JP2002367035A - Point system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a point system which does not request a customer to perform an identification operation by identifying the customer by using a telephone number and using an authenticating function for a portable telephone set. SOLUTION: The point system is equipped with an affiliate store terminal 3754/241) installed in an affiliate store where point service is available and a point server 3754/242) which is connected in a communicable state to the affiliate store terminal. The affiliate store terminal has a transaction processing means which processes a transaction with the customer according to information inputted as to the transaction with the customer, a customer identifying means which identifies the customer concerned with the transaction, and a transaction information transmitting means which sends transaction information on the transaction to the point server. The point sever has a point information storage means which accumulates and stores point information regarding points accumulated according to the transaction with the customer, and the point information is accumulated and stored in relation to the identification number given to a communication device 3754/245) that the customer has.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a point system capable of providing a point service without newly issuing a medium for identifying a customer's point account, and more particularly to a point service using the medium as a portable telephone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, a point service has been implemented in which points corresponding to transaction amounts are given to customers who have transacted, and prizes according to accumulated points are returned to the customers.

[0003] In this point service, a medium (point card) recording an identification number (ID number) for each customer is issued, and personal information such as a customer's address and name is provided in correspondence with the ID number. Point information such as the number of granted points, transaction stores, transaction contents, and the like has been stored in the server as customer information. At the time of transaction, the customer is identified by the ID number read from the point card, and the point information relating to the customer is updated.

[0004] Further, by using a debit card or a credit card already owned by the customer, the customer information is created as an ID number using the account number of the debit card or the credit card number as an ID number and stored in a server. On the other hand, a point system that can provide a point service without issuing a new point card has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-353280).

[0005]

However, in the conventional point system, a loyalty card storing an ID number to be given to the customer is issued in response to an application for registration as a point member from the customer. There was a problem that the number of members did not increase due to the trouble of applying for membership.

In addition, since the customer's address, name, etc. are registered as customer information based on the customer's application for the registration of point members, the point service cannot be provided until the registration process is completed. was there.

In the method of creating customer information using the account number of a debit card or the number of a credit card already owned by a customer as an ID number, the same number is generated because the issuing entities use different cards. Therefore, there is a problem that customer information is duplicated.

[0008] In addition, in order to check how many points a member customer has accumulated, it is necessary to perform a procedure such as inquiring a call center by telephone, which makes it difficult to check the number of remaining points. was there.

In addition, when a customer as a member uses accumulated points, a password is required to confirm the identity of the customer, and the accumulated points are not fully utilized because it is troublesome. There is a problem that the password is forgotten, and points are consumed without permission if the password is known to others.

According to the present invention, a customer can be identified by using a telephone number and an authentication function of a portable telephone can be used to utilize the point without requiring the customer to perform a personal identification operation such as inputting a personal identification number. The purpose is to provide a system.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a member store terminal (1) installed at a member store that can use a point service, and a point server (2) communicably connected to the member store terminal. ), The merchant terminal comprises: a transaction processing means for processing the transaction based on information inputted with respect to the transaction with the customer; a customer identification means for identifying the customer involved in the transaction; Transaction information transmitting means for transmitting transaction information relating to the transaction to the point server, wherein the point server is stored in accordance with the transaction with the customer based on the transaction information of the customer from the member store terminal. Point information storage means for accumulating and storing point information on points, wherein the point information is stored in association with an identification number assigned to a communication device (5) held by a customer. Is the fact characterized.

According to a second aspect, in the first aspect, the communication device is a wireless communication device having communication means for communicating with another telephone, and the identification number is a telephone number assigned to the wireless communication device. There is a feature.

A third invention is characterized in that, in the first or second invention, the customer identification means includes a reading means (12) for reading an identification number stored in the communication device.

In a fourth aspect based on the third aspect, the reading means reads a telephone number displayed on a display screen of the communication device.

In a fifth aspect based on the first to fourth aspects, the point server transmits the stored point information to the communication device in response to an inquiry from the communication device. It has a transmitting means.

In a sixth aspect based on the fifth aspect, an information providing server (4) for providing information to the communication device is provided, and the point information is inquired in a personal menu provided by the information providing server. Is transmitted in correspondence with

[0017] In a seventh aspect based on the first to sixth aspects, the point server is a usage history storage means for storing transaction history information at a member store where a transaction related to the point information is performed, and History information transmitting means for transmitting usage history information stored and stored in the point server to the communication device in response to an inquiry from the device.

In an eighth aspect based on the seventh aspect, the information providing server has member store information storage means for storing information of the member store (for example, advertisement information of the member store), and the point server. Based on usage history information sent by
A member store information search unit that searches for information of the member store from the member store information storage unit and sends a search result corresponding to the use history information to the communication device.

According to a ninth invention, in the first to eighth inventions, a communication network (for example, a base station device 7, a mobile communication control station device 8) provided on a communication path between the communication device and the point server. The point server includes a point information updating unit that updates the point information related to the communication device after confirming the authentication result based on a result of authenticating whether the communication device is legitimate in ()). Features.

[0020] In a tenth aspect based on the ninth aspect, the information providing server has content storage means for storing content to be provided to the communication device, and the information providing server confirms an authentication result by the point information updating means. It is characterized by providing contents.

[0021]

According to the first invention, a member store terminal installed in a member store that can use the point service,
In a point system including a point server communicably connected to a member store terminal, the member store terminal processes the transaction based on information input with respect to a transaction with a customer; It has customer identification means for identifying the customer, and transaction information transmission means for transmitting transaction information relating to the transaction to the point server, wherein the point server is based on the customer transaction information from the member store terminal,
Point information storage means for storing and storing point information on points accumulated in accordance with transactions with customers,
Since the point information is accumulated and stored in association with the identification number assigned to the communication device held by the customer (for example, a telephone number as a member number), a new medium for identifying the customer (for example, a point card) is issued. Point service can be provided without having to do so.

The personal information such as the name and address of the customer is
As a telecommunications company, it uses point-to-point information based on the phone number of the mobile phone and uses the information reported by the customer at the time of contracting for the mobile phone service, without the need for a new customer to provide personal information. Can be provided.

In the second invention, the communication device is a wireless communication device having a communication means for communicating with another telephone, and the identification number is a telephone number assigned to the wireless communication device. Since a unique number is used as the identification number, the point service can be provided without newly assigning a number (customer ID) for identifying the customer's point account.

In the third aspect, since the customer identification means includes the reading means for reading the identification number stored in the communication device, the customer can be specified without requiring the customer to input the identification number of the communication device. it can.

In the fourth invention, the reading means reads the telephone number displayed on the display screen of the communication device, so that it can be used as a customer identification medium when providing a point service without adding a special function to the communication device. Can be used.

In the fifth aspect, the point server has the point information transmitting means for transmitting the point information stored and stored in the point server to the communication device in response to an inquiry from the communication device. The customer can be identified by the communication device without requiring input of personal information such as a number and a password, and the point information can be confirmed by the communication device.

According to the sixth aspect, the information providing server for providing information to the communication device is provided, and the point information is transmitted in response to the inquiry in the personal menu provided by the information providing server. You can check the point information.

[0028] In the seventh invention, the point server is a usage history storage means for storing transaction history information at a member store where a transaction related to the point information is performed, and a point server corresponding to an inquiry from the communication device. History information transmitting means for transmitting the usage history information stored and stored in the communication device to the communication device. You can check.

[0029] In the eighth invention, the information providing server has member store information storage means for storing member store information (for example, advertisement information of the member store), and based on the use history information transmitted by the point server. Since there is a member store information searching means for searching the member store information from the member store information storage means and transmitting a search result corresponding to the use history information to the communication device,
Information on member stores can be browsed with a simple operation.

[0030] In the ninth aspect, the point server determines the authentication result based on the result of authenticating whether the communication device is legitimate in the communication network provided on the communication path between the communication device and the point server. Is provided, the point information updating means for updating the point information relating to the communication device is provided, so that the customer can use the points without requiring the customer to input personal information such as an ID number and a personal identification number.

In the tenth invention, the information providing server has content storage means for storing the content to be provided to the communication device, and provides the content after confirming the authentication result by the point information updating means. Without distributing the information related to money transfer on the network.

[0032]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a point system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The member store terminal 1 is a terminal device installed in a member store (point issuer) that provides this point service and communicably connected to a point server described later. In addition, the member store terminal 1 is a member store settlement device (POS
Terminal or a cash register), or provided integrally with the settlement apparatus.

The member store terminal 1 is provided with an input device 11 for inputting the identification number of the communication device 5 held by the customer, which is a feature of the point system according to the present invention. The input device 11 is composed of, for example, a keyboard, and is operated by a customer who is the owner of the communication device or an employee of a member store to input the telephone number of the mobile phone 5 and specify the customer.

The member store terminal 1 may be provided with a reading device 12 in addition to the input device 11. The reading device 12 is configured to include a scanner, reads a local telephone number indicated by a numeral on a display screen (for example, a liquid crystal display) of the mobile phone 5, and transmits it to the member store terminal 1. As described above, since the local telephone number displayed on the screen of the mobile phone is directly read by the member store terminal 1, the mobile phone 5 can be used in the point service of the present invention without adding a special function to the mobile phone. It can be used as a medium to identify customers.

Note that a computer-readable code (for example, a bar code) corresponding to the identification number (telephone number) of the communication device is displayed on the display screen of the communication device (portable telephone) 5, and the reading device (scanner) is displayed. It may be configured to read by. By displaying the own telephone number with a bar code in this manner, the own telephone number can be acquired by a bar code reader for reading the JAN code. Without providing, the settlement device can be used as the member store terminal 1.

The member store terminal 1 may be provided with a connection device 13 in addition to the input device 11. The connection device 13 is configured by a connector or the like that can be connected to an input / output terminal of the mobile phone, reads an identification number (telephone number) stored in the communication device (mobile phone) 5, Send. Note that this connection device 1
Reference numeral 3 denotes an infrared communication device or a wireless communication device, instead of a cable and a connector. The member store terminal 1 and the mobile phone 5 are connected by infrared communication using IR-DA or wireless communication using Bluetooth. It may be configured to be connected.

In the member store terminal 1, transaction processing means is constituted by arithmetic means (CPU or the like) provided therein, and the transaction processing means inputs a usage amount for a transaction such as sale of a product to a customer. Then, processing related to transactions, such as calculating points by multiplying the usage amount by a predetermined multiplication factor determined for each member store (or for each type of product), is performed. The member store terminal 1 includes an input device 11, a reading device 1,
The customer is identified based on the input telephone number of the mobile phone 5 by customer identification means constituted by the communication device 2 or the connection device 13 or the like. Further, the member store terminal 1 generates transaction information including a telephone number, a transaction amount, the number of points to be increased / decreased, and the like by transaction information transmitting means constituted by a communication driver and the like, and transmits the transaction information via the Internet 3. It is transmitted to the point server 2.

The point server 2 comprehensively manages the point system, stores and stores the transaction contents at the member store, and accumulates the points in the customer's point account in the member management file.

That is, the point server 2 receives the transaction information such as the amount of use input to the member store terminal 1 and accumulates the information in the use history file. In addition, member store terminal 1
The customer's point account is specified based on the identification number (telephone number of the mobile phone) of the wireless communication device 5 that specifies the customer, and the increase / decrease of points is calculated from the transaction information received from the member store terminal 1. And store it in the member management file.

The network 3 connects the member store terminal 1 and the point server 2. In the present embodiment, the Internet is used as the network 3. That is, the member store terminal 1 and the point server 2 are connected by the Internet 3.

The mobile telephone 5 as a communication device is connected to a telephone network (not shown) via a base station device 7 and a mobile communication control station device 8, and can communicate with other telephones. I have. The mobile communication control station 8 is connected to the Internet 3, and character data is transmitted from the server connected via the Internet 3 to the mobile phone 5.

For example, the portable telephone 5 is connected to the point server 2
And inquires about the points stored in the member management file, receives the data on the current number of remaining points transmitted from the point server 2, and displays the data on the number of points on the screen of the mobile phone 5. Can be displayed.

The dedicated terminal 6 is installed at a sales office of a company that operates a point service, and is communicably connected to the point server 2 via a dedicated line. Also,
The dedicated terminal 6 is provided with a connection means (same configuration as the connection device 13 described above) for connecting the mobile phone 5 so that the identification number (telephone number) stored in the mobile phone 5 can be read. Have been. Then, based on the telephone number read from the mobile phone 5, it is possible to access the point account stored in the member management file of the point server, and perform the processing related to the point.

For example, when a communication company providing a mobile phone service provides a point service, the dedicated terminal 6 is installed in a directly managed shop of the communication company, and the points are cashed at the directly managed shop, a so-called cashback service. Is carried out.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the point server according to the first embodiment.

The point server 2 includes a control unit 21 and a storage unit 2
2, the communication unit 25 and the like.

The control unit 21 is composed of a central processing unit (CPU), and calculates information input to the point server 2 based on a program stored in the storage unit 22 to provide an external control of the point server 2. Output the signal.

The storage unit 22 is composed of a storage device such as a memory and a disk device, and has a member management file for storing the above-mentioned point information and a use history file for storing the use information of points at the member stores. Point information storage means and use history storage means.

The communication section 25 is connected to the Internet 3 and constitutes a transmission means for outputting information stored in the server and a result processed by the server to the outside of the server via the Internet 3. I have.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the member management file according to the first embodiment. As described above, this member management file is provided in the storage unit 22 of the point server 2.

In the member management file, the identification number (telephone number of the mobile phone) of the communication device 5 is used as the number for identifying the customer. With this telephone number as a member number, customer personal information such as name and address and point information such as accumulated points are stored to form a point account. This telephone number is input by the customer to the member store terminal 1 during the transaction, or the member store terminal 1
The telephone number identifies the customer and identifies the customer's point account. Then, the accumulated points of the customer's point account are read out, the accumulated points of the customer's point account are rewritten based on the transaction information transmitted in accordance with the transaction at the member store, and further, the member data for each new customer is updated. Generate a point account as.

That is, when the customer presents the telephone number at the time of the transaction, the member management file is searched for the same telephone number based on the telephone number transmitted from the member store terminal 1. If the same telephone number is not stored, member data (point account) corresponding to the telephone number is newly created. Then, based on the transaction information transmitted from the member store terminal 1, after the transaction is completed, the member management file is updated by adding / subtracting the accumulated points.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the usage history file according to the first embodiment. As described above, this use history file is provided in the storage unit 22 of the point server 2.

The use history file stores information on transactions between customers and member stores. In other words, the transaction date, the transaction store (store code assigned to the member store), the transaction amount, and the increase / decrease value of the points related to the current transaction are stored in association with the telephone number which is the identification number for specifying the customer.

Each transaction data stored in the usage history file is created based on data transmitted from the member store terminal 1 and stored in the usage history file.

Next, the operation of the point server will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server when a customer purchases a product at a member store and the points are updated in the first embodiment.

When a customer purchases a product at a member store, the customer inputs a telephone number into the input device 11 of the member store terminal 1 (or
The phone number is read from the mobile phone 5 by the reading device 12 and the connection device 13). Then, the member store terminal 1 transmits the acquired telephone number of the mobile phone 5 to the point server 2.

When receiving the telephone number transmitted from the member store terminal 1 (S101), the point server 2 searches whether or not this telephone number has already been registered in the member management file (S102). Then, in the member management file,
It is determined whether or not the member data corresponding to the telephone number transmitted from the member store terminal 1 is recorded (S10).
3).

If there is member data (point account) corresponding to the telephone number transmitted from the member store terminal 1 in the member management file, the member data is locked so that the member data cannot be rewritten. (S11)
4). If the member data is locked, it is determined that another member store terminal 1 is accessing the member data and the member data cannot be rewritten and updated. To notify that the point information (accumulated points) corresponding to the telephone number cannot be updated and points cannot be accumulated (S116).

On the other hand, if the member data is not locked, the member data can be rewritten and updated. Therefore, the member store terminal 1 locks the member data in order to secure the right to rewrite the member data. And other merchant terminals 1
To prohibit rewriting to this member data (S115),
Proceed to step S107.

On the other hand, the member store terminal 1
If there is no member data corresponding to the telephone number transmitted from, it is determined that this customer needs to be registered as a new member, and member data corresponding to this telephone number (customer) is newly created, Additional registration is made in the member management file (S104). At this time, the communication company determining means determines which communication company has given the telephone number presented by the customer. In other words, if the telephone number is given by the affiliated telecommunications company (or your own if the telecommunications company provides point services), the personal information such as the customer's name and address is held by the telecommunications company. By using the information reported by the customer at the time of starting the mobile phone service, it is not necessary to newly request the customer to provide personal information.

Then, in order for the member store terminal 1 to secure the right to rewrite the member data, the member data is locked, and rewriting to the member data from other member store terminals 1 is prohibited (S105). . Then, the accumulated points are set to the initial values. This initial value may be "0", but it may be set so as to give the customer an initial value of about 1000 points in order to promote membership of the mobile phone holder.

When the member data (point account) corresponding to the telephone number transmitted from the member store terminal 1 is specified in the member management file, the accumulated point value of the member data is read (S107). And member store terminal 1
The read accumulated point value is transmitted to the
8).

When the member store terminal 1 receives the accumulated point value stored in the member management file, the member store terminal 1 calculates an increase / decrease value of points related to the transaction in accordance with the content of the transaction with the customer. Then, a telephone number, a store code, a transaction amount, and a point increase / decrease value are transmitted as transaction data.

When receiving the transaction data from the member store terminal 1 (S109), the point server 2 rewrites and updates the accumulated points based on the number of points increase / decrease in the transaction data (S110). When the update of the member management file is completed, the member data is unlocked (S1).
11). Further, the received transaction data is added to the usage history file to update the usage history file (S11).
2). Thereafter, an update processing end signal indicating that the processing in the point server 2 has been completed is transmitted to the member store terminal 1, and the number of points after the increase / decrease due to the current transaction is notified (S113). Then, the point update processing ends.

When the member store terminal 1 receives the update processing end signal, the member store terminal 1 prints the increase / decrease value of the number of points related to the current transaction and the cumulative value of the number of points received from the point server 2 to the customer, Notice.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server when the customer checks the number of remaining points and the use history of points from the mobile phone in the first embodiment.

When the mobile phone 5 is connected to the communication network,
The mobile phone 5 performs an encryption operation on the authentication request (random number) transmitted from the base station device 7 to determine whether the mobile phone 5 is legitimate, and returns the calculation result to the base station device 7 to move the mobile phone 5. The communication network side (for example, the mobile communication control station device 8) collates the calculation result and authenticates whether the mobile phone 5 is legitimate. Therefore, if the result of the encryption operation by the mobile phone 5 does not match the result of the encryption operation by the mobile communication network, the connection between the mobile phone 5 and the base station apparatus 7 network is rejected.

When the point server 2 receives a connection request from the mobile phone 5 that has been authenticated as described above (S12).
1), the point server 2 acquires the authentication information transmitted together with the connection request signal (S122), and checks whether the authentication information is valid (S123).

If it is determined that the authentication information is valid,
The connection from the mobile phone 5 to the point server 2 is accepted, and it is searched whether or not the telephone number of the mobile phone 5 is registered in the member management file (S124). If the member data corresponding to the telephone number of the mobile phone 5 is retrieved ("YES" in S125), the use history file is retrieved (S126), and the use history data corresponding to the telephone number is extracted. Read this data (S1
27). Then, the total number of points read from the member management file and the usage history data read from the usage history file are transmitted to the mobile phone 5 as point information and usage history information (S128).

As described above, the point account of the customer is specified by the telephone number of the mobile phone 5 and the point information stored in the point server 2 is transmitted to the mobile phone 5. By using, the customer does not need to input a personal identification number such as an ID number or a password from the mobile phone 5 and can confirm the points.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the display state of the point use history on the display screen of the portable cellular phone according to the first embodiment.

The point use history display screen is used to inquire the use history from the mobile phone 5 to the point server 2 and to receive the current number of points from the point server 2 and the use at the member store used in connection with this point service. This is displayed on the display screen of the mobile phone as a result of acquiring the history. In the display screen shown in FIG. 7, the accumulated points stored in the member management file of the point server 2 are displayed below the screen title, and the member stores stored in the usage history file of the point server 2 are displayed below the total points. Is displayed.

Next, a series of processes from the provision of points to the settlement of points in the first embodiment described above will be described.

First, a customer (point member) performs a transaction such as purchasing a product with a member store (point issuer).
Present the telephone number of the customer's mobile phone and offer to issue points. Even if the customer is not a point member at the time of applying for point issuance, member data (point account) corresponding to this telephone number is newly created in the member management file, so that there is no need to apply for a new member. . Then, when the transaction with the customer is completed, the member store issues points to the customer according to the transaction content. The member store that issued the points pays the money corresponding to the issued points to the point service provider (point management company). For example, pay 2 yen per point.

Thereafter, the customer presents the telephone number of the customer's mobile phone when making a transaction with the member store (point redemption trader), and applies for the purchase of merchandise using the points. Then, when the transaction with the customer is completed, the member store invoices the point management company for points according to the contents of the transaction with the customer, with the value per point being 1 yen. The point service provider pays 1 yen per point for this request.

The point service provider receives 2 yen per point from the member store that issued the points to the customer, and pays 1 yen per point to the member store that returned the points to the customer. 1 per
Yen) is the revenue of the point service provider and is used for the operation of the point service.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a point system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a content server 4 communicably connected to the point server 2 is provided. In the configuration having the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, detailed description of the same operations will be omitted.

The content server 4 is connected to the Internet 3
A portal site is provided for providing information (for example, information on affiliated stores) to the mobile phone 5 through the Internet, and for mediating sales of products.

That is, the content server 4 calls up the content stored in the storage means provided in the content server 4 based on the code (for example, URL) corresponding to the location of the content input to the mobile phone 5. To the mobile phone 5 via the Internet 3.

The storage section of the content server 4 stores information on member stores, and constitutes member store information storage means. The information on the member store is sent to the mobile phone 5 in response to a request from the mobile phone 5,
On the screen of the mobile phone 5, it is possible to see information on the member store, such as the location of the member store, the telephone number, and the products handled. The member store information can be called directly from the use history screen described above with reference to FIG. That is, FIG.
In the point use history screen shown in, when a member store displayed in a specific notation method (for example, underlined, different fonts, etc.) is specified, and "OK" at the bottom of the screen is operated, the specified member The point server 2 is informed that the information of the store is to be called. The point server 2 converts the information of the designated member store into a code corresponding to the location of the content on the content server 4 to obtain information on the member store. Is read from the content server 4 and transmitted to the mobile phone 5. The member server may be directly transmitted from the content server 4 to the mobile phone 5 without passing through the point server 2.

Further, based on the designation of the member store from the mobile phone 5, the store code is transmitted from the point server 2 to the content server 4, and the member server information is searched by the search means of the content server 4. You may.

Further, the storage section of the content server 4 stores pay contents to be provided to the mobile phone 5 and constitutes a content storage means. Access to the paid content provided by the content storage means is performed via the point server 2,
It is configured to pay for the provision of the pay content by using the points stored in the member management file (point account) on the point server 2.

That is, when there is a request for access to pay contents from the mobile phone 5, the point server 2 obtains the authentication information sent from the mobile communication network side (for example, the mobile communication control station device 8). The authentication information is transferred to the content server 4. Then, the content server 4
Check that the connection is from a valid mobile phone 5,
The charge information corresponding to the requested paid content is transmitted to the point server 2, and the payment ability of the mobile phone 5 is confirmed.

The point server 2 stores the accumulated point value (the number of remaining points) of the point account related to the portable telephone 5.
Confirm that if points with a value exceeding the fee for this paid content are accumulated in the point account, the points corresponding to the fee for this paid content are subtracted from the point account, and that there is the ability to pay for this paid content To the content server 4. Then, the content server 4 transmits the pay content to the mobile phone 5.

When the transmission of the pay content is completed and the confirmation signal indicating that the pay content has been received is transmitted from the mobile phone 5, the content server 4 terminates the transmission of the pay content to the point server 2. Notice. The point server 2 that has received the transmission end notification determines the decrement from the point account. That is, on the point server, the point updating means for updating the point information at which the authentication information is confirmed is configured, and the point server 2 functions as a gateway server for pay information provided from the content server 4. ing.

As described above, in the present invention, the customer's point account is set up using the telephone number given to the mobile phone 5 as a member number, and the pay content from the mobile phone is used by using the authentication function between the mobile communication network and the mobile phone. The user can pay for the paid content from the point account without inputting personal information such as a credit card number and a password from the mobile phone 5 when purchasing the mobile phone 5. The accumulated points can be effectively utilized without incurring the customer the trouble of inputting personal information such as.

Next, a description will be given of a point settlement process according to the second embodiment. The process of giving points is the same as in the first embodiment.

The customer uses the accumulated points to
When using cyber contents on a network from a mobile phone, the accumulated points are used for paying for paid contents. And the content provider
When paid content is provided to a customer, points corresponding to the contents of the transaction with the customer are charged to a point management company with a value per point of 1 yen. Then, the point service provider pays 1 yen per point for this request.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a point system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a server according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a member management file according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a usage history file according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the server when updating points according to the first embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the server at the time of confirming a remaining point according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a telephone number display by the portable mobile phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a point system according to a second embodiment of this invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Member store terminal 2 Point server 3 Internet 4 Content server 5 Mobile telephone 6 Dedicated terminal device 7 Base station device 8 Mobile communication control station device 11 Input device 12 Reading device 13 Connection device 21 Control unit 22 Storage unit 23 Input unit 25 Communication unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04M 1/2745 H04M 1/2745 3/42 3/42 C 11/00 302 11/00 302

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A point system comprising: a member store terminal installed at a member store that can use a point service; and a point server communicably connected to the member store terminal. Transaction processing means for processing the transaction based on information inputted with respect to the transaction, customer identification means for identifying a customer involved in the transaction, and transaction information transmitting means for transmitting transaction information relating to the transaction to the point server The point server has point information storage means for accumulating and storing point information on points accumulated in accordance with the transaction with the customer, based on the transaction information of the customer from the member store terminal, A point system wherein the point information is accumulated and stored in association with an identification number given to a communication device held by a customer. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is a wireless communication device having communication means for communicating with another telephone, and the identification number is a telephone number assigned to the wireless communication device. The point system described. 3. The point system according to claim 1, wherein the customer identification unit includes a reading unit that reads an identification number stored in the communication device. 4. The point system according to claim 3, wherein the reading unit reads a telephone number displayed on a display screen of the communication device. 5. The point server according to claim 1, wherein the point server includes point information transmitting means for transmitting the accumulated point information to the communication device in response to an inquiry from the communication device. 4. The point system according to any one of 4. 6. An information providing server for providing information to the communication device, wherein the point information is transmitted in response to an inquiry in a personal menu provided by the information providing server. Item 5. The point system according to item 5. 7. The point server, wherein a use history storage means for storing transaction history information at a member store in which a transaction related to the point information has been made, and in response to an inquiry from the communication device, The point system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a history information transmitting unit configured to transmit accumulated usage history information to the communication device. 8. The information providing server includes a member store information storage unit for storing information of the member store, and the member store information storage unit stores the member store information based on the use history information transmitted by the point server. The point system according to claim 7, further comprising a member store information search unit that searches for store information and sends a search result corresponding to the use history information to the communication device. 9. The point server, based on a result of authenticating whether the communication device is legitimate in a communication network provided on a communication path between the communication device and the point server, The point system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: a point information updating unit that updates point information on the communication device after confirming the communication. 10. The information providing server has content storage means for storing content to be provided to the communication device, and provides the content after confirming an authentication result by the point information updating means. Item 10. The point system according to item 9.