JP2003132282A - Small sum settlement method and system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small sum settlement method using a mobile telephone. SOLUTION: In the small sum settlement method for member usage at each store installed with a store terminal generally controlled by a management server, a settlement application implemented in a mobile telephone of a member is executed, a member ID is sent by radio to the store terminal, the store terminal sends the member ID to the management server and it requests past usage record data of the member, the store terminal sends the past usage record data received from the management server to the mobile telephone by radio, the past usage record data is displayed in a display part of the mobile telephone, payment approval data is sent by radio to the store terminal from the mobile telephone, the store terminal sends the payment approval data to the management server, the management server stores the past usage record data on the basis of the payment approval data, it prepares billing data per a certain period on the basis of the stored past usage record data and it sends the billing data to a bank server for an account transfer.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a small amount payment method and system using a mobile phone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A small amount other than cash payment (for example, one payment per time)
The payment method of less than 000 yen) is not yet widespread. For example, a debit card costs a few yen per communication and is not suitable for frequent small payments. The payment agent system of the mobile phone company is also very limited in its usage content, "one hundred times a month". The electronic money environment is not yet ready for practical use.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a small amount payment method using a mobile phone which is now widely used. It is another object of the present invention to provide a small amount settlement method and system which has flexibility such that cash payment can be selected for each payment.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method and system having the following configurations.

(1) In a method of performing a small payment relating to the use of a member in a store in which each store terminal controlled by a management server is installed, by executing a settlement application installed in the member's mobile phone, The member who wirelessly transmits the member ID stored in the mobile phone to the store terminal, the store terminal transmits the member ID to the management server, requests the usage record data of the member, and receives the member from the management server. The store terminal wirelessly transmits the usage record data to the mobile phone, displays the usage record data on the display unit of the mobile phone, wirelessly transmits payment approval data from the mobile phone to the store terminal, The store terminal sends the payment approval data to the management server, and the management server uses the member based on the payment approval data. Storing the achievements data, and transmits to the bank server for debit the management server to generate billing data for said members at regular intervals based on historical data said stored.

(2) In the method of (1) above, prior to the use of the member at the store, the member transmits membership application data to the management server using the mobile phone, and the member makes The management server, which transmits the account transfer request data for requesting the transfer from the bank account for the small amount settlement to the bank server, and receives the account transfer confirmed data from the bank server, issues the member ID to the user and The payment application is transmitted, the member ID is stored in the mobile phone, and the payment application is installed.

(3) In the method of (2), the member uses the mobile phone to send the membership application data to the management server using the mobile phone. The telephone fee payment record data is acquired from the server, and the membership application data including the telephone charge payment record data is transmitted to the management server.

(4) In the method according to any one of (1) to (3) above, the management server may perform the above-mentioned operation only for a usage record between the upper limit amount of the small amount settlement and the minimum billing amount of the account transfer. Create billing data.

(5) In a system for making a small payment relating to the use of a member in a store in which each store terminal controlled by a management server is installed, by executing a settlement application installed in the member's mobile phone, From the management server, means for wirelessly transmitting the member ID stored in the mobile phone to the store terminal, means for the store terminal to transmit the member ID to the management server and request the usage record data of the member A means for the store terminal to wirelessly transmit the received usage record data of the member to the mobile phone, a means for displaying the usage record data on the display unit of the mobile phone, and a payment from the mobile phone to the store terminal Means for wirelessly transmitting approval data; means for the store terminal to transmit the payment approval data to the management server; The management server stores the usage record data of the member based on the payment approval data, and the management server creates billing data for the member at regular intervals based on the stored usage record data to transfer the account. For sending to the bank server for.

(6) In the system of (5) above, prior to the use of the member in the store, the member transmits membership application data to the management server using the mobile phone, and the member. Means for transmitting the account transfer request data to the bank server for requesting the transfer from the bank account for the small amount settlement, and the management server receiving the account transfer confirmed data from the bank server, assigning the member ID to the user. It has means for issuing and transmitting the payment application, and means for storing the member ID in the mobile phone and introducing the payment application.

(7) In the system of (6), the member uses the mobile phone to send the membership application data to the management server using the mobile phone. It has means for acquiring telephone charge payment record data from the server, and means for transmitting the membership application data including the telephone charge payment record data to the management server.

(8) In the system of (5) above, the management server has means for creating the billing data only for the usage record between the upper limit amount for the small amount settlement and the minimum billing amount for the account transfer. Have.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a small amount settlement method according to the present invention is applied to an hourly parking lot (about 100 yen per unit time).
As an example, the case of applying to the parking charge payment in the above will be described. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a process of a preparatory stage which is executed in advance prior to actual operation of the settlement method. The outline of the processing flow is shown by S1 to S5.

The user 10 is a member who makes a small payment using the present payment method, and is equipped with a mobile phone 12. The mobile phone 12 has an internet connection function and a browser function for browsing websites in addition to a normal telephone function. Furthermore, the mobile phone 12 includes a storage device 16 for storing predetermined information therein. The predetermined information includes information acquired via the Internet.
In addition to the telephone function, the mobile phone 12 further includes an external interface 14 for wireless communication with a predetermined peripheral device. For example, the information stored in the storage device 16 can be wirelessly transmitted to a predetermined peripheral device via the external interface 14, or the information transmitted from the predetermined device can be wirelessly received. Specific examples include a non-contact IC card technology and a technology such as Bluetooth.

The mobile phone company 50 is a mobile phone company with which the user 10 has a contract for the mobile phone 12. The mobile phone company server 52 manages the operation of the mobile phone system and also stores a customer information database. The customer information database stores payment history (account transfer history, etc.) data of the mobile phone charges of the user 10.

The parking lot management company 30 is equipped with a management server 34 which is responsible for the fee collection work of the parking lots 20 established at one or more places. The management server 34 stores a customer usage database 34 that stores the usage record of the user 10 who uses each parking lot 20.

Park meter 2 installed in each parking lot 20
2 is connected to the management server 34 of the management company 30 by a suitable communication network so that bidirectional information can be transmitted.
Further, it has a function for wireless communication with the mobile phone 12 of the user 10 (the external interface 14 thereof). Generally, each parking lot 20 is each store that provides a small amount of goods or services to the user 10, and the park meter 22 can be said to be a store terminal installed in each store. In addition, the parking lot management company 30 can be generally said to be a company that has a management server that controls each store terminal.

The bank 40 is a bank in which an account of the user 10 is opened. The bank 40 includes a bank server 42 that is in charge of account transfer business. In this settlement method, the user 10
The parking lot usage fee will be paid to the management company 30 by transfer from the bank 40 account.

An example of the processing flow at the preparatory stage of the present settlement method will be described with reference to FIG. Step S1: The user 10 first uses the mobile phone 12 to access the website of the mobile phone company 50 and requests the telephone charge payment record data. The mobile phone company server 52 receives this request via the website, and transmits the telephone fee payment record data to the mobile phone 12 of the user 10 in response to this request. The mobile phone 12 receives the telephone fee payment record data and stores it in the internal storage device 16. The telephone fee payment record is used as collateral for payment of the parking lot usage fee, but this step is optional and may not be collateral.

Step S2: Next, the user 10 uses the mobile phone 12 to access the website of the parking lot management company 30, and applies for membership to pay the parking lot fee by this settlement method. For example, personal information such as name and address required for membership is input on the website, and membership application data is transmitted. Further, the telephone fee payment record data acquired in step S1 is transmitted. This is to secure payment of the parking lot usage fee, but it is optional. The management server 32 receives the membership application data of the user 10 via the website and accepts it as a new applicant. At this time, the management server 32 automatically recognizes the mobile phone ID unique to the mobile phone 12 as a result of being accessed from the mobile phone 12.

Step S3: The user 10 further uses the mobile phone 12 to access the website of the bank 40, and requests an account transfer for payment of the parking fee. The user 10 can complete the account transfer request by inputting the information of the bank card owned by the user 10 into the mobile phone 12. The bank server 42 receives the account transfer request data via the website.

Step S4: When the bank server 42 receives the account transfer request, the bank server 42 notifies the transfer destination, that is, the management company 30 that the account transfer has been confirmed. Preferably,
The bank server 42 transmits the account transfer confirmed data to the management server 32.

Step S5: The management company 30, which has received the notice of confirmation of account transfer, verifies the membership application data of the user 10 and approves the membership of the user 10. Then, the management server 32 issues a member ID to the user 10,
The member ID is transmitted to the mobile phone 12, and the payment application for executing the present payment method on the mobile phone 12 is downloaded. The management server 32 stores the personal information of the user 10, the mobile phone ID, the member ID, etc. in the customer usage database 34. On the other hand, the mobile phone 12 stores the transmitted member ID in the storage device 16 and introduces the payment application into the storage device 16 in an executable state. There are various possible forms of membership IDs and applications. For example, the application uses the stored member ID data as the external interface 1 of the mobile phone 12.
It is possible to provide a function of wirelessly transmitting from No. 4. Further, for example, if the member ID is a bar code and the bar code is displayed by the application on the display unit of the mobile phone 12, the bar code display can be read by the bar code reader.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the processing in the operation stage of this settlement method. An example of the processing flow is S11 to S
18 and will be described in order below.

Step S11: The user 10 enters the parking lot 20. The application downloaded to the mobile phone 12 of the user 10 includes parking lot information (location, charge, usage time, etc.) that the user 10 can use, and the user 10 can refer to the information as needed.
Further, the application is provided with a function of accessing the management server 32 and acquiring the usage record (billing status of the current month) data of the user 10, and the user 10 can confirm the usage record data prior to storing. it can. Checking the usage record data is meaningful when the maximum amount of usage for this month is set for this payment method. Since this payment method is intended for small-value payments, the maximum amount of usage (eg, 3000) in a certain period (one month, etc.)
(Yen) is generally established. In one embodiment, this application works in conjunction with the location information system and the parking lot availability system to allow the selection of the most accessible parking lot by accessing these systems. The procedure at the time of warehousing is almost as usual, and the park meter 22 recognizes the warehousing time. Note that the user 10 is not identified at the time of storage.

Step S12: When trying to leave the warehouse
The user 10 causes the park meter 22 to recognize the stored member ID of the mobile phone 12. In the preferred example, the mobile phone 1
Wireless transmission from the external interface 14 of No. 2 to the receiving unit of the park meter 22. Alternatively, when the above-mentioned bar code display reading method is used, the park meter 22 includes a bar code reader. The park meter 22 having received the member ID of the user 10 requests the management server 32 to transmit the usage record data of the user 10. When making a request, the member ID of the user 10 is also transmitted.

Step S13: The management server 32 responds to the request from the park meter 22 by the member I of the user 10.
The customer usage database 34 is referred to based on D, and the usage data of the current month of the user 10 is acquired to obtain the park meter 2
Send to 2. The park meter 22 transmits the usage record data of the user 10 received from the management server 32 to the mobile phone 12. The usage record data received via the external interface 14 is displayed on the display unit of the mobile phone 12.

Step S14: When the user 10 confirms the displayed usage record data and then makes a payment by the present payment method, the displayed payment approval indicator (button display, etc.)
Select the payment approval data by selecting
2 wirelessly. Note that the user 10 is free to pay cash even if the usage upper limit is not exceeded. The park meter 22 which has received the payment approval data transmits this data to the management server 32.

Step S15: The management server 32 which has received the payment approval data transmits the leaving permission data to the park meter 22. If the usage limit data does not exceed the maximum usage limit of the settlement method, the shipping permission data is the content that is allowed to leave, but if the usage limit is exceeded, payment is allowed after cash payment has been made. The contents are instructed to the park meter 22.

Step S16: The management server 32 stores the billing information regarding the current usage in the customer usage database 34 as usage data.

Step S17: The management server 32 totals the usage record data stored in the customer usage database 34, for example, on a monthly basis, and creates billing data for the user 10 for the current month. This settlement method is characterized in that the minimum billing amount (for example, 1000 yen) is set, and if the usage record is less than this, billing will not be made. This is because this settlement method is intended for small-scale settlement, so the cost of account transfer can be reduced as much as possible. The management company 30 delivers the billing data to the bank 40.

Step S18: The bank server 42 having received the billing data deducts the billing amount from the user's 10 account based on the account transfer request made in step 3 above. After the withdrawal is completed, the usage record data of this month in the customer usage database 34 of the management company 30 is deleted. If you cannot withdraw due to lack of balance, you will be required to carry out a separate process such as carrying over to the next month only once.

As described above, according to this settlement method, the user 1
Account transfer is performed only when the usage record of 0 is between the minimum billing amount and the maximum usage amount (for example, 1000 yen to 3000 yen). In this case, a malicious user may repeat the membership withdrawal only by using the amount less than the minimum billing amount, and thus the monthly membership fee (eg, 300 yen) may be collected at the amount less than the minimum billing amount. An example of the monthly membership fee collection processing flow is shown in steps S21 and S22.

Step S21: The user 10 pays the mobile phone charge to the mobile phone company 50 together with the payment of the mobile phone charge. That is, the mobile phone company 50 substitutes the payment of the monthly fee from the user 10 to the management company 30.

Step S22: The mobile phone company 50
Pay the monthly fee to the management company 30.

[0036]

As described above, in the small amount settlement method according to the present invention, if the user has a bank account and a mobile phone, all the procedures are completed by using them. No cash is required for small payments, no seal is required for the procedure, and no documents need to be mailed or visited. In addition, since the minimum billing amount is set, the transfer fee can be reduced.

In the example of the parking lot and the management company described above, each store corresponding to the parking lot and each company corresponding to the management company can improve the service to the customer and lock in the customer and reduce the cash handling cost. be able to.
For mobile phone companies, it is possible to increase communication revenue and provide new functions to users.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing processing in a preparatory stage which is executed in advance prior to actual operation of the settlement method.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing processing in an operation stage of the present settlement method.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 users 12 Mobile phone terminals 14 External interface 16 storage 20 stores (parking lot) 22 Store terminal (park meter) 30 management company (parking lot management company) 32 Management server 34 Customer Usage Database 40 banks 42 bank server 50 mobile phone companies 52 Mobile phone company server 54 Mobile phone customer account transfer records

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A method for performing a small payment relating to the use of a member in a store in which each store terminal controlled by a management server is installed, wherein the mobile phone is executed by executing a settlement application installed on the member's mobile phone. The member ID stored in the telephone is wirelessly transmitted to the store terminal, the store terminal transmits the member ID to the management server, requests the usage record data of the member, and receives the member's usage record data from the management server. The store terminal wirelessly transmits usage record data to the mobile phone, displays the usage record data on the display unit of the mobile phone, wirelessly transmits payment approval data from the mobile phone to the store terminal, The terminal sends the payment approval data to the management server, and the management server uses the member based on the payment approval data. A small-value payment characterized by storing credit data, and the management server creating billing data for the member at regular intervals based on the stored usage record data and transmitting the billing data to the bank server for account transfer. Method. 2. Prior to using the member in the store, the member transmits membership application data to the management server using the mobile phone, and the member transfers the small amount payment from a bank account. The account transfer request data to be requested is transmitted to a bank server, and the management server, which has received the account transfer confirmed data from the bank server, issues the member ID to the user and transmits the settlement application, 2. The small amount payment method according to claim 1, wherein the member ID is stored in a telephone and the payment application is installed. 3. Prior to the member transmitting membership application data to the management server using the mobile phone, the member obtains telephone charge payment record data from the mobile phone company server using the mobile phone. The method of claim 2, wherein the enrollment application data including the telephone fee payment record data is transmitted to the management server. 4. The management server creates the billing data only for the usage record between the upper limit amount of the small amount settlement and the minimum billing amount of the account transfer. Small payment method described in either. 5. A system for performing a small payment relating to the use of a member in a store in which each store terminal controlled by a management server is installed, wherein the mobile phone is executed by executing a settlement application installed in the member's mobile phone. Means for wirelessly transmitting the member ID stored in the telephone to the store terminal; means for the store terminal to transmit the member ID to the management server and request the usage record data of the member; and receive from the management server Means for wirelessly transmitting the usage record data of the member to the mobile phone by the shop terminal, means for displaying the usage record data on the display unit of the mobile phone, and payment approval from the mobile phone to the shop terminal Means for wirelessly transmitting data, means for the store terminal to transmit the payment approval data to the management server, A management server stores the usage record data of the member based on the payment approval data, and the management server creates billing data about the member at regular intervals based on the stored usage record data to transfer the account. And a means for transmitting to a bank server for payment. 6. A means for the member to transmit enrollment application data to the management server using the mobile phone prior to the use of the member in the store; A means for transmitting the account transfer request data for requesting the transfer to the bank server, and the management server which has received the account transfer confirmed data from the bank server, issues the member ID to the user and sends the settlement application. 6. The small amount payment system according to claim 5, further comprising: means for storing the member ID in the mobile phone and means for introducing the payment application. 7. The member obtains telephone charge payment record data from a mobile phone company server using the mobile phone before the member transmits membership application data to the management server using the mobile phone. 7. The small amount payment system according to claim 6, further comprising: means for transmitting the membership application data including the telephone fee payment record data to the management server. 8. The management server has means for creating the billing data only for the usage record between the upper limit amount of the small amount settlement and the minimum billing amount of the account transfer. The small amount payment system according to any one of to 7.