Patent Publication Number: US-2021174364-A1

Title: Portable device and electronic settlement method

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The embodiment of the present invention relates to mobile device and electronic payment method. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     As typified by electronic money, electronic payment is widely used in which the monetary value held by a user is stored in an IC card, and payment is made by exchanging electronic data. Further, the use of payment methods for executing electronic payments by mounting IC chips for electronic payments on mobile devices such as smartphones is also widespread from the viewpoint of convenience. 
     Conventionally, a technology for enhancing the convenience of transactions by electronic payment has been disclosed. For example, a technology is disclosed which carries out payment in two divided stages in which a provisional payment is made at the time of reserve so as to enable electronic payment of the reserved product, and then an actual payment is executed. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     
         
         Patent Literature 1: JP 2013-214177 A 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Problem to be Solved by Invention 
     Incidentally, in the electronic payment using electronic money, it is necessary that an electronic payment terminal on a store side which accepts payment from a user is in operation. In a case where a power outage occurs due to a power system failure or the like so that power is not supplied to the electronic payment terminal on the store side, and the terminal cannot operate, the user cannot use the electronic payment using electronic money. 
     The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a mobile device and an electronic payment method capable of realizing electronic payment at a store even in a case where an electronic payment terminal of the store becomes unavailable due to a power outage or the like. 
     Means for Solving Problem 
     A mobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: 
     a store information collection unit that records store information which identifies each of the stores when the electronic payment is executed; 
     a maximum amount setting unit that sets a maximum of a usage amount in a preliminary payment for executing payment in the mobile device in a case where the electronic payment with the electronic payment terminal becomes impossible; 
     a payment execution unit that receives payment information including the usage amount within the set maximum and the store information, and executes the preliminary payment; and 
     a payment information transmission unit that transmits the payment information corresponding to the executed preliminary payment. 
     Effect of Invention 
     By an embodiment of the present invention, a mobile device and an electronic payment method capable of realizing electronic payment at a store even in a case where an electronic payment terminal of the store becomes unavailable due to a power outage or the like are provided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an electronic payment system using a mobile device according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of the mobile device according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 3(A)  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of electronic payment between the mobile device of a user and an electronic payment terminal of a store, and  FIG. 3(B)  is a diagram illustrating an example of store information of each store collected by a store information collection unit. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example of setting a maximum of a usage amount available to the user in a case where the electronic payment terminal of the store is unavailable. 
         FIG. 5  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a preliminary payment display screen on the mobile device in a case where the electronic payment terminal of the store becomes unavailable. 
         FIG. 6  is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow of the electronic payment method according to the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an electronic payment system  100  using a mobile device  10  according to the embodiment. 
     The electronic payment system  100  includes the mobile device  10 , an electronic payment terminal  11 , and a host computer  12 . 
     The mobile device  10  is a mobile communication device such as a tablet or a smartphone. The mobile device  10  has a function capable of making a payment by transmitting/receiving electronic data to and from the electronic payment terminal  11  arranged in a store (for example, a retail store). When money is charged to the mobile device  10 , electronic money is held inside the device, and the electronic money is used to realize electronic payment between the mobile device  10  and the electronic payment terminal  11 . Further, the mobile device  10  may have a function of recording the registration information of the credit card possessed by the user and executing credit payment with the electronic payment terminal  11 . 
     The electronic payment terminal  11  is a terminal for accepting payment processing by the user. The electronic payment terminal  11  performs electronic payment processing on the basis of data such as the electronic money held by the user and the data of the product purchased by the user by performing wireless communication with the mobile device  10 , and accepts the payment processing by the user. 
     The host computer  12  is connected to the electronic payment terminal  11  via a network, receives payment information (such as a product name and a product price) related to the product purchased by the user from the electronic payment terminal  11  of the store, and executes sales-related processing on the basis of the payment information. Further, in a case where the user executes payment processing using the credit card, the host computer  12  receives the payment information together with the credit card information of the user and executes sales-related processing. 
     The mobile device  10  according to the embodiment receives the input of the store information of the store which is acquired in advance when the electronic payment with the electronic payment terminal  11  is available (normal time) and the usage amount within the maximum amount that the user can pay and executes preliminary payment inside the mobile device  10 . Then, the payment information corresponding to the executed preliminary payment is automatically transmitted to the store side. Accordingly, even in a case where the electronic payment terminal  11  of the store becomes unavailable, the electronic payment at the store can be realized. Here, the preliminary payment means that an offline payment is made inside the mobile device  10  in a state where the electronic payment terminal  11  is unavailable. 
     A specific configuration of the mobile device  10  according to the embodiment will be described. 
       FIG. 2  is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of the mobile device  10  according to the embodiment. 
     The mobile device  10  includes an interface  13 , a display  14 , a memory  15 , an electronic payment processing circuit  16 , and a network communication circuit  17 . 
     The interface  13  receives various input operations from the user, converts the received input operations into electric signals, and outputs the electric signals to a processing circuit  20 . For example, the interface  13  receives the setting of information related to the preliminary payment such as the store information of the store where the user purchases the product and the usage amount of the user at the time of the preliminary payment executed inside the mobile device  10 . 
     The display  14  displays various kinds of information. For example, the display  14  displays the maximum of the usage amount of the user or an input screen at the time of preliminary payment. 
     The memory  15  has a configuration including a recording medium, such as a semiconductor memory element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a flash memory, which can be read by a processor. For example, the memory  15  holds store information or the like which is acquired from the electronic payment terminal  11  when electronic payment is executed with the electronic payment terminal  11  of the store. 
     The electronic payment processing circuit  16  is a circuit for executing electronic payment with the electronic payment terminal  11 . Examples of the electronic payment processing circuit  16  include a non-contact type IC chip capable of wireless communication. The electronic payment processing circuit  16  holds the electronic money charged by the user and exchanges electronic data with the electronic payment terminal  11  to perform electronic payment. 
     The network communication circuit  17  is a circuit for communicating with an external communication device. The network communication circuit  17  may be configured to be connectable to the host computer  12  via the Internet or the like. 
     The processing circuit  20  is a processor which controls the overall operation of the mobile device  10  by reading and executing the program stored in the memory  15 . 
     The processing circuit  20  includes a store information collection unit  201 , a maximum amount setting unit  202 , a payment execution unit  203 , and a payment information transmission unit  204 . Incidentally, the function of each unit configuring the processing circuit  20  is realized by executing a predetermined program code by using a processor. 
     The store information collection unit  201  records the store information which identifies each of the stores when the electronic payment is executed. The store information is information for identifying each of the stores, and means the name data of the store, the identifier assigned to identify each of the stores, and the address data of the store. At the time of electronic payment, the store information collection unit  201  acquires at least one of the store name data, the identifier, and the store address data in order to acquire the information for identifying the store. 
     When the user executes electronic payment at an arbitrary store, the store information collection unit  201  acquires the store information from the electronic payment terminal  11  of the store and accumulates the store information of the store. In this way, before the electronic payment terminal  11  is stopped due to a power outage or the like, that is, when the electronic payment can be effectively executed, the store information is accumulated through the electronic payment to increase the number of stores where preliminary payment can be executed in a case where the electronic payment terminal  11  is unavailable. 
       FIG. 3(A)  is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of electronic payment between the mobile device  10  of the user and the electronic payment terminal  11  of a store A.  FIG. 3(B)  is a diagram illustrating an example of the store information, which is collected by the store information collection unit  201 , of each store. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3(A) , when the user executes electronic payment with the electronic payment terminal  11  of the store A by using the mobile device  10 , the mobile device  10  acquires and stores the store information of the store A from the electronic payment terminal  11 . Similarly, when executing electronic payment with the electronic payment terminal  11  of a store B, the mobile device  10  acquires and stores the store information of the store B from the electronic payment terminal  11 . When the user makes an electronic payment with the electronic payment terminal  11  of each store, the store information of each store is acquired, and the store information is accumulated. 
     The mobile device  10  may acquire information on the product group sold in the store and the prices corresponding to those products in addition to the store information at the time of electronic payment. 
     In a case where the electronic payment with the electronic payment terminal  11  becomes unavailable, the maximum amount setting unit  202  sets the maximum of the usage amount in the preliminary payment for executing the payment in the mobile device  10 . In detection of a state where electronic payment is unavailable, information that electronic payment is unavailable may be detected by user input, or a configuration may be made such that electronic payment becomes impossible when electronic payment is executed on the mobile device  10 , and no response is received from the electronic payment terminal  11  side. 
     The maximum amount setting unit  202  sets the maximum of the usage amount on the basis of the electronic money existing inside the mobile device  10 . Alternatively, the maximum amount setting unit  202  may set the maximum of the usage amount on the basis of the available amount corresponding to the credit card registered in the mobile device  10 . The maximum of the usage amount may be set by combining these setting methods. In this case, one of them may be set as the initial maximum amount in advance, and in a case where one of them is insufficient, the setting method may be switched to the other. 
     The user may acquire electronic data having monetary value in advance and set the electronic data as the maximum amount at the time of preliminary payment. For example, the electronic money is registered in the mobile device  10  by inputting the identification number attached to the electronic money purchased in advance or reading the barcode, and the electronic money is set as the maximum amount at the time of preliminary payment. 
     Incidentally, in a case where the maximum amount is set on the basis of the available amount corresponding to the credit card registered in the mobile device  10 , the available amount of the credit card may be set as the maximum amount, or a value obtained by multiplying the available amount by a predetermined ratio may be set as the maximum amount from the viewpoint of setting the amount within the range that the user can reliably pay. 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example of setting a maximum amount that can be used by the user in a case where electronic payment with the electronic payment terminal  11  of the store becomes impossible. 
     In setting item No. 1, in a case where electronic payment with the electronic payment terminal  11  becomes impossible, the electronic money existing in the mobile device  10  is set to the maximum amount that can be used by the user at the time of preliminary payment. In setting item No. 2, Y % of the available amount of the credit card registered in the mobile device  10  is set to the maximum amount that can be used by the user at the time of preliminary payment. 
     The payment execution unit  203  receives the usage amount within the set maximum and the store information from the user and executes the preliminary payment. The payment information corresponding to the executed preliminary payment is stored in association with the information such as the execution date and time of the payment. The payment information corresponding to the preliminary payment includes the usage amount and the store information, and in a case where the available amount of the credit card is used for the preliminary payment, the credit card information is also included in the payment information. 
     In a case where electronic money is used for preliminary payment, when the preliminary payment is executed, the electronic money equivalent to the used amount is consumed, and the maximum amount is reduced. In a case where the available amount of the credit card is used for the preliminary payment, when the preliminary payment is executed, the available amount decreases, and the maximum amount decreases. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a display screen of preliminary payment in the mobile device  10  in a case where the electronic payment terminal  11  of the store becomes unavailable. 
     From the store information acquired in advance, the user selects the information of the store where the product is to be purchased and inputs the price of the product within the range of the set maximum amount. Then, by pressing the “OK” button which means execution of payment, the intention of payment is confirmed, and preliminary payment is executed. 
     A store clerk can confirm that the store is correctly selected by confirming the identifier in the store information column displayed on the mobile device  10 . Incidentally, in a case where the mobile device  10  acquires the product information sold in the store in advance, the price of the target product may be input by selecting the product instead of directly inputting the price. Further, the mobile device  10  may read the barcode of the target product to input the price of the target product. In this case, the mobile device  10  acquires a correspondence list having the corresponding relation between the barcode of the product and the price of the product in advance. 
     The payment information transmission unit  204  automatically transmits the payment information corresponding to the executed preliminary payment to the store side. Specifically, the payment information corresponding to the preliminary payment is automatically transmitted from the mobile device  10  to the electronic payment terminal  11  when the user uses the electronic payment terminal  11  after the electronic payment terminal  11  is restored from a power failure such as a power outage. The electronic payment terminal  11  which transmits payment information is not limited to the electronic payment terminal  11  of the store in which the transaction of the preliminary payment is executed, and may be an electronic payment terminal of another store which can perform the same electronic payment as that of the corresponding terminal. Further, in a case where the mobile device  10  can transmit data to the host computer  12  of the store via the Internet or the like, the payment information may be automatically transmitted to the host computer  12  connected to the electronic payment terminal  11 , and the payment information may be automatically transmitted to the electronic payment terminal  11  or the host computer  12  by using wireless communication. 
     For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a case will be considered in which the user purchases a product of 500 yen at the store A when a power outage occurs due to a power system failure, and the electronic payment terminal  11  cannot be used. At this time, the mobile device  10  receives the input of the store information of the store A which is acquired in advance when the electronic payment with the electronic payment terminal  11  is available and the amount of 500 yen which is the amount within the usage limit that the user can pay and executes preliminary payment inside the mobile device  10 . By executing the preliminary payment, the product purchased by the user is delivered to the user from the clerk of the store A. Then, the payment information corresponding to the executed preliminary payment is automatically transmitted to the store A side. In this way, even in a case where the electronic payment terminal  11  of the store becomes unavailable, the electronic payment at the store can be realized. 
     Subsequently, the operation of the mobile device  10  according to the embodiment will be described. 
       FIG. 6  is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow of the electronic payment method according to the embodiment (see  FIGS. 1 and 2  as appropriate). Here, it is assumed that the store information that identifies each of the stores is recorded when the electronic payment is executed. 
     In a case where the electronic payment with the electronic payment terminal  11  becomes unavailable, the maximum amount setting unit  202  sets the maximum of the usage amount in the preliminary payment for executing the payment in the mobile device  10  (S 10 ). 
     The payment execution unit  203  receives the usage amount within the set maximum amount and the store information (S 11 ). Then, when receiving the execution of the preliminary payment from the user, the payment execution unit  203  executes the preliminary payment on the basis of the input usage amount and the store information (S 12 ). In a case where electronic money is used for preliminary payment, when the preliminary payment is executed, the electronic money equivalent to the usage amount is consumed. 
     In a case where the electronic payment terminal  11  is unavailable, the payment information transmission unit  204  waits until the payment information can be transmitted to the electronic payment terminal  11  of the store (S 13 : NO, S 14 ). 
     On the other hand, when the electronic payment terminal  11  becomes available, the payment information transmission unit  204  automatically transmits the payment information to the electronic payment terminal  11  (S 13 : YES, S 14 ). In the transmission of the payment information, in a case where data can be transmitted from the mobile device  10  to the host computer  12  on the store side, the payment information may be automatically transmitted to the host computer  12  connected to the electronic payment terminal  11 . 
     In this way, in a mobile device capable of electronic payment, the store information that identifies each of the stores is recorded when executing electronic payment, and the preliminary payment is executed on the basis of the store information and the usage amount in the mobile device. Then, the payment information corresponding to the preliminary payment is automatically transmitted to the store side. Accordingly, even in a case where the electronic payment terminal of the store becomes unavailable due to a power outage or the like, the electronic payment at the store can be realized. 
     Incidentally, in the above-described embodiment, the word “processor” refers to, for example, a dedicated or general-purpose CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) or a circuit such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) mounted on the mobile device  10 . The processor realizes various functions of the processing circuit  20  by reading and executing a program stored in the storage medium. 
     Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           10  Mobile device 
           11  Electronic payment terminal 
           12  Host computer 
           13  Interface 
           14  Display 
           15  Memory 
           16  Electronic payment processing circuit 
           17  Network communication circuit 
           20  Processing circuit 
           201  Store information collection unit 
           202  Maximum amount setting unit 
           203  Payment execution unit 
           204  Payment information transmission unit 
           100  Electronic payment system