Point Card Linkage Device and Program

Abstract

To make it possible to know the types of such unissued rewards cards that would have allowed many points to be accumulated if they had been issued.SOLUTION: Sales information including a credit card number, a date, an affiliated store ID, a product name, and an amount is transmitted from a member store terminal device, and a settlement processing device receives it. An affiliated rewards card is searched for using the member store ID, and an issued rewards card is searched for using the credit card number. When the affiliated rewards card and the issued rewards card match, earned points provided for that rewards card are registered in a transaction management database together with the sales information. When the affiliated rewards card and the issued rewards card do not match, virtual earned points that would be provided if they matched are registered (step 83).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a point card linking device and a program.

Background Art

[0002] When paying with a credit card at a store, a point service is provided that allows points to be earned (granted) by presenting a point card different from the credit card at the store. Generally, the amount of the purchase is converted into points, and the converted points are associated with the presented point card and accumulated (stored, saved). The accumulated points are used for services such as receiving a discount for the amount corresponding to the points when shopping in the future.

[0003] Points are granted and a discount service can be received by presenting a point card at the store. If a point card has not been issued (if one does not have a point card at all), points are of course not granted and the point service cannot be received. Also, even if a point card has been issued (if one already has a point card), if the point card is not carried when using the credit card (typically if the point card is left at home), points are similarly not granted and the point service cannot be received.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a system in which when shopping using a credit card, sales information including a product transaction code, the credit card number, and the store number is transmitted from the store to a settlement company host, and further transmitted from the settlement company host to a point service server. Points are granted without presenting a point card at the store if paying with a credit card.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

[0006] In many cases, the types of cards that can be used with a point card are determined for each store, as compared with a credit card. In the system described in Patent Document 1, points can be stored in a point card that has already been issued, but it is not possible to know the types of point cards that have not yet been issued but can store a large number of points.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] An object of the present invention is to make it possible to know the types of unissued point cards that, if issued, could store a large number of points.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to retroactively add points even for a point business operator that makes the presentation of a point card a condition for point provision (acquisition).

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] The point card linking device according to the first invention includes a sales information receiving means for receiving cashless sales information including an identification code of a cashless payment means, a transaction date, a store identification code, and a payment amount from a store terminal device, a first search means for searching for a partnered point card of a store specified by the store identification code, a second search means for searching for an issued point card specified by the identification code of the cashless payment means, a first management means for managing the acquisition points assigned to the partnered / issued point card when the partnered point card found by the first search means matches the issued point card found by the second search means, together with the sales information by the cashless payment means, and a second management means for managing, when the partnered point card found by the first search means does not match the issued point card found by the second search means, the virtual acquisition points that would have been assigned if they had matched, together with the sales information by the cashless payment means.

[0010] This invention also provides a program for causing a computer device to function as the point card linking device according to the first invention.

[0011] Cashless sales information is transmitted from the store terminal device and received by the receiving means. The cashless payment means includes any payment means such as credit cards, electronic money, debit cards, mobile wallets, etc., for prepaid, postpaid, or immediate payment.

[0012] A store equipped with a store terminal device also supports a point card service. When a partnered point card is presented, points corresponding to the amount are assigned to the presented point card, and the user can acquire points.

[0013] According to the first invention, since cashless sales information including an identification code of a cashless payment means, a transaction date, a store identification code, and a payment amount is received, if the type of the affiliated point card of the store is managed in association with the store identification code, the affiliated point card of the store can be retrieved (identified) based on the received store identification code. Further, if the type and number of the issued point cards corresponding to a specific cashless payment means or held by the nominal person thereof are managed in association with the identification code of the cashless payment means, the issued point cards and numbers corresponding to a specific cashless payment means or held by the nominal person thereof can be retrieved (identified) based on the received identification code of the cashless payment means.

[0014] When the affiliated point card and the issued point card match, acquisition points corresponding to the payment amount made using the cashless payment means are given to the affiliated / issued point card. Points can be saved even without carrying a point card. On the other hand, when the affiliated point card and the issued point card do not match (including the case where no point card is issued (held) at all), the virtual acquisition points that should have been given if they had matched are managed together with the sales information by the above cashless payment means.

[0015] According to the first invention, for an unissued point card, the points that could have been acquired if the point card had been issued are managed as virtual acquisition points. Since the virtual acquisition points are managed together with the sales information by the cashless payment means, in addition to the purchase history using the cashless payment means, the points that could not be acquired (could have been acquired if issued) because the point card was unissued can be notified to the user. For example, data for displaying the virtual acquisition points managed by the above second management means on the screen may be created and transmitted in response to a request from the user. It can strongly motivate the new issuance of point cards.

[0016] In one embodiment, the screen display data created by the virtual acquisition point display data creation means further displays an issuance button for newly issuing an unissued point card corresponding to the virtual acquisition point. This makes it easier to newly issue point cards.

[0017] The point linkage device according to the second invention includes: a sales information receiving means for receiving cashless sales information including an identification code of a cashless payment means, a transaction date, a store identification code, and a payment amount from a store terminal device; a first search means for searching for a partnered point card of a store specified by the store identification code; a second search means for searching for an issued point card specified by the identification code of the cashless payment means; a point card presentation determination means for determining whether the partnered / issued point card is presented or not when the partnered point card found by the first search means matches the issued point card found by the second search means; a first management means for managing the acquisition points assigned to the partnered / issued point card together with the sales information by the cashless payment means when it is determined that the partnered / issued point card is presented; and a second management means for managing the unacquired points that would have been assigned if presented together with the sales information by the cashless payment means when it is determined that the partnered / issued point card is not presented.

[0018] This invention also provides a program for causing a computer device to function as the point card linkage device according to the second invention.

[0019] According to the second invention, even if a point card has already been issued (held), when it is, for example, forgotten at home, unacquired points different from the acquired points are managed.

[0020] Preferably, the point linkage device according to the second invention includes unacquired point display data creation means for creating data for displaying on a screen the unacquired points managed by the second management means and an acquisition button for transferring the unacquired points to acquired points. Even if points could not be acquired at a store because the point card was not carried, the unacquired points can be transferred to acquired points at a later date, so it is more convenient than a point card that requires the physical presentation of the point card at the store to acquire points.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0021]

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Embodiment

[0022] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a point card linkage system.

[0023] The point card linkage system includes a store terminal device 10, a payment processing device (server) 20, and point management devices (servers) 30A to 30C.

[0024] The store terminal device 10 is a terminal device installed in a store that has a contract with a credit card company. The store terminal device 10 reads card information from either the magnetic storage area or the IC chip of the credit card 40 (both are also possible). The amount paid using the credit card 40 is debited from the account 61 of the credit card member specified by the read card information.

[0025] The store terminal device 10 also has a function of reading a barcode (not shown) printed on the point card 50. Points corresponding to the amount paid using the credit card 40 are given to a single point card specified by the barcode printed on the point card 50.

[0026] The store terminal device 10 is realized by a computer device including a control unit, a communication unit, an input unit, a display unit, a storage unit, a code reader, etc., and as described above, can read the information recorded on the credit card 40 and the point card 50.

[0027] The store terminal device 10 is connected to the payment processing device 20 via a network (for example, the Internet). The information read when the credit card 40 and the point card 50 are presented at the store (store terminal device 10) is transmitted from the store terminal device 10 to the payment processing device 20 through the network.

[0028] As will be described later, it is not always necessary to present the point card 50 at the store to obtain points. Details about this will be described later.

[0029] The settlement processing device 20 pays the price on behalf of the store that provided the goods or services, and bills (debits the account) the credit card member who received the goods or services. Generally, on the date of provision of the goods or services, the price is paid on behalf of the settlement processing device 20 to the affiliated store account 62, and the debit of the price from the member account 61 is performed at a later date (for example, the day after tomorrow). The settlement processing device 20 is also realized by a computer device including a control unit, a communication unit, an input unit, a storage unit, and the like.

[0030] In the storage unit of the settlement processing device 20, a member master database 21, a franchise store master database 22, and a transaction management database 23 are stored. Details of these databases 21 to 23 will be described later.

[0031] The settlement processing device 20 is connected to the point management devices 30A to 30C via a network (for example, the Internet). Data is transmitted and received between the settlement processing device 20 and the point management devices 30A to 30C through the network. The point management devices 30A to 30C are also realized by computer devices including a control unit, a communication unit, an input unit, a display unit, a storage unit, and the like.

[0032] Each of the plurality of point management devices 30A to 30C means a management device corresponding to each of different types of point cards 50. When a specific type of point card 50 is presented at the franchise store terminal device 10, data is transmitted to the point management device corresponding to that type.

[0033] In the storage unit of each of the point management devices 30A to 30C, a member master database 31a and a point management database 32a are stored. Details of these databases 31a and 32a will be described later.

[0034] Figures 2 to 4 schematically show the member master database 21, the franchise store master database 22, and the transaction management database 23 stored in the storage unit of the settlement processing device 20, respectively.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 2, in the member master database 21, for each of the credit cards 40, the credit card number (the credit card is denoted as "C card" in FIG. 2 etc.), the name of the cardholder, the type of the issued point card (the point card is denoted as "P card" in FIG. 2 etc.) and the number etc. are stored.

[0036] Credit card members can issue one or more types of point cards 50. For credit card members (the cardholders) who have issued multiple types of point cards 50, the types and numbers of the multiple types of issued point cards 50 can be stored in the member master database 21. The types and numbers of the issued point cards 50 held by credit card members are registered using a registration screen (not shown) prepared by the operating company of the credit card 40, and this is associated with the credit card number and stored in the member master database 21.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 3, in the franchise master database 22, the franchise ID, franchise name, affiliated point cards etc. for the franchises of the credit card 40 are stored.

[0038] The affiliated point card stores the types of point cards 50 that can be used at the franchise. The type of the affiliated point card 50 may be one type or multiple types for each franchise.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 4, in the transaction management database 23, the usage records of the credit card 40 are stored. The credit card number, usage date, franchise ID where the credit card 40 was used, name of the traded product (service), amount, point card information (type and number of the point card, or type of the point card) used when using the credit card 40, acquired points etc. are stored in the transaction management database 23.

[0040] Points are awarded according to the amount when purchasing goods or the like using credit card 40, and are registered in the transaction management database 23. Even when a point card has not been issued, the points that should have been awarded if it had been issued (referred to as "virtual acquired points") are also stored in the transaction management database 23. In this case, as shown in the bottom row of the transaction management database 23, the point card number is not registered in the point card information, and only the type of the point card is registered. And virtual acquired points are registered in the acquired points column. Virtual acquired points mean that the cardholder of credit card 40 identified by the credit card number does not issue (hold) a point card partnered by the affiliated store identified by the affiliated store ID, and if they had issued (held) it, they could have acquired the points. It is stored in the transaction management database 23 so as to be distinguishable from the acquired points in the normal case (when a point card has already been issued).

[0041] Figs. 5 to 6 schematically show the member master database 31a and the point management database 32a stored in the storage unit of the point management device 30A, respectively.

[0042] Referring to Fig. 5, the member master database 31a stored in the storage unit of the point management device 30A stores the point card number, the name of the point card member, etc.

[0043] Referring to Fig. 6, the point management database 32a stores the points (acquired points) awarded when purchasing goods or the like. The acquired points are associated with the point card number, date, purchase store, product name, amount, etc. and stored in the point management database 32a.

[0044] When receiving a discount for the amount corresponding to the points, negative points are stored in the acquired points column.

[0045] Figs. 7 and 8 are flowcharts showing the processing flow of the settlement processing device 20 in the point card cooperation system.

[0046] When purchasing goods or the like using the credit card 40, sales information is transmitted from the affiliated store terminal device 10 to the settlement processing device 20 and received by the settlement processing device 20 (step 71). The sales information transmitted from the affiliated store terminal device 10 to the settlement processing device 20 includes the credit card number, date, affiliated store ID, product name, and amount, and is stored in the transaction management database 23 (Fig. 4) described above in the settlement processing device 20.

[0047] The settlement processing device 20 that has received the sales information searches for the type of affiliated point card of the affiliated store specified by the affiliated store ID based on the affiliated store ID included in the sales information (step 72). The affiliated store master database 22 (Fig. 3) described above is used for searching for the type of affiliated point card.

[0048] Next, the settlement processing device 20 searches for the type of issued point card of the credit card member (cardholder) based on the credit card number included in the sales information (step 73). The member master database 21 (Fig. 2) described above is used for searching for the issued point card.

[0049] It is determined whether there is a match between the affiliated point card and the issued point card found by the search (step 74).

[0050] If a matching affiliated point card and issued point card are found, the settlement processing device 20 transmits transaction information including the point card number, date, store name, product name, and amount to the point management device corresponding to the type of the matching point card (here, the point management device 30A) (YES in step 74, step 75). The point card number used is the one stored in the member master database 21 in association with the card number of the used credit card 40. Based on the received transaction information, the point management device 30A grants points corresponding to the amount for a specific point card number and stores them in the point management database 32a (Fig. 6).

[0051] The points granted by the point management device 30A are transmitted from the point management device 30A to the settlement processing device 20 and received by the settlement processing device 20 (step 76). From the point management device 30A to the settlement processing device 20, in addition to the points, information specifying which of the plurality of sales information stored in the transaction management database 23 the points correspond to and the point card number are also transmitted. In the settlement processing device 20, the received point card number is registered (stored) in the transaction management database 23 in association with the above-described sales information, and the received points are registered in the transaction management database 23 as acquired points (step 77).

[0052] When the affiliated point card and the issued point card do not match, typically when the cardholder of the credit card 40 does not issue (does not possess) the affiliated point card of the store where the goods, etc. were purchased, the settlement processing device 20 transmits the transaction information (date, store name, product name, amount) excluding the point card number to the point management device (referred to as the point management device 30B) of the affiliated point card of the store where the credit card 40 was used (NO in step 74, step 81).

[0053] The point management device 30B that has received the transaction information excluding the point card number calculates the virtual acquired points that could have been obtained if the cardholder of the credit card 40 had issued an affiliated point card, and transmits them to the settlement processing device 20. The settlement processing device 20 receives the virtual acquired points and registers them in the transaction management database 23 (steps 82, 83). As described above, the virtual acquired points are stored in the transaction management database 23 so as to be distinguishable from the normal acquired points (see the bottom row of FIG. 4).

[0054] The virtual acquisition points can be investigated in response to a request from the cardholder of credit card 40. When a request from the cardholder of credit card 40 (generally including the credit card number and password) is transmitted, point card issuance screen data is created in the payment processing device 20 (or another device that cooperates with the payment processing device 20), and is transmitted to the cardholder's device (such as a personal computer or smartphone) of credit card 40 (step 84).

[0055] FIG. 9 shows an example of the point card new issuance screen 86 displayed by the point card new issuance screen data.

[0056] On the point card new issuance screen 86, based on the point card information and virtual acquisition points stored in the transaction management database 23, the points that could have been acquired if a point card had been issued are displayed. On the screen of FIG. 9, the cardholder of a specific credit card number (here, "Patent Taro") has not issued point cards B, X, and Y (not issued), and the points that could have been acquired if these point cards had been issued (the above-mentioned virtual acquisition points) are shown together with the types of unissued point cards. A "new issuance" button 87 is prepared for each type of unissued point card, and by clicking or tapping this button 87, a transition is made to a new issuance screen (not shown) for a specific type of point card. When a point card is newly issued via the point card new issuance screen 86, the type and number of the point card may be newly stored in the member master database 21 of the payment processing device 20.

[0057] In this way, the member (cardholder) of credit card 40 can acquire points without carrying the point card 50 by associating the point card 50 with the credit card 40. Also, it is possible to know the types of such unissued point cards that have not yet been issued and that could have stored a large number of points if they had been issued.

[0058] FIG. 10 corresponds to FIG. 7 and is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the settlement processing device 20 in the point card linkage system of another embodiment. FIG. 11 shows a point-added screen that can be displayed by the cardholder of the credit card 40 in the point card linkage system of another embodiment that operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 10.

[0059] In the point card linkage system shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, even if the cardholder of the credit card 40 does not present the point card 50 at the store, as long as the point card 50 is issued (held), points can be obtained even if it is not carried. The point card linkage system shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is a system that requests the presentation of the point card 50 at the store for point acquisition, but enables the points that could not be obtained due to non-presentation of the point card 50 to be obtained at a later date. In FIG. 10, the same processes as those of the settlement processing device 20 shown in FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0060] If a matching affiliated point card and an issued point card are found (YES in step 74), it is further determined whether the point card 50 has been presented (whether the barcode of the point card 50 has been read) (step 78).

[0061] If the point card 50 is presented at the franchise terminal device 10 (if the barcode of the point card 50 is read), transaction information including the point card number is transmitted to the point management device of the presented point card 50, and the acquired points granted by the point management device are transmitted from the point management device to the settlement processing device 20 and received. In addition to the sales information, the point card number and the acquired points are stored in the transaction management database 23 of the settlement processing device 20 (YES in step 78, steps 75A, 76, 77).

[0062] The cardholder of the credit card 40 issues (owns) the affiliated point card 50. For example, if the point card 50 is left at home (not carried) and thus cannot be presented to the store terminal device 10, transaction information (date, store name, product name, amount) excluding the point card number is sent to the point management device for the affiliated point card and the issued point card that match but have not been presented (not carried) (step 75B). The point management device calculates the unearned points separately from the earned points in the normal case (when the point card is presented at the store), and this is sent from the point management device to the settlement processing device 20 and stored (registered) in the transaction management database 23 (step 91).

[0063] In response to the request of the cardholder of the credit card 40, the point addition screen data is sent from the settlement processing device 20 to the cardholder's usage device of the credit card 40 (step 92).

[0064] FIG. 11 shows an example of the point addition screen 95.

[0065] On the point addition screen 95, unearned points that are stored in the transaction management database 23 separately from the normal earned points are displayed. These are unearned points for which the affiliated point card has already been issued (owned) but could not be earned because it was not presented at the store. An "Earn" button 96 is provided for each unearned point. When the button 96 is clicked or tapped, the unearned points are transferred to earned points (the unearned points become earned points in the transaction management database 23 of the settlement processing device 20 and the point management database 32a of the point management device). While presenting the point card 50 is the principle for point awarding, it is convenient because points can be earned later.

Explanation of Signs

[0066] 10 Store terminal device 20 Settlement processing device (point card cooperation device) 21,31a Member Master Database 22 Franchisee Master Database 23 Transaction Management Database 30A, 30B, 30C Point Management Device 32a Point Management Database 40 Credit Card 50 Point Card

Claims

1. Sales information receiving means for receiving cashless sales information including an identification code of a cashless payment means, a transaction date, a store identification code, and a payment amount from a franchisee terminal device, First search means for searching for the type of affiliated point card of the franchisee specified by the above store identification code, Second search means for searching for the type of issued point card specified by the identification code of the above cashless payment means, First management means for managing the acquisition points assigned to the affiliated / issued point card when the type of affiliated point card found by the first search means matches the type of issued point card found by the second search means, together with the sales information by the cashless payment means, Second management means for managing the virtual acquisition points that would have been assigned if they had matched, together with the sales information by the cashless payment means, when the type of affiliated point card found by the first search means does not match the type of issued point card found by the second search means, and Virtual acquisition point display data creation means for creating data for displaying on the screen the virtual acquisition points managed by the second management means, The screen display data created by the virtual acquisition point display data creation means displays the virtual acquisition points assigned if the type of affiliated point card found by the first search means matches the type of issued point card found by the second search means, for each type of unissued point card. Point card linkage device.

2. The screen display data created by the virtual acquisition point display data creation means further displays an issuance button for newly issuing an unissued point card corresponding to the virtual acquisition points. The point card linkage device according to Claim 1.

3. The screen display data created by the virtual acquisition point display data creation means displays the virtual acquisition points assigned during a predetermined period if the type of affiliated point card found by the first search means matches the type of issued point card found by the second search means, for each type of unissued point card. The point card linkage device according to Claim 1.

4. A computer device, Sales information receiving means for receiving cashless sales information including an identification code of a cashless payment means, a transaction date, a store identification code, and an amount paid from a terminal device of a franchise store, First search means for searching for the type of a partnered point card of a franchise store specified by the above store identification code, Second search means for searching for the type of an issued point card specified by the identification code of the above cashless payment means, First management means for managing the acquired points given to the partnered / issued point card when the type of the partnered point card found by the above first search means matches the type of the issued point card found by the above second search means, together with the sales information by the above cashless payment means, Second management means for managing the virtual acquired points that would have been given if they had matched, together with the sales information by the above cashless payment means, when the type of the partnered point card found by the above first search means does not match the type of the issued point card found by the above second search means, and A program for functioning as virtual acquired point display data creation means for creating data for displaying the virtual acquired points managed by the above second management means on a screen, The created screen display data displays the virtual acquired points given if the type of the found partnered point card matches the type of the found issued point card, for each type of unissued point card. Program.

Images