JP2007316835A - Electronic coupon, electronic coupon issuing device, and portable terminal for using the electronic coupon - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a convenient electronic coupon system using a portable terminal with electronic money function. <P>SOLUTION: The portable terminal comprises a means for confirming whether a condition to use a privilege content and electronic money conversion data corresponding to the privilege content satisfy the condition to use an electronic coupon or not, and a means for adding, when a predetermined conversion operation is performed while the use condition is satisfied, electronic money by use of the electronic money conversion data. A user receives electronic money equivalent to the privilege by performing the conversion operation of the electronic coupon instead of presenting the electronic coupon at a real store. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic coupon, an electronic coupon issuing device, and a portable terminal for using the electronic coupon, and in particular, an electronic coupon and an electronic coupon issuing device that can be exercised in cooperation with the electronic money function of the portable terminal. And a portable terminal for using the electronic coupon.

  Electronic coupons that can improve the visit / use rate of new customers and existing customers by giving benefits such as price discounts and premiums are widely used. In addition, the electronic coupon can be distributed through the Internet or e-mail, and is also convenient for the user because it can be printed when necessary or carried in a portable terminal.

  Although it is mainstream to give discounts and giveaways when receiving electronic coupons and delivery, Patent Document 1 discloses means for receiving coupon data and converting the coupon data into corresponding electronic money. There has been proposed a coupon cashing system that includes means and means for adding electronic money of a customer account based on the conversion result to give an electronic money value.

  In addition, while electronic coupons can be obtained from a remote location, there are many cases where there is no place to exercise them. Therefore, for example, Patent Document 2 describes an electronic device that can obtain a second issuer located in a position range where the electronic coupon can be exercised in cooperation with a mobile phone network, and can also send the electronic coupon to the second issuer. A coupon issuing device is disclosed.

  On the other hand, various services for customers using electronic money of mobile terminals have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 3 discloses an electronic money value equivalent to points according to a return rate determined according to a store using electronic money. A method for reducing the amount of money received by the company has been proposed.

JP 2005-115965 A JP-A-2005-190246 JP 2005-11116 A

  However, the conventional method of using electronic coupons has the annoyance that it is necessary to report at the time of settlement and to request the application of a privilege such as a discount. In particular, in mass merchandise stores, fast food stores, and stores where quick accounting is required, it may be necessary to prepare electronic coupons while standing at the checkout counter.

  In this regard, according to the coupon cash exchange system described in Patent Document 1, the electronic money of the customer account is finally added, but the troublesomeness in seeking to apply the privilege has not been eliminated.

  Even if it is an electronic coupon issuing apparatus described in patent document 2, it becomes possible to deliver an electronic coupon to a person who needs an electronic coupon, but the troublesomeness at the time of using the said electronic coupon is not eliminated. Similarly, the money amount reduction method of Patent Document 3 gives a reward for using electronic money in electronic money, and the troublesomeness when using the electronic coupon has not been eliminated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and the purpose of the present invention is to exercise the electronic coupon at the store and receive a corresponding privilege without applying for the application of the privilege of the electronic coupon. An electronic coupon, an electronic coupon issuing device, a portable terminal for using the electronic coupon, and a program for the portable terminal are provided.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable terminal having an electronic money settlement function, capable of communicating with a predetermined electronic money settlement terminal and exercising electronic money, from a predetermined coupon issuing device, Means for receiving an electronic coupon in which conditions for use of the privilege content and electronic money conversion data used when converting the privilege content into electronic money are set; and means for selectively holding the received electronic coupon; In a state where the means for confirming whether or not the use condition of the privilege content of the electronic coupon selected by the user is satisfied and the use condition of the privilege content is satisfied, when a predetermined exchange operation is performed, Means for adding electronic money using the electronic money conversion data is provided, and the portable terminal is connected to each means. Program for operating Te is provided.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, at least the use condition of the privilege content and the electronic money conversion data used when the privilege content is converted into electronic money are electronically recorded, and the electronic information is obtained using the portable terminal An electronic coupon that can be converted into money and an electronic coupon issuing device for issuing the electronic coupon are provided.

  According to the present invention, in addition to exercising the electronic coupon, the customer who satisfies the usage conditions for the privilege content of the electronic coupon is given an opportunity to convert the electronic coupon into electronic money, and settlement of purchase of goods and services Can be used.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the system configuration of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile phone 1 used as a mobile terminal with an electronic money function, a search site 2, a store server 3, an electronic money center 4, and an electronic device disposed in an actual store corresponding to the store server 3. A money settlement terminal 5 is shown.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the mobile phone 1. Referring to FIG. 2, the mobile phone 1 includes a web function unit 12 for accessing the search site 2 and the store server 3 disposed on the Internet, and a coupon management unit that holds and manages an electronic coupon downloaded from the store server 3. 13, an electronic money management unit 14 that holds and manages electronic money, and a terminal communication unit 15 that wirelessly communicates with the electronic money settlement terminal 5.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing electronic coupon data managed by the coupon management unit 13. Referring to FIG. 3, the electronic coupon in this embodiment is issued for each electronic coupon specified by the electronic coupon ID, issuance date, expiration date, usable area (store terminal ID), privilege content information, electronic money conversion data. It is comprised including. In addition, although not shown in the drawings, text to be presented at an actual store, image data, or the like may be attached as usual without using conversion to electronic money according to the present invention.

  In the electronic coupon data of FIG. 3, an expiration date and an available area (store terminal ID) can be set as the usage conditions for the electronic coupon. For example, in the case of the electronic coupon “XXXX”, it is set that the coupon can be exercised at the store A between 2006/5/5 17:00 and 2006/5/8 16:59. For example, in the case of the electronic coupon “YYYY”, there is no expiration date, and it is set that the coupon can be exercised at the store B at any time.

  Further, in the electronic coupon data of FIG. 3, the privilege content information is described by an 8-digit code, and in the case of the electronic coupon “XXXX”, the upper 4 digits “0010” indicates a fixed discount of the electronic money “AAAA”. The last 4 digits indicate the discount amount “200 yen”. Further, for example, in the case of an electronic coupon “YYYY”, the upper four digits “1020” indicate a fixed rate discount of the electronic money “BBBB”, and the lower four digits indicate a discount rate “10%”.

  With reference to FIG. 1 again, devices other than the mobile phone 1 described above will be described. The search site 2 is a site that provides a service for searching the sites of the stores A to C in response to a request from the mobile phone 1. In addition, the search site 2 can compare the offer / non-use of a coupon, the availability of a card, or the contents of a privilege by a coupon among the same type of store sites according to the genre and theme specified by the user of the mobile phone. Provide search results.

  In response to a request from the mobile phone 1, the store server 3 provides information about products and services provided at various stores, and also provides electronic coupon data that can be used for these purchases.

  Since this electronic coupon data can be exchanged for electronic money as will be described later, the store server 3 obtains the ID of the mobile terminal 1 when requesting the electronic coupon, etc. It is desirable to provide a mechanism for inhibiting the conversion of the same coupon into electronic money on the mobile phone 1 side.

  The electronic money settlement terminal 5 is a terminal for settlement arranged in each store, and is a terminal that performs an electronic money settlement process with the electronic money center 4, an update process of an electronic money balance with the mobile phone 1, and the like.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. First, the user of the mobile phone 1 uses the mobile phone 1 to access the search site 2 through the Internet (“store site search” in FIG. 1). Here, it is assumed that the user of the mobile phone searches for a store site that provides an electronic coupon as a search condition.

  Next, when the user of the mobile phone 1 selects a desired store site from store sites that meet the above search conditions, the mobile phone 1 starts to access the corresponding store server 3. Here, in the store server 3, when the user of the mobile phone 1 requests the issuance of an electronic coupon, the store server 3 generates electronic coupon data and transmits it to the mobile phone 1 ("" in FIG. 1). Electronic coupon ").

  The electronic coupon data transmitted to the mobile phone 1 is stored in the coupon management unit 13 inside the mobile phone 1 as shown in FIG.

  When the user of the mobile phone 1 activates the electronic coupon / electronic money conversion menu, selects the electronic coupon stored in the coupon management unit 13, and instructs the conversion to electronic money ("use electronic coupon use" in FIG. 4). ]), The coupon management unit 13 of the mobile phone 1 checks whether or not the use condition (valid period / position range (available area)) of the selected electronic coupon is satisfied.

  Here, when the current date and time or the current position of the mobile phone 1 satisfies the above-described use condition of the electronic coupon, the coupon management unit 13 of the mobile phone 1 reads the electronic money conversion data of the electronic coupon data. Based on this, the electronic money management unit 14 is instructed to add electronic money.

  If the mobile phone 1 has a GPS function, the position information may be acquired using the position information, or the position information may be obtained from a position information transmission device installed in the store. May be detected.

  The electronic money management unit 14 updates the money balance according to the electronic money addition instruction.

  As a result, electronic money is added at the exchange rate set for the selected electronic coupon, and the electronic money can be used for settlement. In the example of FIG. 4, the balance of the initial electronic money ID “AAAA” was ¥ 10,000, but the balance of the electronic money ID “AAAA” is changed by performing the above-described conversion operation of the electronic coupon to the electronic money. The amount can be increased to ¥ 10,200.

  In addition, for example, when the electronic money conversion data is indicated by a discount rate like the electronic coupon ID “YYYY” in FIG. 3, an amount obtained by multiplying a predetermined amount by the discount rate is added, or the electronic money During the settlement process with the settlement terminal 5, an amount obtained by multiplying the settlement price by the discount rate can be added to the electronic money balance.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to receive the benefits of the electronic coupon held in the mobile phone 1 without presenting the electronic coupon. Also, for the store side, it is possible to provide various coupons that offer various benefits after setting various usage conditions such as store (area) limitation, period limitation, and time limitation.

  For example, a 100 yen discount coupon is distributed for the time service at the opening of the store A, and a 200 yen discount coupon is distributed for the evening time service. It is possible to attract customers to visit the store by receiving (equivalent to electronic money).

  Also, for example, by distributing coupons with different dates at store A and store B, each visit to store B after heading to store A can receive a special benefit (replacement for electronic money). It becomes possible to do so.

  Also, there are no particular restrictions on the stores that can be used. For example, department stores, boutiques, mobile phone shops and other merchandise stores, restaurants, languages, hobbies and other classrooms, leisure lands, beauty salons and beauty salons. A use scene in a store or the like can be considered. It is also possible for stores of different industries to jointly issue a common use coupon.

  Although the preferred embodiment for carrying out the present invention has been described above, the gist of the present invention is that the use condition is defined for the electronic coupon, and conversion to electronic money is permitted in a state where the use condition is satisfied. It goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope. For example, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that a mobile phone can be converted into electronic money alone. However, electronic money is charged (filled) in exchange for an electronic coupon through communication with a predetermined electronic money issuing device. Various modifications can be made according to the electronic money system to be adopted, such as making it possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example using a mobile phone has been described. However, other mobile terminals having an electronic money settlement function such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) may be used.

  In addition, when attaching text or image data, etc. to be presented at an actual store to electronic coupon data, when presenting an electronic coupon as usual and receiving a privilege, It is also possible to make a difference in the benefits for conversion.

  For example, if an electronic coupon is presented as before, a discount of 100 yen is provided, and if converted to electronic money, a premium is provided such that 110 yen can be obtained, thereby providing incentives for conversion to electronic money. This makes it possible to eliminate congestion at the checkout counter. On the contrary, it is possible to obtain a discount of 100 yen when an electronic coupon is presented as usual, and to obtain 50 yen when converted into electronic money.

It is a figure showing the system configuration | structure of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a mobile phone according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the electronic coupon data which concern on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement of the 1st Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile phone 2 Search site 3 Store server 4 Electronic money center 5 Electronic money payment terminal 12 WEB function part 13 Coupon management part 14 Electronic money management part 15 Terminal communication part

Claims (10)

A mobile terminal that has an electronic money payment function, can communicate with a predetermined electronic money payment terminal, and can exercise electronic money,
Means for receiving, from a predetermined coupon issuing device, an electronic coupon in which at least the use conditions of the privilege content and the electronic money conversion data used when converting the privilege content into electronic money are set;
Means for selectively holding the received electronic coupon;
Means for confirming whether or not the use condition of the privilege content of the electronic coupon selected by the user is satisfied;
Means for adding electronic money using the electronic money conversion data when a predetermined exchange operation is performed in a state where the conditions for use of the privilege content are satisfied,
A mobile terminal characterized by. Performing addition of electronic money using the electronic money conversion data after confirming an expiration date of the electronic coupon set as the use condition;
The mobile terminal according to claim 1. After confirming the position information detected by the predetermined position information detecting means and the usable position information of the electronic coupon set as the use condition, addition of electronic money using the electronic money conversion data is performed. To perform,
The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein An electronic coupon in which at least a use condition of privilege content and electronic money conversion data used when converting the privilege content into electronic money is transmitted to the mobile terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Having means,
An electronic coupon issuing device. Issuing an electronic coupon with an expiry date set as a condition of use of the privilege content;
The electronic coupon issuing device according to claim 4. Issuing an electronic coupon that sets position information that can be used as a use condition of the privilege content;
The electronic coupon issuing device according to claim 4 or 5. A use condition of the privilege content, and electronic money conversion data used when the privilege content is converted into electronic money,
The electronic coupon which can be converted into electronic money using the portable terminal as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3. A program that has an electronic money settlement function, communicates with a predetermined electronic money settlement terminal, and that is executed by a portable terminal that can exercise electronic money,
Means for receiving, from a predetermined coupon issuing device, an electronic coupon in which at least the use conditions of the privilege content and the electronic money conversion data used when converting the privilege content into electronic money are set;
Means for selectively holding the received electronic coupon;
Means for confirming whether or not the use condition of the privilege content of the electronic coupon selected by the user is satisfied;
The portable terminal as the means for adding electronic money using the electronic money conversion data when a predetermined exchange operation is performed in a state where the use condition of the privilege content is satisfied A program that makes it work. An electronic device using the electronic money conversion data on the condition that the portable terminal is allowed to confirm the expiration date of the electronic coupon set as the usage condition of the privilege content and the exchange operation is performed within the expiration date. Causing money to be added,
The program according to claim 8. The electronic money conversion is performed on the condition that the portable terminal is made to confirm the available position information of the electronic coupon set as the use condition of the privilege content, and the exchange operation is performed at a position satisfying the position range. Performing addition of electronic money using data,
The program according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by the above.

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