JP7691379B2 - Information processing device - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to an information processing device that performs information processing using credit card usage information.

Patent document 1 discloses a payment system equipped with a purchase data control means that transmits credit card usage information to a cloud server and processes unprocessed purchase data stored in the cloud server for payment.

JP 2020-160835 A

However, the system disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not disclose the use of credit card usage information for purposes other than payment.

Therefore, in one aspect, the present invention aims to provide an information processing device that can effectively use credit card usage information for purposes other than payment.

(1) In one aspect, an information processing device includes: a storage unit that stores registration information of each user who is a credit card member;
a determination unit that determines whether a location of a credit card used by a user based on the credit card usage history of the user is farther away from an address or residence based on the registration information of the user than a predetermined standard;
The present invention is characterized in that it further includes a processing unit that, when the determination unit determines that the location of use is located away by more than the predetermined standard, executes a predetermined process related to the area to which the location of use belongs in association with the one user.

(2) In the above aspect, preferably, the predetermined process includes a first notification process for notifying a device of a specific person related to a disaster area of information about the one user when the area belongs to a disaster area of a disaster that has occurred.

(3) In the above aspect, it is preferable that the system further includes a second notification process for notifying the one user of information regarding evacuation if the area is part of a disaster area where a disaster has occurred.

(4) In the above aspect, the processing unit preferably executes the notification process based on the usage history within a predetermined period immediately prior to the time when the disaster occurred.

(5) In the above aspect, the predetermined process preferably includes a process of outputting predetermined information indicating the living conditions of the one user in the area to which the region belongs.

(6) In the above aspect, preferably, the processing unit is characterized in that it enables output of the specified information for verifying the actual living situation when there are a specified number or more of the usage locations belonging to the area, or when the number of times the usage location has been used is a specified number or more.

(7) In the above aspect, the predetermined process preferably includes a process of associating information useful for life in the area to which the region belongs with the one user.

(8) In the above aspect, the information is preferably characterized in that it relates to public services in the area to which the region belongs.

In one aspect, the present invention makes it possible to effectively use credit card usage information for purposes other than payment.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a process of a determination unit. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of history data. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a process for providing local information to a user. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing user information to others. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing user information to others.

Each embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an information processing device in this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing device 10 of this embodiment includes a memory unit 11 that stores the registration information of each user who is a credit card member, a determination unit 12 that determines whether the user's location of use based on the user's credit card usage history and the address or residence based on the user's registration information are separated by a predetermined standard or more, a processing unit 13 that, when the determination unit 12 determines that the location is separated by the predetermined standard or more, executes a predetermined process related to the area to which the location of use belongs in association with the user, and an output enablement determination unit 14 that, when appropriate, enables the output of predetermined information to prove the actual living situation.

As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing device 10 of this embodiment is connected to the Internet 70 and other communication lines, and this communication line is connected to payment terminals 30 at stores in various regions and a payment center 50. The information processing device 10 is configured as a device managed by, for example, a credit card company.

Furthermore, each payment terminal 30 is provided with a function for transmitting usage information to a data server 20 managed by a credit card company, and a communication function for exchanging information with the information processing device 10. Such functions of the payment terminal 30 can be obtained by implementing a specific application software (program) in the payment terminal 30. With such application software, for example, when a user uses multiple credit cards, the usage information can be transmitted only to the data server 20 of the credit card company corresponding to the credit card used.

In FIG. 1, for convenience, the information processing device 10 is depicted as a single device (server) connected to the Internet 70, but some of the functions of the information processing device of the present invention may be allocated to the payment terminal 30. In addition, some of the functions of the information processing device of the present invention may be provided in both the information processing device 10 and the payment terminal 30 shown in FIG. 1.

The personal information of a user who is a credit card member is stored in the credit card company's data server 20 as registration information when applying for a credit card. The credit card registration information includes the user's address or residence. The address or residence is registered during the initial registration when the user begins using the credit card, but can be changed at any time based on the user's notification.

When a user who is a credit card member uses a credit card at a specific store, the payment terminal 30 at that store acquires the amount used and other information read from the credit card, and usage information including store information identifying the user and the store, the time of use, and the amount used is transmitted from the payment terminal 30 to the payment center 50 via a communication line.

In addition, this usage information is also sent from the payment terminal 30 via a communication line to the credit company's data server 20 and stored as a usage history.

Furthermore, when a user who has received the user registration described below uses a credit card, the information processing device 10 can obtain the usage history of the user who has received the user registration from the data server 20.

Next, the functions of the memory unit 11 will be explained.

A user who receives a service related to the information processing device 10 of this embodiment can receive the service by user registration. The registration information of the user who has received user registration is stored in the memory unit 11. The registration information stored in the memory unit 11 can be obtained from the credit card registration information stored in the data server 20, but in addition to or as a replacement for this, it can also be obtained from the user at the time of user registration or after user registration.

The registration information stored in the memory unit 11 includes a user ID that identifies the user, and an address or residence associated with the user ID. The memory unit 11 also includes contact information for the user, such as the telephone number of the user's mobile device and an email address. The address or residence may be updated in the information processing device 10 based on the frequency of use of the area described below, a behavioral history based on the location information (GPS information) of the user's mobile device, etc.

The application software (programs) required to receive services related to the information processing device 10 are pre-installed on the user's mobile terminal.

Next, the operation of the determination unit 12 will be described.

Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating the processing of the determination unit. This processing can be executed periodically, for example.

In step S102 of FIG. 2, the determination unit 12 determines whether there is new usage information for the selected user who has been registered based on the usage history of the data server 20, and if the determination is positive, the process proceeds to step S104, and if the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S106.

In step S106, the determination unit 12 selects the next user who has registered and proceeds to step S102.

In step S104, the determination unit 12 obtains usage information of the specified user from the usage history of the data server 20.

In step S108, the determination unit 12 acquires the usage area, which is the area of the store where the credit card was used, from the usage information acquired in step S104. The usage area is, for example, a city, town, or village in which the store where the credit card was used is located, but it may also be a larger area (for example, a prefecture) or a smaller area. A plurality of usage areas defined from different perspectives may be associated with a store.

In step S110, the determination unit 12 accesses the registration information in the memory unit 11 and obtains the address or residence of the specified user.

In step S112, the determination unit 12 compares the area of use acquired in step S108 with the user's address or residence acquired in step S110, and determines whether the area of use matches the user's address or residence. If the determination is positive, the determination unit 12 proceeds to step S106, and if the determination is negative, the determination unit 12 proceeds to step S114.

In step S114, the determination unit 12 determines whether all users have been selected, and if the determination is positive, the process ends, and if the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S116.

In step S116, the determination unit 12 accumulates certain information from the usage information acquired in step S104 as history data 80 in the information processing device 10, and proceeds to step S106.

Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the data structure of history data. In this example, history data 80 includes a user ID that identifies a user, a usage time that is the time when the user used a credit card, and the above-mentioned usage area.

As described above, the history data 80 accumulates and updates credit card usage history in areas that do not match the user's address or residence.

Next, the operation of the processing unit 13 will be described.

The processing unit 13 provides the user with specific regional information based on the history data 80.

For example, when a disaster occurs in a certain area, local disaster-related information, such as evacuation information such as evacuation maps, can be provided to users who have used their credit cards in that area. In addition, local information provided by local governments, businesses, stores, etc., such as various announcements from local governments and neighborhood associations, information on tourism, festivals, and other events, advertisements from businesses and stores, and privileges to use the card can be provided to users who have used their credit cards in that area.

Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process for providing local information to a user.

In step S202 of FIG. 4, the processing unit 13 selects one piece of regional information to be provided to the user. In the following, an example of regional information is evacuation information to be provided to the user when a disaster occurs in a specific region.

In step S204, the processing unit 13 identifies the area corresponding to the area information selected in step S202. For example, this corresponds to the area where a disaster occurred.

In step S206, the processing unit 13 searches the history data 80 to extract specific users (user IDs) to whom disaster-related information is to be provided, based on the area of use and the time of use. For example, the processing unit 13 extracts users who used their credit card in the area identified in step S204 during a specific period, for example, immediately before or after the disaster occurred. In addition, for example, the processing unit 13 extracts users whose area where they last used their credit card (last area of use) matches the area where the disaster occurred.

In step S208, the processing unit 13 provides evacuation information to the user extracted in step S206. Here, for example, the processing unit 13 acquires the mobile terminal phone number and other contact information of the corresponding user from the storage unit 11, and transmits the evacuation information to the acquired contact information.

In step S210, the processing unit 13 determines whether all regional information has been selected, and if the determination is positive, the processing ends, and if the determination is negative, the processing proceeds to step S212.

In step S212, the processing unit 13 selects the next area information to be provided to the user and proceeds to step S204.

The processing unit 13 also provides information about the user to others based on the history data 80.

For example, if a disaster occurs in an area where a user has used a credit card, user information about that user can be provided to a specific person related to the disaster area, such as the corresponding local government. This enables the local government to confirm the safety of that user. For example, the user's personal information obtained when applying for a credit card includes information such as a telephone number that will make it easy to contact the user. Therefore, user information can be used as effective information for confirming the safety of the user.

Furthermore, for example, based on the usage history of a user using a credit card in a certain area, user information proving that the user actually lives in that area can be provided to others, such as the local government of that area.

Figures 5 and 5A are flowcharts illustrating a process for providing user information to others. Figure 5 shows an example of providing user information to the local government in the event of a disaster.

In step S302 of FIG. 5, the processing unit 13 identifies the area where the disaster occurred.

In step S304, the processing unit 13 searches the history data 80 and extracts users who are likely to have been in the area where the disaster occurred, i.e., the area identified in step S302, at the time of the disaster or immediately after the disaster, based on the area of use and the time of use. Here, the processing unit 13 extracts, for example, users who used their credit card immediately before or immediately after the disaster. Also, for example, the processing unit 13 extracts users whose area where they last used their credit card (last area of use) matches the area where the disaster occurred.

In step S306, the output permission determination unit 14 identifies, from among the users extracted in step S304, users who have consented to the provision of their user information, and the items of user information for which provision has been consented, based on the output permission data 81 (Figure 1) stored in the information processing device 10.

In step S308, the processing unit 13 provides the user information identified by the output permission determination unit 14 in step S306 to the local government, and ends the process. Here, for example, the processing unit 13 obtains the telephone number and other contact information of the corresponding user from the storage unit 11, and transmits them to an information management device of the local government, etc., so that the person in charge of the local government and the disaster manager can view them.

As described above, the processing unit 13 can provide user information on the premise of the user's consent. In this case, the user's intention, i.e., whether or not the user consents to the provision of user information, can be registered in advance in the output permission data 81 and reflected in the operation of the processing unit 13 (steps S306 to S308). The user can specify the recipients to whom the user information is provided and the items of user information that the user has consented to using the output permission data 81, and user information is provided only to recipients that the user has consented to and for items that the user has consented to. This allows the user to control their own user information.

Next, FIG. 5A illustrates a process in which a user provides user information about the user's actual living situation to the local government in the area where the user lives. The process in FIG. 5A is executed, for example, at regular intervals.

In step S402 of FIG. 5A, the processing unit 13 selects one user from the users registered in the storage unit 11.

In step S404, the processing unit 13 accesses the history data 80 and obtains the usage area of the selected user.

In step S406, the processing unit 13 extracts areas where the credit card was used with a certain frequency or more during a specified period, based on the usage areas acquired in step S404. For example, the processing unit 13 may enable the output of specified information to prove the actual living situation when there are a specified number or more usage locations belonging to the area, or when the number of usages at a usage location is a specified number or more. The specified number and the method of setting the specified number may differ for each municipality, depending on the request of the municipality.

In step S408, the output permission determination unit 14 determines, based on the output permission data 81, whether or not the selected user has consented to providing user information about the actual living situation to the local government of the area extracted in step S406. If the determination is affirmative, the output permission determination unit 14 proceeds to step S410, and if the determination is negative, the output permission determination unit 14 proceeds to step S412.

In the output permission data 81, the user's intention, i.e., whether or not the user consents to providing user information, is registered in advance.

In step S410, the processing unit 13 provides user information related to the actual living conditions to the local government of the area extracted in step S406, and proceeds to step S412. The user information related to the actual living conditions includes, for example, information indicating that the user is actually living in the area, and personal information identifying the user. The user can specify the recipients to whom the user information is provided and the items of the user information that the user has consented to using the output permission data 81, and the user information is provided only to recipients that the user has consented to and for the items that the user has consented to. This allows the user to control their own user information.

In step S412, the processing unit 13 determines whether all users have been selected, and if the determination is positive, the processing ends, and if the determination is negative, the processing proceeds to step S414.

In step S414, the processing unit 13 selects the next user from the users registered in the storage unit 11 and proceeds to step S404.

In this way, the process shown in Figure 5A allows users to provide user information about their actual lifestyle to local governments.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide the user with information about the area in which the store is located based on the information about the store that was visited.

For example, if a person's place of residence and place of work are far apart, information about the area of the address can be obtained from local governments or acquaintances, but information about the area of the place of work may be difficult to obtain. Even in such a case, according to this embodiment, information about the area is provided to the user based on usage information of a credit card used in the area of the place of work. It is also possible to provide necessary information to users whose living area on weekdays when they are working is different from their living area on weekends.

In addition, if the user travels on a business trip or vacation away from their place of residence, information about that area is provided to the user based on credit card usage information for that area. As described above, if a disaster occurs in that area, disaster-related information, such as evacuation information, is provided to the user, allowing the user to ensure their own safety. In addition, the user can obtain useful information about the area visited on a business trip or vacation.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, user information on the user's actual living situation is provided to the local government of a certain area based on credit card usage information in the area. For example, the actual living situation in the area, such as eating and drinking, purchasing groceries, and daily necessities, is indicated by the credit card usage history. Therefore, the user information on the user's actual living situation can be presented to the local government as proof of the existence of a living base and activities in the area. For example, when the existence of a living base and activities in the area is required as a requirement for using various public services of the local government, such as a library, the user information on the actual living situation can be provided to the local government. Therefore, for example, even a user who does not have a resident registration in the area can use the service. Since the credit card usage information indicates that a payment was made at a physical store and the location cannot be disguised, the user information on the actual living situation of the user can be used as information that functions like a certificate indicating that the user is actually living in the area.

Collaboration with the local government can ensure smooth provision of services by the information processing device 10. For example, the information processing device 10 of this embodiment can be connected to the server of the local government via a communication line such as the Internet, and information from the local government can be provided to users, or user information can be provided to the local government via the communication line. Also, for example, when a disaster warning is issued by the local government, the information processing device 10 can quickly grasp the warning, which can be useful for providing evacuation information, etc.

Furthermore, the area in which a credit card can be used need not be limited to the area in which the physical store is located, but may also include the area related to the goods or services purchased with the credit card. For example, when a product produced in a certain area is purchased or when a lodging facility is used in a certain area, that area may be treated as the area of use.

The information processing device 10 of this embodiment may be equipped with an information collection function that acquires the latest information on the area to which the location of use belongs, for example, from a local government server or a corporate server. The information collection function may vary the timing of information collection based on the time of use information and location information. For example, in areas where there is an emergency, necessary information can be acquired quickly by increasing the frequency of information collection. Furthermore, the information processing device 10 of this embodiment may be equipped with an information provision request function that requests information from the area to which the location of use belongs, for example, a local government server or a corporate server. This allows necessary information to be acquired in a timely manner when there is insufficient information or in the event of an emergency.

Although each embodiment has been described in detail above, it is not limited to a specific embodiment, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the claims. It is also possible to combine all or some of the components of the above-mentioned embodiments.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Information processing device 11 Storage unit 12 Determination unit 13 Processing unit 14 Output permission determination unit

Claims (8)

A storage unit for storing registration information of each user who is a credit card member;
a determination unit that determines whether a location of a credit card used by a user based on the credit card usage history of the user is farther away from an address or residence based on the registration information of the user than a predetermined standard;
a processing unit that, when the determination unit determines that the location of use is located away by more than the predetermined standard, executes a predetermined process related to an area to which the location of use belongs in association with the one user. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined process includes a first notification process for notifying a device of a specific person related to a disaster area of information about the one user when the area belongs to a disaster area of a disaster that has occurred. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined process includes a second notification process for notifying the one user of information regarding evacuation when the area belongs to a disaster area of an occurring disaster. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the processing section executes the predetermined process based on the usage history within a predetermined period immediately preceding a time when the disaster occurs. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the predetermined process includes a process of outputting predetermined information indicating the living conditions of the one user in the area to which the region belongs. The information processing device according to claim 5, wherein the processing unit enables output of the specified information for verifying the actual living situation when there are a specified number or more of the use locations belonging to the area, or when the number of times the use location has been used is a specified number or more. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the predetermined process includes a process of associating information useful for life in the area to which the region belongs to the one user. The information processing device according to claim 7, wherein the useful information is related to public services in the area to which the region belongs.