Shopping system

• US 20080228591A1
• Filed: 03/04/2008
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: WATANABE, Naoki, OKADA, Toru, ONO, Yasuhiro, TSUJIMOTO, Syuichi, KUNIEDA, Shigetoshi, NAMBU, Kazuya
• Application Number:
  US12/074,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228591A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00

Abstract

When a merchandise identification code and a store identification code are received from mobile terminal, a merchandise server obtains merchandise information including the merchandise identification code from a merchandise information storage unit of a sales store specified by the store identification code. The merchandise server also obtains payment store information from a payment information storage unit of the sales store. The merchandise server generates an unused outstanding identification code and the merchandise server stores the merchandise information while relating the merchandise information to the outstanding identification code. The merchandise server sends back the outstanding identification code to the mobile terminal together with the payment store information. When a payment terminal makes a request for the outstanding identification code and merchandise information, the merchandise server transmits the merchandise information stored while related to the outstanding identification code to the payment terminal.

Claims

1. A shopping system comprising:

a mobile terminal;

a payment terminal; and

a server which is connected to the mobile terminal and the payment terminal through a network,

wherein the mobile terminal comprises;

a payment communication unit configured to conducts data communication with the payment terminal;

an input unit configured to input a merchandise identification code to identify a merchandise;

a transmission unit configured to transmit the merchandise identification code input through the input unit to the server;

a reception unit configured to receive unique transaction identification code and payment store information transmitted from the server;

a display unit configured to display guide information of stores based on the payment store information received by the reception unit, payment for a merchandise identified by the merchandise identification code input through the input unit being able to be performed in the stores; and

a storage unit configured to store the transaction identification code received by the reception unit,

wherein the server comprises;

a merchandise information storage unit configured to store merchandise information while relating the merchandise identification code of each merchandise;

a payment store information storage unit configured to store payment store information, the payment store information indicating stores in which payment for the each merchandise can be performed;

a merchandise information obtaining unit configured to obtain the merchandise information related to the merchandise identification code from the merchandise information storage unit, when the merchandise information obtaining unit receives the merchandise identification code from the mobile terminal;

a code generation unit configured to generate the transaction identification code;

a payment information retaining unit configured to retain the merchandise information obtained by the merchandise information obtaining unit while relating the transaction identification code generated by the code generation unit;

an outstanding information transmission unit configured to transmit the transaction identification code generated by the code generation unit to the mobile terminal together with the payment store information stored in the payment store information storage unit;

a merchandise information detection unit configured to detect the merchandise information retained while related to the transaction identification code from the payment information retaining unit, when the merchandise information detection unit receives a request command of the merchandise information including the transaction identification code from the payment terminal; and

a merchandise information transmission unit configured to transmit the merchandise information detected by the merchandise information detection unit to the payment terminal, and

wherein the payment terminal comprises;

a mobile communication unit configured to conduct data communication with the mobile terminal;

a mobile terminal information obtaining unit configured to obtain the transaction identification code stored in the mobile terminal through the mobile communication unit;

a merchandise information request unit configured to transmit the request command of the merchandise information to the server, the merchandise information including the transaction identification code obtained by the mobile terminal information obtaining unit; and

a payment processing unit configured to process payment based on the merchandise information received from the server.

2. The shopping system according to claim 1, wherein the input unit of the mobile terminal is configured such that a sales store identification code is input to identify a sales store,

the transmission unit of the mobile terminal is configured so as to transmit the sales store identification code input through the input unit to the server,

the storage unit of the mobile terminal is configured such that the transaction identification code received by the reception unit and payment store information are stored therein,

the merchandise information storage unit of the server is configured such that merchandise information is stored in each sales store while related to a merchandise identification code of each merchandise sold in the sales store,

the payment store information storage unit of the server is configured such that payment store information is stored in each sales store, the payment store information indicating a store in which payment for each merchandise sold in the sales store can be performed,

the merchandise information obtaining unit of the server is configured so as to obtain the merchandise information related to the merchandise identification code from the merchandise information storage unit of the sale store identified by the sales store identification code, when the merchandise information obtaining unit receives the merchandise identification code and sales store identification code from the mobile terminal,

the outstanding information transmission unit of the server is configured so as to transmit the transaction identification code generated by the code generation unit to the mobile terminal together with the payment store information stored in the payment store information storage unit of the sales store identified by the sales store identification code,

the mobile terminal information obtaining unit of the payment terminal obtains the payment store information, the payment terminal further comprises a payment determination unit configured to determine whether payment can be performed in a store where the payment terminal is installed based on the payment store information, and

the merchandise information request unit of the payment terminal transmits the request command of the merchandise information including the transaction identification code obtained by the mobile terminal information obtaining unit to the server, on condition that the payment determination unit determines that the payment can be performed.

3. The shopping system according to claim 1, wherein the display unit of the mobile terminal displays a list of payment stores in which payment for the merchandise can be performed based on the payment store information received by the reception unit, and

when any one of the payment stores is selected from the list, the display unit displays a guide map from a sales store to the payment store.

4. The shopping system according to claim 1, wherein the payment terminal further comprises a payment completion notification unit configured to transmit a payment completion command including the transaction identification code obtained by the mobile terminal information obtaining unit to the server on condition that the payment is completed by the payment processing unit,

the server further comprises:

a payment completion processing unit configured to set merchandise information to a payment completion state when receiving the payment completion command sent from the payment terminal, the merchandise information being retained in the payment information retaining unit while related to the transaction identification code included in the payment completion command; and

a payment completion determination unit configured to determine whether or not the merchandise information retained while related to the transaction identification code is in the payment completion state when receiving the request command of the merchandise information including the transaction identification code from the payment terminal, and

the merchandise information transmission unit of the server transmits merchandise information to the payment terminal, when the payment completion determination unit determining that the merchandise information is not in the payment completion state in pieces of merchandise information detected by the merchandise information detection unit.

5. The shopping system according to claim 2, wherein the mobile terminal further comprises a user storage unit configured to store a user identification code for identifying a user,

the transmission unit of the mobile terminal transmits the user identification code stored in the user storage unit to the server,

the payment information retaining unit of the server retains the merchandise information obtained by the merchandise information obtaining unit and the user identification code received from the mobile terminal while relating the merchandise information and the user identification code to the transaction identification code generated by the code generation unit,

the merchandise information transmission unit of the server transmits the merchandise information detected by the merchandise information detection unit and the user identification code retained by the payment information retaining unit together with the merchandise information to the payment terminal,

the mobile terminal information obtaining unit of the payment terminal further obtains the user identification code stored in the mobile terminal through the mobile communication unit, and

the payment processing unit of the payment terminal processes payment on condition that the user identification code received from the server is matched with the user identification code obtained from the mobile terminal.

6. The shopping system according to claim 5, wherein the payment terminal further comprises a payment completion notification unit configured to transmit a payment completion command including the transaction identification code obtained by the mobile terminal information obtaining unit to the server on condition that the payment is completed by the payment processing unit,

the server further comprises:

a payment completion processing unit configured to set merchandise information and a user identification code in a payment completion state when receiving the payment completion command sent from the payment terminal, the merchandise information and the user identification code being retained in the payment information retaining unit while related to the transaction identification code included in the payment completion command; and

a payment completion determination unit configured to determine whether or not the merchandise information and user identification code retained while related to the transaction identification code are the payment completion state when receiving the request command of the merchandise information including the transaction identification code from the payment terminal, and

the merchandise information transmission unit of the server transmits merchandise information and user identification code to the payment terminal, the payment completion determination unit determining that the merchandise information and user identification code are not in the payment completion state in pieces of merchandise information and user identification codes detected by the merchandise information detection unit.

7. The shopping system according to claim 6, further comprising a sales store terminal which is connected to the server through the network,

wherein the server further comprises:

a user information storage unit configured to store user information while related to a user identification code of each user; and

a payment information transmission unit configured to transmit the merchandise information and user identification code set in the payment completion state by the payment completion processing unit to the sales store terminal of a sales store to which the merchandise information corresponds,

the sales store terminal comprises;

a user information obtaining unit configured to access the server to obtain user information related to the user identification code when receiving the merchandise information and user identification code from the server; and

a display unit configured to display user information obtained by the user information obtaining unit and merchandise information received from the server.

8. A mobile terminal which is connected to a server through a network, the mobile terminal comprising:

a payment communication unit configured to conduct data communication with the payment terminal installed in a payment store;

an input unit configured to input a merchandise identification code for identifying a merchandise and a sales store identification code for identifying a sales store;

a transmission unit configured to transmit the merchandise identification code and sales store identification code input through the input unit to the server;

a reception unit configured to receive unique transaction identification code and payment store information transmitted from the server;

a display unit configured to display guide information of a store based on the payment store information received by the reception unit, payment for a merchandise identified by the merchandise identification code input through the input unit being able to be performed in the store; and

a storage unit configured to store the transaction identification code and payment store information received by the reception unit.

9. The mobile terminal according to claim 8, wherein the display unit displays a list of payment stores in which payment for the merchandise can be performed based on the payment store information received by the reception unit, and

when one of the payment stores is selected from the list, the display unit displays a guide map from a sales store to the payment store.

10. The mobile terminal according to claim 8, further comprising a user storage unit configured to store a user identification code for identifying a user,

wherein the transmission unit transmits the user identification code stored in the user storage unit to the server.

11. A server which is connected to a mobile terminal and a payment terminal through a network, the server comprising:

a merchandise information storage unit configured to store merchandise information in each sales store of a merchandise while related to a merchandise identification code of each merchandise sold in the sales store;

a payment store information storage unit configured to store payment store information in the each sales store, the payment store information indicating a store in which payment for the each merchandise sold in the sales store can be performed;

a merchandise information obtaining unit configured to obtain the merchandise information related to the merchandise identification code from the merchandise information storage unit of a sales store identified by a sales store identification code, when the merchandise information obtaining unit receives the merchandise identification code and the sales store identification code from the mobile terminal;

a code generation unit configured to generate the transaction identification code;

a payment information retaining unit configured to retain the merchandise information obtained by the merchandise information obtaining unit while relating the merchandise information to the transaction identification code generated by the code generation unit;

an outstanding information transmission unit configured to transmit the transaction identification code generated by the code generation unit to the mobile terminal together with the payment store information stored in the payment store information storage unit of the sales store identified by the sales store identification code;

a merchandise information detection unit configured to detect the merchandise information retained while related to the transaction identification code from the payment information retaining unit, when the merchandise information detection unit receives a request command of the merchandise information including the transaction identification code from the payment terminal; and

a merchandise information transmission unit configured to transmit the merchandise information detected by the merchandise information detection unit to the payment terminal.

12. The server according to claim 11, further comprising:

a payment completion processing unit configured to set merchandise information to a payment completion state when receiving the payment completion command sent from the payment terminal, the merchandise information being retained in the payment information retaining unit while related to the transaction identification code included in the payment completion command; and

a payment completion determination unit configured to determine whether or not the merchandise information retained while related to the transaction identification code is in the payment completion state when receiving the request command of the merchandise information including the transaction identification code from the payment terminal,

wherein the merchandise information transmission unit of the server transmits merchandise information to the payment terminal, the payment completion determination unit determining that the merchandise information is not in the payment completion state in pieces of merchandise information detected by the merchandise information detection unit.

13. The server according to claim 11, wherein the payment information retaining unit retains the merchandise information obtained by the merchandise information obtaining unit and the user identification code received from the mobile terminal while relating the merchandise information and the user identification code to the transaction identification code generated by the code generation unit, and

the merchandise information transmission unit of the server transmits the merchandise information detected by the merchandise information detection unit as well as the user identification code retained by the payment information retaining unit together with the merchandise information to the payment terminal.

14. A payment terminal which is connected to a server through a network, the payment terminal comprising:

a mobile communication unit configured to conduct data communication with a mobile terminal;

a mobile terminal information obtaining unit configured to obtain transaction identification code and payment store information stored in the mobile terminal through the mobile communication unit;

a payment determination unit configured to determine whether or not payment can be performed in a store where the payment terminal is installed based on the payment store information obtained by the mobile terminal information obtaining unit;

a merchandise information request unit configured to transmit a request command of merchandise information including the transaction identification code obtained by the mobile terminal information obtaining unit on condition that the payment determination unit determines that the payment can be performed; and

a payment processing unit configured to process payment based on the merchandise information received from the server.

15. The payment terminal according to claim 14, further comprising a payment completion notification unit configured to transmit a payment completion command including the transaction identification code obtained by the mobile terminal information obtaining unit to the server on condition that the payment is completed by the payment processing unit.

16. The payment terminal according to claim 14, wherein the mobile terminal information obtaining unit further obtains the user identification code stored in the mobile terminal through the mobile communication unit, and

the payment processing unit processes payment on condition that the user identification code received from the server is matched with the user identification code obtained from the mobile terminal.

17. A computer-readable program merchandise which causes a mobile terminal to function as a shopping instrument, the mobile terminal comprising a payment communication unit which conducts data communication with a payment terminal installed in a payment store, the mobile terminal being connected to a server through a network,

the computer-readable program merchandise causing the mobile terminal to realize:

a function of accepting inputs of a merchandise identification code for identifying a merchandise and a sales store identification code for identifying a sales store from an input unit of the mobile terminal;

a function of transmitting the merchandise identification code and sales store identification code input through the input unit to the server;

a function of receiving a unique transaction identification code and payment store information transmitted from the server;

a function of displaying guide information of a store based on the payment store information received from the server, payment for a merchandise identified by the merchandise identification code input through the input unit being able to be performed in the store; and

a function of storing the transaction identification code and payment store information received from the server in a storage unit of the mobile terminal.