JP2002366864A - Electronic money system, device and method for information processing, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a member store from being unable to collect a user's purchase amount and to enable a user to surely carry out shopping via a network. SOLUTION: A user terminal 2-1 accesses a member store terminal 4-1 via the Internet 1 to buy an article. The member store terminal 4-1 inquires of a settlement device 7 the balance of the electronic money stored in the database 25 of the e-wallet 24 of the user of the user terminal 2-1 via the Internet 1. The settlement device 7 updates the balance by subtracting the shopping amount when the balance is larger than the shopping amount. When the balance is less than the shopping amount, on the other hand, an overdraft amount corresponding to the credit level of the user is added to the balance and when the total amount is larger than the shopping amount, settlement is carried out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic money system, an information processing apparatus and method, a program, and a recording medium, and more particularly, to an electronic money system capable of more securely purchasing goods via a network. The present invention relates to a system, an information processing apparatus and method, a program, and a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, with the spread of the Internet, many users generally purchase various goods and services via the Internet. In this specification, the product includes services in addition to the usual products.

[0003] Credit cards and network-type electronic money are known as payment methods for purchasing goods via the Internet.

As network-type electronic money, Cybe
r Cash's Cyber Coin, Digi Cash's ecash and Compaq's Millicent are known (both are service marks). In this case, the user installs dedicated electronic wallet software in the computer in advance, and manages the amount information to be used from his credit card, the bank account of the affiliated bank, or the like with the electronic wallet software. When the user performs shopping at the online shop, the electronic wallet software notifies the shop of payment, and subtracts the amount information managed by the electronic wallet software by the purchase amount.

[0005]

However, in the conventional network-type electronic money system, the user can make shopping only with the limit of the amount information managed in the electronic wallet software. As a result, for example, if the price information in the electronic wallet is less than the purchase price of the product to be purchased, the user cannot perform the purchase as it is, so the user has once performed the operation of filling the insufficient amount into the electronic wallet. There was a problem that the product could not be purchased until later.

Therefore, an extra burden is imposed on a user who intends to purchase a product, and as a result, the user may give up purchasing. This not only causes each user to seize the chance to purchase the product reliably, but also loses the opportunity to sell the product to the seller who sells the product. Is a factor in the spread of

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and enables each user to reliably purchase a product, and to allow a product seller to miss a chance to sell the product. In other words, the spread of electronic merchandise transactions can be encouraged.

Further, the present invention is intended to enable a seller of a product to reliably collect the purchase price.

[0009]

According to an electronic money system of the present invention, a first other information processing apparatus accesses a second information processing apparatus via a network to request purchase of a product, and The second information processing device, when receiving an application for purchase of a product from the first information processing device via the network, stores the balance of electronic money held by the user with respect to the price of the product in the third information via the network. When the third information processing device makes an inquiry to the information processing device and receives a balance inquiry from the second information processing device, the third information processing device checks the balance of the managing user and determines that the balance is less than the price of the product. Is confirmed, the third information processing device performs a credit process, and performs a process of adding an amount based on the result of the credit process to the balance of the user.

[0010] An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a managing means for managing electronic money of a user who purchases a predetermined product via a network, and a balance of the electronic money of the user managed by the managing means, wherein the balance of the electronic money of the user is determined. If the amount is less than the amount, the credit processing is performed, and an adding unit that adds a credit amount based on the result of the credit processing to the balance of the user is provided.

[0011] The information processing apparatus may further include storage means for storing credit information for performing the credit processing, and the adding means may perform the credit processing based on the credit information stored in the storage means.

[0012] The adding means may rank the users based on the result of the credit processing, and determine the credit amount based on the rank.

Request means for accessing a credit server via the network to request credit processing;
The adding means can perform credit processing based on a credit result by the credit server performed in accordance with the request by the request means.

[0014] The management means can manage the balance of the electronic money of the user in association with the settlement number, and can settle the credit amount based on the settlement number.

[0015] The management means can manage the credit card number of the user as the settlement number.

[0016] The management means can manage the account number of the financial institution of the user as the settlement number.

The information processing apparatus further comprises a receiving means for receiving, via a network, an inquiry about the balance of the user's electronic money with respect to the purchase price from another information processing apparatus. Based on this, the addition process can be performed.

According to the information processing method of the present invention, a management step of managing electronic money of a user who purchases a predetermined product via a network, and the balance of the user's electronic money managed by the processing of the management step is set to If the purchase amount is less than the purchase amount, the credit process is performed, and the credit amount based on the result of the credit process is added to the balance of the user.

The method may further include a storage step of storing credit information for performing the credit processing, and the adding step may perform the credit processing based on the credit information stored in the processing of the storage step.

In the processing of the adding step, the users can be ranked based on the result of the credit processing, and the credit amount can be determined based on the rank.

The method further includes a requesting step of accessing the credit server via the network to request credit processing. In the adding step, the credit is performed based on a credit result by the credit server performed in accordance with the request in the requesting step. Processing can be performed.

In the process of the management step, the balance of the user's electronic money can be managed in association with the settlement number, and the credit amount can be settled based on the settlement number.

In the processing of the management step, the card number of the user's credit card can be managed as the settlement number.

In the processing of the management step, the account number of the user's financial institution can be managed as the settlement number.

[0025] The information processing apparatus further includes a receiving step of receiving, from another information processing apparatus, an inquiry about the balance of the user's electronic money with respect to the purchase amount via another network.
In the processing of the adding step, the adding processing can be performed based on the inquiry about the balance received in the processing of the receiving step.

A program according to the present invention is a program for an information processing apparatus connected to another information processing apparatus via a network, and manages electronic money of a user who purchases a predetermined product via the network. When,
When the balance of the electronic money of the user managed by the processing of the management step is less than the purchase amount of the product, the credit processing is performed, and the credit amount based on the result of the credit processing is calculated.
And an adding step of adding to the balance of the user.

[0027] The information processing apparatus may further include a storage step of storing credit information for performing the credit processing, and the adding step may perform the credit processing based on the credit information stored in the processing of the storage step.

In the processing of the adding step, the users can be ranked based on the result of the credit processing, and the credit amount can be determined based on the rank.

A requesting step of requesting credit processing by accessing the credit server via the network, wherein in the adding step, the credit is performed based on a credit result by the credit server performed according to the request in the requesting step. Processing can be performed.

In the processing of the management step, the user's electronic money balance can be managed in association with the settlement number, and the credit amount can be settled based on the settlement number.

In the management step, the card number of the user's credit card can be managed as the settlement number.

In the processing of the management step, the account number of the user's financial institution can be managed as the settlement number.

[0033] The method further includes a receiving step of receiving an inquiry about the user's electronic money balance for the purchase amount from another information processing apparatus via a network.
In the processing of the adding step, the adding processing can be performed based on the inquiry about the balance received in the processing of the receiving step.

The program of the recording medium according to the present invention is a program for an information processing apparatus connected to another information processing apparatus via a network, and manages electronic money of a user who purchases a predetermined product via the network. If the balance of the electronic money of the user managed by the processing of the management step and the management step is less than the purchase price of the product, the credit processing is performed, and the credit amount based on the result of the credit processing is calculated by the user's balance. And an adding step of adding

In the electronic money system, the information processing apparatus and method, the program, and the recording medium of the present invention, when the managed user's electronic money balance is less than the purchase price of the product, credit processing is performed. The credit amount based on the result of the credit processing is added to the user's balance.

[0036]

FIG. 1 shows the structure of an electronic money system to which the present invention is applied. In this system, an arbitrary number (in this example,
(Two) user terminals 2-1 and 2-2 are connected.
The Internet 1 has user terminals 2-1 and 2-
An arbitrary number (three in this example) of member store terminals 4-1 to 4-3 for accessing and purchasing a product are connected to the member store terminals 4-1 to 4-3.

In addition, the Internet 1 includes an arbitrary number (two in this example) of card company management devices 5-1 and 5-1 managed by a card company that issues cards to users.
5-2, a clearing house 6 that provides various information via the Internet 1, and users 2-1 and 2-
The bank account management devices 3-1 and 3-2 for managing the bank accounts of the banks of the bank 2 are also connected.

The Internet 1 further includes a payment device 7
Is connected. In this settlement apparatus 7, via the money gate 11 functioning as a firewall,
A settlement menu (software) 12 is connected.
Settlement menu 12 includes D / e-SCOTT21, Debit22, Edy
23 and e-Wallet 24 (both are software). The money gate 11 converts the input from the Internet 1 into a D / e-SCOTT 21, a Deb
Connect to any of it22, Edy23 and e-Wallet24.

D / e-SCOTT ™ 21 is an electronic commerce,
Performs processing to support credit card sales processing such as troublesome credit business and billing business in mail order sales and the like.
The Debit 22 immediately performs the procedure of debiting the purchase amount from the bank account of the user using the debit card and transferring the purchase amount to the bank account of the seller when the user purchases the product.

The Edy (trademark) 23 manages the eddy card, and stores the amount withdrawn from the user's own bank account in the eddy card. When a user uses the Eddy Card to shop at a store, Edy23
Reads the eddy card via the terminal of the store, subtracts the amount corresponding to the shopping amount from the amount stored therein, and adds the amount to the electronic money account of the seller. I do. As a result, the user of the Eddy card can shop only for the amount stored in the Eddy card.

The amount corresponding to the shopping amount reduced from the Eddy card (the amount corresponding to the value added to the seller's electronic money account) is transferred to the seller's bank account.

The e-Wallet (trademark) 24 stores a prepaid amount for each user in a built-in database 25. And each user, via the Internet 1,
When a predetermined product is purchased from the member store terminals 4-1 to 4-3, the purchase price is reduced from the prepaid amount.

The settlement apparatus 7 has a customer database 13 and stores detailed information of each user and member stores in the customer database 13.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the settlement apparatus 7.
In FIG. 2, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 41
Is a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 42 or a RAM (Random Acces
s Memory) 43 to execute various processes in accordance with the program loaded. The RAM 43 also stores data and the like necessary for the CPU 41 to execute various processes.

The CPU 41, the ROM 42, and the RAM 43 are mutually connected via a bus 44. The bus 44 is also connected to an input / output interface 45.

The input / output interface 45 includes an input unit 46 including a keyboard and a mouse, a display including a CRT and an LCD, an output unit 47 including a speaker, a storage unit 48 including a hard disk, and the like.
A communication unit 49 including a modem, a terminal adapter, and the like is connected. The communication unit 49 performs a communication process via a network including the Internet 1.

A drive 50 is connected to the input / output interface 45 as necessary.
An optical disk 72, a magneto-optical disk 73, a semiconductor memory 74, or the like is appropriately mounted, and a computer program read therefrom is installed in the storage unit 48 as needed.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the member store terminal 4 (hereinafter, simply referred to as the member store terminal 4 when it is not necessary to individually distinguish the member store terminals 4-1 to 4-3). That CP
The U141 to the semiconductor memory 174 correspond to the payment device 7 in FIG.
Has a function corresponding to each part of the corresponding name, such as the CPU 41 to the semiconductor memory 74 in FIG.

Similarly, FIG. 4 shows a configuration of the user terminal 2 (hereinafter, simply referred to as the user terminal 2 when it is not necessary to individually distinguish the user terminals 2-1 and 2-2).
The CPU 241 to the semiconductor memory 274 also have functions corresponding to those of the corresponding names of the CPU 41 to the semiconductor memory 74 of the settlement apparatus 7 in FIG.

The user terminal 2 is provided with a card reader 251. The card reader 251 reads data (including a medium embedding number and a card company ID) recorded therein from a memory built in the non-contact type IC card 261. This card reader and contactless IC card 2
Reference numeral 61 is used when electronic money by the Edy 23 is used.

Next, an operation when a user purchases a product on the Internet 1 using the e-Wallet in the system of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 5 shows the user terminal 2
6 shows the processing of the member store terminal 4 individually, and FIG. 7 shows the processing of the settlement apparatus 7 individually.

On the other hand, FIG. 8 to FIG. 10 show the temporal change of the processing of each of the user terminal 2, the member store terminal 4, and the settlement apparatus 7, and the processing of each processing of each apparatus and the processing of other apparatuses. Are shown in such a way that the relative relationship of FIG.
This shows processing when the balance is equal to or more than the shopping amount. On the other hand, FIGS. 9 and 10 show processing when the balance is smaller than the shopping amount. FIG. 9 shows processing when credit is OK, and FIG. 10 shows that credit is not OK. Case (NG
In the case of).

Hereinafter, the processing of the user terminal 2, the member store terminal 4, and the settlement apparatus 7 will be described individually with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. It can be easily understood by referring to the corresponding steps in FIGS.

The CPU 241 of the user terminal 2
6 is operated by the user, and the member store terminals 4-2 to 4-
When an access to a predetermined member store terminal out of the three is instructed, the communication unit 249 is controlled to access the designated member store terminal 4 via the Internet 1. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 6, when the access is received, the member store terminal 4 transmits the image data of the product (step S22 in FIGS. 6 and 8).

In step S2, the CPU 241 of the user terminal 2 transmits the image data transmitted from the member store terminal 4 via the Internet 1 to the communication unit 24.
9, the data is output to the display unit constituting the output unit 247 and displayed. Thereby, for example, a picture of a product, a product code, a product name, a description, an amount, and the like are displayed as shown in FIG. In this example, the merchandise is “Bear Stuffed Animal”, its merchandise code is “B-100”, and its price (shopping amount) is “6000 yen”.

The user looks at this display and determines whether or not to purchase the product. At the time of purchase, the user operates the mouse constituting the input unit 246 and presses the purchase button 8
Click 1.

Therefore, in step S3, the CPU 24
1 is whether or not the purchase is instructed by the user, that is,
It is determined whether or not the purchase button 81 has been operated, and if it is determined that the purchase button 81 has not been operated, the processing is terminated.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the purchase button 81 has been operated and the purchase has been instructed, the process proceeds to step S4.
The CPU 241 outputs a purchase application signal to the member store terminal 4. In response to the transmission of this signal, the member store terminal 4 transmits a payment method selection screen (FIG. 6).
And step S24 in FIG. 8).

Therefore, in step S5, the CPU 24
1 receives the payment method selection screen data from the member store terminal 4 via the communication unit 249, and outputs it to the output unit 247.
And display it on the display unit. This allows, for example,
A window 91 as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed.

In the display example of FIG. 12, an input box 91A for inputting the number of items to be purchased is displayed in the window 91.
And a field 91B for designating a method of paying the purchase price of the product to be purchased is displayed. The user operates the input unit 246 to input the required number in the input field 91A, and selects a desired payment method from the payment methods displayed in the field 91B. When using the E-Wallet 24, the user selects a payment method of “electronic money”.

Therefore, in step S6, when electronic money is selected based on a user's command in step S6, the CPU 241 controls the communication unit 249 to transmit the electronic money to the member store terminal 4.
To be notified. Based on this notification, as described below,
The member store terminal 4 transmits data of a list of companies (management companies) that handle payment processing based on the electronic money of the e-Wallet 24 provided by the payment device 7 (step S26 in FIGS. 6 and 8).

Therefore, in step S7, the CPU 24
When receiving the management company list data, the control unit 1 outputs the data to the display unit of the output unit 247 and displays it.

In this way, for example, a list of electronic money handling companies as shown in FIG. 13 is displayed. FIG.
In the example of No. 3, four companies A to D are displayed. The user selects a company that manages electronic money used by himself / herself for transactions on the Internet 1 (in this example, a company that operates the settlement apparatus 7) from the displayed companies. This selection is also performed by operating the input unit 246.

When this selection is made (when the company selection and the OK button in FIG. 13 are pressed), step S8 is performed.
, The CPU 241 stores the selected company in the settlement device 7
Notify. Pressing the OK button generates a URL containing the specific information of the selected company (Company A) as a parameter,
Based on the URL information, a direction is made to a payment screen managed on the payment device of Company A.

The settlement apparatus 7 transmits a password input screen to the user terminal 2 based on the notification (steps S51 and S52 in FIGS. 7 and 8).

Therefore, in step S9, the CPU 24
1 receives the data of the password input screen for personal identification transmitted from the device of the company specified in the processing of step S8 (in this case, the settlement device 7), and displays it on the display unit of the output unit 247. And display it. Thereby, for example, a password input screen as shown in FIG. 14 is displayed. In the display example of FIG. 14, a column for inputting a member number is provided in addition to the password.

The user operates the input unit 246 to input a member number and a password in each field of the input screen.

Then, when the CPU 241 fetches the input member number and password data in step S10, it notifies the settlement device 7 of the data.

In response to the notification, the settlement apparatus 7 authenticates whether the password is valid, and when a result of the determination that the password is correct is obtained, the settlement of the electronic money of the user is performed. Read the balance and send it (Fig. 7
And step S55 in FIG. 8).

Therefore, in step S11, the CPU 2
Receiving the balance transmitted from the settlement device 7, the 41 outputs the balance to the display unit of the output unit 247 to display the balance. Thus, for example, an image as shown in FIG. 15 is displayed.

In the display example of FIG. 15, the member number 10
The balance of the electronic money of Mr. X is “5025 yen”, the product to be purchased is the product with the product code B100, and the purchase price is 6000 yen. Further, in this case, since the shopping amount (6000 yen) is larger than the balance of electronic money (5025 yen), a message that "975 yen is insufficient" is also displayed. Further, in this display example, a message "Do you want to purchase?" And a YES button and a NO button for responding to the message are displayed.

The user can know from this display that the balance of the electronic money held by himself / herself is less than the purchase price, and the user decides whether or not to purchase the commodity and purchases the commodity. In this case, the user operates the YES button, and otherwise, operates the NO button.

Therefore, in step S12, the CPU 2
41 determines whether or not purchase has been instructed (whether or not the YES button has been operated), and terminates the process if it has not been operated (if the NO button has been operated).

On the other hand, when it is determined that the purchase has been instructed (when it is determined that the YES button has been operated),
Proceeding to step S13, the CPU 241 notifies the payment device 7 of the purchase of the product. When the purchase button 81 in FIG. 11 is pressed, it is possible to consider that there is a purchase intention and omit the display of the confirmation screen in FIG. 15 to perform the credit processing.

Upon receiving the purchase notification, the settlement apparatus 7 determines whether or not the balance of the electronic money of the user is equal to or more than the shopping amount. 4 (step S in FIGS. 7 and 8).
59).

The settlement apparatus 7 performs a credit process when the balance is smaller than the shopping amount, and also transmits an OK message to the member store terminal 4 when the credit is OK (FIGS. 7 and 9). Step S59).

When the member store terminal 4 receives such an OK message, the member store terminal 4 executes a product delivery process and transmits a message to the user terminal 2 (steps in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9). S29).

Therefore, in step S14, the CPU 1
When the notification is received from the member store terminal 4, the notification is output to the display unit of the output unit 147 and displayed.

On the other hand, if the balance is smaller than the shopping amount and the credit processing is NG (the overdraft amount is 0 yen or the lending amount is not 0 yen), If the sum of the overrun and the balance is less than the shopping amount, an NG message is transmitted to the member store terminal 4 (step S70 in FIGS. 7 and 10).

Upon receiving the NG message from the settlement device 7, the member store terminal 4 executes a sales rejection process (step S31 in FIGS. 6 and 10) and transmits a corresponding message.

The CPU 141 determines in step S14
When this message is received, it is output to the display unit of the output unit 147 and displayed.

When the product can be purchased, the message (the message generated in the process of step S29 in FIGS. 6, 8, and 9) is, for example, "Thank you for purchasing the product. Will deliver. "
And so on.

On the other hand, if the merchandise cannot be purchased, a message such as “The merchandise cannot be purchased because the amount of the e-Wallet is insufficient” (FIG. 6) And the message transmitted in the process of step S31 in FIG. 10) are displayed.

Therefore, from such a message, the user can determine whether or not the product has been purchased.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The processing of the member store terminal 4 executed in correspondence with the processing of the user terminal 2 in FIG. 5 will be described.

In step S21, the member store terminal 4
When the CPU 141 receives an access from the user terminal 2 (access based on the process of step S1 in FIG. 5),
In step S22, the image data of the product specified by the user in response to the access is read from the storage unit 148, and is read from the communication unit 149 via the Internet 1.
Cause the user terminal 2 to transmit. As described above, the transmitted image data is received and displayed on the user terminal 2 in this manner (step S2 in FIGS. 5 and 8 and FIG. 11).

Then, as described above, when the user applies for the purchase, the application signal is transmitted from the user terminal 2 (step S4 in FIGS. 5 and 8). Therefore,
In step S23, the CPU 141 determines whether or not an application for purchase has been made from the user terminal 2. If there is no application for purchase, the process ends.

On the other hand, when there is an application for purchase, the process proceeds to step S 24, in which the CPU 141 reads out the data of the payment method selection screen stored in the storage unit 148, and Cause the user terminal 2 to transmit. This image data is received by the user terminal 2 and displayed as described above (steps S5 in FIG. 5 and FIG. 8, FIG. 12).

In response to this display, a signal for selecting electronic money is transmitted from the user terminal 2 as described above.

Therefore, in step S25, the CPU 1
When the selection signal is received from the user terminal 2, the list data is read out from the list of the companies handling electronic money stored in the storage unit 148 and transmitted to the user terminal 2 in step S 26. Thereby, for example, an image as shown in FIG. 13 is displayed on the user terminal 2 (step S7 in FIGS. 5 and 8).

The user selects one company from the list of companies handling electronic money and notifies the settlement device 7 (step S8 in FIGS. 5 and 8).

FIG. 16 shows an example of a message in this case. In this example, it is described that the electronic money is selected, the shopping amount is 6000 yen, and the product code is B100 as the settlement information to be used.

In response to this message (balance inquiry), the settlement apparatus 7 requests the user terminal 2 to enter a password, and executes an authentication process of the person based on the password (FIGS. 7 and 8). Steps S53 and S54).

Then, when it is confirmed that the user is the principal, the settlement apparatus 7 reads the balance of the user and transmits the balance to the user terminal 2 (step S55 in FIGS. 7 and 8). When the user looks at the balance and notifies the user of the purchase of the product (step S13 in FIGS. 5 and 8), the settlement apparatus 7 determines whether the balance is equal to or more than the shopping amount or the sum of the balance and the overdraft amount. If the purchase amount is equal to or more than the shopping amount, an OK message is transmitted to the member store terminal 4 (step S59 in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9). Further, the settlement apparatus 7 transmits the NG message to the member store terminal 4 when the overdraft amount is 0 yen when the balance is less than the shopping amount, or when the sum of the overdraft amount and the balance is less than the shopping amount. (Step S70 in FIGS. 7 and 10)

Therefore, in step S27, the CPU 1
Reference numeral 41 receives a message transmitted from the settlement apparatus 7 via the communication unit 149. Then, in step S28, the CPU 141 determines whether or not the message received in the process of step S27 is an OK message, that is, whether or not the message allows shopping.

[0096] As described above, the user is required to enter e-Wallet.
If the balance of the prepaid amount held in 24 is larger than the shopping amount, or if the sum of the balance and the credit amount is smaller than the shopping amount, the OK message is transmitted (FIG. 7, FIG. Step S5 in FIGS. 8 and 9
9).

If an OK message has been received, step S
29, the CPU 141 generates a message such as “Thank you, we will ship the product promptly” as described above, and sends the user terminal 2 from the communication unit 149.
To be sent. Further, the CPU 141 makes a request to a predetermined delivery center via the communication unit 149, and requests delivery of a corresponding product.

Thereafter, in step S30, the CPU 1
41 receives the remittance of the amount corresponding to the shopping amount from the settlement device 7 on a predetermined day set in advance. More precisely, the settlement apparatus 7 moves the electronic money corresponding to the purchase amount from the user's account to the account of the member store terminal 4 (step S61 in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9), and accordingly, To receive the remittance.

Of course, specifically, what the member store terminal 4 can receive is the amount obtained by subtracting the commission for settlement by the settlement device 7.

[0100] The above-mentioned shopping amount also includes a consumption tax.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S28 that the received message is not an OK message (see FIGS. 7 and 10).
Is determined to be the NG message generated in the process of step S70), the process proceeds to step S31, and the CPU 141 executes a sales rejection process. That is, the CPU 141 generates a message such as, for example, “The product cannot be purchased because the balance of the e-Wallet is insufficient,” and transmits the message to the user terminal 2.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The processing of the settlement apparatus 7 executed in correspondence with the processing of the user terminal 2 of FIG. 5 and the member store terminal 4 of FIG. 6 will be described.

In step S51, the CP of the settlement device 7
When U41 receives the balance inquiry (inquiry based on the processing in step S28 in FIGS. 6 and 8) from the member store terminal 4,
In step S52, the data of the password input screen for confirming the user stored in the storage unit 48 is read and transmitted to the user terminal 2.

The user inputs the password and the member number in response to the input screen and transmits the password (FIG. 5 and FIG. 8).
Step S10).

Therefore, in step S53, the CPU 4
1 receives the password and the member number from the user terminal 2 and determines in step S54 whether the password and the member number match the password and the member number stored in the customer database 13 in the storage unit 48. Is determined, and if they match, it is determined that the user is a true person (true user).

That is, as shown in FIG. 17, the customer database 13 stores the membership number, password, name, kana name, date of birth, telephone number, postal code,
Address, card number, card expiration date, bank code of the bank account held by the user, bank branch code, account type,
Information such as an account number, a holder, and billing data, information such as a debit date, and information such as whether a credit card or a bank account is used for settlement are stored.

In the example of FIG. 17, the member numbers are 101, 10
Customer information of 2,103 members is shown. For example,
The received member number and password are respectively "10
If it is "1" and "YA12345", it is determined that the person is the person.

If the result of the authentication process based on the password and the member number indicates that the user is the user, the CPU 41 reads the user's electronic money balance from the database 25 in step S55, and reads this from the user terminal 2. Send to

As shown in FIG. 18, the member number, the balance, and the credit level of the member (user of the user terminal 2) registered in the customer database 13 are stored in the database 25.

In the case of FIG. 18, the balance of the user having the member number 101 is 5025 yen, the credit level is B, and the member number is 10
The balance of the user No. 2 is 3000 yen, the credit level is C, the balance of the user of the member number 103 is 10,000 yen, and the credit level is A.

As described with reference to FIG. 15, the information transmitted in the process of step S55 includes the current balance (5025 yen) and the purchase amount (6000 yen) of the user. Based on the information, the user is notified of whether or not to finally purchase the product (step S13 in FIGS. 5 and 8).

Therefore, in step S56, the CPU 4
1 determines whether or not a purchase application has been received from the user terminal 2, and terminates the processing if a purchase application has not been received.

On the other hand, if the purchase application has been received, the process proceeds to step S57, and the CPU 41 proceeds to step S57.
It is determined whether or not the balance read in the process of 55 is equal to or larger than the shopping amount accepted in the process of step S51.

For example, it is assumed that the user with the member number 103 purchases a product with a shopping amount of 6000 yen. In this case, the balance (10000 yen) (FIG. 18) is equivalent to the shopping amount (6
000 yen), the process proceeds to step S58, and the CP
U41 calculates a value 4000 yen obtained by subtracting the shopping amount 6000 yen from the balance 10000 yen of the user of the member number 103,
A new balance is recorded in the balance of the user with the member number 103 (the balance of 10,000 yen in FIG. 18 is updated to 4000 yen).

Then, in a step S59, the CPU 4
1 is an OK message (a message indicating that payment was made correctly)
Is generated, and the communication unit 49 is controlled to transmit to the member store terminal 2 via the Internet 1.

In step S60, the CPU 41 writes the shopping amount (6000 yen) as billing data in the user's billing data column of the customer database 13;
Remember.

Thereafter, in step S61, the CPU 4
1 transfers the user's electronic money stored as billing data to the member store terminal 4 account. The account of the member store terminal 4 is provided in the database 25 (of course, it may be provided outside the determination device 7).

On the other hand, for example, if the user of member number 101 purchases a product with a shopping amount of 6000 yen, the balance of this user is 5025 yen (FIG. 18).
In step S57, it is determined that the balance (5025 yen) is not larger than the shopping amount (6000 yen). In this case, the process proceeds to step S62, where the CPU 41 determines whether or not to execute the credit processing by itself. If the credit processing is not executed by itself, the process proceeds to step S63,
U41 communicates with the credit server (for example,
Request credit from the card company management device 5) of the credit card company that has issued the user's credit card. When the credit card management device 5 executes the credit processing based on the credit request, it notifies the result of the credit processing.

Therefore, in step S64, the CPU 4
1 receives a credit result from the card company management device 5. The credit result includes the credit level and the CP
U41 thereafter executes the process of step S66 based on the credit level.

On the other hand, in step S62, the CPU 41
If it is determined that the credit processing is to be executed by itself, the process proceeds to step S65, and the overdraft amount of the user is read from the credit level table 26.

That is, in the credit level table 26, as shown in FIG. 19, the overdraft amount is described corresponding to the credit level of each user (FIG. 18).
In the case of the example of FIG. 19, the overdraft amount of the user at the credit level A is 30,000 yen, the overdraft amount of the user at the credit level B is 5000 yen, and the overdraft amount of the user at the credit level C is 0 yen (that is, the prepaid amount). Only).

As shown in FIG. 18, the member number 101
The credit level of the user is B. Therefore, from FIG. 19, the overdraft amount of the user is 5000 yen.

At step S66, the CPU 41 determines whether or not the overdraft amount read at step S65 is 0 yen, that is, whether or not the user is a user who is not allowed to overtake. If the overdraft amount is not 0 yen,
Proceeding to step S67, the CPU 41 performs an operation of adding the overdraft amount to the balance. The overdraft amount is 5,000 yen based on the credit level B of the user of the member number 101. In this case, the total amount of the overdraft amount and the balance is 1
0025 yen (= 5025 + 5000).

In step S68, the CPU 41 determines whether or not the sum of the overdraft amount and the balance calculated in step S67 is equal to or larger than the shopping amount. If the sum of the overdraft amount and the balance is equal to or larger than the shopping amount, step S6
Proceeding to 9, the CPU 41 stores the overdraft amount determined in the process of step S67 as own sales to the user. This stored amount is immediately transferred from an account (credit card, financial institution account, etc.) designated by the user at a predetermined timing (a predetermined debit date in the case of a credit card, and an instantaneous debit payment in the case of a financial institution account). ).

The process in step S69 is performed between steps S66 and S67 or between steps S67 and S68.
May be inserted between them. In this case, even if the user cancels the purchase process on the way and the user does not finally purchase the product, the user is overdrawn.

Thereafter, the flow returns to step S58, and the subsequent processing is executed.

That is, in step S58, the CPU
Reference numeral 41 updates a value obtained by subtracting the shopping amount from the balance as a new balance. As a result, in this case, the balance is 4025 yen. In step S59, an OK message is generated and transmitted to the member store terminal 4.

In step S60, the CPU 41 stores the shopping amount (6000 yen in this example) as billing data in the billing data column of the customer database 13 of the user.

Thereafter, in step S61, the electronic money corresponding to the billing data is transferred to the account of the member store terminal 4, as in the case described above.

At step S66, the overdraft amount is 0
If it is determined that the amount is a yen, and if it is determined in step S68 that the amount obtained by adding the balance to the overdraft amount is smaller than the shopping amount, the process proceeds to step S70, and the CPU 7
2 generates an NG message and transmits it to the member store terminal 4.

For example, if the user with the member number 102 is 60
If you are trying to purchase a product with a purchase price of $ 00,
Since the balance of this user is 3000 yen (FIG. 18),
In step S57, a determination of NO (insufficient balance) is made. Then, since the credit level of the user of the member number 102 is C (FIG. 18), the overdraft amount is 0 (FIG. 19).

Therefore, in this case, a determination of YES is made in step S66, and the process of step S70 is executed.

Further, for example, when the user of the member number 101 tries to purchase a product with a shopping amount of 20,000 yen, the total amount of the overdraft and the balance is 10025 yen, whereas the shopping amount is 20,000 yen. Therefore, in step S68, a determination of NO is made, and the process of step S70 is performed.

That is, the CPU 41 executes, for example, “e-Walle
The item cannot be purchased because the amount of t is insufficient. Is generated and transmitted to the member store terminal 4.

Therefore, in this case, as described above,
Since the member store terminal 4 executes the sales rejection process (step S31 in FIGS. 6 and 10), the user cannot purchase the product.

The credit level of each user is obtained by checking the credit status of each user at a predetermined cycle in advance and setting and registering it in advance.

In the above description, the member store terminal 4 makes the balance inquiry to the settlement apparatus 7, but the user terminal 2
It is also possible to make the settlement device 7 directly inquire the balance.

The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware, but can also be executed by software. When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software executes various functions by installing a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware or various programs. For example, it is installed from a network or a recording medium into a general-purpose personal computer or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, this recording medium is a magnetic disk 71, 171, 271 on which the program is recorded, which is distributed to provide the user with the program separately from the apparatus main body. (Including floppy disk), optical disks 72, 172, 272 (CD-ROM (Com
pact Disk-Read Only Memory), DVD (Digital Versatile
Disk)), magneto-optical disks 73, 173, 273
(Including an MD (Mini-Disk)) or a package medium including semiconductor memories 74, 174, 274, etc., as well as a program which is provided to a user in a state where the program is incorporated in the apparatus main body in advance. ROMs 42, 142, 242 and storage units 48, 14
8, 248 and the like.

In this specification, the step of describing a program recorded on a recording medium is not limited to processing performed in chronological order according to the described order, but is not necessarily performed in chronological order. This also includes processing executed in parallel or individually.

In the present specification, the system is
It represents the entire device composed of a plurality of devices. In addition, products include not only ordinary tangible objects but also various services in addition to audio and video contents. Further, the present invention is applicable to a system for purchasing a product via a network other than the Internet 1.

[0142]

As described above, according to the electronic money system, information processing apparatus and method, program, and recording medium of the present invention, when the managed user's electronic money balance is less than the purchase price of the product. , The credit processing is performed, and the credit amount based on the result of the credit processing is added to the user's balance, so that the user can reliably purchase the product, and the seller of the product,
Missed opportunities to sell products are suppressed, and
It is suppressed that the purchase price cannot be collected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an electronic money system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the settlement device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a member store terminal of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a user terminal in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing of the user terminal in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing of the member store terminal of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of the settlement apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an arrow chart showing the relationship between the processing of the user terminal, the member store terminal, and the settlement apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an arrow chart showing the relationship between the processes of the user terminal, the member store terminal, and the payment device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an arrow chart showing the relationship between the processes of the user terminal, the member store terminal, and the settlement apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example in the process of step S2 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example in the process of step S5 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example in the process of step S7 in FIG. 5;

14 is a diagram showing a display example in the process of step S9 in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a display example in the process of step S11 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a message transmitted in step S28 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a customer database 13 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a database 25 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a credit level table in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Internet, 2-1 and 2-2 user terminals,
3-1, 3-2 Bank account management device, 4-1 to 4-
3 Merchant terminal, 5-1 and 5-2 Card company management device, 6 Clearing house, 7 Payment device, 1
2 Settlement menu, 13 Customer database, 24
e-Wallet, 25 database, 26 credit level table

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06K 19/00 G06K 19/00 Q (72) Inventor Maki Suganuma 1-1-1 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo Sony Finance International Inc. F-term (reference) 5B035 AA13 BB09 BC00 CA23 5B058 CA15 KA31 KA33 YA01 YA20

Claims (26)

[Claims] A first information processing device for a user who purchases a product via a network, a second information processing device for selling the product to the user via the network,
And an electronic money system including a third information processing device for managing the electronic money of the user, wherein the first other information processing device accesses the second information processing device via the network, Requesting the purchase of the product, the second information processing device, when receiving an application for the purchase of the product via the network from the first information processing device, the user for the price of the product, Inquiring of the balance of the electronic money held by the third information processing device via the network, and when the third information processing device receives the inquiry of the balance from the second information processing device, The balance of the user who is managing is confirmed, and if it is confirmed that the balance is less than the price of the product, the third information processing device performs a credit process, and An electronic money system for performing processing for adding an amount based on a result of the credit processing to the balance of the user. 2. An information processing apparatus connected to another information processing apparatus via a network, wherein: a management unit for managing electronic money of a user who purchases a predetermined product via the network; When the balance of the electronic money of the user is less than the purchase amount of the product, performing credit processing and adding a credit amount based on a result of the credit processing to the balance of the user. An information processing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 3. A storage unit for storing credit information for performing the credit processing, wherein the adding unit performs the credit processing based on the credit information stored in the storage unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the adding means ranks the users based on a result of the credit processing, and determines the credit amount based on the rank.
An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 5. A requesting means for accessing a credit server via the network and requesting credit processing, wherein the adding means is configured to perform a credit processing based on a credit result by the credit server performed in accordance with a request from the requesting means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein credit processing is performed. 6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the management unit manages the balance of the electronic money of the user in association with a settlement number, and setstle the credit amount based on the settlement number. Information processing device. 7. The management means, as the settlement number,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a card number of the user's credit card is managed. 8. The management means, as the payment number,
7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein an account number of the user's financial institution is managed. 9. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a receiving unit that receives an inquiry about the balance of the electronic money of the user with respect to the purchase amount from the other information processing apparatus via the network. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the addition processing is performed based on the inquiry about the balance received by the information processing apparatus. 10. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus connected to another information processing apparatus via a network, wherein: a management step of managing electronic money of a user who purchases a predetermined product via the network; When the balance of the electronic money of the user managed by the processing of the management step is less than the purchase amount of the product, a credit process is performed, and a credit amount based on a result of the credit process is added to the balance of the user. An information processing method, comprising: 11. A storage step for storing credit information for performing the credit processing, wherein the adding step performs the credit processing based on the credit information stored in the processing of the storage step. The information processing method according to claim 10, wherein: 12. The information according to claim 11, wherein the processing of the adding step ranks the users based on a result of the credit processing, and determines the credit amount based on the rank. Processing method. 13. The credit server according to claim 13, further comprising a request step of requesting credit processing by accessing a credit server via said network. 11. The information processing method according to claim 10, wherein credit processing is performed based on the result. 14. The process of the managing step, wherein a balance of the electronic money of the user is managed in association with a settlement number, and the credit amount is settled based on the settlement number. An information processing method according to claim 1. 15. The information processing method according to claim 14, wherein in the management step, a card number of a credit card of the user is managed as the settlement number. 16. The information processing method according to claim 14, wherein in the management step, an account number of the user's financial institution is managed as the settlement number. 17. The method according to claim 17, further comprising: receiving an inquiry about the balance of the electronic money of the user with respect to the purchase amount from the other information processing apparatus via the network. Based on the inquiry of the balance received by the processing of the receiving step,
The information processing method according to claim 10, wherein the adding process is performed. 18. A program for an information processing apparatus connected to another information processing apparatus via a network, wherein the management step manages electronic money of a user who purchases a predetermined product via the network. If the balance of the electronic money of the user managed by the processing of the management step is less than the purchase amount of the product, a credit process is performed, and a credit amount based on a result of the credit process is added to the balance of the user. And a program for causing a computer to execute an adding step. 19. A storage step for storing credit information for performing the credit processing, wherein the adding step performs the credit processing based on the credit information stored in the processing of the storage step. The program according to claim 18, characterized by: 20. The program according to claim 19, wherein the processing of the adding step ranks the users based on a result of the credit processing, and determines the credit amount based on the rank. . 21. A requesting step of requesting credit processing by accessing a credit server via the network, wherein the processing of the adding step includes the step of requesting credit by the credit server performed according to a request by the processing of the requesting step. 19. The program according to claim 18, wherein credit processing is performed based on the result. 22. The method according to claim 18, wherein in the management step, the balance of the electronic money of the user is managed in association with a settlement number, and the credit amount is settled based on the settlement number. The described program. 23. The program according to claim 22, wherein, in the processing of the management step, a card number of a credit card of the user is managed as the payment number. 24. The program according to claim 22, wherein, in the processing of the management step, an account number of the user's financial institution is managed as the settlement number. 25. The method according to claim 25, further comprising: receiving an inquiry about the balance of the electronic money of the user with respect to the purchase amount from the other information processing apparatus via the network. Based on the inquiry of the balance received by the processing of the receiving step,
19. The program according to claim 18, wherein the addition process is performed. 26. A program for an information processing device connected to another information processing device via a network, wherein the management step manages electronic money of a user who purchases a predetermined product via the network. When the balance of the electronic money of the user managed by the processing of the management step is less than the purchase amount of the product, a credit process is performed, and a credit amount based on a result of the credit process is added to the balance of the user. And a computer-readable program recorded thereon.