JP2009140035A - Settlement system capable of using a plurality of settlement applications - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To further easily select a settlement means from among a plurality of settlement means with respect to the settlement performed by using a settlement application selected from among a plurality of settlement applications. <P>SOLUTION: Whether or not a settlement means available by a user is able to settle its use sum is determined, and the settlement means most satisfactorily satisfying predetermined conditions is selected from among the available settlement means. In this case, whether or not the settlement means is able to settle accounts is determined under the consideration of its combination with the other settlement means which may make it possible for the settlement means to settle the accounts even though the single settlement means is not able to settle it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a payment performed using a payment application selected from a plurality of payment applications.

  Currently, in transactions such as purchase of goods and services, there are many cases where a plurality of types of settlement such as credit cards and electronic money can be used. Also, the user may have a plurality of cards or the like in each type such as a credit card. As described above, a plurality of settlement means are currently prepared, and the user selects an appropriate one among them.

  However, the selection of the payment means cannot be properly used because the services such as points of the payment means are different.

  There exists patent document 1 as what solves this problem. In Patent Document 1, it is disclosed that a plurality of credit cards are prioritized in consideration of the merits of card members and stores, and the credit cards are properly used. For this reason, in Patent Document 1, credit card information related to a plurality of credit cards is stored in a portable terminal, and when a card member enters a store, a merit related to the use of the plurality of credit cards is keyed from the store server. On the basis of the priority order information described above, a display for allowing the user to select a credit card to be used from a plurality of credit cards is performed.

JP 2003-76927 A

  In Patent Document 1, it is necessary to set priorities in advance. This becomes necessary every time a new payment method is added. This places a burden on the user himself or the administrator of the system proposed in Patent Document 1.

  Further, since the priority order is set by a user or the like, a credit card (settlement means) inappropriate for settlement due to insufficient balance may be selected. In Patent Document 1, only the points are considered, and the convenience of each settlement means including other services is not considered.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, in the present invention, in a payment means that can be used by a user, it is determined whether the use amount can be settled, and among the possible payment means, a payment that satisfies a predetermined condition most. A means is selected. At this time, the settlement means that can be settled includes combinations that can be made in combination with other settlement means even if the settlement means cannot be settled by a single settlement means. Further, the predetermined condition includes the use of information related to settlement (processing) time. Here, the information regarding the settlement (processing) time includes a processing method such as whether the settlement means is online processing or offline processing, and the processing time itself. This also includes selecting the one with the shortest processing time. Further, the settlement means includes a settlement application that is the program.

  In more detail, the following aspects are also included in the present invention.

A plurality of payment applications having a payment device that is connectable to a storage device storing a plurality of payment applications and that performs information processing that requires payment using at least one of the plurality of applications stored in the storage device. In the available payment systems,
The storage device includes a plurality of applications, a first table that stores a payment possible amount in association with each of the plurality of payment applications, and a balance list that is rewritten when a predetermined payment is made. , A second table storing a list of payment possible amounts of the plurality of payment applications,
The settlement device
A means of accepting input of the amount to be settled;
Means for determining whether there is a payment application candidate that satisfies the input amount using the list of possible payment amount;
In the determination, if it is determined that it does not exist, means for extracting a payment application that can be settled, using the list of possible payment amounts;
A means for identifying a payment application that can be settled in the shortest time among the extracted payment applications;
A payment system that executes a payment process using the specified payment application is also included in the present invention.

In this payment system,
The means for extracting extracts a combination of payment applications,
The specifying means specifies a combination that can be settled in the shortest time among the extracted combinations,
The present invention also includes a payment system in which the payment process is executed using a payment application that constitutes the specified combination.

In this payment system,
The means for extracting determines whether or not the settlement possible amount of each of the plurality of settlement applications has reached the amount to be settled, and if not, the settlement system for extracting the combination is also included in the present invention. .

In these payment systems,
The payment device further includes means for confirming whether a priority order used for payment is set for the plurality of payment applications in the storage device;
Means for specifying a payment application according to the priority when the priority is set by the checking means;
A payment system that executes the payment process using the specified payment application is also included in the present invention.

In this payment system,
The determination means is the confirmation means, and the settlement system that makes the determination when the priority is not set is also included in the present invention.

In the above payment system,
The specifying means includes a payment system that specifies the payment application that can be settled in the shortest time based on the payment method set for each payment application.

In this payment system,
The payment method indicates online payment or offline payment,
The specifying means includes a payment system that specifies the payment application by determining that the offline payment can be processed in a shorter time.

In the above payment system,
The specifying means includes a payment system that specifies, for the combination, a combination having the largest offline payment or a combination having the smallest online payment in the payment method of each payment application constituting the combination.

  The present invention includes a method using the above payment system, each device constituting the payment system, a combination thereof, or a program for realizing the processing using these devices as a computer.

  Furthermore, it is an aspect of the present invention to rewrite the contents of the second table in accordance with the contents of the settlement process. At this time, it is also included in the present invention to perform control so that the rewriting process is performed after the settlement process is completed. Further, it is an embodiment of the present invention to store the second table in an area or medium that is easier to rewrite than the first table. For example, caching the second table is also included.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to more easily select a plurality of settlement means to be used for settlement.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, shopping at a store will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, it can be applied to so-called Internet shopping and transactions between businesses.

  First, FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram in the present embodiment. Each device is connected to each other via a network or the like. Each computer has a processing device such as a memory, a storage device including a hard disk, and a CPU, and the processing device executes information processing according to a program stored in the storage device.

  Next, each device in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described. Payment card medium 1 can exchange information with reader 2 (at least in the direction from payment card medium 1 to reader 2). The reading device 2 and the settlement device 3 are connected.

  The payment card medium 1 is a payment card terminal used by a user for payment. In general, it can be realized with an IC card or a mobile phone. It can be used as a credit card or electronic money stored. The reading device 2 can read information on the payment card medium 1 and can be realized by a reader / writer device or the like. In addition, when reading / writing information with the payment card medium 1, it does not ask | require whether it performs by contact or non-contact. In order to realize these functions, each device has the following functions.

  The payment card medium 1 has a payment priority order setting function (program) 10 and payment applications (A to C) 20, and a processing device (not shown) executes processing (function) according to these. Further, balance list information D10 for executing these processes, payment priority information D11, and the amount of money (for example, balance of electronic money, etc.) that can be used by the payment application in association with each payment application (A to C) 20 The available balance information D20 is stored in a storage device (not shown). At this time, the balance list information D10 and the available balance information D20 are stored in different storage areas (medium, device). Alternatively, the available balance information D20 may be rewritten every time it is used, and the balance list information D10 may be controlled to be rewritten in a longer cycle (timing). In addition, an input device such as a keyboard and a numeric keypad and a display unit may be included.

  Further, the settlement apparatus 3 has a settlement priority calculation program (function) 21, each settlement application (A to C) information reading program (function) 30, and each settlement application (A to C) settlement program (function) 40. Each program executes its function by a processing device (not shown). In this embodiment, each payment application (A to C) information reading program (function) 30 and each payment application (A to C) payment program (function) 40 are prepared for each payment application. It may be a program corresponding to a plurality of settlement applications (including all cases). In this example, the programs for the payment applications A to C are stored, but in many cases, each payment that can deal with more payment applications than the payment application stored in each payment card medium 1 is possible. An application (A to C) information reading program (function) 30 and each settlement application (A to C) settlement program (function) 40 are provided. In other words, the payment apparatus 2 can cope with a payment program such as the payment application D that is not in the payment card medium 1. Note that when paying attention to another payment card medium, the payment application D is stored in the payment card medium. Here, the payment priority order calculation program (function) 21 calculates the priority order of the payment applications A to C in accordance with the payment order information D11 read from the payment card medium 1 via the reading device 2. Each payment application (A to C) information reading program (function) 30 has a function of reading information related to each payment application such as the available balance information D20 from the payment card medium 1 via the reading device 2. The payment application (A to C) payment program (function) 40 performs processing for executing payment in each payment application (for example, payment instruction transmission to the financial institution system and electronic money reduction processing). Although not shown, the settlement apparatus 3 also has a program for controlling which settlement application 20 is to be used and for linking each settlement application settlement program.

Hereinafter, the details of the processing in the above-described system will be described with reference to FIG. The following processing procedure is executed using each of the above-described programs.
First, in step 110 of FIG. 2A, a POS terminal installed in a store which is an example of the payment apparatus 3 receives an input of the payment amount. Here, description will be made assuming that a product of ¥ 5000 is purchased. That is, the payment apparatus 3 accepts an input of a salesclerk of ¥ 5000 as the payment amount. This may be input by reading means such as a barcode reader.

  Next, in step 120, the payment apparatus 3 reads the information of the payment priority information D <b> 11 from the payment card medium 1 via the reading device 2. Here, the user holds a mobile phone, which is an example of the payment card medium 1, over the reading device 2, and the reading device 2 reads the information of the payment priority order information D <b> 11 in the mobile phone and transmits it to the payment device 3.

Next, in step 130, the settlement apparatus 3 determines whether or not the settlement priority information D11 is set. When the settlement priority information D11 is set (information is stored), the process proceeds to step 140. If the settlement priority information D11 setting is not set, the process proceeds to step 210.
In the present embodiment, the user determines whether the priority order of payment applications (such as setting payment application A as priority 1 and payment application B as priority 2) is set (stored) in advance on the mobile phone. .

Next, in step 140, the payment apparatus 3 reads the priority payment application information n from the payment priority information D 11 of the payment card medium 1 via the reading device 2.
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the user sets the payment application B as the priority 1, the payment application C as the priority 2, and the payment application A as the priority 3, on the mobile phone. Therefore, the priority payment application read in this process reads the payment application B information.

  Next, in step 150, the payment apparatus 3 reads the balance information of the payment application information n via the reading apparatus 2, and confirms, that is, stores the read information. In the present embodiment, the balance of the payment application B having the highest priority is read and stored. Since the payment application B is an electronic money (prepaid) method, the available balance information ¥ 2000 held by the payment application B is read and stored.

  Next, in step 160, the settlement apparatus 3 settles an amount that can be settled with the balance of the settlement application n among the settlement amounts input in step 110. In the present embodiment, the payment apparatus 3 performs a payment process for the available balance information ¥ 2000 of the payment application B. For example, payment request information is sent to the financial institution device connected to the payment device 3, or instruction information for subtracting the payment amount of ¥ 2000 is sent to the payment card medium 1. Note that after this processing, the available balance information D20 of the payment application B on the payment card medium 1 is ¥ 0.

  In step 170, when the amount obtained by subtracting the payment amount settled in step 160 from the settlement amount input in step 110 is 0 or more, the settlement apparatus 3 returns to step 140 and uses the next priority settlement application n. Continue the payment process. If the amount is 0, the payment process is terminated.

  In this embodiment, out of the settlement amount ¥ 5000 input in step 110, the settlement application B is used to settle ¥ 2000, so the remaining settlement amount is ¥ 3000. Since the payment amount remains, the process returns to step 140 and the payment process is executed using the payment application C which is prioritized.

  Next, in step 210 of FIG. 2B, the payment apparatus 3 determines whether the balance list information D10 exists in the payment card medium 1. If it exists, step 220 is executed. If not, step 410 is executed to create balance list information.

  In the present embodiment, whether or not the list information D10 of the balance that can be used for offline payment of the payment application in the mobile phone is created (stored) on the mobile phone that the user holds over the reading device 2 as the payment card medium 1. Check). The balance list information D10 is a list of balance information of the payment application read when the payment apparatus 3 uses the mobile phone to perform the payment process, and is recorded in the mobile phone after the payment process is completed. It is information to keep. Thereby, at the time of the next settlement, it is not necessary to go to the balance of each settlement application, and the settlement process can be speeded up.

  Next, in step 220, the payment apparatus 3 reads the balance list information D10 in the payment card medium 1 and creates a payment n usable balance list D20 in the payment apparatus 3. In the present embodiment, since balance list information D10 exists in the mobile phone, balance list information D10 is read from the mobile phone held by the user over reader 2. Based on this information, it is created in the payment apparatus 3 as balance list information D20 of each payment application.

  Next, in step 230, the settlement apparatus 3 performs a process of reading the settlement n usable balance list D20, and reads an offline settlement available balance of the settlement n described in the settlement n usable balance list D20. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that an offline payment balance is recorded in which the usage balance of payment application A is ¥ 4999, payment application B is ¥ 2000, and payment application C is ¥ 3000. The order of the payment applications to be read out is not particularly defined, but in this embodiment, it is assumed that the balance available for payment application A is read first.

Next, in step 240, the payment apparatus 3 compares the offline settlement available balance of the settlement n read out in step 230 with the settlement amount input in step 110, and if the offline settlement available balance is higher than the settlement amount. The process proceeds to step 270 (since it is possible to settle the entire settlement amount with one settlement). If the offline-payable balance is lower than the settlement amount, the process returns to step 230 to read the next settlement n.
In the present embodiment, the settlement amount ¥ 5000 input at step 110 is compared with the settlement available balance ¥ 4999 of settlement application A read at step 230. In this embodiment, since the balance that can be settled offline is lower than the settlement amount, the process returns to step 230 again to read the balance information of the next settlement application.

  Next, in step 250, the payment apparatus 3 determines that the payment application described in the payment n available balance list D20 and the type of payment application installed in the payment card medium 1 (for example, ABC ≠ ABD if the types are different). ) Or the number (if the number is different, AB ≠ ABC) is found to be different, step 410 is executed, and balance list information is recreated. If not, step 260 is executed.

  In the present embodiment, the payment application balance list information D10 recorded in the mobile phone can be updated only when payment is performed by the payment apparatus 3. Accordingly, after the settlement is performed by the settlement apparatus 3, when an operation such as addition or deletion of a settlement application is performed by a user operation, the settlement application actually registered in the mobile phone and the settlement application balance list information D10 There is a possibility that the information recorded in In this case, since there is a high possibility that an error has occurred in the information described in the settlement application balance list information D10, the balance list information is discarded (erased), and list information is created again in step 410.

  In step 260, the payment device 3 uses the result of reading the payment n available balance list D20 via the reading device 2, and uses the result of reading the payment amount input in step 110 as a payment application capable of payment with the minimum number of payments. The combination of n is calculated. As a calculation method, (1) the settlement n available balance is divided by the settlement amount, and the score of settlement n is calculated. The score calculated by this process is always a score of 1 or less (eg, settlement n available balance (3,000 yen) / settlement amount (5000 yen) = 0.6). (2) The total score of all combinations of settlement n is calculated. (Example: Settlement B (score 0.6) + Settlement C (score 0.4) = 1.0). (3) As a result of the calculation of the total score, a combination of payments with a total score of 1 or more and the highest total score is adopted.

The combination of payment applications is preferably about 2 or 3 applications. (If it becomes 4 or more, it takes time for payment processing)
In step 270, the settlement apparatus 3 checks (that is, reads and stores) the offline settlement available balance of the settlement n. There may be one or a plurality of settlements n here. In the present embodiment, the payment application A in the mobile phone is actually accessed, and the offline payment available balance is confirmed.

  In step 280, the settlement apparatus 3 compares the balance available for offline settlement of the settlement n with the settlement amount input in step 110. When the offline payment available balance of payment n (or combination of payment n) is higher than the payment amount, step 310 is performed. If it is lower, step 410 is executed, and processing is performed from re-creation of balance list information.

  In the present embodiment, for example, if the offline payment available balance of the payment application A in the mobile phone is ¥ 6000 with respect to the payment amount ¥ 5000 input in step 110, the payment processing is continued and step 310 is performed. To do.

However, if the payment amount of the payment application A in the mobile phone is less than the payment amount of ¥ 5000 entered in step 110, such as ¥ 4000, the amount used for the payment application is used to calculate the combination of payment applications. Since the information of the balance list information D10 in the mobile phone is different from the state of the actual payment application, the process is performed again from the re-creation of the balance list information. (In other words, because the payment application was selected based on the balance information that is different from the entity, it was found that there was not enough balance required for payment at the final confirmation stage. Yes.)
Next, in step 310 of FIG. 3, the settlement apparatus 3 performs a settlement process for settlement n (unit or combination). In this embodiment, when payment application C (balance ¥ 3000) and payment application B (balance ¥ 2000) are selected for payment amount ¥ 5000 input in step 110, payment application C and payment application B Execute the settlement process.

  In step 320, the payment apparatus 3 performs a payment process of the payment application n <b> 110 in the payment card medium 1. In the present embodiment, the payment process of payment application C is performed. As a result of the settlement process, the balance changes from ¥ 3000 to ¥ 0. That is, the settlement amount subtraction process is performed from the balance of the settlement card medium 1 or settlement request information is transmitted to the financial institution apparatus.

In step 330, the settlement apparatus 3 updates the balance information changed as a result of the settlement performed in steps 310 and 320 to the settlement n usable balance list D20.
In the present embodiment, the balance ¥ 0 after the settlement process of the settlement application C is updated to the settlement n usable balance list D20.

  In step 340, the payment apparatus 3 writes the information of the payment n usable balance list D20 to the balance list information D10 in the payment card medium 1. In the present embodiment, a process of writing the latest offline usage balance information of the payment application after the payment process into the mobile phone as the payment card medium 1 is performed.

  Next, in step 410 of FIG. 4, the payment apparatus 3 reads the offline usable balance of each payment application installed in the payment card medium 1. In the present embodiment, the offline available balance of all the payment applications installed in the mobile phone is read, and the payment application that can be settled in the shortest time (payable with one payment application) is searched.

  In step 420, the settlement apparatus 3 confirms (reads and stores) the offline settlement available balance of the settlement n. In the present embodiment, the offline available balance of the payment application installed in the mobile phone is read.

  The offline available balance is the amount used immediately before the online authorization is performed by risk management (floor limit check, etc.) for payment application A (small amount payment credit), and for payment application B (electronic money). It simply becomes the balance of electronic money.

  In step 430, the payment apparatus 3 registers the offline payment available balance information of the payment n read in step 420 in the payment n available balance list D20 in the payment apparatus 3. In the present embodiment, the offline available balance ¥ 2000 read from the payment application B is registered in the payment B available balance list D20.

  In step 440, the payment apparatus 3 compares the offline payment available balance of the payment n read in step 420 with the payment amount input in step 110, and if the payment usage balance is higher than the payment amount, the step continues. 410 is executed. If the settlement usage balance is lower than the settlement amount (because offline settlement is possible with a single settlement application), step 310 is executed. In the present embodiment, for example, if the offline payment available balance of payment application C is ¥ 3000 with respect to the payment amount of ¥ 2000 input in step 110, the balance confirmation operation is interrupted and payment processing is performed (payment application). The payment processing speed is given priority over the update of the balance information.

In step 450, the settlement apparatus 3 uses the result of reading the settlement n available balance list D20 to calculate a combination of settlement applications n that can settle the settlement amount input in step 110 with the minimum number of settlements. As a calculation method, (1) the settlement n available balance is divided by the settlement amount, and the score of settlement n is calculated. The score calculated in this process is a score of 1 or less. (Example: Payment n available balance (3,000 yen) / payment amount (5000 yen) = 0.6) (2) The total score of all combinations of payment n is calculated. (Example: Settlement B (score 0.6) + Settlement C (score 0.4) = 1.0). (3) As a result of the calculation of the total score, a combination of payments having a total score of 1 or more and the highest total score is adopted.
The combination of payment applications is preferably about 2 or 3 applications. (If it becomes 4 or more, it takes time for payment processing)
This is the end of the description of the present embodiment. FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, and FIG. These processes are based on the fact that electronic money can be processed offline, so the payment time is short. For small credits, if payment is less than the available balance, the payment will be offline, and the payment time will be the same as for electronic money. Information that shows such personality (correspondence table showing the length of application and processing time) is stored in the settlement device 3 and the like, and based on this, the combination and the settlement to be used Specifying the application is also included in the present invention. Note that, as the above-mentioned character, if the usage exceeds the available balance, the online authorization to the center may be performed, and it may be held that it takes a settlement time.

Overall system configuration diagram of one embodiment of the present invention Flow chart showing settlement process (1) Flow chart showing settlement process (2) Flow chart showing settlement process (3) Flow chart showing settlement process (4) Table structure Schematic diagram showing an example of settlement processing (part 1: settlement priority is set) Schematic diagram showing an example of payment processing (part 2: No payment priority setting (1)) Schematic diagram showing an example of payment processing (part 3: no payment priority setting (2)) Schematic diagram showing an example of settlement processing (part 4: no settlement priority setting (3))

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Payment card medium, 2 ... Reading apparatus, 3 ... Payment apparatus

Claims (8)

A plurality of payment applications having a payment device that is connectable to a storage device storing a plurality of payment applications and that performs information processing that requires payment using at least one of the plurality of applications stored in the storage device. In the available payment systems,
The storage device includes a plurality of applications, a first table that stores a payment possible amount in association with each of the plurality of payment applications, and a balance list that is rewritten when a predetermined payment is made. , A second table storing a list of payment possible amounts of the plurality of payment applications,
The settlement device
A means of accepting input of the amount to be settled;
Means for determining whether there is a payment application candidate that satisfies the input amount using the list of possible payment amount;
In the determination, if it is determined that it does not exist, means for extracting a payment application that can be settled, using the list of possible payment amounts;
A means for identifying a payment application that can be settled in the shortest time among the extracted payment applications;
A payment system, wherein payment processing is executed using the specified payment application. In the payment system according to claim 1,
The means for extracting extracts a combination of payment applications,
The specifying means specifies a combination that can be settled in the shortest time among the extracted combinations,
The payment system is executed using a payment application that constitutes the specified combination. In the payment system according to claim 2,
The means for extracting determines whether or not the payment possible amount of each of the plurality of payment applications has reached the amount to be settled, and if not, extracts the combination. In the payment system according to claim 2 or 3,
The payment device further includes means for confirming whether a priority order used for payment is set for the plurality of payment applications in the storage device;
Means for specifying a payment application according to the priority when the priority is set by the checking means;
A payment system, wherein the payment process is executed using the specified payment application. In the payment system according to claim 4,
The settlement system according to claim 1, wherein the determination means is the confirmation means and performs the determination when the priority is not set. In the settlement system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The payment system is characterized in that the specifying means specifies a payment application that can be settled in the shortest time based on a payment method set for each payment application. The payment system according to claim 6,
The payment method indicates online payment or offline payment,
The payment system is characterized in that the specifying means executes the specification of the payment application by determining that the offline payment can be processed in a shorter time. In the payment system according to claim 2,
The payment system is characterized in that the specifying means specifies a combination having the largest number of offline payments or a combination having the smallest number of online payments in the payment method of each payment application constituting the combination.

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