Payment system, and its benefit management method and computer program

Abstract

To provide a settlement system that enables a privilege to be granted to a user while mutually associating charging among a plurality of charging object apparatuses with one another.SOLUTION: A settlement system targeting a plurality of charging object apparatuses 3A, 3B ... includes: a plurality of information reading devices 11 that read settlement reference information such as a card ID from a card 4 of a user in response to occurrence of charging; and a settlement execution device that executes settlement processing by referring to the settlement reference information read by each information reading device 11. In each information reading devices 11, apparatus identification information such as a unique apparatus ID is set for each charging object apparatus. The settlement execution device associates content of the settlement processing with the apparatus identification information and medium identification information to record the resultant content in settlement history information D11, determines whether a spending state of the user satisfies a prescribed privilege grant condition on the basis of the settlement history information D11 when the user uses the specific charging object apparatus 3B, and grants the prescribed privilege to the user when the spending state thereof satisfies the prescribed privilege grant condition.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a payment system that allows a user to consume monetary value in response to charges incurred by each of a plurality of devices subject to payment. Regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] In commercial facilities such as amusement arcades where multiple commercial machines are installed, systems that allow users to consume monetary value expressed as electronic information, such as virtual currency, are becoming popular as a system for collecting fees from users in response to charges for each chargeable machine. In this type of payment system, in addition to a system in which the chargeable machine itself executes payment processing alone or through communication between the chargeable machine and a server, a system has also been proposed in which a payment terminal device is attached to the chargeable machine, payment reference information recorded on a medium held by the user is read by the terminal device, and the monetary value owned by the user is consumed using the payment reference information (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-9528 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-108746 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In facilities such as stores that have multiple billing devices installed, there are cases where it is desirable to introduce a service that aims to create synergy between the devices, such as offering a discount on the charges for using a specific billing device for a fee. However, conventional payment systems do not take into consideration the coordination and coordination of charges for each device. Therefore, in order to introduce such a service, facility operators have no choice but to rely on human resources, such as issuing discount coupons, which is inconvenient for operators.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a payment system or the like that can mutually link charges among a plurality of billable devices and provide benefits to users. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A payment system according to one aspect of the present invention is a payment system that executes a payment process in which a user consumes monetary value in response to the occurrence of charges on each of a plurality of chargeable devices, and includes a plurality of information reading devices that are associated with each of the plurality of chargeable devices and that read payment reference information from a medium held by the user as information to be referenced in the payment process, the payment reference information including medium identification information unique to each medium, in response to the occurrence of the charges; and a payment execution device that executes the payment process by referring to the payment reference information read by each information reading device, wherein each of the plurality of information reading devices is set with unique device identification information for each of the chargeable devices, and the payment execution device is provided with a history recording means that records the contents of the payment process performed for each charge on the plurality of chargeable devices in payment history information in association with the device identification information and the medium identification information, and a bonus granting means that, when a user uses at least some of the plurality of chargeable devices, determines based on the payment history information whether the user's consumption status of the monetary value satisfies predetermined bonus granting conditions, and grants a predetermined bonus to users who satisfy the bonus granting conditions.

[0007] In addition, one aspect of the present invention provides a benefit management method that is configured to execute a payment process that causes a user to consume monetary value in response to the occurrence of a charge on each of a plurality of chargeable devices, and includes a plurality of information reading devices that are associated with each of the plurality of chargeable devices and that read payment reference information from a medium held by the user as information to be referenced in the payment process, the payment reference information including medium identification information unique to each medium, in response to the occurrence of the charge, and a payment execution device that executes the payment process by referring to the payment reference information read by each information reading device, and in which unique device identification information is set for each of the plurality of chargeable devices, and the benefit management method is applied to a payment system that includes the steps of: recording the details of the payment process performed for each charge on each of the plurality of chargeable devices in payment history information in association with the device identification information and the medium identification information; and determining, when the user uses at least some of the plurality of chargeable devices, whether the user's consumption status of the monetary value satisfies a predetermined benefit granting condition based on the payment history information, and granting a predetermined benefit to users who satisfy the benefit granting condition.

[0008] Furthermore, a computer program according to one aspect of the present invention is configured to execute a payment process for having a user consume monetary value in response to the occurrence of a charge at each of a plurality of chargeable devices, and includes: a plurality of information reading devices provided in correspondence with each of the plurality of chargeable devices, the plurality of information reading devices being stored in a medium possessed by the user as information to be referenced in the payment process, and reading payment reference information including medium identification information unique to each of the medium from the medium in response to the occurrence of the charge; and a payment execution device executing the payment process by referring to the payment reference information read by each information reading device, and each of the plurality of information reading devices having a function unique to each of the chargeable devices. A computer program for managing benefits that is applied to a payment system in which device identification information is set, and that is configured to cause at least one computer provided in the payment system to function as a history recording means that records the contents of the payment processing performed for each charge of the plurality of chargeable devices in payment history information in correspondence with the device identification information and the medium identification information, and a benefit granting means that, when a user uses at least some of the plurality of chargeable devices, determines based on the payment history information whether the user's consumption status of the monetary value satisfies specified benefit granting conditions, and grants specified benefits to users who satisfy the benefit granting conditions. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a payment system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system of the server system. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system of the store system. [Figure 4] A diagram showing an example of a user benefit provided by a discount on the amount of virtual currency consumed when using a specific billable device. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart showing the processing steps when a user consumes virtual currency in response to a charge incurred on a chargeable device. [Figure 6]10 is a flowchart showing the processing steps when a store operator changes data in device management information. [Figure 7] 6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure when the processing procedure of FIG. 5 is modified so that determination of consumption amount and discount processing are performed on the server side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A payment system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below. First, the overall configuration of the payment system will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The payment system 1 of this embodiment is configured to require users to consume virtual currency in an amount corresponding to the charges incurred at multiple chargeable devices 3A, 3B, ..., 3N (hereinafter, sometimes represented by reference numeral 3) installed in multiple stores 2. Virtual currency is an example of monetary value that users can acquire in exchange for cash. As an example, the store 2 is an amusement facility where at least some of the chargeable devices 3 are commercial gaming machines (typically game machines). However, it is not necessary that all of the chargeable devices 3 in each store 2 are gaming machines. In addition to at least one gaming machine, each store 2 may also have various devices as chargeable devices 3 that provide users with predetermined services in exchange for payment of a fee. For example, if the store 2 is equipped with vending machines selling products such as juice, these machines may also be included as chargeable devices 3 in the payment system 1 of this embodiment. The chargeable device 3 may be configured to comply with various specifications as long as it can communicate with the payment system of this embodiment in accordance with a predetermined protocol. The manufacturers and providers of the chargeable devices 3 may also be different. The chargeable device 3 may be configured to be able to use other payment methods, such as cash, in addition to the payment method using the payment system 1.

[0011] The payment system 1 includes a store system 10 established for each store 2 and a server system 20 shared by each store system 10. Note that FIG. 1 shows the details of only one store system 10. The store system 10 determines the amount of virtual currency to be consumed by the user in accordance with the charges incurred at each billable device 3, reads a card ID unique to each card from the user's card 4 as payment reference information, and requests payment from the server system 20 by specifying the card ID and the amount of virtual currency to be consumed. The card 4 is a medium given to the user to identify the user, and a card ID unique to each card 4 is recorded thereon as medium identification information. However, the medium held by the user is not limited to a card 4, and an IC chip attached to a mobile phone or other medium may be used as the medium as long as it can hold a medium identification number. The medium identification information may be identification information uniquely set for each user. In short, it is sufficient that the medium identification information is guaranteed to be unique for each medium.

[0012] The server system 20 manages the amount of virtual currency held by a user in association with the user's card ID, consumes the virtual currency held in the account corresponding to the card ID in response to a request from the store system 10, and notifies the store system 10 of the processing result. In other words, the payment system 1 of this embodiment is a prepaid payment system in which a user acquires virtual currency in advance in exchange for cash or the like, and pays the fee for the billable device 3 by consuming virtual currency within the amount of that balance. Also, it is a thin-client (server-processing) payment system in which the balance of virtual currency held by the user is held on the server system 20 side, and the server system 20 side reduces (debits) that balance.

[0013] The store system 10 includes a reader 11 as an information reading terminal device attached to each of the chargeable devices 3 in one-to-one correspondence, an administration PC (abbreviation for personal computer, the same applies below) 12, a setting terminal PC 13, a dealer terminal PC 14, and a router 15. The readers 11, administration PC 12, setting terminal PC 13, and dealer terminal PC 14 are connected to each other via an in-store LAN 16 established within the store 2 so as to be able to communicate with each other. Each reader 11 is configured as a device physically separate from the chargeable device 3 and is attached to the chargeable device 3 so as to be able to bidirectionally communicate with the control unit (not shown) of the corresponding chargeable device 3 according to a predetermined protocol. The router 15 is connected to the Internet 5. As a result, the reader 11, administration PC 12, and setting terminal PC 13 connected to the in-store LAN 16 can each be connected to the server system 20 via the Internet 5, and are computers that function as clients of the server system 20.

[0014] The reader 11 functions as an information input / output means for receiving billing information from the billable device 3 and providing the billable device 3 with the result of the settlement process, and as an information reading means for reading a card ID from the card 4 held by the user. The management PC 12, while referring to the information provided by the reader 11, executes settlement processing in cooperation with the server system 20, causing the user to consume a predetermined amount of virtual currency according to the content of the charge incurred by the billable device 3. The setting terminal PC 13 functions as a means for the operator of the store 2 to manage the information held by the management PC 12 of the store 2. These functions will be explained in detail later.

[0015] The dealer terminal PC14 functions as a terminal through which the operator of the store 2 views information such as payment history provided by the server system 20. In the example of FIG. 1, the reader 11 and the setting terminal PC13 are connected to the management PC12 via a wireless LAN access point 17, but they may also be connected by wire. The dealer terminal PC14 does not necessarily have to be located within the store 2. For example, the dealer terminal PC14 may be installed at the head office or sales office of a corporation that operates the store 2. The operator of the store 2 may be an entity that operates only a single store 2, or may be an entity that operates multiple stores 2.

[0016] The server system 20 comprises server units 21A, 21B, etc. (hereinafter, these may be represented by the reference numeral 21) as a plurality of computer devices, and a router 22 that connects these server units 21 to the Internet 5. However, the server system 20 may also use a single server unit. Alternatively, the server system 20 may be logically constructed using cloud computing.

[0017] A user terminal device 6 can also be connected to the server system 20 via the Internet 5. The user terminal device 6 is a computer device that can be connected to a network and is provided for personal use by the user. For example, a desktop or notebook PC 6A or a mobile terminal device 6B such as a mobile phone (including a smartphone) can be used as the user terminal device 6. Various other computer devices that can be connected to a network and are provided for personal use by the user, such as a desktop home game console, a portable game console, or a portable tablet terminal device, can also be used as the user terminal device 6. The user terminal device 6 is used, for example, by a user accessing the server system 20 to view their own payment history or to purchase virtual currency and deposit it in their own account. The payment system 1 may also be provided with additional terminal devices. For example, a charging machine that allows a user to purchase virtual currency using cash or a credit card may be further provided in the store 2 and connected to the router 15.

[0018] Next, the configuration of the control system of the payment system 1 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. First, the control system of the server system 20 will be described. As shown in Figure 2, the server system 20 has, as its subsystems, a transaction management system 31 that manages all transactions related to virtual currency, a currency management system 32 that manages virtual currency, and an accounting system 33 that manages payments to the operator of the store 2 that occur in connection with virtual currency transactions. The transaction management system 31 has a transaction control unit 34 that is a logical device realized by a combination of computer hardware and software. The transaction control unit 34 executes various processes required for the consumption of virtual currency, etc., in accordance with a payment request sent from the store system 10.

[0019] The payment request includes transaction information necessary to identify which store 2, which billable device 3, and how the user intends to consume the virtual currency, such as a card ID read from the user's card 4, the amount of virtual currency consumed, and a store code identifying the store 2. The transaction control unit 34 accesses user information D1, which records the correspondence between the card ID and account identification information (e.g., user ID) attached to the user's virtual currency account, and determines the user ID corresponding to the card ID. The transaction control unit 34 also accesses balance information data D2 in the currency management system 32 and consumes the virtual currency by deducting the consumed amount from the balance of the virtual currency account recorded in association with the user ID in the data D2. The transaction control unit 34 then records the transaction information in transaction information data D3 in the currency management system 32 in association with the user ID. The transaction information data D3 records information identifying the transaction details, such as the transaction date and time, the store code, and the amount of virtual currency consumed, in association with the user ID. By accessing the currency management system 32 from the user terminal device 6, the user can check the balance of their account from their user terminal device 6 and increase the balance of their account by performing the specified charging operation.

[0020] When the transaction control unit 34 causes the currency management system 32 to perform a process to consume virtual currency, it notifies the store system 10 of the processing result, i.e., whether the consumption was successful or not. Furthermore, upon completion of one transaction, i.e., the virtual currency consumption process corresponding to a payment request from the store system 10, the transaction control unit 34 records the details of this payment process in consumption information data D4. The consumption information data D4 records information identifying the transaction details, such as the transaction date and time, store code, the amount of virtual currency consumed, and user ID (or card ID). As a result, the consumption information data D4 functions as history information recording the history of virtual currency payment processes. The consumption information data D4 is aggregated every appropriate aggregation period (for example, one month) and recorded in aggregate information data D5. Based on the aggregate information data D5, the accounting system 33 aggregates the consumption information by a predetermined aggregation unit, such as by store 2 or by the business entity of the store 2, calculates the payment amount to the business entity of the store 2 according to the aggregation results, and records the calculation result in payment information data D6. The purchase price of the virtual currency becomes sales revenue for the business entity of the server system 20. Therefore, if the fee for the billable device 3 is paid with virtual currency, the business entity of the store 2 does not receive any payment. Therefore, the business entity of the server system 20 must pay a proportional portion of the sales revenue corresponding to the amount of virtual currency consumed to the business entity of the store 2. This requires processing such as calculating the payment amount. The accounting system 33 creates a payment notice PD for the business entity of the store 2 based on the payment information data D7 and transmits it to the trader terminal PC 14. The trader terminal PC 14 can also access the aggregate information data D5 as needed to check the consumption history, etc. Furthermore, when the store system 10 sends the device management information data D10 (see FIG. 3 ) of the management PC 12, the transaction control unit 34 stores the device management information data D10 in the management PC information data D7 in association with the store code.

[0021] Next, the control system of the store system 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the chargeable device 3 and the reader 11, management PC 12, and setting terminal PC 13 of the store system 10. First, in the store system 10, a chargeable device 3 is provided with a charge management unit 41. The charge management unit 41 generates charge information according to the content of the charge incurred by the chargeable device 3 and outputs the charge information to the reader 11. The chargeable device 3 is a type of computer device, and is provided with an operation control unit 7, which is a logical device formed by combining computer hardware and software and operates the device according to a predetermined procedure. For example, if the chargeable device 3 is a game machine, a game control unit that progresses the game in accordance with user operations is provided as the operation control unit. The charge management unit 41 is also a logical device similar to the operation control unit 7, and can be realized by adding appropriate program modules to a program for realizing the operation control unit 7.

[0022] The chargeable device 3 may offer multiple chargeable items as options for the user. For example, if the chargeable device 3 is a game machine, the game provided by that game machine generally offers options for the user, such as starting or continuing the game, game modes, and purchasing and using items. Furthermore, in commercial game machines, in order for a user to select a desired mode and play that mode, a fee is charged to the user according to the selection. That is, in a game machine, each of the user's options is offered as a chargeable item (chargeable item), and a fee is set according to the chargeable item. If the chargeable device 3 is a vending machine, each of multiple products is offered as a chargeable item. The operation control unit 7 determines which chargeable item has been selected according to the user's instruction, and the charge management unit 41 acquires the selection result, i.e., which chargeable item has been selected, from the operation control unit 7. For chargeable items with selectable quantities (e.g., items with selectable purchase quantities), the charge management unit 41 also acquires the quantity selected by the user. The payment process by the payment system 1 is initiated when the charge management unit 41 acquires the user's selection result. Then, when the charge management unit 41 notifies the user that payment has been completed, the operation control unit 7 provides the user with a service corresponding to the charge item selected by the user. For example, if the charge target device 3 is a game machine, the operation control unit 7 starts playing a game in the game mode selected by the user, or grants the user the item selected by the user. If the charge target device 3 is a vending machine, the product selected by the user is dispensed. Note that purchasing an item includes consuming a price and obtaining permission to use the item in the game.

[0023] The billing management unit 41 generates billing information according to the billing details provided by the operation control unit 7, i.e., the billing items selected by the user, or the billing items and quantities selected by the user. Here, the unit calculates the fee to be charged to the user by multiplying the unit price of the billing item by the quantity, and generates information specifying that fee as billing information. For billing items for which the quantity cannot be selected, the fee is calculated with the quantity set to 1. The billing management unit 41 transmits the generated billing information (i.e., play fees and purchase fees for items, etc.) to the reader 11 according to a predetermined protocol.

[0024] The reader 11 is provided with an information management unit 42 and an ID reading unit 43. The information management unit 42 is a logical device realized by a combination of the reader 11's computer hardware and software. The ID reading unit 43 is provided as a peripheral device that reads the card ID recorded on the card 4. For example, if the card ID is recorded on an IC chip of the card 4, the ID reading unit 43 is configured to read information from the IC chip. However, the card ID is not limited to being recorded on an IC chip, and may be recorded on a magnetic memory layer or an optical memory layer, or may be recorded in an optically readable format such as a barcode. The ID reading unit 43 can be configured appropriately depending on the method of recording the card ID on the card 4. The reader 11 is also provided with a display for displaying the amount of virtual currency consumed, etc., but this is not shown in FIG. 3.

[0025] A device ID is set in the information management unit 42 as device identification information for identifying the charge target device 3. The device ID may be identification information specific to the reader 11, such as a MAC address assigned to uniquely identify the reader 11 on the network, or may be a device number assigned by the manager of the store 2 or the like to distinguish the charge target device 3. The device ID is stored in a storage unit (e.g., an EEPROM) of the reader 11, for example. When the information management unit 42 receives billing information from the billing management unit 41 of the charge target device 3, it activates the ID reading unit 43 to start reading the card ID. When the reading is complete, the information management unit 42 specifies the acquired card ID and its own device ID and transmits the billing information received from the billing management unit 41 to the management PC 12.

[0026] The administration PC 12 is provided with a transaction control unit 44 as a logical device. The transaction control unit 44 determines the amount of virtual currency to be consumed by the user based on the billing information and device ID received from the reader 11, and requests payment by providing transaction information including the determined amount of virtual currency consumed, the card ID received from the reader 11, and a store code uniquely assigned to each store 2 to the server system 20. The store code is, for example, stored in a memory unit 45 of the administration PC 12. The memory unit 45 also stores data D10 of billing management information and data D11 of payment history information used to determine the amount consumed, etc.

[0027] The device management information data D10 includes discount information and setting information indicating the correspondence between the fee notified by the charge management unit 41 of the device to be charged 3 and the amount of virtual currency consumed. The charge management data D10 is recorded in association with the device ID so that it is possible to determine which device to be charged 3 the data corresponds to. The transaction control unit 44 uses the device ID to identify the device management information data D10 of the device to be charged 3 for which charging has occurred, and can determine the amount of virtual currency that the user should consume in accordance with the fee notified by the charge management unit 41 according to the management data D10.

[0028] The consumption amount setting information in the device management information data D10 describes the correspondence between the fee (charge amount) of the billable device 3, expressed in currency units, and the consumption amount of virtual currency. For example, the setting information is described so that 1 point corresponds to 1 yen of fee. By manipulating the setting value of the virtual currency consumption amount in the setting information, the amount of monetary value that the user must consume when paying the fee charged by the billable device 3 with virtual currency can be appropriately changed. For example, if 100 yen in cash is normally used to purchase 100 points of virtual currency, and a fee of 100 yen is specified in the billing information output from the billing management unit 41 of the billable device 3, if the consumption amount of 80 points is described in the setting information of the data D10, a discount equivalent to 20 yen will be realized. Such a discount does not necessarily have to be set. Furthermore, the correspondence between the fee and consumption amount described in the setting information is applicable regardless of the user.

[0029] In contrast, the discount information in the device management information data D10 is information used to provide a discount on the amount of virtual currency consumed, specified in accordance with the setting information, as a benefit when a user's virtual currency consumption status satisfies a predetermined discount condition (benefit granting condition). The discount information describes the discount condition and the details of the discount when the discount condition is satisfied. The discount condition is set in association with the user's consumption status at at least one chargeable device 3 in the store 2. For example, the discount condition is set so that it is satisfied when the user consumes virtual currency at a specific chargeable device 3 selected from multiple chargeable devices 3 installed in the store 2. The discount condition may further include time and quantity requirements. For example, the discount condition may be satisfied when the user consumes a certain amount of virtual currency at a specific chargeable device 3 within a certain period of time. As a specific example, when a user uses a vending machine as a chargeable device, the discount condition can be set so that a discount is provided if the user has consumed a certain amount of virtual currency at a specific game machine within a certain period of time from that point in time. In this case, if the game machine is the first chargeable device that is the target of determining whether or not the discount conditions are satisfied, and the vending machine is the second chargeable device that is the target of the discount, the discount conditions and the details of the discount (discount amount or discount rate) can be described in association with the device ID of the first chargeable device 3 in the discount information of the device management information data D10 associated with the device ID of the second chargeable device 3. In other words, the discount conditions and the details of the discount can be described in the device management information data D10 corresponding to the device ID of the chargeable device 3 that should be eligible for the discount. However, the chargeable devices that are eligible for the discount (the above-mentioned second chargeable devices) may be all chargeable devices 3 installed in the store 2, or may be limited to some of the chargeable devices 3. Furthermore, the discount information may be recorded in the storage unit 45 as data different from the device management information data D10 associated with the device ID.

[0030] The data D11 of the settlement history information is data that records the history of the settlement process for the charges generated by each of the charging target devices 3 in store 2. In the data D11 of the settlement history information, for each settlement process, information necessary for discriminating the settlement details such as the processing date and time, device ID, card ID, and consumption amount of virtual currency is recorded. By searching the data D11 of the settlement history information using the card ID, it is possible to grasp the consumption status of the user's virtual currency in store 2 and determine whether the discount conditions are met or not.

[0031] Figure 4 shows a more specific example of the discount using the above-described discount information. Assume that the user purchased the charging item a1 at the first charging target device 3A in exchange for the consumption of Na points of virtual currency. In the data D11 of the settlement history information, information indicating such settlement details is recorded at any time. Then, assume that the user purchases some charging item at the second charging target device 3B within the same store 2. In the data D10 of the device management information corresponding to the second charging target device 3B, as the discount condition, it is set that the user has consumed Nc points (<Na points) or more of virtual currency at the first charging target device 3A within a certain period. When that condition is satisfied, it is set as the content of the discount that the consumption amount of virtual currency is discounted by Nb points. In this case, when the user purchases some charging item at the second charging target device 3B, the discount condition and the discount content are specified using the data D10 of the device management information corresponding to the second charging target device 3B, and it is determined whether there is a record of a settlement that satisfies the discount condition in the data D11 of the settlement history information using the user's card ID and the device ID corresponding to the first charging target device 3A as a clue. And when there is a record, assuming that the discount condition is satisfied, the consumption amount of virtual currency for the charge of the second charging target device 3B is discounted by Nb points with respect to the original consumption amount determined according to the setting information for the same device 3B. Note that the discount content may be set so that a paid item is provided to the user for free. That is, a non-charging mode is also included in the concept of a discount for a charge.

[0032] Returning to FIG. 3 , the management PC 12 includes a setting management unit 46 as a logical device that allows the operator of the store 2 to appropriately set the setting information and discount information in the device management information data D10. The setting management unit 46 presents a management page as a web page to the setting terminal PC 13, allowing the operator to view the setting information and discount information in the device management information data D10 or to change the setting information and discount information. Therefore, the operator of the store 2 can use the web browsing function of the setting terminal PC 13 to access the management page provided by the management PC 12, check the setting status of the setting information and discount information, and appropriately change the correspondence between fees and virtual currency consumption amounts, discount conditions, or discount details when the discount conditions are met. Using this function enables flexible setting of fees and discounts.

[0033] Next, the processing executed by the payment system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 shows the procedure of processing when a user consumes virtual currency in response to a charge generated in the charge target device 3. When a user selects a mode, item, or the like as a charge item in the charge target device 3, the charge management unit 41 of the charge target device 3 starts the processing of FIG. 4 assuming that a charge has been generated. First, the charge management unit 41 determines the charge item, etc. (which may include a quantity) based on information from the operation control unit 7 (step S11). Next, the charge management unit 41 calculates the fee (charge amount) to be charged according to the determination result of step S1, and notifies the reader 11 of charging information specifying the fee (step S12). When the information management unit 42 of the reader 11 receives the charging information from the charge target device 3, it stores the charging information and then starts the processing of FIG. 5. First, the information management unit 42 activates the ID reading unit 43 to prepare for reading the card ID. In response to this, when the user performs an operation to read the card ID (for example, an operation of touching the card 4 to the reader 11), the card ID of the card 4 is read (step S21). Next, the information management unit 42 notifies the management PC 12 of the read card ID, its own device ID, and the previously saved billing management information (step S22).

[0034] When the transaction control unit 44 of the administration PC 12 receives the device ID and other information from the reader 11, it identifies the device management information data D10 corresponding to the device ID and, based on the setting information recorded in the device management information data D10, determines the amount of virtual currency to be consumed by the user corresponding to the fee specified in the billing information (step S31). Next, the transaction control unit 44 performs discount processing by referring to the discount information and the payment history data D11 recorded in the device management information data D10 (step S32). For example, the transaction control unit 44 uses the card ID notified by the reader 11 as a key to extract information on the user's payment processing from the payment history information data D11 and determines whether the user's consumption situation satisfies the discount conditions recorded in the discount information based on the extracted information. If the discount conditions are met, the transaction control unit 44 discounts the consumption amount determined in step S31 according to the discount details described in the discount information and finally determines the discounted consumption amount as the amount of virtual currency to be consumed by the user. If the discount conditions are not met or if no discount conditions are set in the device management information data D10, the transaction control unit 44 determines the consumption amount determined in step S31 as the final consumption amount. After processing step S32, the transaction control unit 44 requests payment from the server system 20, attaching transaction information specifying the store code stored in the memory unit 45, the card ID received from the reader 11, and the consumption amount of virtual currency determined in step S32 (step S33).

[0035] Upon receiving a payment request from the administration PC 12, the transaction control unit 34 of the server system 20 obtains the user ID corresponding to the card ID from the user information data D1, and subtracts the consumption amount specified in the transaction information from the balance of the virtual currency account recorded in the balance information data D2 associated with the user ID, thereby causing the user to consume the amount of virtual currency corresponding to the billable item (step S41). However, if the balance is less than the consumption amount, the consumption is canceled. The transaction control unit 34 then notifies the administration PC 12 of the payment result (step S42). If the subtraction of the consumption amount is successful, the payment is notified as a completion, and if the consumption cannot be completed due to insufficient balance, etc., the payment is notified as a failure. Note that, upon payment, the server system 20 also executes recording of the transaction information data D3 and the consumption information data D4, but a description of these processes will be omitted.

[0036] The transaction control unit 44 of the administrator PC 12 notifies the reader 11 of the chargeable device 3 for which charging has occurred of the result notified from the server system 20 (step S34). Next, the transaction control unit 44 records the payment details of this payment process, i.e., the processing date and time, device ID, card ID, and amount of virtual currency consumed, etc., in the payment history information data D11 (step S35). Furthermore, in response to the notification of the result of the payment process from the administrator PC 12, the information management unit 42 of the reader 11 further notifies the result to the charge management unit 41 of the chargeable device 3 (step S25). Note that when a payment process is performed between the administrator PC 12 and the server system 20, in order to identify which chargeable device 3 the process corresponds to, the payment requests are distinguished from one another using, for example, a transaction ID for each payment request in step S33.

[0037] When the billing management unit 41 of the billing target device 3 receives the payment result from the reader 11, it notifies the operation control unit 7 of the result (step S13). If the payment is complete, the operation control unit 7 provides the service according to the user's selection. For example, the operation control unit 7 starts a game in the mode selected by the user, or continues the game the user is playing, or grants the user an item purchased by the user. If the payment is unsuccessful, the operation control unit 7 executes, for example, a predetermined error process.

[0038] FIG. 6 shows the procedure for the process when the manager of the store 2 manipulates the device management information data D10 using the setting terminal PC13. When the manager launches the web browser of the setting terminal PC13 and specifies the URL of the management page of the administration PC12, the setting terminal PC13 requests the administration PC12 to access the management page (step S51). In response to this, the setting management unit 46 of the administration PC12 transmits the data of the management page to the setting terminal PC13 (step S61). When the manager updates the setting value of the device management information data D10 for any of the chargeable devices 3 using the setting terminal PC13, the updated information is provided from the setting terminal PC13 to the administration PC12 (step S52). In response to this, the setting management unit 46 of the administration PC12 updates the device management information data D10 in accordance with the updated information (step S62). Next, the setting management unit 46 transmits the updated device management information data D10 together with the store code to the server system 20 (step S63). In response to this, the transaction control unit 34 of the server system 20 updates the equipment management information data D10 stored in the management PC information data D7 in correspondence with the store code with the new data D10 provided from the management PC 12 (step S71).

[0039] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be modified as appropriate. Modifications will be described below in order. In the above embodiment, the charge management unit 41 of the charge target device 3 notifies the reader 11 of the fee as charging information, and the administration PC 12 determines the consumption amount corresponding to the fee. However, instead, in step S12 of FIG. 5, the charge management unit 41 of the charge target device 3 may output the charge item and quantity as charging information, and in step S31, the transaction control unit 44 of the administration PC 12 may calculate the consumption amount of virtual currency according to the charge item and quantity. In this case, information describing the correspondence between the charge item and the consumption amount of virtual currency per item (unit consumption amount) may be stored as setting information in the device management information data D10 in the storage unit 45.

[0040] It is also possible to have the reader 11 determine the consumption amount of virtual currency (including discount processing) by distributing the device management information data D10 to each reader 11 and storing it in the memory of the reader 11. However, it is also possible to provide the consumption amount determined by the reader 11 to the management PC 12, have the management PC 12 perform the discount processing, and instruct the reader 11 on the final consumption amount. Note that in the above-described embodiment, the reader 11 is connected to the charge target device 3 so as to be able to communicate bidirectionally, and information is taken in from the charge target device 3 to the reader 11, but a conventional reader, i.e., a reader that notifies the charge target device 3 of a payment completion signal without reading information from the charge target device, may be used for at least some of the charge target devices.

[0041] The determination of the amount of virtual currency consumed and the discount process can also be performed by the server system 20. In this case, since the setting information data D10 of the administration PC 12 is recorded in association with the store code in the administration PC information data D7, and the details of the payment process are also recorded in the consumption information data D4, the store system 10 can request payment from the server system 20 by attaching transaction information specifying the store code, device ID, card ID, and billing information, and can then use the data D4 and D7 to determine the amount of consumption and perform the discount process. An example of the processing procedure is shown in FIG. 7. In this example, when the information management unit 42 of the reader 11 executes steps S21 and S22 and notifies the administration PC 12 of the card ID, device ID, and billing information, the transaction control unit 44 of the administration PC 12 adds the device ID to the notified information to generate transaction information, and a payment request is made to the transaction control unit 34 of the server system 20 with this information (step S33a). In response, the transaction control unit 34 accesses the management PC information data D7 corresponding to the store code, identifies the device management information data D10 corresponding to the store code and the device ID, and determines the virtual currency consumption amount corresponding to the billing information according to the setting information included in the data D10 (step S31a). Next, the transaction control unit 34 performs a discount process by referring to the discount information included in the data D10 identified in step S31a (step S32a), and determines the final virtual currency consumption amount. Furthermore, the transaction control unit 34 executes a settlement process using the card ID provided by the management PC 12 and the billing information acquired from the management PC 12, and consumes the balance of virtual currency held by the user (step S41). Thereafter, the transaction control unit 34 notifies the management PC 12 of the result of the settlement process (step S42). The result is sequentially notified from the management PC 12 to the billing management unit 7 of the billing target device 3 (steps S34, S25). After receiving the result of the payment process, the transaction control unit 34 of the server system 20 records the details of this payment process in the transaction information data D3 and the consumption information data D7 (step S43).

[0042] 7, the consumption information data D4 from the server system 20 is used instead of the payment history information data D11 from the management PC 12, so management of the payment history information in the management PC 12 can be omitted. If the consumption information data D4 from the server system 20 is imported into the management PC 12 in step S32 of FIG. 5, management of the payment history information in the management PC 12 can be omitted. When the management PC 12 sequentially records the details of the payment process in the payment history information data D11, the data D11 is limited to the details of the payment process corresponding to charges incurred at the store 2, and the satisfaction of the discount conditions is determined based on the user's consumption situation at the store 2. However, when the consumption information data D4 from the server system 20 is used, the consumption situations at other stores 2 can also be taken into account when determining whether a discount is applicable. For example, it is possible to refer to the consumption information data D4 of multiple stores 2 associated with the same business entity, determine whether a user has consumed a certain amount or more of virtual currency on the first chargeable device 3 in a group of those stores 2, and if the certain amount or more has been consumed, provide a discount on all of the second chargeable devices 3 installed in that group of stores 2. Alternatively, it is also possible to provide a discount on the second chargeable device 3 regardless of the store 2 if the user has consumed a certain amount or more of virtual currency on the first chargeable device 3 in any store 2, without referencing the store code. Note that the management PC 12 essentially functions as an in-store server for each reader 11 in the store 2, but if the functions implemented in the management PC 12 are installed in the server system 20, management on a store-by-store basis can be achieved without providing a management PC 12 in the store 2.

[0043] In the above embodiment, the discount conditions are set in association with the amount of virtual currency consumed by the user. However, instead of or in addition to this, the discount conditions can also be set in association with the number of consumptions. Furthermore, by referencing the transaction date and time included in the payment history information data D11 or the consumption information data D4, the discount conditions may be satisfied when the user uses the chargeable device 3 at the store 2 for the first time within an appropriate period (e.g., one day, one week, or one month). Alternatively, the discount conditions may be satisfied when the user uses the chargeable device 3 a certain number of times or more consecutively at the store 2 or a group of stores 2 associated with the same business entity. The consumption status may be determined based on the amount consumed, the number of consumptions, whether it is the first consumption, the number of consecutive consumptions, the frequency with which the user consumes virtual currency, the average amount consumed by the user within a predetermined unit period, etc.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the reader 11 is directly attached to the chargeable device, such as the chargeable device 3. However, the reader 11 may be physically separated from the chargeable device, as long as it is connected to the chargeable device's control unit for bidirectional communication, thereby enabling it to receive charge information and notify the result of the payment process. The reader 11 may be attached to the chargeable device 3 so as to be integrated with the chargeable device 3 at the time of its manufacture, or may be attached as a so-called retrofit device after its manufacture. In the payment system 1 of this embodiment, the chargeable device 3 must be equipped with a program for configuring the charge management unit 41, and retrofitting the chargeable device 3 requires modification. However, it is sufficient to add to the chargeable device 3 a function that extracts charge information, i.e., the fee to be charged or the charge items and quantity, from a control unit necessary for the original operation control of the chargeable device 3, such as the operation control unit 7, and provides it to the reader 11, and receives the result of the payment process from the reader 11 and notifies the control unit of the chargeable device 3. This modification requires a relatively small burden.

[0045] While the above embodiment uses a prepaid, thin-client payment system as an example, the payment system of the present invention is not limited to this and can also be applied to postpaid payment systems. The payment system of the present invention can also be applied to payment systems that record a monetary balance on a medium such as a card and use that balance information to make a payment. Even when balance information is recorded on a medium such as a card, the present invention can also be applied to payment systems in which the balance information is read by an information reading terminal device, monetary value is consumed from the balance on an in-store management PC or server system, and the balance information after consumption is written back to the medium such as a card. In this case, the payment reference information obtained from the medium includes not only medium identification information such as a card ID, but also balance information, etc., obtained from the user's medium as payment reference information. On the other hand, in a payment system in which balance information is not recorded on a medium but is stored on the server side, it is sufficient to obtain the information necessary to identify the balance information on the server (the card ID in the above embodiment) from the medium as payment reference information. The content of the payment process can also be appropriately modified depending on the type of payment system.

[0046] Furthermore, the payment system of the present invention does not necessarily have to be a server-client type payment system. For example, in the above-described embodiment, if the user's card 4 holds virtual currency balance information, the reader 11 or the management PC 12 determines the amount of virtual currency the user should consume and whether a discount is applicable, and based on these results, the payment process is executed between the reader 11 and the card 4, so that the payment system of the present invention can be implemented using only a computer device in the store 2.

[0047] In the above embodiment, the facility where multiple chargeable devices are installed is an amusement facility where at least one gaming machine is installed as a chargeable device and provided for paid play by users. However, the present invention is not limited to examples that apply to payments for chargeable devices installed in such facilities. Furthermore, chargeable devices such as gaming machines are not limited to those in which input / output functions for users and various arithmetic processing functions necessary for operational control in response to user operations are integrated into a single physical computer device. For example, in the case of a gaming machine, the arithmetic control necessary for the game's progress is performed on a server side, and a computer device acting as a client to the server is used as a remote control terminal device that handles input / output functions, thereby allowing multiple computers to function together as a logical gaming machine. Furthermore, gaming machines include gaming machines such as pachinko machines and pachislot machines (including slot machines). Therefore, amusement facilities also include gaming parlors where pachinko machines, pachislot machines, etc. are installed.

[0048] In the above embodiment, a discount on consumption of virtual currency at a specific chargeable device 3 is granted only when the user consumes virtual currency at another chargeable device. However, a user may also be granted a benefit in a form other than a discount. For example, in a service where points are awarded to a user based on the consumption of virtual currency at a specific store 2, valid only at the same store 2 or a group of stores 2 belonging to the same entity, and a prize (e.g., a game character product or item) is awarded to the user based on the number of points earned, a benefit may be granted to the user in the form of a certain number of points or an increased number of points in response to the fulfillment of the benefit-granting condition. Furthermore, even when a discount is offered, the determination of the discount condition and the target of the discount do not necessarily have to be based on the chargeable device. For example, a discount may be applied to a chargeable item basis, such as when a user purchases a specific item on a game machine, a discount may be applied to some or all products in a vending machine. Furthermore, the system may be provided with a means for notifying users inside or outside the store of discounts and other offers at a facility such as a store. For example, the server system 20 may transmit information indicating the discount status of each store 2 to the user terminal device 6, thereby guiding users outside the store to the store 2. Alternatively, the store 2 may be provided with a guide device or the like that notifies users of the discount status of the billable devices 3 within the store, thereby encouraging the use of the billable devices 3 and thereby increasing consumption of virtual currency at the store 2.

[0049] Various aspects of the present invention derived from the above-described embodiments and modifications will be described below. In the following description, reference numerals of the accompanying drawings will be added in parentheses to facilitate understanding of each aspect of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated forms.

[0050] A payment system (1) according to one aspect of the present invention is a payment system that executes a payment process in which a user consumes monetary value in response to the occurrence of a charge at each of a plurality of chargeable devices (3A, 3B, ... 3N), and includes a plurality of information reading devices (11) that are provided in correspondence with each of the plurality of chargeable devices, and that read payment reference information from a medium (4) held by the user as information to be referenced in the payment process, the payment reference information including medium identification information (e.g., a card ID) unique to each medium, in response to the occurrence of the charge, and a payment execution device (12, 20) that executes the payment process by referring to the payment reference information read by each information reading device, and Each of the billable devices is assigned unique device identification information (for example, a device ID), and the payment execution device is provided with a history recording means (44, S35; 34, S43) that records the details of the payment processing performed for each charge of the plurality of billable devices in payment history information (D11; D4) in association with the device identification information and the medium identification information, and a benefit granting means (44, S32; 34, S32a) that, when a user uses at least some of the plurality of billable devices, determines based on the payment history information whether the user's consumption status of the monetary value satisfies predetermined benefit granting conditions, and grants predetermined benefits to users who satisfy the benefit granting conditions.

[0051] Furthermore, a benefit management method according to one aspect of the present invention is configured to execute a payment process for having a user consume monetary value in response to the occurrence of a charge at each of a plurality of chargeable devices (3A, 3B, ... 3N), and includes a plurality of information reading devices (11) that are provided in correspondence with each of the plurality of chargeable devices, and that read payment reference information from a medium (4) held by the user as information to be referenced in the payment process, the payment reference information including medium identification information (e.g., a card ID) unique to each medium, in response to the occurrence of the charge, and a payment execution device (12, 20) that executes the payment process by referring to the payment reference information read by each information reading device, A benefit management method is applied to a payment system (1) in which unique device identification information is set for each of the chargeable devices, and includes a procedure (S35; S43) of recording the content of the payment process performed for each charge of the plurality of chargeable devices in payment history information (D11; D4) in association with the device identification information and the medium identification information, and a procedure (S32; S32a) of determining, when a user uses at least some of the plurality of chargeable devices, based on the payment history information, whether the user's consumption status of the monetary value satisfies predetermined benefit granting conditions, and granting predetermined benefits to users who satisfy the benefit granting conditions.

[0052] Furthermore, a computer program according to one aspect of the present invention is configured to execute a payment process for having a user consume monetary value in response to the occurrence of a charge in each of a plurality of chargeable devices (3A, 3B, ... 3N), and includes a plurality of information reading devices (11) provided in correspondence with each of the plurality of chargeable devices, the plurality of information reading devices (11) reading payment reference information from a medium (4) held by the user as information to be referenced in the payment process, the payment reference information including medium identification information (e.g., a card ID) unique to each of the medium in response to the occurrence of the charge, and a payment execution device (12, 20) executing the payment process by referring to the payment reference information read by each information reading device, and each of the plurality of information reading devices storing device identification information (e.g., a card ID) unique to each of the chargeable devices. A computer program for managing benefits that is applied to a payment system in which a device ID is set, and that is configured to cause at least one computer (12; 20) provided in the payment system to function as: a history recording means (44, S35; 34, S43) that records the content of the payment processing performed for each charge of the plurality of chargeable devices in payment history information (D11; D4) in association with the device identification information and the medium identification information; and a benefit granting means (44, S32; 34, S32a) that, when a user uses at least some of the plurality of chargeable devices, determines based on the payment history information whether the user's consumption status of the monetary value satisfies predetermined benefit granting conditions, and grants predetermined benefits to users who satisfy the benefit granting conditions.

[0053] According to each aspect of the present invention, the user's consumption status of virtual currency for multiple chargeable devices is recorded in the payment history information in association with the medium identification information of the medium owned by the user and the device identification information of the chargeable devices used by the user. Therefore, by setting a reward condition for the user's use of at least some of the multiple chargeable devices in association with the user's consumption status of virtual currency for a specific chargeable device (which may be one or more), it is possible to provide a service that links the charges between the multiple chargeable devices to each other and grants a reward to the user.

[0054] In the above embodiment, a combination of computer program modules for operating the administration PC 12 and the server system 20 corresponds to a computer program according to one aspect of the present invention. The computer program according to one aspect of the present invention may be provided in a state stored on a storage medium. By using this storage medium, for example, the computer program according to the present invention can be installed on a computer and executed, thereby realizing the game system of the present invention using the computer. The storage medium storing the computer program may be a non-transitory storage medium such as a CD-ROM.

[0055] In one aspect of the present invention, the reward granting means may grant the reward in association with charges for at least some of the plurality of chargeable devices (for example, chargeable device 3B in FIG. 4). According to this, when a user uses at least some of the chargeable devices, the payment history information is referenced to determine whether the user's consumption status satisfies a predetermined reward granting condition, and if so, some kind of reward can be granted for the charge for the chargeable device that the user is about to use. For example, a reward can be granted, such as a discount on part or all of the amount of virtual currency that the user should consume for using the chargeable device.

[0056] The reward condition may be set in association with the consumption of the monetary value corresponding to a charge at a first chargeable device selected from the plurality of chargeable devices (e.g., chargeable device 3A in FIG. 4 ), and the reward granting means may grant the reward in association with a charge at a second chargeable device selected from the plurality of chargeable devices and different from the first chargeable device (e.g., chargeable device 3B in FIG. 4 ). In this way, if a user consumes virtual currency at the first chargeable device so as to satisfy the reward condition, the user can receive a reward associated with a charge at the second chargeable device when using the second chargeable device thereafter. This creates a synergistic effect between the use of the first and second chargeable devices, motivating the user to use these chargeable devices.

[0057] Furthermore, the plurality of chargeable devices may be configured as business devices installed in a predetermined facility (2) by a predetermined business entity, and the first chargeable device and the second chargeable device may be selected from a group of chargeable devices installed in the same facility or a group of chargeable devices installed in multiple facilities associated with the same business entity. In this way, a benefit associated with the charging of the chargeable devices is granted within the scope of the same business entity. Therefore, settlements and other transactions related to the granting of benefits between multiple business entities can be prevented, and the work required for accounting can be reduced.

[0058] The facility may further be provided with a benefit setting means (46, S62) for changing at least one of the benefit conditions and the content of the benefit, so that the benefit conditions and the content of the benefit can be appropriately changed according to the convenience of the business entity or operator of the facility.

[0059] A payment system according to one aspect of the present invention may further include a billing management means (41, S12) provided in the billable device for generating and outputting billing information for determining the details of the billing in response to the occurrence of the billing. In this case, the information reading device reads the payment reference information from the medium in response to the output of the billing information from the billing management means, and the payment execution device may be provided with consumption amount determination means (44, S31; 34, S31a) for determining the amount of monetary value to be consumed by the user in response to the billing information output from the billing management means in accordance with setting information for a correspondence relationship between the details of the billing determined based on the billing information and the amount of monetary value to be consumed by the user, and payment execution means (44, 34, S33, S41; 44, 34, S33a, S41) for executing the payment process based on the payment reference information and the determination result of the consumption amount determination means, and the bonus granting means may grant the bonus by reducing the amount of monetary value determined by the consumption amount determination means. According to this, even if there are differences in the configuration of each billing target device, by providing a billing management means in each device and having it output billing information, the amount of monetary value to be consumed by the user can be determined based on the billing information, and if predetermined conditions for granting a special benefit are met, the amount of consumption can be reduced and a special benefit can be granted to the user. Therefore, even if the devices do not support discounts, etc., that are linked to each other, it is possible to determine discounts, etc. during the payment processing on the payment execution device side.

[0060] In a payment system according to one aspect of the present invention, each of the plurality of information reading devices may be configured as a device physically separate from the billable device and attached to the billable device in a state capable of communicating with the billable device. This allows the information reading device to be configured as a separate device from the billable device, and information reading terminal devices can be attached not only when the billable device is manufactured, but also to existing billable devices that are already in operation. Furthermore, by adding a function to an existing billable device that detects billing details and generates billing information, payment processing can be performed according to the present invention using the billing information extracted from the billable device and the payment reference information read by the information reading device.

[0061] In a payment system according to one aspect of the present invention, at least some of the plurality of chargeable devices may be gaming machines, which allows the gaming machines in an amusement facility where the gaming machines are installed to be linked with each other or with other chargeable devices to provide benefits to users. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1. Payment system 2 stores (amusement facilities) 3A, 3B Chargeable equipment (amusement machines) 4. Card (a medium held by the user) 7. Operation control section 10 Store System 11 Reader (information reading terminal device) 12 Management PC 13 Setting terminal PC 14 Contractor terminal PC 15 Router 16 In-store LAN 17 Wireless LAN Access Point 20 Server System 31 Transaction Management System 32 Currency Control System 33 Accounting System 34 Transaction control unit (payment execution means, consumption amount determination means) 41 Charge management unit (charge management means) 44 Transaction control unit (consumption amount determination means, payment execution means) 46 Setting management unit (benefit setting means)

Claims

[Claim 1] A payment system that executes a payment process that causes a user to consume monetary value in response to a charge generated on a chargeable device, a plurality of information reading devices provided in association with the plurality of chargeable devices, each of which reads payment reference information from the medium in response to the occurrence of the charge, the payment reference information including unique medium identification information stored for each medium associated with the user, which is referenced in the payment processing; a payment execution device that executes the payment process by referring to the payment reference information read by the information reading device, unique device identification information is set for each of the plurality of information reading devices, The payment execution device includes: a history recording means for recording items to be charged in a payment process performed for each of the plurality of chargeable devices in payment history information in association with the device identification information and the medium identification information; a reward granting means for granting a reward to a user who has been determined to have satisfied a reward condition for the item to be charged in the payment process in association with the use of the first chargeable device; the reward condition is set in association with consumption of a monetary value at a second chargeable device for a first chargeable item associated with the first chargeable device; Payment system.

Images