Application program and server device

Abstract

To provide an application program and a server device that enable a user, via a user terminal device, to utilize various services associated with locations on a map, even when the user does not permit sharing of the current location.SOLUTION: An application program operates on a user terminal device and performs processes related to an electronic payment service in cooperation with a server device providing the electronic payment service. The application program allows the user terminal device to set location information indicating a location on a map in response to user input. When sharing of the current location of the user terminal device is not permitted, the application program causes the set location information to be acquired and allows the location information to be used in multiple services associated with the location on the map.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an application program and a server device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are known techniques for providing various information on a map displayed by a user terminal device such as a smartphone. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for displaying facilities in the user's vicinity and the status of devices installed in the facilities on a map displayed by the user terminal device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-33344 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in conventional technology, if a user does not allow their current location to be shared, it may not be possible to use various services associated with the location on the map on the user terminal device.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and one of its objects is to provide an application program and a server device that enable a user terminal device to use various services associated with a location on a map, even if the user has not given permission to share their current location. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is an application program that operates on a user terminal device and executes processing related to the electronic payment service in cooperation with a server device that provides the electronic payment service, the application program causing the user terminal device to set location information indicating a location on a map in accordance with input from a user, and if sharing of the current location of the user terminal device is not permitted, causing the set location information to be acquired and causing the location information to be used in multiple services associated with the location on the map. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, an application program and a server device can be provided that allow a user terminal device to use various services associated with a location on a map even if the user has not permitted sharing of the current location. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration for realizing an electronic payment service. [Figure 2] This is a sequence diagram (part 1) illustrating the general flow of electronic payment. [Figure 3] This is a sequence diagram (part 2) illustrating the general flow of electronic payment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a payment server 100. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of user information 172. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of affiliated store / store information 176. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a top screen of the payment application 20. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a method for obtaining and using a coupon by the user terminal device 10. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a first registration screen for registering any place related to a user. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a second registration screen for registering any place related to the user. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed when payment application 20 executes a map search function. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed as a result of the payment application 20 executing a map search function. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed when a user does not permit sharing of location information. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen that is displayed when a user inputs a search word in a search area A41. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for performing location confirmation processing. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for selecting a popular area. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen that allows a user to select one of a plurality of registered locations. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of priority information 180. [Figure 19] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration of a store card SC. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed when an operation area of ​​a child card of a store card SC is operated. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of a map search function executed by payment application 20. [Figure 22] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by payment application 20. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a third registration screen for registering address information detected using eKYC. [Figure 24] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of the third registration screen. [Figure 25] A figure showing an example of a fourth registration screen for registering multiple pieces of address information detected using eKYC. [Figure 26]A figure showing an example of a fifth registration screen for registering address information when no address information is detected using eKYC. [Figure 27] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a coupon list screen when the user's home is set as the reference position RP. [Figure 28] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen that allows a user to select one of a plurality of registered locations. [Figure 29] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a coupon list screen when the user's workplace is set as the reference position RP. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, embodiments of an application program and a server device of the present invention will be described. Various devices, such as the "server" mentioned below, that provide services to users and perform internal analysis may be realized by a group of distributed devices, and each device may be operated by a different business. Furthermore, the hardware owner (the cloud server provider) and the business that actually operates the device may also be different. The application program and the server device work together to provide an electronic payment service. In the following description, the application program is referred to as a payment app, and the server device is referred to as a payment server. An electronic payment service is a service that supports payments for the purchase of goods and services at a store. A store is, for example, a physical store (real store) that exists in the real world, but may also include a virtual store for e-commerce. A virtual store may also include a store operated by an entity other than the operator of the electronic payment service. In such a case, when making a payment for a purchase at the virtual store, the user is controlled to transition to the interface screen of the electronic payment service. In an electronic payment service, a store is treated as belonging to, for example, an affiliated store (brand), and when a purchase is made at a store, processing such as payment is primarily conducted between the user and the affiliated store. Alternatively, processing such as payment may be carried out between the user and the store.

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

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

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

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

[0014] The payment server 100 realizes electronic payment based on payment information received from the user terminal device 10 or the first store terminal device 50. The first store terminal device 50 may include a POS device and an affiliated store server, in which case payment information is sent from the POS device to the payment server 100 via the affiliated store server. In the following explanation, this distinction will not be made and payment information will be assumed to be sent from the first store terminal device 50. The payment server 100 is an example of a "server device" in the claims.

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

[0016] In the case of pattern 1 (hereinafter referred to as user scan) shown in FIG. 2, the user terminal device 10, with the payment application 20 running, decodes the store code image 60 using its optical reading function (S1). The store code image 60 includes store URL (Uniform Resource Locator) information. This store URL is the domain of the electronic payment service to which store identification information has been added, and is associated with an affiliated store ID, store ID, etc. in the payment server 100 (described below). The payment application 20 sends first payment information including the store URL and account ID to the payment server 100 (S2). The payment server 100 searches for store information (described below) using the affiliated store ID and store ID corresponding to the store URL, acquires the affiliated store name and store name information (S3), and sends this to the payment application 20 (S4). The user enters the payment amount into the user terminal device 10 on the screen displaying the affiliated store name and store name (S5). Then, the user terminal device 10 generates second payment information including at least the payment amount and sends it to the payment server 100 (S6). The payment server 100 makes the electronic payment based on the received second payment information (S7). The payment server 100 then sends a payment completion notice (information for displaying a payment completion screen) to the payment app 20 (S8), and the payment app 20 displays the payment completion screen (S9). Note that when the store code image 60 is displayed on a display installed in the store, the store code image 60 may include information on the payment amount in addition to the store URL. In this case, the step of the user inputting the payment amount is omitted, and the payment amount information is included in the first payment information and sent to the payment server 100. Information on the affiliated store name and store name may be included and displayed on the payment completion screen.

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

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

[0019] [Payment server] FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the payment server 100 according to the first embodiment. The payment server 100 includes, for example, a communication unit 110, a payment content providing unit 120, a payment processing unit 130, an information management unit 140, and a storage unit 170. The components other than the communication unit 110 and the storage unit 170 are implemented by, for example, a hardware processor such as a CPU executing a program (software). Some or all of these components may be implemented by hardware (including circuitry) such as a large-scale integration (LSI), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a graphics processing unit (GPU), or may be implemented by a combination of software and hardware. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device (a storage device with a non-transitory storage medium) such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or flash memory, or may be stored in a removable storage medium (a non-transitory storage medium) such as a DVD or CD-ROM, and installed in the storage device by inserting the storage medium into a drive device.

[0020] The storage unit 170 is a hard disk drive (HDD), a flash memory, a random access memory (RAM), etc. The storage unit 170 may be a network attached storage (NAS) device that the payment server 100 can access via a network. The storage unit 170 stores information such as user information 172, payment content information 174, affiliated store / shop information 176, benefit information 178, and priority information 180.

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

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

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

[0024] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of user information 172. User information 172 is an example of user registration information. User information 172 includes, for example, a user URL, account ID, telephone number, and password, as well as an email address, user ID, name, address, gender, date of birth, registration date, remaining balance, deferred payment settings, deferred payment limit, deferred payment usage amount, available deferred payment amount, payment method settings, bank account, credit card number, following affiliated stores, acquired coupons, acquired points, acquired stamp cards, charge history information, and payment history information. The user URL is used for remittance processing between users. When registering for the electronic payment service, registration of a phone number and password is required. The account ID is issued to the user by the payment server 100, and the user ID can be set arbitrarily by the user (or does not have to be set). The email address, name, address, and date of birth are also information that can be set arbitrarily by the user (or do not have to be set). The registration date is the date on which the user registered for the electronic payment service (the date on which the account was created). Hereinafter, the user's instance (electronic payment account) to which this information is associated will be referred to as an account.

[0025] The charge balance indicates the balance of electronic money set by the user by transferring funds to the account in advance. Transfer methods include transfers from a designated service provider (bank) ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) or from a registered bank account. The deferred payment setting indicates whether the setting for deferred payment electronic payments has been completed and is set to either "completed" or "not completed." The deferred payment limit is the monthly deferred payment limit. The deferred payment usage amount is the amount of deferred payment already used in the current month. The available deferred payment amount is the amount of deferred payment available in the current month, calculated by subtracting the deferred payment usage amount from the deferred payment limit. While the figure shows only one deferred payment limit, in reality, there may also be daily limits, and the lower of these may be set as the deferred payment limit. Further details on deferred payment will be discussed later. The payment method setting indicates whether the user will make electronic payments using the charge balance or by deferred payment at that time. The bank account and credit card number are the bank account or credit card number information (account number, card number) that can be used to deposit funds into the electronic payment service. The charge history information is a history of the user transferring funds to the electronic payment service in advance to increase the charge balance. The payment history information is information that shows the breakdown of payments made by the user for each payment (date and time, store ID of the store where the purchase was made, payment amount, payment method, etc.). Details of followed affiliated stores, earned coupons, earned points, and earned stamp cards will be provided later.

[0026] 6 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of affiliated store / store information 176. The affiliated store / store information 176 includes, for example, a first table 176A in which an affiliated store ID and a store ID are associated with a store URL, a second table 176B in which an affiliated store ID is associated with an affiliated store name and sales amount, and a third table 176C in which a store ID is associated with a store name. In addition to this information, the affiliated store / store information 176 may also include information such as the category of the affiliated store or store, the store's location, and payment patterns.

[0027] The information management unit 140 manages the user information 172 and the affiliated store / store information 176 based on information acquired from the user terminal device 10 and the second store terminal device 70. The information management unit 140 adds, edits, deletes, etc. new records for the user information 172 and the affiliated store / store information 176. Details of the priority information 180 will be described later.

[0028] [Electronic Payment] When payment information is acquired from the user terminal device 10 or the first store terminal device 50, the payment processing unit 130 references the user information 172 to acquire the "payment method setting" of the user. For users whose "payment method setting" is set to "charge balance," the payment processing unit 130 performs electronic payment as follows: For example, the payment processing unit 130 performs electronic payment by decreasing the charge balance managed in association with the user ID and increasing the item value of the affiliated store's sales proceeds. The item value of the affiliated store's sales proceeds is not itself used as electronic money, for example, but rather the amount corresponding to the item value of the sales proceeds is transferred to a bank account in a cycle according to an agreement between the affiliated store and the electronic payment service.

[0029] The payment processing unit 130 performs electronic payments for users whose "setting information" is set to "postpaid" as follows. Postpaid payments are set separately from "credit card payments" in cooperation with a credit card company, which is a separate entity from the operator of the electronic payment service. The operator of the electronic payment service acts as the creditor, allowing electronic payments within the postpaid limit and independent of the remaining balance. To receive the postpaid service, a user may be required to obtain a credit card provided by the operator of the electronic payment service. The amount used for postpaid payments is settled in full on the following month's payment date, for example, by debit from a bank account. In this case, the payment processing unit 130 makes a provisional settlement by adding the settlement amount to the deferred payment amount and subtracting the same amount from the available deferred payment balance. On the closing date, the payment processing unit 130 performs the process described above to debit the current month's payment on the following month's payment date, or requests the credit card operator to perform this process. If the settlement amount exceeds the available deferred payment balance at the time of provisional settlement, an error notification is returned to the payment app 20.

[0030] [Top screen] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the top screen of the payment app 20. A code image CD is displayed on the top screen. The code image CD includes, for example, a barcode and a QR code. Along with the code image CD, text indicating whether electronic payment will be made using the remaining balance or by deferred payment is also displayed (in the figure, "Balance Payment" is displayed, which means that electronic payment using the remaining balance is set). This text is drawn by the payment app 20 based on information (whether it is balance payment or deferred payment) that is updated by the payment app 20 each time the selector switch SW is operated. The top screen also includes an operation area CA including the selector switch SW, and transition buttons TB1, TB2, TB3, and TB4. The "switch" and "button" refer to a GUI (Graphical User Interface) implemented in cooperation with a touch panel. The selector switch SW accepts an operation to switch between electronic payment using the remaining balance and electronic payment by deferred payment. The default setting of the selector switch SW is to perform electronic payment using the remaining balance, and each time the user operates the switch, the setting switches between performing electronic payment using the remaining balance and performing electronic payment by deferred payment. The operation area CA is provided with buttons for instructing main operations in electronic payment, such as a button for instructing scanning (starting user scanning) and a button for instructing charging. When the transition button TB1 is tapped, the screen transitions to a payment screen that displays the code image used for electronic payment and the available balance. When the transition button TB2 is tapped, the screen transitions to a screen that displays the available balance for balance payment or deferred payment. In Figure 7, electronic payment using the remaining balance is set, so when the transition button TB2 is tapped, the available balance for balance payment is displayed.

[0031] Furthermore, the operation area CA has a "Benefits" button for displaying information about campaigns offered by the electronic payment service or the affiliated store (or jointly offered by them). Tapping the "Benefits" button transitions to a screen displaying information about currently offered campaigns. Here, a campaign refers to a benefit that awards points that can be used for the next payment to users who make electronic payments that meet certain conditions set by the electronic payment service or the affiliated store (or jointly offered by them). A campaign does not necessarily award points to users who make electronic payments that meet the certain conditions, but may award points probabilistically (e.g., with a 50% probability). For example, the points awarded in a campaign may be determined probabilistically from multiple options (e.g., 10%, 5%, 3%, 0%), with the points awarded to users who make electronic payments that meet the certain conditions being selected from these options. When a campaign is offered jointly by the electronic payment service and the affiliated store, the funds for the campaign may be provided solely by the electronic payment service, solely by the affiliated store, or jointly by the electronic payment service and the affiliated store.

[0032] Below the operation area CA, for example, a group of buttons (switches) M1 to M3 for launching mini apps are displayed. A mini app is, for example, an app that uses the payment app 20 as a platform. A mini app is, for example, an application program developed by a service provider that provides services from a service server (not shown) to run within the payment app 20. The service provider develops the mini app by referring to an SDK (Software Development Kit), which is a program and technical documentation for app development provided by an administrator of the payment app 20. A mini app is, for example, an app that runs while the payment app 20 is running. For example, some or all of the mini apps may be installed when the payment app 20 is installed, or some or all of the mini apps may be installed from a service server corresponding to the mini app. For example, when a mini app is launched, the mini app (payment app 20) accesses a service server (not shown) that provides a service corresponding to the mini app, and the mini app and the service server work together to provide the service to the user. 7 shows, as an example, a group of buttons M1 to M3 for mini-apps that provide functions for viewing or acquiring information about coupons, stamp cards, and flyers provided by affiliated stores, but buttons for launching various types of mini-apps may be displayed, such as an investment app for managing a charge balance or a payment app for paying public transportation fares. Also, the map search function described below may be implemented as a mini-app rather than as payment app 20.

[0033] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a method for obtaining and using a coupon through the user terminal device 10. The screen on the left side of FIG. 8 represents a screen displayed on the user terminal device 10 when, for example, a user taps button M1 on the top screen of FIG. 7 to access a dedicated page of an affiliated store that offers coupons. The affiliated store dedicated page includes, for example, an area A1 displaying overview information of the affiliated store, a button B1 for following the affiliated store, and an area A2 displaying detailed information of the affiliated store in a switchable manner using tabs. When the user taps the follow button B1, the payment app 20 transmits information indicating that the follow button B1 has been tapped to the payment server 100 together with the user's identification information (e.g., account ID), and the information management unit 140 stores the identification information of the affiliated store (e.g., affiliated store ID) in the "followed affiliated store" field of the user information 172. As a result, for example, every time the affiliated store updates the content of its affiliated store dedicated page, the payment server 100 notifies the user via the payment app 20 that the content of the affiliated store dedicated page has been updated. In other words, when a user follows a member store, it indicates that the user has a high level of interest in the member store.

[0034] In FIG. 8, for example, if a user taps "Coupon," one of the tabs included in area A2, coupons that the user can currently use for electronic payment at the store are displayed. For example, if the user taps button B2 to follow a member store and acquire a coupon, the payment application 20 transmits information indicating that the acquire button B2 has been tapped together with the user's identification information (e.g., account ID) to the payment server 100. Furthermore, the information management unit 140 of the payment server 100 stores the identification information of the member store (e.g., member store ID) in "Followed Member Store" of the user information 172, and stores the identification information of the coupon acquired by the user (e.g., coupon number) in "Acquired Coupon."

[0035] After a user acquires a coupon, when the user terminal device 10 executes the electronic payment described above, the payment processing unit 130 determines whether the electronic payment satisfies the application conditions of the coupon acquired by the user. If it is determined that the electronic payment satisfies the application conditions of the coupon, the payment application 20 grants the user a benefit according to the coupon content. The payment app 20 then displays a payment completion screen, which includes an area A3 displaying the payment store, an area A4 displaying the payment amount, and an area A5 displaying the granted benefit. Figure 8 shows, as an example, a case in which a user acquires a 5% off coupon and is awarded 25 yen in points for a 500 yen payment. In this case, the information management unit 140 adds the 25 yen worth of points to the "acquired points" in the user information 172. If the acquired points have a positive value, the payment processing unit 130 prioritizes subtracting the acquired points from the payment amount at the user's next electronic payment, and subtracts the remaining amount from the charge balance or the available balance for deferred payment. Alternatively, the coupon may be deducted directly from the payment amount on the day, without being added as points that can be used for payment.

[0036] Furthermore, for example, when a user taps button M2 on the top screen of FIG. 7, the payment application 20 transitions to a screen for viewing stamp cards provided by each affiliated store. Here, a stamp card refers to a benefit provided to a user in response to a predetermined number (e.g., five) of electronic payments that satisfy a predetermined condition set by the affiliated store (e.g., payments of 500 yen or more). Unlike coupons, stamp cards are automatically counted by the payment server 100 as the number of electronic payments that satisfy the predetermined condition, and are automatically provided to the user in response to the predetermined number of electronic payments. The payment server 100 stores identification information of stamp cards acquired by users as "acquired stamp cards" in the user information 172. When a user acquires a stamp card, the user can receive points by making electronic payments at the affiliated store where the stamp card was acquired, or can receive merchandise by presenting the acquired stamp card at the affiliated store.

[0037] For example, when a user taps button M3 on the top screen of FIG. 7, the payment application 20 transitions to a screen for viewing promotional information (flyers) sent by each affiliated store. The operator of each affiliated store sets conditions for these campaigns, coupons, stamp cards, and flyers (each an example of a "benefit" in the claims) and edits the information to be sent on the affiliated store interface 72 of the second store terminal device 70. When the operator of each affiliated store sets the conditions for this benefit information, the second store terminal device 70 transmits the set contents to the payment server 100, and the payment server 100 stores the received set contents in the storage unit 170 as benefit information 178.

[0038] 7, the payment application 20 transitions to an account screen for registering and editing the user's account information (gender, date of birth, telephone number, email address, etc.). The account screen also allows the user to register any location associated with the user (such as home or workplace).

[0039] [Location registration] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a first registration screen for registering any place related to a user. As shown in FIG. 9, the first registration screen includes a plurality of input fields A11 to A15, an OK button B11, and a Cancel button B12. The input field A11 is an area where a country name is input by selecting it from a pull-down menu. The input field A12 is an area where the name of the place to be registered is input. The input field A13 is an area where the postal code of the place to be registered is input. The input field A14 is an area where the address of the place to be registered is input. The input field A15 is an area where the building name of the place to be registered is input.

[0040] When the user inputs the location information to be registered in the input fields A11 to A15 and taps the OK button B11, the payment application 20 transitions to a second registration screen shown in Fig. 10, which will be described later. On the other hand, when the user taps the Cancel button B12, the payment application 20 transitions to the top screen shown in Fig. 7, described above, without registering the location.

[0041] Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a second registration screen for registering any location related to the user. When the user taps the OK button B11 shown in Fig. 9, the second registration screen shown in Fig. 10 is displayed on the user terminal device 10. As shown in Fig. 10, the second registration screen includes an address display area A21, a home button B21, a workplace button B22, an other button B23, and a register button B24.

[0042] The address display area A21 is an area where the address to be registered, which was entered on the first registration screen of FIG. 9, is displayed. The user can select the category of the location to be registered by tapping either the Home button B21, the Work button B22, or the Other button B23. When the user taps the Register button B24, the payment app 20 associates the entered address information (country name, name, postal code, address, building name) with the selected category (home, work, or other) and stores it in the user terminal device 10. The payment app 20 may also transmit this information to the payment server 100 and store it in the payment server 100. This allows the location information of any location on a map to be registered.

[0043] [Map search] The payment application 20 cooperates with the payment server 100 to provide the user with information about the campaigns, coupons, stamp cards, flyers, and other benefits described above in a manner that enhances the convenience of the electronic payment service. More specifically, when the user taps the transition button TB3, the payment application 20 executes the map search function described below.

[0044] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed when the payment app 20 executes the map search function. The screen shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the user terminal device 10, for example, when the user taps the transition button TB3 on the top screen shown in FIG. 7 for the first time. As shown in FIG. 11, the payment app 20 displays a screen for inquiring whether or not to allow the user to share their location information. When the user taps the permission button B31, the payment app 20 acquires the user's current location using a positioning device (such as a GPS receiver) included in the user terminal device 10, sets the acquired current location as a reference position RP, and displays benefit information for nearby stores. At this time, the payment app 20 assigns a higher score to a store that is closer and offers a higher benefit return rate based on, for example, the distance from the current location to the store and the benefit return rate offered by the store, and displays benefit information for the stores in descending order of the assigned score. The method for calculating the score will be described in detail later.

[0045] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by the payment application 20 as a result of executing the map search function. The screen shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the user terminal device 10, for example, when the user taps the permission button B31 on the screen shown in FIG. 11. As shown in FIG. 12, the payment application 20 displays, for example, a map area MP including a reference position RP, which is the user's current location, a filtering area FL, and a store card SC. The map area MP displays the locations of nearby stores (four nearby stores S1 to S4 in FIG. 12, for example) that offer special offers related to electronic payment services, based on the reference position RP. The payment application 20 receives, for example, affiliated store / store information 176 and special offer information 178 related to a predetermined number of stores located within a predetermined range based on the reference position RP from the payment server 100, and displays them. The store card SC is an example of a "special offer information image" in the claims.

[0046] In Figure 12, the user's current location is displayed as the reference location RP in response to the user's permission to share location information. However, if the user does not allow the sharing of location information, the user's specified location may be set as the reference location RP, and the locations of nearby stores offering special benefits related to electronic payment services may be displayed.

[0047] Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed when a user does not permit sharing of location information. The screen shown in Fig. 13 is displayed on the user terminal device 10 when, for example, the user taps the disallow button B32 on the screen shown in Fig. 11. The screen shown in Fig. 13 includes a search area A41 and multiple buttons B41 to B44. Button B41 is a button for instructing a search using the user's current location as a reference location RP. Button B42 is a button for instructing selection from popular areas. Button B43 is a button for instructing location registration. Button B44 is a button for instructing selection from registered locations.

[0048] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a screen that is displayed when a user enters a search word in search field A41. As shown in FIG. 14, the user has entered the search word "Shibuya" in search field A41. The payment application 20 searches for place names that include "Shibuya" and displays the search results on the user terminal device 10. In the example shown in FIG. 14, four search results are displayed: "Shibuya Ward, Tokyo," "Ebisu, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo," "Hiroo, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo," and "Hatsudai, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo."

[0049] 14 also displays a plurality of buttons B51 to B54. The button B51 is associated with "Shibuya Ward, Tokyo," the button B52 is associated with "Ebisu, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo," the button B53 is associated with "Hiroo, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo," and the button B54 is associated with "Hatsudai, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo."

[0050] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for performing a location confirmation process. When a user taps any of buttons B51 to B54 shown in FIG. 14, payment application 20 causes user terminal device 10 to display a map area MP corresponding to the tapped button. The user searches for a point to be designated as a reference position RP, for example, by dragging the displayed map area MP. When the user taps a point to be designated as a reference position RP from the map area MP, payment application 20 confirms the tapped point as the reference position RP. Thereafter, payment application 20 displays nearby stores offering special offers related to electronic payment services, using the confirmed reference position RP as a reference, as in FIG. 12.

[0051] Returning to the explanation of FIG. 13, when the user taps button B41, payment application 20 searches a map based on the user's current location. For example, payment application 20 determines the user's current location as a reference location RP. Thereafter, payment application 20, similar to FIG. 12, uses the determined reference location RP as a reference location to display nearby stores offering special offers related to electronic payment services.

[0052] Since user terminal device 10 is a terminal carried by the user, payment application 20 acquires the current location of user terminal device 10 as the current location of the user. For example, payment application 20 acquires the measured location as the current location of the user using a positioning device (such as a GPS receiver) included in user terminal device 10.

[0053] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for selecting a popular area. When a user taps button B42 shown in FIG. 13, payment app 20 causes user terminal device 10 to display the screen shown in FIG. 16. In the example shown in FIG. 16, five popular areas are displayed: "Tokyo," "Yokohama," "Osaka," "Nagoya," and "Sapporo." Popular areas may be displayed in order of the number of users using payment app 20, but this is not limitative. For example, they may be displayed in order of the number of stores using the electronic payment service, or in order of the number of electronic payments made.

[0054] 16 also displays a plurality of buttons B61 to B65. The button B61 is associated with "Tokyo," the button B62 is associated with "Yokohama," the button B63 is associated with "Osaka," the button B64 is associated with "Nagoya," and the button B65 is associated with "Sapporo."

[0055] When a user taps any of the buttons B61 to B65, the payment application 20 causes the user terminal device 10 to display the map area MP corresponding to the tapped button, as shown in FIG. 15 above. The user searches for a point to be designated as the reference position RP, for example, by dragging the displayed map area MP. When the user taps the point to be designated as the reference position RP from the map area MP, the payment application 20 confirms the tapped point as the reference position RP. Thereafter, the payment application 20 displays nearby stores offering special offers related to electronic payment services, using the confirmed reference position RP as a reference, as in FIG. 12.

[0056] Returning to the explanation of Fig. 13, when the user taps button B43, payment application 20 causes user terminal device 10 to display the first registration screen for registering any place related to the user, as shown in Fig. 9 above. This allows the user to register location information of any place related to the user (such as home or workplace).

[0057] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a screen that allows a user to select one of multiple registered locations. When the user taps button B44 shown in FIG. 13, the payment application 20 causes the user terminal device 10 to display the screen shown in FIG. 17. In the example shown in FIG. 17, three locations are registered: home (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo...), workplace (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo...), and other (Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture...). These locations are registered by the user from the screens shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

[0058] 17 also displays a plurality of buttons B71 to B73. Button B71 is associated with "Home (Shibuya Ward, Tokyo...)", button B72 is associated with "Workplace (Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo...)", and button B73 is associated with "Other (Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture...)".

[0059] When a user taps one of the buttons B71 to B73, the location information of the place corresponding to the tapped button is confirmed as the reference location RP. Thereafter, payment application 20 displays nearby stores offering special offers related to electronic payment services, using the confirmed reference location RP as a reference, as in FIG. 12.

[0060] In the example of Figure 17, three addresses are registered as registered locations, but for example, about 10 addresses may be registered, and the user may scroll up and down the screen to select one of the registered information. Even if the user does not allow the current location to be shared from the viewpoint of privacy protection, the user can easily search for location information by switching the registered information on the screen of Figure 17.

[0061] Returning to the explanation of FIG. 12, the payment application 20 displays a filtering area FL for filtering store cards SC displayed below the map area MP. More specifically, for example, the payment application 20 displays an "All Deals" filter F1, a "Campaign" filter F2, a "Coupon" filter F3, a "Stamp Card" filter F4, a "Flyer" filter F5, and a "Detailed Filter" F6 in the filtering area FL. Note that, for convenience of explanation, in FIG. 12, the payment application 20 displays various filters in two columns on the same screen. However, the payment application 20 may display various filters in a single column on the same screen, and filters that do not fit within the display size of the user terminal device 10 may be placed outside the screen in a manner that allows scrolling in the horizontal direction.

[0062] The "All Deals" filter F1 is a filter that is set by default when the map search function is executed, and when this filter F1 is applied, the payment application 20 sequentially displays, as store cards SC, nearby stores that offer at least one type of benefit from all types of benefits, such as campaigns, coupons, stamp cards, flyers, etc. In this case, the payment application 20, for example, calculates a score value to determine the display order of each target nearby store, and displays the store cards SC of each nearby store in descending order of score value.

[0063] More specifically, the payment application 20 calculates the score Sc as S1(d)+S2(r), where d is the distance between the reference location RP and a nearby store and r is the highest return rate among the benefits offered by the nearby store. Here, S1(d) represents a score function with distance as an input parameter, and the smaller the distance d, the larger the value. S2(r) represents a score function with the return rate as an input parameter, and the higher the return rate r, the larger the value. The payment application 20 calculates a score Sc for each nearby store and displays the store cards SC of the nearby stores in descending order of the calculated score Sc. For example, in FIG. 12 , "AA Convenience Store BB" indicated by store card SC1 corresponding to store S1 in the map area MP has a distance d=500 m and a return rate r=10%, while "CC Drug Store DD" indicated by store card SC2 corresponding to store S2 in the map area MP has a distance d=1 km and a return rate r=10%. Therefore, due to the smaller value of distance d, the score value Sc for store S1 is calculated as a larger value than the score value Sc for store S2, and this shows an example in which store card SC1 is displayed higher than store card SC2.

[0064] The payment application 20 may calculate the score Sc by taking into consideration priority information 180 related to the type of benefit in addition to the distance d from the surrounding store and the benefit return rate r. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the content of the priority information 180. The priority information 180, for example, associates information such as priority with the type of benefit. A lower priority value indicates a higher priority, and the priority information 180 shown in FIG. 18, for example, indicates that campaigns, coupons, stamp cards, and flyers have the highest priority in this order. The payment application 20 may calculate a score Sc = S1(d) + S2(p,r) for each benefit of a surrounding store, and use the benefit with the highest score Sc as the score representing that surrounding store. Here, S2(p,r) represents a score function with the priority and return rate as input parameters, and takes a larger value as the priority p and return rate r increase. For example, in the case of Fig. 12, "CC Drug DD Store" indicated by store card SC2 provides a coupon with a 10% return rate and a stamp card, but payment application 20 refers to priority information 180 and inputs a higher priority of 2 for the coupon into S2(p, r), resulting in a higher score value Sc. Therefore, payment application 20 uses the score value Sc calculated for the coupon that provides a 10% return rate as a score value representative of "CC Drug DD Store" and compares it with score values ​​Sc representative of other surrounding stores to determine the display order.

[0065] Furthermore, for example, when determining the ranking of store cards SC of surrounding stores, the payment application 20 may calculate scores Sc for all of the benefits offered by the surrounding stores, rather than comparing the maximum scores Sc for the benefits offered by the surrounding stores, and display store cards SC of surrounding stores with a higher total or average of the calculated scores Sc at a higher rank. When displaying store cards SC of surrounding stores with a higher total of the calculated scores Sc at a higher rank, store cards SC with a wider variety of benefits can be displayed at a higher rank. On the other hand, when displaying store cards SC of surrounding stores with a higher average of the calculated scores Sc at a higher rank, store cards SC with a higher return rate can be displayed at a higher rank.

[0066] Furthermore, for example, payment application 20 may calculate score Sc = S1(d) + S2(p,r,c) by taking into account the priority and return rate of the benefit as well as the benefit application condition c. Here, S2(p,r,c) represents a score function with input parameters of priority, return rate, and the level of the benefit application condition c, where S2(p,r,c) takes a larger value the higher the priority p and return rate r, but takes a smaller value depending on the level of the benefit application condition c. In this case, for example, when comparing a coupon that offers 10% return on payments of 1,000 yen or more with a coupon that offers 10% return on all payments, the score Sc of the latter coupon is calculated to be higher. For example, if the application condition c relates to the attributes of the user (gender, age, etc.), the "level of application condition" can be calculated by calculating the proportion of applicable users among all users with reference to the name, address, gender, and date of birth in the user information 172, or if the application condition c relates to payments (payment amount, whether it is the first time, etc.), the "level of application condition" can be calculated by calculating the proportion of payments that meet the applicable condition among all electronic payments made by users with reference to the payment history information in the user information 172. In this way, by calculating the score value with further consideration given to the application condition c of the benefit, it is possible to prevent affiliated stores from intentionally creating benefits with high return rates and extremely strict application conditions, and fraudulently displaying them at the top of the map search function.

[0067] Furthermore, for example, when calculating and comparing score values ​​Sc of store benefits, the payment app 20 may exclude benefits for which the user using the map search function does not meet the application conditions. For example, in the case of FIG. 12, if the user does not meet the application conditions for a 10% return campaign indicated by the child card SC1_1 of the store card SC1, the payment app 20 may compare the score values ​​Sc while excluding the campaign. In this case, the payment app 20 compares the score value Sc of a coupon with a 5% return rate offered by "AA Convenience Store BB" with the score value Sc of a coupon with a 10% return rate offered by "CC Drug Store DD." In this case, although "AA Convenience Store BB" has a higher score value S1(d) related to distance, the store card SC2 of "CC Drug Store DD" may be displayed higher depending on the score value S2(r) related to return rate.

[0068] The "Campaign" filter F2 is a filter for displaying store cards SC limited to nearby stores that are offering campaigns as benefits. When the "Campaign" filter F2 is applied, the payment application 20 calculates the score value Sc = S1(d) + S2(r) only for nearby stores that are offering campaigns, and displays the store cards SC of the nearby stores in descending order of the calculated score value Sc.

[0069] Similarly, the "Coupon" filter F3 is a filter for displaying store cards SC limited to nearby stores that offer coupons as benefits. When the "Coupon" filter F3 is applied, the payment application 20 calculates the score value Sc = S1(d) + S2(r) only for nearby stores that offer coupons, and displays the store cards SC of the nearby stores in descending order of the calculated score value Sc.

[0070] Similarly, the "stamp card" filter F4 is a filter for displaying store cards SC only for nearby stores that offer stamp cards as a benefit. When the "stamp card" filter F4 is applied, the payment app 20 calculates the score value Sc = S1(d) + S2(r) only for nearby stores that offer stamp cards, and displays the store cards SC of the nearby stores in descending order of the calculated score value Sc. When the "stamp card" filter F4 is applied, the payment app 20 may also take into account the number of payments required to acquire a stamp card when calculating the score value. More specifically, the payment app 20 may decrease the score value of a stamp card that requires more payments to acquire it, while increasing the score value of a stamp card that requires fewer payments to acquire it.

[0071] Similarly, the "flyer" filter F5 is a filter for displaying store cards SC limited to nearby stores that offer fliers as a benefit (information). When the "flyer" filter F5 is applied, the payment application 20 calculates the score value Sc=S1(d) only for the nearby stores that offer fliers, and displays the store cards SC of the nearby stores in descending order of the calculated score value Sc. Because the return rate for flyers is zero, when the "flyer" filter F5 is applied, the payment application 20 displays the store cards SC of nearby stores in descending order of distance.

[0072] The "Details" filter F6 is a filter for narrowing down conditions other than the type of benefit described above. When the "Details" filter F6 is applied, the payment application 20 displays an interface that allows the user to set narrowing down conditions, such as the number of stores for which benefits are to be displayed, the distance from the reference position RP, the minimum return rate requested by the user, and the category of affiliated stores. For example, the user may set the number of stores to 10, the distance from the reference position RP to 1 km, the minimum return rate to 5%, and the category of affiliated stores to "restaurants," and the payment application 20 displays only stores and their benefit information that meet the set conditions in the map area MP and store card SC.

[0073] In this way, the payment application 20 sets location information indicating a location on a map in response to input from the user (FIGS. 9 and 10). Furthermore, if sharing of the current location of the user terminal device 10 is not permitted, the payment application 20 acquires the set location information (FIG. 17). Furthermore, the payment application 20 uses the acquired location information for multiple services (benefits such as campaigns, coupons, stamp cards, and flyers) associated with the location on the map (FIG. 12). These multiple services are provided to the user in conjunction with the electronic payment service. This allows the user to use various services associated with the location on the map on the user terminal device 10, even if the user does not permit sharing of the current location.

[0074] Although the multiple services associated with a location on the map are described as being services related to special offers such as campaigns, coupons, stamp cards, and flyers, they may also be services that provide information other than special offers. For example, they may be services that provide users with information other than special offers about stores in the vicinity of the location on the map.

[0075] [Store Card Details] The detailed configuration of the store card SC will be described below with reference to FIG. 19. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of the detailed configuration of the store card SC. As shown in FIG. 19, the store card SC includes, for example, an area A6 that displays information about the store (for example, in FIG. 19, this includes the affiliated store's logo, the store name, and information about the distance from the reference position RP) and child cards SC_1, SC_2, . . . SC_k, . . . SC_N (N is a positive integer) of the store card SC. The child card SC_k of the store card SC is an area provided for each benefit offered by each store, and includes a display area SC_k_D for displaying the details of the benefit and an operation area SC_k_O for performing an operation corresponding to the type of benefit. In other words, when the user taps the operation area SC_k_O, the payment app performs processing according to the type of benefit of the child card SC_k. For example, the payment application 20 arranges the child cards SC_1, SC_2, ... SC_k, ... SC_N from left to right in descending order of the score value Sc calculated for each benefit, and places the child card SC_k (child cards SC1_3 and SC1_4 in FIG. 19) that does not fit within the display size of the user terminal device 10 outside the screen in a manner that allows it to be scrolled left and right. The child card SC_k is an example of a "partial benefit information image" in the claims.

[0076] For example, in the case of FIG. 19 , “AA Convenience Store BB Store,” represented by store card SC1, offers four benefits and accordingly includes child cards SC1_1 to SC1_4. Child card SC1_1 includes a display area SC1_1_D indicating that the store is running a campaign offering up to 10% cashback and an operation area SC1_1_O for confirming details of the campaign. When a user taps the operation area SC1_1_O, the payment application 20 executes processing according to the campaign, i.e., a process of transitioning to a screen for confirming details of the campaign. Similarly, child card SC1_3 includes a display area SC1_3_D indicating that the store is running a stamp card offering up to 5% cashback and an operation area SC_3_O for confirming details of the stamp card. When a user taps the operation area SC1_3_O, the payment application 20 executes processing according to the stamp card, i.e., a process of transitioning to a screen for confirming details of the stamp card. Similarly, the child card SC1_4 includes a display area SC1_4_D indicating that the store is offering a flyer, and an operation area SC1_4_O for viewing the flyer. When a user taps the operation area SC1_4_O, the payment application 20 performs processing according to the flyer, i.e., transitions to a screen for checking the details of the flyer.

[0077] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed when an operation area of ​​a child card of the store card SC is operated. The screen shown in FIG. 20(a) is a screen showing details of a campaign that is displayed, for example, when a user taps the operation area SC1_1_O of the child card SC1_1 of the store card SC1 shown in FIG. 19. The screen shown in FIG. 20(b) is a screen showing details of a stamp card that is displayed, for example, when a user taps the operation area SC1_3_O of the child card SC1_3 of the store card SC1 shown in FIG. 19. In this way, a user can check details of campaigns, coupons, stamp cards, flyers, etc. by operating the operation area SC_k_O displayed on the child card SC_k of the store card SC.

[0078] Returning to the explanation of FIG. 19, the child card SC1_2 includes a display area SC1_2_D indicating that the store is offering a coupon offering up to 5% cashback, and an operation area SC1_2_O for acquiring the coupon. When a user taps the operation area SC1_2_O, the user can acquire the coupon, similar to when the user taps the Acquire button B2 shown on the left screen of FIG. 8. More specifically, the payment application 20 transmits information indicating that the operation area SC1_2_O has been tapped together with the user's identification information (e.g., account ID) to the payment server 100. The information management unit 140 of the payment server 100 stores the identification information of the affiliated store in the "Followed Affiliated Store" field of the user information 172, and stores the identification information of the coupon acquired by the user (e.g., coupon number) in the "Acquired Coupon" field. This configuration allows the user to acquire a coupon without having to go through the trouble of transitioning the screen to an affiliated store-specific page.

[0079] If the user wishes to check detailed information about the coupon, the user taps on display area SC1_2_D, and payment application 20 executes a process to transition to a screen for checking the coupon details. More specifically, payment application 20 executes a process to transition to the affiliated store page shown on the left screen of Fig. 8. Alternatively, payment application 20 may provide an operation area for transitioning to a screen for checking the coupon details, separate from the display area.

[0080] As another function, when a store is selected on the map area MP, the payment application 20 may display a store card SC corresponding to the selected store superimposed on the map area MP, thereby displaying benefits offered by each store so that the user can easily check them. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing another example of the map search function executed by the payment application 20. As shown in FIG. 21, for example, when a user taps a store indicated by symbol S1 on the map area MP, the payment application 20 displays a store card SC1 of the store corresponding to store S1 superimposed on the map area MP. The user can quickly check information about multiple benefits offered by the store by scrolling through child cards SC1_K that are further superimposed on the displayed store card SC1.

[0081] Furthermore, as another function, if there are no surrounding stores within a predetermined range from the reference position RP that offer special benefits, the payment application 20 may expand the predetermined range until at least one surrounding store is found. Conversely, if there are more than a predetermined number of surrounding stores within a predetermined range from the reference position RP that offer special benefits, the payment application 20 may reduce the predetermined range so that the number of stores is within the predetermined number. In other words, the payment application 20 may change the scale of the map area MP depending on the number of surrounding stores found.

[0082] [Processing flow] Next, the flow of processing executed by payment application 20 will be described with reference to Fig. 22. Fig. 22 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by payment application 20.

[0083] First, the payment application 20 sets location information in response to input from the user (Step S100). For example, the payment application 20 sets location information by registering any place related to the user in response to information input by the user on the first registration screen of Fig. 9 and the second registration screen of Fig. 10.

[0084] Next, the payment application 20 determines whether sharing of the current location is permitted (step S101). If it is determined that sharing of the current location is permitted, the payment application 20 acquires the current location of the user as a reference position RP using the positioning device included in the user terminal device 10 (step S102).

[0085] On the other hand, if it is determined that sharing of the current location is not permitted, the payment application 20 acquires the set location information as the reference location RP (step S110). For example, the payment application 20 may acquire the location information of the registered location selected on the screen shown in Fig. 17 as the reference location RP.

[0086] Next, payment application 20 displays the map of the area around reference position RP acquired in step S102 or S110 on user terminal device 10 (step S103), thereby displaying, for example, map area MP shown in FIG.

[0087] Next, the payment application 20 queries the payment server 100 to extract one or more stores that are located near the reference position RP and that offer special benefits (step S104). Next, the payment application 20 calculates a score for each special benefit offered by each of the one or more stores, and determines the maximum score as the score for the store (step S105). Next, the payment application 20 displays a store card for each store according to the determined score (step S106). Next, the payment application 20 displays a sub-card corresponding to each special benefit on the store card according to the calculated score for each special benefit (step S107).

[0088] Next, payment application 20 determines whether the operation area of ​​any child card displayed on the store card has been operated (step S108). If it is determined that the operation area of ​​any child card displayed on the store card has been operated, payment application 20 executes processing according to the type of benefit corresponding to the child card (step S109). This ends the processing of this flowchart.

[0089] [Address registration using eKYC] Note that, although payment application 20 has the user register an address by inputting information into all of multiple input fields A11 to A15 on the first registration screen shown in Fig. 9, this is not limiting. For example, payment application 20 may perform online identity verification of the user using technology such as eKYC (Electronic Know Your Customer) and register the address detected by the identity verification. Details of address registration using eKYC are described below.

[0090] Fig. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a third registration screen for registering address information detected using eKYC. The third registration screen may be displayed on the user terminal device 10, for example, when the user taps the Disallow button B32 on the screen shown in Fig. 11. As shown in Fig. 23, the third registration screen includes an address display area A81, a Home button B81, a Work button B82, an Other button B83, a Later button B84, and a Save button B85.

[0091] The address display area A81 is an area where address information related to a user who has been identified by eKYC is displayed. The user can select the category of the location (address information displayed in the address display area A81) to be registered by tapping either the home button B81, the work button B82, or the other button B83.

[0092] Furthermore, when the user taps the Later button B84, the payment app 20 displays the screen shown in FIG. 13 on the user terminal device 10. On the other hand, when the user taps the Save button B85, the payment app 20 associates the address information detected using eKYC with the selected category (home, work, or other) and stores it in the user terminal device 10. The payment app 20 may also transmit this information to the payment server 100 and store it in the payment server 100. This makes it possible to register the location information of any location on a map.

[0093] The first registration screen shown in Fig. 9 requires the user to input information into all of the input fields A11 to A15, which is time-consuming for the user. However, the third registration screen shown in Fig. 23 does not require the user to input address information, which saves the user time and effort when registering address information.

[0094] Fig. 24 is a diagram showing another example of the third registration screen. The screen shown in Fig. 23 above is displayed when only one piece of address information is detected using eKYC, but the screen shown in Fig. 24 is displayed when multiple pieces of address information are detected using eKYC. The example shown in Fig. 24 shows the third registration screen when four pieces of address information are detected from eKYC.

[0095] The third registration screen shown in FIG. 24 includes an address display area A91, a "Later" button B91, and a "Save" button B92. The address display area A91 displays one of four pieces of address information associated with a user whose identity has been verified by eKYC. When the user taps the "Later" button B91, the payment app 20 displays the screen shown in FIG. 13 on the user terminal device 10. On the other hand, when the user taps the "Save" button B92, the payment app 20 displays the fourth registration screen shown in FIG. 25 on the user terminal device 10.

[0096] Fig. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a fourth registration screen for registering multiple pieces of address information detected using eKYC. The fourth registration screen is displayed on the user terminal device 10 when the user taps the save button B92 on the third registration screen shown in Fig. 24. As shown in Fig. 25, the fourth registration screen includes multiple address display areas A101-A102, a home button B101, a work button B102, an other button B103, a home button B104, a work button B105, an other button B106, and a save button B107.

[0097] The multiple address display areas A101-A102 are areas where multiple pieces of address information detected using eKYC are displayed. Note that, although only two address display areas are shown in the example shown in Fig. 25, the user can swipe up on the fourth registration screen to display multiple other address display areas on the fourth registration screen.

[0098] The address display area A101 displays the address information (1-1-..., Minato-ku, Tokyo) detected using eKYC. The user can select the category of the location (address information displayed in the address display area A101) to register by tapping either the Home button B101, the Work button B102, or the Other button B103.

[0099] Additionally, the address display area A102 displays the address information (3-5-..., Setagaya-ku, Tokyo) detected using eKYC. The user can select the category of the location (address information displayed in the address display area A102) to register by tapping either the Home button B104, the Work button B105, or the Other button B106.

[0100] The user swipes up on the fourth registration screen to display multiple other address display areas, and selects the category of the location to be registered for each of the multiple other address display areas. When the user then taps the save button B107, the payment app 20 associates the address information detected using eKYC with the selected category (home, work, or other) and stores it in the user terminal device 10. The payment app 20 may also transmit this information to the payment server 100 and store it in the payment server 100. This allows the location information of any location on a map to be registered.

[0101] Figure 26 is a diagram showing an example of a fifth registration screen for registering address information when no address information is detected using eKYC. The screens shown in Figures 23 and 24 above are displayed when address information is detected using eKYC, but the screen shown in Figure 26 is displayed when no address information is detected using eKYC.

[0102] The fifth registration screen shown in FIG. 26 includes an address display area A111, a Later button B111, and a Save button B112. In the example shown in FIG. 26, no address information was detected using eKYC, so no address information is displayed in the address display area A111, and the words "Add Location" are displayed instead. When the user taps the Later button B111, the payment app 20 displays the screen shown in FIG. 13 on the user terminal device 10. On the other hand, when the user taps the Save button B112, the payment app 20 displays the first registration screen shown in FIG. 9 on the user terminal device 10. The user can register location information by entering information such as an address on the first registration screen shown in FIG. 9 and selecting a category (home, work, or other) on the second registration screen shown in FIG. 10.

[0103] [Registered location switching process] Next, an example of the process of switching registered locations will be described with reference to Figs. 27 to 29. As described above, a user can register the location information of multiple locations on a map through the first to fifth registration screens. The payment application 20 performs a process of switching registered locations in response to a user operation. The process of switching registered locations will be described in detail below.

[0104] 27 is a diagram showing an example of a coupon list screen when the user's home is set as the reference position RP. The coupon list screen displays a list of coupons for stores in the vicinity of the reference position RP. The coupon list screen shown in FIG. 27 may be displayed on the user terminal device 10 in response to, for example, the user tapping button M1 on the top screen of FIG. 7.

[0105] The coupon list screen shown in Fig. 27 includes an address display area A121, multiple coupon display areas A122-A123, and multiple acquisition buttons B121-B122. Currently set location information is displayed in the address display area A121. The currently set location information is used as the location information of the reference position RP. In the example shown in Fig. 27, the address information of the user's home (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo...) is displayed in the address display area A121.

[0106] Coupons for stores in the vicinity of the currently set position (reference position RP) are displayed in multiple coupon display areas A122-A123. In the example of FIG. 27, a coupon for AA Convenience Store BB, which is a store in the vicinity of the user's home (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo), is displayed in coupon display area A122. When the user taps the Acquire button B121, the user can acquire a coupon for AA Convenience Store BB. In addition, a coupon for CC Drug Store DD, which is a store in the vicinity of the user's home, is displayed in coupon display area A123. When the user taps the Acquire button B122, the user can acquire a coupon for CC Drug Store DD. Note that although only two coupons are shown in the example of FIG. 27, the user can swipe up on the screen of FIG. 27 to display other coupons on the user terminal device 10.

[0107] 27, the user's home address (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) is set as the reference position RP, and a list of coupons for stores near the user's home is displayed. Meanwhile, the user can switch the set location (reference position RP) by tapping the address display area A121.

[0108] FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of a screen that allows a user to select one of multiple registered locations. When a user taps the address display area A121 shown in FIG. 27, the payment application 20 causes the user terminal device 10 to display the screen shown in FIG. 28. In the example shown in FIG. 28, three locations are registered: home (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo...), workplace (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo...), and other (Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture...). These locations are locations that the user registered through any of the first to fifth registration screens.

[0109] 28 also displays a plurality of buttons B131 to B133. The button B131 is associated with "Home (Shibuya Ward, Tokyo...)", the button B132 is associated with "Workplace (Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo...)", and the button B133 is associated with "Other (Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture...)".

[0110] When a user taps one of the buttons B131 to B133, the location information of the location corresponding to the tapped button is confirmed as the reference position RP. Thereafter, payment application 20 displays benefits (e.g., coupons) related to the electronic payment service based on the confirmed reference position RP.

[0111] Fig. 29 is a diagram showing an example of a coupon list screen when the user's workplace is set as the reference position RP. The coupon list screen shown in Fig. 29 is displayed on the user terminal device 10 in response to the user tapping button B132 shown in Fig. 28. When the user taps button B132 shown in Fig. 28, the location information of the user's workplace is set as the reference position RP. Therefore, the coupon list screen shown in Fig. 29 displays a list of coupons for stores near the user's workplace.

[0112] The coupon list screen shown in Fig. 29 includes an address display area A141, multiple coupon display areas A142-A143, and multiple acquisition buttons B141-B142. The address display area A141 displays the location information (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo...) of the workplace of the user selected from the screen of Fig. 28.

[0113] Coupons for stores in the vicinity of the currently set position (reference position RP) are displayed in multiple coupon display areas A142-A143. In the example of FIG. 29, a coupon for EE Coffee FF, a store in the vicinity of the user's workplace (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), is displayed in coupon display area A142. When the user taps the Acquire button B141, the user can acquire a coupon for EE Coffee FF. In addition, a coupon for GG Sushi HH, a store in the vicinity of the user's workplace, is displayed in coupon display area A143. When the user taps the Acquire button B142, the user can acquire a coupon for GG Sushi HH. Note that although only two coupons are shown in the example of FIG. 29, the user can swipe up on the screen of FIG. 29 to display other coupons on the user terminal device 10.

[0114] 27 to 29, an example of displaying a coupon on the user terminal device 10 has been described as an example of a service provided to a user in association with an electronic payment service, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, special offers such as campaigns, stamp cards, or flyers may be displayed on the user terminal device 10.

[0115] Payment application 20 may set location information individually for each of multiple services on payment application 20 in response to a user's operation, or may apply the set location information to other services so that location information can be searched across multiple services. This allows the user to easily set location information.

[0116] As described above, it is possible to switch between location information that can be used for multiple services (benefits such as campaigns, coupons, stamp cards, flyers, etc.) associated with locations on the map in accordance with the user's operation on the screen of Fig. 28. This allows the user to use various services associated with locations on the map on the user terminal device 10 even if the user has not permitted sharing of the current location.

[0117] In the above embodiment, the payment application 20 has been described as the subject of processing, but the payment application 20 may only have an information input / output function and a communication function with the payment server 100, and the payment server 100 may execute the processing according to this embodiment. For example, when the payment server 100 receives location information indicating a location on a map input by a user from the user terminal device 10, it sets the received location information as a place associated with the user (home, workplace, etc.), and when it receives information from the user terminal device 10 that the user does not allow the sharing of the current location, it acquires the set location information and allows the user terminal device 10 to use the acquired location information for multiple services associated with the location on the map (benefits such as campaigns, coupons, stamp cards, flyers, etc.).

[0118] According to the embodiment described above, payment application 20 sets location information indicating a location on a map in response to input from a user (FIGS. 9 and 10), and if sharing of the current location of user terminal device 10 (the user's current location) is not permitted, acquires the set location information (FIG. 17), and uses the acquired location information for multiple services (benefits such as campaigns, coupons, stamp cards, and flyers) associated with the location on the map (FIG. 12). This allows various services associated with the location on the map to be used on the user terminal device, even if the user does not permit sharing of the current location.

[0119] Note that if sharing of the current location of the user terminal device 10 is not permitted, the payment app 20 does not need to prompt the user to input location information each time the payment app 20 is launched. For example, when the payment app 20 is launched, the payment app 20 may display, on the display unit of the user terminal device 10, the map and store-related information (such as information about benefits) that were previously displayed on the display unit of the user terminal device 10. The map and store-related information that were previously displayed may be stored by the user terminal device 10 or may be stored by the payment server 100. If the payment server 100 stores this information, the payment app 20 may obtain this information from the payment server 100 via the network NW the next time the payment app 20 is launched. This eliminates the need for the user to input location information.

[0120] In the above embodiment, information about special offers such as campaigns, coupons, stamp cards, and flyers has been described as an example of store-related information, but the information is not limited to this. For example, the store-related information may be information about events held at the store.

[0121] The above describes the form for carrying out the present invention using an embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various modifications and substitutions can be made within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0122] 10 User terminal device 20. Payment App 100 Payment Server 110 Communications Department 120 Payment Contents Department 130 Payment processing unit 140 Information Management Department

Claims

1. An application program that operates on a user terminal device and executes processing related to the electronic payment service in cooperation with a server device that provides the electronic payment service, the application program comprising: According to input from the user, multiple pieces of location information indicating positions on a map are set, If sharing of the current location of the user terminal device is not permitted, the user is prompted to select one of the plurality of pieces of location information that have been set; displaying a map including a reference position indicated by the location information selected by the user; receiving from the server device a benefit information image relating to benefits available in the electronic payment service; The benefit information image is displayed in association with the location on a map of the store that offers the benefit. Application program.

2. The user terminal device The identity of the user is verified, Obtaining the address of the user confirmed by the identity verification; When setting the location information, the address of the user is automatically input into an input form for the location information that the user is prompted to input. The application program according to claim 1 .

3. causing the user terminal device to execute a predetermined process defined for an operation area included in the bonus information image in response to a user of the user terminal device operating the operation area; The application program according to claim 1 .

4. When there are a plurality of stores that offer the benefit, the user terminal device determines a display order of the corresponding plurality of benefit information images, and displays the plurality of benefit information images in association with the positions on a map of the plurality of stores that offer the benefit according to the determined display order. The application program according to claim 1 .

5. causing the user terminal device to determine a display order of the plurality of bonus information images based at least on the distance from the reference position to the store and the bonus return rate; 5. The application program according to claim 4.

6. when there are a plurality of benefits provided by a single store, the user terminal device is caused to determine a display order of partial benefit information images corresponding to the plurality of benefits to be displayed on the benefit information image, and the plurality of partial benefit information images are displayed on the benefit information image in accordance with the determined display order. The application program according to claim 1 .

7. causing the user terminal device to determine a display order of partial bonus information images corresponding to the plurality of bonuses based at least on the return rates of the plurality of bonuses, and displaying the plurality of partial bonus information images on the bonus information image in accordance with the determined display order; 7. The application program according to claim 6.

8. The predetermined process defined for the operation area varies depending on the type of the benefit.

4. The application program according to claim 3.

9. When the benefit is a discount coupon that can be used in the electronic payment service, the user terminal device is caused to execute, as the predetermined process, a process of allowing the user to acquire the discount coupon in response to the user of the user terminal device operating an operation area included in the benefit information image.

9. The application program according to claim 8.

10. and when the benefit is not the discount coupon, the user terminal device executes, as the predetermined process, a process of allowing the user to view detailed information of the benefit in response to the user of the user terminal device operating an operation area included in the benefit information image.

10. The application program according to claim 9.

11. When a store displayed on the map is selected on the user terminal device, the benefit information image relating to the benefit provided by the selected store is displayed superimposed on the map.

4. The application program according to claim 3.

12. a server device that executes processing related to the electronic payment service in cooperation with the user terminal device; an application program installed on the user terminal device; A payment system comprising: The application program is installed in the user terminal device. According to input from the user, multiple pieces of location information indicating positions on a map are set, If sharing of the current location of the user terminal device is not permitted, the user is prompted to select one of the plurality of pieces of location information that have been set; displaying a map including a reference position indicated by the location information selected by the user; receiving from the server device a benefit information image relating to benefits available in the electronic payment service; The benefit information image is displayed in association with the location on a map of the store that offers the benefit. Payment system.

Images