RU2234124C2 - Calculation and payment system - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: services payment systems engineering.

SUBSTANCE: system has a device of commercial calculation mounted at customer's location, payment collecting station, and payment handling center including at least one data base concerning customers, data base concerning complete payments, data base concerning data from commercial calculation devices and module for performing clearing operations. Commercial calculation device is equipped with block for automatic adjustment of consumption dependent on amount and time coefficients and device for electronic input-output of said coefficients. Payment collecting station has analogical input-output device, electronic block for differentiation of payments calculations dependent on customer's category and a block for connection to payments handling center. As data storage means for transfer between commercial calculation device and payments collecting station an electronic card is selected.

EFFECT: payments system providing for full automation of whole paying process.

7 cl, 1 dwg

Description

The invention relates to a payment system for various services: insurance, household services, in particular utilities, electricity, gas, etc., with minimizing the time spent on payment transactions and with a minimum participation of cash.

Known electronic monetary system [1] for making electronic cash payments, the technical result of which is achieved by generating the value represented by electronic money, clearing and payment of electronic cash accounts of banks and financial institutions. Each monetary system contains issuing banks or financial institutions that are associated with the device of a money generator designed to generate and put into circulation electronic money supported by perpetual deposits and electronic credit powers of attorney; correspondent banks that accept and distribute electronic money; many operating devices that are used by subscribers to store electronic money, to carry out business cash transactions with online access systems of participating banks or to exchange electronic money autonomously with other similar operating devices; cash registers connected with issuing banks and correspondent banks and intended for pairing between issuing banks and correspondent banks themselves; A service security processor designed to maintain system integrity. The basis of this invention is an electronic representation of money, i.e. “Virtual” money, only supported by real cash deposits. Participation in such a system with the existing development of the domestic banking infrastructure is unacceptable for most individual consumers, the implementation of the system itself requires significant investments and at least laborious elaboration of security conditions (protection against unauthorized participation).

A number of devices are known [2, 3], intended for use in automated systems of cashless payments and the provision of services and allowing to document on an electronic card the results of operations performed with its help with their subsequent control, which increases the level of protection of the electronic card from illegal use. So in a device for making payments and services using an electronic card with documenting operations [3], which contains a block for reading information from an electronic card, a block for analyzing information, a block for erasing financial information from an electronic card, a block for recording balances of payment amounts on an electronic card, an input block information from the user and an indication unit, a service execution unit, a service execution monitoring unit, a document data recording unit on an electronic card and an overhead information input unit have been introduced. This device is based on the use of a credit card with advanced capabilities, and since it is a matter of introducing electronic money and the need for the payer to enter (provide) additional data (codes, passwords, etc.), the whole question of security (eligibility of the card holder) is not resolved.

As a prototype of the present invention, a payment and settlement system, implemented by the so-called. “self-service” system, when the consumer himself writes off the readings of a commercial meter (meter) and pays for energy consumption through payment acceptance points (and / or banks, a post office). In addition, even in addition, the consumer receives receipts for a certain part of the payments accrued and sent to him by the supplier of energy resources (services), for example, by ZhEKom (DEZ) without his participation on the basis of established standards and tariffs. Thus, the consumer pays at the same payment acceptance points (and / or banks, post offices) according to two schemes: on the basis of payment sheets sent to him (receipts, notices) and on the basis of data taken independently from the counters. In this case, the following problems arise: either a significant debt arises from an unscrupulous payer, or the consumer in the subscriber books (or other documents for self-filling) indicates the amount of payment that he can or wants to pay and makes payment at the time that suits him. There is a need to periodically throughout the calendar year to carry out control checks of indications. When inspectors conduct inspections, situations arise when tenants are either not in place or when the inspectors are not allowed into the premises. All this leads to untimely and incomplete payment for services already delivered and energy expended.

In the general case, such a system includes a commercial meter (electricity meter), a payment (cash) receiving center, including the issuance of a fiscal document (check, receipt), a settlement (operational) center and a payment processing center. The payment acceptance point in its simplest form is a cash module installed at the post office or at the bank and performs exclusively the functions mentioned above, i.e. accepting payment and printing a fiscal receipt; a settlement center provides a set-off of funds for services (clearing, transaction), a payment processing center is engaged in the formation of databases on payments made, according to the indications of commercial metering devices (meters) and (or) at standard rates, as well as printing and sending invoices to consumers of services. The work of the payment processing center is based on the primary database of subscribers created on their own or obtained, for example, from the passport office. Recently, there has been a tendency to combine the functions of a payment processing center and a settlement center in order to reduce the time of the entire cycle of payment transactions, rational reduction of jobs, etc. Hereinafter, the term “payment processing center” is used to describe just such an integrated structure.

The objective of the claimed payment system was:

- maximum reduction in paper workflow;

- the exception of manual input of information into the database;

- minimization of work with one payer;

- increasing payment discipline of subscribers;

- providing the ability to concentrate payments for the full range of utilities (including the supply of energy) and other services in one place;

- the implementation of complete automation of the entire payment process.

This problem is solved by the settlement and payment system, consisting of at least one commercial meter installed at the subscriber, a payment acceptance center containing information about the current cost of a service and a payment processing center, including at least one base data on consumers, a database of payments made, a database of readings of commercial metering devices and a module for clearing operations, in which the commercial metering device is equipped with an automatic regulation unit (about boundedness consumed power blackout) consumption depending on the quantity or the time indicators and an electronic device IO these indicators; a payment acceptance center contains a similar input / output device, an electronic unit for differentiating payment calculations depending on the category of subscriber, and also a feedback unit with a payment processing center; As an information carrier between the commercial metering device and the payment acceptance center, an electronic card is selected that is capable of exchanging and rewriting the mentioned indicators taking into account the monetary amounts entered in the payment receiving center, containing constant information about the subscriber sufficient to identify him in the differentiation unit and as a user of a specific commercial accounting device, an additional database of categories of subscribers is formed in the payment processing center, and the electronic card is executed with the possibility of applying to the surface of its information outreach and promotional.

The settlement and payment system may contain several commercial metering devices for various services (electricity, water, gas consumption) identified with one electronic card, the payment acceptance center in this case contains an electronic payment splitting module, and consumer databases are formed in the payment processing center each service.

Information on services provided to the subscriber on the basis of standard rates (preventive maintenance, scheduled repairs, cleaning of the territory, as well as, for example, the terms of payment of insurance contracts, etc.) can also be applied to the electronic card, in which case the payment acceptance center contains additional electronic payment splitting modules, and at least one database of the mentioned services has been created in the payment processing center.

It is advisable to execute a payment acceptance point based on a POS terminal (Point of sale) [see, for example, 1]. Typically, the POS terminal is based on a personal computer, to which a reader for reading and writing smart cards (electronic cards) and a fiscal registrar for printing checks are connected. The operation of the POS terminal is controlled by special software.

It is advisable to execute a payment processing center with the possibility of regular exchange of information with databases of service providers and (or) authorized banks, and (or) executive authorities, and (or) controlling (supervisory) structures, which will allow timely changes to databases, such as change of the payer, restructuring of the policy of providing benefits and social targeted support, the location of the unscrupulous payer, etc.

To speed up the payment process and eliminate errors when using outdated data in calculations, it is advisable to connect the payment reception center and the payment processing center on-line, that is, continuous communication with the constant exchange of incoming information in real time.

As an electronic card, it is possible to use a plastic card (smart card) of one of three main types: with a magnetic strip, with a processor (“chip”), or simultaneously with a magnetic strip and a processor.

The invention is illustrated in the drawing.

The drawing shows a block diagram of the proposed settlement and payment system.

The settlement and payment system consists of a commercial metering device 1 installed at the subscriber, a payment acceptance center 2 (POS terminal) containing information on the current cost of a particular service and a payment processing center 3, including a database 4 about consumers of various services, a base 5 data on the payment made, a database of 6 readings of commercial metering devices, a database of 7 categories of subscribers, a database of 8 services provided to the subscriber based on standard rates and module 9 for clearing operations, a commercial instrument accounting unit 1 is equipped with an automatic control unit 10 of consumption depending on quantitative or temporal indicators and an electronic input-output device 11 of these indicators, the payment acceptance point 3 contains a similar input-output device 11, an electronic unit 12 for differentiating payment calculations depending on the subscriber category, payment splitting modules 13, as well as a feedback unit 14 with a payment processing center; An electronic card is selected as the information carrier between the commercial metering device and the payment acceptance center 15. The payment processing center is also linked to the databases of 16 service providers, the administration, and the government.

Payment for services in the settlement and payment system can be carried out in the mode of payment for services already provided, the mode of prepayment of services (mainly for services paid based on the readings of commercial metering devices), or a combination thereof. The consumer (subscriber) can pay in advance at the payment acceptance point 2 a certain number of kilowatts of electricity, cubic meters of water or gas, housing and communal services, insurance services and so on, and a corresponding entry is made on card 15 through device 11. By means of a card 15, through a similar device 11, the information is entered into the commercial metering device 1, after which the block 10 releases the paid amount of electricity and (or) water and (or) gas. The consumer can also receive services on credit, and with a certain frequency, by means of card 15, he must take readings from the commercial metering device 1 and present card 15 at the payment acceptance point 1, where a fee for the services received is already charged accordingly. Otherwise, block 10 after, for example, one month, limits or stops the supply of electricity, water, gas, etc. If information on several types of services is recorded on card 15, then payments are already split at the payment stage through modules 13. Simultaneous payment of several services can occur both at the request of the consumer and automatically (if there are appropriate agreements between service providers). For any type of payment, through block 12, the current status of the payer (the presence or absence of benefits, targeted support, tariff changes, etc.) is taken into account and the cost of services for the subscriber is calculated. Based on the accepted payments through block 14 in real time, changes are made to the databases 4-8. At the same time, information is exchanged (updated) between databases 4-8 of the payment center and databases 16.

The possibility of applying explanatory (advertising) information on the surface of the card is an integral part of the system as a whole, since it can significantly affect the actions of the payer (for example, a reminder of payment terms, a list of services entered on the card, terms of payment for services, extracts from the insurance contract and etc.).

The declared settlement and payment system can be reproduced at minimal cost within the framework of existing banking structures (the most powerful computer software), provided that appropriate software is available. The most expensive part of the system — the installation or replacement of commercial metering devices and the issue of electronic cards — can also be implemented with the involvement of bank capital, which is quite feasible, given the transparency of the proposed system, the possibility of its phased creation in full (the use of one electronic card to pay for more and more number of services), as well as a guarantee of timely payments by individual users of services. The rapid development of leasing schemes makes this system even more attractive for all parties involved and ideally frees the population from the costly replacement and installation of commercial metering devices.

Sources of information

1. Pat. RF №2165101 “Electronic monetary system (options), electronic banknote, method of presenting the password of the electronic monetary system network, method of withdrawing money from a bank account, method of depositing, method of payment, method of foreign currency exchange”, IPC G 06 F 17/60 , s. 12/12/1992, op. 04/10/2001.

2. Pat. RF №203506 “Device for making payments using an electronic card”, IPC G 06 F 7/08, s. 05.24.1993, op. 05/10/1995.

3. Pat. RF №2103732 “Device for making payments and services using an electronic card with documenting operations”, IPC G 06 F 17/60, s. 06/08/1995, op. 01/27/1998.

Claims (7)

1. Settlement and payment system, consisting of at least one commercial meter installed at the subscriber, a payment acceptance center containing information on the current value of a service and a payment processing center, including at least one database on consumers, a database of payments made, a database of readings of commercial metering devices and a module for clearing operations, characterized in that the commercial metering device is equipped with an automatic consumption control unit for depending on the quantitative or temporal indicators and the electronic input-output device of these indicators, the payment acceptance center contains a similar input-output device, an electronic unit for differentiating payment calculations depending on the category of subscriber, and also a feedback unit with a payment processing center as an information carrier an electronic card is selected between the commercial meter and the payment acceptance center, made with the possibility of exchanging and rewriting the above indicators, taking into account a cash payment payment reception center containing constant information about the subscriber sufficient to identify it in the differentiation unit and as a user of a specific commercial metering device, an additional database of categories of subscribers has been created in the payment processing center, and the electronic card is configured to display explanatory information on its surface and advertising in nature. 2. The settlement and payment system according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains at least two commercial accounting devices of various services identified with one electronic card, the payment acceptance center contains an electronic payment splitting module, and the bases are formed in the payment processing center data on consumers of each service. 3. Settlement and payment system according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the electronic card contains information about the services provided to the subscriber based on standard tariffs, the payment acceptance center contains an additional electronic payment splitting module, and a payment processing center is formed at least one database of said services. 4. Settlement and payment system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the payment acceptance point is based on a POS terminal. 5. Settlement and payment system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the payment processing center is configured to regularly exchange information with databases of service providers and (or) authorized banks, and (or) the executive branch, and (or ) controlling (supervisory) structures. 6. Settlement and payment system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the connection between the payment acceptance center and the payment processing center is carried out on-line. 7. Settlement and payment system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a plastic card with a magnetic strip and (or) with a processor (“chip”) is selected as an electronic card.