JP2009288921A - Method for electronic bill settlement of gas charge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To propose the electronic bill settlement method of gas charge for improving the convenience of a gas consumer. <P>SOLUTION: This electronic billing/electric settlement system 11 of gas charge is configured to electronically perform the bill settlement processing of gas charge to each gas consumer 3 to whom gas is supplied from each gas undertaker 1 with an electronic billing/electronic settlement server 12 of a gas center 4 as a center. When receiving the charge sum data of the gas charge from the gas undertaker 1 side, the electronic billing/electronic settlement server 12 distributes settlement request mail to a user communication terminal 13 of each gas consumer 3. When the gas charge is settled, thank-you mail is distributed to a gas consumer 3 and a gas undertaker 1 in a real time, and when the gas charge is not paid even after the payment period has expired, reminder mail is distributed to the gas consumer 3 so that the user can be urged to pay the gas charge. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic billing / settlement method for a gas price that performs electronic billing and electronic settlement for a gas price in order to store a gas price from a gas consumer on behalf of each gas company.

There has been proposed a system that can measure the amount of power, water, or gas used for a certain period of time, and perform settlement of a billing amount corresponding to the amount of use without human intervention. In the system described in Patent Document 1, the payment server receives information transmitted via a telecommunication line from a management device attached to a meter that measures the amount of usage such as electric power, and based on the received information, the user's The payment server automatically deducts the billing amount according to the usage amount from the account. In addition, the settlement server provides information to that effect when the user's account balance is less than the predetermined amount or when the charge amount cannot be withdrawn because the user's account balance is less than the predetermined amount. To be sent to other devices.
JP 2002-49857 A

  The system described in Patent Document 1 is a system that withdraws gas charges from a user's bank account. If the user wishes to make a credit card payment, a payment using a payment terminal at a convenience store, a payment using electronic money, etc., it cannot be handled. In addition, if the balance is insufficient, the user cannot settle the gas price without depositing into the account. Instead of depositing into an account, for example, it is inconvenient that a payment process cannot be performed at a convenience store. As described above, the conventional settlement system is not convenient for the user and lacks versatility.

  In view of these points, an object of the present invention is to propose an electronic billing / settlement method for gas charges that can improve the convenience for the user.

In order to solve the above problems, an electronic billing / settlement method for a gas price according to the present invention includes:
An ID and password are assigned to the “customer code” given to each gas consumer who receives gas supply from each gas company, and the gas bill settlement company's electronic billing / settlement to each gas consumer The URL of the member site on the Internet operated by the server, the ID and the password are informed beforehand.
In the database of the electronic billing / settlement server, gas company information for specifying each gas company is registered in advance,
From the gas company server of the gas company, gas usage information including the “customer code” and the billing amount information of the gas price is periodically transmitted to the electronic billing / settlement server,
The electronic billing / settlement server registers the received gas use information in the database,
When the gas consumer accesses the member site from a user communication terminal and inputs the ID and the password, the electronic billing / settlement server inputs a “customer number”, “confirmation number” for electronic settlement of the gas price. ”And“ online payment number ”are generated and transmitted to the user communication terminal,
The gas consumer can settle the gas price at a gas price payment terminal using the “customer number” and the “confirmation number” or the “online payment number”.

  Here, in the case of an apartment house or the like, the “customer code”, the URL, the ID and the password are printed on a sheet such as a label on the indoor wall of each house, and the gas consumer's Paste it in the gas consumption place.

Alternatively, the “customer code”, the URL, the ID, and the password may be printed on a card and issued to the gas consumer.
If the URL is issued in the form of a two-dimensional barcode, it is convenient because the member site can be easily accessed by reading the two-dimensional barcode with a user communication terminal such as a mobile phone.

  Next, for users who have trouble accessing the member site or users who want to make a credit card payment, register their e-mail addresses, make an electronic bill for the gas price by e-mail, It is desirable that the gas price can be settled by a settlement method.

For this purpose, the electronic billing / settlement method of the present invention is:
In the database of the electronic billing / settlement server, the gas company information including an e-mail address for identifying each gas company is registered in advance,
The electronic billing / settlement server accepts registration of an e-mail address of the gas consumer at the member site,
Includes gas consumer information including the “customer code” for identifying each gas consumer from the gas company server of the gas company, and billing amount information of the gas price of each gas consumer Gas usage information is periodically sent to the electronic billing / settlement server,
Upon receipt of the gas usage information, the electronic billing / settlement server identifies the gas consumer, and for the gas consumer in which the e-mail address is registered, the gas price for the gas consumer And creating an electronic billing data including a payment deadline, creating an email for a payment request including the electronic billing data, delivering the email for the payment request to the user communication terminal of the gas consumer,
The electronic billing / settlement server waits for settlement information indicating that the gas price has been stored to be transmitted from the settlement institution server,
When the electronic billing / settlement server receives the settlement information within the payment deadline, the electronic billing / settlement server creates an email for settlement completion notification, and sends the settlement completion notification email to the user communication terminal of the gas consumer And delivering to the gas company server of the gas company,
When the electronic billing / settlement server does not receive the settled information within the payment deadline, the electronic billing / settlement server creates an e-mail for gas price payment reminder, It distributes to a user communication terminal and the said gas company server, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

Here, in the present invention, the settlement request e-mail includes
Includes gas consumer information, billing amount, payment deadline, link to payment method selection screen, and specific information for identifying billing for the gas price required at convenience store payment terminals,
The gas consumer displays the payment request e-mail on the screen of the user communication terminal, clicks a link to the selection screen to access a payment method selection screen, and a gas price payment method, Select at least credit card payment, payment at a convenience store payment terminal, payment by electronic money,
When the payment method is selected from the user communication terminal, the electronic billing / settlement server registers the selected payment method in the database in association with the gas consumer information.

  Further, in the electronic billing / settlement method of the gas price according to the present invention, the electronic billing / settlement server, when the automatic price withdrawal of the gas price by the credit card settlement cannot be made, The gas price payment request e-mail requesting payment by a credit card or a payment method other than credit card payment is created and transmitted to the user communication terminal.

Furthermore, in the gas bill electronic billing / settlement method of the present invention,
Arrangement of a shut-off mechanism capable of shutting off the gas supply to the gas consumption place by the gas consumer,
The electronic billing / settlement server did not receive settled information from the settlement institution server by the last payment deadline after one or more transmissions of the gas price payment reminder email In this case, an e-mail indicating that the gas price cannot be stored is sent to the gas company server,
When the gas company server receives an e-mail incapable of storing the gas price, it sends a notice mail of forced gas cutoff to the user communication terminal, and operates the shut-off mechanism after sending the notice mail. It is characterized by forcibly shutting off the gas supply.

  In the electronic billing / settlement method of the gas price of the present invention, the number for electronic settlement of the gas price can be obtained by accessing the member site operated by the gas price billing settlement business operator, and using this, a convenience store etc. Gas payment can be made at a payment terminal installed in the city. In addition, by performing e-mail registration, it is possible to obtain information related to payment of the gas price in advance by e-mail, and to perform e-payment of the gas price by various settlement methods described in the received e-mail. Therefore, the convenience for the gas user can be enhanced.

  In addition, when payment cannot be made in credit card payment or the like, an e-mail that can select another payment method is delivered to the gas consumer again. Therefore, the gas consumer can pay the unpaid gas price by various methods, which is convenient.

  Furthermore, since the payment method of the gas price can be selected also in the reminder mail when the gas price has not been paid, the gas consumer can settle the gas price by the most convenient settlement method for himself.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an extremely convenient gas price settlement method for gas consumers, and to provide a settlement method with high gas price collection efficiency to gas companies. it can.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an electronic billing and electronic payment method for gas charges to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Outline procedure of electronic billing and electronic payment methods)
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of an electronic billing and electronic payment method and system for gas charges. In the electronic billing and electronic payment processing of gas charges, a large number of gas companies 1 collectively charge and settle gas charges to gas consumers 3 in gas consumption areas 2 (for example, houses) to which gas is supplied. It is operated by a gas center 4 (a gas price settlement business operator, a storage agency center). Each gas company 1 performs meter-reading of the gas usage in the gas consumption place 2 regularly, for example every month. The meter reading may be either meter reading using a handy terminal or automatic meter reading by communication.

  In the system of this example, an ID and a password are allocated to the “customer code” given to each gas consumer 3 that receives gas supply from each gas company 1, and for each gas consumer 3, The URL of the member site 12d on the Internet operated by the gas center 4 and the ID and password of each gas consumer 3 are notified in advance. In the gas center 4, gas company information 1A for specifying each gas company 1 is registered in advance. A gas usage information 3B including a “customer code” and a billing amount information of the gas price is periodically provided to the gas center 4 from the gas company 1. The gas center 4 registers the received gas use information 3B. When the gas consumer 3 accesses the member site 12d operated on the Internet and inputs an ID and a password, the gas center 4 enters the “customer number”, “confirmation number” and the electronic payment for the gas price. “Online payment number” is generated and notified to the gas consumer 3. The gas consumer 3 can use the “customer number” and the “confirmation number” or the “online payment number” to settle the gas price at a gas price payment terminal, for example, the convenience store 6.

  Here, the “customer code”, URL, ID, and password can be printed on a sheet such as a label and pasted on the gas consumer 2 of the gas consumer 3. For example, in an apartment house, a label may be attached to a wall of a gas use place in each house. Instead, the “customer code”, URL, ID, and password may be printed on a card and distributed to each gas consumer 3.

  The URL is preferably issued in the form of a two-dimensional barcode. In this way, for example, a URL can be read by a mobile phone equipped with a barcode reader, and access to the member site 12d can be easily performed.

  Here, the gas center 4 periodically receives gas usage information necessary for billing and settlement of gas charges from each gas company 1, and sends an e-mail notification (payment request) of the gas price on behalf of the gas company 1. Distribution to each gas consumer 3 is possible. The gas consumer 3 who wishes to receive a gas price settlement notice by e-mail accesses the member site 12d in advance and performs registration procedures such as an e-mail address.

  The gas consumer 3 that has received the notification mail of the gas price selects a gas price payment method in response to the notification mail and notifies the gas center 4 of the payment method. When the payment at the convenience store 6 is selected, the “customer number”, “confirmation number”, and “online payment number” are notified from the gas center 4 to the gas consumer 3. Therefore, for example, the gas consumer 3 goes to the selected convenience store 6 and inputs the “customer number” and the “confirmation number” to the settlement communication terminal 7 installed there to cause the application ticket to be issued. Receive this application ticket, submit the application ticket at the cashier counter and pay the gas fee.

  The gas center 4 is notified from the POS management computer 8 of the convenience store 6 to the gas center 4 that the gas price has been stored (settlement information). When the gas center 4 receives the payment information, the gas center 4 notifies the gas company 1 of the payment information and sends a thank you mail to the gas consumer 3 to notify the completion of the payment.

  When payment by credit card is selected, the gas center 4 transmits the credit card information from the gas consumer 3, makes an authentication request to the credit card company 10, and if authentication is obtained, the gas price is paid. Process by credit card payment. The credit settlement information is notified from the gas center 4 to the gas company 1. In addition, a thank you mail notifying the completion of the gas price settlement is notified to the gas consumer 3.

  If the credit settlement is not successful, a reminder mail is sent from the gas center 4 to the gas consumer 3 to prompt the user to select a settlement method other than the credit card settlement for the gas price settlement method. For example, cash settlement at the convenience store 6 that is the charge storage agent 5 is selected. When the cash settlement is selected, the gas price settlement process is performed according to the above procedure.

  As an electronic payment method, a method by electronic money or net banking can be selected. In any case, when the gas price cannot be settled, a reminder mail is notified to prompt the change of the settlement method.

  Next, if the gas price is not paid by the predetermined payment deadline after delivering the gas price notice mail, the gas center 4 sends a reminder mail to the gas consumer 3 whose gas price has not been settled. Deliver and prompt for payment.

  Here, if the gas price is not settled despite the delivery of the reminder mail, the gas supply can be forcibly cut off. For example, the final reminder mail is notified to the gas consumer 3 to notify that the gas supply is forcibly stopped. The final reminder mail is also notified to the gas company 1. Upon receipt of the final reminder mail, the gas company 1 shuts off the gas supply by forcibly shutting off the gas shutoff valve 2a installed in the gas consumption area via the communication line at the forced stop date and time.

(System configuration)
The electronic billing / electronic settlement system 11 that performs electronic billing and electronic settlement of gas charges by the above procedure is configured with an electronic billing / electronic settlement server 12 installed in the gas center 4 as the center. A user communication terminal 13 possessed by the gas consumer 3 and a gas company server 14 installed in the gas company 1 are connected to the electronic billing / electronic settlement server 12 via a communication line. The user communication terminal 13 is a mobile phone 13a or a stationary personal computer 13b.

  The electronic billing / electronic settlement server 12 includes a bank management server 15 installed in a financial institution, a settlement communication terminal 7 connected to the POS management computer 8 of the convenience store 6, and a credit card company 10. An installed server 18 and an electronic money management server 19 installed in an electronic money settlement organization that performs settlement of electronic money are connected via a communication line. Furthermore, a point management server 20 installed in a point handling company that gives points to the gas consumer 3 according to the gas price is connected to the electronic billing / electronic settlement server 12 via a communication line.

  The point handling company is, for example, an airline company or a credit card company, and the point management server 20 performs processing for giving points such as mileage according to the gas price to the gas consumer. The points given to the gas consumer can be exchanged for electronic money, and it is also possible to pay the gas price using electronic money exchanged from the points as will be described later.

(How to apply for electronic payment service)
FIG. 2A is a flowchart showing a flow of a method for applying for an electronic billing / settlement service for gas charges using the electronic billing / settlement system 11.

  In the application for the service for receiving the electronic billing / settlement service, the gas consumer 3 uses the user communication terminal 13, for example, the mobile phone 13 a, in the Internet site operated by the electronic billing / settlement server 12. The service application site 12d is accessed (step S11). For example, using a mobile phone 13a having a two-dimensional barcode reading function, as shown in FIG. 2B, a service application site via a two-dimensional barcode 12a printed on an advertising medium such as a magazine. 12d is accessed.

  When the service application site 12d is accessed, a registration screen 12b as shown in FIG. 2C is displayed. The gas consumer 3 inputs and transmits necessary registration information on the registration screen 12b (step S12). The registration information includes specific information (name, address, etc.) of the gas consumer, notification destination information (phone number, e-mail address, etc.), and payment method (either prepaid or postpaid) of the gas price. Yes.

  The electronic billing / electronic settlement server 12 confirms the registration information 3B transmitted from the gas consumer 3 and registers it in the database 12c. In the database 12c, the gas company information 1A is registered in advance. Based on the received registration information 3B, the gas company 1 supplying gas to the gas consumer 3 is determined, and the gas company 1 Is notified of the application for electronic billing / settlement and the registration information 3B of the applicant. The gas company server 14 verifies the received registration information 3B of the applicant with the gas consumer information 14A registered in the server 14 and confirms that there is no mistake, and the confirmation result is electronically billed and electronically It returns to the settlement server 12.

  When the confirmation of the applicant's registration information 3B is completed in the electronic billing / electronic payment server 12 and the gas company server 14, the electronic billing / electronic payment server 12 completes registration of the electronic payment service in the mobile phone 13a which is a user communication terminal. An electronic mail (registration completion mail) is transmitted (step S14), and the application procedure for the electronic billing / settlement service is completed. FIG. 2 (d) shows an example of a registration completion mail received by the mobile phone 13a. As a result, the gas company server 14 is set so that, for example, the billing / settlement of the gas price for the applicant from the month following the application date is switched to the electronic billing / settlement service.

(Gas price billing settlement method)
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for electronic billing / settlement of gas charges using the electronic billing / settlement system 11, and shows a flow at the time of electronic billing / settlement of the first gas price after application. In this case, the gas company 1 reads the amount of gas used by each gas consumer 3 and sends the billing amount data C1 of the gas price from the gas company server 14 to the electronic billing / electronic settlement server 12 of the gas center 4. (Blocks b1, b2). Upon receipt of the billing amount data C1, the electronic billing / electronic settlement server 12 registers it in the database 12c as gas settlement information C2 in association with the gas operator information 1A and the gas consumer information 3B ( Block b2), electronic billing data C3 of the gas price is created (block b3), this is processed into a settlement request mail and delivered to the user communication terminal 13 of the gas consumer 3, for example, the mobile phone 13a (blocks b3, b4) ).

  Here, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display example of the mobile phone 13a that has received the settlement request mail. The payment request email (electronic billing data C3) includes the name of the gas company (name of the gas company used), “customer code” for identifying the gas consumer, billing amount, payment deadline, selectable payment method, convenience store "Customer number" and "confirmation number" to be used for payment at the terminal, and "online payment number" to be used for online payment.

  Upon receiving the settlement request mail, the gas consumer 3 selects a settlement method on the display screen (box b4 and box b5 in FIG. 3). For example, one of credit card payment, electronic money payment, and convenience store payment can be selected.

  When selecting credit card payment, click URLd1 described in the body of the e-mail shown in FIG. 4 (a) to open the selection screen shown in FIG. 4 (b). (Only this time, automatic deduction after next month) is selected. When credit card payment (automatic debit) is selected on the screen, the electronic billing / settlement server 12 requests the credit card information from the gas consumer 3 and receives the credit card information. 12c (box b6 in FIG. 3), and communicates with the server 18 of the credit card company 10 to process the gas price by credit card settlement (box b7 in FIG. 3). The automatic withdrawal process will be performed from the next month.

  When credit card payment (only this time) is selected, a credit card information input screen is displayed on the screen of the mobile phone 13a. On this screen, the gas consumer 3 inputs credit card information and transmits it to the electronic billing / electronic settlement server 12. The electronic billing / electronic settlement server 12 communicates with the server 18 of the credit card company 10 to process the gas price by credit settlement (box b7 in FIG. 3).

  When paying the gas price at the A convenience store, “customer number” and “confirmation number” are used. When the gas price is paid at the B convenience store, the “online payment number” is used (box b7 in FIG. 3).

  When the gas price is paid by the gas consumer 3, the electronic billing / electronic settlement server 12 receives the storage information from the server 18 of the credit card company 10 and the POS management computer 8 of the convenience store 6 (box b8 in FIG. 3). The electronic billing / electronic payment server 12 creates a “thank you mail” for notifying the completion of the payment of the gas price, and distributes it to the user communication terminal 13 of the gas consumer 3, for example, the mobile phone 13a (box in FIG. 3). b9), and is delivered to the gas company server 14 of the gas company 1 (box b10 in FIG. 3).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the electronic billing / settlement procedure for the second and subsequent gas charges. The basic processing flow is the same as in the first case shown in FIG. The difference is that when the electronic billing / electronic settlement server 12 receives the billing amount data of the gas price from the gas company 1 side and registers it (block b1, b2), first, automatic credit debit is selected. The gas consumers 3 are extracted from the registration information in the database 12c, and the gas consumers 3 are communicated with the server 18 of the credit card company 10 that is a settlement organization for authentication and the like. And automatically deducting the gas price (blocks b11 and b12). For the gas consumer 3 who has not selected the automatic credit withdrawal, the electronic billing / settlement processing for the gas price is performed according to the same processing as in FIG.

  Here, if the automatic withdrawal of the gas price is not possible, electronic billing is performed (block b12 → block b3), and a settlement request mail is distributed. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a display part for selecting payment by another credit card that can be settled or a payment method other than the credit card and a message part indicating that payment is not possible are included. E-mail is delivered.

  Next, FIG. 7 shows a flow showing a dunning procedure when the payment for the gas price is not completed by the payment deadline. After the electronic billing / electronic settlement server 12 delivers the settlement request mail to the gas consumer 3 (block b4), if the settlement organization cannot store the gas price even after the payment period of the gas price has passed ( In block b21), the electronic billing / electronic settlement server 12 re-registers settlement information in the database 12c for those who have not paid the gas price (block b22). Then, a reminder mail requesting payment of the gas price is delivered to the gas consumer 3 whose payment information has been re-registered (block b23). FIG. 8 shows an example of a reminder mail. In this reminder mail, credit card settlement and other settlement methods are displayed. When the gas consumer 3 clicks the “link” in the body of the email shown in FIG. 8, a selection screen is displayed on which necessary information for electronic money payment, ATM net banking payment, and convenience store payment is displayed. The gas consumer 3 is made to select another credit card settlement or a payment method other than the credit card.

  In FIG. 7 again, when the gas price is paid by the demand, processing is performed in the same manner as in FIGS. 3 and 5 and the thank you mail is delivered to the gas consumer 3 (blocks 7, 8, and 9). The settlement completion notice is also distributed to the business operator 1 (block b10).

  In addition, if you choose to pay by credit card or electronic money as the gas payment method when requesting gas payment or when demanding payment for gas, you will be able to make payment online via email. Also good. That is, the information for performing the payment of the gas price online from the email can be included in the email for requesting the payment of the gas price and the email for prompting the payment of the gas price. If it does in this way, the gas price can be paid online from the transmitted electronic mail, and the convenience of the gas consumer increases.

  In addition, if the gas price is not settled within the due date of payment after the first payment is requested, or if the gas price is not settled within the due date despite the predetermined number of reminders, The billing / electronic payment server 12 notifies the gas company server 14 that payment is not possible. The gas company 1 forcibly cuts off the gas supply to the gas consumption place 2 of the gas consumer 3 whose gas charge is delinquent. For example, the gas shutoff valve 2a installed in the gas consumption place 2 is forcibly shut off via a communication line and a transmission device. Prior to the forced shut-off, the gas business operator 1 gives a notice to the gas consumer 3 to forcibly shut off. When the gas fee is paid after the gas supply is cut off, the gas supply is resumed, and the fact is transmitted to the electronic billing / electronic settlement server 12.

  Although not mentioned in the above description, points generated according to the gas price are added at the server of the point management company for each settlement, and can be used as benefits such as mileage exchange and reduction of the gas price.

(Operational effects of the embodiment)
As described above, in the electronic billing / electronic payment system 11, the electronic billing / electronic payment server 12 transmits an electronic mail requesting payment of the gas price to the user communication terminal 13 of the gas consumer 3. Is billing for gas. The gas consumer 3 can conveniently know information such as the amount charged for the gas fee, the payment deadline, and the payment method without being restricted by the place and time.

  Further, when the gas consumer 3 does not pay the gas price within the payment period of the gas price, a reminder mail is delivered to the user communication terminal 13 of the gas consumer 3. A person who goes out or who is away from the gas consumption area 2 can know that the gas price has not been paid without being restricted by the place and time, and the convenience of the gas consumer 3 is improved. Thereby, forgetting to pay the gas price can be prevented, and the recovery rate of the gas price can be increased.

  Further, when the gas consumer 3 pays the gas price, the electronic billing / electronic settlement server 12 that receives the notification from the settlement organization delivers a thank you mail indicating the completion of the settlement to the gas consumer 3 and the gas business operator 1. Yes. The gas consumer 3 can confirm the payment of the gas price in real time, and the gas company 1 can also know the payment status of the gas price in real time.

  Further, when requesting payment for the gas price and prompting for payment of the gas price, the dunning mail includes information regarding a plurality of payment methods for the gas price. Therefore, the gas consumer 3 can select a payment method suitable for him / her from among the plurality of displayed payment methods. Therefore, the convenience of payment of the gas price is increased.

  Further, when the credit card cannot be automatically withdrawn, a settlement request mail for requesting payment by another payment method is transmitted. For this reason, the gas consumer 3 can grasp | ascertain the necessity of switching the payment method of a gas price by electronic mail. Therefore, convenience for gas consumers is increased. Moreover, the gas company 1 can raise the collection rate of a gas price.

It is a schematic block diagram of the electronic billing / settlement system of the gas price to which the present invention is applied. It is a flowchart showing a flow of an electronic billing / settlement service application method, an explanatory diagram of a two-dimensional barcode application screen carrying access information to an application site, and an explanatory diagram showing an application completion mail reception screen. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the bill settlement method of the 1st gas price after application for electronic billing / settlement service. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a payment request mail, and an example of a payment method selection screen. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the bill settlement method of the gas price after the 2nd time after an electronic billing / settlement service application. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the email transmitted when automatic debit with a credit card was not made. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the prompting method of gas price payment. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a dunning mail.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gas company 2 Gas consumption area 2a Gas shut-off valve 3 Gas consumer 4 Gas center 5 Charge storage agent 6 Convenience store 7 Payment communication terminal 8 POS management computer 10 Credit card company 11 Electronic billing / electronic settlement system 12 Electronic billing / Electronic payment server 13 User communication terminal 13a Mobile phone 13b Personal computer 14 Gas company server 15 Bank management server 18 Server 19 Electronic money management server 20 Point management server

Claims (8)

An ID and password are assigned to the “customer code” given to each gas consumer who receives gas supply from each gas company, and the gas bill settlement company's electronic billing / settlement to each gas consumer The URL of the member site on the Internet operated by the server, the ID and the password are informed beforehand.
In the database of the electronic billing / settlement server, gas company information for specifying each gas company is registered in advance,
From the gas company server of the gas company, gas usage information including the “customer code” and the billing amount information of the gas price is periodically transmitted to the electronic billing / settlement server,
The electronic billing / settlement server registers the received gas use information in the database,
When the gas consumer accesses the member site from a user communication terminal and inputs the ID and the password, the electronic billing / settlement server inputs a “customer number”, “confirmation number” for electronic settlement of the gas price. ”And“ online payment number ”are generated and transmitted to the user communication terminal,
The gas consumer can settle the gas price at a gas price payment terminal using the “customer number” and the “confirmation number” or the “online payment number”. Electronic billing and settlement methods. In the electronic billing / settlement method for the gas price according to claim 1,
The "customer code", the URL, the ID, and the password are printed on a sheet such as a label and pasted on a gas consumption place of the gas consumer. Method. In the electronic billing / settlement method for the gas price according to claim 1,
An electronic billing / settlement method for a gas price, wherein the “customer code”, the URL, the ID, and the password are printed on a card and issued to the gas consumer. In the electronic billing / settlement method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An electronic billing / settlement method for gas charges, wherein the URL is issued in the form of a two-dimensional barcode. In the electronic billing / settlement method for the gas price according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
In the database of the electronic billing / settlement server, the gas company information including an e-mail address for identifying each gas company is registered in advance,
The electronic billing / settlement server accepts registration of an e-mail address of the gas consumer at the member site,
Includes gas consumer information including the “customer code” for identifying each gas consumer from the gas company server of the gas company, and billing amount information of the gas price of each gas consumer Gas usage information is periodically sent to the electronic billing / settlement server,
Upon receipt of the gas usage information, the electronic billing / settlement server identifies the gas consumer, and for the gas consumer in which the e-mail address is registered, the gas price for the gas consumer And creating an electronic billing data including a payment deadline, creating an email for a payment request including the electronic billing data, delivering the email for the payment request to the user communication terminal of the gas consumer,
The electronic billing / settlement server waits for settlement information indicating that the gas price has been stored to be transmitted from the settlement institution server,
When the electronic billing / settlement server receives the settlement information within the payment deadline, the electronic billing / settlement server creates an email for settlement completion notification, and sends the settlement completion notification email to the user communication terminal of the gas consumer And delivering to the gas company server of the gas company,
When the electronic billing / settlement server does not receive the settled information within the payment deadline, the electronic billing / settlement server creates an e-mail for gas price payment reminder, An electronic billing / settlement method for a gas price, which is distributed to a user communication terminal and the gas company server. In the electronic billing / settlement method of the gas price according to claim 5,
In the payment request email,
Includes gas consumer information, billing amount, payment deadline, link to payment method selection screen, and specific information for identifying billing for the gas price required at convenience store payment terminals,
The gas consumer displays the payment request e-mail on the screen of the user communication terminal, clicks a link to the selection screen to access a payment method selection screen, and a gas price payment method, Select at least credit card payment, payment at a convenience store payment terminal, payment by electronic money,
The electronic billing / settlement server, when a payment method is selected from the user communication terminal, registers the selected payment method in the database in association with the gas consumer information. Electronic billing and settlement methods. In the electronic billing / settlement method for the gas price according to claim 5 or 6,
When the electronic billing / settlement server cannot automatically debit the gas price by the credit card settlement, the electronic billing / settlement server can settle by another credit card that can be settled, or settlement other than the credit card settlement An electronic billing / settlement method for a gas price, characterized in that an electronic mail for a gas price payment request for requesting settlement by the method is created and transmitted to the user communication terminal. In the electronic billing / settlement method for a gas price according to any one of claims 5 to 7,
Arrangement of a shut-off mechanism capable of shutting off the gas supply to the gas consumption place by the gas consumer,
The electronic billing / settlement server did not receive settled information from the settlement institution server by the last payment deadline after one or more transmissions of the gas price payment reminder email In this case, an e-mail indicating that the gas price cannot be stored is sent to the gas company server,
When the gas company server receives an e-mail incapable of storing the gas price, it sends a notice mail of forced gas cutoff to the user communication terminal, and operates the shut-off mechanism after sending the notice mail. An electronic billing / settlement method for gas charges, characterized by forcibly shutting off gas supply.

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