Program and Mobile Terminal

Abstract

To provide a server device and a program relating to display of a return receipt and capable of improving operability of an information terminal of a customer.SOLUTION: A server device includes a return information acquisition unit for acquiring transaction specification information of a transaction in which a returned article occurs after settlement processing and return information showing an article returned with respect to the transaction, a return receipt information registration unit for registering the return receipt information showing information related to the returned article on the basis of the return information acquired by the return information acquisition unit, a corrected receipt information registration unit for registering corrected receipt information in which receipt information showing transaction information before returning the article is corrected on the basis of the transaction specification information and the return information acquired by the return information acquisition unit, and an output unit for outputting the corrected receipt information and request information for sending a request of the return receipt information in association with each other to an information terminal of a customer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to Program and Mobile Terminal this.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, electronic receipts have been used in which receipts received by customers who purchase goods and services (hereinafter collectively referred to as "goods") are digitized. The electronic receipt is transmitted from an electronic receipt server that manages receipt information to a customer's information terminal or the like.

[0003] By the way, in a transaction, a customer may return a product that has been purchased once. At the time of return, generally as a process of a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal, a corrected receipt indicating that a return has occurred by correcting the receipt issued at the time of purchase and a return receipt describing information (name, refund amount, etc.) of the returned product are issued.

[0004] In the mechanism for issuing the above-described electronic receipt, a proposal has been made to issue a corrected receipt and a return receipt (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0005] However, a conventional electronic receipt server separately transmits corrected receipt information and return receipt information to a customer's information terminal, and the customer's information terminal displays the corrected receipt and the return receipt by independent operations. For this reason, the operability of the customer's information terminal was not good.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a Program and Mobile Terminal that can improve the operability of a customer's information terminal with respect to the display of a return receipt.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] Of the embodiment Program is The computer of the mobile terminal is caused to function as display means for displaying, on a display unit, corrected receipt information obtained by correcting information on a transaction before return together with request information for requesting return receipt information indicating information on a returned product, request means for requesting, from a server device that manages the return receipt information, the return receipt information related to the corrected receipt information displayed on the display unit when the request information displayed on the display means is selected, and acquisition means for acquiring the return receipt information from the server device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

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[0009] Hereinafter, the server device and the program according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by the embodiments described below. For example, in the embodiments described below, a mobile terminal is used as the customer's information terminal, but a stationary PC (Personal Computer) or the like may also be used.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the electronic receipt system 1. The electronic receipt system 1 according to the present embodiment is constructed across a business operator that provides an electronic receipt service, a store or a company that issues an electronic receipt (hereinafter, these are collectively referred to as a "store"), and a customer who uses the electronic receipt service.

[0011] The electronic receipt system 1 includes an electronic receipt server 2 managed by a business operator who operates an electronic receipt service, a payment device 3 provided in a store, and a customer terminal 4 such as a smartphone owned by a customer who uses the electronic receipt service. Note that in FIG. 1, only one payment device provided in each store is shown, but each store may be provided with a plurality of payment devices. Here, the electronic receipt server 2 is an example of a server device, and the customer terminal 4 is an example of a customer's information terminal. Note that the server device may be configured by a plurality of computers.

[0012] The electronic receipt server 2 is communicably connected to the payment device 3 and the customer terminal 4 via a network such as the Internet. The electronic receipt server 2 may be connected to the payment device 3 of each store via a head office server or the like of a company that operates the store where the payment device 3 is installed.

[0013] When a customer purchases a product at a store, receipt information related to the purchase of the product is transmitted from the store's payment device 3 to the electronic receipt server 2. The electronic receipt server 2 transmits the receipt information to the customer terminal 4 in response to a predetermined timing or a request from the customer terminal 4. The customer can view the receipt information received from the electronic receipt server 2 by the customer terminal 4. Thereby, the paper receipts issued by the payment device 3 can be reduced.

[0014] When a return occurs at the store, the payment device 3 transmits transaction identification information for identifying the transaction in which the return occurred after the payment process and return information indicating the returned product to the electronic receipt server 2. The electronic receipt server 2 registers the return receipt information based on the return information. Further, the electronic receipt server 2 registers the corrected receipt information based on the transaction identification information and the return information. For example, the electronic receipt server 2 that manages the paid receipt information extracts the paid receipt information specified by the received transaction identification information, and updates the extracted receipt information based on the received return information.

[0015] Then, the electronic receipt server 2 transmits the corrected receipt information and the request information in association with each other to the customer terminal 4. The request information is information for the customer terminal 4 to transmit a return receipt information request to the electronic receipt server 2, and is, for example, link information of a web page that provides return receipt information. As an example, the electronic receipt server 2 transmits display data for displaying a corrected receipt embedded with link information of a web page that provides return receipt information to the customer terminal 4. By the electronic receipt server 2 transmitting information in which such corrected receipt information and request information are associated with each other to the customer terminal 4, the customer terminal 4 can easily display a link for displaying the return receipt on the display screen of the corrected receipt. Therefore, the operability for the customer to display the return receipt is improved at the customer terminal 4. Note that the electronic receipt server 2 may transmit text data or the like in which the corrected receipt information and the request information are associated with each other instead of the display data. In this case, the mobile terminal 4 generates display data based on the received text data or the like.

[0016] Next, the electronic receipt server 2 will be described in detail. The electronic receipt server 2 also functions as a web server and provides electronic receipts to customers who are members of the electronic receipt service. Specifically, the electronic receipt server 2 manages the receipt information of transactions settled by the settlement device 3 on a per-transaction basis. Then, the electronic receipt server 2 publishes the receipt information on a web page and transmits the receipt information to the customer terminal 4 as appropriate in response to a request from the customer terminal 4. Here, the data format of the receipt information transmitted by the electronic receipt server 2 is not limited. The receipt information is a concept that also includes display data generated based on the data stored in the memory unit 21 (see FIG. 2) of the electronic receipt server 2 for displaying the electronic receipt on the customer terminal 4. The same applies to the corrected receipt information and the return receipt information.

[0017] In addition, when a return occurs, the electronic receipt server 2 provides the customer with an electronic corrected receipt (hereinafter simply referred to as a "corrected receipt") that corrects the receipt indicating the details of the transaction before the return, and an electronic return receipt (hereinafter simply referred to as a "return receipt") indicating the details of the returned product. Specifically, the electronic receipt server 2 publishes the corrected receipt information and the return receipt information, which are display data, on a web page and transmits the corrected receipt information and the return receipt information to the customer terminal 4 as appropriate in response to a request from the customer terminal 4.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main hardware configuration of the electronic receipt server 2. The electronic receipt server 2 includes a control unit 20, a memory unit 21, a display unit 22, an operation unit 23, and a communication unit 24. The control unit 20, the memory unit 21, the display unit 22, the operation unit 23, and the communication unit 24 are connected to each other via a bus 25 or the like.

[0019] The control unit 20 is composed of a computer equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203. The CPU 201, the ROM 202, and the RAM 203 are connected to each other via a bus 25.

[0020] The CPU 201 controls the overall operation of the electronic receipt server 2. The ROM 202 stores various programs such as programs used to drive the CPU 201 and various data. The RAM 203 is used as a work area for the CPU 201 and expands various programs and various data stored in the ROM 202 and the memory unit 21. The control unit 20 executes various control processes of the electronic receipt server 2 by operating according to the control program stored in the ROM 202 or the memory unit 21 and expanded in the RAM 203.

[0021] The memory unit 21 is composed of a storage medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a flash memory, and maintains the stored content even when the power is turned off. The memory unit 21 stores a control program 211, a member master 212, a receipt information management file 213, and a return receipt information management file 214.

[0022] The control program 211 is a program for receiving receipt information from the payment device 3, a program for managing the received receipt information for each transaction, a program for realizing a Web server function, and the like.

[0023] The member master 212 is a master file that stores information of members of the electronic receipt distribution service. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the data configuration of the member master 212. Each data registered in the member master 212 has each information indicating a member ID, name, gender, age, and email address associated with it. Each information registered in the member master 212 is registered when a customer registers as a member of the electronic receipt distribution service.

[0024] In the member ID field, a member ID that identifies a member of the electronic receipt distribution service is registered. In the name field, information indicating the name of the member is registered. In the gender field, information indicating the gender of the member is registered. In the age field, information indicating the age of the member is registered. In the email address field, the email address of the customer terminal 4 owned by the member is registered.

[0025] The receipt information management file 213 is a file that manages the receipt information of transactions settled by the settlement device 3 on a per-transaction basis. The receipt information management file 213 is registered and updated based on the receipt information received from the settlement device 3. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the data configuration of the receipt information management file 213. Each data registered in the receipt information management file 213 has each information indicating a member ID, a receipt No, product information, a transaction amount, a transaction date and time, store information, a return flag, and a request information associated therewith. In the present embodiment, the receipt information is a member ID, a receipt No, product information, a transaction amount, a transaction date and time, and store information, but can be arbitrarily set.

[0026] In the member ID field, a member ID that identifies a member of the electronic receipt distribution service is registered. In the receipt No field, a receipt No that specifies one transaction of the member in each settlement device 3 is registered. The receipt No is issued by each settlement device 3. The receipt No is an example of transaction identification information.

[0027] In the product information field, information on the products sold in the transaction specified by the receipt No is registered. The information registered in the product information field is information indicating a product code for specifying a product, the name of the product, a unit price, a tax amount, etc., and can be arbitrarily set. When a plurality of products are purchased in one transaction, product information is registered for each of the plurality in the product information field. In the transaction amount field, information indicating the total amount of one transaction is registered. In the transaction date and time field, information indicating the date and time when one transaction was made is registered.

[0028] In the item of store information, information on the store where the transaction was conducted is registered. The information registered in the item of store information includes a store code for identifying the store, the name of the store, the location, the telephone number, etc., and can be set arbitrarily. For example, it may include the cash register No for identifying the payment device 3 where the transaction settlement process was performed. In the item of return flag, information indicating whether a return has occurred for the transaction identified by the receipt No is registered. In the item of return flag, "0" is registered when no return has occurred for the transaction, and "1" is registered when a return has occurred for the transaction.

[0029] In the item of request information, when a return occurs for the transaction identified by the receipt No, request information for the customer terminal 4 to send a request for a return receipt to the electronic receipt server 2 is registered. In this embodiment, the information registered in the item of request information is the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the web page where the target return receipt information is published. The URL of the web page where the target return receipt information is published is link information and is an example of request information. When the electronic receipt server 2 sends the return receipt information to the customer terminal 4 without using a web page, in the item of request information, the address of the destination for receiving the request for the return receipt information, etc., is registered.

[0030] The receipt information registered in the receipt information management file 213 is rewritten according to the return information obtained by the electronic receipt server 2 from the payment device 3. The rewritten receipt information constitutes corrected receipt information. Therefore, it can also be said that the receipt information management file 213 manages the corrected receipt information.

[0031] The return receipt information management file 214 is a file that manages return receipt information indicating information about returned products. The return receipt information is registered in the return receipt information management file 214 based on return information received from the payment device 3 when a return occurs in a settled transaction. The return information includes the product code of the returned product and a return code indicating that the product code is the product code of the returned product. When the return information is registered in the return receipt information management file 214, it can be said that the return receipt information is generated. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the data configuration of the return receipt information management file 214. Each data registered in the return receipt information management file 214 is associated with each piece of information indicating a return receipt No, a receipt No, product information, a refund amount, a return date and time, store information, and request information. In the present embodiment, the return receipt information is a return receipt No, a receipt No, product information, a refund amount, a return date and time, and store information, but can be set arbitrarily.

[0032] In the return receipt No item, a return receipt No for specifying the return receipt issued when a return occurs is registered. The return receipt No is issued by the payment device 3 each time a return process is executed in the payment device 3. When a plurality of products are returned in one return process by the payment device 3, only one return receipt No is issued.

[0033] In the receipt No item, the receipt No of the transaction that has been settled and for which a return has occurred is registered. In the product information item, information about the returned product is registered. The information registered in the product information item is information indicating a product code for specifying the product, the name of the product, the unit price, the tax amount, etc., and can be set arbitrarily.

[0034] In the refund amount item, information indicating the amount returned to the customer by the return process, that is, the total amount of all returned products, is registered. In the return date and time item, information indicating the date and time when the return process was executed by the payment device 3 is registered.

[0035] In the item of store information, information on the store where the return was made is registered. The information registered in the item of store information includes a store code for identifying the store, the name of the store, the location, the telephone number, etc., and may include the cash register No. for identifying the settlement device 3 where the return process was performed. In the item of request information, the URL of the web page where the return receipt information specified by the return receipt No is published is registered.

[0036] Returning to FIG. 2, the hardware configuration of the electronic receipt server 2 will be described.

[0037] The display unit 22 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel and displays various information. The display unit 22 displays, as necessary, the information stored in, for example, the member master 212, the receipt information management file 213, and the return receipt information management file 214.

[0038] The operation unit 23 is for inputting information to the control unit 20 and is composed of a keyboard, a touch panel, a mouse, etc.

[0039] The communication unit 24 is an interface for communicating with external devices such as the settlement device 3 and the customer terminal 4. By connecting to an external device via the communication unit 24, the control unit 20 can transmit and receive information (data) with the external device.

[0040] Subsequently, the functional configuration of the control unit 20 of the electronic receipt server 2 will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the main functional configuration of the control unit 20 of the electronic receipt server 2. The control unit 20 functions as an acquisition unit 2001, a registration unit 2002, an extraction unit 2003, a reception unit 2004, and an output unit 2005 by operating according to the control programs stored in the ROM 202 and the memory unit 21 by the CPU 201. Note that each of these functions may be configured by hardware such as a dedicated circuit.

[0041] The acquisition unit 2001 acquires receipt information from the settlement device 3. The receipt information includes the member ID of a customer who is a member of the electronic receipt service, the receipt No, product information of the traded product, the transaction amount, store information of the store where the transaction took place, and the like.

[0042] In addition, the acquisition unit 2001 acquires transaction identification information of a transaction in which a return occurred after the settlement process, and return information indicating the product returned in the transaction. Specifically, the acquisition unit 2001 acquires from the settlement device 3 return information including the receipt No of a transaction in which a return occurred after the settlement process, and a product code and a return code indicating that the product code is the return code of the returned product. The acquisition unit 2001 is an example of a return information acquisition unit.

[0043] The registration unit 2002 registers the receipt information acquired by the acquisition unit 2001 in the receipt information management file 213.

[0044] In addition, the registration unit 2002 registers return receipt information indicating information about the returned product based on the return information acquired by the return information acquisition unit. Specifically, the registration unit 2002 registers in the return receipt information management file 214 the return receipt No included in the return information acquired by the acquisition unit 2001, the receipt No of the transaction in which the return occurred, product information of the returned product, the refund amount, the return date and time, and the store information. In addition, the registration unit 2002 registers in the return receipt information management file 214 the URL of the web page where the return receipt information set by the control unit 20 is published. The registration unit 2002 is an example of a return receipt information registration unit.

[0045] Furthermore, the registration unit 2002 registers corrected receipt information obtained by correcting receipt information indicating the information of the transaction before return based on the transaction identification information and return information acquired by the return information acquisition unit. Specifically, the registration unit 2002 refers to the receipt information management file 213 and updates the receipt information corresponding to the receipt No. acquired by the acquisition unit 2001 based on the return information. For example, the registration unit 2002 deletes the product information included in the return information from the product information registered in the receipt information management file 213. In addition, the registration unit 2002 rewrites the return flag registered in the receipt information management file 213 from "0" to "1" and registers the URL of the web page set in the item of the request information. When the return flag has already been rewritten to "1" when the registration unit 2002 updates the receipt information, the registration unit 2002 does not rewrite the return flag. The registration unit 2002 is also an example of a corrected receipt information registration unit. Note that the registration unit 2002 may register the corrected receipt information by generating a separate management file instead of rewriting the receipt information stored in the receipt information management file 213 and registering the corrected receipt information.

[0046] When the reception unit 2004 receives a receipt information request from the customer terminal 4, the extraction unit 2003 extracts the receipt information corresponding to the receipt No. included in the receipt information request from the receipt information management file 213. In addition, when the reception unit 2004 receives a corrected receipt information request from the customer terminal 4, the extraction unit 2003 extracts the receipt information corresponding to the receipt No. included in the corrected receipt information request from the receipt information management file 213. The extracted receipt information has been updated by the return information from the settlement device 3 and is corrected receipt information. Furthermore, when the reception unit 2004 receives a return receipt information request from the customer terminal 4, the extraction unit 2003 extracts the return receipt information corresponding to the return receipt No. included in the return receipt information request from the receipt information management file 213.

[0047] The reception unit 2004 receives a receipt information request, a corrected receipt information request, and a return receipt information request from the customer terminal 4.

[0048] The output unit 2005 transmits receipt information, corrected receipt information, and return receipt information to the customer terminal 4 in the requested data format in response to various information requests received by the reception unit 2004. In the present embodiment, the output unit 2005 transmits display data generated to display the receipt information, corrected receipt information, and return receipt information extracted by the extraction unit 2003 on a web page. The mobile terminal 4 displays these various types of information using a web browser.

[0049] In addition, the output unit 2005 outputs, in association with each other, request information for transmitting a request for corrected receipt information and return receipt information to the customer's information terminal. Specifically, the output unit 2005 transmits, in association with each other, the corrected receipt information extracted by the extraction unit 2003 and the URL of the web page corresponding to the corrected receipt information in the receipt information management file 213 to the customer terminal 4. For example, the output unit 2005 transmits display data for embedding and displaying link information of a web page providing return receipt information in the corrected receipt to the customer terminal 4. In addition, the output unit 2005 transmits various other types of information to the payment device 3 and the customer terminal 4 as necessary.

[0050] Next, the payment device 3 will be described. The payment device 3 is a payment device such as a POS terminal provided in each store. Regardless of the type of POS terminal, it may be any of a general POS terminal for a store clerk to perform product registration and accounting operations, a self-POS terminal for a customer to perform product registration and accounting operations, a semi-self-POS terminal for a store clerk to perform product registration and a customer to perform accounting operations, etc. Further, the payment device 3 may be a payment terminal that executes processing related to cashless payment.

[0051] When a customer purchases a product, the payment device 3 executes a payment process. When reading the membership ID of the electronic receipt service, the payment device 3 transmits receipt information related to the payment-processed transaction to the electronic receipt server 2. Further, when reading the membership ID at the time of a return process, the payment device 3 transmits return information to the electronic receipt server 2.

[0052] Next, the customer terminal 4 will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the main hardware configuration of the customer terminal 4. The customer terminal 4 includes a control unit 40, a memory unit 41, a display unit 42, an operation unit 43, and a communication unit 44. The control unit 40, the memory unit 41, the display unit 42, the operation unit 43, and the communication unit 44 are connected to each other via a bus 45 or the like.

[0053] The control unit 40 is composed of a computer including a CPU 401, a ROM 402, and a RAM 403. The CPU 401, the ROM 402, and the RAM 403 are connected to each other via the bus 45.

[0054] The CPU 401 controls the overall operation of the customer terminal 4. The ROM 402 stores various programs such as programs used to drive the CPU 401 and various data. The RAM 403 is used as a work area for the CPU 401 and expands various programs and various data stored in the ROM 402 and the memory unit 41. The control unit 40 executes various control processes of the customer terminal 4 by operating according to the control program stored in the ROM 402 and the memory unit 41 and expanded in the RAM 403.

[0055] The memory unit 41 is composed of a storage medium such as an HDD or a flash memory, and maintains the stored content even when the power is turned off. The memory unit 41 stores a control program 411 and a member ID 412.

[0056] The control program 411 includes an application program for receiving the provision of an electronic receipt service, a program for displaying an electronic receipt, a corrected receipt, and a return receipt, for example, a program such as a web browser for browsing information published on the web.

[0057] The member ID is the member ID of the electronic receipt service. The member ID is assigned when the customer executes member registration for the electronic receipt service.

[0058] The display unit 42 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel and displays various kinds of information. The display unit 42 displays an electronic receipt, a corrected receipt, a return receipt, etc. based on the information received from the electronic receipt server 2.

[0059] The operation unit 43 is for inputting information to the control unit 40 and is composed of, for example, a touch panel provided on the surface of the display unit 42.

[0060] The communication unit 44 is an interface for communicating with an external device such as the electronic receipt server 2. The control unit 40 is connected to the external device via the communication unit 44, enabling the transmission and reception of information (data) with the external device.

[0061] Next, the functional configuration of the control unit 40 of the customer terminal 4 will be described. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the main functional configuration of the control unit 40 of the customer terminal 4. The control unit 40 functions as a reception unit 4001, an input unit 4002, a display processing unit 4003, and a transmission unit 4004 by operating according to the control programs stored in the ROM 402 and the memory unit 41 by the CPU 401. Note that each of these functions may be configured by hardware such as a dedicated circuit.

[0062] The reception unit 4001 receives various kinds of information from an external device. For example, the reception unit 4001 receives receipt information, corrected receipt information associated with request information, and return receipt information from the electronic receipt server 2.

[0063] Various kinds of information are input to the input unit 4002 from the operation unit 43. For example, instructions for requesting receipt information, instructions for requesting corrected receipt information, and instructions for requesting return receipt information are input to the input unit 4002.

[0064] The display processing unit 4003 controls the display unit 42 to display various types of information. For example, the display processing unit 4003 causes the display unit 42 to display an electronic receipt based on the receipt information received from the electronic receipt server 2, and causes the display unit 42 to display a return receipt based on the return receipt information received from the electronic receipt server 2. Further, the display processing unit 4003 causes the display unit 42 to display a corrected receipt based on the corrected receipt information and the request information received from the electronic receipt server 2. Furthermore, the display processing unit 4003 causes the display unit 42 to display an operation screen for inputting a receipt information request or a corrected receipt information request when an application program for receiving the electronic receipt service is launched, etc.

[0065] The transmission unit 4004 transmits various types of information to the electronic receipt server 2. For example, the transmission unit 4004 transmits information such as a receipt information request, a corrected receipt information request, and a return receipt request to the electronic receipt server 2. The transmission unit 4004 transmits the member ID together when transmitting these various types of information to the electronic receipt server 2. Thereby, the electronic receipt server 2 can identify the transmission source (member, email address of the customer terminal 4 of the member) of various types of information by referring to the member master 212.

[0066] The outline of the operation of the electronic receipt system 1 having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 9 is a sequence chart showing the operation flow of the electronic receipt system 1. Note that this sequence chart shows the operation flow when a return is made for the merchandise related to the transaction after the customer has purchased the merchandise and the settlement of the transaction has been completed.

[0067] First, the process during transaction settlement will be described. When a member of the electronic receipt service purchases a product at a store, the settlement device 3 at the store executes settlement processing (step S1). The settlement device 3 transmits receipt information regarding one settlement transaction to the electronic receipt server 2 (step S2). The receipt information includes the customer's member ID, the issued receipt No, product information of the transaction target product (product code, product name, unit price, tax amount, etc.), the transaction amount, the transaction date and time, and store information (store name, store code, TEL, address, cash register No, etc.).

[0068] The electronic receipt server 2 registers the received receipt information in the receipt information management file 213 (step S3). At this time, "0" is registered in the return flag of the receipt information management file 213, and nothing is registered in the item of the request information.

[0069] The customer terminal 4 can transmit a receipt information request to the electronic receipt server 2 after settlement by the settlement device 3 (step S4). The receipt information request is made by the customer terminal 4 specifying the URL of the web page that provides the receipt information to the customer terminal 4 when the electronic receipt server 2 registers the receipt information. Note that the receipt information request may be such that when the electronic receipt server 2 registers the receipt information, a registration notice including the receipt No is transmitted to the customer terminal 4, and the customer terminal 4 that has received the registration notice transmits a receipt information request specifying the receipt No to the electronic receipt server 2.

[0070] The electronic receipt server 2 extracts the receipt information requested in the receipt information request from the receipt information management file 213 (step S5). The electronic receipt server 2 generates display data of the extracted receipt information and transmits this display data to the customer terminal 4 as receipt information (step S6).

[0071] The customer terminal 4 temporarily stores the received receipt information, that is, the receipt information (display data) published and downloaded on the web, and displays the electronic receipt on the display unit 42 by the web browser (step S7). The temporarily stored receipt information is cleared, for example, when the application program of the electronic receipt service is launched next time. Note that the customer terminal 4 may accumulate and store the received receipt information. The mechanisms for requesting, receiving, storing, and displaying receipt information are the same for corrected receipt information and return receipt information.

[0072] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display screen of an electronic receipt. A header portion 421 and a main display portion 422 are formed on the display unit 42 of the customer terminal 4.

[0073] A plurality of buttons 4211 are formed in the header portion 421. The button 4211 is, for example, for displaying a barcode indicating the member ID on the main display portion 422, for displaying the electronic receipt on the main display portion 422, and the like.

[0074] The main display portion 422 displays the electronic receipt on the electronic receipt display screen. A store information display area 4221 and a transaction information display area 4222 are formed in the main display portion 422. Store information is displayed in the store information display area 4221. Note that a commercial message or the like may be displayed in the store information display area 4221. Product information, transaction date and time, receipt No., etc. are displayed in the transaction information display area 4222. The product information displays the product name and price in one line for each product. Note that when there are many purchased products in one transaction and the product information does not fit on the display unit 42 of the customer terminal 4, all the information can be displayed by the scroll function up and down of the display screen.

[0075] The customer can confirm the transaction details by viewing the displayed electronic receipt. Also, when the customer returns a product at the store, the customer can present the electronic receipt to the store clerk to inform that the product to be returned was purchased.

[0076] Returning to FIG. 9, the process flow during return will be described. When a return occurs for a settled transaction, the settlement device 3 executes a return process (step S11). The return process is a process for refunding the price of the returned merchandise to the customer and has been conventionally performed. The settlement device 3 transmits return information to the electronic receipt server 2 (step S12). The return information includes the issued return receipt No, the receipt No identifying the settled transaction for which the return occurred, the merchandise information of the returned merchandise (product code, product name, unit price, tax amount, etc.), the refund amount associated with the return, the return date and time, and store information (store name, store code, TEL, address, cash register No, etc.).

[0077] The electronic receipt server 2 searches for the receipt No included in the return information in the receipt information management file 213 (step S13), and updates the retrieved receipt information based on the return information (step S14). In other words, the electronic receipt server 2 registers the corrected receipt information corrected based on the return information. Also, the electronic receipt server 2 registers return receipt information based on the return information (step S15). At this time, the URL of the web page where the return receipt information is published is set and registered in the receipt information management file 213 and the return receipt information management file 214.

[0078] The customer terminal 4 can transmit a corrected receipt information request to the electronic receipt server 2 after the return process at the settlement device 3 (step S16).

[0079] The electronic receipt server 2 extracts the corrected receipt information requested in the corrected receipt information request from the receipt information management file 213 (step S17), and transmits display data associating the extracted corrected receipt information with the request information to the customer terminal 4 (step S18). As an example, the request information is the URL of the web page where the return receipt information is published.

[0080] The customer terminal 4 displays a corrected receipt based on the received corrected receipt information and request information (step S19). The customer terminal 4 displays a corrected receipt including a button for specifying the URL of the web page where the return receipt information is published.

[0081] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display screen of the corrected receipt. For the same configuration as in FIG. 10, the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

[0082] The main display unit 422 displays a corrected receipt on the corrected receipt display screen. In addition to the transaction information display area 4222, a transaction amount display area 4223, a return transaction display area 4224, and a return receipt display icon 4225 are formed in the main display unit 422. Among the contents displayed in the transaction information display area 4222, the corrected contents, that is, the product information of the returned product and the total amount changed due to the return, are displayed in a state where a strikethrough such as red is drawn. Note that the display of the corrected contents is not limited to the strikethrough, and may be marked with some other mark.

[0083] The total amount after return is displayed in the transaction amount display area 4223. The total amount after return is the amount obtained by subtracting the price of the returned product from the total amount of the transaction before return. The return transaction display area 4224 is an area for displaying information indicating that a return has occurred in the transaction, and for example, characters such as "Returned product exists" are displayed.

[0084] The return receipt display icon 4225 functions as an icon for requesting the display of a return receipt. By touching the return receipt display icon 4225, the customer can cause the return receipt to be displayed on the main display unit 422. When multiple return processes are performed by the settlement device 3, a return receipt display icon 4225 is formed corresponding to each return process. In other words, when multiple returns are made for the same transaction, icons that correspond one-to-one to the return processes of the settlement device 3 are displayed. When multiple return receipt display icons 4225 are formed, the order in which the return processes were performed is also displayed. In the example of FIG. 11, the upper return receipt display icon 4225 is for displaying the return receipt related to the first return process, and the lower return receipt display icon 4225 is for displaying the return receipt related to the second return process.

[0085] The corrected receipt displayed on the main display unit 422 includes the return receipt display icon 4225 and is also displayed based on information transmitted from the output unit 2005 of the electronic receipt server 2. In other words, it can be said that the output unit 2005 outputs display data for causing the customer terminal 4 to display a corrected receipt including an icon for requesting the display of a return receipt.

[0086] By touching the return receipt display icon 4225, the customer can view the desired return receipt. Since the customer can input a request for the display of a return receipt while the corrected receipt is being displayed and confirmed, the operability is good. Also, when multiple return processes are performed in one transaction, the return receipt display icons 4225 are displayed so as to correspond one-to-one to each return process and so that the order of the return processes can be understood, so the customer can easily view the desired return receipt.

[0087] Returning to FIG. 9, the description will continue. When the customer touches the return receipt display icon 4225, the URL of the web page where the return receipt information is published is specified, and an input for a return receipt information request is made to the customer terminal 4 (step S20). The customer terminal 4 transmits the return receipt information request to the electronic receipt server 2 (step S21).

[0088] The electronic receipt server 2 extracts the return receipt information corresponding to the specified URL (step S22) and transmits it to the customer terminal 4 (step S23).

[0089] The customer terminal 4 displays the return receipt based on the received return receipt information (step S24).

[0090] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the display screen of the return receipt. For the same configuration as FIGS. 10 and 11, the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

[0091] The main display unit 422 displays the return receipt on the return receipt display screen. The information displayed by the return receipt includes the character "Return" indicating that it is a return receipt, the information of the transaction before return (receipt No, transaction date, target register No), the information of the returned product (product name, price), and the refund amount. Note that the information included in the return receipt is not limited to the above and can be arbitrarily set.

[0092] By the above operations, the electronic receipt system 1 can provide electronic receipts, corrected receipts, and return receipts to customers who are members of the electronic receipt service.

[0093] Next, the registration process executed by the electronic receipt server 2 will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of the registration process in the control unit 20 of the electronic receipt server 2.

[0094] The control unit 20 determines whether the acquisition unit 2001 has acquired receipt information from the settlement device 3 (step S31). When the acquisition unit 2001 acquires receipt information from the settlement device 3 (Y in step S31), the registration unit 2002 registers the receipt information in the receipt information management file 213 (step S32). Then, the control unit 20 ends the registration process.

[0095] When the acquisition unit 2001 does not acquire receipt information from the settlement device 3 (N in step S31), the control unit 20 determines whether the acquisition unit 2001 has acquired return information from the settlement device 3 (step S33). If not (N in step S33), the process returns to step S31.

[0096] When the acquisition unit 2001 acquires return information from the settlement device 3 (Y in step S33), the registration unit 2002 determines whether the receipt No. included in the return information is registered in the receipt information management file 213 (step S34). In other words, the registration unit 2002 determines whether the receipt information of the transaction for which the return occurred is managed in the receipt information management file 213.

[0097] When the receipt No. included in the return information is registered in the receipt information management file 213 (Y in step S34), the registration unit 2002 updates the receipt information of the receipt No. based on the return information acquired by the acquisition unit 2001 (step S35). By updating the receipt information, corrected receipt information is registered. Next, the registration unit 2002 registers the return information acquired by the acquisition unit 2001 in the return receipt information management file 214 (step S36). Then, the control unit 20 ends the registration process.

[0098] In the process of step S34, when the receipt No. included in the return information acquired by the acquisition unit 2001 is not registered in the receipt information management file 213 (N in step S34), assuming that the receipt information of the transaction for which the return occurred is not subject to the management of the electronic receipt server 2, the output unit 2005 sends an error to the settlement device 3 (step S37). Then, the control unit 20 ends the registration process.

[0099] Next, the output process executed by the electronic receipt server 2 will be described. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of the output process in the control unit 20 of the electronic receipt server 2.

[0100] The control unit 20 determines whether the reception unit 2004 has received a receipt information request from the customer terminal 4 (step S41). When the reception unit 2004 receives a receipt information request (Y in step S41), the control unit 20 determines whether the receipt No. included in the receipt information request is registered in the receipt information management file 213 (step S42).

[0101] When the receipt No. included in the receipt information request is registered in the receipt information management file 213 (Y in step S42), the extraction unit 2003 extracts the receipt information of the receipt No., and the output unit 2005 transmits the extracted receipt information to the customer terminal 4 (step S43). Then, the control unit 20 ends the output process.

[0102] When the receipt No. included in the receipt information request is not registered in the receipt information management file 213 (N in step S42), the output unit 2005 performs an error transmission to the customer terminal 4 on the grounds that the requested receipt information is not subject to the management of the electronic receipt server 2 (step S44). Then, the control unit 20 ends the output process.

[0103] In the process of step S41, when the reception unit 2004 does not receive a receipt information request (N in step S41), the control unit 20 determines whether the reception unit 2004 has received a corrected receipt information request from the customer terminal 4 (step S45). If not received (N in step S45), the control unit 20 returns to the process of step S41.

[0104] When the reception unit 2004 receives a corrected receipt information request (Y in step S45), the control unit 20 determines whether the receipt No. included in the corrected receipt information request is registered in the receipt information management file 213 (step S46). If it is not registered (N in step S46), the process proceeds to the process of step S44.

[0105] If the receipt No. included in the corrected receipt information request received by the reception unit 2004 is registered in the receipt information management file 213 (Y in step S46), the extraction unit 2003 extracts the receipt information of the receipt No. as the corrected receipt information and extracts the corresponding request information (step S47). The output unit 2005 transmits the extracted corrected receipt information and request information in association with each other to the customer terminal 4 (step S48).

[0106] Next, the control unit 20 determines whether the reception unit 2004 has received a return receipt information request from the customer terminal 4 (step S49). When the reception unit 2004 receives a return receipt information request (Y in step S49), the extraction unit 2003 extracts the return receipt information corresponding to the URL specified in the return receipt information request, and the output unit 2005 transmits the extracted return receipt information to the customer terminal 4 (step S50). Then, the control unit 20 ends the output process.

[0107] In the process of step S49, if the return receipt information request is not received (N in step S49), the control unit 20 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed after the output unit 2005 transmits the extracted corrected receipt information and request information in association with each other to the customer terminal 4 (step S51). If the predetermined time has not elapsed (N in step S51), the control unit 20 returns to the process of step S49. If the predetermined time has elapsed (Y in step S51), it is determined that the customer does not wish to view the return receipt, and the output process ends.

[0108] The electronic receipt server 2 can comprehensively manage receipt information, corrected receipt information, and return receipt information for the transactions of the members of the electronic receipt service through the above registration process. In addition, the electronic receipt server 2 can transmit, through the above output process, information that can improve the operability of the return receipt display on the customer terminal 4.

[0109] As described above, the electronic receipt server 2 of the embodiment includes an acquisition unit 2001 that acquires transaction identification information of a transaction in which a return occurs after the settlement process and return information indicating the product returned for the transaction, a return receipt information registration unit (registration unit 2002) that registers return receipt information indicating information about the returned product based on the return information acquired by the acquisition unit 2001, a corrected receipt information registration unit (registration unit 2002) that registers corrected receipt information obtained by correcting receipt information indicating information about the transaction before the return based on the transaction identification information and the return information acquired by the acquisition unit 2001, and an output unit 2005 that outputs by associating request information for transmitting a request for the corrected receipt information and the return receipt information to the customer terminal 4.

[0110] Thereby, the customer terminal 4 can acquire information in which the request information for transmitting a request for the corrected receipt information and the return receipt information is associated. For this reason, the customer terminal 4 can easily perform, for example, the display of the corrected receipt including an icon for displaying the return receipt. In other words, the electronic receipt server 2 can improve the operability regarding the display of the return receipt on the customer terminal 4.

[0111] Note that, in the above embodiment, the control programs executed by the electronic receipt server 2 (a server device) and the customer terminal 4 may be configured to be recorded and provided on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM. Further, the control programs executed by the electronic receipt server 2 and the customer terminal 4 of the above embodiment may be configured to be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. Furthermore, it may be configured to be provided via a network such as the Internet.

[0112] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been explained. However, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0113] 2 Electronic receipt server (server device) 4 Customer terminal (information terminal) 2001 Acquisition unit (return information acquisition unit) 2002 Registration unit (return receipt information registration unit, correction receipt information registration unit) 2005 Output unit

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0114]

Patent Document 1

Claims

1. A program for causing a computer of a mobile terminal to display, on a display unit, corrected receipt information obtained by correcting information of a transaction before return, together with request information for requesting return receipt information indicating information regarding a returned product; requesting means for requesting, from a server device that manages the return receipt information, the return receipt information related to the corrected receipt information displayed on the display unit when the request information displayed on the display means is selected; acquiring means for acquiring the return receipt information from the server device; and function as such.

2. The display means displays information indicating the content of the transaction corrected by the return or the transaction in which the return occurred, based on the corrected receipt information, and displays an icon for requesting the return receipt information, based on the request information. The program according to claim 1.

3. The display means causes the icon corresponding one-to-one to the request information for each return to be displayed when returns are made a plurality of times for the same transaction. The program according to claim 2.

4. The display means causes the order in which the returns were made to be displayed corresponding to the icon. The program according to claim 3.

5. A mobile terminal comprising: display means for displaying, on a display unit, corrected receipt information obtained by correcting information of a transaction before return, together with request information for requesting return receipt information indicating information regarding a returned product; requesting means for requesting, from a server device that manages the return receipt information, the return receipt information related to the corrected receipt information displayed on the display unit when the request information displayed on the display means is selected; and acquiring means for acquiring the return receipt information from the server device.

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