Unified Point Management System for Cross-Currency Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in managing multiple point plans from different businesses, with points often expiring unused due to complexity and international transactions, leading to waste and inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
A point management system that allows for the exchange of points across different point plans and foreign currencies through a network system, utilizing currency exchange rates and specifying exchange conditions, enabling customers to determine if and how to exchange points for other valuables like electronic money or digital tickets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If users accumulate points from multiple different point plans, then the total value of points increases, but the complexity of managing multiple cards and exchange conditions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate point plans into a single integrated point management system. Users can accumulate points from various businesses (department stores, supermarkets, airlines, etc.) into one unified account, eliminating the need to manage multiple separate cards and their respective exchange conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides universal point accumulation and exchange functionality across different businesses and currencies. A single point account can store points from multiple sources and exchange them for various valuables including foreign currency, making the system adaptable to diverse point plans and use cases.
2Reliability
If users set expiration dates for accumulated points, then businesses can control point validity, but points may expire unused causing waste
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary exchange platform that mediates between point holders and point recipients. When points are approaching expiration, the system enables automatic or facilitated exchange for foreign currency or other valuables, preventing waste while maintaining business control over point validity periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by proactively notifying users when points are approaching expiration and automatically facilitating exchange before the expiration date. This preliminary intervention ensures points are utilized before becoming void, preventing waste while maintaining controlled validity periods.
3Adaptability or versatility
If users exchange points for foreign currency, then international usage flexibility increases, but exchange rate fluctuations and transaction complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service foreign currency exchange where users can automatically exchange points for foreign currency based on current exchange rates. The platform handles exchange rate calculations, currency conversion, and transaction processing automatically, reducing complexity while maintaining international flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts exchange parameters (exchange rates, conversion ratios) based on current market conditions. By automatically updating these parameters, the system maintains accurate and fair exchange values while simplifying the user experience, allowing flexible international usage without manual parameter management.
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided a point management system and a point management method allowing effective use of points acquired by a customer, etc., and prevention of a waste in points. Therefore, exchange for various points or points having acquired a digital ticket is possible, exchange using foreign currency is possible, and the number of points desired to be traded for each type of currency, and a rate as a standard for exchange of each type of currency to one point are displayed on an exchanging currency selection screen. A standard number of points converted to one US dollar, one European euro, and one Chinese yuan, for example, is displayed, making it easy to understand transaction conditions under succeeding sales transaction status. Moreover, for example, point exchange conditions are displayed as a list and confirmed, thereby allowing specification of one's own exchange conditions, and allowing exchange of points etc. based on specification of accepted exchange conditions.