JP4208585B2 - Point system using portable information terminals - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a point system that generates points based on a commercial transaction between a customer and a store and performs customer service according to the accumulated points, and in particular, by using a mobile information terminal owned by the customer, The present invention relates to a point system using a portable information terminal designed to improve convenience and service for customers.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, in various commercial facilities, points are generated according to the transaction price in conjunction with the business transaction between the customer and the store, and when the total of the points reaches a certain level, gifts and points are provided to the customer. A point system that provides services such as discounts is implemented as one of customer services.
[0003]
Such a point system is generally a system in which a card is issued from a store to a customer who has registered as a member, and points generated in association with a commercial transaction are recorded on the card (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-15376
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional point system using a card, in order for the customer to receive the point service at the store, the customer must always have the card. If there is no card when a new point is generated by purchasing a product, the point service cannot be received with the conventional point system, or the store's certificate is written on the receipt etc. with an expiration date. It was necessary to bring the card within the expiry date and present it to the store along with the certificate.
[0006]
The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned problems, and a portable information terminal owned by a customer can be temporarily used as a substitute for a card so that a customer can receive point services without always having a card. An object is to provide a point system using a portable information terminal.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
For this reason, the invention according to claim 1 corresponds to the recording medium provided to the customer from the system operator and capable of storing the points generated based on the commercial transaction and having unique ID information, and the point generation process and the exchange process. Recording medium processing means for updating the points of the recording medium, and management means for managing the update point information for each storage medium in association with the ID information based on processing data of the recording medium processing means. In the point system, a program incorporating a lottery function that is provided by a system operator and activated when the number of points of the portable information terminal reaches a predetermined number by the presentation of the portable information terminal owned by the customer. Installed from the recording medium processing means to give the portable information terminal a point information processing function and from the recording medium processing means The point is transmitted to the portable information terminal, and the transmitted point is managed by the management unit. When the customer presents the recording medium and the portable information terminal, the point of the portable information terminal is based on the management data of the management unit. The point is transferred to the recording medium side, the point of the recording medium is updated, and the point transfer processing means for transmitting the update data to the management means is provided.
[0008]
In such a configuration, when a customer who does not have a recording medium such as a card provided by the system operator receives the point service, the point is transmitted to the portable information terminal owned by the customer. At this time, a point processing program incorporating a lottery function provided by the system operator is installed on the portable information terminal on the spot. Thereby, the transmitted point is memorize | stored in a portable information terminal. Further, the point data transmitted to the portable information terminal is managed by the management means. After that, when the customer presents the portable information terminal and the recording medium in which the points are stored, the point of the portable information terminal is transferred to the recording medium side based on the management data of the management means, and the points on the recording medium are updated. To do. Thereby, even if the customer does not have a recording medium normally used for receiving the point service, the customer can use the portable information terminal to receive the point service without fail. In addition, by incorporating a lottery function that is activated when the number of points reaches a predetermined number in the point processing program installed in the portable information terminal, it is possible to provide additional points, products, etc. according to the lottery result.
[0009]
Specifically, as described in claim 2, the recording medium processing means adds point identification information to points generated based on a commercial transaction and transmits the point identification information to the portable information terminal and transmits it to the management means. The point transfer processing means acquires the ID information of the recording medium presented by the customer, the point of the portable information terminal and the point identification information, collates with the management data of the management means, and when the acquired information exists, the portable information terminal It is preferable that the point is transferred to the recording medium side and updated.
[0010]
Further, as in claim 3, when the portable information terminal receives the point and the point identification information, the portable information terminal returns identification information unique to the portable information terminal to the recording medium processing means, and the recording medium processing means A configuration may be adopted in which identification information unique to the portable information terminal is transmitted to the management means together with the point and the point identification information.
[0011]
In such a configuration, since the portable information terminal that has transmitted the point can be specified, even if another portable information terminal that has copied the point information is presented, the point transfer process is not performed, and the point can be prevented from being copied.
[0012]
Further, as in claim 4, the portable information terminal returns the installed program-specific identification information to the recording medium processing means when receiving the point and point identification information, and the recording medium processing means Even if the program-specific identification information is transmitted to the management means together with the point and the point identification information, the portable information terminal that has transmitted the point can be specified, so that copying of the point can be prevented.
[0013]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the recording medium processing means may be configured to transmit date and time information for managing the expiration date of points to the portable information terminal and management means in addition to the points and point identification information.
[0014]
With such a configuration, it is possible to facilitate the customer to perform the process of transferring the points stored in the portable information terminal to the recording medium within the expiration date.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the management means may be configured to delete the acquired information from the management data when the management data and acquired information from the portable information terminal are collated.
[0015]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, when the customer presents the recording medium and the portable information terminal, the point transfer processing means adds the point identification information to the point of the recording medium and transfers the point to the portable information terminal side. It is good to set it as the structure provided with the function which transmits the transfer data to the said management means while updating the point of the said portable information terminal.
[0016]
In such a configuration, the point on the recording medium side can be transferred to the portable information terminal side.
As in claim 8, when providing points according to extract election result, the point of the portable information terminal, may be configured to update by adding the number of points obtained by the lottery result lottery previous points .
[0017]
As in claim 9, or when the recording medium is a card-like recording medium.
As in claim 10 , a plurality of recording medium processing means and point transfer processing means respectively connected to the management means are connected, and the processing results of the plurality of recording medium processing means and point transfer processing means are collectively managed by the management means. It may be configured.
[0018]
In such a configuration, the customer can receive point services of a plurality of stores with one recording medium.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a point system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0020]
In FIG. 1, the point system can store points in a portable information terminal 2 owned by a customer via a card processing device 1 installed in, for example, a store that sells products as an operator of the point system. In addition, the point stored in the portable information terminal 2 can be transferred to a point card 3 as a recording medium which is issued from the store to the customer and recorded with unique ID information (for example, individual membership number of the customer). It is. Here, in the present embodiment, an example of a point card using a card-like recording medium, for example, a contact-type magnetic card as a recording medium will be described. However, the card-like recording medium is not limited to a magnetic card, but a non-contact type. It may be an IC card or the like, or a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone or PDA, as long as it has an information storage function.
[0021]
For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the card processing apparatus 1 includes a controller 11, a management data storage unit 12, a card processing unit 13, an operation unit 14, a communication control unit 15, and a display unit 16. The controller 11 executes various processes in this apparatus according to a predetermined program. Specifically, it is stored in the mobile information terminal 2 or the point card 3, a process for transmitting points generated in the commercial transaction to the mobile information terminal 2, a point transfer process for transferring the points of the mobile information terminal 2 to the point card 3. This is point information management processing. The management data storage unit 12 temporarily stores the point information transmitted to the portable information terminal 2 and stores the point information of all issued point cards 3 under the control of the controller 11. The card processing unit 13 reads, writes, and updates point information with respect to the point card 3 inserted into the apparatus under the control of the controller 11. The operation unit 14 inputs various instructions for performing a point service according to the transaction, processing mode (reading / writing point information with respect to the point card, update processing mode, point information transmission processing mode to the portable information terminal and point This is for performing a selection command of the transition processing mode and the like. The communication control unit 15 is for controlling communication between the portable information terminal 2 and the controller 11, and transmits and receives information by, for example, infrared communication. The display unit 16 displays the operation content of the operation unit 14, the processing result, and the like. The card processing apparatus 1 has functions of a recording medium processing unit, a management unit, and a point transfer processing unit.
[0022]
The card processing device 1 can be connected to peripheral devices such as a printer for printing point information after processing and a terminal device of a point system, which is the same as in the case of an existing card processing device.
[0023]
The portable information terminal 2 may be any one that can arbitrarily install and execute a program and can transmit and receive data, such as a cellular phone and a PDA. When used in this system, a program incorporating a lottery function, which will be described later, provided from a store that is a system operator is installed. The program is installed by downloading from the card processing apparatus 1 installed in the store.
[0024]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
When the customer registers as a member, the point card 3 is issued to the customer. When a commercial transaction such as purchasing a product at a store is performed, points corresponding to the transaction price are generated according to a preset point conversion rate. When the customer possesses the point card 3, the generated points are stored in the point card 1 possessed by the customer using the card processing device 1 installed in the store.
[0025]
Specifically, when the card processing device 1 detects that the customer's point card 1 is inserted into the card processing unit 13, the card processing unit 13 stores the company stored in the point card 3 in accordance with an instruction from the controller 11. The code is read to confirm whether or not the point card 1 is a card issued by the own store, and ID information (for example, a membership number) and point information are read. Further, when the details of the current transaction are input by the store clerk or the like through the operation unit 14, the controller 11 calculates points corresponding to the transaction price, and newly generated current points (cumulative points) read from the point card 3. Add the points. Then, in response to a command from the controller 11, the card processing unit 13 rewrites the current point stored in the point card 3 with the addition point and updates the point information. In addition, the point data corresponding to the read ID information is rewritten to the added point data calculated this time from the point data stored in the management data storage unit 12 in association with the ID information of each point card 3 for each customer. The Thereby, the latest point data of each customer is stored in the management data storage unit 12 and managed.
[0026]
When a product is purchased at a store and points are generated, but the customer does not have the point card 3, the store clerk selects the transmission processing mode to the portable information terminal 2 by using the operation unit 14 and carries the product to the customer. Prompt the presentation of the information terminal 2. If the portable information terminal 2 is presented, the controller 11 controls the communication control unit 15 to start communication with the portable information terminal 2 and transmits the generated point information and the point information identification ID to the portable information terminal 2. . The portable information terminal 2 stores the received point information and point information identification ID in association with each other. In this case, the portable information terminal 2 needs to be installed with a point information processing program provided from a store, and is installed using the card processing device 1 on the spot. In the card processing device 1, the data transmitted to the portable information terminal 2 is stored in the management data storage unit 12 in association with the point information and the point information identification ID under the control of the controller 11. Thereby, since the customer can memorize | store point information in the portable information terminal 3, even when he forgets the point card 3, he can receive point service, without wasting the generated point.
[0027]
Next, point transfer processing for transferring points from the portable information terminal 2 to the point card 3 which is a feature of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0028]
When the customer who has the portable information terminal 2 storing the points visits the store with the point card 3, the point of the portable information terminal 2 is transferred to the point card 3. In this case, the customer presents the point card 3 and the portable information terminal 2 to the store side. Accordingly, the clerk selects the point shift processing mode by the operation unit 14, the operation of the transfer points control shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is executed by the controller 11 of the card processing device 1.
[0029]
In step 1 (indicated by S1 in the figure, the same shall apply hereinafter), it is determined whether or not the point card 3 has been inserted.
In step 2, after reading the company code stored in the point card 3 and confirming that it is a legitimate card, the point information and ID information (for example, membership number) of the point card 3 are read.
[0030]
In step 3, communication control unit 14 is controlled to start communication with portable information terminal 2.
In step 4, the point information and the point information identification ID are received from the portable information terminal 2. On the portable information terminal 2 side, when the point information and the point information identification ID are transmitted to the card processing device 1, these data are deleted.
[0031]
In step 5, the received data and the card data are collated with the management data stored in the management data storage unit 12. When the collation operation in step 5 is executed, in step 6, if there is received data, the data is deleted.
[0032]
In step 7, it is determined whether or not the collation result in step 5 is OK. If the ID data and the received data of the point card 3 exist as management data in the management data storage unit 12, it is determined that the verification is OK, and the process proceeds to step 8. If an error occurs in the subsequent processing, the erased data is restored.
[0033]
In step 8, the point received from the portable information terminal 2 is added to the point read from the point card 3, and the point stored in the point card 3 is rewritten to the added point and updated. Thereby, the point memorize | stored in the portable information terminal 2 is transferred to the point card 3 side.
[0034]
In step 9, the point data stored in the management data storage unit 12 in association with the ID information read in step 2 is rewritten with the addition points calculated in step 8, updated and stored.
[0035]
According to the point system of the first embodiment, even when the point card 3 is forgotten, points generated by purchasing the product can be obtained, and the convenience of the customer who wants to receive the point service can be improved. Further, the customer does not waste points, and the service for the store customer can be improved.
[0036]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same element as 1st Embodiment.
The configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, so that points can be stored in the portable information terminal 2 via the card processing device 1 and the portable information terminal 2 stores the points. The point can be transferred to the point card 3. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the card processing device 1 receives identification information unique to the portable information terminal (for example, the serial number of the portable information terminal) when communicating with the portable information terminal 2. is there.
[0037]
Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the hardware configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and only the operation of the card processing device 1 during the point transfer process is different.
[0038]
Since the case where the customer has the point card 3 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description is omitted.
When the customer does not have a point card 3, communication is started between the card processing device 1 and the portable information terminal 2, and a point information identification ID is added from the card processing device 1 side to the portable information terminal 2. The process until the point information is transmitted is the same as in the first embodiment. In 2nd Embodiment, if the portable information terminal 2 receives the information from the card processing apparatus 1, the portable information terminal 2 will return manufacturing number information to the card processing apparatus 1 as its identification information. The card processing device 1 stores the point information and point information identification ID transmitted to the portable information terminal 2 in association with the received manufacturing number information in the management data storage unit 12.
[0039]
Next, the point transfer process in the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
Steps 11 to 13 and 16 to 19 are the same as Steps 1 to 3 and 6 to 9 in FIG.
[0040]
In the second embodiment, in step 14, ID information (manufacturing number information) of the portable information terminal 2 is received from the portable information terminal 2 in addition to the point information and the point information identification ID.
[0041]
In step 15, the received data and the card data are collated with the management data stored in the management data storage unit 12. In other words, in the second embodiment, the ID information of the portable information terminal 2 is collated in addition to the point information and the point information identification ID, and the currently communicating portable information terminal previously stored the points. Check if it is the same as the portable information terminal. If they are the same, it is determined as YES in Step 17, but if they do not match, it is determined as NO in Step 17, and the point transfer process is terminated and the points are not transferred.
[0042]
According to the second embodiment, the point information stored in the portable information terminal 2 can be copied to another portable information terminal by managing the data in addition to the unique ID information of the portable information terminal 2 to obtain a point card. It is possible to prevent fraudulent behavior that is shifted to 3.
[0043]
In addition, as ID information for identifying the portable information terminal 2, a unique number is added to the program provided from the store, and the number of the program installed in the portable information terminal is returned from the portable information terminal to the card processing device 1. The structure to do may be sufficient.
[0044]
In the first and second embodiments, date information for expiration date management is added to the point information stored in the portable information terminal 2 and the management data storage unit 12, and for example, management is performed when the date (expiration date) has passed. The data may be deleted from the data storage unit 12. In this case, if the date and time information is included in the information received from the portable information terminal in the point transfer processing operation, an expiration date for transferring points to the point card 3 can be set. The point system can be operated so that the memory is temporarily processed when the point card 3 is forgotten. The same applies to the case where an expiration date is set for the program provided to the portable information terminal 2 and the program does not operate when the expiration date has passed.
[0045]
Although each said embodiment is the structure which transfers a point from the portable information terminal 2 to the point card 3, it is good also as a structure which can transfer a point from the point card 3 to the portable information terminal 2 in addition to this structure.
[0046]
In this case, when the points are transferred from the point card 3 to the portable information terminal 2, the point data corresponding to the point card 3 and the point card in the management data storage unit 12 are deleted. Further, when transmitting the point data of the point card 3 to the portable information terminal 2, the point data is newly added with point identification ID information and transmitted, and the management data storage unit 12 stores the new ID. The point data transmitted in association with the information is stored and managed.
[0047]
According to such a configuration, for example, when a family owns a plurality of point cards, after the point data is transferred to one portable information terminal, the point data in the portable information terminal is transferred to any one point card. For example, you will be able to collect points owned by your family.
[0048]
In each of the embodiments described above, a lottery function that is activated when the number of points reaches a predetermined number is incorporated in the program installed in the portable information terminal 2 . Extraction election function is activated, if the lottery result so that can be exchanged for displaying items on the display unit of the portable information terminal in the case of winning, by moving the point data of a plurality of points card to the portable information terminal, Lottery can be done at an early stage, and customer service can be improved. When the lottery result is serviced with points instead of products, the points obtained by the lottery may be automatically added to the points stored in the portable information terminal. Thereby, the added points can be transferred to the point card side.
[0049]
In addition, it is also possible to incorporate a prize function into a program installed in the portable information terminal 2 so that a predetermined point can be exchanged for a product. Furthermore, it is possible to incorporate a quiz function in a program installed in the portable information terminal 2 and perform a quiz with a program downloaded from the card processing device, and give points and add when the answer is correct.
[0050]
In each of the above embodiments, the card processing apparatus 1 is configured to have a data management function. However, a host computer 20 is provided as in the third embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. The processing device 1 may be communicably connected, and the point data processed by each card processing device 1 may be collectively managed by the host computer 20.
[0051]
In this case, since the point data processed by each card processing device 1 is transmitted to the host computer 20 and stored and stored in a memory in the host computer 20, the management data storage unit in each card processing device 1 12 becomes unnecessary, and the host computer 20 has a function of a management means. Needless to say, each card processing device 1 has a processing function similar to that of the first embodiment or the second embodiment except that the management data storage unit 12 is not required.
[0052]
According to such a configuration, a point system can be used in which a single point card can be used in common by a plurality of stores. For example, a point system of the present invention can be introduced by becoming a member store in a shopping district.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the point information can be stored in the portable information terminal by installing the program provided by the system operator in the portable information terminal by presenting the portable information terminal owned by the customer. Because it is configured so that customers can receive point services even if they do not have a point information recording medium issued by the system operator, the store side can also provide point services to customers who have forgotten to have a recording medium. Can be provided. Therefore, the convenience on the customer side and the service on the store side can be improved. In addition, by installing a lottery function that starts when the number of points reaches a predetermined number in the program to be installed, it is possible to provide the customer with services such as addition points and products according to the lottery result. Provide additional services that lead to sales promotion.
[0054]
In addition, when the point information is transmitted to the portable information terminal, the point information in the portable information terminal is managed by returning the information for identifying the transmitted portable information terminal and managing the point information transmitted to the portable information terminal. Unauthorized copying of information can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a point system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a card processing device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a point transition mode processing operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a point system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Explanation of]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Card processing apparatus 2 Portable information terminal 3 Point card 11 Controller 12 Management data storage part 13 Card processing part 14 Operation part 15 Communication control part 20 Host computer

Claims (10)

A recording medium provided to a customer by a system operator and capable of storing points generated based on a commercial transaction and having unique ID information, and a recording medium for updating points of the recording medium in accordance with point generation processing and exchange processing In a point system comprising processing means and management means for managing the update point information for each recording medium in association with the ID information based on processing data of the recording medium processing means,
From the recording medium processing means, a program incorporating a lottery function that is provided by a system operator and activated when the number of points of the portable information terminal reaches a predetermined number by the presentation of the portable information terminal owned by the customer. While installing and giving a point information processing function to the portable information terminal, transmitting points from the recording medium processing means to the portable information terminal, managing the transmitted points with the management means,
When the customer presents the recording medium and the portable information terminal, the point of the portable information terminal is transferred to the recording medium side based on the management data of the management means, the point of the recording medium is updated, and the update data is updated. A point system using a portable information terminal, comprising point transfer processing means for transmission to the management means. The recording medium processing means adds point identification information to a point generated based on a commercial transaction and transmits it to the portable information terminal and transmits it to the management means,
The point transfer processing means acquires the ID information of the recording medium presented by the customer, the point of the portable information terminal and the point identification information, collates with the management data of the management means, and when the acquired information exists, the portable information The point system using the portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein the point of the terminal is transferred to the recording medium side and updated.   When the portable information terminal receives the point and the point identification information, the portable information terminal returns identification information unique to the portable information terminal to the recording medium processing unit, and the recording medium processing unit includes the portable information terminal together with the point and the point identification information. The point system using the portable information terminal according to claim 2, wherein the terminal-specific identification information is transmitted to the management means.   When the portable information terminal receives the point and the point identification information, it returns identification information unique to the installed program to the recording medium processing unit, and the recording medium processing unit includes the program together with the point and the point identification information. The point system using a portable information terminal according to claim 2, wherein the identification information is transmitted to the management means.   The recording medium processing unit is configured to transmit date and time information for managing an expiration date of points to the portable information terminal and management unit in addition to the points and point identification information. A point system using the portable information terminal described in 1.   The mobile device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the management unit is configured to delete the acquired information from the management data when a verification process of the management data and the acquired information from the mobile information terminal is performed. A point system using information terminals. When the customer presents the recording medium and the portable information terminal, the point transfer processing means adds the point identification information to the point of the recording medium and transfers the point of the portable information terminal to the portable information terminal side. The point system using the portable information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the point system has a function of performing update processing and transmitting migration data to the management unit. When providing points in accordance with the lottery result, the point of the mobile information terminal, claim 1-7 which is configured to be updated by adding the number of points obtained by the lottery result in the points of the lottery prior 1 points system using mobile information terminal according to One. The point system using the portable information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the recording medium is a card-like recording medium. 2. A configuration in which a plurality of recording medium processing means and point transfer processing means respectively provided in the management means are connected, and processing results of the plurality of recording medium processing means and point transfer processing means are collectively managed by the management means. 10. A point system using the portable information terminal according to any one of 9 above.

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