JP2001060236A - Wide-area purchasing method using communication line - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the quality of service to a purchaser and to expand the capacity of the number of users by improving the response speed of information provision for a purchaser and information gathering regarding afterward management irrelevantly to the limited processing speed of a central server and the transmission rate of a communication line. SOLUTION: Sale article information obtained from the central server 10 is provided for the user terminal 14 of a purchaser connected to an area server 12 by a communication line 3 through the area server 12 by the communication line 1. Purchaser information obtained from the purchaser through the communication line 3 is totalized by the area server 12 and the obtained user totalization information is transmitted to the central server 10 by the communication line 1. When an article is actually purchased, the area server 12 orders the article from an article handler and pays the purchase money to a financial institution through the communication line 1 not through the central server 10. Detailed information on the purchaser is transmitted to the central server 10 as a batch processing in a small-load time band.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method in which purchase information transmitted by a user operating on a television screen is distributed and processed by a regional totalizing computer and a central computer arranged in a wide area, thereby realizing a request for immediacy. The present invention relates to a wide-area purchasing method and apparatus using a communication line for realizing a desired purchase over a wide area. Further, the computerized information purchased by the user can be provided by a ground wire line and a satellite line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a user operates a terminal device to obtain a necessary product. For example, in central horse racing, a so-called "PAT system" is used, in which a registered user can use his or her personal computer and connect to the central computer to purchase a betting ticket. Also, at convenience stores,
The game software to be purchased can be downloaded from the central computer using a dedicated terminal at the store. Further, in recent years, mail-order sales through the Internet and personal computer communication have been performed frequently.

[0003]

However, in the conventional merchandise purchasing method, a central computer is intensively loaded, especially for a purchase requiring immediacy. Alternatively, the communication line for connecting to such a central computer is intensively loaded, or the transmission speed becomes a problem. Therefore, the number of users is limited due to the limitation of the processing capacity. For example, when purchase opportunities are provided only in a limited manner, such as in public gambling (public gambling), illegal purchases of a ya ya are rampant.

[0004] Further, there is a problem that security concerns are large when buying and selling through an open network such as the Internet, for example, credit card information is stolen. Furthermore, downloading data via an analog line or an ISDN line has a problem in that it takes too much time to receive a large amount of software including video and the like. or,
Cash on delivery and payment by credit card have drawbacks in terms of certainty and speed of collection, and also require users to make purchases.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and relates to provision of information to a purchaser and subsequent operation irrespective of a limited processing speed of a central server and a transmission speed of a communication line. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wide-area purchasing method and apparatus using a communication line capable of improving the response speed of information collection, improving the quality of service to purchasers, and increasing the capacity of users.

[0006]

First, a wide-area purchasing method using a communication line according to the first invention of the present application is a method of purchasing sales information obtained from a central server by connecting the sales commodity information to the central server by a communication line. While providing to the buyer, the purchaser information obtained from the buyer on the communication line is tabulated by the regional server, and the obtained user tabulation information is transmitted to the central server via the communication line,
When actually purchasing a product, the regional server does not go through the central server, but orders the product to the product handler and pays the purchase price at a financial institution via a communication line. The user's detailed information solves the above problem by transmitting the detailed information of the user to the central server as a batch process in a time period when the load on the server and the communication line is small.

In the wide area purchasing method using the communication line, a connection of the communication line to the central server for providing the sales merchandise information is transmitted to a user terminal operated by a purchaser via the regional server. With this configuration, a general communication line is used as a route for providing the sales product information.

[0008] In the wide-area purchasing method using the communication line, the connection of the communication line to the central server for providing the sales merchandise information is provided to a user terminal operated by a purchaser by a wireless communication provided by an artificial satellite. By using a line, it is possible to use a line that has a high transmission speed via an artificial satellite and that can supplement a terrestrial communication line in the event of a disaster or failure.

[0009] In the wide area purchasing method using the communication line, a connection of the communication line to the central server for providing the sales merchandise information is provided to a user terminal operated by a purchaser by a satellite broadcast provided by an artificial satellite. Is used, and means for efficiently transmitting information to a large number, such as broadcasting, is used as a route for providing the sales product information.

[0010] In the wide area purchasing method using the communication line, the connection of the communication line to the central server for providing the sales merchandise information is provided by an artificial satellite to a satellite broadcast receiver to be viewed by the purchaser. By providing the sales product information by satellite broadcasting, a means for efficiently transmitting to a large number, called broadcasting, is used as a route for providing the sales product information. It is.

[0011] Further, in the wide-area purchasing method using the communication line, a connection via the communication line to a financial institution for performing the purchase settlement may be replaced by a computer for handling the purchase settlement by the financial institution or the computer. By using the dedicated line up to the installation location, the delay in the communication line due to the purchase price settlement can be suppressed.

[0012] In the wide-area purchasing method using the communication line, the commodity is a voting ticket of a public gambling, and the buyer information is information including a quantity of a ticket type of the voting ticket purchased by the buyer. Wherein the user total information is information including total data of the ticket type of the quantity, and the sales merchandise information is calculated based on the user total information transmitted to the central server, The problem is solved in the public gambling by including the odds totaling result.

[0013] In the wide area purchasing method using the communication line, the central server needs to determine whether there is a prize of the voting ticket purchased by the purchaser and the amount from the central server to the regional server via the communication line. The prize dividend information is transmitted, and the prize settlement of the voting ticket determined based on the prize dividend information is used when the buyer purchases the voting ticket to the financial institution where the buyer's account is provided. By performing the above-mentioned regional server via a communication line, it is possible to reduce labor and time for a purchaser or the like involved in the prize settlement.

[0014] In the wide-area purchasing method using the communication line, the product is any of audio information of music performance, video and audio information of a movie, or a program such as entertainment game software or business software, By solving the problem in the sale of digitized information, the delivery of the product to the purchaser is performed using a wireless communication line provided by an artificial satellite or one of the regional servers. It is.

Next, the wide area purchasing apparatus using the communication line of the second invention of the present application sells the user total information obtained by totalizing the purchaser information obtained from the purchaser, the detailed information obtained from the purchaser, and sells. A central server that stores information related to goods and transfers the information via a communication line, and a purchaser uses the communication line to receive necessary information at the time of purchase and use it to purchase goods. A user terminal, connected to the central server and the plurality of user terminals via a communication line, provides the sales merchandise information as the necessary information at the time of purchase, and collects purchaser information obtained from the purchaser to collect user total information. And transmitting the user tally information to the central server, and transmitting the buyer detailed information to the central server during a time period when the load on the server and the communication line is small. By which is adapted and a over bar, which solves the above problems.

Further, the user terminal according to the third invention of the present application is a broadcast receiving unit for receiving video and audio of a digital satellite broadcast, and the regional server according to claim 8 or a server of a digital satellite broadcast station. A built-in line connection modem for connecting to, a display device for displaying the video or information obtained by the connection, and on a screen of the display device,
An interface application for enabling selection of display items and input of characters and transmitting the input result with the built-in modem for line connection, an operation panel controlled by the interface application and operated by a purchaser, The object has been achieved by providing a large-capacity storage device capable of storing data. The large-capacity storage device is not particularly limited. For example, a large-capacity hard disk storage device may be used. The large-capacity storage device can store information such as video and audio and data obtained via a built-in line connection modem, or information such as broadcast video and audio and data received by the broadcast receiving unit.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention will be briefly described.

According to the present invention, the merchandise information obtained from the central server is provided to the central server via a communication line via a regional server, and to a buyer connected to the regional server via a communication line. The purchaser purchases necessary products via the regional server.

In the present invention, the method of providing sales merchandise information to buyers is not specifically limited. That is, to the user terminal operated by the purchaser, it may be performed via the regional server, may be performed using a wireless communication line provided by an artificial satellite, or may be a satellite broadcast provided by an artificial satellite. You may use it. Alternatively, the sales product information may be provided by a satellite broadcast provided by an artificial satellite to a satellite broadcast receiver viewed by a purchaser. That is, including the sales product information,
This is to broadcast a certain kind of program. Here, the satellite broadcast receiver has been conventionally used irrespective of the present invention, and is a general-purpose receiver for receiving a satellite broadcast television broadcast or a radio broadcast.

Further, according to the present invention, when a purchaser purchases a required product, the purchaser information obtained from the purchaser through the communication line is totaled by the regional server, and the obtained user total information is collected through the communication line. Send to central server. Thus, the information sent to the central server is reduced. Thereby, the processing load on the central server and the load on the communication line for connecting to the central server can be reduced.

Also, when actually purchasing a product, the regional server does not go through the central server, but orders the product to the product handler and adjusts the purchase price at the financial institution via the communication line. Do. In other words, these orders and purchase price settlement
This is done without going through the central server. Therefore, also in this manner, the processing load on the central server and the load on the communication line for connecting to the central server can be reduced.

In the present invention, the buyer's detailed information is transmitted to the central server as a batch process in a time period when the load on the server and the communication line is small. Therefore, the detailed information is also sent to the central server within the time allowed for the delay. For this reason, there is no hindrance to the business of purchasing products.

As described above, according to the present invention, regardless of the limited processing speed of the central server and the transmission speed of the communication line, the response speed of providing information to the purchaser and collecting information on subsequent operations is improved. It is possible to improve the quality of service for buyers and increase the capacity of the number of users.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a wide area purchasing method and apparatus using a communication line according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present embodiment includes a central server 10, a regional server 12, a user terminal 14,
And a financial institution 22. In addition, the central server 10 and the regional server 12, and the regional server 12 and the financial institution 22
Is connected to the dedicated line 1 almost always. The local server 12 and the user terminal 14 are basically connected by the public line 3 only when purchasing.

The central server 10 stores user total information obtained by totalizing purchaser information obtained from purchasers, detailed information obtained from the purchasers, and information on merchandise. In addition, these pieces of information are transferred via a communication line, that is, a dedicated line 1 or a public line 3.

The user terminal 14 is operated by a buyer when purchasing a product. At that time, the user terminal 14
Using the leased line 1 or the public line 3, the purchaser receives information necessary at the time of purchase, and uses it to make a purchase procedure if the conditions are satisfied.

The regional server 12 is connected to the central server 10 and the plurality of user terminals 14 via the dedicated line 1 or the public line 3, and provides the above-mentioned sales product information as the above-mentioned necessary information at the time of purchase. At the same time, the regional server 12 counts the purchaser information obtained from the purchaser via the communication line to obtain the user count information.
Send to 0. Further, the regional server 12 transmits at least the purchaser detailed information to the central server 10 during a time period when the load on the server and the communication line is small.

Therefore, in the wide area purchasing method and apparatus using such a communication line, first, the central server 10
Is provided to the user terminal 14 of the buyer connected to the regional server 12 via the communication line 3 via the communication server 1 via the regional server 12. Further, the purchaser information obtained from the purchaser on the communication line 3 is totaled by the regional server 12 and the obtained user total information is collected on the communication line 1.
To the central server 10.

When actually purchasing a product, the regional server 12 does not go through the central server 10 and orders the product to the product handler using a dedicated communication line such as a dedicated line or a public line (not shown). Do. Along with this ordering, payment for the purchase price (request for payment and receipt of payment) is made to the financial institution 22 via the communication line 1. Further, the buyer's detailed information is transmitted to the central server 10 as a batch process during a time period when the load on the server and the communication line is small.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the present invention can be effectively applied. Therefore, regardless of the limited processing speed of the central server and the transmission speed of the communication line, the response speed of providing information to the buyer and collecting information on subsequent operations is improved, and the quality of service to the buyer is improved, The capacity of the number of users can be increased.

As described above, the order and the purchase price settlement are as follows.
Since the processing is performed without going through the central server, the central server 10
And the load on the communication line 1 for connecting to the central server 10 can be reduced. In addition, the connection via the communication line (dedicated line 1) to the financial institution 22 for performing the purchase price settlement is made to the computer that handles the purchase price settlement at the financial institution or to the installation location of the computer. By doing so, not only can the time required for the purchase price settlement be reduced, but also security management can be performed easily and reliably.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a wide area purchasing method and apparatus using a communication line according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The second embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment. That is, the communication line connecting the central server 10 and the regional server 12, which was the dedicated line 1 in the first embodiment, is changed to a WAN (wide area network).
And the like. Further, the communication line connecting the local server 12 and the public line 3 which is the public line 3 in the first embodiment is changed to a LAN (local area).
network 4).

As described above, the present invention does not specifically limit the communication line to be used. The present invention can be applied to the above embodiments. Furthermore,
The network may be used only for the communication line connecting the central server 10 and the regional server 12 or only for the communication line connecting the regional server 12 and the user terminal 14.

Normally, using a network, such as the Internet, is more advantageous in terms of cost than a dedicated line or a public line. However, in a wide area purchasing method and apparatus using a communication line, there is information that requires security management, such as credit card information. From the standpoint of security management easiness or certainty, it is preferable to use only the dedicated line 1 or the public line 3 for the central server 10, the regional server 12, and the user terminal 14.

The present invention can be effectively applied to the above-described embodiment. Therefore, regardless of the limited processing speed of the central server and the transmission speed of the communication line, the response speed of providing information to the buyer and collecting information on subsequent operations is improved, and the quality of service to the buyer is improved, The capacity of the number of users can be increased.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a wide area purchasing method and apparatus using a communication line according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in this figure, the present embodiment has a central server 10, a regional server 12, a user terminal 14,
And an artificial satellite 16. The central server 10 is connected to the business entity 20. Regional server 12
Are connected to the financial institution 22 as needed.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the user terminal used in the present embodiment.

In this embodiment, the user terminal 14 is provided with an STB (set top box (set to box) having the configuration shown in FIG.
p box) type terminal). The ST
B has the following functions.

That is, first, as shown in FIG. 4, the STB comprises a built-in line connection modem 54 for connecting to the regional server 12 and an interface for enabling operation on a television screen of the display device 56. It has an application 58, a large-capacity hard disk device 66 capable of storing received data, an operation panel 62, and a remote-control-type operation panel 64 capable of performing the same operation as the operation panel 62.

Interface application 58
Consists of predetermined hardware and software,
It controls the broadcast receiving unit 52, the line connection built-in modem 54, the display device 56, and the hard disk device 66. or,
The interface application 58 enables selection of display items and input of characters while displaying satellite broadcast programs to be described later and information from the built-in line connection modem 54 on the screen of the display device 56. The result can be transmitted by the built-in line connection modem 54.
The operation panels 62 and 64 are used as operation panels for the interface application 58 described above.

Further, the STB is a broadcast receiver 52 for receiving a satellite digital broadcast on a television receiver of a normal terrestrial broadcast, a screen of a display device 56 and a speaker.
Function. The satellite digital broadcasting may be broadcast from the artificial satellite 16 (the artificial satellite 16 is shared by the communication line provision in the present invention and the satellite digital broadcasting). When receiving a satellite digital broadcast, the large-capacity hard disk device can store audio and video of the received broadcast.

In recent years, communication satellites similar to those broadcasted by broadcasting satellites have been provided. This is also considered to be a form of broadcasting.

Further, a request for broadcasting or the like can be made by the above-mentioned built-in modem for line connection, an interface application, and an operation panel or a remote control operation panel. In this case, the built-in line connection modem 54
Is connected to the server of the above-mentioned satellite broadcasting station. For example, while watching a broadcast and a data broadcast simultaneously by an interface application, the pointer is moved and selected on the data broadcast portion, and the selected content is automatically transmitted via a modem. For example, it is automatically transmitted to a server of a broadcasting station via a modem.

The business entity 20 is a main computer or the like installed in an organization that operates a wide area purchasing method and apparatus using the communication line of the present embodiment. The business entity 20
When the present embodiment is applied to the sale of betting tickets and other voting tickets for public gambling, for example, a main computer installed in an organization that performs such business.

In the present embodiment, the regional server 12 does not go through the central server 10 and performs the settlement of the purchase price for sales. Therefore, when a product is purchased at the connected user terminal 14, the local server 12 to which the user terminal 14 is connected is connected to the local server 12 via the public line 3.
Such purchase account settlement is performed by the financial institution 22 directly connected to the financial institution or the financial institution 22 connected to another regional server 12. The financial institution 22 is an institution that can pay out the price of the product, and is an institution that provides other similar services such as a bank, a credit company, and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.

The central server 10 and the regional server 12, the business entity 20 and the central server 10, and the regional server 12 and the financial institution 22 are almost always connected by the dedicated line 1. The local server 12 and the user terminal 14 are basically connected by the public line 3 only when purchasing.

Further, the artificial satellite 16 is a communication satellite, a broadcasting satellite, or the like, and is used when transmitting information from the central server 10 to the regional server 12 or from the central server 10 to the user terminal 14. Used when transmitting.

The artificial satellite 16 provides a satellite communication line (wireless communication line). When the dedicated line 1 or the public line 3 cannot be used due to a disaster or a failure, the artificial satellite 16 This is used when there is some kind of disaster or failure in the regional server 12 through which information is transmitted. That is, the wired line such as the terrestrial dedicated line 1 or the public line 3 can be complemented by the satellite communication line (wireless communication line) using the artificial satellite 16.

Alternatively, even if there is no such disaster or obstacle, the transmission speed is usually higher through the artificial satellite 16. Utilizing such characteristics, software (digital) such as image information, audio information such as music performances to be sold, video and audio information such as movies, and programs such as entertainment game software and business software. Information). In this case, the download is the delivery of a product (a product of digitized information) to the purchaser.

Hereinafter, online charging and settlement in this embodiment will be described.

Online billing and settlement are based on purchase information transmitted to the financial institution 22 with which the business entity 20 is affiliated.
This can be done by automatic debit. The purchase information transmitted from the user's user terminal 14 to the regional server 12 is sorted at the user terminal 14 for each designated financial institution.

Then, the balance of the designated account is checked online, and if the balance is insufficient, confirmation information is automatically returned to the user. If the balance is OK, debit immediately, and the business entity 20
The request data to be remitted to the designated account is generated with the data layout designated by the bank. The automatic debit itself is an existing function of the bank, and the data layout (F
According to B).

When the product to be sold is a voting ticket of a public gambling, it is possible to automatically settle the prize money of the voting ticket.

In this case, first, at the time of purchasing a betting ticket, the buyer information of the present invention is information including the quantity of the ticket type of the betting ticket purchased by the buyer. The user total information is information including the total data of the ticket types of the quantity. The sales product information includes odds total results calculated based on the user total information transmitted to the central server 10.

Then, at the time of settlement, the central server 10 transmits to the regional server 12 via the dedicated line 1 prize dividend information necessary for determining the presence or absence of the prize of the voting ticket purchased by the buyer and the amount. . The form of the prize payout information is not particularly limited. If the prize payout information is information on the ticket type of the voting ticket, the local server 12 can calculate the presence or absence of the prize and the amount of the voting ticket purchased by the buyer from the information. In addition, the settlement of the prize money of the voting ticket determined based on the prize dividend information is provided exclusively to the financial institution 22 having the buyer's account by the regional server 12 used when the buyer purchases the voting ticket. Line 1
Can be done via

Next, the function of the regional server 12 will be described.

The regional server 12 has a function of distributing information from the user. With this function, information is transmitted / received to / from the central server 10, the financial institution 22, and the user terminal 14 of the user.

For example, in the present embodiment, when handling the purchase of betting tickets and other public gambling betting tickets, the regional server 12 aggregates total data of buyer information such as the quantity and amount of ticket types of the purchased betting tickets. Do. Normally, the counting is performed for each ticket type of the betting ticket. The user total information thus obtained is transmitted to the central server 10 immediately.
For example, tallying is performed once a minute or the like, and transmitted to the central server 10 at fixed time intervals. Then the central server 10
Then, based on the user total information sent from each regional server 12, for example, odds total is performed. The counting and transmission processes as described above are automatically executed according to a task schedule programmed in advance. In addition, the reason why the counting and transmission are performed at such a frequency is that immediacy such as the counting of odds in the central server 10 is required.

Note that the above-mentioned odds tally can be used as sales product information of the present invention. The odds may be sent to the user terminal 14 of the user via the artificial satellite 16 or the regional server 12 and displayed on the television screen. Alternatively, such sales merchandise information may be provided by a satellite broadcast provided by the artificial satellite 16 to a satellite broadcast receiver that is viewed by the purchaser. That is, a certain kind of program broadcast including such sales merchandise information is performed.

Further, the regional server 12 performs batch transmission of individual purchase data. This individual purchase data,
Information about the betting ticket of a public gambling, such as a betting ticket, purchased by each user of the user is information such as the quantity and amount of the ticket type and is buyer detailed information. Information that is not immediately required by the central server 10 but has an obligation to store and accumulate (eg, legal obligation) by the business entity 20 can be obtained by a pre-programmed task schedule, such as once a day at night. Automatic batch transmission.

The present invention does not particularly limit the arrangement position and the number of arrangements of the regional server 12. However, considering that the usage fee of the public line 3 depends on the distance, from the viewpoint of the convenience of the connection of the user terminal 14, the regional servers 12 are distributed and arranged in consideration of the distribution of users nationwide. It is desirable to do. Also, from the viewpoint of reducing service stoppage in the event of a disaster, the local server 12
It is desirable to distribute them appropriately all over the country. Alternatively, the regional server 12 may be provided for each financial institution 22 when the financial institutions 22 are dispersed throughout the country or when there are many transactions depending on the financial institution 22.

Next, the function of the central server 10 will be described.

The central server 10 immediately reflects the total data transmitted from the regional total server on the existing system. The central server 10 accumulates and stores individual data transmitted in batches.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the present invention can be effectively applied. Therefore, regardless of the limited processing speed of the central server and the transmission speed of the communication line, the response speed of providing information to the buyer and collecting information on subsequent operations is improved, and the quality of service to the buyer is improved, The capacity of the number of users can be increased.

In this embodiment, the central computer, which is the central server 10 directly connected to the business entity, and the regional aggregation computer, which is the regional server 12 which is provided over a wide area, perform distributed processing of purchase information of users. Can be. As a result, it is possible to perform purchase processing that requires immediacy, such as public gambling, over a wide area on a nationwide scale. Further, between the central server 10 and the regional server 12, not only the existing large-capacity wired line can be used, but also the data communication unit of the satellite line by the artificial satellite 16 can complement each other, so that the security and the stability are high. We can provide a purchasing mechanism. Furthermore, by connecting the regional server 12 and the computer of the affiliated financial institution, which is the financial institution 22, online, it is possible to make an immediate settlement according to the user's account balance.

The present embodiment has the following functions.

1. With the distributed arrangement of the regional servers, the load on the central server can be significantly reduced. This reduces the need to limit the number of users and allows users (=
Members) can be dramatically increased.

2. By increasing the number of regular members, fraudulent purchases can be prevented. For example, when dealing with betting tickets and other public gambling betting tickets, the number of users that can be registered can be increased as compared with the conventional PAT system, and all applicants can be registered.

3. Dedicated line 1 and public line 3 without passing through an open network such as the Internet
Alternatively, only a closed communication network can be used. By doing so, security can be easily and reliably ensured.

4. A 10 Mbps class large capacity downlink satellite data broadcasting line can be used. Therefore, download of not only character information but also game program software and music software is performed in a short time.

5. Since it is linked with the charging system based on the automatic balance inquiry, it is possible to save the trouble of purchasing by the user and to collect the payment of the business entity reliably and promptly.

6. By organically combining the three types of information paths, normal broadcast, data broadcast, and communication,
A more attractive service for the user can be provided. For example, the tallying of odds in public betting obtained by the local server 12 is provided by a broadcast combined organically, for example, a satellite broadcast by an artificial satellite 16, together with a wide area purchasing method and apparatus using a communication line to which the present invention is applied. It will also be easier to do. Alternatively, when the present invention is applied to software sales of music, movies, and game programs, the number of sales may be used as the number of popular votes, and the information on the number of popular votes may be provided through another route.

7. Between the central server and the regional aggregation server, not only can the existing large-capacity wired line be used, but also a backup circuit can be formed using the data communication unit of the satellite line (mutual complement).

8. By developing a wide-area information infrastructure and providing attractive contents that can be enjoyed by local elderly people, etc., it will contribute to the promotion of regional informationization.

Further, the following items can be provided as additional items.

9. In the present embodiment, for example, when selling betting tickets and other voting tickets for public gambling are also handled, the refund can also be made online. Furthermore, it can also be used for the purchase price after the next race.

10. You can also set a purchase limit. For example, a purchase limit per time or a purchase limit per day can be provided.

11. Set the limit for the number of applications. For example, a limit on the number of applications per day or a limit on the number of applications per clause can be provided.

12. The bank account may be dedicated to the purchasing system. For example, accounts can be locked for a certain period of time.

13. In this embodiment, for example, when selling betting tickets and other public gambling voting tickets, the voting deadline may be two minutes before the scheduled start time of each competition.

14. When dealing with the purchase and sale of second-hand goods, the user may be able to register a sale product using the user terminal 14.

[0086]

According to the present invention, regardless of the limited processing speed of the central server and the transmission speed of the communication line, the response speed of providing information to the purchaser and collecting information on subsequent operations is improved. It is possible to improve the quality of service for users and increase the capacity of the number of users.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a wide-area purchasing method and apparatus using a communication line according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a wide area purchasing method and apparatus using a communication line according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a wide area purchasing method and apparatus using a communication line according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a user terminal used in the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Dedicated line 2, 4 ... Network 3 ... Public line 10 ... Central server 12 ... Regional server 14 ... User terminal 16 ... Artificial satellite 20 ... Business entity 22 ... Financial institution

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/60 332 G06F 17/60 332

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A central server provides sales merchandise information to a user terminal using a satellite communication line, and a purchaser takes a purchase procedure of a merchandise based on the sales merchandise information displayed on a screen of the user terminal. In the case, the user terminal transmits the purchaser information of the purchaser, and the regional server obtains the user total information by totalizing the purchaser information from the user terminal obtained through the communication line. The user tally information is transmitted to the central server via a communication line, and the regional server places an order for a product to a product handler without going through the central server, and performs settlement of a purchase price. Wide-area purchasing method using communication lines.