JP3423283B2 - Prepaid payment method, its device, and its program recording medium - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a prepaid type payment method as a means for a service provider to collect a consideration for providing a service on a network from a user, and more particularly, based on a monetary value paid by the user. The prepaid frequency (points) is issued to the user, the sales prepaid frequency (points) declared by the metered service provider is subtracted from the prepaid frequency held by the user, and the monetary value based on the sales prepaid frequency is calculated by the service provider. The present invention relates to a payment method, a device therefor, and a program recording medium therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Cash payments at convenience stores and the like, and credit payments on networks,
Prepaid frequency (points) that is consistent for the user
There is a prepaid payment service in which a customer purchases a service and manages the frequency on a magnetic card, an IC card, a coupon ticket, or a hard disk of a prepaid payment system management computer, and uses the frequency to make a user's service purchase. In providing a paid service using such a prepaid payment method, the user must use the paid service after subtracting the frequency corresponding to the price of the service used by the user from one of the above frequency (point) storage media. You can

[0003]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the pay-as-you-go services adopted in telephone communication services, Internet connection services, stream content distribution services, etc.,
Only when the user finishes using the service, the total consideration for the series of services becomes clear. For this reason,
When using the existing prepaid payment service to collectively settle the total consideration for these services, the service provider has to wait for the prepaid payment process to be completed until the service is provided to a series of users. is there.

From a service provider's point of view, with such a settlement method, there is a possibility that the prepaid settlement process may not be completed due to a shortage of the prepaid balance of the user or the like even though the service is provided. ,
There is a risk that the service provider cannot collect the consideration for the service. As a means for avoiding the above problems, in providing the above-mentioned metered service, a certain unit of service, for example, in the case of telephone service, one call frequency is held by the user before the service is provided. The payment method is adopted in which the service is subtracted from the prepaid frequency and the service is provided only when the subtraction process is completed.

However, according to this method, prepaid payment processing for each service unit must be performed many times during the usage period of the user's pay-as-you-go service, which imposes a heavy load on the prepaid payment system and the service providing system. Become. An object of the present invention is to provide a payment method, a device therefor, and a program recording medium for a pay-as-you-go service without imposing a heavy load on the prepaid payment system and the service providing system and without risking that the service provider cannot collect the consideration. By providing.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above problems, a prepaid frequency holding processing function is added to a conventional prepaid settlement method, and a service provider can perform increment / decrement processing. By paying out the frequency of the prohibited holding status, the risk that the service provider cannot collect the consideration is avoided, and further, the total consideration determined after the service provision to a series of users is completed is held first. Withdraw once in a single process from the number of times it was put into the state. In this way, the efficiency of the prepaid payment process of the service is improved, and the load on the prepaid payment system and the service providing system is reduced.

At this time, the total consideration deducted by the service provider does not necessarily have to be the same amount as the holding frequency, but if the face value is equal to or less than the holding frequency based on the service provision record. It is characterized by good points, which makes the settlement process more efficient. Although "frequency" and "point" mean the same thing, although "frequency" is mainly used in the following description,
It may be described as "point".

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Outline Explanation The outline of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. (1) The user purchases the prepaid frequency from the prepaid payment device 100, and the payment device 100 manages the prepaid frequency of the user. Payment for this purchase is made by the payment system 400.
For credit card payment, postal / bank transfer, debit card payment, cash payment at convenience stores.

(2) The user determines the budget frequency required to provide the desired service, and (3) the budget frequency is reported from the terminal 200 to the settlement apparatus 100. (4) The payment device 100 holds the prepaid frequencies corresponding to the budget frequency from the prepaid remaining frequency of the user. (5) Notify the service provider / charging device 300 of the holding (budget) frequency. (6) The user provides the service through the terminal 200.
The charging device 300 is requested to provide the service, and the metered service is provided. Holding frequency is payment device 10
The service may be sent from the user terminal 200 to the service providing / charging device 300 instead of 0.

(7) The service provision is limited to the holding frequency or less, and when the service provision is completed, the sales frequency is determined and (8) the settlement apparatus 100 is notified. (9) The payment device 100 releases the holding,
Subtract the sales frequency from the user's prepaid balance. (10) The settlement fee and the service provider's sales are calculated for each predetermined time period or period, and (11) the settlement system 400 is requested to pay the service provider based on the calculation. -Explanation of device configuration diagram Fig. 2 shows the configuration of the prepaid payment device 100 with a holding function according to the present invention, each configuration of the user terminal 200 and the service providing / charging device 300 in which the payment device 100 is supposed to provide a payment service, and These payment devices 100
3 shows the relationship between the user terminal 200 and the service providing / billing device 300.

The user terminal 200, the service providing / billing apparatus 300, and the settlement apparatus 100 are connected to each other via the network 400.
Tied with. In the embodiment of the present invention, the Internet is assumed as the network 400. Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, the payment device 100 is connected to a financial network and exchanges actual money with a user or a service provider by another payment service such as credit card payment or bank transfer. The payment apparatus 100 includes a communication unit 110 that communicates with the user terminal 200 and the service providing / billing apparatus 300, and a system control unit 130 that manages the user's prepaid points and sales of the store and operates the payment system. .

FIG. 3 shows a detailed structure of the settlement apparatus 100. The communication unit 110 further receives a point purchase request receiving unit 111 that receives the point purchase of the user, and a point issuing process notification unit 112 that notifies the user of the point purchase process result. The service provider receives the holding process execution of the points that the user holds. Point holding request receiving means 113 Point holding notifying means 114 for notifying the execution result of the holding processing of points 114 Point request processing request receiving means 11 for accepting cancellation of holding for points and subtraction processing of points below the holding point from a service provider
5 Point request processing notifying means 116 for notifying the holding result of 5 points holding and subtraction processing Transaction status presentation request receiving means 117 for accepting the point usage status presentation request from the user 117 Transaction status notification means 118 for notifying the user of the point usage status Point additional purchase request receiving means 119 for accepting additional purchase of points by the user Point additional processing notification means 120 for notifying the result of additional point purchase processing for the user 120 Point refund request receiving means 121 for accepting point refund request from the user 121 Point refund processing result for the user Point refund processing notifying means 122 that notifies the completion of the registration procedure of the service provider to the settlement service using the settlement apparatus 100 of the present invention, and the service provider registration for notifying the service provider identifier (point operation target identifier). Processing completion notifying means 123 Sales receipt processing completion notifying means 124 for notifying the service provider of the sales amount within the settlement month of the settlement service using the settlement apparatus 100 of the present invention and the completion of the deposit processing thereof. Communication with the financial network It is composed of a settlement processing communication means 125 for exchanging actual money with a user or a service provider by another settlement service such as credit settlement or bank transfer.

In one embodiment of the present invention, point holding request receiving means 113, point holding notifying means 114, point billing processing request receiving means 11
5, point claim processing notification means 116, transaction status presentation request reception means 117, transaction status notification means 118, point addition purchase request reception means 119, point addition processing notification means 120, point refund request reception means 121, point refund processing notification means. 122 is realized by using a WWW server, the service provider registration processing completion notifying means 123 and the sales payment processing completion notifying means 124 are realized by using a mail server, and the payment processing communication means 125 is connected to a financial network or payment. It is realized by using a dedicated communication module according to the service (credit payment processing, bank transfer processing).

On the other hand, from the system control means 130, prepaid issuance processing means 131, account check processing means 132, point holding processing means 1 are further provided.
33, point claim processing means 134, transaction status acquisition processing means 135, point refund processing means 136, point addition processing means 137, service provider registration processing means 13
8. The sales / receipt batch processing means 139, the information holding medium control means 140, and the settlement processing means 141 are called, and the processing required for operating the settlement system is executed.

The prepaid issuing processing means 131 is a processing means for opening a prepaid account based on a user's request and replenishing the account with the prepaid frequency desired by the user after the user pays the fee. The account check processing means 132 is a processing means for the system control means 130 to acquire the state (valid, invalid, temporary invalid) of the user's prepaid account. The point holding processing unit 133 is a processing unit that puts a certain fixed amount of the prepaid frequency of the user into the holding state based on the request of the user or the service provider.

The point request processing means 134 deducts the prepaid frequency as a consideration for the service, which is determined after the service provider has completed providing the service to the user, from the prepaid frequency that was put into the holding state before the service is provided, and put it in the holding state. It is a processing means that returns the difference between the prepaid frequency and the prepaid frequency as the price of the service to the user's account, and records the prepaid frequency as the price of the service as the sales of the service provider. The transaction status acquisition processing unit 135 is a processing unit that collects the transactions performed by the prepaid account held by the user as account usage information based on the user's request.

The point refund processing means 136 is a processing means for canceling the prepaid account held by the user based on the user's request. Cancellation processing consists of refund processing of the user's prepaid balance and invalidation of the account. The point addition processing unit 137 is a processing unit that replenishes the prepaid account held by the user with the prepaid frequency desired by the user after the user pays the fee, based on the user's request. The service provider registration processing means 138 is a processing means for registering the service provider in the prepaid settlement service.

The sales deposit batch processing means 139 liquidates the transactions performed within the period specified by the operator of the prepaid payment service on the payment date specified by the operator of the prepaid payment service, and collects the sales of the service provider. , A processing means to be delivered to the service provider. Information holding medium control means 1
Reference numeral 40 is a unit that realizes reading and writing of data from and to the information storage medium 150. The payment processing means 141 is a processing means for communicating with the financial network using the payment processing communication means 125 and exchanging actual money with the user or the service provider by another payment service such as credit card payment or bank transfer. is there.

Information handled by the settlement apparatus 100 is recorded on the information holding medium 150. In one embodiment of the present invention, prepaid issuing processing means 131, account check processing means 132, point holding processing means 133, point claim processing means 134, transaction status acquisition processing means 135, point refund processing means 136, point addition processing means 137. Is realized as a CGI program group that can be called from the WWW server. The sales receipt batch processing means 139 is realized as a batch processing program that can be executed from a computer terminal.

The service provider registration processing means 138 is realized as a program that can be executed from the command line by the settlement device operator using a computer terminal. Further, the information storage medium 150 is realized by using a database, and the information storage medium control means 140 that executes access to the database is realized as a database control library. User terminal 2 that uses the settlement apparatus 100 of the present invention
00 is composed of a communication unit 210 and an information processing unit 220. In one embodiment of the present invention, a personal computer that can be connected to the Internet and a WWW browser installed in the personal computer are assumed.

The service providing / billing apparatus 300 is
The communication means 310, the service information processing means 320, the payment information communication means 330, and the information holding medium 340 are included. In one embodiment of the present invention, the communication means 310 is W.
The service information processing means 3 is realized by a WW server.
It is assumed that 20 is realized by a CGI program executable from a WWW server, the payment information communication unit 330 is realized by a mail transmission / reception program, and the information storage medium 340 is realized by a database.

4 and 5 show a settlement device 10 of the present invention.
The information stored in the information storage medium 150 in 0 is shown. The information comprises the prepaid point management database of FIG. 4, the store management database of FIG. 4A and the user storage management database of FIG. 5B. In the “prepaid point management database”, “user account identification information” that uniquely identifies an account opened by the user on the payment device 100, “processing date” indicating the date and time when the payment device wrote to the database, and the user "Account status" that indicates the status of the account, "Point operation target identification information" that indicates the subject that triggered the processing for the user's account, "Remaining frequency" that indicates the prepaid balance of the user's account, The "additional frequency" that indicates the prepaid frequency that is added to the user's account, the "subtraction frequency" that indicates the prepaid frequency that is subtracted from the user's account by the payment processing, and the prepaid frequency that is placed in the holding state by the payment processing. Show "holding frequency", executed Is "point holding event identification information" holding identifies the Rudingu processing, one line of information of the prepaid point management database, shows the results of a single treatment with the settlement device 100 to the appropriate user account.

In the "user account identification information", other values cannot be analogized by the user, and the settlement apparatus 100
Unique information is allocated within. "Account Status"
Is "1""0""-1" in one embodiment of the present invention.
The value of “1” is valid for the user's account and “point holding processing means”, “point claim processing means”, “point refund processing means”, and “points” with respect to the user's prepaid balance. "0" indicates that the "additional processing means" can be executed.
The user's account is in a state of being invalidated by executing the refund process, and "point holding processing means"
"Point request processing means""Point refund processing means"
The "point addition processing means" cannot be executed, "-1" indicates that the "point refund processing" has been executed at the request of the user, and the "point holding processing" has been executed. Nevertheless, "point claim processing" indicates that the transaction is in the waiting state for transactions that have not been completed, only "point claim processing means" can be executed, and "point holding processing means" and "point refund processing means" This represents a state in which the "point addition processing means" cannot be executed.

[Point holding event identification information]
Is assigned with unique information that cannot be inferred from other values by the user or the service provider and is unique within the payment device 100, and is further added with information indicating the valid condition of the holding state of points. In one embodiment of the present invention, the validity period of the holding state is added as the validity condition of the holding state. As shown in FIG. 5A, in the "store-by-store storage management database", "point operation target identification information" indicating the service provider targeted for storage management, and "sales receipt batch processing means" for the corresponding service provider are executed. "Processing date" indicating the date and time, "Clearing month" indicating the settlement month of the settlement system to which the executed sales receipt batch processing corresponds, "Total sales frequency within the relevant settlement month of the corresponding service provider" The “total amount of sales”, and the “clearing amount” indicating the total amount of sales that has been paid to the corresponding service provider within the corresponding liquidation month are held.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the "user-by-user cash management database" has "user account identification information" indicating the account of the user who is the target of cash management, "prepaid issuing processing means" or "points" for the user account. "Processing date" indicating the date and time when the "refund processing means" was executed, the amount deposited into the payment system by executing the "prepaid issue processing means" for the relevant user account, or the execution of the "point refund processing means" The "payment / withdrawal amount" indicating the amount of withdrawal from the payment system is held.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the "payment / withdrawal amount" represents a positive number for deposit and a negative number for withdrawal. Description of Embodiment of Processing Flow FIGS. 6 to 11 show an embodiment of a payment processing operation processing procedure using the prepaid payment apparatus with the holding function of the present invention. This operation procedure is "store registration phase""prepaid point purchase phase""prepaid credit phase""service provision phase""prepaid billing phase""transaction information reference phase""prepaid point additional purchase phase""prepaid point refund processing" It consists of nine phases, “phase” and “sales receipt phase”.

The "store registration phase" and the "prepaid point purchase phase" are initial operation phases of the settlement apparatus 100 of the present invention. In the “store registration phase”, the service provider registers with the payment device 100 and the payment device 100
The "point operation target identification information" that uniquely identifies the service provider is paid out from the settlement apparatus 100. In the “prepaid point purchase phase”, the process of purchasing prepaid points on the payment device 100 by the user and the “user account identification information” for uniquely identifying the account storing the prepaid points purchased by the user in the payment device 100. Payment will be made.

The detailed operational processing procedure of each phase is shown below. First, referring to FIG. “Store registration phase” (S1) Based on the offline contract processing between the operator of the settlement apparatus 100 and the service provider, the operator of the settlement apparatus 100 calls the system control means 130 in the “settlement apparatus” to provide the service. The person registration processing means 138 is executed. The service provider registration processing means 138 generates "point operation target identification information" (S1-1), and the information holding medium control means 14
0 is called, and the "point operation target identification information" is registered in the "store storage management database" in the information holding medium 150 (S1-2). When the above process is completed, the system control unit 130 then notifies the service providing / charging device 300 of the generated "point operation target identification information" by using the service provider registration process completion notifying unit 123 (S1-3). .

In the payment system of the present invention, the service providing / charging device 300 receives the "point operation target identification information" using the payment information communication means 330, and stores the "point operation target identification information" in the information holding medium 340. It is supposed to be stored. “Prepaid point purchase phase” (S2) The user uses the information processing means 220 of the user terminal 200 to receive the point purchase request receiving means 11 of the settlement apparatus 100.
First, the frequency of the prepaid desired to be purchased and the user payment information in the other payment system of the user are transmitted. In one embodiment of the present invention, the user transmits the user's credit card number as the user payment information. When the point purchase request is transmitted, for example, when connecting to the payment device 100, a purchase phase, a transaction reference phase, a refund phase, etc. appear as a menu screen on the user terminal 200.
It is done by clicking on the purchase phase.
The settlement apparatus 100 calls the system control unit 130 when the point purchase request receiving unit 111 receives the desired purchase frequency of the prepaid points and the user settlement information of the user.

The system control means 130 calls the prepaid issuing processing means 131. The prepaid issuance processing means 131, based on the exchange ratio between the prepaid frequency (points) and the monetary value, which is set by the settlement processing system operator.
Calculate the monetary value required to purchase the desired frequency (S2)
-1). Next, the prepaid issuance processing unit 131 calls the settlement processing unit 141, and the settlement processing unit 141 uses the user settlement information and the settlement processing communication unit 125 to allow the user to obtain the monetary value of the monetary value required to purchase the desired frequency. The transfer to the prepaid settlement apparatus 100 of this invention is executed (S
2-2).

When the above processing is completed, the prepaid issuance processing means 131 generates "user account identification information" (S2-3), calls the information holding medium control means 140, and calls the "user" in the information holding medium 150. "User account identification information", "processing date" and "payment amount" are registered in the separate accounting management database (S2-4). The "user account identification information" is the generated "user account identification information", the "processing date" is the completion time of the payment processing means 141, and the "payment amount" is the "payment processing means". The monetary value transferred from the user to the prepaid payment system of the present invention is registered as a positive number. Further, when the above processing is completed, the prepaid issuing processing means 1
31 calls the information holding medium control means 140 and registers the “processing date”, “account status”, “remaining count”, and “addition count” in the “prepaid point management database” in the information holding medium 150 (S2- 5). For example, in FIG.
As in the first line of the prepaid point management database, the "processing date" is the time when the database was written, the "account status" is "1", and the "remaining count" and "addition count" are Registers the "desired frequency 100". When the above processing is completed, the system control means 130
Calls the point issuance processing notification means 112 and transmits the "user account identification information" and the "remaining frequency" to the information processing means 220 of the user terminal 200 (S2-6).

The "prepaid credit phase", "service provision phase" and "prepaid billing phase" are the main phases of the settlement system of the present invention, and are the phases that are repeated every time the user uses the service provision system or the settlement system. In the “prepaid credit phase”, the user determines the budget frequency of the usage-based service and sets the budget frequency in the settlement apparatus 100 for the service provider. The holding frequency is finally notified to the corresponding service provider.

In the "service provision phase", the service provider supplies the metered service to the user. At this time, in the settlement system of the present invention, it is assumed that the service provider provides the metered service to the user within the range of the holding frequency. After the completion of the usage-based service provision, the service provider determines the billing frequency as the total consideration for the series of the usage-based service provision. In the "prepaid billing phase", the billing device 100 of the present invention is billed for the billing frequency determined by the service provider. Payment device 10
0 cancels the holding frequency and returns only the difference frequency between the holding frequency and the billing frequency to the user's account. The billing frequency is registered as the sales of the service provider.

The detailed operational flow of each phase is shown below. See FIG. 7. "Prepaid Credit Phase" In the payment system of the present invention, the following communication between the user terminal 200 and the service providing / charging device 300 is assumed. The user uses the information processing unit 220 of the user terminal 200 to access the service information processing unit 320 of the service providing / billing apparatus 300 and request the service content presentation (S3-1). The service information processing means 320 of the service providing / billing apparatus 300 reads the explanation about the provided service and “point operation target identification information” from the information holding medium 340 based on the user's request.
It is displayed on the information processing means 220 of the user terminal 200 (S
3-2). At this time, the address (for example, URL) of the payment device 100 registered by the service providing / billing device 300 in the store
Has also been sent to the user terminal 200.

The user determines the "budget frequency" for using the corresponding pay-per-use service from the description of the service to be provided. When the budget frequency is determined, the user uses the information processing means 220 of the user terminal 200 to access the received address and causes the point holding request receiving means 113 of the settlement apparatus 100 to display the budget frequency and the “user account identification information”. And "point operation target identification information" are transmitted (S3-3). The payment device 100 is
Using the point holding request receiving means 113,
The "budget frequency EP", the "user account identification information UID", and the "point operation target identification information SI"
When "D" is received, the system control means 130 is called.
The system control means 130 calls the account check processing means 132.

The account check processing means 132 calls the information holding medium control means 140 to access the "prepaid point management database" in the information holding medium 150, and uses the "user account identification information UID" as key information for the corresponding user. Read the latest "account status" of the account. In the system control unit 130, the read “account status” is “0 (invalid)” or “−”.
If it is "1 (temporary invalid)", the point holding notifying means 114 is called and the fact that the user account is invalid is transmitted to the information processing means 220 of the user terminal 200 (S3-4).

When the read "account status" is "1 (valid)", the system control means 130 calls the point holding processing means 133. The point holding processing means 133 calls the information holding medium control means 140 to call the information holding medium 150.
Access the "prepaid point management database" in and read the latest "remaining frequency" of the user account using "user account identification information" as key information. Next, the point holding processing means 133 compares the budget frequency EP with the read "remaining frequency BP".

When the budget frequency is larger than the "remaining frequency", the point holding processing means 133 ends the processing (S3-5). When the above process is completed, the system control means 130 calls the point holding notification means 114, and informs the information processing means 220 of the user terminal 200 that the remaining number of user accounts is insufficient and that additional purchase of the number is necessary. Send. When the budget frequency is less than or equal to the read "remaining frequency", the point holding processing means 133 generates "point holding event identification information HPID" (S3-).
6). When this generation is completed, the point holding processing unit 133 calls the information holding medium control unit 140 to access the “prepaid point management database” in the information holding medium 150, and uses the “user account identification information” as key information to “process”. “Date / time”, “account status”, “point operation target identification information”, “remaining frequency”, “subtraction frequency”, “holding point frequency”, and “point holding event identification information” are registered (S3-7). For example, as in the data on the second line in FIG. 4, “processing date” is the time when the database was written, “account status” is “1 (valid)” and “point operation target identification information”. Is the "point operation target identification information SHOP" sent from the service providing / charging device 300 via the user terminal 200, and the "remaining number" is the latest "remaining number" BP = 100 from the budget. The frequency 60 obtained by subtracting the frequency EP = 40 is set as the budget frequency EP in the “subtraction frequency SP”.
= 40, the budget frequency EP = 40 in the "holding frequency HP", and the generated "point holding event identification information" in the "point holding event identification information".

When the above processing is completed, the system control means 130 calls the point holding notification means 114 and sends the "holding frequency" and the "point holding event identification information" to the information processing means 220 of the user terminal 200 (S3-). 8). In the payment system of the present invention, the following communication between the user terminal 200 and the service providing / charging device 300 is assumed. When the user confirms the reception of the “holding frequency” and the “point holding event identification information”, the user terminal 2
The information processing means 220 of No. 00 accesses the service information processing means 320 of the service providing / billing apparatus 300 to transmit the “holding frequency” and the “point holding event identification information” (S4-1). "Service Providing Phase" In the payment system of the present invention, the following interaction between the user terminal 200 and the service providing / charging device 300 is assumed. Upon receiving the “holding frequency” and the “point holding event identification information” from the user terminal 200, the service information processing means 320 of the service providing / billing device 300 provides a service according to the user within the range of the “holding frequency”. Provide (S
4-2). After the completion of the provision of the metered service, the service information processing means 320 determines the billing frequency CP as the sum of the charges for the series of the metered service provision, and the information holding medium 340.
The "invoice frequency CP" and the "point holding event identification information HPID" are stored therein (S4-3).

Here, the provision of the pay-per-use service does not necessarily have to consist of continuous sessions between the user and the service provider, and an authentication means for uniquely identifying the user holding the holding point is provided. In the case of the service providing / charging device 300, which is provided with means for managing the amount of service used by the user in a series of service providing, the service providing phase may be composed of a plurality of sessions. In any case, the service providing / charging device 300 determines the billing frequency charged to the settlement device 100. “Prepaid billing phase” (see FIG. 8) When the billing frequency is determined, the service providing / charging device 30
The payment information communication unit 320 of 0 reads “point operation target identification information SID”, “point holding event identification information HPID”, and “billing frequency CP” from the information storage medium 340, and the point billing processing receiving unit 1 of the settlement apparatus 100.
It transmits to 15 (S5-1).

When the settlement apparatus 100 receives the "point operation target identification information SID", the "point holding event identification information HPID" and the "billing frequency CP" using the point billing process receiving means 115, system control is performed. Call the means 130. System control means 1
30 calls the account check processing means 132. The account check processing unit 132 calls the information holding medium control unit 140 to access the “prepaid point management database” in the information holding medium 150, and to obtain “point holding event identification information HPID”.
Read the "user account identification information" with the key information as the key information, and then use the "user account identification information" as the key information and the latest "account status" of the user account.
Is read (S5-2).

When the "account status" is "0 (invalid)", the system control means 130 calls the point billing processing notifying means 116 and causes the settlement information communication means 330 of the service providing / charging apparatus 300 to The fact that the user account is invalid is transmitted (S5-3). When the “account status” is “1 (valid)” or “−1 (temporary invalid)”, the system control unit 130 calls the point claim processing unit 134. The point claim processing means 134 calls the information holding medium control means 140,
By accessing the "prepaid point management database" in the information holding medium 150 and using the "point holding event identification information HPID" as key information, the "user account identification information" of the relevant transaction in the relevant user account.
The "holding frequency" is read (S5-4). Next, the point claim processing means 134 compares the "claim frequency CP" with the read "holding frequency HP".

When the "billing frequency" is larger than the "holding frequency", the point claim processing means 134 ends the processing. When this process is completed, the system control unit 130 calls the point billing process notification unit 116, and the settlement information communication unit 330 of the service providing / charging device 300 indicates that the “billing frequency CP” exceeds the “holding frequency HP”. It is transmitted that there is (S5-5).
When the “billing frequency CP” is less than or equal to the “holding frequency HP” read out, the point claim processing means 134 calls the information holding medium control means 140 to create a “prepaid point management database” in the information holding medium 150. Access the "User Account Identification Information UI"
Using "D" as key information, "processing date", "account status", "point operation target identification information", "remaining frequency", "additional frequency", "subtraction frequency", and "point holding event identification information" are registered (S5-6). ). The "processing date" is the time when the database was written, the "account status" is the latest "account status", and the "point operation target identification information" is the service providing / charging device 300.
The “point operation target identification information” sent from the “remaining frequency BP” is added to the latest “remaining frequency BP” and the “holding frequency HP”, and the “billing frequency C” is added.
"P" is subtracted, "addition frequency AP" is the "holding frequency HP", "subtraction frequency SP" is the "billing frequency CP", and "point holding event identification information" is the service provision -Register the "point holding event identification information" sent from the charging device 300. For example, when a point request processing request for the point holding event identification information is made in the state where point holding of the second line in FIG. 3 is performed,
In this case, the billing frequency CP = 20 and the holding frequency H
Since P = 40 and the residual frequency BP = 60, BP = 60 + 40-20 = 8 as shown in the third line by this registration.
It becomes 0.

When the above processing is completed, the system control means 130 calls the point claim processing notification means 116,
Payment information communication means 33 of the service providing / charging device 300
The “subtraction frequency” and the “point holding event identification information” are transmitted to 0 (S5-7). The “sales receipt phase” is a phase in which the monetary value collected from the user in the “prepaid point purchase phase” is redistributed to the service provider registered in the payment system according to the sales frequency. This is a phase that is executed as a periodic process with a fixed date and cycle.

The detailed operation processing procedure of the “sales receipt phase” will be described below with reference to FIG. “Sales Receipt Phase” When the payment date set by the settlement system operator is reached, the system control means 130 calls the sales receipt batch processing means 139. The sales deposit batch processing means 139 calls the information holding medium control means 140 to access the “prepaid point management database” in the information holding medium 150,
The database is searched for each "point operation target identification information", and the "remaining frequency", "addition frequency", "subtraction frequency", and "point holding event identification information" in the relevant record all have values (= claim processing completed) In addition, for records in which the “processing date” is within the settlement month range, the “subtraction frequency” is summed up to obtain the “sales point total”. The sales deposit batch processing means 139 calculates a “clearing amount” from the “total sales points” based on the exchange ratio between the prepaid points and the monetary value set by the settlement processing system operator (S6-1).

Next, the sales / receipt batch processing means 139 calls the settlement processing means 141, and the settlement processing means 141 uses the settlement processing communication means 125 to use the prepaid settlement system of the present invention for the monetary value of the “clearance amount”. To the corresponding service provider is executed (S6-2). When the above processing is completed, the sales receipt batch processing means 139
The information holding medium control means 140 is called for each "point operation target identification information" to access the "store-by-store storage management database" in the information holding medium 150, and the "processing is performed" using the "point operation target identification information" as key information. date"
"Clearing month", "total sales points" and "clearing amount" are registered (S6-3).

The "processing date" is the processing completion time of the "settlement processing means", and the "clearing month" is the "clearing month".
The "sales point total" is registered as the "sales point total", and the "clearing amount" is registered as the "clearing amount". When the above processing is completed, the system control means 130 calls the sales payment processing completion notification means 124, and the settlement information communication means 330 of each service providing / charging device 300.
The "deduction frequency", the "clearing month", and the "clearing amount" are transmitted to the. The “transaction information reference phase”, the “prepaid point additional purchase phase”, and the “prepaid point refund processing phase” are additional function phases that are irregularly executed based on the user's request. Select the item on the menu screen that appears as shown below.

In the "transaction information reference phase", the usage status of the user's payment system is read from the prepaid account and displayed to the user. In the “prepaid point additional purchase phase”, the user executes the purchase processing of the prepaid points on the payment system, and the purchased prepaid points are replenished to the user's existing prepaid account. "Prepaid point refund processing phase"
Then, cancellation processing of the payment system is performed by the user. At the time of application for cancellation by the user, if there are no points in the holding state in the user prepaid account to be canceled, refund processing will be performed for the remaining number and the refund amount will be notified to the user. If there are holding points in the user prepaid account to be cancelled, the user with the latest expiration date of the holding points is notified as the refund amount confirmation date.

The detailed operational processing procedure of each phase is shown below. “Transaction information reference phase” (see FIG. 9) The user uses the information processing unit 220 of the user terminal 200 to receive the transaction status presentation request receiving unit 11 of the settlement apparatus 100.
7, the "user account identification information" of the prepaid account whose usage status is desired to be displayed is transmitted (S7-
1). The settlement apparatus 100 includes a transaction status presentation request receiving unit 1
When the "user account identification information" is received using 17, the system control means 130 is called.

The system control means 130 calls the transaction status acquisition processing means 135. Transaction status acquisition processing means 13
Reference numeral 5 calls the information holding medium control means 140 to access the "prepaid point management database" in the information holding medium 150, and uses the "user account identification information" as key information to "process date" and "account status". The "point operation target identification information", "remaining frequency", "addition frequency", "subtraction frequency", "holding frequency", and "point holding event identification information" are read out to create account usage information (S7-2). This account usage information is as shown in FIG. 12, for example.

When the above processing is completed, the system control means 130 calls the transaction status notification means 118 and sends the account usage information to the information processing means 220 of the user terminal 100 (S7-3). “Prepaid point additional purchase phase” (see FIG. 10) The user uses the information processing means 220 of the user terminal 200 to cause the point additional purchase request receiving means 119 of the settlement apparatus 100 to request the prepaid frequency and the user. The user settlement information in the other settlement system and the "user account identification information" for replenishing points are transmitted (S8-1). In one embodiment of the present invention, the user transmits the user's credit number as the user payment information.

When the settlement apparatus 100 receives the prepaid point purchase desired frequency, the user settlement information of the user, and the "user account identification information" using the point additional purchase request receiving means 119, the system control means 130. Call. The system control means 130
The account check processing means 132 is called. The account check processing unit 132 calls the information holding medium control unit 140 to access the “prepaid point management database” in the information holding medium 150, and uses the “user account identification information” as key information to update the latest user account. The "account status" of is read (S8-2).

If the read "account status" is "0 (invalid)" or "-1 (temporary invalid)", the system control means 130 notifies the point addition processing notifying means 1
21 to call the information processing means 22 of the user terminal 200.
0 to the effect that the user account is invalid. If the read “account status” is “1 (valid)”, the system control means 130 calls the point addition processing means 137. Point addition processing means 1
37 calculates the monetary value required for the purchase of the desired frequency based on the exchange ratio between the prepaid points and the monetary value determined by the operator of the payment processing system (S8-3).

Next, the point addition processing means 137 calls the settlement processing means 141, and the settlement processing means 141 uses the user settlement information and the settlement processing communication means 125 to obtain the monetary value required for the purchase of the desired frequency. , Transfer from user to prepaid payment system of this invention (S
8-4). When the above process is completed, the point addition processing unit 137 calls the information holding medium control unit 140, and the “user account identification information” is used as the key information in the “user account balance management database” in the information holding medium 150 to perform “processing”. Register "Date" and "Payment amount" (S8-
5). The "processing date" is the completion time of the "payment processing means", and the "payment / withdrawal amount" is a positive monetary value transferred from the user to the prepaid payment system of the present invention by the payment processing means 141. register. Further, when this processing is completed, the prepaid issuing processing means 137 calls the information holding medium control means 140 to make the information holding medium 15
The latest "remaining frequency" is read from the "prepaid point management database" in 0 by using the "user account identification information" as key information, and then the "user account identification information" is read from the "prepaid point management database". “Processing date”, “account status”, “remaining frequency”, and “additional frequency” are registered as key information (S8-
6). The "processing date" is the time when the database was written, the "account status" is "1", and the "remaining frequency" is the latest "remaining frequency" plus the "desired frequency". , The “desired frequency” is registered in the “addition frequency”.

When the above processing is completed, the system control means 130 calls the point addition processing notification means 120,
The "user account identification information" and the "remaining frequency" are transmitted to the information processing means 220 of the user terminal 200 (S8-
7). “Prepaid point refund processing phase” (see FIG. 11) The user uses the information processing means 220 of the user terminal 200 to receive the point refund request receiving means 12 of the settlement apparatus 100.
1, the user account identification information and the user settlement information of the user's other settlement system, which the user desires to refund, are transmitted (S9-1). In one embodiment of the present invention,
The user sends the user's bank account number as the user payment information.

When the settlement apparatus 100 receives the "user account identification information" and the user's user settlement information using the point refund request receiving means 121, it calls the system control means 130. System control means 130
Calls the account check processing means 132. The account check processing unit 132 calls the information holding medium control unit 140 to access the “prepaid point management database” in the information holding medium 150,
The latest "account status" and "remaining frequency" of the user account are read using "user account identification information" as key information (S9-2).

When the read "account status" is "0 (invalid)", the system control means 130 calls the point refund processing notification means 122 and causes the information processing means 220 of the user terminal 200 to display the user information. Send that the account is already invalid. System control means 1
If the read “account status” is “1 (valid)” or “−1 (temporary invalid)”, 30
The point refund processing means 136 is called.

The point refund processing means 136 calls the information holding medium control means 140 to access the "prepaid point management database" in the information holding medium 150, and uses "user account identification information" as key information.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the "point holding event identification information" of the corresponding user account is searched, whether or not there is any point that is currently in the holding state within the corresponding prepaid count, and the latest "remaining frequency" is read out ( S9-3). If no points are currently in the holding state, the point refund processing means 13
6 calculates the monetary value to be refunded to the user from the latest "remaining number" based on the exchange ratio between the prepaid points and the monetary value, which is set by the settlement processing system operator (S9-4).

Next, the point refund processing means 136 calls the settlement processing means 141, and the settlement processing means 141 uses the user settlement information and the settlement processing communication means 125 to determine the monetary value to be refunded to the user. Move from the prepaid payment system of the invention to the user (S9)
-5). When this processing is completed, the point refund processing means 136 calls the information holding medium control means 140, and uses the “user account identification information” as key information in the “processing / accounting management database for each user” in the information holding medium 150 for “processing”. Register “date” and “payment amount” (S9-
6). The “processing date” is the completion time of the “payment processing means”, and the “payment / withdrawal amount” is a negative value of the monetary value transferred from the prepaid payment system of the present invention to the user by the payment processing means 141. register. When the above processing is completed, the point refund processing means 136 further calls the information holding medium control means 140 to make the information holding medium 15
The "prepaid point management database" in 0 is accessed, and "processing date" and "account status" are registered in the corresponding user account using "user account identification information" as key information (S9-7). The time when the database is written is registered in the “processing date”, and “0 (invalid)” is registered in the “account status”.

After the above processing is completed, the system control means 130 calls the point refund processing notification means 122, and informs the information processing means 220 of the user terminal 200 of the "user account identification information" for which the cancellation has been made and the refund to the user. The monetary value which should be transmitted is transmitted (S9-8). If there are points that are currently in the holding state, the point refund processing unit 136 further calls the information holding medium control unit 140 to access the “prepaid point management database” in the information holding medium 150 and perform “user account identification”. Using "information" as key information, the "point holding event identification information" of the relevant user account is searched, and the latest one of the expiration dates of the points in the holding state is read out as the "refund amount confirmation date" (S9-9). .

When the above-mentioned processing is completed, the point refund processing means 136 further calls the information holding medium control means 140 to access the "prepaid point management database" in the information holding medium 150 and carry out the "user account identification information". ”Is used as key information for the relevant user account,“ processing date ”“ account status ”“ remaining frequency ”
Is registered (S9-10). The time when the database was written is registered in the "processing date", "-1 (temporary invalid)" is registered in the "account status", and the latest "remaining frequency" is registered in the "remaining frequency".

After the above processing is completed, the system control means 130 calls the point refund processing notification means 122 and informs the information processing means 220 of the user terminal 200 about the "user account identification information" for which the cancellation has been made and the "refund amount". "Definite date" is transmitted, and the fact that the corresponding user account cannot be invalidated because there are points in the holding state is notified (S9-11). The processing in the prepaid credit phase in the user terminal 200 is as shown in FIG. The point operation target identification information SID is submitted and a service content presentation request is made to the service providing / charging device 300 (S1), and a response is waited for (S2). When a reply is received, an explanation about the provided service is given. When the SID is displayed (S3) and the budget frequency EP is determined and input (S4), a point hold request is transmitted to the settlement apparatus 100 (S).
5). When the invalidation notice is received (S6), the fact is displayed and the process ends (S7). When the point shortage notice is received (S8), the message is displayed and the process ends (S9). When the point hold notification is received (S10), the service providing request is transmitted to the service providing / charging device 300 (S1).
1), the service is provided and the process ends (S12).

As described above, the user terminal 200 performs the processing shown in FIG. 14A in the purchase phase, the processing shown in FIG. 14B in the transaction information reference phase, and the processing shown in FIG. 14C in the point addition phase, for example, by menu selection. 14D is performed, and in the refund phase, the process shown in FIG. 14D is performed. The user terminal 200 can be made to function by executing a program by a computer, for example. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG.
0, a storage unit 230, an input unit 240 such as a keyboard and a mouse, a display unit 250, a memory 260 storing an application program in which each process shown in FIGS. 13 and 15 is stored, and a basic operation program of a computer is stored. The memory 270 and the CPU 280 are configured to be connected to the bus 290.

The user terminal 200 is functionally configured as shown in FIG. Communication unit 210, storage unit 230 for storing various identification information, input unit 240, display unit 250, point purchase unit 221, point hold request unit 222, service provision request unit 223, transaction status provision request unit 224, point addition request Means 22
5. The refund requesting means 226 operates the respective means under the control means 227 according to the input content of the input means 240 and the received content of the communication means 240 to perform transmission or display.

The process of the prepaid credit phase in the service providing / billing apparatus 300 is as shown in FIG. That is, when the request for the point operation target identification information SID and the service content presentation request are received from the user terminal 200 (S3-1), the SID and, if necessary, the description of the service are read from the information storage medium and the user terminal 20 is read.
When the service provision request is received from the user terminal 200 (S4-1), the corresponding service is provided within the holding point HP and the billing point CP for the provided service is determined. (S4-2), the point holding event identification information HPID and CP are stored in the information holding medium (S4-).
3). When a point request processing request is transmitted to the settlement apparatus 100 (S5-1) and an invalidation notification is received (S5-1).
1), that is displayed and the processing ends (S5-1-2), and when a billing frequency excess notification is received (S5-1-3), it is displayed that the CP is the holding frequency or more and the processing ends (S5). -1-4). When the billing process notification is received, the confirmation process is performed and the process ends (S5-7).

The configuration for operating this service providing / charging apparatus 300 by executing a program by a computer is almost the same as that of the user terminal shown in FIG. 15, but the application program stored in the memory 260 is as shown in FIG. This is for performing the processing shown in. The functional configuration is as shown in FIG.
0, service information processing means 320, settlement information processing means 3
30, the information holding medium 340, the input means 350, the display means 360, the service providing means 370, the charge determining means 380 for determining the billing frequency for the provided service, the control means 390, the input content from the input means 350, communication It operates according to the contents received by the means 310, transmits,
The information is displayed and read / written with respect to the information storage medium 340.

When the settlement device 100 receives the point holding request as shown in FIG. 19 (S3-
3) Read the information of the user account identification information UID in the prepaid point management database (S3
-4), check whether the account status is 1 and send an invalid notification to the user terminal if it is not 1, and send a notification of lack of account points to the user terminal 200 if the budget frequency EP is less than the remaining frequency BP if 1 (S3-5), EP <BP
If so, point holding event identification information HPI
D is generated (S3-6), EP is subtracted from BP, and BP is obtained.
Then, the information related to holding is registered in the prepaid point management database of the UID, the holding point EP = HP is set (S3-7), and then the point holding completion is communicated to the user terminal 200 (S3-8).

When a point request processing request is received by the settlement apparatus 100 (S5-1), as shown in FIG. 20, the information in the prepaid point management database of the UID is read out (S5-2), and the account status becomes 0. If,
User account invalidation notification service provision / charge device 3
Then, the process is transmitted to 00 and the process ends (S5-3). If the state is not 0, it is checked whether the billing frequency CP is larger than the holding frequency HP, and if it is large, a billing frequency excess notification is transmitted to the service providing / charging device 300 and the process ends (S5-
5). If CP> HP, HP is added to the remaining number BP, CP is subtracted to update BP, and in connection with this, data is registered in the prepaid point management database of the UID (S5-6), The point billing process completion notice is transmitted to the service providing / charging device 300 and the process ends (S5-7).

When the point purchase request is received by the settlement apparatus 100, as shown in FIG. 21, the monetary value corresponding to the desired purchase frequency is calculated (S2-1), and the calculated monetary value is given to the user, for example. Settlement processing is performed by withdrawing from the bank account of the user (S2-2), user account identification information UID is generated (S2-3), registered in the user-by-user storage management database (S2-4), and further prepaid points. A column for the UID is provided in the management database, the purchase frequency, the date and time, etc. are registered (S2-5), the point issuance notification is transmitted to the user terminal 200, and the process is terminated (S2-6).

In the present invention, when a point refund request is received by the settlement apparatus 100, the process is divided depending on whether there is point holding. Since it can be easily understood from the entire description given above, the flow of the processing is shown in FIG.
, And the description is omitted. The payment device 100 can also be configured to execute a program by a computer and operate similarly to the user terminal 200. In the above description, in the prepaid credit phase, the payment device 100 registers point holding in the prepaid point management database (S3-7 in FIG. 6), and then issues a point holding processing completion notification with the holding frequency HP and the point holding event identification. Information HPI
Although it is sent to the user terminal 200 together with D, the holding frequency HP does not necessarily have to be sent. Further, the holding frequency HP and the point holding event identification information HPID are transmitted to the service providing / billing apparatus 300 as a set, and the service providing / billing apparatus 300 receives the information and stores it in the information storage medium 340.
When the service provision request is received together with the point holding event identification information HPID from 0, the holding frequency HP in the information storage medium 340 is read by using the received point holding event identification information HPID as a key, and the HPID is corresponded within the range of the frequency HP. You may make it provide the service to do.

In the above description, the user determines the budget prepaid frequency and sends the budget frequency and user account identification information from the user terminal 200 to the settlement apparatus 100 to make a point holding request. However, the user terminal 200 requests the budget frequency and user account identification information. When the UID is sent to the service providing / billing apparatus 300 to request the service provision, and the service providing / billing apparatus 300 receives the request, it includes the budget frequency, the user account identification information, and the point operation target identification information SID as necessary. A point holding request is sent to the settlement apparatus 100, at least the budget frequency of the remaining frequency of the user is held, and the point holding event identification information HPID is generated, and the holding of the UID is completed. Determine HPID When the service provision and charging device 300 from device 100 receives, to the user of the user terminal 200 within its budget power, it may be performed to provide services.

Alternatively, the service provider may determine the budget prepaid frequency instead of the user. In this case, for example, when the user makes a service providing request including a UID from the user terminal 200 to the service providing / billing apparatus 300, the service providing / billing apparatus 300 determines the service in advance or according to the user. Predetermined budget frequency and UID, and SID if necessary
When the settlement apparatus 100 receives a notification of the holding from the remaining frequency of the user, the service is provided to the user within the range of the budget frequency.

As described above, the point holding request from the user terminal 200 may be made directly to the settlement apparatus 100, or may be made to the settlement apparatus 100 via the service providing / charging apparatus 300. Further, in the above description, when the service providing / billing apparatus 300 determines the sales prepaid frequency, the service providing / charging apparatus 300 requests the point claim processing by directly notifying the settlement apparatus 100 of the charging frequency, but the service providing / billing apparatus 300 determines the sales prepaid frequency. When it is determined, the user terminal 200 is notified, and the user terminal 200 sends the notified sales prepaid frequency, UID, HPID, and, if necessary, the SID to the payment device 100, and when the payment device 100 receives this, it responds. The point request processing may be performed, and the processing result, that is, the HPID and the deduction frequency may be notified to the service providing / charging apparatus 300. That is, the service providing / billing apparatus 300 may perform the point claiming process on the settlement apparatus 100 via the user terminal 200.

As will be understood from the description of the outline of the invention, when a point holding request is made, it is not limited to the case where only the budget points are put into the holding state, and the entire remaining number BP of the UID at that time is held. May be The point is that at least the budget points should be held. In the above, service provision
It is assumed that there are a plurality of charging devices 300, but the present invention can be applied to the case where there is one. In the above, transaction information reference phase, prepaid point additional purchase phase,
The prepaid point refund processing phase may be omitted. The required frequency depending on the provided service may be known from a pamphlet or the like.

[0075]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the prepaid points of the user who wants to receive the service are held by at least the budget frequency and the service is provided within the range of the budget frequency, there is no risk that the service provider cannot collect the consideration for the service. In addition, the prepaid payment system and the service providing system are compared with the case where the frequency is subtracted from the prepaid remaining frequency of the user for each small service unit, and when the processing is completed, the service is further provided for each unit. Pay-as-you-go services can be provided with a significantly smaller load.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a payment device and a user terminal for which the payment device is supposed to provide a payment service, a configuration of the service providing / billing device, and a system configuration including the payment device, the user terminal, and the service providing / billing device.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a prepaid settlement apparatus with a holding function according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of information held in a prepaid point management database as an information holding medium of the payment device of the present invention.

5A is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a store-based storage management database in an information storage medium of a payment device, and FIG. 5B is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a user-based storage management database.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a store registration phase and a prepaid point purchase phase in a payment processing operation processing procedure using the prepaid payment apparatus with a holding function according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a processing procedure of a prepaid credit phase.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a processing procedure of a prepaid billing phase.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a processing procedure of a sales receipt phase and a transaction status reference phase.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a processing procedure of a prepaid point additional purchase phase.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a processing procedure of a prepaid point refund processing phase.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of account usage information displayed on a user device.

13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a prepaid credit phase of the user terminal 200. FIG.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in various phases of the user terminal.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration example when the user terminal 200 is operated by a computer.

16 is a diagram showing a functional configuration example of a user terminal 200. FIG.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a service providing processing procedure in the service providing / charging device 300.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a service providing / billing device.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for a point holding request in the payment device 100.

20 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for a point request processing request in the payment device 100. FIG.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for a point purchase request in the payment device.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for a point refund request in the payment device.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --- Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-10-307867 (JP, A) JP-A-11-3387 (JP, A) JP-A-11-316729 (JP, A) JP-A-11- 25171 (JP, A) JP-A-11-316729 (JP, A) Takeshi Miyake, IP charging platform enabling flexible service charging, NTT Technology Journal, Japan, October 1, 2000, Volume 12, No. 10, p. 19-22 (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 17/60 JISST file (JOIS)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sales prepaid frequency declared to a payment device from a service provider's device by issuing a prepaid frequency to the user on the payment device based on the monetary value paid by the user and managing the prepaid frequency of the user. In the prepaid payment method that subtracts from the prepaid frequency held by the user and pays the monetary value based on the sales prepaid frequency to the service provider, the user terminal or the device of the service provider uses the value amount of the service that the user plans to use. A request to notify the settlement device of the holding of the budget prepaid frequency according to the, and the payment device receives the request notification, and the prepaid frequency held by the user who manages it (hereinafter referred to as the remaining frequency)
Set the budget prepaid frequency in the holding state in which addition and subtraction processing is prohibited, point holding event identification information that identifies the processing in the holding state is notified to the device of the service provider, and the device of the service provider for the prepaid number of degrees it became a holding state, a series of usage-based services
Service prepaid frequency as the total consideration for providing the service and its point-holding event identification information and request point processing, and the settlement device receives the point request processing request and the sales prepaid frequency is the point-holding event. Confirm that it is less than or equal to the budget prepaid frequency for the holding status for the identification information, cancel the holding status, and hold the prepaid frequency (remaining
Number) to the above canceled budget prepaid frequency
And the same value as the result of subtracting the sales prepaid frequency
Is a prepaid payment method characterized by using a new residual number . 2. A prepaid frequency is issued to the user based on the monetary value paid by the user, and the prepaid frequency (called residual frequency) of the user is managed in a database,
In a settlement device that subtracts the sales prepaid frequency requested for billing from the service providing / billing device from the user's remaining frequency and pays the monetary value based on the sales prepaid frequency to the service provider, the user terminal or the service providing / billing device budget power from a point holding request receiving means for receiving the point holding request including the user account identification information, and means for subtracting the budget power from the remaining power for the user account identification information on said database, subtraction budget power processing The above database is created by generating means for making a holding state as a forbidden holding frequency and point holding event identification information for identifying the processing in the holding state.
Of the user account identification information, and point holding notification means for generating a point holding notification including the point holding event identification information and transmitting the point holding notification to the user terminal of the user account identification information or the service providing / charging device. , The sum of the consideration for the point holding event identification information from the service providing device and the series of metered service provision.
The point billing process receiving means for receiving the point billing process request including all the billing frequencies, the holding state corresponding to the received point holding event identification information in the database is canceled, and the remaining number of the user account identification information is released. , The means for using the same value as the result of the addition of the canceled holding frequency and the subtraction of the billing frequency as the new remaining frequency of the user account identification information, and the point holding event identification information, the subtraction A point billing process notifying means for transmitting a point billing process notice including the number of points to the service providing / charging device, the settlement apparatus. 3. A device of a service provider or a user terminal
Et al., Budget power, a process of receiving points holding request including the user account identification information, receives the point Holding request, holding the budget power in the remaining power of the user account identification information in the database subtraction process is prohibited a state, the user of the holding process generates a point holding event identification information for identifying, and point holding event identification information stored in said database, point holding notification to the user account identification information including a point holding event identification information The process of transmitting to the terminal or the service providing / billing device, the point holding event identification information, the series of metered service
A process of receiving a point request processing request including the number of invoices as the total consideration for service provision from the service providing / charging device, and when the point request processing request is received, the holding corresponding to the point holding event identification information in the database. Release the status and identify the user account
The same value as the result of the addition of the canceled budget frequency and the subtraction of the billing frequency to the remaining frequency of information is set to the user.
As a new remaining counts of account identification information, recording a program for executing a process of transmitting the point billing notification including the subtraction power and point holding event identification information to the service providing and billing apparatus, to the computer of the payment system Computer readable recording medium.