WO2005064514A1

WO2005064514A1 - Circulation method of mobile merchandise bond

Info

Publication number: WO2005064514A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/003464
Authority: WO
Inventors: Young-Hoon Kim
Original assignee: Ket2Net Solution Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2003-12-26
Filing date: 2004-12-27
Publication date: 2005-07-14
Also published as: KR20050066227A

Abstract

The present invention discloses a circulation method of a mobile merchandise bond which affords convenience to a user by allowing the user to purchase, transfer (present) and use a merchandise bond through a mobile merchandise bond server. The circulation method of the mobile merchandise bond includes the steps of accessing, at a user terminal of a purchaser, a mobile merchandise bond server, transmitting, at the user terminal, a purchase request message for a mobile merchandise bond to the mobile merchandise bond server, receiving, at the mobile merchandise bond server, the purchase request message, generating a mobile merchandise bond, and storing the mobile merchandise bond in a DB, transmitting, at the mobile merchandise bond server, a purchase confirm message to the user terminal, receiving, at the user terminal, the purchase confirm message, and transmitting a password inputted by the purchaser to the mobile merchandise bond server, and receiving, at the mobile merchandise bond server, the password, and storing the password in the DB to correspond to the mobile merchandise bond.

Description

CIRCULATION METHOD OF MOBILE MERCHANDISE BOND

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a circulation method of a mobile merchandise bond, and more particularly to, a circulation method of a mobile merchandise bond which affords convenience to a user by allowing the user to purchase, transfer (present) and use a merchandise bond through a mobile merchandise bond server.

BACKGROUND ART Recently, an information and communication business has been grown as a core business of the 21^st century national economy. The country has led the information and communication business due to enormous expenses of building a communication network. Since the country leads the communication business, competitiveness of domestic communication operators is much weaker than that of foreign communication operators with high financial power. In order to keep up with the foreign operators, the domestic operators are required to develop and provide high quality communication services. Therefore, a basic communication operator has added a computer for controlling services and a DB for managing the services, so that an existing telephone network could transmit information and an intelligent network could rapidly provide various services by using the computer and DB. However, the country-led communication business is not able to develop various high quality communication services to keep up with the foreign operators. Accordingly, special category telecommunication has been introduced on the basis of a telecommunication business law to embody upgraded services by renting the communication network owned by the country to a domestic operator having a predetermined amount of capital. So as to prevent large expenses from being consumed to install double telephone lines, the services provided by the special category telecommunication operator are restricted to international calls and long distance calls. Local calls and calls from wire to wireless phones which the users mostly make are not serviced. As a result, the users are not satisfied with the special category telecommunication that has been introduced to improve competitiveness of the domestic communication market in preparation for international market opening, afford convenience to the users by growing a gap market of information and communication, reduce the communication charges by competition, and provide various communication services. In order to solve the above problems, the basic communication operator and the special category No. 1 telecommunication operator issue prepaid cards so that the users can make general calls, international calls and calls to mobile phones at a low cost through an intelligent network of their lines or rented lines. When the subscriber intends to use the call service provided by the special category telecommunication operator, the subscriber makes a call by purchasing the prepaid card, and inputting an access number accessible to the intelligent network of the communication operator, an identification number of the prepaid card, a local number of a destination area, and a telephone number. A server connected to the intelligent network of the communication operator confirms the identification number of the prepaid card, stores call details in a DB, and reduces the balance of the prepaid card according to the call details stored in the DB of the intelligent network. If the balance of the prepaid card is deficient, the subscriber cannot make a call. In this case, the subscriber can be continuously provided with the communication service using the prepaid card, by purchasing a new card or supplementing the balance of the card. However, when the subscriber makes a long distance call, he/she has to input at least 24 ciphers including the access number and the identification number of the prepaid card. Therefore, the subscriber using the service of the special category telecommunication operator must press many number buttons on the phone to make a simple call. Even when the user uses the prepaid card through a mobile communication operator server on an internet, he/she has to input a few tens of identification numbers of the prepaid card. The user manages the prepaid card in person. It takes a lot of time and efforts to manage the prepaid card due to calculation errors or mistakes. In addition, the user can purchase the prepaid card only in special chain stores or places.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention is achieved to solve the above problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a circulation method of a mobile merchandise bond which allows a user to easily purchase, transfer (present) and use a merchandise bond such as a prepaid card and prevents the user from losing the merchandise bond, by purchasing, transferring and using the merchandise bond through a mobile merchandise bond server linked to a wire/wireless web page. Another object of the present invention is to provide a circulation method of a mobile merchandise bond which can efficiently manage a mobile merchandise bond of a user through a mobile merchandise bond server. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a circulation method of a mobile merchandise bond which allows a user to use a mobile merchandise bond merely by inputting a password. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a circulation method of a mobile merchandise bond which can transmit visual and audible digital contents to a receiver in transferring (presenting) a mobile merchandise bond. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a circulation method of a mobile merchandise bond which allows a user to create special digital contents by selecting wanted display types of digital contents. In order to achieve the above-described objects of the invention, there is provided a circulation method of a mobile merchandise bond, including the steps of: accessing, at a user terminal of a purchaser, a mobile merchandise bond server through a predetermined network; transmitting, at the user terminal, a purchase request message for a mobile merchandise bond to the mobile merchandise bond server by input of the purchaser; receiving, at the mobile merchandise bond server, the purchase request message from the user terminal, generating a mobile merchandise bond, and storing the mobile merchandise bond in a DB to correspond to the user terminal; transmitting, at the mobile merchandise bond server, a purchase confirm message for the mobile merchandise bond to the user terminal; receiving, at the user terminal, the purchase confirm message, and transmitting a password inputted by the purchaser to the mobile merchandise bond server; and receiving, at the mobile merchandise bond server, the password, and storing the password in the DB to correspond to the mobile merchandise bond. Preferably, the circulation method of the mobile merchandise bond further includes the steps of: transmitting, at the mobile merchandise bond server, a mobile merchandise bond list registered in the DB to the user terminal to be displayed thereon; displaying, at the user terminal, the received mobile merchandise bond list, and transmitting a gift request message including at least an identification number of a user terminal of a receiver, a mobile merchandise bond selected by the purchaser, and a password of the mobile merchandise bond to the mobile merchandise bond server; registering, at the mobile merchandise bond server, the selected mobile merchandise bond in the DB to correspond to the user terminal of the receiver; transmitting, at the mobile merchandise bond server, a gift arrival message for the mobile merchandise bond to the user terminal of the receiver; receiving, at the user terminal of the receiver, the gift arrival message, and transmitting a password of the presented mobile merchandise bond inputted by the receiver to the mobile merchandise bond server; and receiving, at the mobile merchandise bond server, the password, and storing the password in the DB to correspond to the mobile merchandise bond of the receiver. Preferably, the circulation method of the mobile merchandise bond further includes a step for adding digital contents to the gift arrival message. Preferably, the step for adding the digital contents includes the steps of: transmitting, at the mobile merchandise bond server, a subject list to the user terminal of the purchaser so that the purchaser can select a gift subject; displaying, at the user terminal of the purchaser, the subject list, and transmitting a subject selected by the purchaser to the mobile merchandise bond server; transmitting, at the mobile merchandise bond server, a digital contents list to the user terminal so that the purchaser can select digital contents according to the subject; displaying, at the user terminal of the purchaser, the digital contents list, and transmitting the digital contents selected by the purchaser to the mobile merchandise bond server; and adding, at the mobile merchandise bond server, the received digital contents to the gift arrival message. The digital contents are differently displayed according to the kind of the user terminal of the receiver. Preferably, the circulation method of the mobile merchandise bond further includes a step for selecting display types of the digital contents through the mobile merchandise bond server, when the purchaser selects the digital contents. Preferably, the digital contents include at least one of pictures, photographs, music, moving pictures, animations and texts. Preferably, the purchase request message includes at least the price of the mobile merchandise bond to be purchased, and the identification number of the user. Preferably, the purchase confirm message and/or the gift arrival message includes call back URL of the mobile merchandise bond server. According to another aspect of the present invention, a circulation method of a mobile merchandise bond includes the steps of: accessing, at a user terminal, a mobile merchandise bond server; transmitting, at the mobile merchandise bond server, a mobile merchandise bond list corresponding to the user terminal to the user terminal; displaying, at the user terminal, the mobile merchandise bond list; transmitting, at the user terminal, a payment application message for a mobile merchandise bond selected from the mobile merchandise bond list by the user to the mobile merchandise bond server; transmitting, at the mobile merchandise bond server, a payment approval request message to a mobile communication operator server on the basis of the received payment application message; processing, at the mobile communication operator server, payment of the user terminal according to the received payment approval request message, and transmitting a payment approval message to the mobile merchandise bond server; and receiving, at the mobile merchandise bond server, the payment approval message, updating the mobile merchandise bond of the user terminal, and transmitting the payment approval message to the user terminal. Preferably, the circulation method of the mobile merchandise bond further includes a step for adding, at the user terminal, a password inputted by the user to the payment application message. Preferably, the circulation method of the mobile merchandise bond further includes a step for receiving, at the mobile merchandise bond server, the payment application message, reading the password added to the payment application message, comparing the password with the previously-stored password, and generating the payment approval request message according to the comparison result.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given only by way of illustration and thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein: Fig. 1 is a structure view illustrating a system to which a circulation method of a mobile merchandise bond is applicable in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic structure view illustrating a mobile merchandise bond server of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 is a table showing one example of a DB for storing mobile merchandise bonds; Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing sequential steps of the circulation method of the mobile merchandise bond in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing sequential steps of the circulation method of the mobile merchandise bond in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 6 and 7 are exemplary views illustrating S33 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing sequential steps of the circulation method of the mobile merchandise bond in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A circulation method of a mobile merchandise bond in accordance with the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a structure view illustrating a system to which the circulation method of the mobile merchandise bond is applicable in accordance with the present invention. Referring to Fig. 1 , the system is comprised of a mobile communication means including a mobile communication terminal 10, a base station 11 and a mobile communication operator server 12, a computer 20, an automatic response system 30 including a telephone (wire/ wireless telephone, mobile communication terminal, etc.) 31 and an ARS device 32, a financial automation system 40 including a CD/ATM machine 41 and a financial management device 42, a network 50 based on a predetermined protocol, and a mobile merchandise bond server 60 for managing all information relating to mobile merchandise bonds. A user accesses the mobile merchandise bond server 60 through the network 50 by using the mobile communication terminal 10, the computer 20, the automatic response system 30 and the financial automation system 40 (hereinafter, referred to as 'user terminal). In detail, the mobile communication terminal 10 accesses the mobile communication operator server 12, and then accesses the mobile merchandise bond server 60 through a web or wireless page provided by the mobile communication operator server 12. The mobile communication operator server 12 communicates with the mobile merchandise bond server 60 through the network 50, thereby enabling communication between the mobile communication terminal 10 and the mobile merchandise bond server 60. For example, the mobile communication operator server 12 approves and processes a payment (prepayment) request for telephone charges from the user, and transmits a data (for example, a phone bill) showing paid (prepaid) details to the user by an E-mail or mail or to the user terminal by an SMS. The computer 20 accesses a web page linked to the mobile merchandise bond server 60 through a predetermined internet service provider (not shown). The automatic response system 30 and the financial automation system 40 access the mobile merchandise bond server 60 through the network 50. In the automatic response system 30, when the user talks to an operator (not shown) or presses numbers over the telephone 31 , the ARS device 32 recognizes a command relating to the mobile merchandise bond (for example, selecting the price of the mobile merchandise bond, purchasing the mobile merchandise bond, etc.), transforms the command into a message recognizable by the mobile merchandise bond server 60, and transmits the message. In addition, in the financial automation system 40, when the user inputs a command relating to the mobile merchandise bond by operating the CD/ATM machine 41 , the financial management device 42 (for example, a bank server) recognizes the command, transforms the command into a message recognizable by the mobile merchandise bond server 60, and transmits the message. Access to the mobile merchandise bond server 60 using the automatic response system 30 and the financial automation system 40 can be embodied by software and hardware such as a means for network access (not shown). The above-described system includes a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) terminal as the user terminal, the network 50 such as an internet, a private

IP-based network, a PSTN or a composite network thereof, and a controller (for example, MCU, MP, MC, etc.) communicating with the mobile merchandise bond server 60 by processing the VoIP data. Although the user terminal is the mobile communication terminal 10, it is also possible to access the mobile merchandise bond server 60 through a POS terminal. The user terminal is a terminal accessible to a wireless or infrared payment system. The user terminal accesses the wireless or infrared transmitter/receiver, and then accesses the mobile merchandise bond server 60 through a network suitable for the wireless or infrared transmitter/receiver. When the user terminal accesses the wire web page of the mobile merchandise bond server 60, the network 50 includes a web server and a communication network, and when the user terminal accesses the wireless web page of the mobile merchandise bond server 60, the network 50 includes a WAB server and a communication network. The mobile merchandise bond server 60 includes the wire and wireless web pages linked thereto, and a user DB for storing a name, gender, resident registration number, ID and password (login information) of the user, and an identification code (for example, a telephone number, etc.) of the user terminal, so that the user can take a member registration procedure through the wire/wireless web page. A mobile merchandise bond DB stores the mobile merchandise bonds (or related data) of the user (namely, the purchaser). The mobile merchandise bond DB includes at least the user, the price of the mobile merchandise bond and a password for using the mobile merchandise bond. For more precise user authentication, the mobile merchandise bond DB can be set to be linked to the resident registration number of the user that is the owner of the mobile merchandise bond and the identification number of the user terminal. The mobile merchandise bond of the user can be provided with an intrinsic number. Fig. 2 is a schematic structure view illustrating the mobile merchandise bond server of Fig. 1. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 includes a network interface 61 for access to the network 50, a control means 62 for managing and controlling the whole server, a user DB 63 for storing information of users, and a mobile merchandise bond DB 64 for storing mobile merchandise bonds of each user. In detail, the user DB 63 basically stores personal information (name, gender, etc.) of the user, an intrinsic identification number (for example, a telephone number or product serial number of the mobile communication terminal 10), and a password for using (paying for) the mobile merchandise bond of the user. The user DB 63 and the mobile merchandise bond DB 64 are closely associated with each other. That is, the mobile merchandise bonds (for example, the serial numbers of the mobile merchandise bonds) of each user and/or the passwords for using (paying for) the mobile merchandise bonds are stored and shared in the mobile merchandise bond DB 64. Fig. 3 is a table showing one example of the DB for storing the mobile merchandise bonds. As shown in Fig. 3, the mobile merchandise bonds registered in the mobile merchandise bond DB 64 include the name AAA of the user owning the mobile merchandise bonds, the kinds (prices) of the mobile merchandise bonds (for example, $10, $20, $30, etc.), and the passwords for each mobile merchandise bond. The same or different passwords can be used for the whole mobile merchandise bonds. The name of the user is obtained by linking the mobile merchandise bond DB 64 to the user DB 63. Here, the mobile merchandise bonds stored in the mobile merchandise bond DB 64 are securities or types storing purchasing values (prices) by an electronic storing method. The user accesses the mobile merchandise bond server 60 through the user terminal, and purchases the mobile merchandise bonds according to a predetermined payment method (for example, payment by a credit card, payment at the time of paying for cellular phone charges, payment without using a bank book, payment by money transfer, payment by various points (or mileages) or collective points (or mileages) thereof, etc.). The prices of the mobile merchandise bonds mean the total prices of each mobile merchandise bond, namely, the limit prices that the user can use (or pay for). The prices of the mobile merchandise bonds can be displayed by kinds of the mobile merchandise bonds of the user and numbers of each kind of the mobile merchandise bonds (for example, 2, 4, etc.). Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing sequential steps of the circulation method of the mobile merchandise bond in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. In detail, in S21 , the user (namely, the purchaser) accesses the wire/wireless web page of the mobile merchandise bond server 60 through the network 50 by using the user terminal, and enters the web page through a predetermined login procedure (by using the user DB 63) to purchase the mobile merchandise bond. The mobile merchandise bond server 60 transmits the web page to the user terminal. Here, the web page displays a mobile merchandise bond list showing different prices (for example, $10, $20, $30, etc.). In S22, the purchaser selects one of the mobile merchandise bonds on the displayed web page, and the user terminal generates a purchase request message by input of the purchaser and transmits the generated message to the mobile merchandise bond server 60. The purchase request message includes at least the selected mobile merchandise bond (or kind), and the identification number of the user (for example, the telephone number of the mobile communication terminal, or the resident registration number or social security number of the user, etc.), and may further include a data containing the aforementioned payment method. In S23, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 receives the purchase request message, generates a mobile merchandise bond according to the message, and stores the mobile merchandise bond in the mobile merchandise bond DB 64 to correspond to the purchase and/or the user terminal. Generation of the mobile merchandise bond means generation of a new data, which includes generation of an intrinsic identification number (namely, a serial number) of the mobile merchandise bond. In S24, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 transmits a purchase confirm message to the user terminal. Here, the purchase confirm message includes the purchase result of the mobile merchandise bond having the price selected by the purchaser, and call back URL of the mobile merchandise bond server 60. The user terminal displays the purchase confirm message to the purchaser. In addition, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 processes payment for the mobile merchandise bond purchased by the purchaser according to the payment method selected by the purchaser. In S25, the user terminal receives the purchase confirm message, accesses the call back URL of the message, requests the purchaser to input the password, and transmits the password inputted by the purchaser to the mobile merchandise bond server 60 through the network 50 by using the call back URL. In S26, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 stores the received password in the mobile merchandise bond DB 64 to correspond to the mobile merchandise bond of the purchaser. Accordingly, the purchaser (namely, the user) can easily purchase the mobile merchandise bond through the mobile merchandise bond server 60, and efficiently check and manage the information of his/her mobile merchandise bonds by accessing the wire/wireless web page of the mobile merchandise bond server 60. In the circulation method described above, in the step (S22) for generating the purchase request message, the user terminal can receive the password of the mobile merchandise bond as well as selection of the mobile merchandise bond, and add the password to the purchase request message, thereby performing S25 and S26 together. Therefore, when the mobile merchandise bond server 60 generates and stores the mobile merchandise bond, it also stores the password of the mobile merchandise bond. In S24, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 transmits a message containing only purchase confirm to the user terminal, to end the circulation method. This method advantageously reduces data transmission with the purchaser. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing sequential steps of the circulation method of the mobile merchandise bond in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. In detail, in S31 , the user (namely, the purchaser) accesses the mobile merchandise bond server 60 through the network 50 by using the user terminal. In S32, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 transmits the mobile merchandise bond list stored in the mobile merchandise bond DB 64 to correspond to the purchaser and/or the user terminal of the purchaser to the user terminal to be displayed thereon upon the user's request or automatically (namely, by default). The user terminal displays the received mobile merchandise bond list of the purchaser. In S33, the purchaser selects all or part of the mobile merchandise bonds from the mobile merchandise bond list to transfer (present) them to another user (receiver), and transmits a gift request message to the mobile merchandise bond server 60. Here, the gift request message includes at least the selected mobile merchandise bond, the password of the mobile merchandise bond, and an identification code (for example, a telephone number) of a user terminal (not shown) of the receiver. In S34, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 stores the mobile merchandise bond selected by the purchaser in the mobile merchandise bond DB 64 to correspond to the user terminal of the receiver according to the received gift request message. If the receiver is a member passing through the member registration procedure of the mobile merchandise bond server 60, the storing step is automatically performed. If not, after the receiver passes through the member registration procedure, the storing step is completely performed so that the receiver can directly use the mobile merchandise bond. Before the member registration procedure, the receiver is a virtual member and the presented mobile merchandise bond is stored to correspond to the receiver. Here, the previous password of the presented mobile merchandise bond is deleted. In S35, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 generates a gift arrival message notifying that a predetermined price of mobile merchandise bond has been transferred from the purchaser, and transmits the generated message to the user terminal of the receiver. The user terminal of the receiver displays the gift arrival message to the receiver. The gift arrival message further includes call back URL of the mobile merchandise bond server 60. In S36, the receiver accesses the call back URL displayed on the user terminal, inputs a password of the presented mobile merchandise bond, and transmits the password to the mobile merchandise bond server 60. In S37, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 stores the password inputted by the receiver in the mobile merchandise bond DB 64 to correspond to the presented mobile merchandise bond of the receiver. Accordingly, the purchaser can easily transfer (present) the mobile merchandise bond through the mobile merchandise bond server 60, and the receiver can efficiently confirm and mange the information of his/her mobile merchandise bonds by accessing the wire/wireless web page of the mobile merchandise bond server 60. Figs. 6 and 7 are exemplary views illustrating S33 of Fig. 5. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing sequential steps of a method for selecting digital contents transmitted to the receiver with the gift arrival message in generation of the gift request message that is further included in S33 of Fig. 5. The mobile merchandise bond server 60 further includes a digital contents

DB (not shown) for storing digital contents. The digital contents stored in the digital contents DB include pictures, photographs, music, moving pictures, animations and texts (various greetings, congratulations, etc.). Here, the digital contents are classified according to subjects corresponding to reasons (objects) of presenting mobile merchandise bonds, for example, birthday, graduation, joining a company, promotion, the Valentine's day, the Teacher's day and the Parents' day. The digital contents have already been stored in the digital contents DB according to the subjects. In addition, the digital contents DB stores the digital contents that can be differently displayed according to kinds of user terminals (not shown) of receivers receiving mobile merchandise bonds. That is, the digital contents DB stores the digital contents having the same subject and satisfying screen types (for example, a single color, black color, 256 colors, etc.) and sound types (for example, a single tone, 4 tones, 16 tones, etc.) of the user terminals of the receivers. In detail, in S41 , the mobile merchandise bond server 60 transmits a subject list to the user terminal so that the purchaser (or user) can select the subject corresponding to the object of transferring (presenting) the mobile merchandise bond. The user terminal displays the received subject list to the purchaser, and transmits the subject selected by the purchaser to the mobile merchandise bond server 60. In S42, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 sequentially or simultaneously transmits the digital contents list corresponding to the subject selected by the purchaser to the user terminal, and the user terminal receives and displays the list to the purchaser. For example, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 makes the purchaser to sequentially perform the steps of selecting a picture, selecting a photograph, selecting music, selecting a moving picture, selecting an animation and selecting a text, or simultaneously transmits the whole digital contents to the user terminal of the purchaser so that the purchaser can select at least one of the pictures, photographs, music, moving pictures, animations and texts regardless of the order. The user terminal transmits the digital contents selected by the purchaser to the mobile merchandise bond server 60. In S42, when the purchaser selects a few kinds of digital contents, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 allows the purchaser to select the display types of each digital content. In S43, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 provides a message column to the user terminal so that the purchaser can additionally write a message. If the purchaser intends to send an additional message, he/she can input a text message (S44), and if not, the column remains blank. In S45, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 allows the purchaser to select a date of transmitting the gift arrival message for the transferred (presented) mobile merchandise bond to the receiver. For example, the purchaser can select direct transmission of transmitting the gift arrival message at once or reservation transmission of transmitting the gift arrival message in a wanted date. The mobile merchandise bond server 60 directly transmits the gift arrival message to the user terminal of the receiver by default. However, in case the purchaser intends to transmit the gift arrival message, for example, after three days, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 performs the aforementioned step. When the purchaser selects reservation transmission, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 receives a wanted transmission date from the purchaser and stores the inputted date. The digital contents and/or transmission date selected in Fig. 6 are transmitted from the user terminal to the mobile merchandise bond server 60 with or in the gift request message. The mobile merchandise bond server 60 stores them in the user DB 63. Fig. 7 is an exemplary view illustrating S41 and S42 of Fig. 6. As depicted in Fig. 7, 'receiver telephone number' column indicates the telephone number of the user terminal of the receiver. In 'select merchandise bond' column, the purchaser can select the price of the mobile merchandise bond which he/she intends to present to the receiver. 'Receiver name' column can be additionally provided. 'Subject' column indicates the reason for the purchaser presenting the gift to the receiver. 'Picture' column corresponds to the subject selected by the purchaser, and shows pictures of parents as an example. The 'picture' column may include pictures, photographs, moving pictures or animations. Each of the pictures can be classified into 1 , 2, 3 and 4 according to display types. For example, 1 , 2, 3 and 4 can be defined as a single color, 4 colors, 256 colors and 65,000 colors. In 'music' column, the purchaser can select music corresponding to the selected subject. Each music can be classified into 1 , 2, 3 and 4 according to play types. For example, 1 , 2, 3 and 4 can be defined as a single tone, 4 tones, 16 tones and 40 tones. In 'memo' column, the digital contents DB suggests previously-stored phrases. In 'additional memo' column, the purchaser can write a message in addition to the phrase selected in the 'memo' column. In 'send' column, the purchaser can select the date of sending the gift arrival message. That is, 'direct transmission' directly transmits the gift arrival message to the user terminal of the receiver, and 'reservation transmission' transmits the gift arrival message in the date selected by the purchaser. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing sequential steps of the circulation method of the mobile merchandise bond in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention. In detail, in S51 , the user (purchaser and/or receiver) accesses the wire/wireless web page of the mobile merchandise bond server 60 through the network 50 by using the user terminal. In S52, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 transmits the mobile merchandise bond list corresponding to the user and/or the user terminal of the user to the user terminal upon the user's request or automatically (namely, by default). The user terminal displays the received mobile merchandise bond list to the user, so that the user can check his/her merchandise bonds. In S53, the user terminal receives the mobile merchandise bond having the price (payment price) selected by the user and the password of the mobile merchandise bond, and transmits a payment application message to the mobile merchandise bond server 60. Here, the payment application message includes at least the selected mobile merchandise bond and the password, and further includes the identification number of the user terminal and/or the resident registration number of the user. Therefore, the authentication procedure can be more precisely performed. In S54, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 generates a payment approval request message including at least the identification code of the user terminal of the user and the payment price of the mobile merchandise bond according to the received payment application message, and transmits the generated message to the mobile communication operator server 12. Here, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 decides whether the mobile merchandise bond corresponding to the password included in the payment application message exists. If such a mobile merchandise bond exists, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 generates the payment approval request message, and if not, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 generates a payment denial message (for example, 'no available mobile merchandise bond' or 'invalid password'), and transmits the generated message to the user terminal. Thereafter, the user performs S52 and S53 again. Accordingly, the user can use the mobile merchandise bond merely by inputting the password. For more accurate user authentication, the circulation method may further include a step for comparing the identification number of the user terminal and/or the resident registration number of the user. In S55, the mobile communication operator server 12 processes and stores payment of the user according to the received payment approval request message, generates a payment approval message, and transmits the generated message to the mobile merchandise bond server 60. The mobile merchandise bond server 60 receives the payment approval message, deletes the paid mobile merchandise bond from the mobile merchandise bond DB 64 of the user, and actually processes the payment to the mobile communication operator afterwards. In addition, the mobile merchandise bond server 60 transmits the payment approval message to the user terminal. As a result, the user can easily use the mobile merchandise bond through the mobile merchandise bond server 60. As described above, the user can use the mobile merchandise bond which he/she directly purchased or received as a gift for prepayment for telephone charges. In the case that two users talk over the phone, when the prepaid telephone charges of one user are all consumed, the other user can present his/her mobile merchandise bond to one user. Therefore, one user prepays for the telephone charges with the presented mobile merchandise bond, so that the two users can keep talking over the phone. As discussed earlier, in accordance with the present invention, the circulation method of the mobile merchandise bond allows the user to easily purchase, transfer (present) and use the merchandise bond such as the prepaid card and prevents the user from losing the mobile merchandise bond, by purchasing, transferring and using the merchandise bond through the mobile merchandise bond server linked to the wire/wireless web page. The circulation method of the mobile merchandise bond can efficiently manage the mobile merchandise bond of the user through the mobile merchandise bond server. The circulation method of the mobile merchandise bond allows the user to use the mobile merchandise bond merely by inputting the password. The circulation method of the mobile merchandise bond can transmit visual and audible digital contents to the receiver in transferring (presenting) the mobile merchandise bond. The circulation method of the mobile merchandise bond allows the user to create special digital contents by selecting wanted display types of digital contents. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is understood that the present invention should not be limited to these preferred embodiments but various changes and modifications can be made by one skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A circulation method of a mobile merchandise bond, comprising the steps of: accessing, at a user terminal of a purchaser, a mobile merchandise bond server through a predetermined network; transmitting, at the user terminal, a purchase request message for a mobile merchandise bond to the mobile merchandise bond server by input of the purchaser; receiving, at the mobile merchandise bond server, the purchase request message from the user terminal, generating a mobile merchandise bond, and storing the mobile merchandise bond in a DB to correspond to the user terminal; transmitting, at the mobile merchandise bond server, a purchase confirm message for the mobile merchandise bond to the user terminal; receiving, at the user terminal, the purchase confirm message, and transmitting a password inputted by the purchaser to the mobile merchandise bond server; and receiving, at the mobile merchandise bond server, the password, and storing the password in the DB to correspond to the mobile merchandise bond.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: transmitting, at the mobile merchandise bond server, a mobile merchandise bond list registered in the DB to the user terminal to be displayed thereon; displaying, at the user terminal, the received mobile merchandise bond list, and transmitting a gift request message including at least an identification number of a user terminal of a receiver, a mobile merchandise bond selected by the purchaser, and a password of the mobile merchandise bond to the mobile merchandise bond server; registering, at the mobile merchandise bond server, the selected mobile merchandise bond in the DB to correspond to the user terminal of the receiver; transmitting, at the mobile merchandise bond server, a gift arrival message for the mobile merchandise bond to the user terminal of the receiver; receiving, at the user terminal of the receiver, the gift arrival message, and transmitting a password of the presented mobile merchandise bond inputted by the receiver to the mobile merchandise bond server; and receiving, at the mobile merchandise bond server, the password, and storing the password in the DB to correspond to the mobile merchandise bond of the receiver.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising a step for adding digital contents to the gift arrival message.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step for adding the digital contents comprises the steps of: transmitting, at the mobile merchandise bond server, a subject list to the user terminal of the purchaser so that the purchaser can select a gift subject; displaying, at the user terminal of the purchaser, the subject list, and transmitting a subject selected by the purchaser to the mobile merchandise bond server; transmitting, at the mobile merchandise bond server, a digital contents list to the user terminal so that the purchaser can select digital contents according to the subject; displaying, at the user terminal of the purchaser, the digital contents list, and transmitting the digital contents selected by the purchaser to the mobile merchandise bond server; and adding, at the mobile merchandise bond server, the received digital contents to the gift arrival message.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the digital contents are differently displayed according to the kind of the user terminal of the receiver, the method further comprising a step for selecting display types of the digital contents through the mobile merchandise bond server, when the purchaser selects the digital contents.

6. The method of any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the digital contents comprise at least one of pictures, photographs, music, moving pictures, animations and texts.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the purchase request message comprises at least the price of the mobile merchandise bond to be purchased, and the identification number of the user.

8. The method of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the purchase confirm message and/or the gift arrival message comprises call back URL of the mobile merchandise bond server.

9. A circulation method of a mobile merchandise bond, comprising the steps of: accessing, at a user terminal, a mobile merchandise bond server; transmitting, at the mobile merchandise bond server, a mobile merchandise bond list corresponding to the user terminal to the user terminal; displaying, at the user terminal, the mobile merchandise bond list; transmitting, at the user terminal, a payment application message for a mobile merchandise bond selected from the mobile merchandise bond list by the user to the mobile merchandise bond server; transmitting, at the mobile merchandise bond server, a payment approval request message to a mobile communication operator server on the basis of the received payment application message; processing, at the mobile communication operator server, payment of the user terminal according to the received payment approval request message, and transmitting a payment approval message to the mobile merchandise bond server; and receiving, at the mobile merchandise bond server, the payment approval message, updating the mobile merchandise bond of the user terminal, and transmitting the payment approval message to the user terminal.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising a step for adding, at the user terminal, a password inputted by the user to the payment application message.

11. The method of either claim 9 or 10, further comprising a step for receiving, at the mobile merchandise bond server, the payment application message, reading the password added to the payment application message, comparing the password with the previously-stored password, and generating the payment approval request message according to the comparison result.