Information management system, information management device, control method and program

Abstract

Manage payments based on customer redemption of benefits. [Solution] The second store terminal 200 generates bonus issuance information and transmits it to the management server 500, and the first store terminal 100 generates bonus usage information and transmits it to the management server 500. The management server 500 generates planned payment information based on the received bonus issuance information and bonus usage information and transmits it to the first store terminal 100. The first store terminal 100 receives the planned payment information, generates actual payment information and transmits it to the management server 500. The management server 500 transmits the received actual payment information to the second store terminal 200, and the second store terminal 200 receives the actual payment information.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information management system, an information management device, a control method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in order to encourage customers to visit their own stores, a store would ask other stores which the customers are likely to visit to issue benefits such as gift certificates, discount coupons, and coupons for exchange for prizes and points that can be used at the store.

[0003] Patent document 1 describes an electronic coupon management system in which a server device provides a coupon that can be used at commercial facility A in a locked state to a consumer's user terminal, and the consumer can then use the coupon by going to a designated commercial facility B and completing an unlocking process between the server device and an external terminal.

[0004] Patent Document 2 describes a bonus issuing agency system in which a bonus issuing agency center receives the content of the bonus and the designation of the store to issue the bonus from a requester, transmits a request including the requester's information and the content of the bonus to a terminal installed in the designated store, and the terminal that receives the request issues the bonus for the requester designated in the request. Note that in Patent Document 2, the bonus issuing agency center charges the requester, for example, 10 yen per bonus issued, as an agency fee for acting on the request to issue the bonus.

[0005] Patent Document 3 describes a coupon system that realizes a coupon service by combining an existing payment terminal and a coupon issuing terminal. Patent Document 3 describes that the store that can issue the coupon and the store where the coupon can be used may be different, and that a given store may issue a coupon that can be used at other stores that have some kind of partnership with the given store, and the coupon may be used at the other stores. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-26395 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2010-182119 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2011-141679 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The systems described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 are expected to attract customers not only to stores where the benefits can be used but also to stores that issue the benefits, but they have a problem in that they do not take into consideration the burden on each store of the costs incurred when a consumer uses a benefit. Also, the system described in Patent Document 2 has a problem in that the benefit issuing agency center only bills the client who requested the agency to issue the benefit for an agency fee, but the store that actually issues the benefit does not receive any compensation from the client or the benefit issuing agency center.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an object to manage the payment of fees based on a customer's use of a privilege. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, an information management system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a benefit activation store terminal which is a terminal of a benefit activation store which is a store that activates a benefit granted to a customer, a benefit usage store terminal which is a terminal of a benefit usage store which is a store where a customer uses the activated benefit, and a management server which manages information regarding the benefit activation store and the benefit usage store. Restrict the use of rewards issued by the reward store to customers Benefit activation stores By releasingThe benefit store terminal includes an information generating unit that generates benefit activation information, which is information indicating that a benefit granted to a customer has been activated, when the benefit is activated, and an information transmitting unit that transmits the benefit activation information to the management server. The benefit usage store terminal also includes an information generating unit that generates benefit usage information, which is information indicating that a benefit has been used, when a customer uses a benefit activated at a benefit usage store, and an information transmitting unit that transmits the benefit usage information to the management server. The management server also includes an information receiving unit that receives the benefit activation information when the benefit activation store terminal transmits the benefit activation information and receives the benefit utilization information when the benefit utilization store terminal transmits the benefit utilization information, an information generating unit that generates payment schedule information indicating that, based on the benefit activation information and the benefit utilization information, one of the benefit activation store serving as the payment source store and the benefit utilization store serving as the payment destination store plans to pay the expenses incurred based on the customer's utilization of the activated benefit to the other of the benefit activation store serving as the payment destination store and the benefit utilization store serving as the payment destination store, and an information transmitting unit that transmits the payment schedule information to one of the benefit activation store terminal serving as the payment source store terminal and the benefit utilization store terminal serving as the payment source store terminal. The payment source store terminal also includes an information receiving unit that receives the payment schedule information transmitted by the management server. Furthermore, in the payment source store terminal, an information generating unit generates payment actual information which is information indicating that the payment source store has paid the expense to the payment destination store when the payment source store has paid the expense to the payment destination store based on the payment schedule information, and an information transmitting unit transmits the payment actual information to the management server. Furthermore, in the management server, an information receiving unit receives the payment actual information transmitted by the payment source store terminal, and the information transmitting unit transmits the payment actual information to the other of the benefit activation store terminal and the benefit utilization store terminal which are the payment destination store terminals which are terminals of the payment destination store. Furthermore, the payment destination store terminal further includes an information receiving unit which receives the payment actual information transmitted by the management server.

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, an information management system according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a reward use store terminal, which is a terminal of a reward use store where a customer uses a reward that has been granted to the customer; Using the customer's terminal, which is the customer's terminalThe system includes a payment source store terminal which is a terminal of the payment source store that pays the expenses incurred based on the use of the benefit to the benefit utilizing store, and a management server that manages information regarding the benefit utilizing store and the payment source store. The customer terminal also includes an information generating unit that generates benefit activation information, which is information indicating that a benefit has been activated when a predetermined condition regarding shopping is met and the benefit granted to the customer is activated by lifting the usage restriction on the benefit with usage restrictions issued to the customer by a predetermined store, and an information transmitting unit that transmits the benefit activation information to the management server. The special offer store terminal includes an information generating unit that generates special offer usage information, which is information indicating that a special offer has been used when the customer uses the special offer at the special offer store, and an information transmitting unit that transmits the special offer usage information to the management server. receiving the benefit activation information when the customer terminal transmits the benefit activation information; The management server includes an information receiving unit that receives the benefit usage information when the benefit usage information is transmitted from the benefit usage store terminal, an information generating unit that generates payment schedule information based on the benefit usage information, which is information indicating that the payment source store plans to pay the benefit usage store an expense, and an information transmitting unit that transmits the payment schedule information to the payment source store terminal. The payment source store terminal also includes an information receiving unit that receives the payment schedule information transmitted from the management server, an information generating unit that generates actual payment information, which is information indicating that the payment source store has paid the expense to the benefit usage store when the payment source store has paid the expense to the benefit usage store based on the payment schedule information, and an information transmitting unit that transmits the payment schedule information to the management server. In the management server, the information receiving unit receives the payment schedule information transmitted from the payment source store terminal, and the information transmitting unit transmits the payment schedule information to the benefit usage store terminal. The benefit usage store terminal also includes an information receiving unit that receives the payment schedule information transmitted from the management server. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, payment of fees based on the customer's use of a benefit can be managed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory diagram of an information management system according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an information management system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a first store terminal, a second store terminal, and a management server according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example of payment history information according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] Flowchart of payment management process according to the first embodiment [Figure 6] 1 is a timing chart showing transmission and reception of information between a first store terminal, a second store terminal, and a management server according to a first embodiment; [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is an overall explanatory diagram of an information management system according to a second embodiment; [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example of payment history information according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] Flowchart of payment management process according to the second embodiment [Figure 10] 11 is a timing chart showing transmission and reception of information between a first store terminal, a second store terminal, and a management server according to a second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is an overall explanatory diagram of an information management system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example of benefit history information according to the third embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an overall explanatory diagram of an information management system according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 14] 11 is a timing chart showing transmission and reception of information between a first store terminal, a second store terminal, and a management server according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is an overall explanatory diagram of an information management system according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example of payment history information according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 17] Flowchart of payment management process according to the fifth embodiment [Figure 18] 13 is a timing chart showing transmission and reception of information between a customer terminal, a first store terminal, a second store terminal, and a management server according to a fifth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, an information management system, an information management device, a control method, and a program according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same or corresponding parts.

[0014] [Embodiment 1] (Regarding the information management system 1 according to the first embodiment) An information management system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is a system used in a commercial facility targeted at residents of a certain area such as a city, town, or village, for example, called a local community mall, in order to encourage residents to shop at a central store together with multiple affiliated stores. In the following description of this embodiment, the "central store" will be referred to as the "first store," the "multiple affiliated stores" as the "second store," the "third store," ..., the "nth store," and the "residents" as "customers."

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the information management system 1 includes a first store terminal 100 as an example of a benefit use store terminal and a payment source store terminal, which are terminals of a first store as an example of a benefit use store and a payment source store, and a second store terminal 200 as an example of a benefit activation store terminal and a payment destination store terminal, which are terminals of a second store as an example of a benefit activation store and a payment destination store. The information management system 1 also includes a third store terminal 300 as an example of a benefit activation store terminal and a payment destination store terminal, which are terminals of a third store as an example of a benefit activation store and a payment destination store, ..., and an nth store terminal 400 as an example of a benefit activation store terminal and a payment destination store terminal, which are terminals of an nth store as an example of a benefit activation store and a payment destination store. The information management system 1 also includes a management server 500 as an example of an information management device that manages information about each store. Each store terminal 100-400 and the management server 500 can transmit and receive information via the Internet, which is an example of a communication network.

[0016] In this embodiment, the second store, the third store, ..., the nth store issues a benefit that can be used at the first store to a customer who has made a purchase at their store. Here, the benefit is, for example, a lottery ticket for a lottery using a lottery device such as an Arai-type rotating lottery machine, a so-called Garapon (registered trademark), which can be drawn after shopping at the first store. Therefore, in this embodiment, the second store, the third store, ..., the nth store issues a benefit by handing a paper lottery ticket to a customer who has made a purchase by a store clerk. Note that in this embodiment, a customer can enter a lottery in exchange for a lottery ticket, but this is not limited to this. For example, a lottery may be entered in exchange for a predetermined number of points accumulated in a point card, or a stamp card with a predetermined number of stamps on it. Also, a prize for the lottery is, for example, a gift certificate, a discount coupon, points, or novelty goods from the store where the customer has made a purchase and received a lottery ticket.

[0017] Therefore, for example, when a customer shops at the second store, he or she can receive a lottery ticket for a lottery held at the first store according to shopping-related values ​​such as the number of times the customer has shopped and the amount of the purchase, and after shopping at the first store, the customer can exchange the lottery ticket for a lottery and receive a gift related to the second store. As a result, the customer is not only motivated to shop at the second, third, ..., nth stores by receiving the lottery ticket, but is also motivated to shop at the first store by receiving a gift related to the second, third, ..., nth stores from which the customer has received the lottery ticket. Furthermore, the first store can have customers who have shopped at the second, third, ..., nth stores shop at its store as well. For this reason, the first store bears the costs of lottery tickets and the purchase of prizes in exchange for the second, third, ..., nth stores attracting customers to its stores, and pays the purchase price of the prize to the second, third, ..., nth stores each time it delivers the prize to a customer.

[0018] In this way, the local community mall makes it easier for customers to shop between the first store and the second, third, ..., nth affiliated stores than if there were no special offer, and the first store can play a central role in promoting all the stores in the mall. In the information management system 1, each store terminal 100-400 and the management server 500 transmit and receive the above-mentioned information related to the special offer and information related to the payment of fees. Thus, in the information management system 1, each store can share this information via the management server 500 by using each store terminal 100-400, and can check the status of payment of fees from the first store.

[0019] (Regarding each of the store terminals 100 to 400 according to the first embodiment) Each of the store terminals 100 to 400 is a computer device such as a personal computer (PC), a notebook PC, or a tablet terminal used by a clerk at each store. As shown in FIG. 2, the first store terminal 100 includes an information generating unit 110 that generates information, an information transmitting unit 120 that transmits information, and an information receiving unit 130 that receives information. Similarly to the first store terminal 100, the second store terminal 200 also includes an information generating unit 210 that generates information, an information transmitting unit 220 that transmits information, and an information receiving unit 230 that receives information. The third store terminal 300, ..., the n-th store terminal 400 have the same configuration as the second store terminal 200, and include the information generating unit 210, the information transmitting unit 220, and the information receiving unit 230.

[0020] (Regarding the management server 500 according to the first embodiment) The management server 500 is a computer device having a function as a server device such as a database server, a cloud server, etc. The management server 500 includes an information receiving unit 510 that receives information, an information generating unit 520 that generates information, an information transmitting unit 530 that transmits information, and an information storage unit 540 that stores information.

[0021] (Hardware Configuration of the First Store Terminal 100 According to the First Embodiment) 3, the first store terminal 100 includes a control unit 51 that executes processing according to a control program 59. The control unit 51 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 51 functions as an information generating unit 110 shown in FIG. 2 according to the control program 59.

[0022] 3, the first store terminal 100 includes a main memory unit 52 into which a control program 59 is loaded and which is used as a working area for the control unit 51. The main memory unit 52 includes a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory).

[0023] The first store terminal 100 also includes an external storage unit 53 that prestores a control program 59. The external storage unit 53 supplies information stored by this program to the control unit 51 in accordance with instructions from the control unit 51, and stores data supplied from the control unit 51. The external storage unit 53 includes a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, a hard disk drive (HDD), or a solid state drive (SSD).

[0024] The first store terminal 100 also includes an operation unit 54 that is operated by a user. Information input via the operation unit 54 is supplied to the control unit 51. The operation unit 54 includes information input components such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel.

[0025] The first store terminal 100 also includes a display unit 55 that displays information input via the operation unit 54 and information output by the control unit 51. The display unit 55 includes a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display.

[0026] The first store terminal 100 also includes a transmission / reception unit 56 that transmits and receives information. The transmission / reception unit 56 includes information communication components such as a communication network terminal device that connects to a network and a wireless communication device. The transmission / reception unit 56 functions as the information transmission unit 120 and the information reception unit 130 shown in FIG. 2.

[0027] Returning to FIG. 3, in the first store terminal 100 , the main memory unit 52 , the external memory unit 53 , the operation unit 54 , the display unit 55 and the transmission / reception unit 56 are all connected to the control unit 51 via the internal bus 50 .

[0028] 2 by the control unit 51 using the main memory unit 52, the external memory unit 53, the operation unit 54, the display unit 55, and the transmission / reception unit 56 as resources. For example, the first store terminal 100 executes an information generation step performed by the information generation unit 110, an information transmission step performed by the information transmission unit 120, and an information reception step performed by the information reception unit 130.

[0029] (Hardware Configuration of the Second Store Terminal 200 According to the First Embodiment) 3, the second store terminal 200 also includes a control unit 51, a main memory unit 52, an external memory unit 53, an operation unit 54, a display unit 55, and a transmission / reception unit 56, similar to the first store terminal 100. The control unit 51 functions as the information generation unit 210 shown in FIG. 2 according to a control program 59, and the transmission / reception unit 56 functions as the information transmission unit 220 and the information reception unit 230. Returning to FIG. 3, the second store terminal 200 realizes the functions of the above-mentioned units 210 to 230 shown in FIG. 2 by the control unit 51 using the main memory unit 52, the external memory unit 53, the operation unit 54, the display unit 55, and the transmission / reception unit 56 as resources. For example, the second store terminal 200 executes an information generation step performed by the information generation unit 210, an information transmission step performed by the information transmission unit 220, and an information reception step performed by the information reception unit 230.

[0030] The third store terminal 300, ..., nth store terminal 400 have the same configuration as the second store terminal 200, and the above explanation will be the same if the "second store terminal 200" is read as the "third store terminal 300" or the "nth store terminal 400", for example. Therefore, in order to reduce redundant explanation, illustrations and detailed explanations of the hardware configurations of the third store terminal 300, ..., nth store terminal 400 will be omitted.

[0031] (Hardware Configuration of Management Server 500 According to First Embodiment) 3, like the first store terminal 100 and the second store terminal 200, the management server 500 also includes a control unit 51, a main memory unit 52, an external memory unit 53, an operation unit 54, a display unit 55, and a transmission / reception unit 56. In accordance with a control program 59, the control unit 51 functions as an information generation unit 520 shown in FIG. 2, the external memory unit 53 functions as an information storage unit 540, and the transmission / reception unit 56 functions as an information reception unit 510 and an information transmission unit 530.

[0032] 3, the management server 500 realizes the functions of the above-mentioned units 510 to 540 shown in FIG. 2 by the control unit 51 using the main memory unit 52, the external memory unit 53, the operation unit 54, the display unit 55, and the transmission / reception unit 56 as resources. For example, the management server 500 executes a first information receiving step, a second information receiving step, a third information receiving step, and a fourth information receiving step performed by the information receiving unit 510. Also, for example, the management server 500 executes an information generating step performed by the information generating unit 520, a first information transmitting step and a second information transmitting step performed by the information transmitting unit 530, and an information storing step performed by the information storing unit 540.

[0033] (Details of Functional Configuration of Management Server 500 According to First Embodiment) When the second store terminal 200 transmits, as an example of the benefit activation information, benefit issuance information indicating that the second store has issued a benefit to the customer, the information receiving unit 510 receives the benefit issuance information and stores it in the information storage unit 540. Here, the benefit issuance information is information that can be displayed in the form of a table shown in FIG. 4, and is information that includes items such as a "benefit ID" indicating an identifier of the benefit, an "issue date and time" indicating the date and time when the benefit was issued, an "issuing store" indicating the store that issued the benefit, and an "available period" indicating the available period of the benefit, and their values. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the benefit issuance information includes information such as "benefit ID" being "ID0001", "issue date and time" being "April 1, 2024 13:00:04", "issuing store" being "Store B", and "available period" being "April 1, 2024 to May 31, 2024".

[0034] Returning to FIG. 2, when the first store terminal 100 transmits the benefit use information, which is information indicating that the customer has used the benefit at the first store, the information receiving unit 510 receives the benefit use information and stores it in the information storage unit 540. Here, the benefit use information is information that can be displayed in the form of a table shown in FIG. 4, and is information that includes items such as a "benefit ID", a "use date and time" indicating the date and time when the benefit was used, a "store used" indicating the store where the benefit was used, and a "gift purchase price" indicating the purchase price of the gift as an example of an expense incurred based on the use of the benefit, and their values. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the benefit use information includes information such as "benefit ID" being "ID0001", "use date and time" being "April 3, 2024 15:00:42", "store used" being "Store A", and "gift purchase price" being "10,000 yen".

[0035] Returning to FIG. 2, the information generating unit 520 generates payment schedule information, which is information indicating that the first store is planning to pay the above-mentioned expenses to the second store, based on the privilege issuance information and the privilege use information, and stores the information in the information storage unit 540. Here, the payment schedule information is information that can be displayed in the form of a table shown in FIG. 4, and is information that includes items such as a "privilege ID", a "generation date and time" indicating the date and time of generation, a "payment source store" indicating the store that is the source of the expense payment, a "payment destination store" indicating the store that is the destination of the expense payment, and a "payment amount" indicating the payment amount, and their values. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the payment schedule information includes information such as "privilege ID" is "ID0001", "generation date and time" is "April 3, 2024 15:01:04", "payment source store" is "Store A", "payment destination store" is "Store B", and "payment amount" is "10,000 yen".

[0036] Returning to FIG. 2, the information transmitting unit 530 transmits the payment schedule information generated by the information generating unit 520 to the first store terminal 100.

[0037] When the first store terminal 100 transmits payment history information indicating that the first store has paid the above-mentioned expenses to the second store, the information receiving unit 510 receives the payment history information and stores it in the information storage unit 540. Here, the payment history information is information that can be displayed in the form of a table shown in FIG. 4, and is information that includes items such as "privilege ID", "generation date and time", "payment source store", "payment destination store", and "payment amount" and their values. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the payment history information includes information such as "privilege ID" is "ID0001", "generation date and time" is "April 20, 2024 11:20:13", "payment source store" is "Store A", "payment destination store" is "Store B", and "payment amount" is "10,000 yen".

[0038] Returning to FIG. 2, the information transmitting unit 530 transmits the payment schedule information received by the information receiving unit 510 to the second store terminal 200.

[0039] The information storage unit 540 stores payment history information including bonus issuance information, bonus usage information, payment schedule information, and actual payment information. As shown in FIG. 4, the information storage unit 540 stores information including bonus issuance information, bonus usage information, payment schedule information, and actual payment information having the same value of "bonus ID" as payment history information.

[0040] The third store terminal 300, ..., nth store terminal 400 have the same configuration as the second store terminal 200. Therefore, for example, if the "second store terminal 200" is read as the "third store terminal 300" or the "nth store terminal 400" and the "second store" is read as the "third store" or the "nth store", the same explanation will be given. Therefore, in order to reduce redundant explanations, detailed explanations of the third store terminal 300, ..., nth store terminal 400 in the detailed functional configuration of the management server 500 will be omitted.

[0041] (Details of Functional Configuration of the Second Retail Terminal 200 According to the First Embodiment) When the second store issues a bonus to a customer, the information generating unit 210 generates bonus issuance information, and the information transmitting unit 220 transmits the bonus issuance information generated by the information generating unit 210 to the management server 500. In addition, the information receiving unit 230 receives the payment record information transmitted from the management server 500.

[0042] The third store terminal 300, ..., nth store terminal 400 have the same configuration as the second store terminal 200, and the above explanation will be the same if the "second store terminal 200" is read as the "third store terminal 300" or the "nth store terminal 400" and the "second store" is read as the "third store" or the "nth store". Therefore, in order to reduce redundant explanations, illustrations and detailed explanations are omitted for the details of the functional configurations of the third store terminal 300, ..., nth store terminal 400.

[0043] (Details of Functional Configuration of the First Store Terminal 100 According to the First Embodiment) When a customer uses a benefit at a first store, the information generating unit 110 generates benefit usage information, and the information transmitting unit 120 transmits the benefit usage information generated by the information generating unit 110 to the management server 500. In addition, the information receiving unit 130 receives payment schedule information from the management server 500, and when the first store pays a fee to the second store based on the payment schedule information, the information generating unit 110 generates actual payment information, and the information transmitting unit 120 transmits the actual payment information generated by the information generating unit 110 to the management server 500.

[0044] (Regarding payment management processing according to embodiment 1) Next, the operation of the management server 500 for managing the payment of the above-mentioned expenses will be described using a flowchart. When the management server 500 is turned on, it starts executing the payment management process shown in Fig. 5. First, the information receiving unit 510 receives the bonus issuance information sent by the second store terminal 200, and stores it in the information storage unit 540 (step S101). After receiving the bonus issuance information, the information receiving unit 510 receives the bonus usage information sent by the first store terminal 100, and stores it in the information storage unit 540 (step S102).

[0045] After receiving the benefit usage information, the information generation unit 520 generates planned payment information based on the benefit issuance information and the benefit usage information and stores it in the information storage unit 540 (step S103), and the information transmission unit 530 transmits the planned payment information generated by the information generation unit 520 to the first store terminal 100 (step S104). After transmitting the planned payment information, the information reception unit 510 receives actual payment information transmitted by the first store terminal 100 and stores it in the information storage unit 540 (step S105), and the information transmission unit 530 transmits the actual payment information received by the information reception unit 510 to the second store terminal 200 (step S106), and the process ends.

[0046] As described above, according to the information management system 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 6, in the second store terminal 200, the information generation unit 210 generates bonus issuance information when the second store issues a bonus to a customer, and the information transmission unit 220 transmits the bonus issuance information to the management server 500. Also, in the first store terminal 100, the information generation unit 110 generates bonus usage information when the customer uses a bonus at the first store, and the information transmission unit 120 transmits the bonus usage information to the management server 500.

[0047] In the management server 500, the information receiving unit 510 receives the bonus issuance information transmitted by the second store terminal 200, and also receives the bonus usage information transmitted by the first store terminal 100. The information generating unit 520 generates payment schedule information based on the bonus issuance information and the bonus usage information, and the information transmitting unit 530 transmits the payment schedule information to the first store terminal 100.

[0048] Furthermore, in the first store terminal 100, the information receiving unit 130 receives the scheduled payment information transmitted by the management server 500, and the information generating unit 110 generates actual payment information when the first store pays an expense to the second store based on the scheduled payment information, and the information transmitting unit 120 transmits the actual payment information to the management server 500. Furthermore, in the management server 500, the information receiving unit 510 receives the actual payment information transmitted by the first store terminal 100, and the information transmitting unit 530 transmits the actual payment information to the second store terminal 200. Then, in the second store terminal 200, the information receiving unit 230 receives the actual payment information transmitted by the management server 500.

[0049] In this way, the information management system 1 of this embodiment can manage, via the management server 500, that the expenses based on a customer's use of a benefit at a first store are paid from the first store, acting as the paying store, to the second store, acting as the paying store.

[0050] In addition, according to the information management system 1 of this embodiment, in the management server 500, the information storage unit 540 stores payment history information including bonus issuance information, bonus usage information, payment schedule information, and actual payment information, all of which have the same value for "bonus ID." In this way, the information management system 1 of this embodiment can manage the situation from the time the second store issues a benefit to the customer through the management server 500 to the time the first store pays the second store the fee for using the benefit.

[0051] According to the information management system 1 of this embodiment, the payment source store is the first store serving as a reward redemption store which is the central store in the mall, and the payment source store terminal is the first store terminal 100 serving as a reward redemption store terminal. The payment destination stores are the second store, the third store, ..., the nth store serving as reward activation stores, and the payment destination store terminals are the second store terminal 200, the third store terminal 300, ..., the nth store terminal 400 serving as reward activation store terminals. In this way, the information management system 1 of this embodiment enables, for example, the first store, which is a central store, to become the benefit-using store where the benefit is redeemed and the store from which the expenses are paid, thereby allowing customers to use the benefit, thereby encouraging customers to shop around all affiliated stores.

[0052] Furthermore, according to the information management system 1 of this embodiment, the second store, the third store, ..., the nth store, which are bonus activation stores, activate the bonus by issuing a lottery ticket as a bonus to the customer. In this manner, a customer can obtain the activated benefit by acquiring a lottery ticket issued as a benefit from a benefit-activating store.

[0053] [Embodiment 2] In the first embodiment, the first store, which is the central store in the local community mall, pays the prize purchase price as an example of the cost based on the use of the privilege to the second store, the third store, ..., the nth store, which are the multiple stores affiliated with the first store, but this is not limited to this. For example, all stores including the first store may be on an equal footing, and the second store, the third store, ..., the nth store may pay the cost to the first store. Hereinafter, the information management system 1 according to the second embodiment will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 7 to 10. Note that in the second embodiment, the configuration different from that of the first embodiment will be described, and the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will not be described because it is redundant.

[0054] (Regarding the information management system 1 according to the second embodiment) An information management system 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is a system used in, for example, a local community mall where multiple affiliated stores on an equal footing encourage residents to shop at each store. In the following, in this embodiment, the "multiple affiliated stores on an equal footing" will be described as a "first store," a "second store," a "third store," ..., and an "nth store."

[0055] 7, the information management system 1 includes a first store terminal 100, a second store terminal 200, a third store terminal 300, ..., an n-th store terminal 400 as examples of a benefit activation store terminal, a benefit usage store terminal, a payment source store terminal, and a payment destination store terminal. The information management system 1 also includes a management server 500 as an example of an information management device.

[0056] In this embodiment, the first store, the second store, the third store, ..., the nth store, which are examples of the benefit activation store, benefit use store, payment source store, and payment destination store, issue benefit with usage restrictions that can be redeemed at other stores to customers who shop at their stores. Benefit with usage restrictions here are, for example, gift certificates, discount coupons, points, and vouchers for novelty goods at their own stores. Therefore, in this embodiment, the first store, the second store, the third store, ..., the nth store issue benefit with usage restrictions by having a store clerk hand over a paper voucher to the customer who makes a purchase.

[0057] Therefore, for example, if a customer shops at a first store as an example of a reward use store and a payment destination store, the customer can get a voucher for a reward that can be used at the first store by shopping at a second store as an example of a reward activation store and a payment source store, and when the customer subsequently shops at the second store, the voucher can be exchanged for a reward according to a shopping value, such as the number of times the customer has shopped and the amount of the purchase. As a result, after shopping at the first store as an example of a reward use store and a payment destination store, the customer is motivated to shop at the next store as an example of a reward activation store and a payment source store, and the next store can have the customer who shopped at the first store shop at its store. Therefore, in exchange for the first store attracting customers to its store, the above-mentioned next store bears the expenses incurred based on the customer's use of rewards, such as gift certificates, discount coupons, points, and novelty goods, at the first store, and pays the expenses to the first store.

[0058] In this way, the local community mall makes it easier for customers to shop among affiliated stores 1, 2, 3, ..., n-th than if there were no special offer, and all the stores can liven up the mall as a whole. In the information management system 1, each store terminal 100-400 and the management server 500 transmit and receive information related to the above-mentioned special offer and information related to payment of fees. Thus, in the information management system 1, each store can share this information via the management server 500 by using each store terminal 100-400, and can also check the status of payment of fees from the next store to the first store as described above.

[0059] Hereinafter, a case where a customer shops at a first store as the first store, and then shops at a second store as the next store will be described. In this embodiment, each store terminal 100 to 400 has the same configuration. Therefore, for example, if the "first store", "first store terminal 100", "second store", and "second store terminal 200" are read as "third store", "third store terminal 300", "nth store" and "nth store terminal 400", the following description will be of a case where a customer shops at a third store as the first store, and then shops at a nth store as the next store. Therefore, in order to reduce redundant description, detailed description will be omitted for the configuration in which the "first store terminal 100" and the "second store terminal 200" are interchanged, and for the details of the functional configuration of the "third store terminal 300" and the "nth store terminal 400".

[0060] (Details of Functional Configuration of Management Server 500 According to Second Embodiment) Returning to FIG. 2, when the second store terminal 200 transmits, as an example of benefit activation information, benefit restriction release information indicating that the second store has released the benefit use restriction for the customer, the information receiving unit 510 according to the present embodiment receives the benefit restriction release information and stores it in the information storage unit 540. Here, the benefit restriction release information is information that can be displayed in the form of a table shown in FIG. 8, and is information including items such as "benefit ID", "release date and time" indicating the date and time when the benefit use restriction was released, "release store" indicating the store that released the benefit use restriction, and "available period" and their values. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the benefit restriction release information includes information such as "benefit ID" is "ID0011", "release date and time" is "May 1, 2024 14:23:18", "release store" is "Store B", and "available period" is "May 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024".

[0061] Returning to FIG. 2, when the first store terminal 100 transmits the benefit usage information, the information receiving unit 510 according to this embodiment receives the benefit usage information and stores it in the information storage unit 540. As shown in FIG. 8, the benefit usage information according to this embodiment is information including items such as "benefit ID", "use date and time", "store used", and "cost" indicating the cost incurred based on the use of the benefit, and their values. For example, the benefit usage information includes information such as "benefit ID" being "ID00011", "use date and time" being "May 15, 2024 15:17:44", "store used" being "Store A", and "cost" being "5,000 yen".

[0062] Returning to FIG. 2, the information generating unit 520 according to this embodiment generates payment schedule information based on the benefit restriction release information and the benefit usage information, and stores it in the information storage unit 540. As shown in FIG. 8, the payment schedule information according to this embodiment is information including items such as "benefit ID", "generation date and time", "payment source store", "payment destination store", and "payment amount" and their values. For example, the payment schedule information includes information such as "benefit ID" is "ID0011", "generation date and time" is "May 15, 2024 15:28:49", "payment source store" is "Store B", "payment destination store" is "Store A", and "cost" is "5,000 yen".

[0063] Returning to FIG. 2, the information transmitting unit 530 according to this embodiment transmits the payment schedule information generated by the information generating unit 520 to the second store terminal 200.

[0064] When the second store terminal 200 transmits payment history information indicating that the second store has paid the above-mentioned expenses to the first store, the information receiving unit 510 according to the present embodiment receives the payment history information and stores it in the information storage unit 540. As shown in FIG. 8, the payment history information according to the present embodiment is information including items such as "privilege ID", "generation date and time", "payment source store", "payment destination store", and "payment amount" and their values. For example, the payment history information includes information such as "privilege ID" is "ID0011", "generation date and time" is "June 20, 2024 18:21:19", "payment source store" is "Store B", "payment destination store" is "Store A", and "payment amount" is "5,000 yen".

[0065] Returning to FIG. 2, the information transmitting unit 530 according to this embodiment transmits the payment schedule information received by the information receiving unit 510 to the first store terminal 100.

[0066] The information storage unit 540 according to this embodiment stores payment history information including privilege restriction release information, privilege usage information, scheduled payment information, and actual payment information. As shown in Fig. 8, the information storage unit 540 stores information including privilege restriction release information, privilege usage information, scheduled payment information, and actual payment information having the same value for "privilege ID" as payment history information.

[0067] (Details of Functional Configuration of the Second Retail Terminal 200 According to the Second Embodiment) In this embodiment, when the second store lifts the restriction on the use of the benefit for the customer, the information generating unit 210 generates benefit restriction lifting information, and the information transmitting unit 220 transmits the benefit restriction lifting information generated by the information generating unit 210 to the management server 500. In addition, the information receiving unit 230 receives payment schedule information transmitted from the management server 500, and when the second store pays a fee to the first store based on the payment schedule information, the information generating unit 210 generates actual payment information, and the information transmitting unit 220 transmits the actual payment information generated by the information generating unit 210 to the management server 500.

[0068] (Details of Functional Configuration of the First Store Terminal 100 According to the Second Embodiment) In this embodiment, when a customer uses a benefit at the first store, the information generating unit 110 generates benefit usage information, and the information transmitting unit 120 transmits the benefit usage information generated by the information generating unit 110 to the management server 500. In addition, the information receiving unit 130 receives payment record information from the management server 500.

[0069] (Payment management process according to the second embodiment) When the management server 500 according to this embodiment is powered on, it starts executing the payment management process shown in Fig. 9. First, the information receiving unit 510 receives the benefit restriction release information transmitted by the second store terminal 200 and stores it in the information storage unit 540 (step S111), and the information receiving unit 510 executes the process of step S102. After receiving the benefit usage information, the information generating unit 520 generates payment schedule information based on the benefit restriction release information and the benefit usage information and stores it in the information storage unit 540 (step S113), and the information transmitting unit 530 transmits the payment schedule information generated by the information generating unit 520 to the second store terminal 200 (step S114). After transmitting the scheduled payment information, the information receiving unit 510 receives the actual payment information transmitted by the second store terminal 200 and stores it in the information storage unit 540 (step S115), and the information transmitting unit 530 transmits the actual payment information received by the information receiving unit 510 to the first store terminal 100 (step S116), and the processing ends.

[0070] As described above, according to the information management system 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 10, in the second store terminal 200, the information generation unit 210 generates benefit restriction lifting information when the second store lifts the benefit usage restriction for the customer, and the information transmission unit 220 transmits the benefit restriction lifting information to the management server 500. Also, in the first store terminal 100, the information generation unit 110 generates benefit usage information when the customer uses a benefit at the first store, and the information transmission unit 120 transmits the benefit usage information to the management server 500.

[0071] In the management server 500, the information receiving unit 510 receives the benefit restriction release information transmitted by the second store terminal 200, and also receives the benefit usage information transmitted by the first store terminal 100. The information generating unit 520 generates payment schedule information based on the benefit restriction release information and the benefit usage information, and the information transmitting unit 530 transmits the payment schedule information to the second store terminal 200.

[0072] In the second store terminal 200, the information receiving unit 230 receives the scheduled payment information transmitted by the management server 500, and the information generating unit 210 generates actual payment information when the second store pays an expense to the first store based on the scheduled payment information, and the information transmitting unit 220 transmits the actual payment information to the management server 500. In the management server 500, the information receiving unit 510 receives the actual payment information transmitted by the second store terminal 200, and the information transmitting unit 530 transmits the actual payment information to the first store terminal 100. In the first store terminal 100, the information receiving unit 130 receives the actual payment information transmitted by the management server 500.

[0073] In this way, the information management system 1 of this embodiment can manage, via the management server 500, that the expenses based on the customer's use of a benefit at a first store are paid from the second store, acting as the paying store, to the first store, acting as the paying store.

[0074] In addition, according to the information management system 1 of this embodiment, in the management server 500, the information storage unit 540 stores payment history information including benefit restriction release information, benefit usage information, payment schedule information, and actual payment information, all of which have the same value for "benefit ID." In this way, the information management system 1 of this embodiment can manage the situation from when the second store lifts the restriction on the customer's use of the benefit via the management server 500 to when the second store pays the first store the fee for using the benefit.

[0075] Furthermore, according to the information management system 1 of this embodiment, the payment source store is a benefit validation store, for example, the second store, and the payment source store terminal is a benefit validation store terminal, for example, the second store terminal 200. The payment destination store is a benefit usage store, for example, the first store, and the payment destination store terminal is a benefit usage store terminal, for example, the first store terminal 100. All affiliated stores, including the first store and the second store, can be both a benefit validation store, which is a payment source store, and a benefit usage store, which is a payment destination store. In this way, the information management system 1 of this embodiment can, for example, enable each affiliated store on an equal footing to become the store paying the expenses and allow the customer to use the benefits, thereby encouraging customers to shop at all affiliated stores.

[0076] In addition, according to the information management system 1 of this embodiment, the second store, the third store, ..., the nth store, which are bonus activation stores, lift the usage restrictions on the bonus by having the customer exchange a voucher, which is a bonus with usage restrictions issued by the bonus usage store, for the bonus, thereby activating the bonus. In this way, a customer can obtain a benefit with usage restrictions from a benefit-utilizing store, and then obtain the activated benefit by having the usage restrictions of the benefit lifted at a benefit-activating store. In addition, the information management system 1 according to the present embodiment exerts the same effects as the information management system 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0077] [Embodiment 3] In the second embodiment, the first store, the second store, the third store, ..., the nth store issue a limited-use benefit by having a store clerk hand over a paper voucher to a customer who has made a purchase, but this is not limited to the above. For example, each store may issue a limited-use benefit by having each store terminal 100-400 generate voucher information, which is information indicating a voucher, as electronic data and transmit it to a terminal used by the customer. The information management system 1 according to the third embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to Figs. 11 and 12. Note that in the third embodiment, a configuration different from that of the second embodiment will be described, and a description of the same configuration as that of the second embodiment will be omitted because it is redundant.

[0078] (Regarding the information management system 1 according to the third embodiment) 11, each of the store terminals 100 to 400 according to the present embodiment can transmit and receive information to and from a customer terminal 600, which is a terminal used by a customer, by short-distance wireless communication conforming to the NFC (Near Field Communication) communication standard as an example of close-proximity wireless communication. Here, the customer terminal 600 is, for example, a computer device such as a smartphone used by a customer.

[0079] Each of the store terminals 100-400 issues a benefit with a usage restriction by transmitting exchange ticket information to the customer terminal 600 when the customer uses the customer terminal 600 to make a purchase. At this time, if the customer terminal 600 stores exchange ticket information issued at another store, each of the store terminals 100-400 causes the customer terminal 600 to replace the exchange ticket information with benefit information that is information indicating a benefit that can be used at the other store, thereby lifting the usage restriction of the benefit. Each of the store terminals 100-400 acquires customer identification information, which is customer identification information, from the customer terminal 600 every time it issues a benefit with a usage restriction or lifts the usage restriction of a benefit. Here, the customer identification information is, for example, information such as the telephone number of the customer terminal 600, the customer's email address, and an identification number used for point cards, electronic money, or cashless payment.

[0080] (Details of Functional Configuration of the First Store Terminal 100 According to the Third Embodiment) In this embodiment, when a customer makes a purchase at the first store for the first time, the information generating unit 110 generates exchange ticket information, and the information transmitting unit 120 transmits the exchange ticket information generated by the information generating unit 110 to the customer terminal 600 for storage. The information receiving unit 130 receives customer identification information from the customer terminal 600, and the information generating unit 110 generates use-limited benefit issuance information, which is information including the customer identification information and indicates that a benefit with use restrictions has been issued, and the information transmitting unit 120 transmits the use-limited benefit issuance information generated by the information generating unit 110 to the management server 500. When a customer makes a purchase using a benefit whose use restrictions have been lifted, the information receiving unit 130 receives customer identification information from the customer terminal 600, and the information generating unit 110 generates benefit use information including the customer identification information, and the information transmitting unit 120 transmits the benefit use information generated by the information generating unit 110 to the management server 500.

[0081] (Details of Functional Configuration of the Second Retail Terminal 200 According to the Third Embodiment) In this embodiment, when a customer shops at the second store after the first store, the information receiving unit 230 receives exchange voucher information and customer identification information from the customer terminal 600, the information generating unit 210 generates privilege information based on the exchange voucher information, and the information transmitting unit 220 transmits to the customer terminal 600 the privilege information generated by the information generating unit 210 and instruction information indicating an instruction to update the exchange voucher information to the privilege information, thereby updating the exchange voucher information stored in the customer terminal 600 to the privilege information. In addition, the information generating unit 210 generates privilege restriction release information including the customer identification information, and the information transmitting unit 220 transmits the privilege restriction release information generated by the information generating unit 210 to the management server 500.

[0082] (Details of Functional Configuration of Management Server 500 According to Third Embodiment) Returning to FIG. 2, the information receiving unit 510 according to the present embodiment receives the use-restricted benefit issuance information transmitted by the first store terminal 100, and stores it in the information storage unit 540. Here, the use-restricted benefit issuance information is information that can be displayed in the form of a table shown in FIG. 12, and is information that includes items and their values, such as "customer ID", "benefit ID", "issue date and time", "issuing store" indicating the content of the customer identification information, and "cancellable period" indicating the period during which the benefit use restriction can be released. For example, the use-restricted benefit issuance information includes information such as "customer ID" is "00000000A", "benefit ID" is "ID0021", "issue date and time" is "May 3, 2024 12:20:58", "issuing store" is "Store A", and "cancellable period" is "May 3, 2024 to June 30, 2024".

[0083] The information receiving unit 510 also receives the benefit restriction release information transmitted by the second store terminal 200, and stores it in the information storage unit 540. As shown in FIG. 12, the benefit restriction release information according to the present embodiment is information including items such as "customer ID", "benefit ID", "release date and time", "release store", and "available period" and their values. For example, the benefit restriction release information includes information such as "customer ID" being "00000000A", "benefit ID" being "ID0021", "release date and time" being "May 5, 2024 11:50:43", "release store" being "Store B", and "available period" being "May 5, 2024 to July 5, 2024".

[0084] Returning to FIG. 2, when the first store terminal 100 transmits the benefit usage information, the information receiving unit 510 according to this embodiment receives the benefit usage information and stores it in the information storage unit 540. As shown in FIG. 12, the benefit usage information according to this embodiment is information including items such as "customer ID", "benefit ID", "usage date and time", "store used", and "cost" and their values. For example, the benefit usage information includes information such as "customer ID" is "00000000A", "benefit ID" is "ID00021", "usage date and time" is "May 5, 2024 12:23:11", "store used" is "Store A", and "cost" is "5,000 yen".

[0085] The information storage unit 540 according to the present embodiment stores privilege history information that includes limited-use privilege issuance information, privilege restriction release information, and privilege usage information. As shown in Fig. 12, the information storage unit 540 stores information including limited-use privilege issuance information, privilege restriction release information, and privilege usage information that have the same value for "privilege ID" as privilege history information.

[0086] As described above, according to the information management system 1 of the present embodiment, in the first store terminal 100, the information generating unit 110 generates voucher information when the customer first makes a purchase at the first store, and the information transmitting unit 120 transmits the voucher information generated by the information generating unit 110 to the customer terminal 600 and stores it. In the second store terminal 200, the information receiving unit 230 receives the voucher information from the customer terminal 600 when the customer makes a purchase at the second store after the first store, and the information generating unit 210 generates special offer information based on the voucher information, and the information transmitting unit 220 transmits the special offer information generated by the information generating unit 210 and instruction information to the customer terminal 600, and updates the voucher information stored in the customer terminal 600 to the special offer information.

[0087] In this manner, the information management system 1 according to the present embodiment allows the customer to use the exchange ticket information and the benefit information as electronic data on the customer terminal 600 to utilize the benefit.

[0088] In addition, according to the information management system 1 of this embodiment, in the management server 500, the information storage unit 540 stores bonus history information including limited-use bonus issuance information, bonus restriction release information, and bonus usage information, all of which have the same value for "bonus ID." In this way, the information management system 1 of this embodiment can manage the situation from when a first store issues a benefit with usage restrictions to a customer via the management server 500 to when the second store lifts the usage restrictions on the benefit and the customer uses the benefit again at the first store.

[0089] In particular, according to the information management system 1 of the present embodiment, the limited benefit issuance information, benefit restriction release information, and benefit usage information included in the benefit history information include customer identification information. In this manner, the information management system 1 according to the present embodiment can use the management server 500 to manage information on customers who shop in the local community mall and obtain and use benefits. In addition, the information management system 1 according to this embodiment has the same effects as the information management systems 1 according to the first and second embodiments.

[0090] [Embodiment 4] In the first embodiment, the second store, the third store, ..., the nth store, which are multiple stores affiliated with the first store, which is the central store in the local community mall, issued the bonus, but this is not limited thereto, and for example, the first store, which is the central store, may issue the bonus. Below, the information management system 1 according to the fourth embodiment will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 13 and 14. Note that in the fourth embodiment, the configuration different from that of the first embodiment will be described, and the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will not be described because it would be redundant.

[0091] 13, the information management system 1 includes a first store terminal 100 as an example of a benefit activation store terminal, a benefit usage store terminal, a payment source store terminal, and a payment destination store terminal. The information management system 1 also includes a second store terminal 200, a third store terminal 300, ..., an n-th store terminal 400 as examples of a benefit usage store terminal and a payment destination store terminal. The information management system 1 also includes a management server 500 as an example of an information management device.

[0092] In this embodiment, the first store, which is the benefit activation store, issues a benefit that can be used at all stores, which are benefit usage stores, to a customer who has shopped at the first store. Here, the benefit is, for example, points that can be used to discount the price paid when shopping at all stores in the mall, and specifically, 500 points can be used to discount 500 yen.

[0093] Therefore, for example, when a customer shops at the first store, the customer can receive points that can be used at all stores according to shopping figures such as the number of times the customer shopped and the amount of the shopping. As a result, the customer is not only motivated to shop at the first store by receiving points, but also motivated to shop at all stores in the mall by receiving points. The first store can also have customers who shop at the first store shop at all stores in the mall. The first store bears the cost of discounts according to the points, and pays the discounts according to the points to each store where the points are used. In this way, the local community mall makes it easier for customers to shop at all affiliated stores compared to when there is no point common to all stores as a privilege, and the first store can play a central role in promoting all stores in the mall.

[0094] (Details of Functional Configuration of Management Server 500 According to Fourth Embodiment) Returning to Fig. 2, when the first store terminal 100 transmits bonus issuance information, which is information indicating that the first store has issued a bonus to a customer, as an example of bonus activation information, the information receiving unit 510 receives the bonus issuance information and stores it in the information storage unit 540. Note that the bonus issuance information according to this embodiment may be, for example, the bonus issuance information according to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 4, in which the value of the "issuing store" field has been changed from "Store B" to "Store A."

[0095] Returning to Fig. 2, for example, when the second store terminal 200 transmits bonus use information indicating that the customer has used a bonus at the second store, the information receiving unit 510 receives the bonus use information and stores it in the information storage unit 540. Note that the bonus use information according to this embodiment may be, for example, the bonus use information according to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 4, in which the value of the "Store Used" field has been changed from "Store A" to "Store B" and the value of the "Prize Purchase Price" field has been changed to "Discount Price".

[0096] (Details of Functional Configuration of the First Store Terminal 100 According to the Fourth Embodiment) 2, when the first store issues a benefit to a customer, the information generating unit 110 generates benefit issuance information, and the information transmitting unit 120 transmits the benefit issuance information generated by the information generating unit 110 to the management server 500. In addition, the information receiving unit 130 receives the payment record information transmitted from the management server 500.

[0097] (Details of Functional Configuration of the Second Retail Terminal 200 According to the Fourth Embodiment) When the customer uses a benefit at the second store, the information generating unit 210 generates benefit usage information, and the information transmitting unit 220 transmits the benefit usage information generated by the information generating unit 210 to the management server 500. In addition, the information receiving unit 230 receives payment schedule information from the management server 500, and when the first store pays a fee to the second store based on the payment schedule information, the information generating unit 210 generates actual payment information, and the information transmitting unit 220 transmits the actual payment information generated by the information generating unit 210 to the management server 500.

[0098] (Regarding payment management processing according to the fourth embodiment) The payment management process according to this embodiment would be the same as that according to the first embodiment if the "second store terminal 200" in step S101 shown in Fig. 5 were replaced with the "first store terminal 100" and the "first store terminal 100" in step S102 were replaced with the "second store terminal 200". Therefore, in order to reduce redundant explanations, flowcharts and detailed explanations of the payment management process according to this embodiment will be omitted.

[0099] As described above, according to the information management system 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 14, in the first store terminal 100, the information generation unit 110 generates bonus issuance information when the first store issues a bonus to a customer, and the information transmission unit 120 transmits the bonus issuance information to the management server 500. Also, in the second store terminal 200, the information generation unit 210 generates bonus usage information when the customer uses a bonus at the second store, and the information transmission unit 220 transmits the bonus usage information to the management server 500.

[0100] In the management server 500, the information receiving unit 510 receives the bonus issuance information transmitted by the first store terminal 100, and also receives the bonus usage information transmitted by the second store terminal 200. The information generating unit 520 generates payment schedule information based on the bonus issuance information and the bonus usage information, and the information transmitting unit 530 transmits the payment schedule information to the first store terminal 100.

[0101] Furthermore, in the first store terminal 100, the information receiving unit 130 receives the scheduled payment information transmitted by the management server 500, and the information generating unit 110 generates actual payment information when the first store pays an expense to the second store based on the scheduled payment information, and the information transmitting unit 120 transmits the actual payment information to the management server 500. Furthermore, in the management server 500, the information receiving unit 510 receives the actual payment information transmitted by the first store terminal 100, and the information transmitting unit 530 transmits the actual payment information to the second store terminal 200. Then, in the second store terminal 200, the information receiving unit 230 receives the actual payment information transmitted by the management server 500.

[0102] In this way, the information management system 1 of this embodiment can manage, via the management server 500, that the expenses based on the use of a benefit acquired by a customer from a first store at a second store are paid from the first store, acting as the paying store, to the second store, acting as the paying store.

[0103] Furthermore, according to the information management system 1 of this embodiment, the payment source store is the first store serving as the benefit validation store which is the central store in the mall, and the payment source store terminal is the first store terminal 100 used by the first store. Furthermore, the payment destination stores are the first store, second store, third store, ..., nth store serving as benefit usage stores, and the payment destination store terminals are the first store terminal 100, second store terminal 200, third store terminal 300, ..., nth store terminal 400 serving as benefit usage store terminals. In this way, the information management system 1 of this embodiment enables, for example, the first store, which is a central store, to become the benefit activation store that issues the benefit and the store from which the fee is paid, allowing customers to use the benefit, thereby encouraging customers to shop at all affiliated stores.

[0104] Furthermore, according to the information management system 1 of this embodiment, the first store, which is the benefit validation store, validates the benefit by issuing points to the customer that are common to all stores in the mall. In this manner, a customer can obtain the activated benefit by acquiring points issued as a benefit from the benefit-activating store. In addition, the information management system 1 according to the present embodiment exerts the same effects as the information management system 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0105] [Embodiment 5] In the fourth embodiment, the first store, which is the central store, issues points common to all stores in the mall as a privilege, but this is not limited thereto, and for example, all stores including the first store do not need to issue points. Hereinafter, the information management system 1 according to the fourth embodiment will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 15 to 18. Note that in the fifth embodiment, the configuration different from the first, third and fourth embodiments will be described, and the same configuration as the first, third and fourth embodiments will not be described because it is redundant.

[0106] As shown in FIG. 15, the information management system 1 includes a first store terminal 100 as an example of a benefit redemption store terminal, a payment source store terminal, and a payment destination store terminal. The information management system 1 also includes a second store terminal 200, a third store terminal 300, ..., an n-th store terminal 400 as examples of a benefit redemption store terminal and a payment destination store terminal. The information management system 1 also includes a management server 500 as an example of an information management device. As in the third embodiment, each of the store terminals 100 to 400 according to the present embodiment is capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from a customer terminal 600 as an example of a benefit activation terminal via short-range wireless communication. The management server 500 is also capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from the customer terminal 600 via the Internet, for example.

[0107] When a customer uses the customer terminal 600 to make a purchase, each of the store terminals 100-400 transmits shopping information, which is information indicating the contents of the purchase, to the customer terminal 600 as an example of a limited-use benefit. The customer terminal 600 validates the benefit by issuing points common to all stores each time a numerical value determined based on the shopping information, for example, a numerical value related to shopping within the mall, such as the number of stores purchased, the number of purchases made, or the amount of purchases, becomes an integer multiple of a predetermined threshold value. The customer terminal 600 according to this embodiment issues points by generating point information, which is an example of benefit information, which is electronic data.

[0108] Therefore, for example, when a customer shops at each store in the mall, the customer can receive points that can be used at all stores according to the shopping figures. As a result, the customer is motivated to shop at all stores in the mall by receiving and using the points. The first store bears the cost of the discount corresponding to the points, and pays the discount corresponding to the points to each store where the points are used. In this way, the local community mall makes it easier for customers to shop among all the affiliated stores than if there were no points common to all stores as a privilege, and the first store can play a central role in promoting all the stores in the mall.

[0109] (Details of Functional Configuration of Management Server 500 According to Fifth Embodiment) Returning to FIG. 2, when the customer terminal 600 transmits bonus issuance information, which is information indicating that the customer terminal 600 has issued a bonus, as an example of bonus activation information, the information receiving unit 510 receives the bonus issuance information and stores it in the information storage unit 540. The bonus issuance information according to this embodiment is information that can be displayed in the form of a table shown in FIG. 16, and is information that includes items such as "customer ID", "bonus ID", and "issue date and time" and their values. For example, the bonus issuance information includes information such as "customer ID" being "00000001A", "bonus ID" being "ID0031", and "issue date and time" being "May 1, 2024 18:25:48".

[0110] Returning to FIG. 2, for example, when the second store terminal 200 transmits benefit use information indicating that the customer has used a benefit at the second store, the information receiving unit 510 receives the benefit use information and stores it in the information storage unit 540. The benefit use information according to the present embodiment is information that can be displayed in the form of a table shown in FIG. 16, and includes items such as "customer ID", "benefit ID", "use date and time", "store used", and "discount amount" and their values. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the benefit use information includes information such as "customer ID" is "00000001A", "benefit ID" is "ID0031", "use date and time" is "May 3, 2024 20:03:42", "store used" is "store B", and "discount amount" is "1,000 yen".

[0111] Returning to Fig. 2, the information generating unit 520 generates payment schedule information, which is information indicating that the first store plans to pay the above-mentioned expenses to the second store, based on the benefit usage information, and stores the information in the information storage unit 540. For example, as shown in Fig. 16, the payment schedule information includes information such as "benefit ID" being "ID0031", "generation date and time" being "May 3, 2024 20:05:04", "payment source store" being "Store A", "payment destination store" being "Store B", and "payment amount" being "1,000 yen".

[0112] Returning to Fig. 2, the information transmitting unit 530 transmits the planned payment information generated by the information generating unit 520 to the first store terminal 100, and when the first store terminal 100 transmits the actual payment information, the information receiving unit 510 receives the actual payment information and stores it in the information storage unit 540. For example, as shown in Fig. 16, the actual payment information includes information such as "privilege ID" being "ID0031", "generation date and time" being "May 20, 2024 15:30:15", "payment source store" being "Store A", "payment destination store" being "Store B", and "payment amount" being "1,000 yen".

[0113] (Regarding payment management processing according to embodiment 5) Next, the operation of the management server 500 for managing the payment of the above-mentioned expenses will be described with reference to a flowchart. When the management server 500 is powered on, it starts executing the payment management process shown in FIG. 17. First, the information receiving unit 510 receives the privilege issuance information transmitted by the customer terminal 600 and stores it in the information storage unit 540 (step S121). After receiving the privilege issuance information, the information receiving unit 510 receives the privilege usage information transmitted by the second store terminal 200 and stores it in the information storage unit 540 (step S122). After receiving the privilege usage information, the information generating unit 520 generates payment schedule information based on the privilege usage information and stores it in the information storage unit 540 (step S123). After generating the payment schedule information, the management server 500 executes the processes of steps S104 to S106 and ends the process.

[0114] As described above, according to the information management system 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 18, the customer terminal 600 generates bonus issuance information when a predetermined condition for issuing a bonus is met and a bonus is issued, and transmits the bonus issuance information to the management server 500. Also, in the second store terminal 200, the information generation unit 210 generates bonus usage information when a customer uses a bonus at the second store, and the information transmission unit 220 transmits the bonus usage information to the management server 500.

[0115] In the management server 500, the information receiving unit 510 receives the bonus issuance information sent by the customer terminal 600, and also receives the bonus usage information sent by the second store terminal 200. The information generating unit 520 generates payment schedule information based on the bonus usage information, and the information transmitting unit 530 transmits the payment schedule information to the first store terminal 100.

[0116] Furthermore, in the first store terminal 100, the information receiving unit 130 receives the scheduled payment information transmitted by the management server 500, and the information generating unit 110 generates actual payment information when the first store pays an expense to the second store based on the scheduled payment information, and the information transmitting unit 120 transmits the actual payment information to the management server 500. Furthermore, in the management server 500, the information receiving unit 510 receives the actual payment information transmitted by the first store terminal 100, and the information transmitting unit 530 transmits the actual payment information to the second store terminal 200. Then, in the second store terminal 200, the information receiving unit 230 receives the actual payment information transmitted by the management server 500.

[0117] In this way, the information management system 1 of this embodiment can manage, via the management server 500, that the costs based on the benefits acquired by the customer by shopping at each store and used at a second store are paid from the first store, acting as the paying store, to the second store, acting as the paying store.

[0118] According to the information management system 1 of this embodiment, the payment source store is the first store which is the central store in the mall, and the payment source store terminal is the first store terminal 100 used by the first store. The payment destination stores are the first store, the second store, the third store, ..., the nth store which are the special offer use stores, and the payment destination store terminals are the first store terminal 100, the second store terminal 200, the third store terminal 300, ..., the nth store terminal 400 which are the special offer use store terminals. In this way, the information management system 1 of this embodiment enables, for example, the first store, which is the central store, to be the store that pays the expenses and allow the customer to use the benefits, thereby encouraging customers to shop around all affiliated stores.

[0119] Furthermore, according to the information management system 1 of this embodiment, the customer terminal 600, which is an external device of the system, validates the benefit by issuing points common to all stores when predetermined conditions for issuing the benefit are met. In this way, customers can obtain activated benefits by shopping at each store in the mall and acquiring points that are issued as benefits when certain conditions are met.

[0120] Furthermore, according to the information management system 1 of the present embodiment, the benefit issuance information and benefit usage information contained in the payment history information include customer identification information. In this manner, the information management system 1 according to the present embodiment can use the management server 500 to manage information on customers who shop in the local community mall and obtain and use benefits. In addition, the information management system 1 according to this embodiment has the same effects as the information management systems 1 according to the first, third and fourth embodiments.

[0121] (Example of change) In the above embodiment 3, each store terminal 100-400 generates exchange ticket information and bonus information and transmits it to the customer terminal 600, but this is not limited to the above. For example, a dedicated bonus issuing terminal or a bonus restriction removal terminal may generate exchange ticket information and bonus information and transmit it to the customer terminal 600.

[0122] In the above-mentioned fifth embodiment, the customer terminal 600 generates the point information based on the shopping information, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the point information may be generated by each of the store terminals 100-400 in each store where the customer last shopped or a dedicated bonus issuing terminal. In this case, each of the store terminals 100-400 or the dedicated bonus issuing terminal can generate point information and transmit it to the customer terminal 600 when it is determined that a predetermined condition for issuing points is met based on the shopping information acquired from the customer terminal 600.

[0123] In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the second store, the third store, ..., the n-th store issue the bonus by having the store clerk hand over a paper lottery ticket to the customer who made a purchase, but this is not limited to the above. For example, similar to the above-mentioned third embodiment, each store may issue a bonus by having each of the store terminals 200-400 or a dedicated bonus issuing terminal generate lottery ticket information as electronic data and transmit it to the customer terminal 600. In this case, similar to the above-mentioned third embodiment, each of the store terminals 200-400 or the bonus issuing terminal may obtain customer identification information from the customer terminal 600 and generate bonus issuance information including the identification information of the customer. In this way, the management server 500 can also manage information of the customers to whom the bonus is issued.

[0124] In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the information generating unit 210 of the second store terminal 200 generates the privilege issuance information, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the second store terminal 200 may acquire the privilege issuance information generated by a privilege issuing terminal (not shown) of a second store different from the second store terminal 200. In the above-mentioned second embodiment, the information generating unit 210 of the second store terminal 200 generates the privilege restriction release information, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the second store terminal 200 may acquire the privilege restriction release information generated by a privilege restriction release terminal (not shown) of a second store different from the second store terminal 200. In the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, the information generating unit 110 of the first store terminal 100 generates the privilege usage information, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first store terminal 100 may acquire the privilege usage information generated by a privilege usage reception terminal (not shown) of a second store different from the first store terminal 100.

[0125] In the above-mentioned first to fifth embodiments, each of the store terminals 100 to 400 does not acquire the payment history information stored in the information storage unit 540 of the management server 500. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and each of the store terminals 100 to 400 may be able to acquire the payment history information. In this case, for example, the first store terminal 100 may transmit request information requesting the payment history information to the management server 500, and when the management server 500 receives the request information from the first store terminal 100, it may transmit the payment history information corresponding to the request information to the first store terminal 100. In this case, for example, when the management server 500 receives the request information from the first store terminal 100, it may transmit only the payment history information related to the first store terminal 100 to the first store terminal 100, and may not transmit the payment history information not related to the first store terminal 100 to the first store terminal 100. In this way, it is possible to prevent the payment history information from being confirmed by other stores that are neither the payment source store nor the payment destination store.

[0126] In the above-mentioned first, fourth and fifth embodiments, the information storage unit 540 of the management server 500 stores information including bonus issuance information, bonus use information, scheduled payment information and actual payment information as payment history information, but the payment history information is not limited to this and may not include all of the above-mentioned information. For example, the information storage unit 540 of the management server 500 may store, as payment history information, information that does not include actual payment information, information that does not include scheduled payment information and actual payment information, or information that does not include bonus use information, scheduled payment information and actual payment information. In other words, the management server 500 may store, as payment history information, information including bonus issuance information with the same "bonus ID" as progress information from when a bonus is issued to when the first store pays the prize purchase price.

[0127] In the above-mentioned second and third embodiments, the information storage unit 540 of the management server 500 stores information including the benefit restriction release information, benefit use information, scheduled payment information, and actual payment information as the payment history information, but the payment history information is not limited to this and may not include all of the above-mentioned information. For example, the information storage unit 540 of the management server 500 may store, as the payment history information, information that does not include actual payment information, information that does not include scheduled payment information and actual payment information, or information that does not include benefit use information, scheduled payment information, and actual payment information. In other words, the management server 500 may store, as the payment history information, information including the benefit restriction release information with the same "benefit ID" as the progress information from when the benefit use restriction is released to when the first store pays the cost to the next store.

[0128] In the above-mentioned third embodiment, the information storage unit 540 of the management server 500 stores information including use-limited benefit issuance information, benefit restriction release information, and benefit usage information as benefit history information, but the benefit history information is not limited to this and does not need to include all of the above-mentioned information. For example, the information storage unit 540 of the management server 500 may store, as benefit history information, information that does not include benefit usage information, or information that does not include benefit restriction release information and benefit usage information. In other words, the management server 500 may store, as benefit history information, information including use-limited benefit issuance information with the same "benefit ID" as progress information from when a use-limited benefit is issued to when the benefit is used.

[0129] In the above-mentioned first to fifth embodiments, the management server 500 automatically transmits the payment schedule information to each of the store terminals 100-400 of the store where the payment is made after receiving the benefit use information from each of the store terminals 100-400 of the store where the customer used the benefit, but this is not limited to the above. For example, the management server 500 may transmit the payment schedule information to each of the store terminals 100-400 of the store where the payment is made on the condition that it has received request information from each of the store terminals 100-400 to provide information related to the payment.

[0130] In the above first to fifth embodiments, the management server 500 automatically transmits the payment actual information to each of the store terminals 100-400 of the store that is the payment destination after receiving the payment actual information from each of the store terminals 100-400 of the store that is the payment source, but this is not limited to the above. For example, the management server 500 may transmit the payment actual information to each of the store terminals 100-400 of the store that is the payment destination on the condition that request information is received from each of the store terminals 100-400.

[0131] In the above-mentioned first to fifth embodiments, the management server 500 does not transmit or receive information to or from each of the store terminals 100-400 of the store that is the payment source until it transmits actual payment information to each of the store terminals 100-400 of the store that is the payment destination, but this is not limited to the above. For example, the management server 500 may generate payment reminder information, which is information to remind the store that is the payment source to make a payment, by the information generating unit 520, and transmit the payment reminder information to each of the store terminals 100-400 of the store that is the payment source. In this case, after transmitting the payment schedule information to each of the store terminals 100-400 of the store that is the payment source, the management server 500 may transmit the payment reminder information to each of the store terminals 100-400 of the store that is the payment source every time a predetermined period has elapsed.

[0132] In the above-mentioned fifth embodiment, the customer terminal 600 transmits and receives the information required for issuing and using points to and from each of the store terminals 100 to 400 via short-distance wireless communication, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the customer terminal 600 may transmit and receive the information required for issuing and using points to and from each of the store terminals 100 to 400 via a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark).

[0133] In the above first to fifth embodiments, each of the store terminals 100 to 400 transmits and receives payment history information via the management server 500, but the information transmitted and received between each of the store terminals 100 to 400 is not limited to this. For example, information required for other stores to carry out in conjunction with matters decided and carried out by a first store, which is the center of the mall, may be transmitted from the first store terminal 100 to each of the other store terminals 200 to 400 via the management server 500.

[0134] In the above-mentioned fourth embodiment, the management server 500 stores the bonus issuance information transmitted by the first store terminal 100 when the first store issues points, but for example, the management server 500 may be able to check the status of point issuance at the first store based on the stored bonus issuance information. Also, in the above-mentioned fourth embodiment, the management server 500 stores the bonus usage information transmitted by each store terminal 100-400 when points are used at each store, but for example, the management server 500 may be able to check the status of point usage at each store based on the stored bonus issuance information and bonus usage information, or to check the balance of unused points.

[0135] In the above-mentioned embodiment 5, the management server 500 stores the bonus issuance information transmitted by the customer terminal 600 when the customer terminal 600 issues points, and the bonus usage information transmitted by each store terminal 100-400 when the customer uses the points at each store. However, for example, the management server 500 may be configured to check the status of point issuance, accumulation, and usage for each customer based on the stored bonus issuance information and bonus usage information.

[0136] In the above third and fifth embodiments, each of the store terminals 100-400 in the information management system 1 transmits and receives information related to the issuance and use of benefits, such as exchange ticket information, benefit information, instruction information, shopping information, point information, and benefit issuance information, as well as information related to customer management, such as customer identification information, to and from the customer terminal 600. However, the information transmitted and received by the customer terminal 600 is not limited to this. For example, each of the store terminals 100-400 or the management server 500 may transmit event information to the customer terminal 600, which provides information about events in the mall.

[0137] In this case, the event guide information may be information that motivates customers to shop at each store in the mall, such as information on new products and services at each store, information on sales promotions and advertisements at each store, information that the number of points given to customers will be increased over a certain period of time, and information that the winning rate of a high-value prize in a lottery will be higher than usual over a certain period of time. In this case, each store terminal 100-400 and the management server 500 may transmit only event guide information that is likely to match the preferences of each customer based on information that manages customers by linking it to customer identification information such as shopping information and point information stored in the management server 500.

[0138] In addition, each store may send paper media such as flyers, pamphlets, and direct mail containing information including the above-mentioned event information to residents of a certain area targeted by the mall, and may send the paper media only to specific customers if the customer's address can be identified from the customer identification information.

[0139] In the above-mentioned first embodiment, a lottery is held at the first store to grant a special benefit in order to encourage customers to actually visit the first store and shop there, but the form of the event for granting the special benefit is not limited to this. For example, a lottery may be held at the customer terminal 600 even if the customer does not actually visit the first store. In this case, a new configuration is required in which the customer terminal 600 holds a lottery based on information such as lottery ticket information and point information stored in the customer terminal 600, and the customer terminal 600 acquires a special gift from the lottery after holding the lottery.

[0140] In this case, the first store may change the mode of the event for granting the benefit, including the lottery in the store and the lottery at the customer terminal 600, at any timing. For example, the first store may hold the lottery only at the customer terminal 600 during busy periods, and hold the lottery only in the store during other periods, or may hold the lottery in the store and at the customer terminal 600 simultaneously in parallel to allow the user to make a selection.

[0141] In the above fourth and fifth embodiments, local points that can be used only at each store in the mall are given as an example of a benefit, but the points may be exchangeable for global points that can be used outside the mall. In this case, for example, a new configuration is required in which a first store, which is the center of the mall, purchases global points in advance, gives them to customers, and exchanges the local points stored in the customer terminal 600 with the global points purchased by the first store.

[0142] In the above first to fifth embodiments, the information management system 1 is used to promote shopping at each store in a local community mall, but the use of the information management system 1 is not limited to this. For example, the information management system 1 may be used to promote shopping at each store in a so-called electronic commerce site such as an EC site or online shop, which are called an Internet mall, an online mall, an EC (Electronic Commerce) mall, or a cyber mall. Also, for example, the information management system 1 may be used to promote shopping at each store in a national group to which a predetermined store in Japan belongs.

[0143] The core part where the first store terminal 100, the second store terminal 200, the third store terminal 300, ..., the nth store terminal 400, and the management server 500, which are equipped with the control unit 51, main memory unit 52, external memory unit 53, operation unit 54, transmission / reception unit 56, and internal bus 50, perform processing may be, for example, distributed by storing each program for executing the above-mentioned operations on a recording medium readable by the first store terminal 100, the second store terminal 200, the third store terminal 300, ..., the nth store terminal 400, and the management server 500, such as a flash memory, and installing each program to configure the first store terminal 100, the second store terminal 200, the third store terminal 300, ..., the nth store terminal 400, and the management server 500 that perform the above-mentioned processing. In addition, each program may be stored in a storage device of a server device on a communication network such as a LAN or the Internet, and the first store terminal 100, the second store terminal 200, the third store terminal 300, ..., the nth store terminal 400, and the management server 500 may configure the first store terminal 100, the second store terminal 200, the third store terminal 300, ..., the nth store terminal 400, and the management server 500 by downloading each program.

[0144] In addition, when the functions of the first store terminal 100, the second store terminal 200, the third store terminal 300, ..., the nth store terminal 400 and the management server 500 are realized by sharing the functions of an OS and an application program, or by collaboration between an OS and an application program, only the application program portion may be stored in a recording medium or storage device.

[0145] It is also possible to superimpose the program on a carrier wave and provide it via a communication network. For example, the program may be posted on a bulletin board system (BBS) on the communication network and provided via the network. The program may then be started and executed under the control of the OS in the same way as other application programs, thereby executing the above-mentioned processing.

[0146] Various embodiments and modifications of the present disclosure are possible without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The above-described embodiments are for explaining the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, the scope of the present disclosure is indicated by the claims, not the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and within the scope of the disclosure equivalent thereto are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0147] 1...information management system, 50...internal bus, 51...control unit, 52...main memory unit, 53...external memory unit, 54...operation unit, 55...display unit, 56...transmission / reception unit, 59...control program, 100...first store terminal, 110, 210, 520...information generation unit, 120, 220, 530...information transmission unit, 130, 230, 510...information receiving unit, 200...second store terminal, 300...third store terminal, 400...nth store terminal, 500...management server, 540...information storage unit, 600...customer terminal.

Claims

1. An information management system including: a benefit activation store terminal which is a terminal of a benefit activation store which is a store which activates a benefit granted to a customer; a benefit usage store terminal which is a terminal of a benefit usage store which is a store where the customer uses the activated benefit; and a management server which manages information related to the benefit activation store and the benefit usage store, The benefit activation store terminal is an information generating unit that generates benefit activation information indicating that the benefit granted to the customer has been activated when the benefit activation store releases a usage restriction on the benefit with usage restrictions issued by the benefit utilization store to the customer, the benefit activation information being information indicating that the benefit has been activated; an information transmission unit that transmits the privilege activation information to the management server; Including, The reward use store terminal is an information generating unit that generates privilege usage information, which is information indicating that the customer has used the privilege when the customer has used the privilege that has been activated at the privilege usage store; an information transmitting unit that transmits the privilege usage information to the management server; Including, The management server includes: an information receiving unit that receives the benefit activation information when the benefit activation store terminal transmits the benefit activation information, and receives the benefit usage information when the benefit usage store terminal transmits the benefit usage information; an information generating unit that generates payment schedule information indicating that one of the benefit activation store and the benefit usage store, which is a payment source store, plans to pay the expenses incurred as a result of the customer's use of the activated benefit, to the other of the benefit activation store and the benefit usage store, which is a payment destination store, based on the benefit activation information and the benefit usage information; an information transmitting unit configured to transmit the payment schedule information to one of the benefit activation store terminal and the benefit utilization store terminal, which is a payment source store terminal that is a terminal of the payment source store; Including, The payment source store terminal, an information receiving unit that receives the payment schedule information transmitted by the management server; Further comprising: In the payment source store terminal, the information generating unit generates payment history information which is information indicating that the payment source store has paid the expense to the payment destination store when the payment source store has paid the expense to the payment destination store based on the payment schedule information; The information transmitting unit transmits the payment history information to the management server, In the management server, The information receiving unit receives the payment actual information transmitted by the payment source store terminal, the information transmitting unit transmits the payment record information to the other of the benefit validation store terminal and the benefit utilization store terminal, which is a payment destination store terminal that is a terminal of the payment destination store; The payment destination store terminal, an information receiving unit that receives the payment record information transmitted by the management server; Further comprising: Information management system.

2. The management server includes: an information storage unit that stores payment history information including the benefit activation information, the benefit usage information, the payment schedule information, and the payment record information; Further comprising: The information management system according to claim 1 .

3. the payment source store and the payment source store terminal are the benefit activation store and the benefit activation store terminal, the payment destination store and the payment destination store terminal are the benefit use store and the benefit use store terminal, The information management system according to claim 1 .

4. the payment source store and the payment source store terminal are the benefit use store and the benefit use store terminal, the payment destination store and the payment destination store terminal are the benefit activation store and the benefit activation store terminal, The information management system according to claim 1 .

5. An information management system including: a reward use store terminal which is a terminal of a reward use store where a customer uses a reward granted to the customer; a payment source store terminal which is a terminal of a payment source store which is a payment source store that pays to the reward use store expenses incurred based on the customer's use of the reward using the customer terminal which is the customer's terminal; and a management server which manages information regarding the reward use store and the payment source store, The customer terminal includes: an information generating unit that generates privilege activation information indicating that the privilege has been activated when a predetermined condition regarding shopping is satisfied and a usage restriction on the privilege with usage restrictions issued to the customer by a predetermined store is lifted, thereby activating the privilege granted to the customer; an information transmission unit that transmits the privilege activation information to the management server; Including, The reward use store terminal is an information generating unit that generates privilege usage information, which is information indicating that the customer has used the privilege when the customer has used the privilege at the privilege usage store; an information transmitting unit that transmits the privilege usage information to the management server; Including, The management server includes: an information receiving unit that receives the benefit activation information when the customer terminal transmits the benefit activation information, and receives the benefit usage information when the benefit usage store terminal transmits the benefit usage information; an information generating unit that generates payment schedule information indicating that the payment source store plans to pay the fee to the benefit use store based on the benefit use information; an information transmitting unit that transmits the payment schedule information to the payment source store terminal; Including, The payment source store terminal, an information receiving unit that receives the payment schedule information transmitted by the management server; an information generating unit that generates payment history information indicating that the payment source store has paid the fee to the special offer use store when the payment source store has paid the fee based on the payment schedule information; an information transmitting unit that transmits the payment record information to the management server; Including, In the management server, The information receiving unit receives the payment actual information transmitted by the payment source store terminal, The information transmitting unit transmits the payment record information to the reward use store terminal, The reward use store terminal is an information receiving unit that receives the payment record information transmitted by the management server; Further comprising: Information management system.

6. An information management device that manages information regarding a benefit activation store, which is a store that activates a benefit granted to a customer, and a benefit utilization store, which is a store where the customer utilizes the activated benefit, an information receiving unit which receives bonus activation information when a bonus activation store terminal, which is a terminal of the bonus activation store, transmits bonus activation information indicating that the bonus granted to the customer has been activated after the bonus activation store activates the bonus by removing a usage restriction on the bonus with usage restrictions issued by the bonus utilization store to the customer, and receives bonus usage information when a bonus utilization store terminal, which is a terminal of the bonus utilization store, transmits bonus usage information indicating that the customer has used the activated bonus; an information generating unit that generates payment schedule information indicating that one of the benefit activation store and the benefit usage store, which is a payment source store, plans to pay the expenses incurred as a result of the customer's use of the activated benefit, to the other of the benefit activation store and the benefit usage store, which is a payment destination store, based on the benefit activation information and the benefit usage information; an information transmitting unit configured to transmit the payment schedule information to one of the benefit activation store terminal and the benefit utilization store terminal, which is a payment source store terminal that is a terminal of the payment source store; Including, the information receiving unit receives payment history information when the payment source store terminal transmits payment history information indicating that the payment source store has paid the expense to the payment destination store, the information transmitting unit transmits the payment record information to the other of the benefit validation store terminal and the benefit utilization store terminal, which is a payment destination store terminal that is a terminal of the payment destination store; Information management device.

7. An information management device that manages information regarding a reward use store, which is a store where a customer uses a reward granted to the customer, and a payment source store, which is a store that pays a fee incurred based on the customer's use of the reward to the reward use store, an information receiving unit which receives benefit activation information when a customer terminal transmits benefit activation information indicating that the benefit granted to the customer has been activated after a customer terminal, which is a terminal of the customer, releases a usage restriction on the benefit with usage restrictions issued to the customer by a predetermined store when a predetermined condition regarding shopping is met, and receives benefit usage information when a benefit usage store terminal, which is a terminal of the benefit usage store, transmits benefit usage information indicating that the customer has used the benefit; an information generating unit that generates payment schedule information indicating that the payment source store plans to pay the fee to the benefit use store based on the benefit use information; an information transmitting unit that transmits the payment schedule information to a payment source store terminal that is a terminal of the payment source store; Including, the information receiving unit receives payment history information when the payment source store terminal transmits payment history information indicating that the payment source store has paid the fee to the benefit use store, The information transmitting unit transmits the payment record information to the reward use store terminal. Information management device.

8. a first information receiving step in which an information management device that manages information regarding a benefit activation store, which is a store that activates a benefit granted to a customer, and a benefit use store, which is a store that uses the benefit activated by the customer, receives benefit activation information when a benefit activation store terminal, which is a terminal of the benefit activation store, transmits the benefit activation information, which is information indicating that the benefit granted to the customer has been activated after the benefit activation store has activated the benefit by removing a usage restriction on the benefit with usage restrictions issued by the benefit use store to the customer; a second information receiving step of receiving, by the information management device, benefit use information indicating that the customer has used the activated benefit when the benefit use store terminal, which is a terminal of the benefit use store, transmits the benefit use information; an information generating step in which the information management device generates payment schedule information based on the benefit activation information and the benefit usage information, the payment schedule information indicating that one of the benefit activation store and the benefit usage store, which is a payment source store, plans to pay the expenses incurred based on the customer's usage of the activated benefit to the other of the benefit activation store and the benefit usage store, which is a payment destination store, which is a payment destination store; a first information transmission step in which the information management device transmits the payment schedule information to one of the benefit activation store terminal and the benefit utilization store terminal, which is a payment source store terminal that is a terminal of the payment source store; a third information receiving step in which the information management device receives payment history information when the payment source store terminal transmits the payment history information, the payment history information being information indicating that the payment source store has actually paid the expense to the payment destination store; a second information transmission step in which the information management device transmits the payment record information to the other of the benefit validation store terminal and the benefit utilization store terminal, which is a payment destination store terminal that is a terminal of the payment destination store; A control method comprising:

9. an information management device that manages information regarding a benefit use store, which is a store where a customer uses a benefit granted to the customer, and a payment source store, which is a store that pays the cost incurred based on the customer's use of the benefit to the benefit use store, receives benefit activation information when a customer terminal, which is a terminal of the customer, transmits benefit activation information indicating that the benefit granted to the customer has been activated after a predetermined condition regarding shopping is met and the customer terminal releases a usage restriction on the benefit with usage restrictions issued to the customer by a predetermined store, thereby activating the benefit; a second information receiving step of receiving, by the information management device, benefit use information indicating that the customer has used the benefit when the benefit use store terminal, which is a terminal of the benefit use store, transmits the benefit use information; an information generating step of generating payment schedule information, the payment schedule information being information indicating that the payment source store plans to pay the fee to the benefit use store, based on the benefit use information, by the information management device; a first information transmission step in which the information management device transmits the payment schedule information to a payment source store terminal which is a terminal of the payment source store; a third information receiving step in which the information management device receives payment history information when the payment source store terminal transmits the payment history information, the payment history information being information indicating that the payment source store has actually paid the fee to the benefit utilizing store; a second information transmission step of transmitting the payment record information to the reward use store terminal by the information management device; A control method comprising:

10. an information management device that manages information regarding a benefit activation store, which is a store that activates a benefit granted to a customer, and a benefit utilization store, which is a store where the customer utilizes the activated benefit; an information receiving unit which receives bonus activation information when a bonus activation store terminal, which is a terminal of the bonus activation store, transmits bonus activation information indicating that the bonus granted to the customer has been activated after the bonus activation store activates the bonus by removing a usage restriction on the bonus with usage restrictions issued by the bonus utilization store to the customer, and receives bonus usage information when a bonus utilization store terminal, which is a terminal of the bonus utilization store, transmits bonus usage information indicating that the customer has used the activated bonus; an information generating unit that generates payment schedule information indicating that one of the benefit activation store, which is a payment source store, and the benefit usage store, which is a payment destination store, plans to pay the expenses incurred as a result of the customer's use of the activated benefit, to the other of the benefit activation store, which is a payment destination store, and the benefit usage store, which is a payment destination store, based on the benefit activation information and the benefit usage information; an information transmitting unit that transmits the payment schedule information to one of the benefit activation store terminal and the benefit utilization store terminal, which is a payment source store terminal that is a terminal of the payment source store; Function as a the information receiving unit receives payment history information when the payment source store terminal transmits payment history information indicating that the payment source store has paid the expense to the payment destination store, the information transmitting unit transmits the payment record information to the other of the benefit validation store terminal and the benefit utilization store terminal, which is a payment destination store terminal that is a terminal of the payment destination store; program.

11. an information management device that manages information regarding a privilege utilization store, which is a store where a customer utilizes a privilege granted to the customer, and a payment source store, which is a payment source store that pays the expenses incurred based on the customer's utilization of the privilege to the privilege utilization store; an information receiving unit which receives benefit activation information when the customer terminal transmits benefit activation information indicating that the benefit granted to the customer has been activated after a customer terminal, which is a terminal of the customer, releases a usage restriction on the benefit with usage restrictions issued to the customer by a predetermined store when a predetermined condition regarding shopping is met, and receives benefit usage information when a benefit usage store terminal, which is a terminal of the benefit usage store, transmits benefit usage information indicating that the customer has used the benefit; an information generating unit that generates payment schedule information indicating that the payment source store plans to pay the fee to the benefit use store based on the benefit use information; an information transmission unit that transmits the payment schedule information to a payment source store terminal that is a terminal of the payment source store; Function as a the information receiving unit receives payment history information when the payment source store terminal transmits payment history information indicating that the payment source store has paid the fee to the benefit use store, The information transmitting unit transmits the payment record information to the reward use store terminal. program.

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