JP2002063533A - Device and method for supporting settlment of trade - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To speedily and efficiently perform the settlement of trade while reducing the risks of exporter and importer. SOLUTION: When an exporter applies for the use of settlement support service for trade that e-Document Escrow provides (refer to (1)), the e-Document Escrow sets a use number and notifies the exporter of it (2), and receives an electronic trade document from the exporter through a specific registration and authentication agent ((3) and (4)). The e-Document Escrow notifies the exporter of the arrival of the electronic trade document together with the use number 3754/247) and allows the importer to browse the electronic trade document ((8) and (9). The importer instructs a financial institution to carry out the settlement and when the financial institution reports the completion of the settlement ((10), (11), and (12), the e-Document Escrow sends the electronic trade document to the importer through the specific registration and authentication institution ((13) and (14)).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method, and a recording medium for settling a trade transaction, and more particularly to a settlement support apparatus for a trade transaction that supports settlement of a trade transaction, and is applicable to the settlement support apparatus for the trade transaction. The present invention relates to a method for supporting settlement of a trade transaction and a recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to function as a settlement support device for the trade transaction is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a trade transaction, negotiations are started between exporters (also called shippers) or inquiries from importers (also called buyers) to exporters, and quality and quantity are traded. -It is started when both parties agree on various conditions such as price and delivery date and conclude a sales contract. Once a sales contract has been concluded, the exporter will be required to submit an invoice (invoice), packing list (packing list), certificate (eg certificate of origin), dock receipt (receipt of freight), bill of lading or bill of lading. Air Way Building (Air
Way Bill), arrange various trade documents such as insurance policies, and organize the trade documents.

[0003] The exporter checks the contents of these trade documents and collects them and sends them to the importer directly or to the importer via the bank of export and the bank of import. The importer checks the contents of the various trade documents received and passes them to a customs broker, who then presents the received trade documents to insurance companies, shipping companies, customs, and the like. As a result, the imported goods can be picked up, and the imported goods are transported to a warehouse, a factory, or an end user.

[0004]

By the way, in the field of trade transactions, sales contracts are often made on computer networks such as the Internet for the purpose of speeding up trade transactions and improving the efficiency of trade transactions. In addition, trade EDI: for example, the known bolero (B
(olero International Limited) and the like, the exchange of trade documents between parties involved in trade transactions via a computer network is also being considered. However,
The current situation is that trade transactions are settled using traditional methods, which is an obstacle to speeding up trade transactions and improving business efficiency.

[0005] For example, in a settlement method using a letter of credit (hereinafter referred to as L / C), which is one of the settlement methods in trade transactions, it is ensured by the L / C that the importer has the ability to pay. Therefore, the exporter is freed from the risk of not being able to collect payments from the importer (collection risk), and the contents of the trade documents passed from the exporter to the importer via the bank in advance. By being confirmed by a bank, etc., the importer is released from the risk that goods may not be able to be received due to inconsistencies in the received trade documents (goods receipt risk). There is an advantage. However, the settlement using L / C has a problem in that the paperwork is very complicated, which hinders the speed of trade transactions and the efficiency of business.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and reduces the risk of exporters and importers, and facilitates the settlement of trade transactions quickly and efficiently. The purpose is to obtain an apparatus, a method and a recording medium.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a settlement support apparatus for trade transactions according to the first aspect of the present invention is provided in an environment where at least an exporter and an importer each have a client computer. , A trade transaction settlement support device realized by a server computer communicable with each client computer,
Storage means for storing information; and an electronic trade document received from the exporter via the client computer in the storage means, updating of the electronic trade document and removal from the storage means are prohibited, and import Electronic trade document management means for outputting, to the client computer, information representing the contents of the electronic trade document instructed by the user when the user instructs the user to view the electronic trade document via the client computer; When the completion is detected, the prohibition of taking out the electronic trade document by the electronic trade document management means is released, and the sending means for taking out the electronic trade document stored in the storage means and sending it to the importer is provided. It is comprised including.

[0008] The invention described in claim 1 is realized by a server computer that can communicate with each client computer in an environment where at least the exporter and the importer each have a client computer.
The invention according to claim 1 further comprises storage means for storing information, wherein the electronic trade document management means stores the electronic trade document received from the exporter via the client computer in the storage means, Renewal of the electronic trade documents and removal from the storage means are prohibited. As a result, the contents of the electronic trade document stored (stored) in the storage means are not rewritten by an unrelated person, so that the electronic trade document stored in the storage means is treated as the original of the trade document. It becomes possible.

The electronic trade documents according to the present invention are information representing trade documents necessary for an importer to receive imported goods, such as a bill of lading or an air way building, an insurance policy, an invoice, and packing. -Information representing at least one of trade documents such as a list, shipping instruction, certificate, booking request, dock receipt, insurance request, and the like.

Since the electronic trade documents received from the exporter are, for example, information having security that can receive imported goods, a predetermined registration / certification organization (electronic authentication and document originality ( Trade EDI, which ensures integrity and authenticity, and also controls the ownership of documents:
For example, it is desirable to receive via a known bolero (Bolero International Limited) or TEDI which will be put into practical use in the future. As a result, it is possible to receive the electronic trade documents safely and securely, and to manage the ownership of the electronic trade documents with a predetermined registration / certification body as a third party (specifically, control the registration and transfer of the ownership). , It is possible to fairly manage the transfer of ownership, etc., associated with the transmission and reception of electronic trade documents.

The electronic trade document management means, when the importer instructs to view the electronic trade document via the client computer, sends information representing the contents of the electronic trade document to which the browse is instructed to the client computer. Output. Thereby, the importer can receive information indicating the contents of the electronic trade documents by instructing the settlement support apparatus for trade transactions according to the present invention to browse the electronic trade documents via the client computer. The information is output by an output device provided in the client computer, so that the contents of the electronic trade documents can be viewed before the payment is settled to confirm whether the goods according to the sales contract are packed. Can reduce the risk of importers receiving goods.

Further, the transmission means according to the first aspect of the present invention cancels the prohibition of taking out the electronic trade document by the electronic trade document management means upon detecting that the settlement of the payment is completed, and stores the electronic trade document in the storage means. Take out the electronic trading documents and send them to the importer. As a result, the electronic trade documents are not given to the importer before the payment is settled, so that the risk of the exporter collecting the payment can be reduced.

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, as described above, the electronic trade document stored in the storage means can be handled as the original of the trade document. Exporter keeps trade documents (trade documents recorded on paper and signed to prove that they are original or different from originals) and exports the retained trade documents at an appropriate time There is no need to perform complicated paperwork such as handing over to the importer. Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the risk of the exporter and the importer and to settle the trade transaction quickly and efficiently.

In the invention described in claim 1, the electronic trade document management means reads the electronic trade document instructed to be browsed from the storage means and stores the read electronic trade document as described in claim 2, for example. It is preferable that the contents of the electronic trade document are processed into information that can be confirmed and that it is easily recognizable that it is not the original, and the processed information is output as information representing the contents of the electronic trade document. Examples of information that can confirm the contents of the electronic trade documents and easily recognize that they are not originals include characters indicating that they are not originals (for example, “copy”, “copy”, and “copy”) on the trade documents. Information that shows the combined text, information that shows mosaic or concealed part of the trade document, information that uses digital watermarking technology to indicate that it is not the original, and that is embedded in the electronic trade document. No.

[0015] Thus, by outputting the above information when the browsing is instructed, the importer can receive the imported goods without performing payment based on the information obtained by browsing the electronic trade documents. It is possible to prevent fraudulent actions such as performing such actions, and it is possible to surely reduce the risk of the exporter collecting the money.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when an electronic trade document is received from a exporter via a client computer, the importer is notified that the electronic trade document has been received. It is characterized by further comprising a first notification means.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when the electronic trade document is received from the exporter, the importer is notified by the first notification means that the electronic trade document has been received. There is no need to perform paperwork such as requesting payment of the price, so that the paperwork of the exporter can be further reduced, and the payment by the importer can be started more quickly.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the server computer is communicable with a client computer possessed by a clearing house, and the transmitting means transmits and receives the payment. It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not the payment has been completed based on whether or not the completion has been notified from the settlement institution via the client computer.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the completion of the payment is notified through the client computer of the clearing house, so that the completion of the payment can be recognized at an early stage. The electronic trade documents can be sent to the importer quickly after the settlement of the payment is completed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, upon detecting that the settlement of the price is completed,
A second notifying means for notifying the exporter that the settlement of the price has been completed is provided.

In the invention described in claim 5, when the completion of the settlement of the price is detected, the second notifying means notifies the exporter of the completion of the settlement of the price. It is no longer necessary to carry out paperwork such as notifying that payment has been made, and the paperwork by the importer can be further reduced.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a settlement support method for a trade transaction, wherein at least an exporter and an importer each have a client computer, and the server computer is capable of communicating with each client computer. A method for supporting settlement of a trade transaction, wherein the electronic trade document received from an exporter via a client computer is stored in a storage unit for storing information, and the electronic trade document is updated and stored. While prohibiting the retrieval from the importer, via the client computer from the importer, when instructed to browse the electronic trade documents, output the information indicating the contents of the electronic trade documents instructed to browse to the client computer, When it detects that the payment has been completed, the prohibition on removal of electronic trade documents is lifted. Since the electronic trade document stored in the storage means is taken out and transmitted to the importer, the risk of the exporter and the importer is reduced, and the settlement of the trade transaction is performed quickly and similarly to the invention according to claim 1. It can be performed efficiently.

The recording medium according to the invention described in claim 7 is a recording medium in which at least an exporter and an importer each have a client computer.
A recording medium in which a program for causing a server computer capable of communicating with a computer to execute a predetermined process is recorded, wherein the predetermined process is an electronic trade document received from an exporter via a client computer,
The information is stored in a storage means for storing the information, the updating of the electronic trade document and the removal from the storage means are prohibited, and when the importer is instructed to view the electronic trade document via the client computer, the browsing is performed. Is a first step of outputting information indicating the contents of the designated electronic trade document to the client computer. When the completion of the payment is detected, the prohibition of taking out the electronic trade document is released, and the storage means is stored in the storage means. A second step of retrieving the stored electronic trade document and transmitting it to the importer.

The recording medium according to the invention of claim 7 includes:
The program including the first and second steps, that is, a program for causing a computer to function as the settlement support apparatus for trade transactions according to claim 1, is recorded on the recording medium by the server computer. Reading and executing the read program, wherein:
As with the described invention, it is possible to reduce risks for exporters and importers, and to settle trade transactions quickly and efficiently.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a computer system 10 according to the present embodiment.

The computer system 10 includes a client computer 12 (hereinafter, simply referred to as a client 12) owned by an exporter and an importer who are involved in the trade transaction, and a trade transaction between the exporter and the importer. E-Documents Escrow (e-Documents Escrow)
Docu Es), a computer 14 (hereinafter simply referred to as a server 14), a computer 16 installed in a settlement department of a financial institution, and a computer 18 installed in a predetermined registration / certification institution. And a computer 20 installed in a predetermined certification organization, and the Internet 22 for interconnecting these computers.

In this embodiment, e-Docu Es is provided in a financial institution as a division of the financial institution.
The server 14 of Docu Es is directly connected to the computer 16 of the settlement department of the financial institution, but e-Docu Es may be an independent organization from the financial institution.

The clients 12 owned by the parties involved in the trade transaction are, for example, personal computers (P
C) and the like. Hereinafter, the configuration will be described by taking the client 12 possessed by the exporter as an example. That is, the client 12 includes the CPU 12A, the ROM 1
2B, a RAM 12C, and an input / output port 12D, and these are buses 12 such as an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus.
They are connected to each other via E.

The input / output port 12D has a display 2 comprising a CRT or LCD as various input / output devices.
6, a mouse 28, a keyboard 30, a hard disk drive (HDD) 32, a printer 34, a CD-ROM drive 38 for reading information from a CD-ROM 36, and a communication control device (for example, a modem or a router) 40 are connected to each other. . The display 26 and the printer 3
Reference numeral 4 corresponds to the output device according to the present invention. The communication control device 40 is connected to the Internet 22, and the client 12 can communicate with other computers constituting the computer system 10 via the Internet 22. The client 12 has, for example, C
A browser (browsing software) read from the D-ROM 36 or the like is installed in the HDD 32 in advance.

The server 14 installed in e-Docu Es
Can be composed of, for example, a workstation. The server 14 includes a CPU 14A, a ROM 14B, and a RAM.
14C and an input / output port 14D, which are connected to each other via a bus 14E such as an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus. The input / output port 14D includes, as various input / output devices, a communication control device (for example, a modem or a router) 42, a display 44, a mouse 46, which is connected to the Internet 22 and connected to the computer 16 of the settlement department of the financial institution. A keyboard 48, an HDD 50 as storage means of the present invention, and a CD-ROM drive 54 for reading information from the CD-ROM 52 are connected to each other.

E-Docu Es supports the settlement of trade transactions between exporters and importers. Specifically, e-Docu Es settles electronic trade documents obtained by digitizing various documents (trade documents) related to trade transactions. By providing a service that performs processing such as delivery or confirmation of settlement completion (settlement support processing according to the present invention; details will be described later) by the server 14, exporters and importers in the settlement business of trade transactions are provided. It is an organization that reduces risks and reduces the cumbersome processing of exporters and importers. In the server 14, a payment support program for executing the payment support processing by the server 14 is installed in the HDD 50. The server 14 corresponds to the server computer of the present invention.
By executing the settlement support program by 4A, it becomes possible to function as the settlement support device for trade transactions of the present invention.

There are several methods for installing (transferring) the payment support program into the server 14, and for example, the payment support program is installed together with the setup program in C
Recorded in the D-ROM 52, the CD-ROM 52 is set in the CD-ROM drive 54 of the server 14,
When the execution of the setup program is instructed to the U14A, the payment support program is sequentially read from the CD-ROM 52, and the read payment support program is sequentially written to the HDD 50, so that the installation of the payment support program is performed. Will be In the above aspect,
The CD-ROM 52 corresponds to the recording medium of the present invention.

Exporters and importers who use e-Docu Es to settle trade transactions must be aware of the e-Docu Es Terms of Use, and Apply for registration as. In the e-Docu Es that has received the registration application, the registration ID and password are assigned to the applicant, and the assigned registration ID and password are notified to the applicant. Also,
A user information database (DB) is stored in the HDD 50 of the server 14, and e-Docu Es newly registers
Information about the user assigned D (registration ID, password, user name, type (exporter / importer), contact information, etc.) is registered in the user information DB.

Further, the predetermined registration / certification organization according to the present embodiment secures the security, certainty, originality of the documents, and possesses the documents in the transmission and reception of the electronic trade documents between the parties involved in the trade transaction. Is a third-party organization established to manage the rights, etc., for example, the well-known Bolero
rnational Limited).

In this embodiment, an exporter and an importer who settle trade transactions using e-Docu Es are also members of a predetermined registration / certification organization. When sending electronic trade documents, the sender of the electronic trade documents (eg, exporter or e-Docu E
s) designates the destination of the electronic trade document (for example, e-Docu Es or importer) and specifies the computer 1
When the electronic trade documents are transmitted to 8, the transmitted electronic trade documents are sent to a designated destination via a predetermined registration / certification organization. At this time, the computer 18 of the predetermined registration / certification institution performs processes such as electronic authentication (performing electronic verification of identity), encryption, and checking the originality of electronic trade documents, thereby ensuring security, certainty, and security. The originality of electronic trade documents is secured. As a result, the receiving side of the electronic trade document can handle the received electronic trade document as a regular trade document (original).

When the registration of a person having ownership of a specific electronic trade document is instructed, the computer 18 of the predetermined registration / certification organization sends the specified person to the specific electronic trade document. Remember as the owner of. When a specific party who is the owner of a specific electronic trade document transmits the specific electronic trade document to a predetermined registration / certification body by designating another party as a destination, the specific electronic trade document When requesting a prescribed registration / certification body to transfer the ownership of the document to the other concerned, the prescribed registration / certification
The certification authority computer 18 manages the transfer of ownership by rewriting the owner of a particular electronic trade document to the other party. As a result, it is possible to fairly manage the transfer of ownership, etc., associated with the transmission and reception of electronic trade documents.

Further, in this embodiment, the exporter and the importer who settle trade transactions using e-Docu Es are also members of a predetermined certification organization (a well-known organization that performs electronic certification and the like). When information other than electronic trade documents is transmitted and received between e-Docu Es and parties involved in trade transactions, a prescribed certification body is used. When sending information other than electronic trade documents, the sender of the information specifies the destination and transmits the information to the computer 20 of the predetermined certification organization. The transmitted information is sent to the specified destination via the predetermined certification organization. Is done. At this time, the computer 20 of the predetermined certification organization performs processing such as electronic authentication and encryption, so that information other than electronic trade documents can be transmitted and received safely and reliably.

In this embodiment, a predetermined registration / certification organization is used only for sending and receiving electronic trade documents, but it goes without saying that a predetermined registration / certification organization may be used for sending / receiving all information. No. Further, another computer network may be used instead of the Internet 22.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. A trade contract is concluded between the exporter and the importer. (The paperwork leading to the conclusion of the trade contract may be performed electronically using the Internet 22 or by mail, telephone, facsimile, etc. Exporters may use electronic means to transmit various trade documents such as invoices, packing lists, certificates, dock receipts, bills of lading or air way bills, insurance policies, etc. Arrangement of the creation of trade documents into related parties (for example, customs brokers (also called forwarders), shipping companies or air cargo handling companies, insurance companies, etc.), compiling these trade documents, and the contents of individual electronic trade documents Is checked to see if the contents are consistent, and if necessary, the related parties are requested to correct the trade documents, thereby finalizing the contents of the trade documents.

In addition, as a result of consultation with the importer, if it is agreed that the settlement business support service by e-Docu Es will be used for settlement of trade transactions, the exporter will accept e-Docu Es Apply for e-Docu Es to use the settlement service support service. That is, the exporter's paperworker is the HDD 32 of the client 12.
Starts the browser stored in
E-Docu Es home page stored in D50
ED by setting RL (Uniform Resource Locator)
Access ocu Es.

In the e-Docu Es server 14, if there is any external access, the settlement support processing shown in FIG.
Performed by U14A. In this settlement support process,
First, in step 100, the contents of an external access are determined, and the process branches depending on the determination result. If the external access is a web page (homepage) access, the process proceeds from step 100 to step 102, where the e-Do
A registration ID input request screen (web page), which is a homepage of cu Es, is read from the HDD 50 and distributed to the access source (exporter in this case) client 12 via the Internet 18.

Thus, the registration ID input request screen is displayed by the browser on the display 26 of the client 12 of the access source (in this case, the exporter). This registration ID input request screen displays the e-Docu Es user
Input fields for inputting the registration ID and password notified by u Es are provided, and a message requesting the user to input the registration ID and password is displayed. In the next step 104, it is determined whether or not the registration ID and the password have been received from the access source client 12, and the process waits until the determination is affirmed.

The exporter's paperworker is the client 1.
When the registered ID and password notified by e-Docu Es are input by operating the keyboard 30 of No. 2, the input registered ID and password are transmitted to the server 14 via the Internet 18, and the server 14 transmits the registered ID and password. By receiving the information, the determination in step 104 described above is affirmed, and the process proceeds to step 106.

In step 106, the registration ID and password received from the access source client 12 are
It is determined whether or not it is registered in the user information DB stored in D50. If this determination is denied, it can be determined that this access is not from a legitimate user, and an error screen displaying an error message is delivered to the access source client 12 via the Internet 18 (step 108). ), End the settlement support processing. By the above process, other than the authorized user, e-Do
Unauthorized use of the cu Es service,
Falsification of various information stored in the DD 50 is prevented.

On the other hand, if the received registration ID and password are registered in the user information DB, it can be determined that the current access is an access from an authorized user. The screen (web page) is read from the HDD 50 and the Internet 1
8 to the client 12 of the access source (exporter in this case). Thus, the menu screen is displayed on the display 26 of the client 12 by the browser.

On this menu screen, the names of services provided by e-Docu Es are displayed in a list, and a message requesting the user to select a desired service is also displayed. In the next step 112, it is determined whether or not any service (processing to be executed) is selected, and the process waits until the determination is affirmed.

For example, the user operates the mouse 28 of the client 12 and clicks on the menu screen where the name of the service to be used (a process for requesting execution of e-Docu Es) is displayed. When the service is selected, the information indicating the selection result is transmitted to the server 14 via the Internet 18, and the server 14 receives the information indicating the selection result, so that the determination in step 112 is affirmed. In the next steps 114 and 116, the content of the selected processing is determined, and in step 118, step 120, or step 122, processing according to the determination result is performed.

The menu screen distributed from e-Docu Es to the user and the various screens distributed when the user selects a specific service are described in detail for the clerical worker and the manager. There are two types of screens, and various operations performed by the clerk in reference to the clerk's screen displayed on the display 26 are displayed on the display 26 for the clerk's screen. The processing (for example, transmission of information) is executed after approval of the official who has confirmed the operation content with reference to.

[0049] For a specific trade transaction, an application to use e-Docu Es' settlement service support service is submitted to e-Docu.
In the case of Es, the exporter's business clerk clicks on the corresponding part on the menu screen (for example, the part indicated as "use application"). In step 114 of the settlement support process (FIG. 2), it is determined whether the selected process is “use application”. When the above operation is performed, the determination in step 114 is affirmed, and in step 118, the use application process is performed. Processing is performed.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the use application process, first, in step 150, information about the current user is extracted from the user information DB using the registration ID input by the user as a key, and It is determined whether the type of the exporter (user) is an exporter. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 152, where the error screen displaying the error message is distributed to the access source client 12 via the Internet 18, and the process ends.

On the other hand, if the determination in step 150 is affirmative, the flow shifts to step 154 to read the usage information input screen (web page) from the HDD 50 and to access the client (ie, exporter) 12 via the Internet 18. Distribute to Thus, the use information input screen is displayed on the display 26 of the exporter's client 12 by the browser.

The use information input screen includes an importer name in a specific trade transaction using the settlement business support service,
An e-mail address for sending an e-mail to the importer,
A plurality of input fields are provided for inputting usage information consisting of multiple types of information such as the settlement amount in a specific trade transaction and the contract number of a sales contract, and a message requesting the exporter to input usage information is also provided. Is displayed. In the next step 156, it is determined whether or not the usage information has been received, and the process waits until the determination is affirmed.

The exporter's paperworker is the client 1
When the usage information is input by operating the second keyboard 30 or the like, the input usage information is transmitted to the server 14 via the Internet 18 (see also FIG. 5A), and the server 14 receives the usage information. , The determination at step 156 is affirmed, and the routine goes to step 158. In step 158, the received usage information is stored in the HDD 50.

In step 160, a use number (this use number also functions as a browsing password as described later) is set for a specific trade transaction for which the use of the settlement business support service is applied. In step 162, a storage area for storing electronic trade documents received from the exporter is secured in the storage space of the HDD 50, and the secured storage area is associated with the use number set in step 160. In step 162, H
The use information stored in the DD 50 is also associated with the use number at the same time. Then, in the next step 164, step 16
The information for notifying the exporter of the use number set at 0 is transmitted to the exporter's client 12 via the Internet 18 (see also FIG. 5 (2)), and the use application process is terminated.

By being notified of the use number from the server 14 of e-Docu Es, the paperworker of the exporter can recognize that the use of the settlement business support service has been accepted for the specific trade transaction. it can. And the HDD 32
In order to deposit the electronic trade documents stored in the e-Docu Es into the e-Docu Es, the exporter's paperworker uses the electronic trade documents stored in the HDD 32 as the original trade documents together with the notified use number. A predetermined registration / certification institution is requested to transmit to the e-Docu Es server 14 (see also FIG. 5 (3)).

Thus, the e-Docu Es server 1 is transmitted from the exporter client 12 to the e-Docu Es server 18 via the computer 18 of the predetermined registration / certification organization.
4 (see also FIG. 5 (4)), and the ownership of the electronic trade documents is transferred from the exporter to e-Docu Es at the same time.

When the e-Docu Es server 14 receives the electronic trade document from the exporter via a predetermined registration / certification institution, the e-Docu Es server 14 determines in step 100 of the settlement support processing that the content of the external access indicates the reception of the external information. Then, the process proceeds to step 126. Then, step 126
Then, the content of the received information is determined, and the process branches according to the content of the information. If the received information is an electronic trade document, the process moves from step 126 to step 128, and based on the use number received together with the electronic trade document, the HDD 50
Identify (recognize) the corresponding storage area provided in.

In the next step 130, the received electronic trade document is stored in the storage area of the HDD 50 specified in step 128 (see FIG. 5 (5)), and updating and taking out of the content of the stored electronic trade document is prohibited. (Lock). As a result, electronic trade documents received from the exporter will
E-Docu without content being updated or retrieved
It is stored in the HDD 50 of the Es server 14. In step 130, information notifying the exporter that the electronic trade document has been received is transmitted to the exporter client 12 (see also FIG. 5 (6)). Thereby, the paperworker of the exporter can recognize that the electronic trade document previously transmitted has been normally received by e-Docu Es.

At step 132, using the usage number received together with the electronic trade document as a key, the corresponding usage information is
For the importer who has read from DD50 and the importer name is set in the read usage information, (1) electronic trade documents are sent to eD
Arrival at ocu Es, (2) sending electronic trading documents as original trade documents in exchange for settlement, (3) browsing password (use number) for viewing electronic trading documents, (4) documents Create an e-mail for notifying items such as an authentication code for confirming the originality of (5) validity period (number of days until settlement date). Then, in step 134, the created electronic mail is transmitted by designating the mail address of the importer (see also FIG. 5 (7)), and the settlement support processing is ended. Steps 132 and 134 correspond to the first notification unit of the present invention.

The e-mail transmitted from the e-Docu Es server 14 is received by the importer's client 12 via the Internet 22. Importer clerk is e-Do
When detecting that an e-mail has been received from cu Es, the contents of the received e-mail are confirmed to recognize the above-mentioned notification items (1) to (5), respectively. Prior to the execution of the settlement of the trade transaction, the importer operates the client 12 of the importer to check the contents of the electronic trade documents that have arrived at e-Docu Es and are stored on the e-Docu Es homepage. to access.

Thus, as described above, the e-Do
In the server 14 of cu Es, the processing after the step 102 of the settlement support processing is executed, so that a registration ID input request screen is displayed on the display 26 of the client 12 of the importer, and 1
By operating the second keyboard 30 and inputting the registration ID and password notified from e-Docu Es, a menu screen is displayed on the display 26.

For example, the user operates the mouse 28 of the client 12 and clicks on a portion of the menu screen where the name of the service to be used (a process for requesting execution of e-Docu Es) is displayed. When the service is selected, the information indicating the selection result is transmitted to the server 14 via the Internet 18, and the server 14 receives the information indicating the selection result, so that the determination in step 112 is affirmed. In the next steps 114 and 116, the content of the selected processing is determined, and in step 118, step 120, or step 122, processing according to the determination result is performed.

When browsing the electronic trade documents of a specific trade transaction, the importer's business clerk clicks the corresponding place on the menu screen (for example, the place indicated as “Browse electronic trade documents”). I do. In step 116 of the settlement support process (FIG. 2), it is determined whether the selected process is “electronic trading document viewing”. When the above operation is performed, the determination in step 116 is affirmed, and the process proceeds to step 120. Then, the electronic trade documents browsing process is performed. If the determination in step 116 is negative, other processing is performed in step 122.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the electronic trade document browsing process, first, in step 170, information on the current user is extracted from the user information DB using the registration ID input by the user as a key. It is determined whether the type of the user (browsing requester) is an importer. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 178, where an error screen displaying an error message is delivered to the access source client 12 via the Internet 18, and the process ends.

On the other hand, if the determination in step 170 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 172, where the password input screen (web page) is read from the HDD 50, and distributed to the client 12 of the access source importer via the Internet 18. . This allows the importer's client 1
A password input screen is displayed on the second display 26 by the browser. This password entry screen is provided with an entry field for entering a browsing password (use number) for browsing the electronic trade documents, and also displays a message requesting the importer to enter a browsing password. Have been. In the next step 174, it is determined whether or not the usage information has been received, and the process waits until the determination is affirmed.

The importer's paperworker is the client 1.
When the browsing password is input by operating the second keyboard 30 or the like, the input browsing password is transmitted to the server 14 via the Internet 18 (see also FIG. 5 (8)), and the server 14 receives the browsing password. By doing so, the determination in step 174 is affirmed, and step 176 is performed.
Move to. In step 176, it is determined whether or not the received browsing password is registered (that is, whether the received browsing password is associated with any of the electronic trade documents stored in the HDD 50). If the determination is negative, the flow shifts to step 178, where an error screen is distributed and the processing ends.

On the other hand, if the determination in step 176 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 180, where the electronic trading document to be viewed is selected from the electronic trading documents stored in the HDD 50 based on the received browsing password. Identify. In step 182, the electronic trade document to be browsed is read out. In the next step 183, the electronic trade document read out in step 182 can be checked for the contents of the electronic trade document and easily recognized as not being the original. Process into information. Then, in step 184, based on the processed information, a trade document browsing screen for the viewer to browse the contents of the electronic trade document to be browsed is generated, and the generated trade document browsing screen is imported via the Internet 18 to the importer. (See also FIG. 5 (9)).

The information that can confirm the contents of the electronic trade document and easily recognize that the electronic trade document is not the original is, for example, the fact that each page of the trade document represented by the electronic trade document can easily indicate that it is not the original by a third party. Characters that can be recognized
("Copy", "copy", etc.), and some of the pages of the trade documents represented by the electronic trade documents so that third parties can easily recognize that they are not originals. Examples of such information include information representing text that has been mosaiced or concealed, and information in which information indicating that the document is not the original is embedded in an electronic trade document using digital watermarking technology.

As a result, a browsing screen for trade documents is displayed on the display 26 of the importer's client 12 by the browser, and the importer can refer to and confirm the contents of the electronic trade documents to be viewed on the display 26. Becomes As described above, the importer can confirm the contents of the electronic trade documents before performing the settlement of the trade transaction, so that the importer can reduce the risk of receiving the goods. In addition,
The electronic trade document browsing process described above corresponds to the electronic trade document management means of the present invention, together with the use application process and the processes of steps 128 to 134 described above.

The importer's paperworker, who has confirmed the contents of the electronic trade documents, will settle the trade transaction with the settlement department of the financial institution within the validity period previously notified by e-mail from e-Docu Es. (See also FIG. 5 (10)). In addition, the settlement instruction from the importer is the settlement amount, the contract number of the sales contract, the usage number (browsing password)
And so on.

As a result, the settlement department of the financial institution executes settlement of the trade transaction in accordance with the instruction from the importer (FIG. 5 (1)
See also 1)). Then, the clerk in the settlement section of the financial institution operates the computer 16 to change the information indicating that the settlement is completed, the information indicating the settlement contents (settlement amount, contract number, etc.), and the trade corresponding to the completed settlement. E-Docu Es server 14 together with information (use number etc.) for specifying the transaction
To notify e-Docu Es of the completion of settlement (see also FIG. 5 (12)).

When the completion of the settlement is notified from the computer 16 of the settlement section of the financial institution, the server 14 of the e-Docu Es
Then, in step 100 of the settlement support process, it is determined that the content of the external access is information reception from the outside, and the process proceeds to step 126. When the notification of the completion of the payment is received, Steps 126 to 13 are executed.
Move to 8.

In step 138, using the use number received together with the notice of settlement completion as a key, the corresponding use information is read from the HDD 50, and the information indicating the settlement contents such as the settlement amount and the contract number received together with the notice of settlement completion is received. , HD
It is collated with the usage information read from D50, and in the next step 140, it is determined whether or not the contents of the settlement notified of completion are consistent with the usage information.

If the determination in step 140 is denied, the process proceeds to step 142, in which the settlement section of the financial institution is notified that the notified settlement contents do not match the usage information received from the exporter. Error processing is performed, and the settlement support processing ends.

On the other hand, if the determination in step 140 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 144, where the electronic trade document corresponding to the completed payment is specified by using the use number received together with the notification of payment completion as a key, and After canceling the prohibition (lock) of updating and taking out the contents of the electronic trade documents, the electronic trade documents are read from the HDD 50, and the read electronic trade documents are read.
A predetermined registration / certification institution is requested to transmit the original of the trade document to the importer's client 12 (see also FIG. 5 (13)). This step 144 corresponds to the transmitting means of the present invention, together with step 126 in which the content of the received information is determined to determine whether the settlement is completed.

Thus, the electronic trade documents are converted into e-Docu Es
Of the electronic trade documents from the server 14 of the importer via the computer 18 of the predetermined registration / certification institution (see also FIG. 5 (14)).
Transferred from Docu Es to importer. An importer who has received e-trade documents from e-Docu Es via a prescribed registration / certification body can collect imported goods based on the received e-trade documents. In this manner, the electronic trade documents stored in e-Docu Es are sent to the importer after the settlement is completed, thereby reducing the risk of the exporter collecting the money.

In the next step 146, the completion of the settlement and the completion of the transmission of the electronic trade document to the importer are notified to the exporter (see also FIG. 5 (15)), and the settlement support processing is ended. This completes the settlement of the trade transaction. In addition,
This step 146 corresponds to the second notification means of the present invention.

As described above, in this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the risk of collecting the exporter's money and the risk of receiving the goods of the importer, and to store and settle electronic trading documents until the settlement is completed. E-Docu Es takes over the processing such as confirmation of whether or not the transaction is completed, so the complicated processing of the exporter and importer related to the settlement of the trade transaction is reduced, and the settlement of the trade transaction is performed quickly and efficiently. Can be done.

In the above description, the transfer of trade documents between the importer and related parties such as a customs broker, a shipping company or an air cargo handling company, an insurance company, etc. is performed in the same manner as before, and the importer is included in the determined trade documents. Digitizes the trade documents required to receive imported goods, and sends the digitized information (electronic trade documents) to e-
Although the case of depositing at Docu Es has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the relationship between customs brokers, shipping companies or air cargo handling companies, insurance companies, etc. that exchange trade documents with importers May be provided with client computers 12, respectively, and electronic trading documents obtained by digitizing the trading documents may be transferred between concerned parties.

In the above description, the case where the exporter and the importer each have the client 12 has been described as an example.
The present invention is not limited to this. For example, client 1
2, a local computer comprising a plurality of client computers and server computers connected to each other.
An area network (LAN) may be provided. LAN server computers, especially e-Docu Es
This is effective when a large amount of information is transmitted / received to / from the server 14, and the required information can be downloaded from the server 14, stored, and provided to the client computer on the LAN.

Although the CD-ROM 52 has been described as an example of the recording medium according to the present invention, the present invention is not limited to this, and the recording medium according to the present invention may be implemented by using another information storage medium such as an MO. Needless to say, it may be configured.

[0082]

As described above, according to the present invention, the electronic trade document received from the exporter is stored in the storage means, the update of the electronic trade document and the removal from the storage means are prohibited, and the electronic trade document is received from the importer. When browsing the trade documents is instructed, information indicating the contents of the electronic trade documents instructed to be browsed is output, and when it is detected that the payment has been completed, the prohibition of taking out the electronic trade documents is lifted, and the electronic trade Since the documents are taken out and sent to the importer, there is an excellent effect that the risk of the exporter and the importer can be reduced and the settlement of the trade transaction can be performed quickly and efficiently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a computer system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the contents of a settlement support process executed by a server of the computer system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the contents of a use application process.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the contents of an electronic trade document browsing process.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a flow of a payment support process according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Computer System 12 Client 14 Server 50 HDD 52 CD-ROM

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/60 338 G06F 17/60 338 19/00 300 19/00 300N

Claims (7)

[Claims] Claims 1. In an environment where at least an exporter and an importer each have a client computer,
A settlement support apparatus for a trade transaction realized by a server computer capable of communicating with each client computer, comprising: storage means for storing information; and an electronic trade document received from an exporter via the client computer. The electronic trade document is stored in the storage means, update of the electronic trade document and removal from the storage means are prohibited, and when the importer instructs to view the electronic trade document via the client computer, the electronic book instructed to be browsed is read. Electronic trade document management means for outputting information representing the contents of the trade documents to the client computer, and upon detecting that the settlement of the price has been completed, canceling the prohibition of taking out the electronic trade documents by the electronic trade document management means, Transmission for taking out the electronic trade document stored in the storage means and transmitting it to the importer Payment support apparatus of trade transactions, including the stage, the. 2. The electronic trade document management means reads an electronic trade document instructed to be read from the storage means, and determines that the read electronic trade document can confirm the contents of the electronic trade document and is not the original. 2. The settlement transaction settlement support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information is processed into easily recognizable information, and the processed information is output as information representing the contents of the electronic trade document. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a first notifying means for notifying the importer that the electronic trade document has been received when the electronic trade document is received from the exporter via the client computer. Item 9. A settlement support device for a trade transaction according to item 1. 4. The server computer is capable of communicating with a client computer possessed by a clearing house, and the transmitting means sends a message from the clearing house to the client computer that the payment has been completed. The settlement support apparatus for trade transactions according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not the settlement of the price has been completed, based on whether or not the notification has been made via the Internet. 5. Upon detecting that the settlement of the price is completed, a second notification that notifies the exporter that the settlement of the price is completed is provided.
The settlement support apparatus for trade transactions according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit. 6. In an environment where at least the exporter and the importer each have a client computer,
A settlement support method for a trade transaction realized by a server computer capable of communicating with each client computer, wherein an electronic trade document received from an exporter via a client computer is stored in a storage means for storing information. When the importer is instructed to view the electronic trade documents via the client computer while updating and retrieving the electronic trade documents from the storage means,
Outputs the information indicating the contents of the electronic trading document instructed to be browsed to the client computer, and when the completion of the payment is detected, the prohibition of taking out the electronic trading document is released and stored in the storage means. Settlement support method for a trade transaction that takes out an electronic trade document and sends it to the importer. 7. In an environment where at least an exporter and an importer each have a client computer,
A recording medium on which a program for causing a server computer communicable with each client computer to execute a predetermined process is recorded, wherein the predetermined process is an electronic trade program received from an exporter via a client computer. The document is stored in a storage means for storing information, updating of the electronic trade document and removal from the storage means are prohibited, and the importer is instructed to browse the electronic trade document via the client computer. When,
A first step of outputting information representing the contents of the electronic trading document instructed to be viewed to the client computer, upon detecting that the payment has been settled, canceling the prohibition of taking out the electronic trading document; Second to retrieve the electronic trade documents stored in the importer and send it to the importer
A recording medium characterized by comprising the steps of: