JP2001243550A - Point system by card settling and readable recording medium storing point returning program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To support the reduction of a burden on a customer in a point system and to support the improvement of efficiency in waiting on customers on the side of a store. SOLUTION: In the point system 2, when commercial transaction occurs through a cash card at a member store D, a score corresponding to the amount of transaction is stored in the score memory of each customer X so as to give it to the customer X cumulatively and a money amount corresponding to the accumulated scores is paid back to the customer X at t necessary time. Each member store D can become the member optionally and the system has plural individual point systems (global point system 21, and a house point system 22, an area point system 23 and a bank point system 24) for giving a score set to each in accordance to the amount of the transaction and has a score calculating means for calculating a score added with respective scores in the plural individual point system when the merchandise transaction occurs in the store D.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card settlement method in which a point corresponding to a transaction amount is given to a customer every time a commercial transaction is established, and an amount corresponding to the cumulative value of the points is refunded to the customer when required. The present invention relates to a readable recording medium storing a point system and a point redemption program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, each time a customer purchases a product, a point corresponding to the purchase amount is given, and the amount corresponding to the point is returned when desired, or a total of the points is set to a preset target point. There is known a so-called point system configured to give a prize when the number reaches a limit. In such a point system, usually, a retail store such as a specialty store or a mass merchandise store joins as a member of the system, and a customer is issued a point card made of a magnetic card by a contract with a dealer managing the system. On the point card, the identification symbol of the card is recorded.

[0003] Such a point system includes a computer for general management provided at a dealer side and a terminal provided at each member side.
The computer and each terminal are connected to each other via a communication line so that data can be exchanged between them.

[0004] Each time a customer conducts a commercial transaction (shopping) at a member's store, the recorded contents of the point card are read by the terminal to identify the customer, and the transaction amount via the terminal is determined. By the input, the points corresponding to the transaction amount are accumulated in the storage area of the customer in the storage device of the computer.

[0005]

Conventionally, in the above-mentioned point system, different systems exist for each type of business or each region. Therefore, even if one commercial transaction is established, the commercial transaction is not performed. Is involved in more than one system, the points must be processed for each individual system, and therefore customers must have many dedicated point cards for each system, which is inconvenient. In addition, the store side has to perform a troublesome input operation for each individual system, which has a problem that the customer service efficiency is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to appropriately give points in accordance with a plurality of point systems, thereby assisting the customer in reducing the burden. It is another object of the present invention to provide a readable recording medium storing a point system and a point redemption program by card payment, which can support the improvement of the ability to attract customers on the store side.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Each time a commercial transaction occurs via a customer card at a system member store, the points corresponding to the transaction amount are stored in the point memory for each customer so as to be cumulatively given to the customer. In a point system constructed to refund to a store, a plurality of individual point systems are provided, in which each store can arbitrarily join, and a set point is given to each of the stores according to a transaction amount.
When a commercial transaction occurs at a store that is a member of one of the individual point systems, the score in the individual point system is used. Point calculation means for calculating a point obtained by adding each point.

[0008] According to the present invention, the number of individual point systems to which the member store is affiliated is determined by the customer performing business transactions (shopping) at the store affiliated with the system using one customer card. Is calculated by the point calculation means and given to the customer.

Therefore, in the conventional point system, when different systems exist for each type of business or each region, the customer must have many point cards corresponding to each system, which is inconvenient. In addition, the store must perform different input operations for each system, eliminating the conventional inconvenience of reduced customer service efficiency, providing convenience to customers, and improving the customer service efficiency of stores. To contribute.

[0010] Each member store can arbitrarily join one or more individual point systems, and when a customer makes a purchase at a member store that is affiliated with a plurality of individual point systems, each individual store becomes a member. Since the total points obtained by adding the points of the point system are given, the points are sold, and the customers tend to shop at member stores that are affiliated with many systems.

[0011] In the first aspect of the invention, the second individual point system can be a system in which each store common to a bank is a member, and further, each store common to a region is a member. Can be something. By doing so, the chance that the customer is awarded points is increased, and the member stores that are affiliated with many individual point systems are easily selected by the customer.

Further, in the above invention, the number of points in the plurality of individual point systems may be different from each other.

[0013] The invention according to claim 6 is to accumulate points corresponding to the transaction amount to the customer each time a commercial transaction occurs at the system member store via the customer card, and to provide the amount corresponding to the point provided. In a point system constructed to refund to a customer at a required point in time, the system has a plurality of individual point systems that give points set in accordance with the transaction amount, and is affiliated with one individual point system. When a commercial transaction occurs at a particular store, the points in the individual point system are calculated. When a commercial transaction occurs at a store affiliated with a plurality of individual point systems, the points obtained by adding the respective points in the plural individual point systems are calculated. A point reduction program for calculating, accumulating the calculated points, and updating and storing the calculated points in a point memory for each customer. A readable recording medium storing beam.

According to the present invention, the readable storage medium is read by a computer prepared for adopting the point system, whereby the CP of the computer is read.
U can be formed with a function equivalent to that of the present point system, and a storage device can be formed with a memory for predetermined customer information. Immediately, the computer becomes the one for operating the point system of the present invention.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing one embodiment of a payment mechanism to which a point system by card payment according to the present invention is applied. As shown in this figure, the point system 2 based on card settlement according to the present invention comprises a system center Z interposed between banks B and C and a member store D.
And is included in the general system 1 of ordinary commercial transactions that also performs settlement operations between banks including the settlement secretariat bank A. Therefore, the comprehensive system 1 will be described before describing the point system.

As shown in FIG. 1, the integrated system 1 includes a card issuing bank B that issues a cash card Y to a customer X.
And a terminal 4 provided at each of the member stores D in which the customer X conducts commercial transactions (that is, the customer X purchases goods and receives services), and a member store in which each member store D has a transaction account. A clearing center E which intervenes between the bank C, the card issuing bank B and the affiliated bank C and arranges transaction information from the card issuing bank B and transmits it to the clearing secretary bank A; And terminal 4 of member store D
The point system 2 interposed therebetween is constructed so as to be capable of data transmission with each other via a communication line or the like. In addition, a relay center F is arranged between the system center Z and the card issuing bank B to distribute and relay data transmission on a communication line.

The point system 2 organically cooperates with the card issuing bank B, the affiliated store bank C, and the terminal 4 of the affiliated store D to exchange the cash card Y between the customer X and the affiliated store D. Each time a commercial transaction is completed, settlement work based on the payment of the customer X is smoothly performed, and points can be given to the customer X according to the transaction amount. This score indicates that customer X has traded at member store D (shopping).
To make the terminal 4 read the recorded items of the cash card Y, and is added each time the transaction amount is input,
When a predetermined score is reached, the predetermined amount is returned to the customer X as a discount of the transaction amount at the time of the transaction.

The above-mentioned settlement secretary bank A performs settlement between the two banks B and C. More specifically, the clearing manager A obtains the clearing information M1 from the clearing center E, outputs the clearing information M3 for the issuing bank to the issuing bank B, and sends the clearing information M3 for the issuing bank to the merchant bank C. This is performed by outputting information M4.

The above-mentioned card issuing bank B sends a customer X (customer X
1, X2,..., Xi,..., Xm).
As such a card issuing bank B, one or a plurality of banks B1, B participating in the operation of the point system 2
, Bn exist. Therefore, cash card Y
Is unique to each bank participating in the system, but in the point system 2, the data stored in the cash card Y and its format are made common so that any bank's cash card Y can be used. ing. The cash card Y functions as a normal cash card between the customer X and the card issuing bank B (that is, automatic cash withdrawal from an automatic teller machine (ATM)).

Such a cash card Y has, for example, a magnetic storage unit, and the card identification information for identifying the card, the owner name, the information for specifying the card issuing bank B and the account number, etc. are magnetically stored. It is recorded in.

The member store bank C has a point system 2
One or more banks C1, C2,
…, Cp, each member store D1, D2,…, Di,…,
Dq has opened an account at any of the merchant banks C, and has established a system center Z at any of the merchant banks C.
There is an account opened by. When the customer Xi makes a purchase using the cash card Y at any of the merchant stores Di, the transaction amount is deducted from the deposit account of the customer Xi at the card issuing bank B, and is transferred to the account of the merchant store Di at the merchant bank Ci. , The transaction amount is transferred based on the transfer information M4 from the clearing center E to the member store bank.

Further, from the clearing center E, of the transaction information once transmitted to the clearing center E via the card issuing bank B, the transaction information passing through the system center Z is compiled by the clearing center E. The above is returned to the system center Z as the collation information M2. Such processing is performed because the information determined in the transaction is transmitted from the clearing center E, and when the vehicle passes through the system center Z, the point assigning process and the full score in the point system 2 which have been completed are completed. This is to check whether or not the money amount return processing has been correctly performed when has become.

When the terminal 4 of the member store D outputs a transaction permission / inhibition signal M6 to the card issuing bank B (specifically, when the customer purchases the amount of goods purchased from the terminal 4), the card issuing bank B confirms the balance of the deposit account of the customer X who made the inquiry, and determines whether or not the commercial transaction is established (that is, whether or not the deposit amount is larger than the transaction amount). The availability information M7 is the terminal 4
Will be returned to you. When the deposit amount is larger than the transaction amount, the transaction process based on the information from the terminal 4 is executed as it is, while when the deposit amount is reversed, the information indicating that the commercial transaction is impossible is returned to the terminal 4, whereby the member store D In addition, the customer can immediately recognize that the commercial transaction in the point system 2 is not possible immediately before the commercial transaction is established.

The point system 2 is a member store D
By relaying the transaction information M5 of the customer X via the input device between the terminal 4 of the customer and the card issuing bank B, the contents of the transaction are grasped, and a point corresponding to the transaction amount is given to the customer X. In addition to the award, when the total score reaches a predetermined perfect score during the commercial transaction, an amount (payment amount) obtained by subtracting a predetermined return amount from the transaction amount is calculated. The calculated payment amount is separately deducted from the deposit account at the card issuing bank B of the customer X.

In the case where the amount redemption occurs at the member store D, the amount obtained by adding the return amount to the payment amount (ie, the transaction amount) is transferred from the bank account of the system center Z to the member store D at the member store bank C. It is designed to be transferred to an account.

In this embodiment, the member store D
As a result of the commercial transaction established with the customer X,
Is paid from the card issuing bank B via the system center Z to the bank account of the system center Z, that is, an account of a bank of the member store bank C (tentatively a member store bank Cp) (system center account Cp1). The payment amount and the return amount are transferred to the bank account of the member store D with which the transaction has been made. Merchant D
For example, every time a transaction using the cash card Y is completed at the affiliated store D, a predetermined percentage of the transaction amount is collected to procure funds for the return amount for the customer. The collected amount is pooled in the system center account Cp1. Other than this, it may be collected as an entrance fee or annual fee.

According to the point system 2, if the customer makes a purchase at the member store D using the cash card Y and the points awarded for the purchase have reached the full score, the transaction amount is reduced by the return money. Since the same effect can be obtained, the customer can enjoy a sense of bliss in which unexpected luck has rolled in, and the member store D side
An increase in the number of customers X due to the return money can be considered, which is effective in supporting an increase in sales.

FIG. 2 shows a point system 2 in which a plurality of points coexist.
It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating. As shown in this figure, in this embodiment, the point system 2 is provided with four individual point systems: a global point system 21, a house point system 22, an area point system 23, and a bank point system 24. These systems 21, 22, 23,
24 has the same system configuration except that the points to be given are different, for example. Therefore, the program part for operating the system can be shared.
Each circle in the schematic diagram of FIG.
23 and 24 are shown.

The global point system 21 is indicated by a large circle (range 2a). This global point system 21 is a system in which all the member stores D affiliated to the point system 2 are subscribed. Therefore, if the customer X uses the cash card Y to make a purchase of a predetermined amount or more, a predetermined point must be obtained. (Global points) are added. Note that the present invention is not limited to the case where all of the member stores D must join the global point system 21.
Membership or non-membership may be arbitrarily selected by the member store D.

The house point system 22 allows a desired member store D to join with his / her own will, and is indicated by a circle (range 2b) drawn within a range 2a. Each time a customer X purchases a predetermined amount or more using a cash card Y at a member store D subscribing to the house point system 22, a predetermined point (house point) is given and the global point is also given. You.

The area point system 23 is formed by an aggregate of member stores D (for example, a store association or a neighborhood association) organized in a region (area).
This is indicated by a circle (range 2c) drawn in a. A predetermined amount (area point) is given by the customer X shopping at a member store D subscribing to the area point system 23 at a predetermined amount or more, and the global point is also given.

The bank point system 24 is formed by banks participating in the point system 2, and is indicated by a circle (range 2d) drawn within the range 2a. Each time the customer X makes a purchase of a predetermined amount or more using the cash card Y of a bank that is a member of the point system 2, a predetermined number of points (bank points) is given and the global points are also given.

Therefore, by shopping using the cash card Y at the affiliated store D of the shopping street which is subscribed to the house point system 22 and the area point system 23, the house point and the area point are added to the global point. (The range 2b where the range 2b and the range 2c in FIG. 2 overlap each other).
e), when a customer X makes a purchase at a member store D that is a member of the area point system 23 using a cash card Y of a bank that is a member of the point system 2, the area points and the bank points become global points. The added score will be given (see range 2f where range 2c and range 2d in FIG. 2 overlap), and
When a customer X purchases at a member store D that is a member of the house point system 22 using a cash card Y of a bank that is a member of the point system 2, the points obtained by adding the bank points and the house points to the global points (See range 2g where range 2d and range 2b in FIG. 2 overlap).

Further, when the customer X makes a purchase at a member store D which is a member of the house point system 22 and the area point system 23 using a cash card Y of a bank which is a member of the point system 2, all the points are obtained. The points obtained by adding the points of the system are given (see range 2h in which all of range 2b, range 2c and range 2d in FIG. 2 overlap).

Regarding the points awarded as described above, regardless of which system the points are awarded, they are all summed to be the point of the commercial transaction, and the total of the points is set to a predetermined full point score set in advance. Is reached, the amount corresponding to the perfect score is returned to the customer X in the current business transaction. This return amount is returned to the customer X as a discount amount when the customer X purchases at the member store D.

Further, as a method of giving points, in the present embodiment, points are given in units of 1,000 yen when a purchase of more than the basic amount, for example, 1,000 yen or more is made. For example, a score equivalent to 2,000 yen is given to 2,500 yen.

Regarding the score, in this embodiment,
For a purchase of 1,000 yen, 1 point in the case of the global point system 21, 2 points in the case of the bank point system 24, 3 points in the case of the area point system 23,
In the case of the house point system 22, four points are set. Therefore, the member store D is the house point system 22,
When all of the area point system 23 and the bank point system 24 are subscribed, the affiliated store D
10 points will be awarded for the purchase of 1,000 yen.

Then, the points given each time of shopping are accumulated in the customer-specific point memory 621 (FIG. 3) in the system. In the present embodiment, the perfect score is set to 1,000 points, and the value is set to 1 yen per point. Therefore, when the cumulative score reaches 1,000 points, it is generated by shopping at that time. 1,000 yen will be deducted from the transaction amount.

In this embodiment, a lottery system 3 is constructed in addition to the point system 2. As shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 2, the lottery system 3 is required to be a member of the point system 2. That is, the lottery is automatically performed by the customer X shopping at the member store D using the cash card Y.

Then, when the lottery is won, a predetermined amount is deducted from the transaction amount of the purchase to make the payment amount, whereby the customer X benefits from the lottery. As described above, the source of the lottery is the one pooled in the system center account Cp1 opened at the member store bank Cp.

Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the point system 2 including such a winning system 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a specific configuration of the point system 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the point system 2 includes a terminal 4 provided in each member store D.
And a system center-side control device 5 provided in the system center, a card-issuing bank-side control device 6 provided in the card-issuing bank B, and a member store bank-side control device 7 provided in the member store bank C. It is provided with.

The relay center F interposed between the system center Z and each bank of the card issuing bank B performs only distribution relay of data transmission using a communication line. Since they are not directly involved in the operation, they are not shown in FIG.

The terminal 4 and the system center controller 5 are connected to each other via a communication line so that data can be exchanged. The card issuing bank control device 6 and the member store bank control device 7 are connected to a conventional control device of the settlement secretariat bank A via a communication line. The settlement business as a banking business is to be executed. Information transmitted from the clearing center E is used as information for the settlement managing bank A to execute the settlement operation.

The terminal 4 is an input device 4 for inputting transaction information.
1 and, if necessary, various information (input information input from the input device 41, information from the system center-side control device 5, and transaction enable / disable information from the card issuing bank B (this transaction enable / disable information will be described later in detail). And an output unit 42 for outputting the above-mentioned information.

The input unit 41 includes a reading unit 411 for reading magnetic recording information of the cash card Y of the customer X,
An input unit 412 for inputting transaction information such as the amount of money. The reading unit 411 is provided with a card reader 46 (FIGS. 4 and 5) described later, and the input unit 412 is provided with ten keys 44a and operation keys 44c described later. The structure of the terminal 4 will be described later in detail with reference to FIGS.

The system center side controller 5 is constituted by a computer, and has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 5.
1 and a storage unit 52 for storing a control program and various data.

The CPU 51 has a subscription system discriminating unit 511
, A point accumulating section (point calculating means) 512, an accumulated point determining section 513, a payment setting section 514, and a lottery processing section 515.
A hit determination unit 516, a transaction information output unit 517, a perfect score / hit information output unit 518, and a fund collection unit 519. The storage unit 52 has a customer-specific score memory 52.
1 is provided.

The subscription system discriminating unit 511 determines whether the customer X
Merchant D who bought with cash card Y,
This is to determine which system is subscribed.
That is, when the cash card Y is read by the reading unit 411, information (for example, machine number) of the terminal 4 and customer information are output to the system center side control device 5, and the joining system determination unit 511 outputs By referring to the stored system subscription information of the member store D, it is determined which of the house point system 22, the area point system 23 and the bank point system 24 the member store D has subscribed to. It has become.

The score accumulating unit 512 calculates the score to be given to the customer X from the transaction amount of the customer X who has made a purchase and the result of the judgment made by the joining system judging unit 511, and divides the calculation result into the value of the customer X. Are accumulated in the points stored in the customer-specific score memory 521 and updated and stored in the customer-specific score memory 521.

More specifically, for example, a customer X subscribing to the house point system 22 and the area point system 23 purchases at the member store D, and the transaction amount is 2,500 yen, and It is assumed that 950 points have been stored in the customer-specific score memory 521 of the customer X.

Then, by reading the cash card Y of the customer X by the reading unit 411, the score accumulating unit 512 determines that the customer X has received the house point system 22 and the area point system 23 based on the subscription information recorded on the cash card Y. It is determined that the customer X has a point per transaction amount of 1,000 yen, which is 4 house points, 3 area points, and 1 global point. Calculate points.

Then, when a transaction amount of 2,500 yen is inputted by a key operation from the input section 412, the point accumulating section 51
2 is 2,5 by rounding down 500 yen under 1,000 yen
00 yen is regarded as 2,000 yen, and "8 points x 2,000 /
The calculation of “1,000 = 16 points” is performed, and it is recognized that the points given to the customer X in the shopping are 16 points, and the 16 points are accumulated in 950 points of the customer-specific point memory 521. In this way, the customer-specific score memory 521 stores 966 points as the total score.

At the time of the calculation by the point accumulating unit 512, the transaction amount of 2,500 yen, which is 1,000 yen or less, is not rounded down to 2,500 yen, and the calculation is performed using this 2,500 yen (“8 points × 2”). , 500 / 1,000 = 20 points "). However, in this case, the calculated point may have a fractional part below the decimal point, but the fractional part may be truncated or rounded off.

The cumulative score determination unit 513 determines that the cumulative score stored in the customer-specific score memory 521 of the customer X by the customer X at the affiliated store D is a perfect score (1,000 in the present embodiment). It is to determine whether or not this is the case. If the total score is less than the full score, only the transaction amount is output to the payment amount setting unit 514. If the cumulative score is 1,000 or more, 1,000 points are subtracted from the total amount. The deducted balance is a customer-specific score memory 52.
In addition to updating and storing the value to 1, a signal indicating that the total points have been scored together with the transaction amount is output to the payment amount setting unit 514.

Specifically, for example, the customer X exemplified above
Suppose that the customer X has made a purchase of 5,000 yen at the member store D with 966 points stored in the customer-specific point memory 521. Then, the point accumulating unit 512 adds 40 points (“8 points × 5,000 / 1,000 = 40 points”) to 96 points.
To accumulate six points, the customer-specific point memory 521 has 1,
006 points are stored.

The payment amount setting section 514 sets the payment amount actually paid by the customer X who has made a purchase at the affiliated store D based on the signal from the accumulated point determination section 513. When only the transaction amount is input from the cumulative score determination unit 513, the transaction amount is used as it is as the payment amount. On the other hand, when the total score is reached, the input transaction amount is used as a return amount corresponding to the full score (this implementation). 1,000 in form
An operation of subtracting (yen) is executed to set the payment amount.

If the customer X purchases 5,000 yen, the customer-specific point memory 521 has already accumulated 966 points. Becomes 1,006 points, and the payment amount setting unit 514 changes the transaction amount from 5,000 yen to 1,0
A payment amount of 4,000 yen is calculated by subtracting the return amount (1,000 yen) for 00 points. Therefore, customer X is 5,0
Despite shopping for 00 yen, return money is 1,000
The cost can be reduced to 4,000 yen after subtracting the yen, and the benefit of the point system 2 can be obtained.

The lottery processing unit 515 determines that the customer X is a member store D
Each time a purchase is made, a lottery is performed regardless of the amount of money, or each time a purchase is made under a condition equal to the amount of money for which points are awarded.
Is to determine a hit or a miss based on the result of the lottery process by the lottery processing unit 515. Then, in the case of a hit, the amount of payment is set by subtracting the amount of the predetermined prize from the transaction amount.

In this embodiment, the prize money is set to a fixed amount. It may be set to a predetermined ratio to the transaction amount, for example, 50%. In this case, for example, 5,000
When a lottery is won after shopping for a yen, the lottery processing unit 515 determines the hit and calculates “5,000 yen × 0.5 = 2,500 yen” to set the payment amount to 2,500 yen. I do.

The lottery processing section 515 has, for example, a random number generating means, and the hit judging section 516 stores a predetermined hit number. And the reading unit 4
11 when the reading operation of the magnetic information of the cash card Y and the input of the transaction amount by the cash card Y are completed.
The random number generating means of No. 5 operates to generate a random number, and the hit determining section 516 compares the obtained random number with the hit number. As a result of the comparison by the hit judging unit in the lottery processing unit 515, when the generated random number matches the hit number, it is judged as hit, and when they do not match, it is judged as off. The lottery system 3 of the present invention includes the lottery processing unit 515 and the hit determination unit 516.

The transaction information output unit is used for the processing of the paid amount paid by the customer X, the payout returned to the customer X when the total score is reached, and the prize paid to the customer X by winning the lottery. 517 and perfect score
This is performed based on the output information from the hit information output unit 518 to the card issuing bank B (specifically, the information output from the CPU 51 to the card issuing bank B is aggregated in the transaction information output unit 517 and the transaction information is output. This is performed collectively from the output unit 517). The operations of the transaction information output unit 517 and the perfect score / hit information output unit 518 will be described later.

The source collection unit 519 calculates a predetermined percentage (for example, 1%) of the transaction amount calculated each time a commercial transaction is established in the member store D, and additionally adds an enrollment fee from the member store D and an annual amount. The membership fee is used as a source of funds to maintain the point system 2 and secure return money.
Transfer to the system center account Cp1 (FIG. 1). That is, when the commercial transaction is completed at the member store D, the transaction information is output to the card issuing bank B via the transaction information output unit 517, and the entire transaction amount is once traded by the system center Z from the card issuing bank B. The money is transferred to the system center account Cp1 (FIG. 1) of the member store bank Cp, and a predetermined percentage of the transferred money is collected and stored in the funding memory 722 of the card issuing bank-side control device 6 described later. Will be stored in a state where

The card-issuing bank-side control unit 6 is a CPU which is an arithmetic processing unit for processing normal banking operations.
61, a storage unit 62 for storing various data, and an input / output device (not shown). The storage unit 62
Is provided with a customer account memory 621 opened for many customers X. This customer account memory 621
Corresponds to the deposit account that the customer X deposits, and stores the amount deposited by a different route from the point system 2 (specifically, when the customer X deposits with the card issuing bank B). ing.

The member bank control device 7 is also provided with a CPU 71 as an arithmetic processing unit, a storage unit 72 for storing various data, and an input / output device (not shown). The storage section 72 is provided with a member store account memory 721 opened corresponding to a plurality of member stores D participating in the point system 2. The member store account memory 721 is opened by each member store D for business transactions of the point system 2. In addition, the merchant bank Cp contracted by the system center Z has a point system 2
And an account Cp1 for the system center for pooling resources of the lottery system 3 and an account Cp1 for the system center are stored in the storage unit 72 of the control device 7 on the member store bank side.
There is provided a resource memory 722 for managing deposits and withdrawals and securing resources.

Then, when the customer X makes a purchase at the member store D and causes the reading unit 411 to read the cash card Y and inputs the transaction amount by key operation from the input unit 412, the signal is sent to the payment amount setting unit 514. The transaction information output unit 517 transmits the final amount obtained by subtracting the redemption amount and the winning amount together with the customer information to the card issuing bank-side control device 6 along with the customer information. It is supposed to.

The card-issuing bank-side control device 6 to which the member store information, customer information, transaction amount, and the like are input from the system center-side control device 5 of the system center Z corresponds to the transfer amount from the customer account memory 621 of the customer X. A so-called transfer process is executed in which the amount to be paid is debited and deposited in the member store account memory 721 of the member store bank-side control device 7, whereby the transaction amount is deducted from the deposit account of the customer X and a commercial transaction is established. This means that the payment (transaction amount) has been transferred to the account of the affiliated store D.

Then, by adding the score given by the customer X shopping at the member store D to the immediately preceding total score, the total score reaches the full score or when the customer X purchases. When you win
The information is transferred from the payment amount setting unit 514 to the transaction information output unit 51.
7 and a perfect score / hit information output unit 518.

Transaction information output unit 51 to which this information is input
Reference numeral 7 denotes a payment amount obtained by subtracting one or both of a return amount and a prize amount (hereinafter referred to as a redemption amount) from the transaction amount to the card-issuing bank-side control device 6, and outputs a full score / hit information output unit 518. Transmits the redemption amount to the control device 7 of the member store bank Cp with which the system center Z is trading. Then, the affiliated store bank-side control device 7 into which the redemption amount has been input transfers the redemption amount from the system center account Cp1 to the account of the affiliated bank C with which the transaction has been made.
Is updated and stored in the stored amount minus the redemption amount.
In 1, the sum of the redemption amount is updated and stored.

Accordingly, the member store account memory 72 of the member store D
1 includes the value of the payment amount from the customer account memory 621;
The value of the redemption amount from the merchant bank Cp is added and entered,
As a result, the redemption amount for the member store bank C is compensated.

The terminal 4 and the card issuing bank B are
It is connected via the system center side control device 5.
Then, after the member store D inputs the transaction amount, the customer X reads the cash card Y into the reading unit 411, and the information is transmitted to the card issuing bank B via the system center Z. The card issuing bank B checks whether payment is possible based on this information. If payment is possible, the payment is withdrawn from the deposit account of the customer X and the transaction is completed. A comment indicating this is output to the output unit 42. When this comment is output, since the customer X cannot make a transaction with the cash card Y, a transaction by another method, for example, a cash transaction is performed.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views showing an embodiment of the terminal 4 suitable for application to the point system 2. FIG. 4 shows a state where the terminal main body is separated from the receiving stand. Numeral 5 indicates a state of being mounted on the receiving table. As shown in these figures, the terminal 4 includes a handy type terminal main body 43 and a cradle 47 for supporting the terminal main body 43. The terminal main body 43 has a vertically long grip portion 44 sized so that it can be gripped by the palm.
And a grip 44 extending from the upper end side of the grip 44
It comprises a wider portion 45 having a wider width, and a card reader 46 provided at the upper end of the wide portion 45.

A numeric keypad 44a on which numbers 0 to 9 are written is provided on the front side of the grip portion 44, and a power key 44b is provided above the numeric keypad 44a. Is provided with a predetermined number of operation keys 44c.

On the front side of the wide portion 45, a rectangular display 45a provided with liquid crystal is provided, and four points for guiding the number of points of the point system 2 are provided above the display 45a. Is affixed to the guide seal 45b. Specifically, for example, “Global point 0.
1 (%) "," House point 0.4 "," Area point 0.3 "," Bank point 0.2 ", and so on. In addition to knowing the type of the point system 2 that is performing, the number of points given according to the transaction amount can be confirmed.

Note that a seal 45b for guiding the operation of the terminal 24 of the system 24 may be attached instead of or in addition to the guide seal 45b. Thus, the customer X can easily operate the terminal device 4.
Further, a predetermined number of LEDs are used instead of the guide seal 45b.
(Light emitting diode) may be provided. The light-emitting member emits light and disappears to indicate power on / off, the light-emitting member emits light to guide the next operation, and displays the contents of items displayed on the display 45a. You may.

The card reader 46 is positioned above the wide portion 45 above the position where the seal 45b of the wide portion 45 is attached.
Is formed with a card passage groove 46a provided so as to traverse the. The groove width of the card passage groove 46a is set slightly larger than the thickness dimension of the cash card Y, and the cash card Y is inserted into the cash card Y as shown by an arrow in FIG.
By passing the card through the card passage groove 46a, the magnetic description of the cash card Y can be read through a magnetic head (not shown).

The receiving table 47 has a base body 48 having an upper surface inclined in the front-rear direction, and a pair of arc-shaped bulging parts bulging upward from both sides in the width direction of the base body 48. 4
9 is formed. At the bottom of the base body 48,
A rectangular base 48a having a planar shape smaller than the base main body 48 is provided, and the receiving base 47 is supported by the base 48a, so that the terminal main body 43 is excellent in design.

The pair of arc-shaped bulging portions 49 are set such that the gap between them is slightly larger than the width of the gripping portion 44 of the terminal device main body 43, and the gripping portion 44 is bulged in an arc-shaped manner. The terminal main body 43 is mounted on the cradle 47 by being fitted to the inclined surface 48 a between the portions 49.

A plurality of lead wires (power supply lead wire 47a and communication line lead wire 47)
b) is drawn out, and power is supplied to the terminal 4 by connecting the power supply lead 47a to a commercial power supply (or via an AC-DC converter), and the communication line lead 47b is connected to the communication line. The connection allows the terminal body 43 to be connected to each of the control devices 5, 6, and 7 so that data can be exchanged.

The terminal body 43 and the receiving table 47 are connected to each other by a spiral cord 47c extending between the lower ends thereof, and the power cord 47a is connected to the terminal 43 via the spiral cord 47c. Power is supplied to the terminal body 43, and the terminal body 43 is connected to the communication line lead 47b via the spiral cord 47c.

A first terminal 43a for infrared communication (irDA) is provided on the lower surface of the lower end portion of the terminal body 43, and the first terminal 43a is provided on the inclined surface 48a of the base body 48. A second terminal 48b is provided at a corresponding position, and infrared communication between the terminal body 43 and the cradle 47 is achieved by connecting the terminal portions 43a and 48b by infrared rays when the terminal body 43 is mounted on the cradle 47. Can be done. The terminals 43a and 48b are for a small printer which is optionally provided in the base body 48. If the terminals 43a and 48b are employed and the printer is installed in the base body 48, the terminal body 43 is placed on the cradle 47 after the transaction is completed.
The information of the transaction that has actually been performed is printed out for convenience.

In such a terminal 4, the reading section 411 of the input device 41 shown in FIG. 3 is formed by the card reader 46 in the terminal main body 43.
The output unit 4 includes a numeric keypad 44a, operation keys 44c, and a card reader 46.
2 is provided with a display 45a.

In the terminal 4, the terminal main body 43 includes a CPU, a storage device, a capacitor and a secondary battery. The secondary battery is charged via the power supply lead wire 47a by mounting the terminal device main body 43 on the cradle 47. These capacitors and secondary batteries are for backing up the terminal 4 in the event of an accidental power failure, such as when the outlet of the power supply lead wire 47a is disconnected. In addition, the terminal body 4
As for the battery housed in 3, an ordinary battery may be used instead of a rechargeable secondary battery.

The output information from the system center side control device 5 is transmitted to the communication line lead 47b and the connection terminals 43a, 4a while the terminal main body 43 is mounted on the receiving stand 47.
The signal is transmitted to the terminal main body 43 via the terminal 8b and the receiving stand 47 and output to the display 45a.

Although the receiving table 47 of this embodiment is merely a support member of the terminal main body 43, a storage device is also provided in the table main body 48 of the receiving table 47, and the output from the control unit 5 on the system center side is provided. If the information is stored in this storage device, the signal from the system center side control device 5 can be temporarily stored in this storage device even when the terminal main body 43 is detached from the cradle 47. When the terminal body 43 is mounted on the cradle 47, the display 4
5a.

In the present embodiment, the storage device of the terminal 4 can store one transaction information by the cash card Y. The transaction information may include a customer identification symbol, a member store identification symbol, a transaction amount, and the like as a result of the input operation. Therefore, when the customer X wishes to output the immediately preceding transaction information in order to confirm the transaction content immediately after the transaction is completed, the content can be output to the display 45a by operating the predetermined operation key 44c. When an input operation is performed on the terminal 4 for the next commercial transaction, the previously stored transaction information is updated to the information on which the input operation was actually performed.

By increasing the storage capacity of the terminal 4, transaction information within a predetermined period for each customer X is stored, and past transaction contents are scroll-displayed on the display 45a according to the request of the customer X. You may make it do.

Further, by operating a specific key (for example, Nissei key) of the operation key 44c on the terminal device 4, the transaction information of the day from the card issuing bank B and the member store bank C is scroll-displayed on the display 45a. It may be configured to obtain. By doing so, when necessary at the member store D side, by performing a predetermined key operation at an arbitrary time on the day, the transaction information up to that time is displayed on the display 45a.
If the same key operation is performed after the business closes on one day, the transaction status on that day can be known.

The terminal 4 of the present embodiment is not provided with a printer as an output device unless there is a special request. The reason is that, in a commercial transaction by the point system 2, the terminal 4 is for operating the point system 2, and the customer X from the member store D
This is because the receipt is issued from a cash register provided separately in the member store D, and it is not necessary for the terminal 4 to issue a receipt on the receipt.

According to the structure of the terminal 4, since the terminal main body 43 and the receiving table 47 are not provided with a mechanical movable member such as a printer, no failure due to the movable member occurs, and accordingly, Thus, the service life of the terminal 4 can be extended.

Further, since the terminal 4 is not provided with an expensive printer, the terminal 4 can be made inexpensive by that amount, which can contribute to the spread of the point system 2.

In the present invention, the program for executing the point system 2 described with reference to FIG. 3 is stored in a readable storage medium such as a floppy disk or a fixed disk. This readable storage medium is a so-called read-only ROM, and is prepared so that a stored general-purpose computer can read the program.

Hereinafter, the member store D side and the system center Z
The point giving process on the side will be described based on the flowcharts in FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of the point giving process by the terminal 4 in the member store D, and FIG.
9 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a point providing process according to the present invention.

First, as shown in FIG. 6, when a customer X makes a purchase at a member store D, it is asked whether or not a transaction amount has been entered (S1). When the amount is entered (YE in S1)
S), a card insertion guide is displayed on the display 45a (S2). Next, it is determined whether or not the cash card Y has been inserted into the card passage groove 46a of the terminal main body 43 (S3), and when it is detected that the cash card Y has been inserted (S3).
Then, the contents of the cash card Y are read by the card reader 46 (S4).

When the reading is completed, a guide to input a password is displayed on the display 45a (S5). When a password is entered by operating the numeric keypad 44a of the terminal 43 according to this guidance (YE in S6)
S), the card issuing bank B performs a predetermined confirmation process, and when the transaction by the cash card Y is established, a message indicating that the transaction is completed is displayed on the display 45a (S7), whereby the customer X completes the transaction. You can confirm that you have done. Subsequently, the transaction information is updated and stored in the storage device of the terminal 43 (S8).

On the other hand, if the display of transaction completion is not made in step S7 (NO in S7), the display 45
A display indicating that the cash card cannot be used is displayed on a (S6), and the transaction ends without performing the commercial transaction using the cash card Y. In this case, since the cash card Y cannot be used, a cash transaction is performed if the customer X desires.

Next, based on FIG. 7, the cash card Y
The process performed by the system center-side control device 5 when the customer X makes a purchase at the member store D will be described. First, in step 20, it is asked whether or not transaction information has been input from the terminal device 4. When the transaction information has been input, franchise information and customer information on the transaction are extracted, and the franchise D and the franchise D in the commercial transaction are extracted. The customer X is specified (S21).

Next, the points of the current transaction are calculated, and the point memory 521 for each customer of the customer X is calculated.
(S22).

Next, the lottery process is executed (S23).
It is determined whether the game is a win or a miss (S24). If the game is a win, step S25 is executed and a value obtained by subtracting the prize money from the transaction amount is set as a new transaction amount (S25). Is Step S25
Is not executed and the process is skipped to step 26.

In step 26, it is determined whether or not the cumulative score is equal to or greater than the perfect score. If the cumulative score is greater than or equal to the perfect score, the amount obtained by subtracting the rebate amount from the transaction amount is set as a new transaction amount. (S27) Then, the transaction amount is transmitted to the card issuing bank-side control device 6 (S27).
28). The member store bank Cp transfers one or both of the prize amount and the return amount from the system center account Cp1 to the bank account of the member store D with which the transaction has been made, based on the transfer information.

On the other hand, if the cumulative score is less than the full score in step S26, step S28 is immediately executed. By the way, in step S28, if the result of the lottery is out of order, the prize amount is regarded as "0", and if the accumulated score is less than the full score, the return amount is regarded as "0" (accordingly, it is regarded as "0"). No transmission is actually performed when this is done.)

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but includes the following contents.

(1) In the above embodiment, the point system 2 is provided with four systems of a global point system 21, a house point system 22, an area point system 23, and a bank point system 24 as individual systems. Although formed, the present invention is not limited to four unit systems, but may be two or three, or five or more. Further, the points may be uniformly set to the same value instead of being changed for each individual system.

(2) In the above embodiment, the point system 2 and the lottery system 3 are arranged side by side to operate the system. However, in the present invention, the point system 2 and the lottery system 3 are arranged side by side. It is not mandatory to set up.

(3) In the above embodiment, if the point score reaches the full score when the customer X purchases at the member store D, the return amount is subtracted from the transaction amount of the purchase to force the purchase. Although the system is configured so as to reduce the price, the score may be continuously accumulated even if the score exceeds the perfect score, and the customer X may set the perfect score. In order to do so, the customer X can record the desired score on the cash card Y, and can provide the cumulative score discriminator 513 with a program that clears the customer-specific score memory 521 based on the score.

(4) In the above embodiment, the customer X is automatically made to join the lottery system 3, but instead of this, the customer X selects whether or not to join the lottery system 3. It may be possible to do so. Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the customer X makes a purchase at the member store D, the customer X is allowed to participate in the lottery regardless of the transaction amount. However, the transaction amount may have a certain lower limit (for example, 1,000 yen). ) May be set so that the lottery can be performed only when a transaction amount equal to or more than the lower limit (1,000 yen) occurs. Further, in the above-described embodiment, when a lottery is won, 50% of the transaction amount is discounted, but the rate of the discount is not limited to 50% and can be set as appropriate. The first prize of the lottery is 100% discount rate and the second prize is 5%.
The ratio of the prize amount to the transaction amount may be set in stages, such as 0%, the third prize is 30%, the fourth prize is 20%, and the deviation is 0%.

(5) In the above embodiment, the system center Z is interposed between the affiliated store D and the affiliated store bank C, and the affiliated store contract is concluded between the system center Z and the affiliated store bank C. A so-called indirect member store system is adopted in which the system center Z and the member store D make a contract, but instead of using the indirect member store method, the member store D The system center Z does not make a contract with the merchant bank C but only contracts with the merchant bank D, assuming that the merchant bank C has opened an account of the merchant bank D with the merchant bank C. The point system 2 may be constructed by adopting a form (direct member store method).

[0107]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the number of customers is one.
By performing business transactions (shopping) at stores that have joined the system using a single customer card, the total points for each individual point system according to the number of individual point systems that the affiliated store has joined Since the points are calculated by the point calculation means and given to the customer, in the conventional point system, when there are different systems for each type of business or each region, the customer corresponds to each system. Not only is it inconvenient to have a large number of point cards, but the store must perform different input operations for each system, eliminating the conventional inconvenience of reduced customer service efficiency. It is possible to provide convenience to customers and contribute to improvement of customer service efficiency at stores.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of a settlement mechanism to which a card-based point system according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a plurality of point systems 2 that are arranged side by side.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a specific configuration of the point system 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a terminal suitable for application to a point system, showing a state where a terminal main body is separated from a receiving stand;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the terminal, showing a state where the terminal body shown in FIG. 4 is mounted on a receiving stand;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a point providing process performed by a terminal in a member store.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a point giving process performed by the system center-side control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Comprehensive system 2 Point system 21 Global point system 22 House point system 23 Area point system 24 Bank point system 2a, 2b, 2c Range 3 lottery system 4 Terminal 41 Input device 411 Reading part 412 Input part 42 Input part 43 Terminal body 43a first terminal 44 gripping part 44a numeric keypad 44b power key 44c operation key 45 wide part 45a display 45b seal 46 card reader 46a card through groove 47 receiving table 47a power supply lead wire 47b communication line lead wire 48 base body 48a base 48b 2nd terminal 48c Inclined surface 5 System center side controller 51 CPU 511 Subscription system discrimination unit 512 point accumulation unit 513 Accumulated point judgment unit 514 Payment amount setting unit 515 Lottery processing unit 516 Recognition unit 517 Transaction information output unit 518 Full score / hit information output unit 519 Deposit status relay unit 520 Fund collection unit 52 Storage unit 521 Customer-specific point memory 6 Card issuing bank side control unit 61 CPU 62 Storage unit 621 Customer account memory 7 Membership Store bank side controller 71 CPU 72 Storage unit 721 Member store account memory A Settlement secretary bank B Card issuing bank C Member store bank D Member store E Clearing center F Relay center X Customer Y Cash card Z System center

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06K 17/00 G06K 17/00 R

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Whenever a commercial transaction occurs at a system member store via a customer card, a point corresponding to the transaction amount is stored in a point memory for each customer so as to be cumulatively given to the customer, and the amount corresponding to the accumulated points is stored. In a point system constructed to refund to customers at the required point in time, each store can be voluntarily affiliated, and according to the transaction amount,
A plurality of individual point systems that give points set respectively, and when a business transaction occurs at a store that is a member of one individual point system, the points in the individual point system are joined to a plurality of individual point systems. A point calculation means for calculating a point obtained by adding points in the plurality of individual point systems when a commercial transaction occurs at the store. 2. The point system according to claim 1, wherein each member store is a member of at least one individual point system. 3. The point system according to claim 1, wherein the second individual point system is a system in which each store common to a bank is a member. 4. The point system by card settlement according to claim 1, wherein the second individual point system is one in which stores having a common area are affiliated. 5. The point system according to claim 1, wherein the points in the plurality of individual point systems are different from each other. 6. Every time a commercial transaction occurs at a system member store via a customer card, points corresponding to the transaction amount are cumulatively given to the customer, and the amount corresponding to the given point is refunded to the customer at a required time. In the point system constructed as described above, there are a plurality of individual point systems that give respective set points according to the transaction amount, and commercial transactions can be performed at stores affiliated with one individual point system. When the occurrence occurs, the points in the individual point system are calculated, and when a business transaction occurs in a store affiliated with the plurality of individual point systems, the points obtained by adding the points in the plurality of individual point systems are calculated, and the calculated points are calculated. Readable record storing a point redemption program characterized by accumulating and storing in a point memory for each customer Medium.