JP2003233745A - Point managing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable utilization of both IC points and online points in utilization from a terminal with an IC card reader-writer, and utilization of the online points in utilization from a terminal without the IC card reader-writer. <P>SOLUTION: When points are issued to a point member by a point service procedure from a user PC 31 without the IC card reader-writer, an Internet shop server 12 adds the issued points to the online points 111 of the member stored in a point server DB 110 of a point server 11. When points are issued to the point member by the point service procedure from a user PC 32 with the IC card reader-writer, the Internet shop server 12 adds the issued points to the IC points stored in an IC card ICC of the member inserted in the IC card reader-writer 33 or to the online points 111 of the member stored in the point server DB 110. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a point management method for managing points given to point members,
In particular, the present invention relates to a point management method and a point service system in which an IC card owned by a point member and a server computer (point server) on a network can be applied to store points.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, when a customer purchases a product, the number of stores, companies, groups, etc. to which a point service system is applied, in which points corresponding to the purchase price are given to the customer, are increasing. In order to apply this point service system, membership registration as a point member, and for example, a card with a card number printed, a so-called point card, may be issued. Usually member ID (member identification information)
The card number is used for.

Since a point card is generally not a card type storage medium, points cannot be stored in the card. Therefore, conventionally, the points for each point member are managed on a server computer called a point server. The point server is connected to a terminal installed in a store, for example, a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal by a communication line such as a network.

When a customer who has registered as a point member purchases a product at a store, the clerk inputs the card number (member ID) printed on the point card presented by the customer from the POS terminal, and further sales information (payment information). ) Is entered. PO
The S terminal calculates the number of points to be newly given corresponding to the sales amount, that is, the purchase amount for the customer according to the sales information. Then, the POS terminal transmits the calculated number of points and the calculated card number to the point server to request the point update. Upon receiving the point number and the card number from the POS terminal, the point server adds the point number to the point of the customer (point member) identified by the card number managed by itself. The newly added points and the total points after addition are sent from the server to the terminal and reflected in receipt printing or the like.

On the other hand, when the customer uses points for payment, the clerk inputs the card number of the point card of the customer from the POS terminal. Point server is POS
The corresponding customer is identified by the card number transmitted from the POS terminal, the point number of the identified customer managed by the customer, that is, the available point number is notified to the POS terminal and displayed on the terminal. Then, the clerk inputs the number of payment points (the number of points used) from the POS terminal,
Request payment processing. The point server subtracts the payment point number from the point member point number identified previously to calculate the remaining number. The number of points to be paid (the number of points used) and the remaining number of points are PO from the point server.
It is sent to the S terminal and reflected in receipt printing and the like.

In the point processing described above, when a personal computer, a mobile information terminal, a mobile phone or the like is used as a user (customer) terminal for online shopping (virtual shopping, Internet shopping) from the terminal, the terminal is also processed. And the point server, an internet shop server is interposed, and the procedure is almost the same.

[0007]

As described above, in the system using the conventional point card, the point cannot be stored in the card. Therefore, conventionally, the points of each point member are managed on the point server. Therefore, in the conventional system, the terminal needs to be online connected to the point server in order to give points to the presenter of the point card or make the accumulated points available for payment.
However, for that reason, it is not efficient for the terminal to occupy the line, and depending on the state of the line, the customer may have to wait for point processing.

On the other hand, recently, as a card type storage medium,
IC cards with built-in memory have appeared. This IC
Since the card has a larger storage capacity than that of a magnetic card and it is difficult to change the stored contents, it has an excellent security function, and a single card can realize a plurality of functions such as a credit card function and a debit card function.

Therefore, it is possible to use this IC card as a point card and store the number of points in the IC card (hereinafter, also referred to as IC point card). In this case, since the terminal can read / write data from / to the IC point card, even if the terminal is not online connected to the point server at that time, that is, the terminal is offline to the point server. Even if there is, it is predicted that point processing will be possible.

In order for the terminal to read / write from / to the IC point card, the terminal must be provided with an IC card reader / writer. However, it is inconceivable that all point members will have terminals (personal computers, etc.) equipped with an IC card reader / writer. Therefore, when applying the IC point card, I
It is necessary to consider both usage from a terminal with a C card reader / writer and usage from a terminal without an IC card reader / writer. In this case, there is a possibility that a discrepancy may occur between the number of points stored in the IC point card and the number of points managed by the point server as in the conventional case. In addition, conventional point card, that is, non-IC
It is also necessary to consider enabling the use of cards.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to store points in an IC card (IC points) and points in a point server when the IC card is used as a point card. By applying two types of points, (online point), both the IC point and online point can be used when used from a terminal with an IC card reader / writer, and
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a point management method and a point service system in which online points can be used in the case of using a terminal without a card reader / writer, as in the case of using a conventional non-IC card.

Another object of the present invention is to download online points on a point server to an IC card,
Another object of the present invention is to provide a point management method and a point service system capable of uploading IC points on an IC card onto a point server.

[0013]

According to one aspect of the present invention, points given to a point member by a point service procedure at a terminal are accumulated as IC points in an IC card owned by the point member. There is provided a point management method capable of accumulating the given points as online points in a point server connected to the terminal via a network. According to this method, when the terminal is a first terminal that is not equipped with an IC card reader / writer and points are given to a point member by a point service procedure at the first terminal, the number of points given is A step of executing a first point giving process for adding the online points of the point member stored in the server by the point server,
It is a second terminal equipped with a C card reader / writer, and when points are given to a point member by a point service procedure at the second terminal, the point member gives the point through the second terminal. The step of accepting the designation of the point type, and the number of points given to the point member according to the designation of the given point type,
A second point granting process of adding the IC points stored in the point member's IC card to the point server by the second terminal through the IC card reader / writer by the second terminal, or the number of points granted to the point member. And a step of executing a third point granting process of adding the accumulated online points of the point member by the point server.

In such a point management method,
When using an IC card as a point card, I
By making it possible to apply two types of points, points accumulated on the C card (IC points) and points accumulated on the point server (online points),
When a point member uses a terminal with an IC card reader / writer, both IC points and online points can be granted. Moreover, even when used from a terminal without an IC card reader / writer, online points can be provided by using a conventional non-IC card. It can be granted in the same way as when using it.

Here, in the point service procedure at the second terminal, a step of accepting designation of point use, type of use point and number of use points from point members, and the use of this point, type of use point and number of use points Depending on the designation, the IC of the corresponding point member
Corresponding to the first point use processing of subtracting the designated number of use points from the IC points stored in the card by the second terminal via the IC card reader / writer, or the point member stored in the point server It is preferable to add a step of executing a second point utilization process for causing the point server to subtract the designated number of utilization points from the online points. By doing so, it becomes possible to pay by using points either from IC points or online points.

[0016] In the point service procedure at the second terminal, a step of accepting a point upload designation from the point member via the second terminal,
In response to this point upload designation, a step of prompting the point member to input the number of points to be uploaded by the second terminal, and the input number of upload points is stored in the IC card of the corresponding point member. It is advisable to add a step of subtracting from the IC point by the second terminal and a step of adding the input point number to the online point of the corresponding point member accumulated in the point server by the point server.

In this way, the IC points on the IC card can be uploaded to the point server when used from a terminal equipped with an IC card reader / writer. As a result, point members can
When paying with online points for shopping at virtual or real stores that do not have a C card reader / writer, the increased online points can be used by uploading points.

In the point service procedure at the second terminal, a step of accepting a point download specification from the point member via the second terminal,
In response to the point download designation, the step of prompting the point member to input the number of points to be downloaded by the second terminal, and the corresponding point member's online points accumulated in the point server by the input number of points. From the point server, and a step of adding the number of input points to the IC points accumulated in the IC card of the corresponding point member by the second terminal may be added.

With this arrangement, online points on the point server can be downloaded to the IC card when used from a terminal equipped with an IC card reader / writer. As a result, if point members pay IC points for shopping at a virtual or real store equipped with an IC card reader / writer after downloading points, I will increase by point download.
C points can be used.

In addition to the online points of each point member, the point server holds IC point record information for managing the number of IC points accumulated in the IC card of each point member. It is advisable to adopt the configuration. By doing so, the terminal without the IC card reader / writer (first terminal), that is, I
In response to a point inquiry request using a terminal in which a C card cannot be used, not only the number of online points accumulated in the point server but also the IC point indicated by the IC point record information held in the point server The number of points can also be presented to the point member via the requesting terminal.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of a point service system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a point management system 10
Is a point server 11, an Internet shop server 12, and an interface server (I / F server) 1
3 and 3.

The point server 11 is a computer (server computer) provided with a database (hereinafter referred to as a point server DB) 110 realized by using a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk device. This point server D
B110 has 1 Online Point
11 and IC point record information 112,
Member record 11 including member information (personal information) 113
4 is accumulated for the number of point members. Member information 113
Contains the ID and password (PWD). The point server 11 is equipped with a software program for managing points of each point member using the point server DB 110.

The online points 111 in the member record 114 are information representing the number of online points acquired by the corresponding point member. Online points are points accumulated and managed on the point server 11. The IC point record information 112 is information held in the point server DB 110 so that the point server 11 can grasp and manage the points accumulated and managed on the IC point card owned by the point member. Points accumulated and managed on the IC point card are called IC points. The total number of online points and IC points is the number of points earned by the point member. That is, the points acquired by the point member are distributed and accumulated in the IC point card owned by the point member and the point server 11. The IC point card is an IC card used as a point card, and has a memory, a CPU, and a program executed by the CPU. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the point server DB 110 also stores point processing history data, which will be described later, and data of stores that belong to a group that provides a common point service.

The Internet shop server 12 transmits a Web page for online shopping to the terminal by access from an information terminal such as a personal computer, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a store information terminal, etc., and the user at the terminal. Computer (server computer) that realizes online shopping based on (customer) operations
Is. The internet shop server 12 is equipped with a software program 120 for realizing this online shopping. This software program 120 includes processing functions for point services.

The point management system 10 is provided with another point management system 6 which is affiliated with the point management system 10 for a point service via the interface server 13 in the point management system 10.
0 is connected. This point management system 10,
Between 60 points, for point members common to both systems, the points given to the point member by one point management system can be replaced as online points of the point member managed by the other point management system. It is like this. In order to change the points between the point management systems 10 and 60, it is preferable to set a rate (point conversion rate) at the time of changing the points in a table or the like.

To the point management system 10, for example, personal computers (hereinafter referred to as user PCs) 31, 32 as user terminals used by customers at home or the like are connected via the Internet 20. User P
C31 and C32 are Internet shop servers 1 in the point management system 10 via the Internet 20.
By accessing No. 2, it is used for online shopping (virtual shopping). here,
Among the user PCs 31 and 32, the user PC 32 is
A readable / writable IC card reader / writer (ICC R / W) 33 for the C card ICC is connected. That is, the user PC 31 is a PC without an IC card reader / writer, and the user PC 32 is a PC with an IC card reader / writer. In this embodiment,
IC card reader / writer 33, store information terminal 5 described later
1 or the IC card ICC read / written by the IC card reader / writer 54 is an IC card owned by the point member as an IC point card.

The point management system 10 is connected to an in-store information terminal 51 installed in each existing store (real store) via the dedicated line network 40. The in-store information terminal 51 is used for online shopping on the Internet shop server 12 according to the operation of the customer. The in-store information terminal 51 incorporates an IC card reader / writer (not shown). That is, the store information terminal 51
A terminal with an IC card reader / writer. Note that there is a street information terminal installed on the street, which corresponds to the in-store information terminal 51.

Further, in the point management system 10, the P installed in each actual store (real store) via the leased line network 40 and the POS servers 41 and 42.
The OS terminals 52 and 53 are connected. POS terminals 52, 5
An IC card reader / writer (ICC R / W) 54 is connected to the POS terminal 53 of the three. That is,
The POS terminal 52 is a terminal without an IC card reader / writer, and the POS terminal 53 is a terminal with an IC card reader / writer. Software programs 520 and 530 for POS management including a point service processing function are installed in the POS terminals 52 and 53.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the data structure (data format) of the member record 114 stored in the point server DB 110 of the point server 11. As shown in FIG. 1, the member record 114 includes the online point 111, IC point record information 112, and member information 113. The member information 113 includes the member ID, password, name and address information of the corresponding point member. In addition, the member information of each point member, the information of the online points, and the IC point record information are linked by a pointer or the like for each point member,
It may physically be stored in different storage areas.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a data structure of information recorded in an IC card ICC used as an IC point card. As shown in the figure, the IC card ICC includes a member I who is a point member who owns the IC card ICC.
It includes each information of D, password, name and IC point (IC point number).

FIG. 4 shows an example of the data structure of the point processing history data (point processing history data of the point server) accumulated in the point server DB 110 of the point server 11. The point processing history data of the point server is a record generated every time point processing (point service processing) is executed by the point server 11, and is stored in the point server DB 110. This point processing history data (point processing history record) is
The record number as identification information of the data (record), the type of point that is the target of point processing (IC
Each of the information includes a point data section indicating points / online points) and a processing section indicating a point processing type. This processing classification is given points, which will be described later,
Points can be used, points can be uploaded (UP), and points can be downloaded (DOWN). Further, the point processing history data includes date and time of occurrence of data (point data), data generation classification indicating a data generation terminal (PC, POS), processing store number, processing terminal ID, member I.
It includes each information of D and the number of processing points. When the data generation category is PC, the processing store number and processing terminal ID fields are blank.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the data structure of the point processing history data (point processing history data of the POS server) accumulated in the POS servers 42 and 43. The point processing history data of the POS server is the POS server 42, 43.
Is generated each time point processing for one record is executed, and is stored in a DB (not shown) in the POS server 42, 43. This point processing history data includes record number, date and time of data generation, processing store number, processing classification indicating the type of point processing, I of processing terminal (POS terminal).
It includes information of D, point data classification, member ID, and number of processing points.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the data structure of server update data generated when the POS servers 42 and 43 perform point batch processing. The server update data is roughly classified into two types, one for giving (or using) IC points and the other for uploading, and has the same data structure. The server update data for giving (or using) IC points is the point processing history data accumulated in the POS servers 42 and 43, and the processing classification is “grant” (or “use”) and the point data classification is “IC point”. A group of records generated from the point processing history data of "," and a processing category indicating "grant" (or "use"). On the other hand, the server update data for upload includes a group of records generated from the point processing history data whose processing category is “upload” among the point processing history data accumulated in the POS servers 42 and 43, and “upload”. And the processing category shown. Here, each record in the server update data includes a member ID and the number of points (number of granted points, number of used points or number of uploaded points).

In the present embodiment, the points applied in the point service system of FIG. 1 are "IC points" accumulated on the IC card owned by the point member.
And a point server 11 in the point management system 10, that is, a point called “online point” that is stored and managed by a server on the network.

This embodiment is also characterized by the following points. That is, in the point service system of FIG. 1, since the “online point” is stored on the point server 11, it can be used regardless of the presence or absence of the IC card.
Point members who own an IC card can purchase at a store (real store) that does not have an IC card reader / writer,
Points can be accumulated as “online points” on the point server 11 during virtual shopping (purchase at a virtual store) from a home PC or the like without a reader / writer connection. When point members pay credit or purchase cash with a non-IC card at the store, for example, after confirming the membership with a magnetic card (magnetic stripe card) as a credit card, the point server 1
It is also possible to accumulate points as "online points" on 1.

Points can be accumulated as "IC points" on the IC card at the time of purchase at a store having an IC card reader / writer facility. Even when using an IC card (IC point card), depending on the customer's specifications,
It is also possible to give / use “online points” instead of “IC points”. Further, between the “online point” on the IC card and the “online point” on the point server 11, a terminal with an IC card reader / writer connected to the network (in the example of FIG. 1,
User PC 32, store information terminal 51, POS terminal 53)
You can upload and download points through. It should be noted that the products to be purchased at the real store or virtual store are not limited to tangible items, but also include information (contents) downloaded through the network and intangible items such as various services. What is product purchase?
It is a transaction that requires consideration, and points are awarded according to the consideration (purchase amount).

The above features will be described in detail below. (1) Point giving (1.1) Online shopping First, in the system of FIG. 1, a customer (point member) K performs an operation for online shopping from a PC with an IC card reader / writer, for example, a user PC 32. The point granting in the case of being described will be described with reference to the operation explanatory diagram of FIG. 7.

Now, when the customer K uses the user PC 32 to access the Internet shop server 12 via the Internet 20, a Web screen enabling online shopping is sent to the user PC 32 and the browser of the user PC 32 is used. It is assumed to have been displayed. At this time, the program necessary for processing for online shopping and point service is
It is sent from the Internet shop server 12 to the user PC 32 along with the screen b. The dedicated program may be installed in the user PC 32 in advance.

Next, it is assumed that the customer K has performed an operation for online shopping from the user PC 32 on the Web screen. Then, the internet shop server 12 determines the number of points to be given from the purchase amount (planned sales amount) for online shopping, and displays the settlement screen including the number of points on the user PC 32 (step A1). Thereby, the customer K can confirm the number of points to be given on the payment screen displayed on the user PC 32.

In the present embodiment, I, such as the user PC 32,
When using a terminal with a C card reader / writer, IC
Although points are given as standard, it is possible to choose to give online points. Therefore, in the present embodiment, for example, a payment method selection screen is arranged (or linked) on the settlement screen so that not only IC points but also online points can be selected, that is, selection of award point type. It can be specified. Here, it is also possible to divide the number of points to be given and specify to give both IC points and online points. However, since the granting of online points has been conventionally known, here is a standard when using a terminal with an IC card reader / writer,
A case where the giving of IC points is selected will be described.

When the operation of selecting an IC point is performed on the payment method selection screen, the Internet shop server 12 gives the customer K an IC card ICC, an IC card reader / writer (here, the IC card reader / writer 3).
3), and the user PC 32 displays a password input screen prompting the user to enter a password.
Therefore, the customer K inserts the IC card ICC as an IC point card into the IC card reader / writer 33 connected to the user PC 32, and thereafter inputs the password from the input unit provided in the IC card reader / writer 33. The operation is performed (step A2). Then, the IC card ICC executes a member authentication process for authenticating the customer (point member) K based on the input password and the customer information recorded in the IC card ICC (step A3). The result of the member authentication process with the IC card ICC is displayed from the IC card reader / writer 33 to the user PC 32.
Will be notified.

If the user authentication is successful, the user PC 32 displays a message on the screen of the user PC 32 to prompt the execution of the payment process. When the customer K performs an operation for instructing the payment processing using the user PC 32 in accordance with this message, the user PC 32 instructs the Internet shop server 12 to perform the payment processing (step A4). In response to this, the Internet shop server 12 executes payment processing, and if credit payment is made, further executes credit authorization (credit inquiry) to the credit payment system 70 (step A).
5). If the member authentication is unsuccessful, a screen prompting re-input is displayed on the PC 32.

When the Internet shop server 12 receives the notification of the end of the credit authorization (hereinafter referred to as credit authorization) processing from the credit settlement system 70 (step A6), the point server 11 is notified of the number of IC points to be given to the customer K. Notify me,
Request to give IC points. As a result, the point server 11 determines the number of IC points to be given to the customer K as I
The IC point on the IC card ICC inserted in the C card reader / writer 33 is transferred to the IC point by the user PC 32.
Addition is performed via the card reader / writer 33 (step A7). In other words, the Internet shop server 12
The IC points recorded in the IC card ICC of the customer K are updated by the user PC 32 through the point server 11 according to the number of newly added IC points.

Further, the point server 11 adds the number of IC points to be given requested from the Internet shop server 12 to the IC point record information 112 in the member record 114 of the customer K stored in the point server DB 110. (Step A8). In other words, the Internet shop server 12 updates the IC point record information 112 of the customer K by the point server 11 according to the number of newly added IC points. The number of IC points of the customer K after this update, that is, the total number of IC points of the customer K to which the number of IC points to be given is added, is the internet shop server 12
Passed to. As a result, the Internet shop server 12 causes the user PC 32 to display a settlement end screen including the number of IC points to be given and the total number of IC points (step A9).

In the above, the giving of IC points in online shopping (virtual shopping) from the user PC 32 equipped with an IC card reader / writer has been described. The procedure here is the online shopping IC from the in-store information terminal 51 with an IC card reader / writer.
The same applies to point awarding.

When online shopping is performed using a terminal without an IC card reader / writer such as the user PC 31, the points that can be given are limited to online points. In this embodiment, the point server 1
One point server DB 110 stores and manages online points 111 separately from the IC point record information 112 for each point member. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the processing of granting the online points to the customer while applying the IC points is realized by adding the number of online points to be granted to the online points 111. The process of giving the online points is the same as the process at the time of conventional online shopping, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(1.2) Shopping at a store Next, in the system of FIG. 1, the customer (point member)
Pointing when K is a POS terminal with an IC card reader / writer, for example, shopping at a store where the POS terminal 53 is installed will be described with reference to the operation explanatory diagram of FIG.

First, the customer K inserts the IC card ICC as an IC point card into the IC card reader / writer 54 connected to the POS terminal 53 at the time of checkout, and inputs the password from the input section of the IC card reader / writer 54. Input (step B1). Then IC card ICC
Executes a member authentication process for authenticating the customer K based on the entered password and the customer information recorded in the IC card ICC (step B2). IC card I
The result of the member authentication process in CC is notified to the POS terminal 53.

If the member authentication is successful, the POS terminal 53 automatically executes the settlement process (settlement process) according to the built-in software program 530 (step B).
3). Here, the customer is the user PC 32 (I
As in the case of online shopping using a PC with a C card reader / writer, the type of points to be given can be specified. Also, if you pay by credit card,
Credit payment system 7 via POS server 42
The credit authorization is executed for 0 (step B3a).

When the payment process is completed, the POS terminal 53 adds the number of IC points to be given to the IC points on the IC card ICC inserted in the IC card reader / writer 54 (step B4). Next, POS terminal 5
3 is the above IC through the IC card reader / writer 54
From the card ICC, the number of added IC points accumulated in the card, that is, the latest total number of IC points is read, and the total number of IC points and the number of IC points given in step B4 are displayed on the terminal 53. At the same time, it is reflected in the receipt printing (step B5).

Next, the POS terminal 53 generates point processing history data having the data structure of FIG. 5 regarding the IC point addition this time, and stores it in the point processing history DB 420 on the POS server 42 (step B6). Customer K
The IC card ICC is pulled out from the IC card reader / writer 54 (step B7).

The POS server 42 is the target of batch processing from the point processing history data of the data structure of FIG. 5 currently stored in the point processing history DB 420 by batch processing, for example, daily batch processing. Retrieve the data. Here, the processing category is "grant",
The point data classification is “IC point”, and the point processing history data of the data generation date and time after the last batch processing, that is, the above step B4 is performed,
In addition, all the point processing history data for which the batch processing has not been processed are extracted. The POS server 42 generates a record having the data structure shown in FIG. 6, that is, a record including the member ID and the number of points (here, the number of points to be given) from the point processing history data to be subjected to the batch processing. Then, the POS server 42 generates the IC point granting server update data including the generated record group and the processing category indicating “granting”, and transmits the IC point granting server update data to the point server 11.
The point giving process by the point server 11 is requested (step B8).

The point server 11 is the POS server 42.
When the IC point granting server update data transmitted from the server is received, the number of points included in each record in the server update data is accumulated in the point server DB 110 according to the processing category “granting” in the server update data. Of the group of IC point record information 112 stored, it is added to the IC point record information 112 (in the member record 114) of the point member identified by the member ID included in each record (step B9). By this processing, the number of IC points indicated by the IC point record information 112 after addition is equal to the IC card I owned by the customer.
It matches the number of IC points accumulated in CC.

As described above, in this embodiment, the POS
The terminal 53 gives IC points to the IC card ICC presented by the customer without performing online processing, that is, real-time processing, with the point server 11. For this reason, the POS terminal 53 does not need to communicate with the point server 11 every time the process of giving an IC point is performed, and thus, points (corresponding to an online point in the present embodiment) are provided as in the conventional case. The load on the POS terminal 53 is reduced and the customer is not kept waiting as compared with the case where communication is performed with the point server each time the processing is performed. Moreover, the IC point record information 112 of each customer (point member) on the point server 11
The number of IC points indicated by is updated so as to match the number of IC points on the IC card ICC owned by the customer when the batch processing is completed. Therefore, it is inconvenient to give the IC points to the IC card ICC offline. There is no.

A PO with an IC card reader / writer
Shopping at a store without an S terminal, I
POS terminal without C card reader / writer, eg POS
When the checkout is performed at the terminal 52, the points that can be given are limited to online points. In the present embodiment, the point server DB 110 of the point server 11
Then, for each point member, IC point record information 112
Apart from this, online points 111 are accumulated and managed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the processing of granting the online points to the customer while applying the IC points is realized by adding the number of online points to be granted to the online points 111. Since the process of giving the online points is the same as the process at the time of shopping at a conventional store, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(2) Use of points (2.1) In case of online shopping Next, in the system of FIG. 1, a customer (point member) K receives online shopping from a PC with an IC card reader / writer, for example, a user PC 32. The use of points when the operation is performed will be described with reference to the operation explanatory diagram of FIG. 9.

First, it is assumed that the customer K uses the user PC 32 to access the internet shop server 12 and performs an operation for online shopping. Then, the internet shop server 12 causes the user PC 32 to display a payment screen including designation of point payment and the like (step C1). On this settlement screen, the point payment can be selected from payment by IC points only, payment by online points only, and payment by using both IC points and online points. It is also possible to specify the number of usage points. That is, it is possible to select the type of points used for payment (use point type) and specify the number of use points. Of course, it is also possible to specify that part of the payment is made by credit.

Here, it is assumed that the customer K uses the user PC 32 to perform an operation of selecting point payment, for example, payment by IC points, on the payment screen (step C2). When the user PC 32 detects that an operation such as payment by points is performed on the payment screen, the user PC 32 inserts the IC card ICC into the IC card reader / writer (here, the IC card reader / writer 33) for the customer K. , Display the password entry screen that prompts you to enter the password. Therefore, the customer K inserts the IC card ICC as an IC point card into the IC card reader / writer 33 connected to the user PC 32, and thereafter performs an operation of inputting a password (step C3). Then, the IC card ICC executes the member authentication process based on the entered password and the customer information recorded in the IC card ICC (step C4). The result of the member authentication process with the IC card ICC is the user PC 32.
Will be notified.

When the user authentication is successful, the user PC 32 reads the IC point number from the IC card ICC and displays it on the screen of the user PC 32. Furthermore, the user PC 32 displays a message on the screen of the user PC 32, which prompts the user to input the designated number of payment points and to execute the payment process. According to this message, the customer K inputs the number of payment points using the user PC 32 and performs an operation for instructing the payment processing, and the user PC 32 instructs the Internet shop server 12 to perform the payment processing (step C5). In response to this, the Internet shop server 12 executes the payment process based on the input designated payment point number (step C6).
If the point use and the credit payment are used together, the Internet shop server 12 executes the credit authorization for the credit payment system 70 (step C7).

When the internet shop server 12 receives the notice of the end of the credit authorization processing from the credit settlement system 70 (step C8), the point server 1 receives the designated payment points (payment IC points).
Notify 1 to use points (use of IC points)
To request. As a result, the point server 11 performs a process for the user PC 32 to subtract the designated payment point number (payment IC point number) from the IC point on the IC card ICC of the customer K inserted in the IC card reader / writer 33. (Step C9). In other words, the Internet shop server 12 uses the customer K's IC card IC
The IC points recorded in C are transferred to the user PC 3 through the point server 11 according to the designated number of payment points.
It will be updated by 2.

Further, the point server 11 subtracts the designated payment point number (payment IC point number) from the IC point record information 112 of the customer K accumulated in the point server DB 110 (step C10). That is, the Internet shop server 12 updates the IC point record information 112 of the customer K by the point server 11 according to the designated number of payment points.
Here, when the IC point and the online point are used together for the point payment, the designated first payment point number (payment IC point number) is subtracted from the customer K's IC point record information 112 and the customer K is also used. The designated second payment point number (payment online point number) may be subtracted from the online point 111.

When the step C10 is completed, the internet shop server 12 finishes the payment indicating the payment result and the latest data of the points (payment points, the current online points and IC points of the customer K, and the total points thereof). The screen is displayed on the user PC 32 (step C11).

The use of points in online shopping from the user PC 32 equipped with an IC card reader / writer has been described above. The procedure here is similarly applied to the point use in the online shopping from the in-store information terminal 51 equipped with the IC card reader / writer.

When online shopping is performed using a terminal without an IC card reader / writer such as the user PC 31, usable points are limited to online points. In the present embodiment, as described above, the point server DB 110 of the point server 11
Then, for each point member, IC point record information 112
Apart from this, online points 111 are accumulated and managed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the processing of using online points for payment while applying IC points is realized by subtracting the number of online points used for payment from the online points 111 of the corresponding customer. The process of using the online points is similar to the conventional point use process at the time of online shopping, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(2.2) In-store Shopping Next, in the system of FIG. 1, the customer (point member)
Point use when K is shopping at a POS terminal with an IC card reader / writer, for example, a store where the POS terminal 53 is placed, will be described with reference to the operation explanatory diagram of FIG. 10 using the use of IC points as an example. To do.

First, the customer K inserts the IC card ICC as an IC point card into the IC card reader / writer 54 connected to the POS terminal 53 at the time of checkout, and
Enter the password from the OS terminal 53 (step D
1). Then, the IC card ICC executes a member authentication process for authenticating the customer K based on the input password and the customer information recorded in the IC card ICC (step D2).

When the member authentication is successful, the POS terminal 53 reads the number of IC points stored in the IC card ICC inserted in the IC card reader / writer 54, and regards them as the number of IC points available to the customer K. It is displayed on the terminal 53 (step D3). To display the number of available points including the online points, a process of reading the online points 111 of the customer K stored in the point server DB 110 of the point server 11 (step D3a) may be added.

Next, the POS terminal 53 displays a payment screen. On this payment screen, the type of points used for payment can be selected. Therefore, the cashier (clerk) is the customer K
In accordance with the instruction from, the POS terminal 53 is used to select the type of points to be used for payment and to input the number of payment points on the payment screen. Then P
The OS terminal 53 executes a payment process (settlement process) (step D4). Here, if points are used and credit payment is used in combination, credit authorization is executed for the credit payment system 70 via the POS server 42, for example (step D4a).

When the settlement process is completed, the POS terminal 53 subtracts the designated payment point number (payment IC point number) from the IC points on the IC card ICC of the customer K inserted in the IC card reader / writer 54 ( Step D5). Next, the POS terminal 53 reads, via the IC card reader / writer 54, the number of IC points after subtraction stored in the IC card, that is, the latest total number of IC points, from the IC card ICC, and reads the total number of IC points.
The number of points and the number of points used for payment (the number of IC points) are displayed on the terminal 53 and reflected on the receipt printing (step D6).

Next, the POS terminal 53 generates point processing history data of the data structure of FIG. 5 regarding the IC point utilization (subtraction of the IC points) this time, and stores it in the point processing history DB 420 on the POS server 42. (Step D7). Customer K is IC card reader / writer 54
The IC card ICC is pulled out from (step D8).

The POS server 42 is the target of batch processing from the point processing history data of the data structure of FIG. 5 currently stored in the point processing history DB 420 by batch processing, for example, daily batch processing. Retrieve the data. Here, the processing classification is "use", the point data classification is "IC point", and the point processing history data of the data generation date and time since the last batch processing, that is, the above step D5 is performed,
In addition, all the point processing history data for which the batch processing has not been processed are extracted. The POS server 42 generates a record having the data structure shown in FIG. 6, that is, a record including the member ID and the number of points (here, the number of points used) from the point processing history data to be subjected to the batch processing. Then, the POS server 42 generates the IC point use server update data including the generated record group and the processing division indicating “use”, and transmits the IC point use server update data to the point server 11.
The point use processing by the point server 11 is requested (step D9).

The point server 11 is the POS server 42.
When the server update data for IC point use transmitted from the server is received, the number of points included in each record in the server update data is accumulated in the point server DB 110 according to the processing category “use” in the server update data. An update process is performed to subtract from the IC point record information 112 (in the member record 114) of the point member identified by the member ID included in each record among the group of IC point record information 112 ( Step D10). By this process, IC after subtraction (update)
The number of IC points indicated by the point record information 112 is I stored in the IC card ICC owned by the customer.
Matches the number of C points.

As described above, in this embodiment, the POS
The terminal 53 uses the IC points accumulated in the IC card ICC presented by the customer for payment without performing online processing, that is, real-time processing, with the point server 11. Therefore, the POS terminal 53 pays
The point server 11 each time the process of using C points is performed.
There is no need to perform communication with the point server, and therefore, unlike the conventional case, communication with the point server is performed each time a process that uses points (corresponding to the online point in this embodiment) is performed. The load on the terminal 53 is reduced and the customer is not kept waiting. Moreover,
IC of each customer (point member) on the point server 11
When the batch processing is completed, the number of IC points indicated by the point record information 112 is the IC card I owned by the customer.
Since it is updated to match the number of IC points on the CC, there is no inconvenience of using the IC points on the IC card ICC offline.

A PO with an IC card reader / writer
Shopping at a store without an S terminal, I
POS terminal without C card reader / writer, eg POS
When the checkout is performed at the terminal 52, the points available for payment are limited to online points. In the present embodiment, as described above, in the point server DB 110 of the point server 11, the IC is set for each point member.
The online points 111 are accumulated and managed separately from the point record information 112. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the process of using online points for payment while applying IC points determines the number of online points used for payment as the online points 1 of the corresponding customer.
It is realized by subtracting from 11. The process of using the online points is similar to the conventional point use process at the time of shopping at a store, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(3) Point Upload and Download (3.1) Point Upload Next, point upload in the system of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the operation explanatory diagram of FIG.

Uploading points is a process for converting the IC points accumulated on the IC card into online points. The uploading of this point can be operated by a terminal with an IC card reader / writer as described below.

First, P with an IC card reader / writer
The operation when C, for example, the user PC 32 is operated to upload points will be described. The point member (customer) K inserts the IC card ICC into the IC card reader / writer 33 connected to the user PC 32, and thereafter performs an operation of inputting a password (step E).
1). The IC card ICC executes a member authentication process for authenticating the point member K based on the input password (step E2).

When the member authentication is successful, the user PC 32 displays the number of IC points accumulated on the IC card ICC inserted in the IC card reader / writer 33 on the screen of the user PC 32 (step E3). . Then, the point member K uses the user PC 32 to specify the number of points to be uploaded (step E4).

The user PC 32 subtracts the designated number of points to be uploaded (the designated number of upload points) from the number of IC points accumulated in the IC card ICC inserted in the IC card reader / writer 33 (step E5). Next, the user PC 32 notifies the point server 11 of the number of designated upload points designated by the authenticated point member K. Thereby, the point server 11 becomes the point server DB1.
The number of designated upload points is added to the online points 111 of the point member K accumulated in 10 (step E6). Further, the point server 11 subtracts the upload designated point number from the IC point record information 112 of the point member K accumulated in the point server DB 110 (step E7). As a result, among the IC points accumulated on the IC card ICC owned by the point member K, the number of IC points designated by the point member K is converted into the online points of the point member K. . The execution order of steps E5 to E7 is not limited to the above example.

When the point server 11 finishes the subtraction by the designated number of upload points, it notifies the user PC 32 of the result of point upload (step E).
8). In response to this, the user PC 32 displays the point upload result on the display screen of the PC 32 (step E9). When the point member K confirms that the points have been uploaded correctly by displaying the point upload result, he / she removes his / her IC card ICC from the IC card reader / writer 33 (step E10).

The operation when the user PC 32 with an IC card reader / writer is operated to upload points has been described above. The procedure here is I
The same applies when the point information is uploaded by operating the in-store information terminal 51 with a C card reader / writer.

Next, a PO with an IC card reader / writer
The operation when operating the S terminal, for example, the POS terminal 53 to upload points will be described. The point member (customer) K is an IC connected to the POS terminal 53.
Insert the IC card ICC into the card reader / writer 54,
After that, an operation of inputting a password is performed (step F1). Then, the IC card ICC executes a member authentication process for authenticating the point member K based on the input password (step F2).

When the member authentication is successful, the POS terminal 53 displays the number of IC points accumulated on the IC card ICC inserted in the IC card reader / writer 54 on the screen of the POS terminal 53 (step). F3). Then, the cashier (clerk) uses the POS terminal 53 to specify the number of points to upload, as requested by the point member K (step F4). POS
The terminal 53 subtracts the number of designated upload points from the number of IC points accumulated in the IC card ICC inserted in the IC card reader / writer 54 (step F
5). The procedure up to this point (steps F1 to F5) is the same as the procedure (E1 to E5) for uploading points by operating the user PC 32 described above.

Next, the POS terminal 53 generates point processing history data having the data structure of FIG. 5 relating to point upload and stores it in the point processing history DB 420 on the POS server 42 (step F6). And PO
The S terminal 53 displays the point upload result on the display screen of the terminal 53 (step F7). When the point member K confirms that the points have been uploaded correctly by displaying the point upload result, the IC card reader / writer 54 makes his IC
Pull out the card ICC (step F8).

On the other hand, the POS server 42 performs batch processing,
For example, by daily batch processing, data to be subjected to batch processing is extracted from the point processing history data having the data structure of FIG. 5 accumulated in the point processing history DB 420 at that time. Here, the processing classification is "U
All point processing history data of "P" and the data generation date and time after the last batch processing are extracted. The POS server 42 generates a record having the data structure shown in FIG. 6, that is, a record including the member ID and the number of points (here, the number of upload points) from each point processing history data to be subjected to the batch processing. Then, the POS server 42 generates upload server update data including the group of generated records and the processing classification indicating “UP”, transmits the update data to the point server 11, and requests the upload processing by the point server 11 ( Step F
9).

The point server 11 is the POS server 42.
When the upload server update data transmitted from the server update data is received, the number of points included in each record in the server update data is accumulated in the point server DB 110 according to the processing classification “UP” in the server update data. Of the group of online points 111 present, the online points 111 (in the member record 114) of the point member identified by the member ID included in each record are added (step F10). Further, the point server 11 determines the number of points included in each record in the server update data as a member included in each record among the group of the IC point record information 112 accumulated in the point server DB 110. It is subtracted from the IC point record information 112 (in the member record 114) of the point member specified by the ID (step F11).

As described above, in this embodiment, the point member designated by the point member is extracted from the IC points accumulated in the IC card owned by the point member, and the point member is accumulated and managed on the point server 11. It is possible to upload points to be added to the online points 111 of. Thereby, the point member can use the increased online points by the point upload when paying by the online points in the shopping at the virtual or real store which is not equipped with the IC card reader / writer thereafter.

(3.2) Point Download Next, point download in the system of FIG. 1 will be described.

The point download is a process for converting online points accumulated on the point server into IC points and downloading them to the IC card. The download of this point can be operated by a terminal with an IC card reader / writer. The procedure here is common to a PC, an in-store information terminal, and a POS terminal with an IC card reader / writer.

Therefore, the point member K is a terminal with an IC card reader / writer, for example, the user PC 32 or POS.
An operation in the case of operating the terminal 53 to download points will be described as an example with reference to an operation explanatory diagram of FIG.

When the point member K needs to download points, he or she calls a screen (point program screen) including the download menu on the user PC 32 (POS terminal 53) and selects the download menu (step G1 (H1)). . In this embodiment, P
The operation at the OS terminal 53 is performed by a store clerk according to an instruction from the point member K, but for convenience of explanation,
The point member K is assumed to perform the same operation as the user PC 32.

Next, the point member K is the user PC 32.
The IC card I / O is connected to the IC card reader / writer 33 (IC card reader / writer 54) connected to the (POS terminal 53).
After inserting the CC, the user PC 32 (POS terminal 53) is used to input the password (step G2 (H2)). The IC card ICC executes a member authentication process for authenticating the point member K based on the input password (step G3 (H3)).

When the user authentication is successful, the user PC 32 (POS terminal 53) receives the IC card reader / writer 33.
The number of IC points stored in the IC card ICC inserted in the (IC card reader / writer 54) is read (step G4 (H4)). And the user PC 32 (P
The OS terminal 53) inquires of the point server 11 about the number of online points of the point member K (step G5 (H5)). As a result, the point server 11
Reads the online points 111 of the point member K who made an inquiry from the point server DB 110,
The number of online points is notified to the user PC 32 (POS terminal 53).

The user PC 32 (POS terminal 53) uses the number of online points of the point member K notified from the point server 11, the number of IC points previously read from the IC card ICC, and the total number of points as the user concerned. It is displayed on the screen of the PC 32 (POS terminal 53) (step G6 (H6)). Then, point member K
An operation for designating the number of points to be downloaded is performed using the POS terminal 53 (step G7 (H7)).

The user PC 32 (POS terminal 53) sends the above-mentioned authenticated point member K to the point server 11.
The number of points to download (the designated number of points to download) specified by is notified. Thereby, the point server 11 subtracts the designated download point number from the online points 111 of the point member K accumulated in the point server DB 110 (step G8 (H8)). In addition, the point server 11 stores the I of the point member K stored in the point server DB 110.
The number of designated download points is added to the C point record information 112 (step G9 (H9)).

Next, the user PC 32 (POS terminal 53)
Adds the designated download point number to the IC point number accumulated in the IC card ICC inserted in the IC card reader / writer 33 (IC card reader / writer 54) (step G10 (H10)). Then, the user PC 32 (POS terminal 53) displays the result of the point download on its own display screen (step G11).
(H11)). When the point member K confirms that the points have been downloaded correctly by displaying the point download result, the point member K pulls out his or her IC card ICC from the IC card reader / writer 33 (IC card reader / writer 54) (step G12 ( H12)).

As described above, in this embodiment, the points designated by the point member are extracted from the online points 111 of the point member accumulated and managed on the point server 11, and the points on the IC card owned by the point member are extracted. It is possible to download points to be added to the IC points of. As a result, the point member can use the increased IC points by the point download when paying by the IC points afterwards in shopping at a virtual or real store equipped with an IC card reader / writer.

(4) Point Inquiry Next, regarding the point inquiry in the system of FIG.
This will be described with reference to the operation explanatory diagram of FIG. The procedure here is different when operating a terminal with an IC card reader / writer to make a point inquiry and when operating a terminal without an IC card reader / writer to make a point inquiry.

Therefore, first, a terminal with an IC card reader / writer, for example, the user PC 31 or the POS terminal 52.
The operation in the case of operating for point inquiry will be described.

The point member K is the user PC 32 (PO
When trying to receive the point inquiry service from the S terminal 53), an operation for accessing the point inquiry service provided by the point server 11 is performed from the user PC 32 (POS terminal 53), and the user PC 32 concerned.
The point inquiry screen is displayed on the (POS terminal 53) (step P1 (Q1)). In this inquiry screen, the point member is prompted to insert the IC card and enter the password.

Therefore, the point member K uses the IC card ICC owned by himself as the IC card reader / writer 33 (IC
The card is inserted into the card reader / writer 54) and the password is input (step P2 (Q2)). IC card ICC
Member authentication processing is executed to authenticate the point member K based on the entered password (step P3 (Q3)).

When the user authentication is successful, the user PC 32 (POS terminal 53) tells the point server 11
Inquire about the point information of the authenticated point member K (step P4 (Q4)). The point server 11 is
In response to the inquiry from the user PC 32 (POS terminal 53), the online point / IC point summing process is executed (step P5 (Q5)). Here, the number of online points indicated by the online points 111 of the point member K accumulated in the point server DB 110 of the point server 11 and the number of IC points indicated by the IC point record information 112 are summed up to obtain the point member K.
A process of calculating the total number of points (total number of points) acquired by is performed.

When the point server 11 completes the point summing process, the result of the point information inquiry (inquiry result) including the number of online points, the number of IC points, and the total number of points of the point member K.
To the user PC 32 (POS terminal 53) (step P6 (Q6)). User PC 32 (POS terminal 5
3) displays the inquiry result including the number of online points, the number of IC points, and the total number of points of the point member K from the point server 11 on the point inquiry result screen (step P7 (Q7)). From this result screen, the point member K can confirm the number of points of each of the online points and the IC points that he / she has acquired and the total number of points. Here, in the point server 11, only the number of online points indicated by the online points 111 is read, and the user PC 32 (POS terminal 5).
3), and I on the user PC 32 (POS terminal 53) side
The total number of points may be calculated by reading the number of IC points from the C card ICC. Further, only the number of online points and the number of IC points may be displayed on the point inquiry result screen without calculating the total number of points.

The procedure for operating the user PC 32 (POS terminal 53) to make a point inquiry is as follows.
The same applies when operating the in-store information terminal 51 to make a point inquiry.

Next, the operation when operating the terminal without the IC card reader / writer, for example, the user PC 31 or the POS terminal 52 to make a point inquiry will be described.

The point member K is the user PC 31 (PO
When trying to receive the point inquiry service from the S terminal 52), an operation for accessing the point inquiry service provided by the point server 11 is performed from the user PC 31 (POS terminal 52). Then, the user PC3
1 (POS terminal 52), a point inquiry screen prompting the input of the member ID and password is displayed, and the point member K inputs the member ID and password (only the member ID on the POS terminal 52) on the inquiry screen. The operation is performed (step R1 (S1)). User PC 31 (POS terminal 5
2) inquires the point information of the point member (here, K) specified by the input ID (and password) information (step R2 (S2)).

The point server 11 is the user PC 31.
In response to an inquiry from the (POS terminal 52), the ID (and password) entered by the point member K and each member record 11 stored in the point server DB 110
A member authentication process for authenticating the point member K is executed based on the member information 113 in 4 (step R3 (S
3)). When the member authentication is successful, the point server 11 executes the online point / IC point totaling process, and stores the online point number and the IC point record information 112 indicated by the online point 111 of the point member K stored in the point server DB 110. The number of IC points shown is added up (step R4 (S4)).

When the point server 11 finishes the point summing process, the point server 11 returns an inquiry result including the number of online points, the number of IC points, and the total number of points of the point member K to the user PC 31 (POS terminal 52) (step R5). (S5)). User PC 31 (PO
The S terminal 52) displays the inquiry result including the number of online points, the number of IC points, and the total number of points of the point member K from the point server 11 on the result display screen of the point inquiry service (step R6 (S6).
6)).

As described above, in the present embodiment, not only the online points acquired by the point member K but also the IC points accumulated in the IC card owned by the point member K are managed on the point server 11. The point member K can confirm the number of points of each of the online points and the IC points that he or she has acquired and the total number of points by inquiring the point server 11 even from a terminal not equipped with an IC card reader / writer.

(5) Details of point upload (5.1) Point upload by operation from PC Next, the detailed procedure of point upload will be described.
An example of operating from the user PC such as the user PC 31 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 14 and 15 and the display screen examples of FIGS. 16 and 17.

First, the point member K operates the PC of the user's PC to operate the PC, and the top screen (top Web of the website provided by the point server 11 is displayed.
It is assumed that the screen is called on the browser. On this top Web screen, as shown in FIG. 16A, a point program menu M1 is prepared. If point member K needs to upload points,
The point program menu M1 is selected and designated by operating, for example, the mouse of the user PC.

When the user PC detects that the point program menu M1 has been selected and designated (step T
1), and notifies the point server 11 to that effect. Then, the point server 11 determines whether or not the corresponding user PC has a terminal environment with an IC card reader / writer (step T2). The determination in step T2 may be performed by the Internet shop server or the user PC itself.

If the terminal environment does not have an IC card reader / writer, such as the user PC 31, the point server 11 displays a screen for terminal environment without an IC card reader / writer as shown in FIG. 16B. The point program screen is displayed by the user PC 31 (step T3). In this screen, the point inquiry menu M2
Is available, but there is no point upload / download menu. That is, I
In a terminal environment without a C card reader / writer, points cannot be uploaded or downloaded.

On the other hand, like the user PC 32, I
If the terminal environment has a C card reader / writer, the point server 11 causes the user PC to display a terminal environment screen (point program screen) with an IC card reader / writer as shown in FIG. Step T4). In this screen, point inquiry menu M
3, a point service menu including a point upload menu M4 and a point download menu M4 is prepared. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the user PC operated by the point member K is the user PC 32.

When the point program screen shown in FIG. 16C is displayed, the point member K displays the user PC 32.
Is used to select and specify the upload menu M4. When the point server 11 detects that the upload menu M4 has been selected and designated via the user PC 32 (step T5), the point server 11 prompts the point member to input the password (password (password)) shown in FIG. The input screen) is displayed by the user PC 32 (step T6). When the password input screen is displayed, the point member K uses the keyboard of the user PC 32 or the input unit of the IC card reader / writer 33 to perform an operation of inputting his or her password on the screen. At this time, it is assumed that the IC card ICC of the point member K is inserted in the IC card reader / writer 33. Since the screen of the in-store information terminal 51 is generally a touch panel type, a virtual keyboard is displayed on the screen. Users of store information terminal 51 (point members)
Will have to touch the virtual keyboard and enter their password. Of course, the password may be input using the input unit of the IC card reader / writer provided in the store information terminal 51.

When a password is entered on the password entry screen (step T7), the IC card reader / writer 3
The IC card ICC inserted in No. 3 executes the member authentication process for authenticating the point member K based on the input password (step T8).

The user PC 32 judges the result of the member authentication by the IC card ICC (step T9), and if the member authentication fails, displays a screen prompting the point member K to re-enter the password (step T10). ). If the point member K selects re-input of the password (step T11), the user PC 32 returns to step T6. On the other hand, if the point member K selects not to re-enter the password (step T11), the user P
C32 returns to step T4.

On the other hand, if the member authentication is successful (step T9), the user PC 32 notifies the point server 11 of that fact and is stored in the IC card ICC inserted in the IC card reader / writer 33. I
The number of C points is read (step T12). Then, the point server 11 prompts the authenticated point member K to input the number of points to be uploaded.
The screen (upload instruction screen) shown in FIG.
It is displayed by C32 (step T13). In this upload instruction screen, the information of the point member K and I
The number of IC points read from the C card ICC is also displayed. When the upload instruction screen is displayed, the point member K uses the user PC 32 to perform an operation of inputting the number of points to be uploaded on the screen.

When the user PC 32 detects that the number of points to be uploaded is input (designated) on the upload instruction screen (step T14), it is determined that the upload is instructed, and the input number of points to be uploaded (upload designation). The number of points) is subtracted from the number of IC points accumulated in the IC card ICC inserted in the IC card reader / writer 33 (step T15).

Next, the user PC 32 is the point server 1
The number of designated upload points designated by the authenticated point member K is notified to 1. As a result, the point server 11 makes the online points 1 of the point member K accumulated in the point server DB 110.
The number of designated upload points is added to 11 (step T16). Further, the point server 11 is an IC of the point member K stored in the point server DB 110.
The number of designated upload points is subtracted from the point record information 112 (step T17).

At this stage, the point upload is completed. Then, the point server 11 is displayed in FIG.
The point PC upload result screen shown in FIG. 7B is displayed by the user PC 32 (step T18). On the point upload result screen, the number of online points, the number of IC points, and the total number of points of the point member K after the points are uploaded are displayed. Figure 16 shows the point upload result screen.
A link button L1 for returning to the web screen (top screen of the website provided by the point server 11) shown in (a) is prepared. When the point member K can confirm the point upload result on the point upload result screen, the point member K selects the link button L1 on the screen, for example. Accordingly, the user PC 32 determines that the point upload result has been confirmed by the point member K (step T19), and the link button L
Call the Web screen linked in 1.

The above procedure is similarly applied to the case where the point upload is performed by the operation from the store information terminal (or the street information terminal) such as the store information terminal 51.

(5.2) Point Upload by Operation from POS Terminal Next, FIG. 18 shows a detailed procedure when points are uploaded by operation from a POS terminal with an IC card reader / writer, for example, the POS terminal 53. And FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10 and the display screen examples of FIGS.

First, the POS terminal 53 is provided with two display devices, one for displaying a screen for a salesclerk (salesman operation screen) and the other for a screen for a customer (point member) (face-to-face screen). Used to display. On the main salesclerk operation screen (main screen) displayed on the POS terminal 53, a point program menu is prepared as in the screen of FIG. When the customer K requests the point upload, the clerk performs an operation of selecting and designating the point program menu on the main screen. Then, the POS terminal 53 displays a salesclerk operation screen as shown in FIG.
20 corresponding to the point program screen of (c).
The point program menu screen shown in (a) is displayed.

The point program menu screen shown in FIG. 20 (a) is provided with a menu regarding the point service including a point inquiry menu M11, a point upload menu M12, and a point download menu M13. So the clerk
An operation of selecting the point upload menu M12 is performed on the point program menu screen.

When the POS terminal 53 detects that the point upload menu M12 is selected and designated (step U1), the clerk prompts the customer to input the password as a clerk operation screen.
The screen shown in 0 (b) is displayed, and the customer is prompted to enter a password as a face-to-face screen.
The screen shown in (c) is displayed (step U2). When the customer (point member) K is prompted to enter the password,
The operation of inputting his / her own password is performed using the input unit of the IC card reader / writer 54. At this time, it is assumed that the IC card ICC of the customer K is inserted in the IC card reader / writer 54.

When the IC card ICC inserted in the IC card reader / writer 54 detects that a password has been input (step U3), it authenticates the customer (point member) K based on the input password. The process is executed (step U4). The POS terminal 53 determines the result of the member authentication (step U5) and, if the member authentication fails, displays a screen prompting the point member K to re-enter the password (step U6). And POS terminal 5
If the point member K selects re-input of the password (step U7), the process No. 3 returns to step U2. on the other hand,
If the point member K selects not to re-enter the password (step U7), the POS terminal 53 ends the process.

On the other hand, if the member authentication is successful (step U5), the POS terminal 53 reads the number of IC points stored in the IC card ICC inserted in the IC card reader / writer 54 (step U8). Then, the POS terminal 53 prompts the store clerk to ask the member K to input the number of points to be uploaded by the authenticated point member K as a store clerk operation screen, as shown in FIG. (Upload instruction screen) is displayed (step U9). In this upload instruction screen, the IC read from the IC card ICC
The number of points, that is, the IC that point member K has acquired
The number of points is also displayed. Further, in step U9, the POS terminal 53 shows the number of IC points that the point member K has acquired as a face-to-face screen and prompts the member K to input the number of points (IC points) to be uploaded. The screen (upload instruction screen) shown in 20 (e) is displayed.

When the POS terminal 53 detects that the number of points to be uploaded is input (designated) according to the display of the upload instruction screen (step U10), it is determined that the upload is instructed, and the input upload points The number (the number of designated upload points) is subtracted from the number of IC points accumulated in the IC card ICC inserted in the IC card reader / writer 54 (step U11).

Next, the POS terminal 53 generates the point processing history data of the data structure of FIG. 5 including the upload designated point number used in the subtraction in step U11, and the point processing history DB 420 on the POS server 42.
(Step U12). And the POS terminal 53
Displays the upload result screen shown in FIG. 21 (a) showing the result of point upload for the clerk as the clerk operation screen, and the member (customer) as the facing screen.
21 (b) showing the result of point upload for
Display the upload result screen shown in (Step U1
3).

An end button is prepared on the upload result screen for shop assistants shown in FIG. 21 (a). The clerk
When the customer confirms the upload result, select the end button on the upload result screen for the store clerk. When the end button on the upload result screen for the clerk is selected, the POS terminal 53 displays the clerk operation screen as the clerk operation screen.
A screen shown in FIG. 21 (c) is displayed to prompt the clerk to have the customer pull out the IC card (membership card), and the customer is requested to pull out the IC card (membership card) as a face-to-face screen. 21 prompt
The screen shown in (d) is displayed. A confirmation button is prepared on the screen shown in FIG. The POS terminal 53
When it detects that the confirmation button has been selected by the clerk,
It is determined that the customer has confirmed that the point upload was performed correctly (step U14). In this case, the POS terminal 53 returns to the display of the POS main screen (not shown).

Now, the POS server 42 performs the daily point totaling process described below in the daily batch process. First, the POS server 42 displays the main screen of the daily batch processing shown in FIG. On this main screen, a menu M21 for point totaling processing (business daily point totaling processing) is prepared. When the point-of-sale processing menu M21 is selected and designated by the clerk (step U21), the POS server 42 instructs the point processing history DB 420 of the point processing history DB 420 of the point processing history data (point upload instruction). Historical data), that is, the processing category is "U
It is checked whether or not there is point processing history data of "P" and the data generation date and time after the last batch processing (step U22). If there is point upload instruction history data, the POS server 42 collects all the history data and records of the data structure in FIG. 6, that is, a record including the member ID and the number of points (here, the number of upload points). Is generated, and the server update data for upload including the group of generated records and the processing division indicating “UP” is generated (step U23).

The POS server 42 requests the point server 11 to update the point information according to the upload server update data by transmitting the upload server update data to the point server 11 (step U24). Receiving this, point server 1
The number 1 included in each record in the server update data is stored in the point server DB 110 according to the processing category “UP” in the upload server update data transmitted from the POS server 42. Of the group of points 111, the points are added to the online points 111 (in the member record 114) of the point member identified by the member ID included in each record (step U25). In addition, the point server 11
The number of points included in each record in the server update data is specified by the member ID included in each record among the group of IC point record information 112 accumulated in the point server DB 110. IC point record information 1 (in member record 114) of the member
It is subtracted from 12 (step U26).

Upon completion of step U26, the POS server 42 displays on the POS terminal 53 that the daily point totaling process has been completed (step U2).
7) If the store clerk has performed an operation to specify the end (step U28), the process proceeds to another daily process. In the above description, the operation for daily batch processing is performed on the POS server 42, but the operation can also be performed on the POS terminal 53. Further, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the batch processing is automatically and periodically started (every 24 hours in the case of daily batch processing).

(6) Details of Point Download (6.1) Point Download by Operation from PC Next, the detailed procedure of point download will be described.
23 and 24, taking the case of operating from the user PC as an example.
25 and the display screen example of FIG. 25. Note that the display screens in FIGS. 16 and 17 are referred to for the same or similar screens as the display screens in FIGS. 16 and 17.

Now, on the browser of the user PC, FIG.
It is assumed that the web screen of (a) is displayed. If point member K needs to download points,
Point program menu M1 by operating the user PC
Select and specify.

When the user PC detects that the point program menu M1 is selected and designated (step V
1), and notifies the point server 11 to that effect. Then, the point server 11 determines whether or not the corresponding user PC has a terminal environment with an IC card reader / writer (step V2). Then, the point server 11 responds to the determination result in step V2, as in steps T4 and T3 at the time of point upload, as shown in FIG.
The point program screen for the corresponding terminal environment shown in (b) is displayed by the user PC (step V
4, V3). As described above, in a terminal environment without an IC card reader / writer, points cannot be uploaded or downloaded. Therefore, in the following description, the user PC operated by the point member K is the user PC 32.

When the point program screen shown in FIG. 16C is displayed, the point member K displays the user PC 32.
Is used to select the download menu M5. Here, when the download menu M5 is selected (step V5), the same processing (steps V6 to V12) as the processing (steps T6 to T12) when the upload menu M4 is selected is executed. In this process (steps V6 to V12), the password input screen corresponding to FIG. 16D is displayed in step V6.

The user PC 32 executes the steps T8, T
When the member authentication of the point member K is successful in steps V8 and V9 corresponding to step 9, the fact is notified to the point server 11, and the point server K is inserted into the IC card reader / writer 33 in step V12 corresponding to step T12. The IC points stored in the IC card ICC are read. Then, the point server 11 becomes the point server D.
The online points 111 of the point member K stored in B110 are read (step V13). Then, the point server 11 prompts the point member K to input the number of points to be downloaded, and causes the user PC 32 to display a screen (download instruction screen) shown in FIG. 25A (step V14). In this download instruction screen, the information of the point member K and the point server D
The number of online points of the member K read from B110 and the number of IC points read from the IC card ICC are displayed. When the download instruction screen is displayed, the point member K uses the user PC 32 to input the number of points to download on the screen.

When the user PC 32 detects that the number of points to be downloaded is input (designated) on the download instruction screen (step V15), the point server 11 is authenticated as the instruction to download. The number of points to download (the number of points designated for download) designated by the point member K is notified. As a result, the point server 11 subtracts the designated download points from the online points 111 of the point member K accumulated in the point server DB 110 (step V16). Further, the point server 11 adds the designated download point number to the IC point record information 112 of the point member K accumulated in the point server DB 110 (step V1).
7). Then, the point server 11 causes the user PC 32 to add the download designated point number to the IC point number stored in the IC card ICC inserted in the IC card reader / writer 33 (step V18).

At this stage, the points are completely downloaded. Then, the point server 11 displays
The user PC 32 displays the point download result screen shown in FIG. 5 (b) (step V19). On the point download result screen, the number of online points, the number of IC points, and the total number of points of the point member K after the points are downloaded are displayed. The subsequent operation is the same as the operation after displaying the point upload result screen in the point upload.

The above procedure is similarly applied to the case where the point download is performed by the operation from the store information terminal (or the street information terminal) such as the store information terminal 51.

(6.2) Download load by operation from POS terminal Next, the detailed procedure in the case where points are downloaded by operation from a POS terminal with an IC card reader / writer, for example, the POS terminal 53, will be described with reference to FIG. And FIG.
28 and the display screen example of FIG. 28. Note that the display screens in FIGS. 20 and 21 are referred to for the same or similar screens as the display screens in FIGS. 20 and 21.

When the point member (customer) K requests the point member to download points, the point of view of FIG. 20 (a) is displayed on the salesclerk operation screen as in the case where the point upload is requested as described above. The operation for displaying the program menu screen on the POS terminal 53 is performed. Then, the clerk performs an operation of selecting the point download menu M13 on the point program menu screen.

The POS terminal 53 displays the point download menu M13 on the point program menu screen.
When it is detected that is selected and designated (step W1),
The same processing (steps W2 to W8) as the processing (steps U2 to U8) when the upload menu M12 is selected and designated is executed. This process (steps W2 to W
In 8), the point member K requesting the point download is authenticated, and the number of IC points accumulated in the IC card of the member K inserted in the IC card reader / writer 54 is read into the POS terminal 53. .

The POS terminal 53 is an IC from an IC card.
When reading the number of points (step W8),
Online points 111 of the point member K accumulated in the point server DB 110 of the point server 11
Is read (step W9). And the POS terminal 53
Displays the screen (download instruction screen) shown in FIG. 28 (a) as a clerk operation screen, which prompts the clerk to ask the member K to input the number of points to be downloaded by the point member K. (Step W10). In this download instruction screen, the number of online points of the point member K read from the point server DB 110, the number of IC points read from the IC card ICC, and the total number of points, that is, the number of IC points acquired by the point member K , Online points and total points are also displayed. Also PO
In step W8, the S terminal 53 shows the number of IC points, the number of online points, and the total number of points that the point member K has acquired as a face-to-face screen, and the number of points (downloaded to the member K ( A screen (download instruction screen) shown in FIG. 28B for prompting the input of the number of online points is displayed.

When the POS terminal 53 detects that the number of points to be downloaded has been input (designated) in response to the display of the download instruction screen (step W11), the point server 11 determines that the download has been instructed.
On the other hand, from the online points 111 of the point member K accumulated in the point server DB 110, the input number of points to download (the designated number of points to download) is subtracted (step W12). Also P
The OS terminal 53 sends the I of the point member K stored in the point server DB 110 to the point server 11.
The designated number of download points is added to the C point record information 112 (step W13). Furthermore, the POS terminal 53 has an IC inserted in the IC card reader / writer 54.
The number of designated download points is added to the number of IC points accumulated in the card ICC (step W1
4).

At this stage, the points have been downloaded. Then, the POS terminal 53 displays the download result screen shown in FIG. 28C showing the point download result for the store clerk as the store clerk operation screen and the point download result for the member (customer) as the face-to-face screen. The download result screen shown in 28 (d) is displayed (step W15).

On the download result screen for shop assistants shown in FIG. 28C, an end button is prepared. The clerk
When the customer confirms the download result, select the end button on the download result screen for the store clerk. When the end button on the download result screen for the clerk is selected, the POS terminal 53 displays a clerk operation screen as shown in FIG. 2 so that the customer can pull out the IC card.
In addition to displaying the screen of 1 (c), the screen of FIG. 21 (d) is displayed as the facing screen. A confirmation button is prepared on the screen shown in FIG. The POS terminal 53
When it detects that the confirmation button has been selected by the clerk,
It is determined that the customer has confirmed that the point download has been correctly performed (step W16). In this case, the POS terminal 53 displays the POS main screen (step W17).

(7) Details of Point Inquiry Next, regarding the detailed procedure of point inquiries, the user PC
An example of the case of operating from will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 29 and 30 and the display screen example of FIG. 31.
Note that the display screens in FIGS. 16 and 17 are referred to for the same or similar screens as the display screens in FIGS. 16 and 17.

Now, on the browser of the user PC, FIG.
It is assumed that the web screen of (a) is displayed. If point member K needs point inquiry, user P
Operate C to select the point program menu M1.

When the user PC detects that the point program menu M1 is selected (step X
1), and notifies the point server 11 to that effect. Then, the point server 11 determines whether or not the corresponding user PC has a terminal environment with an IC card reader / writer (step X2). Then, the point server 11 responds to the determination result in step X2, as in step T4 or T3 at the time of point upload, as shown in FIG.
Alternatively, the point program screen for the corresponding terminal environment shown in (b) is displayed by the user PC (steps X4 and X3).

Now, the user PC is a PC with an IC card reader / writer, for example, the user PC 32.
It is assumed that the point program screen of (c) is displayed. On this point program screen, a point inquiry menu M3 is prepared.

When the point program screen of FIG. 16C is displayed, the point member K performs an operation of selecting the point inquiry menu M3 using the user PC 32.
Here, when the point inquiry menu M3 is selected (step X5), the same processing (steps X6 to X9) as the processing (steps T6 to T9) when the upload menu M4 is selected is executed. In this process (steps X6 to X9), the process in FIG.
A password input screen corresponding to (d) is displayed.

The user PC 32 executes the steps T8, T
When the point member K is successfully authenticated in steps X8 and X9 corresponding to 9, a request (point inquiry processing request) for inquiring point information of the authenticated point member K is issued to the point server 11 (step X12). ). In response to this, the point server 11
Executes online point / IC point summing processing (step X13). That is, the point server 11
Online points 111 of the point member K stored in the point server DB 110 of the point server 11
Number of online points and IC point record information indicated by 1
The total number of points acquired by the point member K is calculated by summing the number of IC points indicated by 12.

When the point server 11 completes the point summing process, the point server 11 generates information of a display screen (point inquiry result screen) showing the result of the point information inquiry (point inquiry result) (step X14). Then, the point server 11 sends the information on the generated point inquiry result screen to the user PC 32 as a response to the point information inquiry, and the user PC 32 causes the information shown in FIG.
The point inquiry result screen shown in 1 (b) is displayed (step X15).

On the point inquiry result screen of FIG. 31 (b), the number of online points, the number of IC points, and the total number of points of the point member K are displayed. On the point inquiry result screen, a link button L2 for returning to the Web screen (top screen of the website provided by the point server 11) shown in FIG.
A link button L3 is provided to return to the Web screen (top screen of the point program) shown in (c). When the point member K can confirm the points acquired by the point inquiry result screen, that is, the number of online points, the number of IC points, and the total number of points, the point member K selects the link button L2 or L3 on the screen, for example. Accordingly, the user PC 32 determines that the point inquiry result has been confirmed by the point member K (step X16), and calls the linked Web screen.

On the other hand, it is assumed that the user PC is a PC without an IC card reader / writer, for example, the user PC 31, and the point program screen of FIG. 16B is displayed according to the determination result of step X2 (step X
3). On this point program screen, a point inquiry menu M2 is prepared.

When the point program screen shown in FIG. 16B is displayed, the point member K performs an operation of selecting the point inquiry menu M2 using the user PC 31.
When the point server 11 detects that the point inquiry menu M2 has been selected via the user PC 31 (step X17), the point server 11 prompts the point member to input the member ID and password, as shown in FIG. The screen shown is displayed by the user PC 31 (step X1
8). When the screen shown in FIG. 31A is displayed, the point member K uses the user PC 31 to perform an operation of inputting his / her member ID and password on the screen.

When the user PC 31 detects that the member ID and password are input on the screen of FIG. 31A (step X19), the user PC 31 communicates with the point server 11 to authenticate the point member K. Request to execute the member authentication process (step X20). Here, the member authentication process is executed based on the input ID and password and the member information 113 stored in the point server DB 110 of the point server 11.

The user PC 31 receives the result of the member authentication by the point server 11 and judges the result (step X21). If the member authentication fails, a PC with an IC card reader / writer (user PC3
The processing performed when the member authentication fails in point upload by the operation from 2) (steps T10 and T1)
The same processing (steps X22 and X23) as 1) is performed. On the other hand, when the member authentication is successful, the processing from step X12 onward is performed as in the case where the member authentication is successful by the point inquiry from the user PC 32.

Among the procedures for making a point inquiry by operating the PC as described above, the steps for making a point inquiry by operating the IC card reader / writer PC (user PC 32) are as follows. The same applies to the case where the point inquiry is performed by an operation from an in-store information terminal (or a street information terminal) or a POS terminal with an IC card reader / writer such as the POS terminal 53. However, in the operation from the POS terminal, as in the case where the point upload or download is performed by the operation from the POS terminal with the IC card reader / writer described above, the We
It is operated on the POS terminal screen instead of the b screen.

Next, of the procedures for making point inquiries by operating the PC described above, the procedure for making point inquiries by operating the PC without the IC card reader / writer (user PC 31) is the POS terminal. The same applies to the case of making a point inquiry by an operation from an POS terminal without an IC card reader / writer such as 52. However, the operation from the POS terminal is performed not on the Web screen but on the POS terminal screen, as in the case of performing point upload or download by the above-described operation from the POS terminal with an IC card reader / writer. Further, in the operation from the POS terminal without the IC card reader / writer, the password input is not required, and the member ID is only checked in the member authentication process corresponding to step X20. Further, unlike the PC, the POS terminal with an IC card reader / writer and the POS terminal without an IC card reader / writer perform processing on the premise that the IC card reader / writer is provided and the IC card reader / writer is not provided, respectively. Therefore, the POS terminal does not perform the determination process corresponding to step X2 in FIG.

In the embodiments described above, a PC (personal computer) is used as the user terminal. However, as the user terminal, a mobile phone, a mobile information terminal, or the like can be used in addition to the PC. In the above embodiment, the IC card is the IC card reader / writer 33, 5
By inserting the card into 4
It has been described as being able to write. That is, FIG.
The IC card applied in the system is described as a contact type IC card. However, if an IC card reader / writer compatible with non-contact type IC cards is used,
The non-contact type IC card is also applicable.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be variously modified at the stage of implementation without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some of the constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in the embodiment, at least one of the problems described in the section of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved and described in the section of the effect of the invention. When at least one of the effects described above is obtained, a configuration in which this constituent element is deleted can be extracted as an invention.

[0167]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, I
IC when using C card as a point card
Points accumulated on the card (IC points) and points accumulated on the point server (online points)
By making the two types of points applicable to and from the terminal with an IC card reader / writer by point members, both IC points and online points can be used, and from a terminal without an IC card reader / writer The online points can be used in the same way as when using a conventional non-IC card.

Further, according to the present invention, when a point member uses a terminal with an IC card reader / writer,
IC points on the IC card can be uploaded to the point server, and online points on the point server can be downloaded to the IC card. That is, the number of points acquired by the point member can be freely distributed to the IC points and the online points. Thereby, the point member can use the increased online points by the point upload when paying by the online points in the shopping at the virtual or real store which is not equipped with the IC card reader / writer after the points are uploaded. Similarly, after downloading the points, I will be able to shop at a virtual or real store equipped with an IC card reader / writer.
When paying with C points, point members can use the increased IC points by downloading points.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a point service system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a member record 114 stored in a point server DB 110 in FIG.

3 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of information recorded in the IC card ICC in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data structure example of point processing history data accumulated in a point server DB 110 in FIG.

5 is a diagram showing a data structure example of point processing history data accumulated in POS servers 42 and 43 in FIG.

6 is a diagram showing a structural example of server update data generated when batch processing of points is performed by the POS servers 42 and 43 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining point giving when a customer K performs an operation for online shopping from a user PC 32 equipped with an IC card reader / writer in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining point giving when the customer K performs shopping at a store where a POS terminal 53 with an IC card reader / writer is placed in the same embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining point utilization when a customer K performs an operation for online shopping from a user PC 32 equipped with an IC card reader / writer in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining point utilization when a customer K performs shopping at a store where a POS terminal 53 with an IC card reader / writer is placed in the same embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a view for explaining uploading of points in the same embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining, as an example, a case where a point member K operates a user PC 32 with an IC card reader / writer or a POS terminal 53 to download points in the same embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a view for explaining a point inquiry in the same embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining a detailed procedure of the above-mentioned uploading as an example in the case of operating from a user PC.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the rest of the flow chart for explaining the detailed procedure of the upload by operating the user PC as an example.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when the above-mentioned upload is performed by an operation from a user PC.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when the upload is performed by an operation from a user PC.

[Fig. 18] IC for the detailed uploading procedure
The figure which shows a part of flowchart for demonstrating the case where it operates from the POS terminal 53 with a card reader-writer as an example.

[FIG. 19] IC for the detailed uploading procedure
The figure which shows the remainder of the flowchart for demonstrating the case where it operates from the POS terminal 53 with a card reader / writer as an example.

FIG. 20: POS terminal 53 with IC card reader / writer
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when the above-mentioned upload is performed by an operation from.

FIG. 21: POS terminal 53 with IC card reader / writer
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when the above-mentioned upload is performed by an operation from.

FIG. 22: POS terminal 53 with IC card reader / writer
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when the above-mentioned upload is performed by an operation from.

FIG. 23 shows detailed procedures of the above download
The figure which shows a part of flowchart for demonstrating the case where it operates from user PC32 with a C card reader / writer as an example.

FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing the detailed download procedure
The figure which shows the remainder of the flowchart for demonstrating the case where it operates from the user PC 32 with a C-card reader / writer as an example.

FIG. 25: User PC 32 with IC card reader / writer
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when the download is performed by an operation from.

FIG. 26 shows the detailed procedure of the download described above in I
The figure which shows a part of flowchart for demonstrating the case where it operates from the POS terminal 53 with a C-card reader / writer as an example.

[FIG. 27] Regarding the detailed procedure of the above download, I
The figure which shows the remainder of the flowchart for demonstrating the case where it operates from the POS terminal 53 with a C-card reader / writer as an example.

FIG. 28: POS terminal 53 with IC card reader / writer
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when the download is performed by an operation from.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a part of a flow chart for explaining the detailed procedure of the above point inquiry by way of an example of operating from a user PC.

FIG. 30 is a view showing the rest of the flowchart for explaining the detailed procedure of the above point inquiry, taking as an example the case of operating from the user PC.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when the point inquiry is performed by an operation from a user PC.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Point management system 11 ... Point server (point server computer) 12 ... Internet shop server (Internet shop server computer) 20 ... Internet 31 ... User PC (user card without IC card reader / writer) 32 ... User PC (IC card reader / writer) User PC with 33, 54 ... IC card reader / writer (ICCR /
W) 40 ... Dedicated line networks 41, 42 ... POS server 51 ... Store information terminal 52 ... POS terminal (POS without IC card reader / writer)
Terminal 53. POS terminal (POS with IC card reader / writer)
Terminal) 110 ... Point server DB 111 ... Online point 112 ... IC point record information 113 ... Member information 114 ... Member record 420 ... Point processing history DB ICC ... IC card

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06K 17/00 G06K 17/00 R G07G 1/12 321 G07G 1/12 321L 1/14 1/14

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A point to be given to a point member by a point service procedure at a terminal is accumulated as an IC point in an IC card owned by the point member, and the given point is connected to the terminal via a network. A point management method capable of accumulating as an online point in a point server, wherein the terminal is a first terminal not equipped with an IC card reader / writer, and a point service procedure at the first terminal When giving points to point members by
A step of executing a first point-giving process for causing the point server to add the number of points to be given to the online points of the point member accumulated in the point server; and the terminal having an IC card reader / writer. Second
The point of granting points to the point member by the point service procedure at the second terminal, the step of accepting the designation of the granted point type from the point member through the second terminal, A second number of points to be given to the point member is added to the IC points accumulated in the point member's IC card by the second terminal via the IC card reader / writer according to the designation of the given point type. Or a third point giving process of adding the number of points given to the point member to the online points of the point member accumulated in the point server by the point server. A point management method characterized by: 2. A step of accepting designation of point usage, usage point type and usage point number from a point member in a point service procedure at the second terminal; In accordance with the designation, the first point use processing of subtracting the designated number of use points from the IC points accumulated in the IC card of the corresponding point member by the second terminal via the IC card reader / writer, or The method further comprising the step of executing a second point utilization process of causing the point server to subtract a designated number of utilization points from the online points corresponding to the point member accumulated in the point server. The point management method described. 3. A step of accepting a point upload specification from a point member via said second terminal in a point service procedure at said second terminal, and said second point according to said point upload specification. A step of prompting the point member to input the number of points to be uploaded by the terminal; and when the number of points to be uploaded is input through the second terminal, the input point number corresponds to the corresponding point member. I stored in the IC card
Subtracting C points from the second terminal via the IC card reader / writer, and inputting the number of points to the online point of the corresponding point member stored in the point server, the point server The point management method according to claim 1, further comprising: 4. A step of accepting a point download designation from a point member via said second terminal in a point service procedure at said second terminal, and said second point according to said point download designation. A step of prompting the point member to input the number of points to be downloaded by the terminal; and when the number of points to be downloaded is inputted through the second terminal, the input point number is stored in the point server. The step of subtracting from the corresponding point member's online point by the point server, the input terminal number to the IC point accumulated in the corresponding point member's IC card, the second terminal To add via the IC card reader / writer The point management method according to claim 1, further comprising: 5. The point server holds IC point record information for managing the number of IC points accumulated in an IC card owned by each point member. Point management method described in 1. 6. The method further comprising the step of reflecting the result of the second point granting process on the IC point record information of the corresponding point member held by the point server by the server. Item 5 point management method. 7. When the second terminal is a POS terminal, the method further comprises the step of accumulating a result of the second point giving processing in a POS server which is a management server of the POS terminal. In the step of reflecting the result of the point granting process in the IC point record information, the result of the second point granting process accumulated in the POS server is transmitted to the point server by a batch process. 7. The point management method according to claim 6, wherein the result of the point granting process is reflected in the IC point record information of the corresponding point member. 8. In the point service procedure at the second terminal, the step of accepting designation of point usage, usage point type and usage point number from a point member; In accordance with the designation, the first point use processing of subtracting the designated number of use points from the IC points accumulated in the IC card of the corresponding point member by the second terminal via the IC card reader / writer, or A step of executing a second point use process for causing the point server to subtract a designated number of use points from the online points corresponding to the point member accumulated in the point server; and a result of the first point use process. Corresponding points held in the point server Point management method according to claim 5, wherein further including the steps of reflecting by the server to the IC point recording information of the member. 9. When the second terminal is a POS terminal, the method further comprises the step of accumulating a result of the first point use processing in a POS server which is a management server of the POS terminal. In the step of reflecting the result of the point use processing in the IC point record information, the result of the first point use processing accumulated in the POS server is transmitted to the point server by batch processing, 9. The point management method according to claim 8, wherein the result of the point use process is reflected in the IC point record information of the corresponding point member. 10. A step of accepting designation of a point inquiry from a point member in a point service procedure at the first terminal or the second terminal, and the first terminal according to the designation of the point inquiry, or Inquiring points from the second terminal to the point server, and including the IC point record information of the corresponding point member held in the point server and the online points in response to the point inquiry Generating an inquiry result in the point server and notifying the inquiry result to the first terminal or the second terminal of the inquiry source; and the inquiry result of the first terminal or the first terminal of the inquiry source Further presenting to the point member from the second terminal 6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:
The point management method described. 11. Accumulation of points to be given to a point member by the point service procedure at the terminal as IC points in an IC card owned by the point member, and connection of the given points to the terminal via a network. An Internet shop server computer used for a point service system capable of accumulating as an online point in a point server computer, wherein the terminal is a first terminal without an IC card reader / writer, By the point server computer, the number of points given to the point member according to the online shopping procedure from the first terminal according to the operation of the member is added to the online point of the point member accumulated in the point server computer. Means for executing a first point granting processing for calculation, first the terminals are equipped with IC card reader-writer 2
If it is a terminal of the above, the second according to the operation of the point member
Means for displaying on the second terminal a payment screen including the number of points to be given to the point member according to the online shopping procedure from the terminal, and the type of the points to be given can be specified by the second terminal, Means for accepting designation of the granted point type from the second terminal according to the operation of the point member through the settlement screen, and the number of points given to the point member according to the designation of the granted point type, Second addition of the IC points accumulated in the IC card by the second terminal via the IC card reader / writer
And a third point adding process for adding the number of points to be added or the number of points to be added to the online points of the point member accumulated in the point server computer by the point server computer. Internet shop server computer characterized by. 12. Accumulating points to be given to a point member by a predetermined point service as IC points in an IC card owned by the point member, and accumulating the points to be given as online points in a point server computer. A POS terminal with an IC card reader / writer connected to the point server computer via a network, which is used in a point service system capable of providing, and the point type desired by the point member at the time of payment given to the point member. And a number of points to be given to the point member, which is added to the IC points accumulated in the IC card of the point member via the IC card reader / writer, according to the designation of the point type. Means and the applying port The point server computer is configured to add the number of points given to the point member to the online points of the point member accumulated in the point server computer according to the designation of the point type. POS terminal with IC card reader / writer. 13. A means for displaying a menu screen capable of selecting and uploading at least points, and when the point upload is selected and specified on the menu screen, input of the number of points to be uploaded by a point member. When the number of points to be uploaded and the number of points to be uploaded are input, the IC points are accumulated from the IC points of the corresponding point member IC card.
It further comprises means for subtracting via the card reader / writer, and means for causing the point server computer to add the input number of points to the corresponding online points of the point member stored in the point server computer. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein
POS terminal with the described IC card reader / writer. 14. A means for displaying a menu screen capable of selecting and selecting at least points download; and, when the points download is selected and specified on the menu screen, input of the number of points to be downloaded by a point member. When the number of points to be downloaded and the means for displaying a screen prompting the user to enter are input by the point server computer from the corresponding online points of the point member accumulated in the point server computer, the input points are stored. Means for subtracting the input point number to the IC point stored in the corresponding point member IC card
13. The POS terminal with an IC card reader / writer according to claim 12, further comprising means for adding via a C card reader / writer. 15. Accumulation of points to be given to a point member by the point service procedure at a terminal as IC points in an IC card owned by the point member, and connection of the given points to the terminal via a network. A point server computer used for a point service system capable of accumulating as an online point in a point server computer, the storage device holding an online point given to each point member, and an IC card in the terminal. In the case where the reader / writer is provided, means for displaying on the terminal a menu screen that allows at least point upload selection selection according to the access from the terminal associated with the operation of the point member, and on the menu screen, Up point Means for displaying, on the terminal, a screen prompting the point member to input the number of points to be uploaded when the mode is selected and designated, and when the number of points to be uploaded is input via the terminal, the input A means for subtracting the number of the input points from the IC points stored in the corresponding point member's IC card via the IC card reader / writer by the terminal; and the input number of points in the storage means. And a means for adding to the online points of the corresponding point member held. 16. Accumulation of points to be given to a point member by means of a point service procedure at a terminal as IC points in an IC card owned by the point member, and connection of the given point to the terminal via a network. A point server computer used for a point service system capable of accumulating as an online point in a point server computer, the storage device holding an online point given to each point member, and an IC card in the terminal. In the case where the reader / writer is provided, in accordance with the access from the terminal associated with the operation of the point member, means for displaying at least the menu screen on which selection of point download can be specified by the terminal, Point download Means for displaying, on the terminal, a screen prompting the point member to input the number of points to be downloaded when the code is selected and inputting the number of points to be downloaded via the terminal. Means for subtracting the number of points that have been input from the online points of the corresponding point member held in the storage means, and the input point number that has been stored in the IC card of the corresponding point member A point server computer comprising means for adding points to the second terminal via the IC card reader / writer. 17. The point to be given to a point member by a point service procedure at a terminal is accumulated as an IC point in an IC card owned by the point member, and the given point is connected to the terminal via a network. A point server computer used in a point service system capable of accumulating as online points in the point server computer, storage means for holding online points given to each point member, and an IC card reader / writer for the terminal In the case where the point is provided, a means for displaying at least a menu screen on which the selection of uploading points can be specified by the terminal according to the access from the terminal accompanying the operation of the point member, and the point of the point on the menu screen Upload When selected and designated, means for displaying on the terminal a screen prompting the point member to input the number of points to be uploaded; and when the number of points to be uploaded is input via the terminal, the input point A number of means for subtracting from the IC points accumulated in the corresponding point member's IC card by the terminal via the IC card reader / writer, and the input point number stored in the storage means. A program to function as a means for adding to the online points of the corresponding point member. 18. The points to be given to a point member by a point service procedure at a terminal are accumulated as IC points in an IC card owned by the point member, and the points to be given are connected to the terminal via a network. A point server computer used in a point service system capable of accumulating as online points in the point server computer, storage means for holding online points given to each point member, and an IC card reader / writer for the terminal In the case where the point is provided, a means for displaying at least a menu screen on which the selection of download of points can be designated by the terminal according to the access from the terminal according to the operation of the point member, and the point of the point on the menu screen. Download When selected and designated, means for displaying on the terminal a screen prompting the point member to input the number of points to be downloaded; and when the number of points to be downloaded is input via the terminal, the input point Means for subtracting the number of points from the corresponding online points of the point member held in the storage means, and the input point number to the IC points stored in the corresponding point member's IC card. A program for causing a second terminal to function as a means for adding through the IC card reader / writer.