WO2006137691A1

WO2006137691A1 - A smart card providing a plurality of services for payment management and a system for providing unified payment management service using a smart card and a method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2006137691A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/002392
Authority: WO
Inventors: Je Hong Lee
Original assignee: Sejoong Dms Inc.
Priority date: 2005-06-21
Filing date: 2006-06-21
Publication date: 2006-12-28

Abstract

A smart card for unified payment management which provides one or more payment management services, such as loyalty management, receipt management, etc., unifiedly, is provided. The smart card comprises an authentication key operating module for managing an authentication key for issuance and authentication of the smart card, a PIN file operating module for managing identification information for determining whether or not a user of the smart card is a smart card holder, a member's information file operating module for managing member's information on a holder of the smart card, a memory, and a plurality of payment managing units. The memory comprises a PIN file for storing identification information for determining whether or not a user is a smart card holder, a key file for authentication, a member's information file for storing member's information on a holder of the smart card, and a plurality of directories for payment management, each of which corresponds to each of the plurality of payment managing units and is controlled by the corresponding payment managing unit.

Description

Description A SMART CARD PROVIDING A PLURALITY OF SERVICES

FOR PAYMENT MANAGEMENT AND A SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING UNIFIED PAYMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICE USING A SMART CARD AND A METHOD THEREOF. Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a smart card for providing a plurality of services for payment management unifiedly, especially, a smart card for providing services, such as loyalty services from a plurality of franchises, electronic money management, electronic receipts management, electronic parking tickets management, electronic A/ S(After-sale Service) application management, etc., by one smart card.

[2] Also, The invention relates to a smart card which is capable of providing loyalty services from a plurality of franchises by holding information of the franchises therein, and adding or eliminating information of some franchises depending on user's requirement without adding or eliminating applications for loyalty even after issuance of the card.

[3]

Background Art

[4] Recently, a loyalty service, which is a method for contributing to sales growth through constant purchase of goods or use of services by customers by accumulating a certain ratio of a customer's payment for a good or service as a point and returning corresponding monetary benefits to the customer, has been provided by many companies in a cash-back type.

[5] The Magnetic Stripe card(henceforth, referred to as "MS card") used in conventional loyalty services has defects that it is highly concerned that its data would be lost easily by magnetism because of the manufacturing process applying magnetic materials on polystrip, it may be counterfeited easily because of its low self-security, it is inconvenience in that its users must get customer authentication and use approval online as it may store only customers' IDs due to small data storage, and customers may not trade in case of disappearing or error of network required in online approval. In addition, it has an inconvenience that customers should carry many loyalty cards in their wallets if they wants several loyalty services, as one card may hold only one loyalty franchise due to its small storage.

[6] Also, a smart card, which means a card that a chip whose CPU and memory IC are combined together is embedded in a ID-I -sized plastic card(e.g., credit card) specified in ISO 7816, is used to get over the problem of a MS card. Although a previous smart card had merits of big stroage and superior sequrity, one card was able to hold only one franchise, or all franchises were able to provide only convergence loyalty service of the same condition, because a card was able to hold only one loyalty. Also, after issuance of the card, user were able to add or eliminate any franchise set in getting the card at will while his using, except for the adding or elimination of loyalty application itself in an open platform card.

[7] Moreover, because a smart card has been supposed to have only a function, for example loyalty accumulation so far, a user had an inconvenience that he should carry several cards, such as a credit card, a debit card, several smart cards for accumulating loyalty issued by several franchises, etc., in his wallet. Also, he had an inconvenience that he should have the receipt made of paper in his custody separately to check information on payment for purchase or service use.

[8]

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[9] The present invention is intended to solve the problems of a previous smart card as above, and its object is to provide a smart card providing a plurality of services for payment management, a system for providing unified payment management service using a smart card and a method thereof by partitioning a smart card's memory into a plurality of directories for a plurality of payment management services and creating the file for payment management in a subordinate position to each directory.

[10] Also, other object of the present invention is to provide a smart card corresponding to a plurality of franchises for providing individual loyalty services by a plurality of franchises and a system for providing loyalty service using the smart card and a method thereof, with a plurality of franchises held on a smart card in files in loyalty services using a smart card.

[11] Another object of the invention is also to provide a smart card being capable of adding or eliminating some franchise depending on user's requirement without adding or eliminating loyalty application itself after issuance of the card and a system for providing loyalty service using the smart card and a method thereof.

[12]

Technical Solution

[13] In one aspect of the present invention, the invention provides a smart card for unified payment management providing a plurality of services for payment management to achieve the objects, comprising: an authentication key operating module for managing an authentication key for issuance and authentication of the smart card; a PIN file operating module for managing identification information for determining whether or not a user is a smart card holder; a member's information file operating module for managing member's information on a smart card holder; memory; and a plurality of payment managing units, wherein the memory, comprises: a PIN file for storing identification information for determining whether or not a user is a smart card holder; a key file for authentication; a member's information file for storing member's information on a smart card holder; and a plurality of directories for payment management, each of which corresponds to each of the plurality of payment managing units, and is controlled by the corresponding payment managing unit.

[14] In another aspect of the present invention, the invention provides a system for providing unified payment management service using the smart card, wherein the system server for unified payment management comprises: an authenticating module for managing an authentication key for the authentication of the smart card and performing authentication work; a PIN identification module for performing identification work for identififying whether or not a user is a smart card holder; a member's information managing module for storing and managing member's information on a smart card holder; and an unified service operating unit including a loyalty service operating unit, an electronic money operating unit, an electronic receipt operating unit, an electronic parking ticket operating unit, and an electronic A/S application operating unit.

[15] The loyalty service operating unit comprises, a franchise list managing module for managing the list of all franchises providing the loyalty service; a franchise managing module for storing and managing the loyalty information corresponding to each franchise included in the franchise list; and a loyalty information managing module for storing, extracting, calculating, analyzing and processing information on loyalty accumulated, used, and converted by smart card holders. The electronic money operating unit comprises, a gift certificate managing module for managing information on issuance of gift certificates by each franchise; and a balance information managing module for storing, extracting, calculating, analyzing and processing the use of gift certificates by a smart card holder, information on the gift certificates used ,the balance information after use of gift certificate, etc.. The electronic receipt operating unit comprises an electronic receipt managing module for managing information on the issuance of an electronic receipt by each franchise. The electronic parking ticket operating unit comprises, an electronic parking ticket managing module for managing information on the issuance of electronic parking ticket by each franchise; and an electronic parking receipt managing module for managing information on the issuance of electronic parking receipt for the use of the electronic parking ticket. The electronic A/S application operating unit comprises, an electronic A/S application information managing module for managing information on the electronic A/S applications received by each franchise; and an electronic A/S receipt information managing module for managing information on electronic A/S receipts issued by the franchises receiving the electronic A/S applications.

[16] Also, in another aspect of the present invention, the invention provides a method for providing unified payment management service using the smart card, the method comprising: authenticating the smart card; managing PIN by managing identification information for determining whether or not a user of the smart card is a smart card holder and performing identification work; connecting to a directory in the smart card about the payment management service a user wants; storing data in the directory, extracting data from the directory, or changing data in the directory.

[17]

Advantageous Effects

[18] The present invention makes a plurality of payment managements possible, such as loyalty management, electronic money management, electronic receipts management, electronic parking tickets management, electronic A/S application management, etc. by one smart card in unified payment management services using a smart card. So, according to the present invention, users of the smart card may not only manage payment information from purchase to A/S by one smart card, but also manage various receipts, parking tickets, etc. easily without carrying credit cards, debit cards, loyalty accumulating cards, gift certificates, etc. in their wallets.

[19] Also, in loyalty management services using a smart card according to the invention, it is possible to provide individual loyalty services from a plurality of franchises with a smart card holding a plurality of franchises in files. Besides, according to the invention, a user may add or eliminate some franchise depending on his requirement without adding or eliminating loyalty application itself after issuance of the card.

[20]

Brief Description of the Drawings

[21] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a configuration of a smart card for unified payment management according to the present invention approximately.

[22] Figure 2 and 3 are block diagrams illustrating directory configuration of memery

18.

[23] Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating configuration of payment managing units 32 to 36 approximately.

[24] Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating a smart card in an embodiment of the present invention. [25] Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of files included in a smart card in an embodiment of the present invention. [26] Figure 7 is a schematic of a system for providing loyalty services using a smart card according to the present invention in condition operated offline. [27] Figure 8 is a schematic of a system for providing loyalty services using a smart card according to the present invention in condition operated online. [28] Figure 9 is a block diagram illustrating elements of a system server 300 in a system for providing loyalty service in an embodiment of the present invention. [29] Figure 10 is a block diagram illustrating elements of a franchise terminal 400.

[30] Figure 11 is a block diagram illustrating elements of the head office server 500.

[31] Figure 12 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of accumulating loyalty through a franchise terminal in condition operated offline. [32] Figure 13 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of accumulating loyalty through a franchise terminal in condition operated online. [33] Figure 14 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of accumulating loyalty through internet in condition operated offline. [34] Figure 15 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of accumulating loyalty through internet in condition operated online. [35] Figure 16 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of checking loyalty through a franchise terminal in condition operated offline. [36] Figure 17 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of checking loyalty through a franchise terminal in condition operated online. [37] Figure 18 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of checking loyalty through internet in condition operated offline. [38] Figure 19 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of checking loyalty through internet in condition operated online. [39] Figure 20 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of adding some franchise through a franchise terminal in condition operated offline. [40] Figure 21 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of adding some franchise through a franchise terminal in condition operated online. [41] Figure 22 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of adding franchises through internet in condition operated offline. [42] Figure 23 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of issuing an electronic gift certificate through a franchise terminal.

[43] Figure 24 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of checking the balance information and consuming the balance through a franchise terminal. [44] Figure 25 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of issuing an electronic receipt through a franchise terminal. [45] Figure 26 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of issuing an electronic parking ticket through a terminal disposed in a parking facility.

[46] Figure 27 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of issuing an electronic parking receipt through a terminal disposed in a parking facility.

[47] Figure 28 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of processing an A/S application through a franchise terminal.

[48] Figure 29 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of issuing an electronic A/S receipt through a franchise terminal.

[49]

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[50] Henceforth, the preferred embodiments of the invention is described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

[51] Meanwhile, in the present invention, "loyalty" means the measure of lasting purchase or service use, and "loyalty service" means that companies allow customers to accumulate a certain ratio of their purchase amounts or service amounts used as a point and get the corresponding financial benefits, contributing to their sales growth.

[52] Also, "a smart card corresponding to a plurality of franchises" is the smart card which has functions of being capable of holding a plurality of franchises with one, and adding or eliminating some franchise depending on user's requirement instead of adding or eliminating loyalty application itself after issuance of a card, in utilizing a smart card for unified payment management according to the invention to manage loyalty.

[53] Also, "loyalty accumulation" means that a card holder adds loyalty to remaining loyalty of his card depending on his purchase amounts when he purchases goods or accesses to services in a franchise.

[54] Also, "loyalty use" means that a card holder deducts loyalty from the remaining loyalty by using certain amounts of purchase amounts or exchanging with a coupon(fixed ticket), etc. when he purchases goods or accesses to services in a franchise.

[55] Also, "loyalty conversion" means that a card holder deducts loyalty in some franchise and adds the loyalty to the remaining loyalty in other franchise.

[56] Meanwhile, "franchise addition" means that a user adds some franchise available for loyalty services by becomeing a member depending on his requirement after issuance of the card. "Franchise elimination" means that a user eliminates some franchise available for loyalty services by leaving franchise with his membership after issuance of the card.

[57] In addition, "electronic gift certificate" is a gift certificate issued electronically by each franchise, allowing a card holder to use instead of money as he purchase goods or access to services in a franchise.

[58] Meanwhile, "condition operated online" means that online customer relations between the head office and the franchise is performed depending on system infra of a franchise(C/S POS or WEB POS), and "condition operated offline" means that online customer relations between the head office and the franchise is not performedφrivate POS).

[59] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a configuration of a smart card for unified payment management according to the present invention approximately. A smart card 10 in this embodiment comprises an interface unit 12 for transmitting and receiving data with common external apparatus, a security authentication unit 14 for security and card authentication, an operation unit 16 for processing data, memery 18 for storing data, and a member's information management operating module 20 for managing member's information on a holder of the smart card 10. The security authentication unit 14 comprises a authentication key operating module for managing an authentication key for issuance and authentication of the smart card 10, and a PIN file operating module for managing identification information for determining whether or not a user of the smart card 10 is a smart card holder.

[60] Also, a smart card 10 according to the present invention comprises a plurality of payment managing units for operating payment management services, wherein the plurality of payment managing units include a payment means operating unit 31, a loyalty managing unit 32, an electronic receipt managing unit 34, an electronic parking ticket managing unit 35, and an electronic A/S application managing unit 36 in this embodiment. Of course, a smart card 10 according to the present invention may include all or any combination of a plurality of payment managing units.

[61] The interface unit 12 may be applied to a card using several interface methods as it is able to transmit and receive data through an antenna or a point of contact. That is, the interface unit may be applied to Contact less (RF) card interfaced with a terminal through an antenna, Contact card transmitting and receiving data with a point of contact on a card surface contacted a point of contact in a terminal, Combi card with the structure capable of using contact interface method and contact less interface method on a chip simultaneously, transmitting and receiving the same data through a point of contact and an antenna, and Hybrid card transmitting and receiving different data with different smart card, respectively, in spite of having both interface methods.

[62] Figure 2 and 3 are block diagrams illustrating directory configuration of the memery 18. With reference to Figure 2, a master file 102 at the very top of directory configuration relates to an operating system software essential to the operation of a smart card 10. A key file for authentication 106 for managing authentication keys for issuing and authenticating functions of the smart card 10, a PIN file 108 for managing identification information for determining whether or not a user of the smart card 10 is a smart card holder, and a member's information file 110 for managing member's information on a holder of the smart card 10 are provided in subordinate of a master file 102. The subordinate is partitioned into directories for a plurality of payment management functions of the smart card 10. For example, the subordinate includes the directory for payment means management 210 for the function as a payment means such as a credit card, the directory for loyalty management 220 for managing loyalty, the directory for electronic money management 230 for managing electronic money such as a gift certificate, the directory for electronic receipt management 240 for managing electronic receipts, the directory for electronic parking ticket management 250 for managing electronic parking tickets, and the directory for electronic A/S application management 260 for managing electronic A/S applications. Meanwhile, in this embodiment, a key file 160 for access to each directory by terminals of user or franchise is provided commonly for all directories. Figure 3, which is another embodiment of a directory configuration within a smart card, is the same as Figure 2, except that key files 106a to 16Oe are individually provided to each directory (220 to 260).

[63] The directories correspond to a plurality of payment managing units illustrated in

Figure 1, that is, a payment means operating unit 31, a loyalty managing unit 32, an electronic money managing unit 33, an electronic receipts managing unit 34, an electronic parking ticket managing unit 35, and an electronic A/S application managing unit 36, respectively, and a plurality of payment managing units control data stored in subordinate files of the corresponding directories respectively.

[64] Hereinafter, configurations of each directory and a plurality of payment managing units are described with reference to Figure 1, Figure 2, and Figure 4 illustrating configuration of each payment managing unit approximately. But, the directory for payment means management 210 is configured to provide functions of previous credit card, check card, debit card, etc. so that the description is omitted.

[65] A directory for loyalty management 220 illustrated in Figure 2 includes a franchise list file 112 for storing list of franchise joined by a holder of the smart card 10 , one or more franchise files 114a, 114b, ..., 114n for storing loyalty data corresponding to each franchise included in the franchise list file 112, and a loyalty information file 118 for storing information on loyalty that a holder of the smart card 10 have been accumulated, used, and changed.

[66] In Figure 1 and Figure 4, loyalty managing unit 32 includes a franchise list file operating module 126 for managing franchise list stored in the franchise list file 112, a franchise file operating module 128 for controlling loyalty data stored in one or more franchise files 114a, 114b, ..., 114n, and a loyalty information file operating module 132 for controlling information on loyalty stored in the loyalty information file 118.

[67] The directory for loyalty management 220 may further include a coupon file 116 for storing information on electronic coupons offered to loyalty service users by franchises. Then, loyalty managing unit 32 further includes a coupon file operating module 130 for controlling a coupon file 116.

[68] The directory for electronic money management 230 includes a gift certificate file

232 for storing electronic gift certificates issued by franchise available for a smart card 10, a gift certificate information file 234 for storing information on gift certificate stored in a gift certificate file 232, and a balance information file 236 for storing information on the balance after cash payments and the refund on shopping bags bought when a user purchases goods, as well as the balance after gift certificate use.

[69] The electronic money managing unit 33 includes a gift certificate file operating module 140 for controlling a gift certificate file 232, a gift certificate information file operating module 142 for controlling a gift certificate information file 234, and a balance information file operating module 144 for controlling the balance information file 236.

[70] The directory for electronic receipt management 240 includes an electronic receipt file 242 for storing electronic receipts issued when a user purchases goods or accesses to services in franchises available for a smart card 10, and an electronic receipt information file 244 for storing information on electronic receipts stored in the electronic receipt file 242.

[71] The electronic receipt managing unit 34 includes an electronic receipt file operating module 146 for controlling an electronic receipt file 242, and an electronic receipt information file operating module 148 for controlling an electronic receipt information file 244.

[72] The directory for electronic parking ticket management 250 includes an electronic parking ticket file 252 for storing electronic parking tickets issued by terminal in parking facility available for a smart card 10 , an electronic parking receipt file 254 for storing electronic parking receipts issued when a user pays for the parking, and an electronic parking receipt information file 256 for storing information on electronic parking receipts stored in the electronic parking receipt file 254.

[73] The electronic parking ticket managing unit 35 includes an electronic parking ticket file operating module 150 for controlling electronic parking ticket file 252, an electronic parking receipt file operating module 152 for controlling the electronic parking receipt file 254, and an electronic parking receipt information file operating module 154 for controlling an electronic parking receipt information file 256.

[74] The directory for electronic parking ticket management 250 may further include a parking space guide file 258 for storing parking space to guide users to parking space. Then, electronic parking ticket managing unit 35 further includes a parking space guide file operating module 156 for controlling the parking space guide file 258.

[75] The directory for electronic A/S application management 260 includes an electronic

A/S application file 262 for storing electronic A/S applications filled out when a user of a smart card 10 applies for an A/S for goods or services offered by franchise available for the smart card, an electronic A/S application information file 264 for storing information on electronic A/S applications stored in an electronic A/S application file 262, an electronic A/S receipt file 266 for storing electronic A/S receipts issued after A/S according to the A/S application, and an electronic A/S receipt information file 268 for storing A/S management information and/or electronic A/S receipt information.

[76] The electronic A/S application managing unit 36 includes an electronic A/S application file operating module 158 for controlling the electronic A/S application file 262, an electronic A/S application information file operating module 160 for controlling the electronic A/S application information file 264, an electronic A/S receipt file operating module 162 for controlling the electronic A/S receipt file 266, and an electronic A/S receipt information file operating module 164 for controlling the electronic A/S receipt information file 268.

[77] Hereinafter, with reference to Figure 5 to Figure 22, a system and a method for managing loyalty using the smart card according to the present invention is described in detail as an example of unified payment management service using the smart card according to the present invention.

[78] 1. A preferred embodiment of a smart card for unified payment management for loyalty management system.

[79] Referring to Figure 5, Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating a smart card in an embodiment of the present invention conceptually. Only configuration for loyalty management function is illustrated in the embodiment, for the convenience of description. As depicted in Figure 5, a smart card 100 in the embodiment (henceforth referred to as "a smart card corresponding to a plurality of franchises 100" sometimes) comprises an interface unit 134 for transmitting and receiving data with common external apparatus, an operation unit 136 for processing data and memery 138 for storing data. Especially, the smart card 100 comprises an authentication key operating module 120 for managing an authentication key for issuance and authentication of the smart card 100, a PIN file operating module 122 for managing identification information for determining whether or not a user of the smart card 100 is a smart card holder, a member's information file operating module 124 for managing member's information on a holder of the smart card 100, a franchise list file operating module 126 for managing list of franchises joined by a smart card holder, a franchise file operating module 128 for storing and managing loyalty data corresponding to each franchise included in the franchise list file, and a loyalty information file operating module 132 for managing information on loyalty accumulated, used, and changed by a card holder.

[80] Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of files included in the smart card 100, and a master file 102 releates to the operating system software which is essential to operate the smart card 100, with reference to the figure. Each dedicated file for different function, for example, function of debit card, function of credit card, function of official note of authentication, is provided to subdirectory of master file 102, one among the files is a dedicated file(DF) 104 for a smart card 100. The subordinate of a dedicated file(DF) 104 for a smart card 100 include a hierarchiral file structure consisted of a key file for authentication 106 for managing authentication keys for issuance and authentication of the smart card 100, a PIN file 108 for managing identification information for determining whether or not a user is a smart card holder, a member's information file 110 for managing member's information on a holder of the smart card 100, a franchise list file 112 for managing list of franchises joined by a holder of the smart card 100, franchise files 114a, 114b, ..., 114n for storing and managing loyalty data corresponding to each franchise included in the franchise list file, and a loyalty information file 118 for managing information on loyalty that a holder of the smart card 100 have been accumulated, used, and changed. The key file 106 makes several keys included in one key file according to the type of the card. The franchise list file 112 includes records as many as franchise files, and should be read before a franchise file is read or written. The franchise file 114 include files whose number is equal to the number of franchises(n) joind by a holder of the smart card 100. The loyalty information file 118 manages information on loyalty that a holder of the smart card 100 have been accumulated, used, and changed

[81] In this embodiment, a plurality of franchises may be registered in one dedicated file for loyalty services, thus it is promoted efficient use of memory capacity of a card. Also, in case the loyalty service is held in a native card, it may be issued with one dedicated file added to previous card, and independent card holding only loyalty service may be issued in an another embodiment.

[82] 2. A preferred embodiment of a system and a method for providing loyalty service using a smart card.

[83] Referring to Figure 7, Figure 7 is a schematic of a system for providing loyalty services using a smart card according to the present invention in condition operated offline. The loyalty service providing system server 300 is connected to a franchise terminal 400 to which the smart card 100 is inserted, PC 200 in which a card reader is installed, and an issuer server 600, through a network. [84] Figure 9 is a block diagram illustrating elements of a system for providing loyalty service using a smart card in an embodiment of the present invention. As depicted in Figure 9, the loyalty service providing system server 300 includes a common hardware 314, a basic input/output system(BIOS) 316, operating system(OS) 318 and software 320, etc.. Especially, the loyalty service providing system server 300 includes an authenticating module 302 for authenticating the smart card 100 when loyalty service using the smart card 100 is provided; a PIN managing module 304 for managing identification information identififying whether or not a user is a smart card holder and performing identification work; a member's information managing module 306 for storing and managing member's information on a holder of the smart card 100; a franchise list managing module 308 for managing the list of all franchises joining the loyalty service providing system; a franchise managing module 310 for storing and managing the loyalty information corresponding to each franchise included in the franchise list; and a loyalty information managing module 312 for storing, extracting, calculating, analyzing and processing information on loyalty accumulated, used, and converted by holders of the smart card 100.

[85] Figure 10 is a block diagram illustrating elements of a franchise terminal 400 connected to the loyalty service providing system server 300 corresponding to a plurality of franchises through a network, as depicted in Figure 7 and Figure 8. With refernce to Figure 10, the franchise terminal 400 is connected to the loyalty service providing system server 300 through a network, and includes an interface unit 410 for transmitting and receiving data with common external apparatus, an operation unit 412 for processing data, a memory unit 414 for storing data and a display unit 416 for displaying data, etc.. Especially, the franchise terminal 400 includes an authenticating module 402 for authenticating the smart card 100; a PIN managing module 404 for managing identification information for determining whether or not a user of the smart card 100 is a smart card holder and performing identification work; a member's information managing module 406 for storing and managing various information on members joining the franchises; and a loyalty information managing module 408 for managing information on loyalty accumulated, used, and converted by members joining the franchises.

[86] The action of the loyalty service providing system using the smart card 100 corresponding to a plurality of franchises in condition operated offline may be described in detail as follows.

[87] To join the franchise to use the loyalty service, a user should first apply for the franchise as they apply for card's issuance to an issuer server 600, and then the loyalty service providing system server 300 inputs data about franchise requested to a franchise list file 112 and a franchise file 114n in the smart card 100, and the issuer server 600 issues a card and transports card issuance data to the loyalty service providing system server 300

[88] Figure 12 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of accumulating loyalty corresponding to the purchase or the access to services by a holder of the smart card 100 in franchise using a franchise terminal 400 in condition operated offline. With reference to Figure 12, a user requests accumulating of loyalty after his purchase or access to services(602), and inserts the smart card 100 into the franchise terminal 400(604). A user authenticates the card using the authenticating module 402 in the franchise terminal 400(606), searches the franchise list file 112 in the smart card 100 for franchise data(608), searches the corresponding franchise file 114n and extracts member's information (ID) for each franchise(610). Loyalty corresponding to purchase information is accumulated according to the loyalty giving rule stored in the franchise terminal 400(612), and the accumulated loyalty is recorded on the smart card 100(614) and stored in the loyalty information managing module 408 of the franchise terminal 400(616).

[89] The procedure that a holder of the smart card 100 uses loyalty accumulated as he purchases or accesses to services in franchise is the same or similar to that of accumulating loyalty so that the description is omitted. Also, because loyalty conversion is that a user accumulates loyalty in some franchise and uses loyalty in another franchise, and then the procedure is the same or similar as above, the description is omitted.

[90] Figure 16 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure that a holder of the smart card

100 checks loyalty information using a franchise terminal 400 in condition operated offline. Checking of loyalty information through the franchise terminal 400 is possible about only the loyalty in the franchise. If a user requests checking of the loyalty in- formation(702) and inserts the smart card 100 into the franchise terminal 400(704), a user authenticates the card using the authenticating module 402 in the franchise terminal 400(706). A user searches the franchise list file 112 in the authenticated smart card 100 for franchise data(708), searches the corresponding franchise file 114n and extracts member's information by franchises (710). The remaining loyalty information belonging to the extracted member's information is read from the smart card 100 and the data is displayed on the franchise terminal 400(712).

[91] Figure 20 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure that a holder of the smart card

100 adds some franchise using a franchise terminal 400 after the issuance of the card in condition operated offline. With reference to Figure 20, a user requests addition of franchise(becoming a member)(802), inserts the smart card 100 into the franchise terminal 400(804), and authenticates the card using the authenticating module 402(806). After the authentication, a user checks the joining through the franchise list file operating module 126 in the smart card 100(808), and then requests PIN input and performs PIN contrast work(810). After checking the PIN, the franchise terminal 400 inputs the franchise data into the franchise list file 112 and the franchise file 114n in the smart card 100(812). Also, a user extracts the member's information through the member's information file operating module 124 in the smart card 100, and stores it in the franchise terminal 400(814).

[92] The procedure that a holder of the smart card 100 uses the franchise terminal 400 to eliminate franchise after the issuance of the card is the same or similar to that of adding franchise so that the description is omitted.

[93] 3. Another embodiment

[94] 3.1 Another embodiment of a smart card.

[95] In an another embodiment, as depicted in Figure 5 and Figure 6, the smart card 100 may include a coupon file operating module 130 for managing information on franchise or non-franchise coupon provided to a card holder by the franchise of the smart card 100. Because this element is optional, it is shown in dotted line. When a user uses the coupon, the use information may be provided to the franchise, with managing, and paying or calculating in server possible. In this case, the smart card 100 includes a coupon file 116 operated by the coupon file operating module 130.

[96] 3.2 Another embodiment of a system and a method for providing loyalty services using a smart card.

[97] Figure 8 is a schematic of a system for providing loyalty services in condition operated online that franchise system infra implements customer relations online between the head office server 500 and the franchise terminal 400. In one embodiment of the present invention, the action of the loyalty service providing system using the smart card 100 corresponding to a plurality of franchises in condition operated online may be described in detail as follows.

[98] Figure 11 is a block diagram illustrating elements of the head office server 500, with reference to Figure 11, the head office server 500 is connected to the loyalty service providing system 100 through a network, and includes a common hardware 510, a basic input/output system(BIOS) 512, operating system(OS) 514 and software 516, etc.. Especially, the head office server 500 includes an authenticating module 502 for authenticating the smart card 100; a PIN managing module 504 for managing identification information for identifying the franchise and performing identification work; a member's information managing module 506 for storing and managing member's information on holders of the smart card 100; and a loyalty information managing module 508 for storing, extracting, and calculating information on loyalty accumulated, used, and converted by holders of the smart card 100.

[99] Figure 13 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure that a holder of the smart card 100 accumulates loyalty corresponding to purchase or access to services in franchise using a franchise terminal 400 in condition operated online. With reference to Figure 13, a user requests loyalty accumulation after the purchase or the access to services in franchise(602) and inserts the smart card 100 into the franchise terminal 400(604). A user authenticates the card using the authenticating module 402 in the franchise terminal 400(606), searches franchise data through the franchise list file operating module 126 in the smart card 100(608), searches the corresponding franchise file 114n through the franchise file operating module 128 and extracts member's information (ID) by franchises(610). The result is transported to the head office server 500(618), the head office server 500 accumulates and stores loyalty agreeable to the loyalty giving rule(620), transports information on the accumulating and the remaining loyalty to the franchise terminal 400, and makes the terminal display them(622). Also, a smart card 100 stores the information(624).

[100] The procedure that a holder of the smart card 100 uses loyalty accumulated as they purchase or access to services in franchise is the same or similar to that of accumulating loyalty so that the description is omitted. Also, because loyalty conversion is that a user accumulates loyalty in some franchise and uses loyalty in another franchise, and then the procedure is same or similar as above, the description is omitted.

[101] Figure 17 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure that a holder of the smart card

100 checks loyalty information using the franchise terminal 400 in condition operated online. Checking of loyalty information through the franchise terminal 400 is possible only about the loyalty in the franchise. If a user requests checking of the loyalty in- formation(702) and inserts the smart card 100 into the franchise terminal 400(704), a user authenticates the card using the authenticating module 402 in the franchise terminal 400(706). A user searches franchise data through the franchise list file operating module 126 in the authenticated smart card 100(708), searches the corresponding franchise file 114n through the franchise file operating module 128 and extracts member's information(ID) by franchises(710). When the information is transported to the head office server 500(714), the head office server 500 extracts the remaining loyalty information through the loyalty information managing module 610, transports the result to the franchise terminal 400 and makes the franchise terminal 400 display the result(716).

[102] Figure 21 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure that a holder of the smart card

100 adds some franchise using a franchise terminal 400 after the issuance of the card in condition operated online. With reference to Figure 21, in case a user uses the franchise terminal 400 to add some franchise, when a user requests addition of franchise(becoming a member)(802), the smart card 100 is inserted into the franchise terminal 400(804) and the authenticating module 402 authenticates the card(806). After the authentication, the terminal checks the joining through the franchise list file operating module 126 in the smart card 100(808), and then extracts the member's information in the smart card 100 and transports it to the head office server 500(816). The head office server 500 stores the member's information after checking the joining at least twice(818), and transports the singnal of membership approval to the franchise terminal 400(820). After checking the PIN, the franchise terminal 400 inputs the franchise data into the franchise list file 112 and the franchise file 114n in the smart card 100(822). The head office server 500 transports the membership information to the loyalty service providing system server 300(824).

[103] The procedure that a holder of the smart card 100 uses the franchise terminal 400 to eliminate some franchise after the issuance of the card is the same or similar to that of adding some franchise so that the description is omitted.

[104] 3.3 Another embodiment of a system and a method for providing loyalty service using a smart card

[105] Figure 14 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure that a holder of the smart card corresponding to a plurality of franchises 100 accumulates loyalty through internet in condition operated offline. As depicted in Figure 14, the procedure of accumulating is similar to that of accumulating loyalty through the franchise terminal described above, and a user of the smart card 100 connects to the loyalty service providing system server 300(626) and inserts the smart card 100 into PC in which a smart card reader is installed(628) to accumulate loyalty through internet. The loyalty service providing system server 300 instead of the franchise terminal 400 performances card au- thentication(630), information search(632), and extraction(634), accumulates loyalty agreeable to the loyalty giving rule of the smart card 100 corresponding to the extracted information and stores the information(636) in the smart card 100. Also, the server transports the information to the smart card 100 and records it(638).

[106] The procedure that a holder of the smart card 100 uses loyalty accumulated as he purchases or accesses to services in franchise is the same or similar to that of accumulating loyalty described above so that the description is omitted. Also, because loyalty conversion is that a user accumulates loyalty in some franchise and usees loyalty in another franchise, and then the procedure is same or similar as above, the description is omitted.

[107] Figure 15 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure that a holder of the smart card

100 corresponding to a plurality of franchises accumulates loyalty through internet in condition operated online. As depicted in Figure 15, the procedure of accumulating is similar to that of accumulating loyalty through the franchise terminal described above, and a user of the smart card 100 connects to the loyalty service providing system server 300(626) and inserts the smart card 100 into PC in which a smart card reader is installed(628) to accumulate loyalty through internet. The loyalty service providing system server 300 instead of the franchise terminal 400 performances card au- thentication(630), information search(632), and extraction(634), and transports the extracted information to the head office server 500(642). The server accumulates loyalty agreeable to the loyalty giving rule of the head office server 500 corresponding to the extracted information(644) and stores the information in the smart card 100(646).

[108] The procedure that a holder of the smart card 100 uses loyalty accumulated as he purchases or accesses to services in franchise is the same or similar to that of accumulating loyalty described above so that the description is omitted. Also, because loyalty conversion is also that a user accumulates loyalty in some franchise and uses loyalty in another franchise, and then the procedure is same or similar as above, the description is omitted.

[109] Figure 18 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure that a user of the smart card corresponding to a plurality of franchises 100 checks loyalty information through internet in condition operated offline. As depicted in Figure 18, the procedure of checking is similar to that of checking loyalty through the franchise terminal described above, and a user of the smart card 100 connects to the loyalty service providing system server 300(718) and inserts the smart card 100 into PC in which a smart card reader is installed(720) to check loyalty information through internet. The loyalty service providing system server 300 instead of the franchise terminal 400 performances card authentication(722), information search(724), and extraction (726). Also, the server reads and displays the remaining loyalty information recorded in the smart card 100 according to the extracted information(728).

[110] Figure 19 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure that a holder of the smart card corresponding to a plurality of franchises 100 checks loyalty information through internet in condition operated online. As depicted in Figure 19, the procedure of checking is similar to that of checking loyalty through the franchise terminal described above, and a holder of the smart card 100 connects to the loyalty service providing system server 300(718) and inserts the smart card 100 into PC in which a smart card reader is installed(720) to check loyalty information through internet. The loyalty service providing system server 300 instead of the franchise terminal 400 performances card authentication(722), information search(724), and extraction(726). Also, the server transports the extracted information to the head office server 500(730), reads and displays the remaining loyalty information from the head office server 500(732).

[I l l] Figure 22 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure that a holder of the smart card 100 adds some franchise through internet after the issuance of the card. With reference to Figure 22, when a user uses internet(online) to add some franchise, a user requests to become a member(826), and inserts the smart card 100 into PC in which a smart card reader is installed(828). The loyalty service providing system server 300 authenticates the card using the authenticating module 302(830), and checks the joining by searching the franchise list file 211(832). After the check, the loyalty service providing system server 300 is input PIN and performs PIN contrast work(834). After checking the PIN, the server input the franchise data to the smart card 100(836). Also, the loyalty service providing system server 300 transports information on franchise addition(becoming a member) to each franchise(838).

[112] The procedure that a holder of the smart card 100 uses internet to eliminate some franchise after the issuance of the card is the same or similar to that of adding some franchise described above so that the description is omitted.

[113] Loyalty service using a smart card according to the present invention is described in detail above. The smart card according to the embodiments may hold a plurality of franchises in files and provide individual loyalty service from a plurality of franchises. Also, the smart card may add or eliminate some franchise depending on user's requirement without adding or eliminating loyalty application itself after issuance of the card.

[114] Although loyalty service using a smart card 10 according to the present invention is described in detail above, hereinafter, in addition to the loyalty service mentioned above, unified payment management service, such as electronic money, electronic receipt, electronic parking ticket, electronic A/S application management, etc. using a smart card 10 in condition operated offline is described by illustration. The procedure providing service in condition operated online is similar to the described with reference to Figure 13, Figure 17, and Figure 21 so that the description is omitted.

[115] Looking at the configuration of an system server for unified payment management

300 which provides unified payment management service using the smart card 10 according to the present invention before the description, the system server for unified payment management 300 includes an electronic money operating unit, an electronic receipt operating unit, an electronic parking ticket operating unit, and an electronic A/S application operating unit, etc. in addition to the configuration in Figure 9.

[116] The electronic money operating unit comprises a gift certificate managing module for managing information on issuance of gift certificates by each franchise, and a balance information managing module for storing, extracting, calculating, analyzing and processing use of gift certificates by a holder of the smart card, information on the gift certificates used ,the balance information after use of gift certificate, etc..

[117] The electronic receipt operating unit comprises an electronic receipt managing module for managing information on the issuance of an electronic receipt by each franchise.

[118] The electronic parking ticket operating unit comprises an electronic parking ticket managing module for managing information on the issuance of electronic parking ticket by each franchise, and an electronic parking receipt managing module for managing information on the issuance of electronic parking receipt.

[119] The electronic A/S application operating unit comprises an electronic A/S application information managing module for managing information on the electronic A/ S applications received by each franchise, and an electronic A/S receipt information managing module for managing information on electronic A/S receipts issued by the franchises receiving the electronic A/S applications.

[120] Also, the franchise terminal 400 for providing unified payment management service using the smart card 10 according to the present invention, in addition to the configuration in Figure 10, comprises an electronic money information managing module for managing information on gift certificates issued to card holders and use of gift certificates, an electronic receipt information managing module for managing information on electronic receipts issued to the card holders, an electronic parking ticket information managing module for managing information on electronic parking tickets and electronic parking receipts issued to the card holders, and an electronic A/S application information managing module for managing information on electronic A/S applications applied by the card holders and electronic A/S receipts issued to the card holders.

[121] Also, the head office server 500 for providing unified payment management service using the smart card 10 according to the present invention, in addition to the configuration in Figure 11, comprises an electronic money information managing module for managing information on gift certificates issued to card holders and use of gift certificates, an electronic receipt information managing module for managing information on electronic receipts issued to the card holders, an electronic parking ticket information managing module for managing information on electronic parking tickets and electronic parking receipts issued to the card holders, and an electronic A/S application information managing module for managing information on electronic A/S applications applied by the card holders and electronic A/S receipts issued to the card holders.

[122] 1. The issuance of electronic gift certificates and management of the balance.

[123] Figure 23 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of issuing gift certificates to a smart card 10 using a franchise terminal 400 with the issuance function of electronic gift certificates. With reference to Figure 23, when the smart card 10 is inserted into the franchise terminal 400(1202), the authenticating module 402 in the franchise terminal 400 authenticates the card(1204). When requested the issuance of an electroni c gift certificate, the franchise terminal 400 creats an electronic gift certificate(1206). Next, a gift certificate file operating module 140 in a smart card 10 stores the created electronic gift certificate in a gift certificate file 232(1208), and a gift certificate information file operating module 142 stores information on management of the electronic gift certificate in a gift certificate information file 234(1210). Meanwhile, an electronic money information managing module in the franchise terminal 400 stores information on issuance of gift certificates.

[124] In this embodiment, a user may not only store gift certificates issued by each franchise in one smart card and manage it, but also check information on gift certificates stored in the smart card through a franchise terminal, etc..

[125] Besides, according to the smart card 10 in the present invention, when a holder(user) of the smart card 10 uses a gift certificate as a means of payment for purchase or access to services in franchises, the holder may store the balance in the balance information file 236 and use the stored balance like cash again later. So, a card user may not carry small bills in his wallets, and a franchise doesn't have to issue small gift certificates again or pay for the balance. It is convenient that a holder stores the change for cash payment and small change to be payed for refund of shopping bags, as well as the balance for gift certificate use, as balance information.

[126] Although only a procedure that a gift certificate is issued through a franchise terminal is described in the embodiment above, a user may download a gift certificate to his own smart card 10 after connecting to a system for unified payment management according to the present invention through a communication network, such as internet, using PC in which a smart card reader is installed.

[127] Meanwhile, Figure 24 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of checking the balance information stored in a smart card 10 through a franchise terminal 400 according to the present invention and using the balance. With reference to Figure 24, when a card user pays all or part of the bill for purchase or access to services by the balance stored in a smart card 10, if the smart card 10 is inserted into the terminal 400(1220), the authenticating module 402 in the terminal 400 would authenticate the card(1222). When a user checks the balance stored in the balance information file 236 in a smart card 10(1224) and pays all or part of the bill by the balance(1226), the balance after deducted the amount is stored in the balance information file 236(1228). The procedure of deducting the balance is similar to that of deducting loyalty mentioned above so that the description is omitted.

[128] 2. Loyalty accumulating and issuance of an electronic receipt

[129] Figure 25 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of issuing an electronic receipt for payment for purchase or access to services by a user of the smart card 10 using a franchise terminal 400 according to the present invention. With reference to Figure 25, when a user pays the bill for the purchase or the access to services in a franchise and requests loyalty accumulating and issuance of an electronic receipt for this(1302), the smart card 10 is inserted into the franchise terminal 400(1304). The authenticating module 402 in the franchise terminal 400 authenticates the card, and then the franchise list file operating module 126 in the smart card 10 searches for the franchise data, and the franchise file operating module 128 searches the corresponding franchise file 114n and extracts member's information by franchises, loyalty according to purchase information agreeable to the loyalty giving rule stored in franchise terminal 400 are accumulated, loyalty accumulated are stored in the franchise file 114n in the smart card 100, and the information is stored in the loyalty information file 118. And, the loyalty information is also stored in the loyalty information managing module 408 in the franchise terminal 400(1308). Next, the franchise terminal 400 creates an electronic receipt(1310), the electronic receipt file operating module 146 in the smart card 10 stores the electronic receipt in the electronic receipt file 242(1312), and the electronic receipt information file operating module 148 stores information on the electronic receipt management in the electronic receipt information file 244(1314). Meanwhile, the electronic receipt information managing module in the franchise terminal 400 stores information on the issuance of an electronic receipt.

[130] In this embodiment, along with being provided loyalty accumulating service using a smart card, a user of the smart card according to the invention may manage the electronic receipts issued by franchises. Also, the card user may check information on loyalty accumulated and the electronic receipt stored in the smart card through a franchise terminal, etc..

[131] 3. Issuance of an electronic parking ticket, handling of departing vehicle by checking of an electronic parking ticket and an electronic receipt

[132] Figure 26 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of issuing an electronic parking ticket using a terminal 400 disposed in a parking facility, when a vehicle approaches parking facility in a franchise. With reference to Figure 26, when a user inserts the smart card 10 into the terminal 400(1402) and requests the issuance of an electronic parking ticket, the authenticating module 402 in the terminal 400 authenticates the card(1404) and create an electronic parking ticket(1406). The electronic parking ticket file operating module 150 in the smart card 10 stores the created electronic parking ticket in the electronic parking ticket file 252(1408). Also, the electronic parking ticket information managing module in the franchise terminal 400 stores information on the issuance of the electronic parking ticket.

[133] Figure 27 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of issuing an electronic parking receipt using a terminal 400 disposed in the parking facility, when a vehicle departs from the parking facility. With reference to Figure 27, when a user inserts the smart card 10 into the terminal 400(1422), the authenticating module 402 in the terminal 400 authenticates the card(1424). The terminal 400 checks the electronic parking ticket stored in the smart card 10(1426) and checks the electronic receipt for payment for purchase or access to services in the franchise(1428). Next, the terminal 400 calculates the parking fee agreeable to information on the payment in the electronic receipt and the parking fee imposing rule, and display the result to the card user(1430). When a user pay for the parking(1432), the terminal 400 creates an electronic parking receipt(1434), the electronic parking receipt file operating module 152 in the smart card 10 stores the created electronic parking receipt in the electronic parking receipt file 254(1436), and the electronic parking receipt information file operating module 154 stores information on the electronic parking receipt management in the electronic parking receipt information file 256(1438). Meanwhile, the electronic parking receipt information managing module in the franchise terminal 400 stores information on the issuance of the electronic parking receipt.

[134] In this embodiment, a user doesn't have to be issued and carry a parking ticket separately because he stores an electronic parking ticket in a smart card. Also, a user may pay for the parking using the electronic receipt stored in the smart card 10. Thus, a user has no inconvenience that he should be issued and carry a parking ticket, a receipt, a parking receipt, etc. separately.

[135] 4. A/S application and electronic A/S receipt issuance

[136] Figure 28 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of issuing an electronic A/S application using the franchise terminal 400 according to the present invention in condition operated online, when a user of the smart card 10 apply for A/S to a franchise. With reference to Figure 28, when a user inserts the smart card 10 into the terminal 400(1502), the authenticating module 402 in the terminal 400 authenticates the card(1504) and creates an electronic A/S application according to information on A/S application of a user(1506). The electronic A/S application file operating module 158 in the smart card 10 stores the created electronic A/S application in the electronic A/S application file 262(1508). Also, the electronic A/S application information managing module in the franchise terminal 400 stores information on the issuance of the electronic A/S application.

[137] Figure 29 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of issuing an electronic A/S receipt using the terminal 400 after A/S according to the A/S application. With reference to Figure 29, when a user inserts the smart card 10 into the terminal 400(1522), the authenticating module 402 in the terminal 400 authenticates the card(1524) and checks the electronic A/S application stored in the smart card(1526). In case of the pay service, a user may pay for A/S by cash, an electronic gift certificate stored in the gift certificate file 232, or the balance in the balance information file 236.

[138] Next, the terminal 400 creates an electronic A/S receipt(1528), the electronic A/S receipt file operating module 162 in the smart card 10 stores the created electronic A/S receipt in the electronic A/S receipt file 266(1530), and the electronic A/S receipt information file operating module 164 stores information on the electronic A/S receipt management in the electronic A/S receipt information file 268(1532). Meanwhile, the electronic A/S application information managing module in the franchise terminal 400 stores information on the issuance of the electronic A/S receipt.

[139] In this embodiment, the management from the purchase to the handle of A/S application and receipt may be implemented with single smart card.

[140] While the present have been described with the preferred embodiment, it is apparent to persons skilled in the art that the technical scope of the invention is not limited to the above described embodiment, but to be defined based on the scope of the appended clailms.

[141]

[142]

Claims

[1] A smart card for unified payment management, which provides one or more payment management services, such as loyalty management, receipt management, and the like, unifiedly, comprising: an authentication key operating module for managing an authentication key for issuance and authentication of said smart card; a PIN file operating module for managing identification information for determining whether or not a user is a smart card holder; a member's information file operating module for managing member's information on said smart card holder; a memory; and a plurality of payment managing units, wherein said memory comprises: a PIN file for storing said identification information for determining whether or not a user is said smart card holder; a key file for authentication; a member's information file for storing member's information on said smart card holder; and a plurality of directories for payment management, each of which corresponds to each of said plurality of payment managing units and is controlled by said corresponding payment managing unit.

[2] A smart card for unified payment management, which provides one or more payment management services, such as loyalty management, receipt management, and the like, unifiedly, comprising: a authentication key operating module for managing a authentication key for issuance and authentication of said smart card; a PIN file operating module for managing identification information for determining whether or not a user is said smart card holder; a member's information file operating module for managing member's information on said smart card holder; a memory; and a plurality of payment managing units, wherein said memory comprises: a PIN file for storing said identification information on said smart card holder for determining whether or not a user is said smart card holder; a member's information file for storing member's information on said smart card holder; and a plurality of directories for payment management, each of which has a key file for authentication, corresponds to each of said plurality of payment managing units, and is controlled by said corresponding payment managing unit.

[3] The smart card for unified payment management as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of directories for payment management include a directory for loyalty management, which comprises a franchise list file for storing a list of franchises to which said smart card holder joins, one or more franchise files for storing loyalty data corresponding to each of said franchises included in said franchise list file, and a loyalty information file for storing information on loyalty accumulated, used, and converted by said smart card holder, and said plurality of payment managing units include a loyalty managing unit, which comprises a franchise list file operating module for controlling said franchise list file, a franchise file operating module for controlling said one or more franchise files, and a loyalty information file operating module for controlling said loyalty information file.

[4] The smart card for unified payment management as claimed in claim 3, wherein said directory for loyalty management further comprises a coupon file for storing information on a coupon offered to a user of said loyalty service by a franchise, and said loyalty managing unit further comprises a coupon file operating module for controlling said coupon file.

[5] The smart card for unified payment management as claimed in claim 3, wherein, in case a franchise is newly registered in said franchise list file, said franchise file operating module creates a new franchise file and stores information on said newly registered franchise in said newly created franchise file.

[6] The smart card for unified payment management as claimed in claim 3, wherein, in case a franchise is eliminated from said franchise list file, said franchise file operating module eliminates said franchise file corresponding to said eliminated franchise.

[7] The smart card for unified payment management as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of directories for payment management include a directory for electronic money management, which comprises a gift certificate file for storing a gift certificate issued by a franchise which allow the use of said smart card, a gift certificate information file for storing information on said gift certificate stored in said gift certificate file, and a balance information file for storing information on said balance after using a gift certificate, and the like, and said plurality of payment managing units include an electronic money managing unit, which comprises a gift certificate file operating module for controlling said gift certificate file, a gift certificate information file operating module for controlling said gift certificate information file, and a balance information file operating module for controlling said balance information file.

[8] The smart card for unified payment management as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of directories for payment management include a directory for an electronic receipt management, which comprises an electronic receipt file for storing an electronic receipt issued after said user purchases goods or uses a service in a franchise which allow the use of said smart card, and an electronic receipt information file for storing information on said electronic receipt stored in said electronic receipt file, and said plurality of payment managing units include an electronic receipt managing unit, which comprises an electronic receipt file operating module for controlling said electronic receipt file, and an electronic receipt information file operating module for controlling said electronic receipt information file.

[9] The smart card for unified payment management as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of directories for payment management include an directory for electronic parking ticket management, which comprises an electronic parking ticket file for storing an electronic parking ticket, an electronic parking receipt file for storing an electronic parking receipt issued after parking fare adjustment, and an electronic parking receipt information file for storing information on said electronic parking receipt stored in said electronic parking receipt file, and said plurality of payment managing units include an electronic parking ticket managing unit, which comprises an electronic parking ticket file operating module for controlling said electronic parking ticket file, an electronic parking receipt file operating module for controlling said electronic parking receipt file, and an electronic parking receipt information file operating module for controlling said electronic parking receipt information file.

[10] The smart card for unified payment management as claimed in claim 9, wherein said directory for electronic parking ticket management further comprises an parking space guide file for storing data on parking space when said user uses said parking facility, and said electronic parking ticket managing unit further comprises a parking space guide file operating module for controlling said parking space guide file.

[11] The smart card for unified payment management as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of directories for payment management include a directory for electronic A/S application management, which comprises an electronic A/S application file for storing an electronic A/S application made out in case said user of said smart card want to apply for an A/S for goods or services offered by a franchises which allows the use of said card, an electronic A/S application information file for storing information on said electronic A/S application stored in said electronic A/S application file, an electronic A/S receipt file for storing an electronic A/S receipt issued after said A/S responding to said A/S application, and an electronic A/S receipt information file for storing information on A/S management and/or information on said electronic A/S receipt stored in said electronic A/S receipt file, and said plurality of payment managing unit include an electronic A/S application managing unit, which comprises an electronic A/S application file operating module for controlling said electronic A/S application file, an electronic A/S application information file operating module for controlling said electronic A/S application information file, an electronic A/S receipt file operating module for controlling said electronic A/S receipt file, and an electronic A/S receipt information file operating module for controlling said electronic A/S receipt information file.

[12] A system for unified payment management which provides a unified payment management service using said smart card as claimed in one of claim 1 to claim 11, wherein a system server for unified payment management comprises: an authenticating module for managing an authentication key for authentication of said smart card and performing authentication; a PIN managing module for performing identification for determining whether or not a user of said smart card is said card holder; a member's information managing module for storing and managing member's information on smart card holders; and an unified service operating unit comprising a loyalty service operating unit, an electronic money operating unit, an electronic receipt operating unit, an electronic parking ticket operating unit, and an electronic A/S application operating unit, said loyalty service operating unit comprises: a franchise list managing module for managing a list of all franchises providing said loyalty service; a franchise managing module for storing and managing loyalty information corresponding to each of said franchises included in said franchise list; and a loyalty information managing module for storing and extracting information on loyalty accumulated, used, and converted by said smart card holders to calculate, analyze, and process said information, said electronic money operating unit comprises: a gift certificate managing module for managing information on issuance of gift certificates by each franchise; and a balance information managing module for storing and extracting information on gift certificates used by said smart card holders, information on balance after said use of gift certificates, and the like, to calculate, analyze, and process said information, said electronic receipt operating unit comprises an electronic receipt managing module for managing information on issuance of an electronic receipt by each franchise, said electronic parking ticket operating unit comprises: an electronic parking ticket managing module for managing information on issuance of electronic parking tickets by each franchise; and an electronic parking receipt managing module for managing information on issuance of electronic parking receipts by each franchise, and said electronic A/S application operating unit comprises: an electronic A/S application information managing module for managing information on electronic A/S applications received by each franchise; and an electronic A/S receipt information managing module for managing information on electronic A/S receipts issued by said franchises receiving said electronic A/S applications.

[13] A system for unified payment management as claimed in claim 12, wherein a franchise terminal connected to said system server for unified payment mana gement through a network comprises: an authenticating module for authenticating said smart card; a PIN managing module for managing identification information for determining whether or not a user of said smart card is said card holder and performing identification; a member's information managing module for storing and managing various information on members who joins to said franchise; a loyalty information managing module for managing information on loyalty accumulated, used, and converted by said members joining to said franchises; an electronic money information managing module for managing information on gift certificates issued to said members and information on gift certificates used by said members; an electronic receipt information managing module for managing information on electronic receipts issued to said members; an electronic parking ticket information managing module for managing information on electronic parking tickets and electronic parking receipts issued to said members; and an electronic A/S application information managing module for managing information on electronic A/S applications sent in by said members and electronic A/S receipts issued to said members.

[14] A system for unified payment management as claimed in claim 12, wherein a head office server connected to said system server for unified payment management through a network comprises: an authenticating module for authenticating said smart card; a PIN managing module for managing identification information for determining whether or not a user of said smart card is said card holder and performing identification; a member's information managing module for storing and managing various information on members who joins to said franchise; a loyalty information managing module for managing information on loyalty accumulated, used, and converted by said members joining to said franchises; an electronic money information managing module for managing information on gift certificates issued to said members and information on gift certificates used by said members; an electronic receipt information managing module for managing information on electronic receipts issued to said members; an electronic parking ticket information managing module for managing information on electronic parking tickets and electronic parking receipts issued to said members; and an electronic A/S application information managing module for managing information on electronic A/S applications sent in by said members and electronic A/S receipts issued to said members.

[15] A system for unified payment management as claimed in claim 13, wherein said plurality of directories for payment management of said smart card include a directory for loyalty management, said directory for loyalty management comprises a franchise list file for storing a list of franchises to which said smart card holder joins, one or more franchise files for storing loyalty data corresponding to each of said franchises included in said franchise list file, and a loyalty information file for storing information on loyalty accumulated, used, and converted by said smart card holder, and said member's information managing module in said franchise terminal additionally register a franchise to said franchise list file or eliminates said franchise already registered from said franchise list file.

[16] A method for providing unified payment management service using said smart card as claimed in one of claim 3 to claim 6, comprising: an authentication step of authenticating said smart card; a PIN management step of managing identification information for determining whether or not a user of said smart card is a card holder and performing identification; a member's information management step of storing and managing member's information of smart card holders; a franchise list management step of managing a list of all franchises joining to s aid loyalty service providing system; a franchise management step of storing and managing loyalty information corresponding to each of said franchises included in said franchise list; and a loyalty information managing step of storing and extracting information on loyalty accumulated, used, and converted by said smart card holders to calculate, analyze, and process said information.

[17] A method for providing unified payment management service using a smart card as claimed in claim 16 further comprising a step of accumulating, using, converting, and searching for loyalty, wherein said accumulation, use, conversion, and search of loyalty by a user of said smart card are performed using said franchise terminal in off-line working condition.

[18] A method for providing unified payment management service using a smart card as claimed in claim 16 further comprising a step of accumulating, using, converting, and searching for loyalty, wherein said accumulation, use, conversion, and search of loyalty by a user of said smart card are performed using said franchise terminal and said head office server in on-line working condition.

[19] A method for providing unified payment management service using a smart card as claimed in claim 16 further comprising a step of accumulating, using, converting, and searching for loyalty, wherein said accumulation, use, conversion, and search of loyalty by a user of said smart card are performed using the internet.

[20] A method for providing unified payment management service using a smart card as claimed in claim 16 further comprising a step of franchise changing of adding or eliminating a franchise using said franchise terminal in off-line working condition according to said user's requirement after issuance of said smart card.

[21] A method for providing unified payment management service using a smart card as claimed in claim 16 further comprising a step of franchise changing of adding or eliminating a franchise using said franchise terminal in on-line working condition according to said user's requirement after issuance of said smart card. [22] A method for providing unified payment management service using a smart card as claimed in claim 16 further comprising a step of franchise changing of adding or eliminating a franchise using the internet according to said user's requirement after issuance of said smart card. [23] A method for providing unified payment management service using a smart card in which a memory having a plurality of directories for payment management is embedded, comprising steps of: managing member's information on a smart card holder; authenticating said smart card; managing PIN by managing identification information for determining whether or not a user of said smart card is said card holder and performing authentication; connecting to at least one of said plurality of directories for payment management in said smart card; storing data in said directory, extracting data from said directory, or changing data in said directory.