment is to be requested.

[0065] On the other hand, when the transaction request data from the store system 7 indicates payment by credit card, the payment system 2 acquires the account information and billing amount information contained in the transaction request data, and then transmits the credit card name and card number registered in the account information to the credit company server 8 to request a credit check of the user, thereby determining whether or not payment can be made (step S10). The credit company server 8 performs card payment processing by confirming credit, and notifies the user terminal 1 and the store system 2 of the result of the credit check.

[0066] In this way, by using the cashless payment integrated system 100 of the present invention when making payments at stores that have contracts with each operator, users can make cashless payments by integrating each cashless payment service.

[0067] In the above-mentioned cashless payment integrated system 100, the payment detail data generated by the integrated management device 5 is transmitted from the user terminal 1 to the store system 7 via the cashless payment terminal 4, making it possible to use the existing store system 7 that performs cashless payments using optically read codes.

[0068] However, for example, if the scanner 24 of the settlement machine 3 is configured to be able to read the QR code or barcode of the payment details data and the payment details data can be transmitted directly from the user terminal 1 to the settlement machine 3, the cashless payment terminal 4 will not be necessary. Alternatively, the cashless payment terminal 4 will also not be necessary if the user terminal 1 and the settlement machine 3 are configured to be able to transmit and receive the payment details data via short-range communication. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 100 Cashless payment integrated system 1 User terminal 2. Payment System 3 Payment machine 5 Integrated management device 7. Store system

Claims

1. A cashless payment integrated system is configured by connecting a plurality of user terminals, a plurality of payment systems operated by a payment service provider that provides cashless payment services to users, a plurality of payment machines installed by retail stores that have a contract with the payment service provider, a store-side system that manages the plurality of payment machines, a plurality of cashless payment terminals provided corresponding to the payment machines, and an integrated management device that serves as a platform for integrating and enabling the use of the payment systems, via a communication network; the user terminal is connected to the integrated management device and the plurality of payment systems via the communication network; In the user terminal, A registration screen showing a list of payment methods from the plurality of payment systems is displayed; A priority order of payment methods to be used by the user for payment of purchases at the retail store is input; A priority order of payment methods for the settlement amount and a usage limit for each of the plurality of settlement systems are set based on a usage limit setting screen showing the balance of points or electronic money held by the user; A payment process for the purchase is carried out in accordance with the user ID and the billing amount entered by the user, A cashless payment integrated system characterized in that the integrated management device receives the priority of the payment method and the usage limit from the user terminal, generates payment details data for settling the billing amount, and transmits it to the user terminal of the user.

2. The cashless payment integrated system according to claim 1 , wherein the store-side system transmits detailed payment data of the payment processing related to the cashless payment service with the user via the settlement machine.

3. The cashless payment integrated system according to claim 2 , wherein the payment details data is represented in a code readable by optical means.

4. The cashless payment integrated system of claim 2 , wherein the payment detail data is transmitted via short-range wireless communication.

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