JP7708690B2 - Point card linkage device and program - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a point card linkage device and program.

When paying at a store with a credit card, a point service is provided that allows you to earn (award) points by presenting a point card separate from the credit card to the store. Generally, the amount of the purchase is converted into points, and the converted points are associated with the presented point card and accumulated (stored). The accumulated points can be used for services such as receiving a discount equivalent to the amount of the points the next time you shop.

By presenting a point card at a store, points are awarded and discount services can be received. If a point card has not been issued (if you do not have a point card in the first place), points will obviously not be awarded and you will not be able to receive point services. Also, even if a point card has been issued (if you already have a point card), if you do not have the point card with you when using your credit card (typically because you have left the point card at home), points will not be awarded and you will not be able to receive point services.

Patent Document 1 discloses a system in which, when shopping with a credit card, sales information including the product transaction code, credit card number, and store number is sent from the store to a payment company host, which then sends it from the payment company host to a point service server. If you pay with a credit card, you can earn points without having to present your point card at the store.

JP 2014-137811 A

Compared to credit cards, the types of point cards that can be used are often determined by each store. With the system described in Patent Document 1, points can be accumulated on a type of point card that has already been issued, but it is not possible to know the types of point cards that have not yet been issued but on which a large number of points can be accumulated.

The purpose of this invention is to make it possible to know the type of unissued point card that has not yet been issued, but which could have accumulated many points if it had been issued.

The invention also aims to make it possible to add points later, even in cases where point providers require the presentation of a point card as a condition for granting (earning) points.

The point card linkage device according to the first invention includes sales information receiving means for receiving cashless sales information including a cashless payment means identification code, a transaction date, a member store identification code, and a payment amount from a member store terminal device, a first search means for searching for an affiliated point card of a member store identified by the member store identification code, a second search means for searching for an issued point card identified by the identification code of the cashless payment means, a first management means for managing earned points granted to the affiliated/issued point card together with sales information by the cashless payment means when the affiliated point card found by the first search means matches the issued point card found by the second search means, and a second management means for managing virtual earned points granted if there is a match together with sales information by the cashless payment means when the affiliated point card found by the first search means does not match the issued point card found by the second search means.

This invention also provides a program for causing a computer device to function as a point card linkage device according to the first invention.

Cashless sales information is sent from the affiliated store terminal device and received by the receiving means. Cashless payment means include, for example, credit cards, electronic money, debit cards, mobile wallets, and any payment means that is prepaid, deferred, or immediate.

Affiliated stores equipped with affiliated store terminal devices also support point card services. When an affiliated point card is presented, points according to the amount of money spent are awarded to the presented point card, allowing the user to earn points.

According to the first invention, cashless sales information including the identification code of the cashless payment means, the transaction date, the affiliated store identification code, and the payment amount is received, so if the type of affiliated point card of the affiliated store is managed in association with the affiliated store identification code, it is possible to search (identify) the affiliated point card of the affiliated store based on the received affiliated store identification code. Also, if the type and number of an issued point card corresponding to a specific cashless payment means or held by the cardholder is managed in association with the identification code of the cashless payment means, it is possible to search (identify) the issued point card and number corresponding to a specific cashless payment means or held by the cardholder based on the identification code of the cashless payment means received.

If the affiliated point card matches the issued point card, the points earned according to the amount paid using the cashless payment method are awarded to the affiliated/issued point card. Points can be earned even if the point card is not carried. On the other hand, if the affiliated point card does not match the issued point card (including cases where no point card has been issued (held)), the virtual earned points that would have been awarded if there had been a match are managed together with the sales information from the cashless payment method.

According to the first invention, for an unissued point card, the points that could have been earned if the point card had been issued are managed as virtual earned points. The virtual earned points are managed together with sales information from the cashless payment means, so in addition to the purchase history using the cashless payment means, the user can be informed of points that could not be earned because the point card was not issued (but could have been earned if the card had been issued). For example, data for displaying the virtual earned points managed by the second management means on a screen can be created and transmitted in response to a request from the user. This can be a strong motivation for issuing a new point card.

In one embodiment, the screen display data created by the virtual acquired points display data creation means further displays an issue button for issuing a new unissued point card corresponding to the virtual acquired points. This makes it easier to issue a new point card.

The point linking device according to the second invention includes sales information receiving means for receiving cashless sales information including the identification code of the cashless payment means, the transaction date, the affiliated store identification code, and the payment amount from the affiliated store terminal device, a first search means for searching for an affiliated point card of an affiliated store identified by the affiliated store identification code, a second search means for searching for an issued point card identified by the identification code of the cashless payment means, a point card presentation determination means for determining whether the affiliated/issued point card has been presented or not when the affiliated point card found by the first search means matches the issued point card found by the second search means, a first management means for managing the acquired points given to the affiliated/issued point card together with the sales information by the cashless payment means when it is determined that the affiliated/issued point card has been presented, and a second management means for managing the unacquired points that would have been given if the affiliated/issued point card had been presented together with the sales information by the cashless payment means when it is determined that the affiliated/issued point card has not been presented.

This invention also provides a program for causing a computer device to function as a point card linkage device according to the second invention.

According to the second invention, when a point card has already been issued (is in possession of) but the card is, for example, left at home, unearned points that are different from earned points are managed.

Preferably, the point linking device according to the second invention includes an unearned points display data creation means for creating data for displaying on a screen the unearned points managed by the second management means and an acquisition button for converting the unearned points to acquired points. Even if points cannot be acquired at a store because the point card is not carried, the unearned points can be converted to acquired points at a later date, which is more convenient than a point card in which points cannot be acquired unless the point card is actually presented at the store.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a point card linkage system. 2 shows a member master database provided in the payment processing device. 1 shows an affiliated store master database provided in a payment processing device. 2 shows a transaction management database provided in the payment processing device. 3 shows a member master database provided in the point management device. 3 shows a point management database provided in the point management device. 13 is a flowchart showing a process of the payment processing device. 13 is a flowchart showing a process of the payment processing device. The new point card issuance screen is shown. 13 is a flowchart showing a process of a payment processing device according to another embodiment. The point retrofit screen is shown.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the general configuration of the point card linkage system.

The point card linkage system includes an affiliated store terminal device 10, a payment processing device (server) 20, and point management devices (servers) 30A to 30C.

The affiliated store terminal device 10 is a terminal device installed in a store that has an affiliated store contract with a credit card company. The affiliated store terminal device 10 reads the card information from either the magnetic storage area or the IC chip (or both) of the credit card 40. The amount paid using the credit card 40 is debited from the account 61 of the credit card member identified by the card information read.

The affiliated store terminal device 10 also has a function for reading the barcode (not shown) printed on the point card 50. Points according to the amount paid using the credit card 40 are awarded to one point card identified by the barcode printed on the point card 50.

The affiliated store terminal device 10 is realized by a computer device equipped with a control unit, a communication unit, an input unit, a display unit, a memory unit, a code reader, etc., and can read information recorded on the credit card 40 and the point card 50 as described above.

The affiliated store terminal device 10 is connected to the payment processing device 20 via a network (e.g., the Internet). When the credit card 40 and the point card 50 are presented at the store (affiliated store terminal device 10), the information read from the credit card 40 and the point card 50 is transmitted from the affiliated store terminal device 10 to the payment processing device 20 via the network.

As will be described later, you can earn points without necessarily presenting your point card 50 at the store. More details on this will be provided later.

The payment processing device 20 makes an advance payment to the store that provided the product or service, and bills (debits) the credit card member who received the product or service. Generally, the payment is paid by the payment processing device 20 to the affiliated store account 62 on the day the product or service is provided, and the payment is debited from the member account 61 at a later date (for example, the month after next). The payment processing device 20 is also realized by a computer device equipped with a control unit, a communication unit, an input unit, a memory unit, etc.

The memory unit of the payment processing device 20 stores a member master database 21, an affiliated store master database 22, and a transaction management database 23. Details of these databases 21 to 23 will be described later.

The payment processing device 20 is connected to the point management devices 30A to 30C via a network (e.g., the Internet). Data is sent and received between the payment processing device 20 and the point management devices 30A to 30C via the network. The point management devices 30A to 30C are also realized by a computer device equipped with a control unit, a communication unit, an input unit, a display unit, a memory unit, etc.

Each of the multiple point management devices 30A to 30C represents a management device corresponding to a different type of point card 50. When a specific type of point card 50 is presented at the affiliated store terminal device 10, data is sent to the point management device corresponding to that type.

A member master database 31a and a point management database 32a are stored in the memory section of each of the point management devices 30A to 30C. Details of these databases 31a and 32a will be described later.

Figures 2 to 4 show schematic diagrams of the member master database 21, the affiliated store master database 22, and the transaction management database 23, respectively, stored in the memory unit of the payment processing device 20.

Referring to FIG. 2, the member master database 21 stores, for each credit card 40, the credit card number (credit cards are written as "C cards" in FIG. 2, etc.), the name of the credit card holder, the type of issued point card (point cards are written as "P cards" in FIG. 2, etc.) and number, etc.

A credit card member can issue one or more types of point cards 50, and for credit card members (card holders) who have issued multiple types of point cards 50, the types and numbers of the multiple issued point cards 50 can be stored in the member master database 21. The types and numbers of the issued point cards 50 held by the credit card member are registered using a registration screen (not shown) prepared by the operating company of the credit card 40, and these are associated with the credit card number and stored in the member master database 21.

Referring to FIG. 3, the affiliated store master database 22 stores the affiliated store ID, affiliated store name, affiliated point card, etc. for the affiliated stores of the credit card 40.

The affiliated point card stores the type of point card 50 that can be used at the affiliated store. There may be one type of affiliated point card 50 for each affiliated store, or multiple types.

Referring to FIG. 4, the transaction management database 23 stores the usage record of the credit card 40. The transaction management database 23 stores the credit card number, the date of usage, the affiliated store ID where the credit card 40 was used, the name of the product (service) transacted, the amount, the point card information (point card type and number, or point card type) used when the credit card 40 was used, the points acquired, etc.

When a product or the like is purchased using the credit card 40, earned points are awarded according to the amount of the purchase, and are registered in the transaction management database 23. Furthermore, even if a point card has not been issued, the points that would have been awarded if a point card had been issued (called "virtual earned points") are also stored in the transaction management database 23. In this case, as shown in the bottom line of the transaction management database 23, the point card number is not registered in the point card information, and only the type of point card is registered. Virtual earned points are registered in the earned points column. Virtual earned points refer to points that could have been earned if the holder of the credit card 40 identified by the credit card number had not issued (held) a point card affiliated with the affiliated store identified by the affiliated store ID, but had issued (held) one. These points are stored in the transaction management database 23 in a manner that can be distinguished from normal earned points (when a point card has already been issued).

Figures 5 and 6 show schematic diagrams of the member master database 31a and the point management database 32a, respectively, stored in the memory unit of the point management device 30A.

Referring to FIG. 5, the member master database 31a stored in the memory unit of the point management device 30A stores the point card number, the name of the point card member, etc.

Referring to FIG. 6, the points management database 32a stores points (acquired points) that are awarded when a product or the like is purchased. Acquired points are associated with the point card number, date, purchase store, product name, amount, etc., and are stored in the points management database 32a.

When you receive a discount equal to the amount of your points, negative points will be recorded in the earned points column.

Figures 7 and 8 are flowcharts showing the processing flow of the payment processing device 20 in the point card linkage system.

When a product or the like is purchased using a credit card 40, sales information is sent from the affiliated store terminal device 10 to the payment processing device 20, which receives it (step 71). The sales information sent from the affiliated store terminal device 10 to the payment processing device 20 includes the credit card number, date, affiliated store ID, product name, and amount, and is stored in the transaction management database 23 (Figure 4) described above in the payment processing device 20.

The payment processing device 20 that has received the sales information searches for the type of affiliated point card of the affiliated store identified by the affiliated store ID based on the affiliated store ID included in the sales information (step 72). The affiliated store master database 22 (Figure 3) described above is used to search for the type of affiliated point card.

Then, the payment processing device 20 searches for the type of issued point card for the credit card member (cardholder) based on the credit card number included in the sales information (step 73). The member master database 21 (Figure 2) described above is used to search for the issued point card.

It is then determined whether there is a match between the affiliated point cards found by the search and any issued point cards (step 74).

If a matching affiliated point card and issued point card are found, the payment processing device 20 sends transaction information including the point card number, date, store name, product name, and amount to the point management device (here, point management device 30A) corresponding to the type of the matching point card (YES in step 74, step 75). The point card number used is the one stored in the member master database 21 in association with the card number of the credit card 40 used. Based on the received transaction information, the point management device 30A grants points according to the amount to the specific point card number and stores them in the point management database 32a (Figure 6).

The points awarded by the point management device 30A are transmitted from the point management device 30A to the payment processing device 20, which receives them (step 76). In addition to the points, the point management device 30A also transmits to the payment processing device 20 information identifying which of the multiple sales information stored in the transaction management database 23 the point card number corresponds to. In the payment processing device 20, the received point card number is associated with the above-mentioned sales information and registered (stored) in the transaction management database 23, and the received points are further registered in the transaction management database 23 as earned points (step 77).

If the affiliated point card and the issued point card do not match, typically when the credit card holder 40 has not issued (does not own) an affiliated point card for the store where the product or other item was purchased, the payment processing device 20 sends the transaction information (date, store name, product name, amount) excluding the point card number to the point management device (point management device 30B) for the affiliated point card of the store where the credit card 40 was used (NO in step 74, step 81).

The point management device 30B, which receives the transaction information that does not include the point card number, calculates the virtual earned points that could have been obtained if the cardholder of the credit card 40 had issued an affiliated point card, and transmits the calculated points to the payment processing device 20. The payment processing device 20 receives the virtual earned points and registers them in the transaction management database 23 (steps 82, 83). As described above, the virtual earned points are stored in the transaction management database 23 in a manner that makes them distinguishable from normal earned points (see the bottom line of Figure 4).

The virtual earned points can be checked in response to a request from the holder of the credit card 40. When a request (which typically includes a credit card number and password) is sent from the holder of the credit card 40, new point card issuance screen data is created in the payment processing device 20 (or a separate device that cooperates with the payment processing device 20) and sent to the device (personal computer, smartphone, etc.) used by the holder of the credit card 40 (step 84).

Figure 9 shows an example of a new point card issuance screen 86 displayed based on the new point card issuance screen data.

The new point card issuance screen 86 displays the points that could have been earned if a point card had been issued, based on the point card information and virtual earned points stored in the transaction management database 23. The screen in FIG. 9 shows the points that could have been earned (the virtual earned points described above) if the holder of a specific credit card number (here, "Tenkyo Taro") had not issued (unissued) point cards B, X, and Y, along with the type of unissued point card. A "new issue" button 87 is provided for each type of unissued point card, and clicking or tapping this button 87 transitions to a new issuance screen (not shown) for a specific type of point card. When a new point card is issued via the new point card issuance screen 86, the type and number of the point card should be newly stored in the member master database 21 of the payment processing device 20.

In this way, the member (cardholder) of the credit card 40 can earn points without carrying the point card 50 by linking the point card 50 to the credit card 40. In addition, the member can learn the types of unissued point cards that have not yet been issued but that could have accumulated a lot of points if they had been issued.

Figure 10 corresponds to Figure 7 and is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the payment processing device 20 in a point card linkage system of another embodiment. Figure 11 shows a points post-addition screen that can be displayed by the holder of the credit card 40 in a point card linkage system of another embodiment that operates according to the flowchart shown in Figure 10.

In the point card linkage system shown in Figures 1 to 9, even if the holder of the credit card 40 does not present the point card 50 at the store, as long as the holder has issued (possessed) the point card 50, points can be earned even if the holder does not carry the card. The point card linkage system shown in Figures 10 and 11 requires the presentation of the point card 50 at the store to earn points, but allows points that were not earned because the point card 50 was not presented to be earned at a later date. In Figure 10, the same processes as those of the payment processing device 20 shown in Figure 7 are given the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations will be omitted.

If a matching affiliated point card and issued point card are found (YES in step 74), it is further determined whether the point card 50 has been presented (whether the barcode of the point card 50 has been read) (step 78).

When the point card 50 is presented to the affiliated store terminal device 10 (when the barcode on the point card 50 is read), transaction information including the point card number is sent to the point management device of the presented point card 50, and the acquired points granted in the point management device are sent from the point management device to the payment processing device 20 and received. In addition to sales information, the point card number and acquired points are stored in the transaction management database 23 of the payment processing device 20 (YES in step 78, steps 75A, 76, 77).

If the credit card 40 holder has issued (held) an affiliated point card 50, but is unable to present the point card 50 to the affiliated store terminal device 10, for example because the holder has left the point card 50 at home (not carried), the transaction information (date, store name, product name, amount) excluding the point card number is sent to the point management device of the matching affiliated point card and the issued point card 50 that has not been presented (not carried) (step 75B). The point management device calculates the unearned points so that they can be distinguished from the points normally earned (when the point card is presented at the store), and this is sent from the point management device to the payment processing device 20 and stored (registered) in the transaction management database 23 (step 91).

In response to a request from the cardholder of the credit card 40, the points post-addition screen data is sent from the payment processing device 20 to the cardholder's device (step 92).

Figure 11 shows an example of the points addition screen 95.

The points addition screen 95 displays unearned points that have already been issued (held) but that could not be earned because an affiliated point card was not presented at the store, based on unearned points that are stored in the transaction management database 23 so as to be distinguishable from normal earned points. An "Earn" button 96 is provided for each unearned point, and when button 96 is clicked or tapped, the unearned points are converted into earned points (unearned points are treated as earned points in the transaction management database 23 of the payment processing device 20 and in the point management database 32a of the point management device). This is convenient because, while the presentation of the point card 50 is the principle for awarding points, points can be earned afterwards.

10. Merchant terminal device
20 Payment processing device (point card linked device)
21, 31a Member Master Database
22 Merchant Master Database
23 Trade Management Database
30A, 30B, 30C Point management device
32a Point Management Database
40 Credit Card
50 Points Card

Claims (4)

a sales information receiving means for receiving cashless sales information including an identification code of the cashless payment means, a transaction date, an affiliated store identification code, and a payment amount from the affiliated store terminal device;
A first search means for searching for the type of affiliated point card of the affiliated store identified by the affiliated store identification code;
A second search means for searching for the type of issued point card identified by the identification code of the cashless payment means;
a first management means for managing earned points to be given to the affiliated/issued point card when the type of the affiliated point card found by the first search means matches the type of the issued point card found by the second search means, together with sales information from the cashless payment means ;
a second management means for managing the virtual earned points that would have been awarded if the type of the affiliated point card found by the first search means did not match the type of the issued point card found by the second search means, together with sales information from the cashless payment means ;
a virtual earned point display data creating means for creating data for displaying on a screen the virtual earned points managed by the second management means,
The screen display data created by the virtual acquired point display data creation means displays the virtual acquired points granted for each type of unissued point card if the type of affiliated point card found by the first search means matches the type of issued point card found by the second search means.
Point card linkage device. The screen display data created by the virtual acquired points display data creating means further displays an issue button for newly issuing an unissued point card corresponding to the virtual acquired points.
The point card linkage device according to claim 1 . The screen display data created by the virtual earned points display data creation means displays the virtual earned points granted during a predetermined period for each type of unissued point card if the type of affiliated point card found by the first search means matches the type of issued point card found by the second search means.
The point card linkage device according to claim 1. A computer device,
a sales information receiving means for receiving cashless sales information including an identification code of the cashless payment means, a transaction date, an affiliated store identification code, and a payment amount from the affiliated store terminal device;
A first search means for searching for the type of affiliated point card of the affiliated store identified by the affiliated store identification code;
A second search means for searching for the type of issued point card identified by the identification code of the cashless payment means;
a first management means for managing earned points to be given to the affiliated/issued point card when the type of the affiliated point card found by the first search means matches the type of the issued point card found by the second search means, together with sales information from the cashless payment means ;
a second management means for managing the virtual earned points that would have been awarded if the type of the affiliated point card found by the first search means did not match the type of the issued point card found by the second search means, together with sales information from the cashless payment means ;
a program for causing the virtual earned points management device to function as a virtual earned points display data creation device for creating data for displaying the virtual earned points managed by the second management device on a screen;
The created screen display data displays the virtual earned points that would be awarded if the type of the found affiliated point card matches the type of the found issued point card, for each type of unissued point card.
program.