JP2001022839A - System and method for electronic settlement - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and a method for electronic settlement which are used for purchasing various commodities and receiving various services and can perform the quick and safe settlement processing by preparing a constitution where a settlement terminal reads the user identification information, accesses the data base of a host terminal, confirms the upper limit amount of settlement and approves the settlement only when the settlement amount to be paid by a user is smaller than the upper limit amount. SOLUTION: A host terminal 1 has a data base 1a to store the information, etc., which are set by a user. A settlement terminal 2 is connected to the terminal 1 and settles accounts with the price or rate about the purchase of commodities and reception of services for the user. The terminal 2 reads the user identification information out of a user identification information recording medium, accesses the data base 1a, confirms an upper limit amount of settlement and approves the settlement only when the settlement amount to be paid by the user is smaller than the upper limit amount. An input terminal 3 is connected to the terminal 1 so that the user inputs plural upper limit amounts of settlement for every item.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic payment system and an electronic payment method, and more particularly, to an electronic payment system and an electronic payment method that simplify operations required for payment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A variety of prepaid cards have been issued in recent years.
This prepaid card, for example, pays for public telephones,
It is widely used to pay for the use of highways, public transport, and other services or purchases of merchandise at predetermined stores. The prepaid card magnetically records balance data corresponding to the amount paid by the user at the time of card purchase. The balance data is rewritten each time the user enjoys the service or purchases a product.

[0003] In recent years, so-called David cards realizing cashless real-time settlement have also become widespread. This makes a bank cash card usable like a credit card. That is, a terminal for a David card is installed at a store corresponding to the David card, and the user can pay, for example, the purchase price of the product by the David card. Specifically, the user inserts a David card into the terminal and pays a predetermined password (password) when paying for the price.
If the password is correct, the settlement is approved and the payment amount is automatically deducted from the balance of the user's savings account.

[0004]

The above-mentioned prepaid card requires the use of a different card for each service, so if the number of types increases, the user must carry a large number of cards, which is inconvenient. . In addition, since the prepaid card does not have a function of identifying an authorized user, it is difficult to prevent the use of the third party even if the card is acquired by a third party due to theft, loss, or the like. further,
As described above, the prepaid card employs a method of magnetically recording the balance data on the card body, so that a forged card in which the balance data is falsified is easily leaked.

[0005] Also, as described above, the David card is
Each time a payment is made, the user must enter a password into a predetermined terminal. A terminal for a David Card is usually installed in a place that is easily visible, such as at a store, and if a PIN is entered in such a place, it is possible for a third party to see the PIN There is. Further, there is a problem that the operation of inputting the personal identification number takes a long time, so that the cash register is crowded.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic payment system and an electronic payment method that can be used for purchasing various products and enjoying services and that can perform payment processing safely and promptly.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, an electronic settlement system according to the present invention comprises: a host terminal having a database for storing information set by a user; And a payment terminal for performing payment related to the purchase of goods and the enjoyment of services by the user. The database of the host terminal includes data indicating a plurality of payment upper limit amounts for each item set by each user in association with identification information of each user. Is stored, the settlement terminal reads a user identification information from a user identification information recording medium on which the identification information of the user is recorded, and reads a database of the host terminal based on the user identification information, Check the above-mentioned settlement upper limit amount and execute the settlement only when the settlement amount to be paid by the user is less than the settlement upper limit amount. Provided with the approval means that for sure.

In the electronic settlement method according to the present invention, a step of registering a settlement upper limit amount for each item set by a user via an input terminal in a database of a host terminal; Or reading the user identification information from the user identification information recording medium presented when enjoying the service, and accessing the database of the host terminal based on the user identification information,
Confirming the settlement upper limit amount and approving the settlement when the settlement amount to be paid by the user is less than the settlement upper limit amount.

An electronic settlement system and an electronic settlement method according to the present invention realize secure and quick electronic settlement.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an electronic payment system and an electronic payment method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an electronic payment system shown as an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic payment system includes a host terminal 1 having a database 1a storing information set by a user, and a payment terminal connected to the host terminal 1 for performing payment of a price or a fee related to the purchase of a product or the enjoyment of a service by the user. 2 and an input terminal 3 connected to the host terminal 1 for the user to input a plurality of payment upper limit amounts for each item.

In this embodiment, the host terminal 1
Is installed in a financial institution such as a bank, for example, while the settlement terminal 2 is installed in a retail store or the like that performs retailing. In this specific example, the host terminal 1 and the settlement terminal 2 are connected using a normal telephone line. Of course, a dedicated line may be provided instead of a normal telephone line, and a communication medium such as optical communication or wireless communication may be used here. Also,
The input terminal 3 is incorporated in an automatic cash dispenser used for withdrawing, depositing, and depositing deposits.

Next, an electronic settlement method using the electronic settlement system will be described.

First, a user applies for the use of this electronic settlement system to a financial institution in which his or her savings account is established. At this time, the user specifies a desired personal identification number (hereinafter, referred to as a password). The financial institution replaces the password specified by the user with the user identification information (hereinafter, user I
It is called D. ) Is registered in the database 1a of the host terminal 1, and a card-like user identification information recording medium (hereinafter referred to as a payment card) in which information on the user ID and the password is recorded is handed over to the user. It should be noted that the user ID also includes a code indicating the financial institution with which the user has made a contract and its branch.

The database 1a in the host terminal 1 has:
As shown in FIG. 2, the user data area 4
Is provided. Further, in each user data area 4, a plurality of item fields 5 and an upper limit amount field 6 corresponding to each item field 5 are provided. A plurality of item fields 5 include services or dealers to which the electronic payment system can be used in advance, such as public telephone charges, highway charges, public transportation charges, shopping # 1, shopping # 2, etc. And the like are registered.

In this specific example, item shopping # 1 shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to shopping at a predetermined convenience store, and item shopping # 2 corresponds to shopping at a retail store belonging to another distribution group. ing. Such an item field 5 is set in advance by the financial institution, and each time a new service provider or distributor participates in the electronic payment system, the item field 5 is set.
Is added or updated as needed.

The upper limit amount field 6 corresponding to each of these item fields 5 is a field that can be arbitrarily set by the user. The user first inserts a payment card into the input terminal 2 and then inputs a password. Input terminal 3
If the password is correct, the user connects to the host terminal 1 based on the user ID recorded on the payment card, and further connects to the database 1a in the host terminal 1.
Access the user data area 4 corresponding to the user ID stored in. And this user data area 4
The current setting status of the item field 5 and the upper limit amount field 6 is displayed on the display device of the input terminal 3 on the basis of the information in the above.

While confirming the information displayed on the display device of the input terminal 3, the user sets the settlement upper limit amount corresponding to each item field 5, that is, the amount registered in the upper limit amount field 6. Here, the user pays the total amount of the set payment upper limit amount for each item to the input terminal 3 in cash, or performs a payment process by transferring from the user's own account. Alternatively, the balance of the user's account may be used as it is, and the upper limit of each settlement may be set freely within the range of the balance. This processing enables the use of the payment card.

Here, it is assumed that the user A has made a shopping at the convenience store corresponding to the item shopping # 1 described above. At the time of payment for shopping, user A
All you need to do is present your payment card. At this time, an operation such as inputting a password is not required. The store inserts the presented payment card into the payment terminal 2 installed at the store.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of the settlement terminal 2. As described above, the payment terminal 2 includes a price storage unit 7 in which the price to be paid by the user A is temporarily stored, an ID reading unit 8 that reads a user ID from a payment card, and a communication unit 9 that communicates with the host terminal 1. And a determination unit 10 for determining whether payment is possible and a display unit 11 for displaying information related to payment.

When the user A makes a purchase, the price to be paid by the user A is temporarily stored in the price storage unit 7, and the display unit 11 displays the price. Then, when the user A or the sales clerk inserts the payment card into the payment terminal 2, the ID reading unit 8 reads the user ID of the user A from the payment card. This user ID is supplied to the communication unit 9, and the communication unit 9 connects to the host terminal 1 of a predetermined financial institution based on the user ID and accesses the user data area 4 corresponding to the user A in the database 1a. I do. Then, the communication unit 9 sets the item shopping #
Request information on the payment upper limit corresponding to 1. In response to this request, information on the payment upper limit is supplied to the communication unit 9.

Further, the determination unit 10 compares the payment upper limit received by the communication unit 9 with the price stored in the price storage unit 7, and approves the payment only when the price is within the payment upper limit. . In this specific example, as shown in FIG.
The payment is set at 0000 yen, and therefore, the settlement is approved if the purchase price for this purchase is within 30,000 yen, and the settlement is not allowed if the price exceeds 30,000 yen.

Then, information indicating that the settlement has been completed successfully or that the settlement has been impossible is displayed on the display unit 11. At the same time as the settlement is approved, the communication unit 9 communicates with the host terminal 1 of the financial institution again, and transmits information on the settlement to the host terminal 1. Thereby, the current price is deducted from the balance corresponding to item shopping # 1 in the user data area 4 corresponding to the user A, and the convenience store is paid via the financial institution.

As described above, every time a user makes a purchase at a predetermined store or enjoys a service from a predetermined service company, the price or fee is transferred from the financial institution contracted by the user to the store or service company. Paid. In response, the corresponding settlement upper limit amount decreases. Using the input terminal 2, the user can perform the above-described payment processing and change the payment upper limit at any time. Here, the Internet may be used so that the user can check or change the balance of the payment upper limit amount from home.

According to this settlement system, the user does not need to input a password every time shopping is performed. Therefore, there is no possibility that the password is known to a third party at the time of shopping. Also, since there is no need to enter a password,
The settlement process is very simple and quick. further,
With one payment card, shopping can be performed at various stores and various services can be enjoyed, so that the trouble of always carrying a plurality of cards is eliminated. Furthermore, since the user can freely set the payment upper limit for each item, the user can customize the payment card according to his / her own lifestyle. In addition, since the settlement exceeding the settlement upper limit is immediately rejected, the amount of damage caused by unauthorized use of the settlement card by a third party due to, for example, loss or theft of the settlement card can be minimized. Of course, if the user informs the contracted financial institution when the payment card is lost, all payment processing using the lost payment card can be stopped.

[0026]

According to the electronic payment system and the electronic payment method of the present invention, the upper limit of payment for each item set by the user via the input terminal is registered in the database of the host terminal. Read the user identification information from the user identification information recording medium presented when purchasing or enjoying the service, check the maximum payment amount, and settle the payment only if the payment amount to be paid by the user is less than the maximum payment amount. Execute. According to the electronic payment system and the electronic payment method, the user does not need to input a password at the time of payment, and thus a secure and quick payment process can be realized. Further, since the upper limit of the settlement can be set for each item, the amount of damage caused when a malicious third party uses the user information recording medium can be minimized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing information registered in a database.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a payment terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 host terminal 1a database 2 payment terminal 3 input terminal

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 15/30 340 G07D 9/00 476

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A host terminal having a database for storing information set by a user, and a payment terminal connected to the host terminal for performing payment related to the purchase of goods and the enjoyment of services by the user. The database stores data indicating a plurality of payment upper limit amounts for each item set by each user in association with the identification information of each user, and the payment terminal stores the user identification information in which the identification information of the user is recorded. Reading means for reading the user identification information from the recording medium, and accessing the database of the host terminal based on the user identification information, confirming the payment upper limit amount, and confirming that the payment amount to be paid by the user is less than the payment upper limit amount. An electronic payment system comprising an approval unit that approves the payment only in a certain case. 2. The electronic payment system according to claim 1, further comprising an input terminal connected to said host terminal, said input terminal having an input means for allowing a user to input a plurality of payment upper limit amounts for each item. 3. The input terminal checks a password input by a user against a password recorded on the host terminal and / or the user identification information recording medium, and when a correct password is input. 3. An electronic settlement system according to claim 2, further comprising a matching means for permitting the input of the settlement upper limit amount only to the user. 4. A step of registering a payment upper limit for each item set by a user via an input terminal in a database of a host terminal, and presenting the payment terminal side when the user purchases a product or enjoys a service. Reading the user identification information from the user identification information recording medium; accessing the database of the host terminal based on the user identification information; confirming the payment upper limit amount; and setting the payment amount to be paid by the user to the payment upper limit amount. Approving the payment if the value is less than.