JP2008287347A - Point management method utilizing two-dimensional code - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a new point management method utilizing a two-dimensional code which enables very simple procedure for a user to integrate and operate points at a plurality of stores. <P>SOLUTION: A store side information terminal and a customer side information terminal and a point management server are connected through an electrical communication line. The store issues points, registers the information in a point management server, and prints and provides a two-dimensional code in which the point information and the information of the point management server are stored to a customer, at the same time. The customer reads the provided two-dimensional code by using the customer side information terminal, performs access to the point management server, and inputs the provided point information. Only when the point information input from the customer-side information terminal is new information, will the point management server register it as the acquisition point of the customer who has input the point information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a point management method that is given as a privilege when purchasing goods or services. In particular, the present invention relates to a point management method capable of centrally managing points given from a plurality of stores using a two-dimensional code on a server.

  There is known a system in which a store providing a product or service gives points as a unique privilege service to customers of the store. As one method for realizing this privilege service, a method using a stamp card for stamping the number of stamps according to the purchase amount has been widely performed. In recent years, techniques for managing points with servers have become widespread. However, when a customer registers the number of points given to the server or receives a privilege, it is necessary to present the point card to the store one by one, and for that purpose, there are as many point cards as the number of stores that want to use the privilege. There was a need. Furthermore, in order to exchange the points earned for discounts and other benefits, it is necessary to accumulate a certain amount of points within a predetermined period, and if only points that do not meet the criteria can be accumulated, the points will expire. There were often things. For this reason, there is an increasing demand for efficiently receiving point services by integrating different point services for each store.

As one means for meeting such a point service integration request, Patent Document 1 discloses a system that can convert a point obtained by a point service provided by one company into a point service provided by another company. ing. In this system, it is necessary to add a point exchange dedicated server for converting the points accumulated in the servers of each company into points of other companies, and there is a problem that the system becomes more complicated than before. Further, after receiving point information from the point exchange dedicated server, the customer has to go to the store to perform point exchange processing, and the processing process is complicated.
JP 2003-109115 A

  Further, a disposable common point service card is known in which the mail address information of the point management server and the information of a predetermined number of points to be given are described in a two-dimensional code. When the customer receives the common point service card from the store, the customer reads the code written there from a mobile phone, etc., and sends the email containing the point information to the point management server to register the sender's email address As information, points can be cumulatively added to the server. As a plurality of stores use the same management server, an integrated point service is provided to the user.

  However, since the number of points given to this common point service card is predefined, a user who has obtained many points at one time receives many cards and sends an email for the number of cards. It was necessary to do so, and the point registration process was complicated. Also, the store side needs to prepare in advance by predicting the number of common point service cards to be distributed, and there is no way to handle this when there are more users than expected and there are not enough cards. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the background art, and can be operated by integrating points at a plurality of stores, and a two-dimensional code with a very simple user procedure. The challenge was to provide a new point management method that was utilized.

  The invention according to claim 1 relates to a point management method using a two-dimensional code. The point management method of the present invention is a method for managing points issued by a store to a customer by a store side information terminal, a customer side information terminal, and a point management server connected to these terminals by a telecommunication line. The store issues points according to the purchase price of the customer, the issued point information is registered in the point management server via the store side information terminal, and the point information issued by the store and the point management server A step of printing and providing a customer with a two-dimensional code storing information, and the customer reads the provided two-dimensional code using a customer-side information terminal, accesses a point management server, and is provided. The point information input step, the point management server registered the point information registered from the store side information terminal, and the customer side information terminal The point information entered from the customer side information terminal is collated, and the point information entered from the customer side information terminal is not entered from any customer side information terminal up to the point of entry. And a step of registering as acquisition points.

  According to the point management method of the present invention, the store side does not need to prepare points in the form of a card or the like in advance, and when the store determines the points to be provided to the customer, the total number of points is 1 Can be printed on one code. The point management server verifies the point information input from the customer side information terminal, and the point information is a completely new point that has not been input from any of the customer side information terminals until the time of input. Register as many customer points as possible.

  The point management server of the invention of claim 2 further includes a step of storing information for charging the store when the store registers the point information via the store side information terminal. To do.

  By providing the step of storing information for charging, the point management server can charge in accordance with the points actually issued to the customer by the store. The store does not need to prepare spare points in advance, and charging is performed very efficiently.

  In the invention of claim 3, in addition to the point information, the store inputs the store information, the organization information, and the serial ID into the point management server, and the point management server converts the customer's earned points into the store information. In the step of storing in association, and when the customer inputs an instruction to specify a part or all of the acquired points and convert them to common points, the point management server determines the acquired points specified by the customer as store information. A step of multiplying a common point that is not associated with a predetermined conversion rate for conversion.

  By providing the steps of claim 3, the point management server can manage together with information of both the store that issued the points and the acquired customers. Furthermore, the point management server converts customer earned points to common points according to customer requests, so that customers can integrate points earned among multiple stores and efficiently obtain desired benefits. It becomes possible.

  The present invention provides a new point management method that utilizes a two-dimensional code that can integrate and operate points at a plurality of stores and that is very easy for the user to manage points. The

  Since the store where the point management method of the present invention is introduced participates in a privilege granting system that is integrated and operated in a plurality of stores, it is possible to improve the name recognition as a store. In addition, since the store is charged according to the point issuance amount input to the point management server, it is possible to save costs compared to the conventional method of preparing a point card or the like in advance. Furthermore, the store can access the point management server to check the point issuance status and use it for sales management.

  A customer who uses the point management method of the present invention can register points acquired at a plurality of stores in one server with a simple procedure. In addition, by converting the acquired points into common points, it becomes possible to use benefits other than the store where the points are provided.

The best modes for carrying out the present invention are listed below.
(Mode 1) When a point is issued, the store side information terminal transmits the number of points, store information, and organizing information including detailed information such as the issue date and time to the point management server. Furthermore, the store side information terminal generates a serial ID when issuing points, prints information including the number of points, store information, organization information, and four items of serial ID in the form of a two-dimensional code, To provide.
(Mode 2) The two-dimensional code is generated in the form of a QR code (registered trademark) or a color code.
(Mode 3) The point management server to which the number of points, store information, and organization information are input from the store side information terminal generates a serial ID in the same processing procedure as the store side information terminal, and Stores four items of store information, organization information, and serial ID.
(Mode 4) A customer reads a two-dimensional code including point information provided from a store using a mobile phone as a terminal, accesses a point management server, and registers points.
(Mode 5) The customer accesses the point management server from the mobile phone, checks the number of points stored for each store on the screen, and, if necessary, relevance with the store that acquired his / her point. Can be converted into no common points. Further, the customer can receive a privilege by associating the common point with a point of another store where the privilege is desired.
(Mode 6) The customer can register detailed information such as his / her mail address and sex in the point management server. The point management server can provide the customer with further privilege information based on the registered information.

  Hereinafter, the point management method of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a system 1 that operates a point management method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of point issuance and point registration in the point management method according to the present embodiment.

  The point management system 1 in which the point management method of the present embodiment is operated includes a plurality of store side information terminals 4, a plurality of customer side information terminals 6, and a point management server 2 connected to these terminals by electric communication lines. It consists of The point management server 2 includes a point database 12, a store information database 14, a customer information database 16, and a point management processing unit 10.

  The plurality of customer side information terminals 6 in this embodiment are all mobile phones. In addition, the store side information terminal 4 in the present embodiment includes a point issue processing unit, a display unit, an input unit, and a printer capable of printing a receipt by adding a two-dimensional code.

  Hereinafter, the process from when the store issues points to when the customer registers the points provided to the point management server 2 will be described along the flow of FIG. In step S <b> 2, the store issues points by the store-side information terminal 4. FIG. 4 shows an initial menu screen before point issuance displayed on the display unit of the store side information terminal 4. The store-side information terminal 4 can be used for point management such as reference of history in addition to issuing points, and these operations are easily performed by selecting menus on the screen. The store side information terminal 4 can select the menu of “issue point ticket” by operating the input unit.

  FIG. 5 shows an ID input screen when the point ticket issuance menu is selected in the store side information terminal 4. Enter the store-specific ID number, password, and store name stored in the store information database 14 of the point management server 2, and then issue whether the point issuance method to be issued in the future is done with percentage grant or directly By selecting whether to input the number of points, the point issuance screen is displayed.

  In FIG. 6, the point issue screen of the shop side information terminal 4 is shown. The screen shown on the left side of FIG. 6 is a point issuance screen in the case of percentage assignment. In this case, points are issued by inputting the sales amount. In addition, by selecting the “Number of prints” menu at the bottom of the sales input screen, it is possible to select whether to issue only one calculated point, or whether to issue the same number of points. it can. Multiple issuance is used when the same number of points is distributed to all customers. The screen shown on the right side of FIG. 6 is a point issuance screen when inputting the number of points to be issued directly. In this case as well, only one point entered is issued, or the same points are given and many pieces are issued. You can choose whether to issue.

  When all the information necessary for issuing points is input to the store-side information terminal 4, points can be issued. The issued point information is input to the point management server 2 via the telecommunication line in step S4. At this time, in addition to the number of points, store information and organization information such as the issue date and time are simultaneously input from the store side information terminal 4, and the point management server 2 temporarily stores these as pre-registration information. (Step S6). Further, the point management processing unit 10 of the point management server 2 generates a unique ID number using the input store information, point information, and organization information as parameters, and adds this to the point information as a serial ID. And memorize temporarily. The serial ID in this embodiment is generated by application software generated by a Java (registered trademark) script.

  At the same time, the point management processing unit 10 of the point management server 2 stores, in the store information database 14, the number of points issued by the store and the organizing information such as the date of issue for each store, and uses them as billing reference data. Yes.

  Next, in step S8, the store side information terminal 4 outputs a receipt on which the point information is printed with a two-dimensional code from the printing unit in order to issue the point to the customer and provide the customer with the point. An example of the output receipt is shown in FIG. In the receipt of this embodiment, the point information is described in QR code (registered trademark).

  The two-dimensional code printed in the lower right corner of the receipt in FIG. 7 includes information on the store that issues the receipt, the number of issued points, the date and time of issue, the address of the point management server 2 that is the access destination, and the like. The included organization information and serial ID are included. The serial ID printed here is an ID uniquely determined for each receipt generated by the store side information terminal 4 by the same processing procedure as the point management processing unit 10 of the point management server 2.

  In step S10, a receipt in which point information and the like are described in a two-dimensional code is provided to the customer. In step S <b> 12, the customer uses the camera function of the customer side information terminal 6 to capture the two-dimensional code into the customer side information terminal 6. As shown in FIG. 8, the customer-side information terminal 6 shows the point information to the customer, and when the customer desires to acquire this point, the customer-side information terminal 6 clearly indicates that the point management server 2 is to be accessed. Encourage connection. When the customer issues a connection instruction, the customer-side information terminal 6 accesses the point management server 2 and stores information on the store that issued the provided receipt, the number of points issued by the store, Arrangement information such as date and time and a serial ID are provided (step S14).

  In step S16, the point management server 2 searches the point information group temporarily stored in step S6 for point information having the same serial ID as the serial ID input in step S14, and stores the point information in the store. Are compared with the organization information (step S16).

  Here, when data that completely matches the data provided by the customer side information terminal 6 in step S14 is temporarily stored in the point management server 2, the point information temporarily stored in the point management server 2 is Assuming that the new information has not been registered by any customer, step S18 is YES. The process proceeds to step S22, and the point information input from the customer side information terminal 6 is associated with the unique number information of the customer side information terminal 6 and registered in the point database 12. The point management processing unit 10 displays a notification screen indicating that points have been registered on the customer-side information terminal 6, and ends the processing. At the same time, the point management server 2 avoids duplicate registration by attaching a used flag to the point information temporarily stored in step S6.

  If the serial ID that matches the serial ID of the point information embedded in the two-dimensional code provided by the customer side information terminal 6 in step S14 is not temporarily stored in the point management server 2, or the same If the other store information is different for the serial ID data, step S18 becomes no and the point management processing unit 10 of the point management server 2 indicates that a registration error has occurred. 6 is notified and the process is terminated (step S20).

  A method in which the point information input from the customer side information terminal 6 is associated with the information of the customer side information terminal 6 and registered in the point database 12 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The point information newly registered in step S22 is stored in the point database 12 in association with the unique number of the customer side information terminal 6. When the point information is newly registered in the point database 12, the point management processing unit 10 searches the customer information database 16, and for the customer-side information terminal 6 having the same unique number, e-mail address, gender, date of birth, etc. It is confirmed whether or not customer information is registered (step S24). If customer information is not registered, a solicitation screen for registering an e-mail address is displayed below the notification screen for registering points (step S26).

  If the customer agrees to register the e-mail address in step S28, the process proceeds to step S30. When the customer gives an instruction, the customer side information terminal 6 sends an e-mail to the point management server 2, Request registration of email address. In the customer information database 16 of the point management server 2, the unique number of the customer side information terminal and the mail address are recorded in association with each other. By registering the customer's email address, the point management server 2 can notify the customer of useful information such as the current acquisition point by email.

  Further, the point management processing unit 10 displays a screen for inviting registration of customer information to the customer who registered the mail address (step S34). If the customer agrees to register customer information in step S36, the process proceeds to step S38, and when the customer inputs information such as sex and date of birth, the customer information database 16 of the point management server 2 stores The unique number of the customer side information terminal and the mail address are recorded in association with each other (step S40). By accumulating such information in the point management server 2, when the customer desires, the store information and the like optimum for the customer are provided to the customer more finely.

  The customer can use the registration points provided to the point management server 2 by being provided from each store at the provided store. In addition to this, the points can be converted into common points that do not belong to any store, and the converted common points can be used by replacing them with points of other stores where the privilege is to be obtained. About a method in which a customer accesses the point management server 2 from the customer side information terminal 6 and converts the accumulated points for each store into common points, and further converts the converted common points into points at other stores. This will be described with reference to the flow of FIG.

  In step S42, the customer accesses the point management server 2 from the customer side information terminal 6. FIG. 9 shows an initial menu displayed on the customer side information terminal 6 by the point management server 2 when accessed. The customer can access the point database 12 and inquire about points by clicking and selecting My Page in the third stage of the initial menu (step S44). FIG. 10 shows an answer display screen when the point management server 2 answers in step S46 in response to the point inquiry. What is shown at the top of the answer display screen in FIG. 10 is a common point that is not associated with a store.

Here, the customer designates a point accumulated in a store that does not plan to use the privilege, and transmits a request to share this point to the point management server 2 (step S48).
In response to this request, in step S50, the point management server 2 converts the points associated with the designated store in the customer point data stored in the point database 12 into common points. .

  The point management processing unit 10 in the present embodiment calculates the number of common points by multiplying a predetermined conversion rate when converting points associated with a store into common points. This conversion rate can be set to a number of 1 or less. When the conversion rate is set to less than 1, the customer obtains fewer common points than before conversion. The difference between the number of points before and after conversion can be used as the maintenance cost of the point management system.

  When the point sharing process in step S50 is completed, a screen for completion of sharing is displayed on the customer side information terminal 6. If desired, the customer proceeds to the process of step S54, and can use the converted common points by converting them into points of other stores where the privilege is to be obtained. FIG. 11 shows a screen for requesting conversion of common points in the customer side information terminal 6. When a conversion is requested from the screen displaying the total number of common points, a list of stores that can be converted is displayed, and the customer selects the store that wants to get the benefit and the number of points used at that store It becomes possible. FIG. 12 shows a confirmation screen displayed on the customer side information terminal 6 when the customer instructs conversion of common points. When the customer inputs confirmation, the point management server 2 performs point use calculation processing (step S56), updates the point database 12 (step S60), and the customer side information terminal 6 and the store indicate that the processing is completed. Notification is made to the side information terminal 4.

  As an example of a method of using the accumulated points, issuance of a coupon for receiving a privilege can be mentioned. An example of a coupon is shown in FIG. This coupon can be displayed on the customer-side information terminal 6, and the customer can receive various benefits by presenting this screen to the store.

  As mentioned above, although the specific example of this invention was described in detail by the Example, these are only illustrations and do not limit a claim. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above. For example, the store side information terminal 4 in this embodiment is an independent terminal including a point issuance processing unit, a display unit, an input unit, and a printer capable of printing a receipt by adding a two-dimensional code. However, it is possible to incorporate all of these functions in the store register. In addition, the configuration of the point management server 2 and the processing flow can be arbitrarily changed without impairing the functions described in the claims.

It is a block diagram of the system which implements the point management method of an Example. It is a flowchart which shows the point issuing method of an Example. It is a flowchart which shows the point conversion method of an Example. It is a figure which shows the initial stage menu screen before point issue displayed on the display part of the shop side information terminal 4 of an Example. It is a figure which shows the ID input screen of the shop side information terminal 4 of an Example. It is a figure which shows the point issue screen of the shop side information terminal 4 of an Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the receipt issued from the shop side information terminal 4 of an Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the point information displayed on the customer side information terminal 4 of an Example. It is a figure which shows the initial menu of the point management system displayed on the customer side information terminal 6 of an Example. It is a figure which shows the screen of the point inquiry result displayed on the customer side information terminal 6 of an Example. It is a figure which shows the screen of the point conversion confirmation displayed on the customer side information terminal 6 of an Example. It is a figure which shows the screen of the point acquisition confirmation displayed on the customer side information terminal 6 of an Example. It is a figure which shows the screen of the coupon displayed on the customer side information terminal 6 of an Example. It is a figure which shows the flow which inputs customer information into the point management server 2 of an Example.

Explanation of symbols

1 point management system 2 point management server 4 store side information terminal 6 customer side information terminal 10 point management processing unit 12 point database 14 store information database 16 customer information database

Claims (3)

A method of managing points issued by a store to a customer by a store side information terminal, a customer side information terminal, and a point management server connected to these terminals by a telecommunication line,
The store issues points according to the purchase price of the customer, and registers the issued point information in the point management server via the store side information terminal;
A step of printing a two-dimensional code storing the issued point information and point management server information to the customer;
The customer reads the provided two-dimensional code using the customer side information terminal, accesses the point management server, and inputs the provided point information;
The point management server collates the point information registered from the store side information terminal with the point information input from the user information terminal, and the point information input from the customer side information terminal is registered in any customer. A point management method using a two-dimensional code, comprising: a step of registering as an acquisition point of an input customer only when there is no new information.   The point management server further includes a step of storing information for charging the store when the store registers the point information via the store-side information terminal. Point management method using 2D code. The store inputs the store information, the organization information, and the serial ID to the point management server in addition to the point information;
A point management server storing customer earned points in association with store information;
When a customer inputs an instruction to convert some or all of the acquired points to common points, the point management server multiplies the acquired points specified by the customer by a predetermined conversion rate, and stores information The point management method using the two-dimensional code according to claim 1, further comprising a step of converting into a common point that is not associated with the point.

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