JP2002245551A - Cooperation type electronic coupon system by ic card, and ic card for electronic coupon system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and an IC card for the system that records the points of a card issuing company and a cooperator store, issues a coupon on the basis of both points and records the electronic value in the IC card. SOLUTION: This cooperation type electronic coupon system by the IC card is the electronic coupon system used in common by an IC card issuing company for point service and cooperator stores. Point service is given in either case of a customer doing some shopping in the IC card issuing company or the cooperator store, but the points are recorded in a card issuer area 11 in the case of the card issuing company, and in the IC card memory in a cooperator common area 12 in the case of the cooperator store. When the customer exchanges the points for an electronic coupon on the basis of the given points, the electronic value of a coupon is recorded in the memory of the IC card 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic coupon system using an IC card. Specifically, the company that started the point service uses the free memory area of the IC card to store the points added by the partner's other company's point service in order to increase the added value of the card, and the points are saved. If you accumulate a certain number of points, the coupon ticket information that can be used at the partner
The present invention relates to a system for securely and efficiently providing point services between partner stores by storing the information in a C card, reading an electronic coupon at a partner terminal, and adjusting the payment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, most point service mechanisms are point addition and point exchange services provided only by a card issuing company. For example, in a shopping district, a shopping mall association issues a card, and a store affiliated with the association provides a point service using the card, but all added points are stored in a common area on the card and exchanged as a point exchange Each time a service is received, the store performs a subtraction process. In addition, in the mechanism used by airlines as a mileage service, points are added according to purchases at partner companies, but services using accumulated points (point exchange) are limited to predetermined services (eg, Exchange for airline tickets).

However, the conventional point service mechanism has the following problems. In the point system used in the shopping street, since the point storage area is one common area, it is not possible to distinguish between the card issuing company point and the partner point. In the point system used by airlines, point data is stored in the host computer,
You must always connect to the host when exchanging points. When a magnetic card is used, a card issuer area which is not originally disclosed to a partner other than the common area can be easily read. In the case of exchanging points, discounts are provided when shopping at partner companies, so if there are many types of services that can be received at that time, it will be burdensome to notify customers. A multimedia terminal is provided for information provision, but is not used because the necessity of use is low.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides
A point service using a C card that uses the free memory area of an IC card, records the points added by the partner's partner's point service, and if a certain number of points are accumulated, a coupon that can be used at the partner It has been researched and completed to achieve a system for recording ticket information as an electronic coupon on an IC card.

[0005]

The first aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems is an electronic coupon system commonly used by a point service IC card issuing company and a plurality of partner stores. The point service is given both when the customer purchases at the IC card issuing company and when he / she purchases at the partner store. In the case of the card issuing company, the point issuer is provided in the card issuer area. In the case of, the customer is recorded in the IC card memory in the partner common area, and when the customer exchanges for an electronic coupon based on the given points, the given point service is reduced and the electronic coupon ticket is Value is IC
A cooperative electronic coupon system using an IC card, which is recorded in a memory of the card. Since this electronic coupon system is used, the common point service can be smoothly performed between partner stores while leaving the mechanism of the in-house point service.

In the above, the electronic coupon includes a card issuer coupon and an affiliated store coupon.
If the customer wants a card issuer coupon, the points in the card issuer area will be reduced preferentially.If the customer wants a partner store coupon, the points in the partner common area will be preferentially reduced. The electronic value of the coupon can be recorded in the memory of the IC card. By doing so, the offset amount to the partner store can be reduced. In addition, the cost can be settled between the card issuing company and each of the affiliated stores, and a structure can be provided in which no cost burden is generated between the affiliated stores. By doing so, it is possible to eliminate the complexity of settlement between partner stores.

[0007] Further, the partner stores may be located in different industries, the application range of the electronic coupon system can be widened, coupon tickets are issued by the multimedia terminal, and the multimedia terminal is issued. If the electronic value of the coupon is recorded on the IC card, the customer can freely request issuance of the coupon.

A second aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is an IC card used for an alliance-type electronic coupon system, and a card issuer area for recording a total point in a memory of the IC card. And an alliance partner common area, and an area for recording issued electronic coupon information is provided. Since this IC card is for an electronic coupon system, it can be suitably used for a cooperative electronic coupon system. In the IC card, a plurality of different types of electronic coupon information can be recorded, and the applicable range can be expanded.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The cooperative electronic coupon system of the present invention stores the points added by the partner's other company's point service in the free memory area of the IC card, and if a certain number of points are accumulated, the partner can also use the coupon. The present invention relates to a system for storing usable coupon ticket information as an electronic coupon in an IC card. Since the settlement of the costs incurred in this system is performed through the card issuing company, the trouble of the settlement is not caused, and the partner may be not only in the same industry but also in a different industry. Therefore, in the case of an IC card in the present invention, it is assumed that the IC card has a point function and is used as an electronic coupon.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the mechanism of the cooperative electronic coupon system of the present invention. The card issuing company (and point addition business operator) 1 issues an electronic coupon 2 using an IC card. Electronic coupon 2 partner stores include partner store 1A, partner store 1B, partner store 1
C. There are multiple stores that can participate. The partner store may be of a different business type. Point award rate and redemption rate
Card issuers and partner stores can be set independently. Here, the point award rate refers to a point award ratio with respect to the amount of shopping, for example, one point for 1,000 yen. In addition, the point redemption rate refers to a redemption rate of services and benefits for points. For example, a discount of 300 yen for 10 points.

The person who gives points and the place where the points are given are the card issuing company 1 and the affiliated stores 1A, 1B and 1C, and the points where the points are redeemed are usually multimedia terminals described later which are installed by the card issuing company. Machine. Normally, a fixed point conversion ratio is set for each industry.
There is no cost burden between stores in the participating industries due to mutual grant / return, and expenses are charged only between the card issuing company (and point addition business) and partner stores. In this method, a conversion rate is set for each type of business and charges are made individually. This is for avoiding complicated settlement between stores. In addition, the card issuing company 1 has partner stores 1A, 1
B, 1C, etc. are provided with a service for providing marketing information.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a memory format of an IC card. Card Issuer DF (Deddicated
File), a card issuer area 11 is provided.
D information) as (1) ID number, (2) name, (3)
Address, (4) telephone number, (5) expiration date, (6) common I
D number. (Point information), (7) cumulative points, (8) point expiration date, (electronic coupon information), (9) electronic coupon (exchange point),
(10) The electronic coupon expiration date and the like are recorded. In the above description, (6) the common ID number means a customer number common to alliance partners, and is important data in distinguishing the customer number of the card issuer.

On the other hand, the partner common DF is provided with a partner common area 12, which includes common ID information as:
(1) There is a common ID number. As common point information, (2) cumulative points, (3) point expiration date, and as common electronic coupon information, (4) electronic coupon information [stores using electronic coupons, electronic coupon types, electronic coupons (exchange points), valid electronic coupons Deadline, etc.)
Is recorded. In addition, (4) electronic coupon information is IC
If the capacity of the card is large, a plurality can be stored. By storing a plurality of electronic coupons, a plurality of electronic coupons can be issued.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the point provision of point service between partner stores. In the point giving, the point giving rate is fixed, and the area for storing the points of the card issuing company (hereinafter referred to as “card issuer area”) and the points of the affiliated member stores are commonly stored on the IC card 2. A point is given to an area (hereinafter, referred to as a “common area”) according to each point giving unit. Based on the given points, the total points and the point expiration date are recorded in the point information item.

In FIG. 3, for example, it is assumed that a certain customer purchases one CD single from a card issuer for 1,000 yen (FIG. 3A). Assuming that the point issue rate of the card issuer 1 is 1 point at 100 yen, 10 points are awarded in the card issuer area 11 for a purchase of 1000 yen. Thereby, 10 points are given to the card issuer area 11 in the point area on the IC card. In this case, the common area 12 has 0 points. Next, it is assumed that this customer receives two cups of coffee for 500 yen at the partner store 1A (FIG. 3B). 200
Assuming that two points are awarded in yen, four points are awarded to the common area 12 for purchase of 500 yen and recorded. The card issuer area 11 remains at 10 points. Further, it is assumed that the customer receives a drink and a meal at the partner store 1B for 2800 yen (FIG. 3C). 500
If 5 points are awarded in yen, 25 points are added to the common area 12 by purchasing 2800 yen. As a result, as for the point area on the IC card, 10 points are recorded in the card issuer area, and a total of 29 points are recorded in the common area.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing point redemption of point services between partner stores. Point redemption is only available on the multimedia terminal 13 installed by the card issuing company, the coupon of the partner store selected by the customer
This is performed by a mechanism for issuing the information on the C (smart) card 2. In addition, the points awarded by the card issuer and the points awarded by the member industry are added up to give the customer a sense of virtue so that they can be redeemed. In that case, the points saved in the type of business in which the redemption is performed are preferentially reduced, and the shortfalls are subtracted from the accumulated points on the card issuer side. In this case, since the capacity of the coupon area on the IC (smart) card is limited, it is necessary to specify the upper limit of the coupon exchange.

The customer redeems points with the multimedia terminal 13. In addition, at the time of redemption, the customer selects a coupon ticket of the affiliated member store that the customer wants to exchange. Here, the multimedia terminal includes a control device, a storage device, a communication function, an image display function, a print output function, an IC card read / write unit, a cash deposit / withdrawal unit, and the like. It is a terminal that performs necessary information display, cash deposit / withdrawal processing, image processing, etc. upon request. In recent years, it is often installed in stores and the like. Multimedia terminal 13
If you want to redeem points with
The processing is performed by inserting the C card 2 into the IC card reader / writer 131 of the multimedia terminal.

In FIG. 4, case 1) shows a case where the coupon is exchanged for a coupon (200 points) of the affiliated store 1A. In this case, in the point area on the card, 20 points are recorded in the card issuer area, and 210 points are recorded in the common area. When returning 200 points at the partner store 1A, 200 points are subtracted from the common area, and the partner store 1A coupon ticket, 5
00 yen (equivalent to 200 points) will be recorded.

Case 2) is a case where the coupon is exchanged for a coupon (200 points) of the partner store 1A.
This is when the points on the card are different. In this case, in the point area on the card, 30 points are recorded in the card issuer area and 180 points are recorded in the common area. 20 points will be insufficient for points in the common area. At the partner store 1A, 200
When redeeming points, subtract 180 points from the common area and 20 points from the card issuer area,
In the electronic coupon information area on the IC card 2, the cooperating partner store 1A coupon, 500 yen (equivalent to 200 points) is recorded.

Case 3) is a case of exchanging for a coupon of a card issuer (200 points). in this case,
In the point area on the IC card, 200 points are recorded in the card issuer area and 180 points are recorded in the common area. When the card issuer returns 200 points, the card issuer subtracts 200 points from the card issuer area and records the card issuer coupon, 500 yen (equivalent to 200 points) in the electronic coupon information area on the IC card 2. Will do.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation cost of the electronic coupon system. An example of an operation cost breakdown of the electronic coupon system will be described. 1 per 100 yen purchased by member
When points are added, it costs about 2 yen per point. One yen is a return to customers, and one yen is headquarters expenses. The breakdown of the head office expenses of 1 yen is that advertising and publicity expenses are 0.
2 yen, system maintenance cost is equivalent to 0.8 yen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the flow of return money and operating costs in the electronic coupon system. Members receive 1 point addition service for 100 yen (purchase) at affiliated stores (FIG. 6A). When the member exchanges 200 points for a coupon (FIG. 6 (B)), in the example of FIG. 4, the redemption rate is 2.5 yen per point.
Can be exchanged for a coupon (electronic value) worth yen.
In exchange for the 200 points, the card issuing company exchanges a coupon for 500 yen of the member store desired by the member. Exchange with a coupon is performed by the multimedia terminal 13. A 500 yen coupon is issued to the member, and the member purchases using the 500 yen coupon (FIG. 6).
(C)), 500 yen is discounted from the purchase price.
The transaction data is sent to the card issuing company and recorded in the member data 15. The card issuing company adjusts the point service fee to the affiliated store based on the transaction member data 15 (FIG. 6 (D)). 2 per point
Paid from Yen member stores. The card issuing company issues a refund of 1 yen to the member store for each point exchanged for the used coupon (FIG. 6 (E)).

[0023]

Embodiment (Embodiment) A card issuing company P issues an IC card 2 for performing a point service for its own store. The IC card is contracted as a partner with another type of store A in the area around the own store. The customer can receive the point service with the IC card 2 even if the customer purchases at the store A of another type of business. The card issuing company P installs the multimedia terminal 13 in its own store, and issues an electronic coupon and provides partner information with this terminal. Before operating in the surrounding area, the customer operates the multimedia terminal at the card issuer's store, refers to the electronic coupon information provided by the partner, and selects multiple electronic coupons within the range that can be exchanged Then, the information is stored in the IC card.

The customer can obtain information provided by the partner while operating the multimedia terminal, and can make a plan to take action in the surrounding area. If necessary, a service for outputting a map or the like according to the action plan from the multimedia terminal can be provided. The customer can receive the service only by submitting the IC card at the partner using the electronic coupon. At our partners,
By reading the IC card with a terminal installed in the store, the service contents are confirmed and the information on the electronic coupon service is acquired, and the information is sent to the card issuing company as payment data. The card issuing company collectively collects and calculates the additional data provided by the partner and the point exchange data using the electronic coupon, thereby performing the point settlement processing for each partner.

[0025]

As described above, the following effects can be obtained with the electronic coupon system of the present invention. Since the point service of the partner can be performed with one card in a method that is distinct from the point service of the card issuer, leaving the mechanism of the company's point service,
Common point service can be implemented. Electronic coupon issuance (point exchange) using the multimedia terminal installed by the card issuing company, electronic coupon services of many partners are transmitted to customers in a centralized manner, and the efficiency of electronic coupon utilization is improved. Become. By providing an area where a plurality of electronic coupons can be stored in the IC card, a plurality of electronic coupons can be selected and acquired in advance when operating the multimedia terminal. In addition, since there is a necessity to use the multimedia terminal, the frequency of use is increased, and the multimedia terminal can transmit other information (for example, campaign information) to the customer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a mechanism of an alliance-type electronic coupon system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a memory format of an IC card.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing point giving of a point service between partner stores.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing point redemption of point services between partner stores.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation cost of the electronic coupon system.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing flows of redemption money and operating costs in the electronic coupon system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Card Issuing Company 1A, 1B, 1C Partner Store 2 Electronic Coupon (IC Card) 11 Card Issuer Area 12 Partner Common Area 13 Multimedia Terminal 14 Card Writer 15 Member Data

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Claims (7)

[Claims] Claims 1. An electronic coupon system commonly used by a point service IC card issuing company and a plurality of partner stores, wherein a customer shops at an IC card issuing company and purchases at a partner store. In each case, the point service is granted. However, in the case of a card issuing company, it is recorded in the card issuer area, and in the case of a partner store, it is recorded in the IC card memory in the partner common area, and the customer is given. In the case of redeeming an electronic coupon based on points earned, the point service provided is reduced and the electronic value of the coupon is recorded in the memory of the IC card. Electronic coupon system. 2. Electronic coupons include a card issuer coupon and a partner store coupon, and when a customer desires a card issuer coupon, points in the card issuer area are preferentially reduced. If the customer desires a cooperating store coupon, the points in the cooperating common area are preferentially reduced, and the electronic value of the coupon is recorded in the memory of the IC card. Item 1
A cooperative electronic coupon system using the described IC card. 3. The IC card according to claim 1, wherein the cost is settled between the card issuing company and each affiliated store, so that no cost burden is generated between the affiliated stores. A cooperative electronic coupon system. 4. An alliance type electronic coupon system using an IC card according to claim 1, wherein the partner stores are located in different industries. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the coupon is issued by a multimedia terminal, and the electronic value of the coupon is recorded on the IC card by the multimedia terminal. A cooperative electronic coupon system using an IC card. 6. An IC card used in an alliance type electronic coupon system, wherein an IC card memory has a card issuer area and an alliance partner common area for recording the accumulated points, and the issued electronic coupon. An IC card for an electronic coupon system, comprising an area for recording information. 7. The IC card for an electronic coupon system according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of different types of electronic coupon information can be recorded.