JP2011253507A - Point management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately give points to a customer.SOLUTION: A point management system includes: a POS terminal which is installed at a shop, generates transaction data regarding transactions of a member, acquires a member identifier of the member, transmits the acquired member identifier to a point management server, receives the points to be given to the member from the point management server, and prints the points on a receipt; and the point management server which is connected to the POS terminal, calculates the points to be given from the transaction data, and transmits the points to the POS terminal. When the POS terminal cannot transmit the member identifier to the point management server, information including a transaction identifier is printed on the receipt.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a point management system including a store system and a point management server.

  In general commercial transactions, a method for providing a customer with a service corresponding to a point as well as giving a customer a point corresponding to the transaction for the purpose of keeping the customer in the market is widespread. In actual stores, point cards are distributed to customers. By identifying the customer with the member identifier associated with the point card, points are given to the customer according to the customer's transaction. Points awarded to customers may be stored or printed on a point card and managed in a memory in the point card. In addition, points may not be managed with a point card, and a point management server connected via a communication network may manage points given to customers.

JP 2008-27313 A

  Here, when the point management server manages customer points, the point granting is based on the premise that the customer has a point card and can transmit the customer member identifier to the point management server. Therefore, when the customer's point card is forgotten, or depending on the operating status of each terminal or infrastructure, points may not be granted to the customer.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a point management system capable of appropriately giving points to customers.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a point management system according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed in a store, generates transaction data relating to a member transaction, acquires a member identifier of the member, and transmits it to the point management server The point management server receives the points to be given to the member and is connected to the POS terminal that prints on the receipt, and the point management that is connected to the POS terminal, calculates the points to be given from the transaction data, and transmits the points to the POS terminal And a server. Here, when the POS terminal cannot transmit the member identifier to the point management server, the information including the transaction identifier is printed on the receipt.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a point management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the hardware configuration of the POS terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the appearance of the POS terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining data embedded in the barcode by the POS terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining processing at the time of barcode printing of the POS terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the hardware configuration of the point management server according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating functional blocks of the point management server according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the data structure of point data of the point management server according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram for explaining processing at the time of point granting in the point management system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals.

(Point management system)
A point management system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. A point management system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a data center 1 and store systems 2a, 2b, and 2c. The data center 1 and the store systems 2a, 2b, and 2c are connected via a communication network 3 such as the Internet so that they can communicate with each other.

  The data center 1 centrally manages various data such as point data and transaction data in the point management system 10. The data center 1 includes a point management server 11 and a transaction management server 12.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the point management server 11 stores the customer member identifier and the accumulated points assigned to the customer in association with each other. The point management server 11 calculates points to be given from transaction data received from the store system 2 for each transaction. Further, the point management server 11 adds a given accumulated point to the calculated point to calculate a new accumulated point corresponding to the member identifier. The point management server 11 transmits the point data calculated from the transaction data and the new accumulated point data to the store system 2.

  The transaction management server 12 records the transaction data transmitted from the store system 2 in association with the transaction identifier. The transaction management server 12 may receive transaction data in real time each time a customer makes a business transaction in the store system 2 or may receive the transaction data by batch processing such as once a day.

  The store system 2 is provided in a store that provides a face-to-face business transaction to a customer. In the example shown in FIG. 1, three store systems are described in the point management system 10, but three or more may be used. The number of store systems 2 corresponds to the number of stores using the data center 1.

  The store system 2a includes a POS server 21 and POS terminals 22a, 22b, and 22c. The POS server 21 and the POS terminals 22a, 22b, and 22c are connected to be able to communicate bidirectionally via the in-store LAN 23. The store systems 2b and 2c also have the same configuration as the store system 2a.

  The POS server 21 stores a product identifier of a product sold at a store and a sales price in association with each other. Further, the POS server 21 stores the transaction data input from the POS terminal 22 and transmits the transaction data stored in the POS server 21 to the transaction management server 12 at a predetermined timing.

  Information on individual purchased products of the customer is input to the POS terminal 22. For example, the POS terminal 22 reads the product identifier by reading the barcode printed on the product with a bar code reader connected to the POS terminal 22a. Further, the POS terminal 22 obtains the selling price of the product from the POS server 21 or the like and presents it to the customer. Furthermore, the POS terminal 22 confirms the amount of money received and the amount of change during payment, and outputs a receipt to be provided to the customer.

  Particularly in the embodiment of the present invention, the customer owns the membership card 4. The membership card 4 is issued for each customer and is associated with a membership identifier that identifies the customer. In the member card 4 according to the embodiment of the present invention, only the member identifier is managed, and the information on the points given to the member is not managed. There are various methods for managing the membership number by the membership card 4.

  For example, the case where the membership card 4 is a magnetic card is conceivable. In this case, the member identifier is recorded as magnetic data of the member card 4. The clerk reads the magnetic data with the magnetic reader provided in the POS terminal 22, whereby the POS terminal 22 can acquire the member identifier. A case where a barcode is printed on the member card 4 is also conceivable. In this case, the member identifier is converted into a barcode such as a one-dimensional barcode or a two-dimensional barcode. The clerk reads the bar code with a bar code reader provided in the POS terminal 22 and converts it into a member identifier, whereby the POS terminal 22 can acquire the member identifier.

  In the point management system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the membership card 4 does not manage the information on the points given to the customer, every time the customer purchases a product, the POS terminal 22 The transaction data is transmitted to the server 11 to acquire information such as points newly given to the customer and accumulated points given to the customer so far. The POS terminal 22 displays information on the points on the display screen of the POS terminal 22, or the POS terminal 22 prints it on a receipt and presents it to the customer. As described above, in the point management system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, points are calculated in real time by the point server 11 when a customer purchases a product.

  In the point management system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, when a member identifier and transaction data are transmitted to the point server 11 and points are given to the customer, the member identifier and transaction data cannot be transmitted to the point management server 11 But you can give points to your customers. In the embodiment of the present invention, when the customer brings this receipt at a later date, points can be given to the customer using the information output on the receipt. Possible cases where the member identifier or transaction data cannot be transmitted to the point management server 11 include a case where the customer forgets the membership card or a failure in the communication network connecting the POS terminal 22 and the point management server 11.

  Next, an apparatus of the point management system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(POS terminal)
A POS terminal 22a according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Other POS terminals also have the same configuration as the POS terminal 22a shown in FIGS.

  The POS terminal 22a includes a central processing control device 201, a ROM 202, a RAM 203, a storage device 204, a touch panel 205, an input unit 206, a barcode reader 207, a receipt output unit 208, a drawer 209, and a card reader 210. Each of these elements is connected by a bus 211. Although not shown, the POS terminal 22a further includes a communication control device for communicating with the POS server 21 and the data center 1.

  The central processing control device 201 processes data input from each element of the POS terminal 22a and outputs it to a predetermined element. At this time, the central processing control device 201 reads out the program and data recorded in the ROM 202, RAM 203, storage device 204, etc., loads them into the RAM 103, and calculates data based on the program commands read out from the RAM 103. Or it is a processing apparatus which implement | achieves a series of processes mentioned later, such as processing. The data output by the central processing control device 107 is output to the storage device 204, the touch panel 205, the receipt output unit 208, the drawer 209, and the like.

  The touch panel 205 is a display screen for displaying a list of commodities under accounting for a store clerk handling the POS terminal 22a. When the clerk selects a screen, the touch panel 205 acquires an instruction corresponding to the selected position and inputs the instruction to the central processing control device 201. For example, a payment method option such as cash payment or credit card payment is displayed on the touch panel 205, and the store clerk touches one of the options. When the store clerk touches the option for cash payment, the touch panel 205 inputs an instruction for payment by cash payment to the central processing control device 201. Further, particularly in the embodiment of the present invention, touch panel 205 displays an option as to whether or not the customer brings a membership card. When the member card is not brought, the store clerk inputs an option that the member does not bring, and inputs an instruction that the point cannot be given without bringing the member card to the POS terminal 22a.

  The touch panel 205 is used by a store clerk in FIG. A touch panel may be further provided on the back side of the touch panel 205 to allow the customer to display and input information. For example, a customer-side touch panel can display a list of commodities under accounting and the purchase price, or allow a customer to select a payment method.

  The input unit 206 is a numeric keypad, for example. The input unit 206 is used when a product code that cannot be read by the barcode reader 207 is manually input. The input unit 206 can also supplement the roles of other input devices such as the touch panel 206, the barcode reader 207, and the member card reader 210. The input unit 206 includes a plurality of keys as shown in FIG. 3, and instructions to be input to the POS terminal 22a are associated with each key.

  The barcode reader 207 optically reads a product code given to a product and inputs it to the central processing control device 201 as product code data. The barcode reader 207 can read a one-dimensional barcode or a two-dimensional barcode, for example. The barcode reader 207 may be connected by a cord as shown in FIG. 3, or may be fixed to the housing of the POS terminal 22a.

  The receipt output unit 208 outputs a receipt printed with a list of product names and prices of products purchased by the customer, a total of purchased products, and the like in accordance with instructions from the central processing control device 201. Particularly in the embodiment of the present invention, when a point cannot be given to a customer in real time, a transaction identifier is printed on the receipt output unit 208.

  The drawer 209 stores money and change received from customers. The drawer 209 is opened at a necessary timing under the control of the central processing control device 201. As shown in FIG. 3, the drawer 209 may be provided with a mechanism that automatically calculates the amount of money received and automatically changes.

  When the customer owns the membership card, the membership card reader 210 reads the membership identifier assigned to the membership card and inputs it to the central processing control device 201. When the membership card is magnetic, the membership card reader 210 is a magnetic card reader. FIG. 3 shows a case where the member card reader is a magnetic type. Here, when the membership card is a barcode type, the membership card may be read by the barcode reader 207.

  Next, functions implemented in the POS terminal 22a according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The central processing control device 201 of the POS terminal 22a includes a POS settlement unit 221, a point management unit 222, and a barcode generation unit 223.

  The POS checkout unit 221 acquires the price of the product from the product code read by the barcode reader 207, and calculates the total purchase product of the customer. Further, when the price delivered from the customer is input, the amount of change is calculated by subtracting the total of purchased products from the price. When the series of payment processing is completed, the POS payment unit 221 inputs an instruction to print information related to payment on a receipt and output it to the receipt output unit 208.

  The POS settlement unit 221 further outputs transaction data as information necessary for giving points. The POS checkout unit 221 outputs transaction data including the purchase price of the product to which points are to be given. The transaction data is input to the point management unit 222 and transmitted to the POS server 21.

  The point management unit 222 controls processing for giving points to customers. When giving points to a customer, the point management unit 222 transmits the member identifier and transaction data input from the member card reader 210 to the point management server 11. Further, the point management unit 222 acquires points and accumulated points newly given to the member from the point management server 11 and outputs them to the receipt output unit 208. Thereby, the points newly given to the member and the accumulated points after the new points are given are printed on the receipt.

  Furthermore, when the member identifier cannot be transmitted to the point management server 11, the point management unit 222 causes the receipt output unit 208 to print a barcode on the receipt. This barcode may be a one-dimensional barcode or a two-dimensional barcode. The bar code includes at least a transaction identifier that identifies the transaction by the customer.

  Here, the case where the member identifier cannot be transmitted to the point server 11 is a case where points cannot be given to the customer in real time. For example, when the customer forgets the membership card and the membership identifier cannot be determined, or when a failure occurs in any of the communication networks between the POS terminal 22a and the point management server 11, communication is not possible.

  In the point management system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the POS terminal 22a transmits, to the point management server 11, transaction data relating to point grant such as a member identifier and a purchase amount each time a point is given to a member. The point management server 11 calculates the number of points to be granted, the accumulated points after the grant, and the like, and transmits them to the POS terminal 22a. Therefore, when the member identifier cannot be transmitted to the point server 11, in the embodiment of the present invention, points cannot be given in real time.

  Therefore, the POS terminal 22 according to the embodiment of the present invention prints a barcode on the customer's receipt when the points cannot be given. Information necessary for giving points when a customer brings a receipt at a later date is embedded in this barcode.

  Here, the data embedded in the barcode is shown in FIG. FIG. 4A shows a case where the member identifier cannot be transmitted to the point management server because the POS terminal 22a is offline due to a communication failure. FIG. 4B shows a case where the member identifier cannot be transmitted to the point management server because the customer forgets the card. In FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the circled numbers are essential data. In the embodiment of the present invention, a transaction with a customer is identified by a store code, a terminal number, and a serial number. The transaction identifier is generated from the store code, terminal number, and serial number.

  4A includes a member identifier item, and FIG. 4B does not include a member identifier item. Even when offline, if the customer has a card, the POS terminal 22a can acquire the member identifier of the customer. Therefore, even when offline, points can be given by scanning a customer's member card to obtain a member identifier and embedding it in a barcode. For example, even if the customer does not have a card when visiting the next time, if the member identifier in the barcode is acquired at the time of point grant, and the validity of the acquired member identifier can be confirmed, Points can be awarded.

  In FIG. 4 (a) and FIG. 4 (b), the occurrence date, purchase date, transaction type code, transaction identification flag, return identification flag, total body amount, total transaction amount, total tax amount, total point target amount, etc. , Inserted as needed. These data are transmitted to the transaction management server 12 in association with the transaction identifier from the POS terminal 22a, the POS server 21 or the like when the customer purchases the product. Therefore, when these data are not included in the barcode, the point management server 11 acquires these data from the transaction management server 12 using the transaction identifier as a key.

  Here, the point management unit 222 may print on the receipt whether or not the member identifier is included in the barcode. For example, if the customer did not bring a member card last time and the member identifier could not be acquired, this barcode does not include the member identifier. Therefore, when a customer brings a receipt with a barcode printed at a later date, the store clerk confirms the receipt, and if the membership identifier is not included in the barcode, take the membership card from the customer and obtain the membership identifier. Can do.

  Furthermore, when a barcode is printed on the receipt, the point management unit 222 gives points to the customer based on information read from the barcode.

  For example, in the case where points could not be given offline during the previous transaction, a member identifier is given to the barcode. The point management unit 222 transmits the barcode data including the member identifier and the transaction identifier to the point management server 11, and from the point management server 11, the points to be granted for the previous transaction and the accumulated points after the grant are obtained. get. The point management unit 222 inputs the points given in the previous transaction and the accumulated points to the receipt output unit 208. The receipt output unit 208 outputs a receipt on which these are printed.

  On the other hand, if the customer cannot give points because the customer forgot the membership card at the time of the previous transaction, the store clerk makes the customer present the membership card and reads the membership card with the membership card reader 210. Thereby, the point management unit 222 acquires the member identifier of the customer, transmits the member identifier and the transaction identifier read from the barcode to the point management server 11, and gives the previous transaction from the point management server 11. Acquire the points and the cumulative points. Thereafter, similarly, the POS terminal 22a outputs a receipt in which the points given in the previous transaction and the accumulated points are printed.

  When the member identifier cannot be transmitted to the point management server 11, the barcode generation unit 223 generates a barcode to be printed on the receipt. The barcode generation unit 223 acquires the data items shown in FIG. 4A or 4B from the point management unit 222 and generates a barcode. When the barcode generation unit 223 generates the barcode, the barcode generation unit 223 inputs the generated barcode to the point management unit 222. The point management unit 222 inputs the input barcode to the receipt output unit 208, and prints the barcode on the receipt.

  With reference to FIG. 5, the process at the time of POS settlement in the POS terminal 22a according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  First, in step S101, the POS settlement unit 221 reads the product code of the customer's purchased product, calculates the total purchase price of the product, generates a transaction identifier, and generates transaction data corresponding to the transaction identifier. . Next, after step S102, the points for the customer's product purchase are processed.

  If the customer forgets the membership card in step S102, the store clerk inputs the information to the POS terminal 22a. If the member card is forgotten, the member identifier cannot be transmitted to the point management server 11, so in step S 103, barcode data including the transaction identifier is generated, and the barcode generation unit 223 is caused to generate a barcode. The bar code includes, for example, information shown in FIG. Further, in step S104, the point management unit 222 inputs the barcode generated in step S103 to the receipt output unit 208, and prints the barcode.

  On the other hand, if the customer owns the card in step S102, the member card reader 210 reads the member card in step S105, and the point management unit 222 acquires the member identifier. Next, in step S106, it is determined whether the POS terminal 22a is online or offline. This determination may be made, for example, by the POS terminal 22a trying to communicate with the POS server 21, or the communication status may be recorded in advance.

  If it is determined in step S106 that the POS terminal 22a is offline, the member identifier cannot be transmitted to the point management server 11. Accordingly, the process proceeds to step S103 and step S104, and the POS terminal 22a prints the barcode on the receipt. The barcode printed at this time includes a member identifier, for example, the information shown in FIG.

  In step S106, when it is determined that the POS terminal 22a is online, points can be given in real time for each transaction. Specifically, in step S107, the point management unit 222 transmits the member identifier acquired in step S105 and the transaction data generated in step S101 to the point management server 11. Thereafter, in step S108, the point management server 11 receives data of points given by the current transaction and accumulated points after being given this time. In step S110, the point management unit 222 inputs the information on the granted points and the accumulated points received in step S108 to the receipt output unit 208, and prints it on the receipt.

(Point management server)
As shown in FIG. 6, the point management server 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a central processing control device 101, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103, and an input / output interface 109. 110 is connected. An input device 104, a display device 105, a communication control device 106, a storage device 107, and a removable disk 108 are connected to the input / output interface 109.

  The central processing control device 101 reads out and executes a boot program for starting the point management server 1 from the ROM 102 based on an input signal from the input device 104, and further reads out an operating system stored in the storage device 107. Further, the central processing control device 101 controls various devices based on input signals from the input device 104, the communication control device 106, etc., and reads programs and data stored in the RAM 103, the storage device 107, etc. into the RAM 103. A processing device that loads and implements a series of processing described later, such as data calculation or processing, based on a program command read from the RAM 103.

  The input device 104 includes input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse through which an operator inputs various operations. The input device 104 generates an input signal based on the operation of the operator, and inputs via the input / output interface 109 and the bus 110. It is transmitted to the central processing control apparatus 101. The display device 105 is a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, a liquid crystal display, or the like, and receives an output signal to be displayed on the display device 105 from the central processing control device 101 via the bus 110 and the input / output interface 109. It is a device that displays the processing result of the control device 101 and the like. The communication control device 106 is a device such as a LAN card or a modem, and is a device that connects the point management server 1 to a communication network such as the Internet or a LAN. Data transmitted / received to / from the communication network via the communication control device 106 is transmitted / received to / from the central processing control device 101 via the input / output interface 109 and the bus 110 as an input signal or an output signal.

  The storage device 107 is a semiconductor storage device or a magnetic disk device, and stores programs and data executed by the central processing control device 101. The removable disk 108 is an optical disk or a flexible disk, and signals read / written by the disk drive are transmitted / received to / from the central processing control apparatus 101 via the input / output interface 109 and the bus 110.

  A point management program is stored in the storage device 107 of the point management server 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and the storage device 107 includes a point data storage unit 14 as shown in FIG. The point management program is read and executed by the central processing control device 101 of the point management server 1, so that the member identifier confirmation unit 111, the point addition unit 112 and the result transmission unit 113 are installed in the point management server 1.

  The point data storage unit 114 stores point data 114a. The point data 114a stores point information related to members managed by the point management system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The point data 114a has a data structure as shown in FIG. The point data 114a is associated with the accumulated points assigned to the member, the latest granted point assigned most recently, and the date and time, using the member identifier as a key. Furthermore, the transaction identifier of the transaction that is the source of the points may be associated.

  When the member identifier is transmitted from the store system 2a, the member identifier confirmation unit 111 determines whether the member identifier is issued by the point management system 10. For example, the member identifier confirmation unit 111 determines whether the member identifier has been forged using a check digit previously included in the member identifier. In addition, the member identifier confirmation unit 111 may determine that the member identifier is not forged when the input member identifier is included in the point data 114a. When the member identifier confirmation unit 111 determines that the member identifier is a forged identifier that has been forged, the member identifier confirmation unit 111 transmits the fact to the store system 2a. In the store system 2a, the POS terminal 22a presents the fact to the customer, and stops the point giving process with the membership card.

  Upon receiving the transaction identifier and the member identifier from the store system 22a, the point addition means 112 calculates points for the transaction and updates the point data 114a. Specifically, the point addition means 112 acquires a record using the received member identifier as a key from the point data 114a, and acquires transaction data associated with the transaction identifier from the transaction management server 12. Furthermore, the point addition means 112 calculates the points to be given to the member in this transaction based on the transaction data, adds the newly added points to the accumulated points associated with the member identifier, Calculate the cumulative points. The point addition means 112 further updates the point data 114a based on the newly added points this time.

  After the point data 114a is updated, the result transmission unit 113 transmits the result to the store system 22a. The result transmission unit 113 transmits, for example, the newly added points and the accumulated points after the points are given to the store system 22a. The POS terminal 22a of the store system 2a acquires the information, prints it on a receipt, and presents it to the customer.

  The point management server 11 usually adds points in real time to the customer's product purchase. Furthermore, the point management server 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention can add points in the same manner when a customer brings a receipt printed with a barcode after purchasing a product.

  With reference to FIG. 9, the point granting process in the point management server 11 will be described. In the example shown in FIG. 9, a case is described in which a customer brings a receipt printed with a barcode and comes to the store.

  First, in step S201, if the previous customer has forgotten the card, the store clerk keeps the member card from the customer, and the POS terminal 22a acquires the member identifier from the member card reader 210 in step S202. In step S203, the bar code reader 207 reads the bar code and obtains a transaction identifier. If the member identifier cannot be transmitted to the point management server 11 in the previous offline, the process of step S202 is omitted, and in step S203, the POS terminal 22a acquires the member identifier and the transaction identifier. Here, the processing of step S201 and step S202 may be reversed. First, when the bar code is read by the bar code reader 207 and the member identifier is not included, the store clerk may ask the customer to present the member card and acquire the member identifier.

  Next, in step S204 and step S205, the POS terminal 22a transmits the member identifier and the transaction identifier to the point management server 11 via the POS server 21. Upon receiving the member identifier and the transaction identifier, the point management server 11 first checks the validity of the member identifier. If the member identifier is valid, the point management server 11 adds points in step S207.

  Thereafter, in step S208 and step S209, the point management server 11 transmits the result of the point addition in step S207 to the POS terminal 22a via the POS server 21. The result transmitted here is the points granted to the customer based on the previous transaction and the accumulated points after the grant.

  In step S210, the POS terminal 22a prints the result received in step S209 on a receipt, and the clerk gives the receipt to the customer.

  As described above, according to the point management system 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the point is connected to the point management server 11 installed in a remote place and managing the customer's point in real time when the customer purchases the point. In the system for granting, if the point cannot be given in real time, the POS terminal 22a prints a barcode including information necessary for granting a point on a receipt at a later date. The customer can give points at a later date by bringing this receipt later.

  For example, even if the customer did not bring the member card in the previous transaction, the customer can connect to the point management server 11 and give points by bringing the receipt printed with the barcode and the member card. it can. Even when points cannot be given due to communication failure, points can be given by the customer bringing a receipt on which a barcode is printed.

  In addition, since the point management server 11 executes the validity check of the member identifier and the point addition process in a series of processes, it is possible to prevent acquisition of unauthorized points. For example, in the case where points could not be given due to communication failure, it is conceivable that information for giving points is held in the POS terminal 22a and sent to the point management server 11 when communication is normal to give points. However, since the POS terminal 22a does not have means for confirming the validity of the member identifier, the validity of the member identifier cannot be confirmed when the customer visits the store. Therefore, prior to the validity check of the member identifier in the point management server 11, a point grant record is written on the receipt at the time of customer transaction. In such a case, when the point management server 11 determines that the member identifier is not valid at the time of normal communication, the point management system 10 may be damaged.

  Therefore, even when the points of the point management server 11 cannot be updated in real time as in the point management system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the validity check of the member identifier and the point assignment are performed as a series of processes. Thus, stable point management can be provided.

(Other embodiments)
As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, various alternative embodiments, examples, and operational techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure. For example, the point management server described in the embodiment of the present invention may be configured on a single piece of hardware as shown in FIG. 6, or may be configured on a plurality of pieces of hardware according to the functions and the number of processes. May be. Moreover, you may implement | achieve on the existing commercial transaction system.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Data center 2 Store system 3 Communication network 4 Member card 11 Point management server 12 Transaction management server 21 POS server 22 POS terminal 23 LAN in store
101, 201 Central processing controller 102, 202 ROM
103, 203 RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 104 Input device 105 Display device 106 Communication control device 107, 204 Storage device 108 Removable disk 109 Input / output interface 110, 211 Bus 111 Member identifier confirmation means 112 Point addition means 113 Result transmission means 114 Point data storage section 205 Touch panel 206 Input section 207 Bar code reader 208 Receipt output unit 209 Drawer 210 Member card reader

Claims (4)

Installed in the store, generating transaction data relating to member transactions, obtaining the member identifier of the member, sending it to the point management server, receiving the points to be given to the member from the point management server, A POS terminal that prints on receipts;
A point management server connected to the POS terminal, calculating points to be given from the transaction data, and transmitting the points to the POS terminal;
A point management system comprising:
When the POS terminal cannot transmit a member identifier to the point management server, information including a transaction identifier is printed on the receipt. The point management system according to claim 1, wherein the POS terminal prints the information on the receipt when the POS terminal cannot acquire a member identifier of the member. The point management system according to claim 1, wherein the POS terminal prints the information on the receipt when a failure occurs in a connection between the POS terminal and the point management server. The POS terminal reads the information from the receipt, sends it to the point management server,
The point management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the point management server calculates points to be given based on the data of the information and transmits the points to the POS terminal.

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