U.S. patent application number 09/852842 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-11 for electronic cashless system.
Invention is credited to Hayashida, Shoji.
Application Number | 20010027994 09/852842 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27477425 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010027994 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hayashida, Shoji |
October 11, 2001 |
Electronic cashless system
Abstract
An electronic cashless system uses a cashless medium for
memorizing amount information and for performing an operation of
amount information. The electronic cashless system comprises an
automatic transaction terminal device having a reading/writing unit
for writing amount information to the cashless medium, and a center
device having a unit for identifying the account balance of
multiple accounts and for storing amount information and a
non-settled fund file unit for storing amount information written
by the cashless medium and a seller ledger file means for
identifying the account balance of the multiple seller's accounts
and for storing amount information.
Inventors: |
Hayashida, Shoji; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STAAS & HALSEY LLP
700 11TH STREET, NW
SUITE 500
WASHINGTON
DC
20001
US
|
Family ID: |
27477425 |
Appl. No.: |
09/852842 |
Filed: |
May 11, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09852842 |
May 11, 2001 |
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09365032 |
Aug 2, 1999 |
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6257487 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
235/380 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 19/204 20130101;
G07F 19/20 20130101; G06Q 20/04 20130101; G07F 19/202 20130101;
G07F 7/0866 20130101; G06Q 20/26 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
235/380 |
International
Class: |
G06K 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 6, 1989 |
JP |
1-230893 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electronic cashless system comprising: a cashless medium
means for memorizing amount information and for performing an
operation of amount information; an automatic transaction terminal
device means having a reading/writing means for writing amount
information to said cashless medium; a center device having a
deposit ledger file connected to said automatic transaction
terminal device, means for identifying the account balance of
multiple accounts and for storing amount information; a non-settled
fund file means for storing amount information written by said
cashless medium; and a seller ledger file means for identifying the
account balance of the multiple seller's accounts and for storing
amount information.
2. The electronic cashless system according to claim 1 further
comprising: a medium balance log file means for memorizing the
stored balance of said cashless medium to which amount information
is written by said automatic transaction terminal device.
3. The electronic cashless system according to claim 1, wherein
amount information stored in the memory means of said cashless
medium is returned to said center device via the automatic
transaction terminal device, and said amount information is
memorized and stored within said center device, in a medium balance
log file together with the amount information revised in deposit
ledger log file, and added to the non-settled fund file for its
revision.
4. The electronic cashless system according to claim 1 further
comprising: a register part to which a transaction amount is
inputted; an exchange means for at least exchanging amount
information with said cashless medium; a tallying file means for
tallying and storing amount information obtained from said cashless
medium; and a commercial transaction terminal device at least
connected with said center device.
5. The electronic cashless system according to claim 4, wherein
said commercial transaction terminal device sends via the exchange
means amount information necessary for a commercial transaction to
said cashless medium, said cashless medium makes an operation with
an operation means based on the amount information received from
said commercial transaction terminal device and the amount
information stored in the cashless medium, said commercial
transaction terminal device revises said tallying file upon
receiving information that a transaction can take place.
6. The electronic cashless system according to claim 4, wherein at
least the sum of amount information generated in a commercial
transaction is classified by a deposit owner and is stored in the
deposit ledger file.
7. The electronic cashless system according to claim 1, wherein the
commercial transaction terminal device sends amount information
stored in the tallying file to the center device, and said center
device revises said non-settled fund file and seller ledger file,
based on the amount information sent from said commercial
transaction terminal device.
8. The electronic cashless system according to claim 1, wherein
said cashless medium comprises: a memory means for storing amount
information; and an operation means for taking over an externally
supplied transaction amount from said amount information and
storing the result in said memory means.
9. A cashless medium comprising: a memory means for storing amount
information; and an operation means for taking over an externally
supplied transaction amount from said amount information and
storing the result in said memory means.
10. The cashless medium according to claim 9 further comprising: a
display means; a key input means operated by the owner; and a
control means for controlling said display means so that it
displays amount information stored in said memory means when said
key input means gives a display instruction.
11. The cashless medium according to claim 9, wherein said
operation means outputs said result to an external device.
12. A commercial transaction terminal device comprising: a tallying
file means for memorizing a commercial transaction amount; and an
exchange means for notifying a cashless medium of said commercial
transaction amount supplied from a cash register and for memorizing
said commercial transaction amount in said tallying file when the
value is obtained by subtracting said commercial transaction amount
from the amount information of said cashless medium.
13. The commercial transaction terminal device according to claim
12, wherein the tallying file memorizes, in pairs, the bank of the
cashless medium with which the commercial transaction is made and
the the commercial transaction amount.
14. The commercial transaction terminal device according to claim
13, wherein the memorized information of said tallying file is sent
to a center device that settles the commercial transaction.
15. The commercial transaction terminal device according to claim
12, wherein said tallying file means is separately prepared for
respective banks.
16. The commercial transaction terminal device according to claim
12, wherein said tallying file means is connected to a bank center
device on an off-line basis.
17. The commercial transaction terminal device according to claim
12, wherein said cashless medium stores an amount which can be used
by a user of the cashless medium.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to an electronic cashless system for
cashless commercial transactions.
[0002] The following three transaction forms are mainly used to
enable cashless commercial transactions.
[0003] (1) A transaction with a credit card
[0004] When the customer makes a purchase, he shows a credit card
issued by a bank for payment to a seller. Normally, the seller asks
the issuer for an authorization to accept the credit card. If the
acceptance is authorized, the purchase transaction with the credit
card is executed. The seller then asks the credit card company for
payment. The credit card company has banks related to the
commercial transaction prepaid the sales amount from the customer's
account and credit it to the seller's account.
[0005] (2) A transaction with a bank ATM card
[0006] When the customer makes a purchase, he shows the seller a
bank ATM (automatic teller machine) card intended for depositing
and withdrawing cash from an ATM. The seller asks the customer's
bank for payment through a POS terminal that can directly log onto
the bank's deposit ledger files at the point of sale. The bank
immediately transfers the amount from the customer's account to the
seller's account.
[0007] (3) A transaction with a prepaid card
[0008] The customer makes a prior cash purchase of a prepaid card
from a seller or an automatic vending machine. After the customer
inserts the prepaid card into the automatic vending machine and
follows the necessary instructions, goods or services are provided
and the appropriate amount is deducted from the prepaid card.
[0009] These three methods each have their disadvantages as
follows.
[0010] (1) A transaction with a credit card
[0011] A. The seller has to ask the issuer for an authorization to
accept the credit card and is required to do additional paperwork
for creating invoices. Therefore, the use of credit cards is
limited to purchases at retail outlets of higher priced goods and
higher value-added goods.
[0012] B. To avoid a doubtful account or a situation, where not
sufficient funds were deposited at the time of purchase, a credit
card is issued only to the customers who pass a certain test.
[0013] (2) A transaction with a bank ATM card
[0014] A. The transfer of the amount from the customer's account to
the seller's account must be made immediately after the execution
of a transaction. Therefore, this requires an extraordinary
processing during the bank's non-business hours, which is different
from an ordinary processing during the bank's business hours. It
also requires a work related burden for the seller and an account
balance control burden for the customer.
[0015] B. Since the amount is transferred each time a purchase is
made, the workload and expense are large.
[0016] (3) A transaction with a prepaid card
[0017] A. A prepaid or debit card is like a prepaid single use
ticket. Thus, a one-time-only customer who does not buy the same
kinds of products or and on the same shop repeatedly would not use
such a card.
[0018] B. If a customer is asked to buy a prepaid card far in
advance of his planned purchase of necessary goods and services,
his current liquidity is reduced.
[0019] C. Since cash is required to buy a prepaid card anyway, it
is not a true cashless commercial transaction.
[0020] Thus, although they have their particular applications,
these cashless transaction methods do not constitute an almighty
shopping means for everyone.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0021] An object of the present invention is to provide completely
cashless commercial transactions.
[0022] A feature of the present invention resides in an electronic
cashless system comprising a cashless medium or electronic money
for memorizing amount information and for performing an operation
of amount information, an automatic transaction terminal device
having a reading/writing means for writing amount information to
the cashless medium, a center device having a deposit ledger file,
connected with the automatic transaction terminal device, means for
identifying the account balance of multiple accounts and for
storing amount information and at least a non-settled fund file
means for storing amount information written by the cashless medium
and a seller ledger file means for identifying the account balance
of the multiple seller's accounts and for storing amount
information.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the underlying
principle,
[0024] FIG. 2 shows the preferred embodiment of the cashless
medium,
[0025] FIG. 3 shows the preferred embodiment of a bank center
device,
[0026] FIG. 4 shows the preferred embodiment of an ATM (automatic
taller machine) terminal unit,
[0027] FIG. 5 shows the preferred embodiment of a POS (point of
sales) terminal unit,
[0028] FIG. 6 shows the basic processing flow of a multi-function
IC card,
[0029] FIGS. 7A through 7D show the processing flow for a
multi-function IC card,
[0030] FIG. 8 shows the processing flow for an ATM terminal
unit,
[0031] FIG. 9 shows the processing flow for a read-only terminal
unit,
[0032] FIGS. 10A and 10B show the processing flow of a bank center
unit,
[0033] FIG. 11 shows the amount replenishment flow to a card,
[0034] FIG. 12 shows the processing flow of a purchase with a card,
and
[0035] FIG. 13 shows the processing flow for depositing a seller's
sales amount to a bank.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0036] Following is a detailed explanation of this invention.
[0037] FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the underlying principle.
This configuration comprises a cashless medium 1 having memory
means 11 for memorizing amount information, and an operation means
12; an ATM terminal unit 2 having a read/write means 2-1 for
writing amount information into the cashless medium 1; a deposit
ledger file 321 for storing amount information that identifies the
deposit balance corresponding to one of many accounts; a
non-settled fund file 322 for storing amount information written at
least in the cashless medium 1; a bank center device 3 comprising a
seller ledger file 323 for storing amount information that
identifies the deposit balance corresponding to the account of the
seller and a medium balance log file 324 for memorizing balance of
the cashless medium 1 when the ATM terminal unit 2 writes the most
recent amount information to the cashless medium 1; and a
commercial transaction or POS terminal device 4 having a register
unit 51 to which amount information is input, a sending/receiving
part 41 for at least sending and receiving amount information to
and from said cashless medium 1, and a sales tallying file 53 for
tallying and storing amount information gained from said cashless
medium 1, and that is at least connected with the bank center
device 3.
[0038] Below is an explanation of an operative input and an action
in the configuration of FIG. 1.
[0039] The ATM terminal unit 2, at an issuing time of the cashless
medium 1, writes into the memory part 11 any designated amount
information not exceeding the upper limit of the amount information
stored in the deposit ledger file 321 of the bank center device 3.
The owner of the cashless medium 1 carries it with him to a seller.
The owner presents this cashless medium 1 at a clearing time. An
operator at a retail outlet operates the register unit 51 of the
commercial transaction or POS terminal device 4 and inputs amount
information necessary to clear the commercial transaction. The
sending/receiving part 41 of the commercial transaction or POS
terminal device 4 sends inputted amount information necessary to
clear the commercial i.e. the amount of goods and services changing
hands. The operation means 12 of the cashless medium 1 makes an
operation processing based on the amount information received from
the commercial transaction or POS terminal device 4 and the amount
information memorized in the memory means 11. In short, the
operation means 12 performs the an operation of subtracting the
amount indicated by the amount information received from the
commercial transaction or POS terminal device 4 from the amount
indicated by the amount information stored in the memory means 11.
After this operation, if amount information in excess of the amount
necessary for clearing the commercial transaction is stored in the
memory means 11 of the cashless medium 1, the cashless medium 1
notifies such an occurrence to the commercial transaction or POS
terminal device 4. After this notification, the commercial
transaction or POS terminal device 4 sends the information that the
commercial transaction has taken place to the cashless medium 1 and
stores the same amount information in the sales tallying file 53
classified by the clearing bank. These actions conclude a direct
clearing of the commercial transaction with the owner of the
cashless medium 1.
[0040] Next, an indirect clearing of the commercial transaction is
made, i.e. a clearing with the bank center device 3. First, amount
information stored in the sales tallying file 53 is sent to the
bank center device 3 of the proper clearing bank. Based on the
amount information sent, the bank center device 3 prepaids the
necessary amount to the non-settled fund file 322 and credits the
same to the appropriate account of the seller in the seller ledger
file 323.
[0041] Since a transaction is thus consummated in the above manner.
This invention thus enables a complete cashless commercial
transaction.
[0042] Meanwhile, when amount information memorized in the memory
means 11 of the cashless medium 1 is rewritten, the cashless medium
1 is confirmed of its validity first by being connected to the ATM
terminal unit 2. This could be done, for instance, by a password.
After amount information inputted by the owner, such as that
pertaining to the increase in the authorized amount, is sent to the
bank center device 3, the bank center device 3 reads out
information from the deposit ledger file 321 of the cashless medium
1 and stores the information in the deposit ledger file 321 after
revising it. It also settles the non-settled funds stored in the
non-settled fund file 322 and stores the balance in the medium
balance log file 324. After this storing operation, the bank center
device 3 sends a termination notice to the ATM terminal unit 2,
which updates the balance memorized by the memory means 11 of the
cashless medium 1 so that a new balance is certain (usable). This
revision can be done by the inputted amount immediately after the
validity of the cashless medium 1 is confirmed and fixed after the
termination notice from bank center device 3. The above actions
enable a complete cashless commercial transaction by making the
clearing cashless and by deducting the amount at settlement
time.
[0043] The following is the description of each device.
[0044] (1) Cashless medium (Refer to FIG. 2.)
[0045] It is a substitute for an existing bank ATM card (magnetic
stripe card). Its functions are technologically extended and its
purpose is expanded. It is a multi-function IC card containing an
electronic brain (a memory part and an operation and processing
part).
[0046] The multi-function IC card 21, a cashless medium, contains
an operation control part 211, an amount information memory part
212, a keyword memory part 213 and a battery 214, and has display
part 215 (for instance a liquid crystal display), input keys 216 (a
function key and a numeric key) and a contact part 217 (an
interface with an ATM terminal unit) on its an external
surface.
[0047] Next, the actions of the cashless medium are explained by
referring to FIGS. 7A through 7D.
[0048] First, a customer who wants to make an electronic cashless
commercial transaction must have amount information for a shopping
process written on a multi-function IC card 21, appropriately
issued by a-valid issuer. This amount in the amount information can
be designated arbitrarily as any amount not exceeding the limit set
between the customer and the issuer of the multi-function IC card
as cashless medium 1,
[0049] The amount information needs to be memorized in the amount
information memory part 212 of the multi-function IC card 21. If
the customer knows the balance in the amount information memory
party 212 of the multi-function IC card 21, he can make an
appropriate replenishing action as to how much amount is necessary
to be replenished.
[0050] The customer turns on the power of the multi-function IC
card 21 with its input keys 216. When the power of the
multi-function IC card 21 is turned on, as shown in FIG. 7A, the
multi-function IC card 21 indicates a "power-on" status at the
display part 215, for example by showing a numeric digit "0" by a
setting of a "power-on" status (step 611). At this time, if the
card is already unusable, an unusable status is detected by a card
usage failure status determination (step 621). The multi-function
IC card 21 notifies the owner that the card is unusable by
indicating an "X" sign at a sign digit of the card's display part
215, for example, and turns off its own power through a termination
processing (step 622).
[0051] When a card usage failure determination (step 621) judges
"NO", i.e. the card being NOT unusable, the multi-function IC card
21 makes a validity check of the card use by a personal
identification code individually registered by each owner (step
613). This personal identification code, which is registered when
the card is issued, can be chosen to be unnecessary to suit the
owner's convenience.
[0052] If the multi-function IC card 21 detects no registering of a
personal identification code in any personal identification code
determination (step 613), for counting the number of wrong personal
identification code inputs by the owner, a personal identification
code mismatch counter is initialized (cleared) to standby for a
personal identification code input. Next, the multi-function IC
card 21 becomes ready for an input of a personal identification
code (step 615) by the owner. When the owner inputs his personal
identification code with input keys 216, the multi-function IC card
21 detects the input through personal identification code
determination (step 616), and a judgment is made as to whether an
inputted personal identification code matches a registered personal
identification cede at step 617. If the former mismatches the
latter, the value of the input counter of a personal identification
code mismatch is increased by one, and whether or not the number of
mismatches exceeds a limit is judged in step 619. If it does not,
an indication of a personal identification code mismatch is given
to the owner by a display part 215 in step 623, for instance with
an indication of an "E" at a numeric digit, and the multi-function
IC card 21 waits for a new input of a personal identification code
in step 615. If the number of mismatches is judged to exceed the
limit number by a limit judgment (step 619), the multi-function IC
card 21 registers a card usage failure status in its internal
memory part in step 620, for instance with an invalid card flag
within the keyword memory part 213. After this status is
registered, it becomes impossible for the owner to clear it. Next,
multi-function IC card 21 notifies the owner, who is the card user,
that the card is in a card usage failure status, e.g. by indicating
an "X" sign in a code digit in display part 215. Thereafter,
multi-function IC card 21 stops its own processing by turning off
its power according to a termination processing (step 622). If the
wrong personal identification code is inputted several times, the
holder is not deemed to be the authorized owner of the
multi-function IC card 21. Thus, once a limited number by which the
personal identification code is input is exceeded, the card usage
failure status is maintained, even if the power of the card is
turned on. Thus, an unauthorized holder is prevented from abusing
the card.
[0053] If the multl-function IC card 21 identifies a match (YES) of
a personal identification code inputted by the holder and one
memorized internally in step 617 or no personal identification code
is registered (judged YES in step 63), the following processings
are made. As shown in FIG. 7B (wherein [A], [B], [C], [Y], [Z],
[A1], [B1] and [B2] are terminals that show the processing flow),
by an indication processing of a card usage ready status (step 631)
in display part 215, the multi-function IC card 21 notifies the
owner that the card is in a usable state, for instance by showing a
double circle in the code digit. The multi-function IC card 21 is
thus put in an activated state and stands by for an input or a
receipt detection (step 632). Thereafter, the owner of the card can
confirm the card's remaining balance or check a detail of the
prepaids and credits as a local card processing, shop at a
retailing outlet, or increase or decrease the amount stored in the
card by transferring funds respectively from or to the other
deposit accounts with an ATM terminal unit. Next, to detect the
arrival of these demands (step 633), the multi-function IC card 21
judges a time-over, a power key input, a confirmation key input,
and a communication with an ATM terminal unit in steps 634, 635,
636 and 637 respectively.
[0054] When the card is left without further instruction after
being put in a ready status, such a condition is detected (YES) by
a time-over determination (step 633), and the card stops its
actions after performing a termination process 622.
[0055] A power key set in the card's input keys 216 turns the
card's power on and off. If an owner leaves the power on after
making necessary processings by activating the card, the card's
battery 214 is exhausted unnecessarily. To prevent such battery
exhaustion, like an automatic power shut down function of an
electronic calculator, the multi-function IC card 21 automatically
turns its own power off, if time-over determination step 633 does
not detect any input or communication over a certain period of
time.
[0056] When an amount replenishment is made for multi-function IC
card 21, multi-function IC card 21 detects (YES) that a
communication with the ATM terminal unit 2 will be made, when the
card is inserted into the ATM terminal unit 2 in step 636 and
begins a communication with the ATM terminal unit 2 via a contact
part 217 of the multi-function IC card 21.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 7D, the multi-function IC card 21 first
notifies the keyword and the bank number stored in its own keyword
memory part 213 to ATM terminal unit 2 for mutual verification
(step 671), and stands by for a processing kind. Inputting a
replenishing amount, the owner operates ATM terminal unit 2 for
transferring the amount from his deposit account to the
multi-function IC card 21 in its amount information memory part
212. Then, the multi-function IC card 21 stands by to receive the
processing kind (step 672) from the ATM terminal unit 2. If the
processing kind is judged (YES) as a replenishment processing (step
673), the multi-function IC card 21 stands by to receive
information about the replenishing amount and the replenishment
date from ATM terminal unit 2 (step 674). After receiving the
information, the replenishing amount contained in the information
received from the ATM terminal unit 2 and the remaining balance
memorized in the amount information memory part 212 within the card
are added together to produce a new balance (step 675). This
addition is executed in the operation control part 211. Then the
information about the new balance is stored in the amount
information memory part 212 within the card by a processing of
revising amount information memory (step 676). Thus the
replenishment of the amount specified by the owner from his bank
account to amount information memory part 212 within the card is
concluded. This new balance is sent to the ATM terminal unit 2 to
be memorized by a center processing unit (step 677). Next, as a
record for executing amount replenishment transactions, the
replenishing amount and date are memorized in the transaction
detail memory part of the multi-function IC card 21 (step 678).
This memory is stored according to an LIFO (Last-In, First-Out)
method, so that the owner can confirm transactions starting with
the most recent one.
[0058] When all the revision processes by the operation control
part 211 within the multi-function IC card 21 are finished, the
replenishing amount is displayed on the display part 215 in
replenishing amount display processing (step 679). Next, the
information that the replenishment processing within the
multi-function IC card 21 has finished is sent to the ATM terminal
unit 2 (step 680), and multi-function IC card 21 stands by for an
input to the power key (step 681). Then, the processings are
finished with a time-over detection (YES) by a time-over detecting
processing (step 682) or with a power off (YES) by power key
detecting processing (step 683) of the input keys 216. The owner
can verify the amount replenished at this time by looking at the
amount shown on the display part 215 of the card just coming out
from the ATM terminal unit 2.
[0059] Meanwhile, when the owner deposits at least a part of the
card's balance to his deposit account, the multi-function IC card
21, after standing by to receive a processing from the ATM terminal
unit 2, detects that it is not a replenishment processing (NO).
Then, multi-function IC card 21 judges whether it is a depositing
processing in a judgment processing (step 684). If the processing
kind is undefined (NO), the multi-function IC card 21 notifies the
ATM terminal unit of the transaction kind error (step 689) and
reverts to displaying a card-usage-ready status (step 631). When
the owner transfers a part of the amount stored in the
multi-function IC card 21 back to the deposit account, the
multi-function function IC card 21 stands by to receive the
information on the transferred amount and the transaction date from
the ATM terminal unit 2 in the receiving-ready processing (step
685), and when the receipt of the information is consummated, a
stored amount Deficiency judgment processing (step 686) compares
the transferred amount and the stored balance in the amount
information memory part 212. If the redepositing amount is greater,
a not-sufficient-fund judgment (NO) is made, and the ATM terminal
unit 2 is notified of the not sufficient fund balance in step 688.
Then, control is handed over to the card-usage-ready status display
step 631, and the multi-function IC card 21 stands by for a
subsequent input.
[0060] When the stored balance is greater than the redepositing
amount, a redepositing processing becomes possible, and the balance
of the stored amount is reduced by the redepositing amount in a
reduction processing (step 687). Then, a processing similar to a
balance information revising processing (step 676) of a
replenishment processing is performed, so that the balance
information memory in amount information memory part 212 is
revised. That is, the ATM terminal unit 2 is notified of the new
reduced balance to be memorized in a medium balance log file 34 of
the bank center device 3. After the multi-function IC card 21
memorizes the redepositing amount and the transaction date in
transaction detail memory processing (step 678), the display part
215 of the multi-function IC card 21 shows the redepositing amount
with a negative sign, for instance, so that the owner can confirm
the transferring amount by viewing the display part 215. Then, the
multi-function IC card 21 notifies the ATM terminal unit 2 of the
processing consummation in a sending processing (step 680), and
stands by for a power key input starting from step 681 or a
power-off instruction for an elapsed time over a predetermined
period by a time-over judgment step. Because there is some time
before the power is turned off, the owner can confirm the
processing result of the transaction with the ATM terminal unit 2
by looking at the display part 215. Besides, even if the owner
forgets to turn the power off, it is turned off automatically after
a predetermined time has elapsed. Thus, the battery 214 is
prevented from being exhausted unnecessarily and his privacy is
protected by eliminating the possibility of the display part 215
being seen by others.
[0061] When the owner inquires about the stored balance, the date
and amount of past purchases, the date and amount of a
replenishment or a transfer back to his deposit account, the
multi-function IC card 21 can display the balance and transaction
details memorized in the amount information memory part 212 on the
display part 215. In this case, after the owner puts the
multi-function IC card 21 in a card-usage-ready status by
activating the card, he operates the inquiry key of the input keys
216. The card is in an activated status and the multi-function IC
card 21 detects this by an inquiry key detecting processing (step
635). The processing status of this inquiry key becomes a card's
local processing of the multi-function IC card 21
independently.
[0062] As shown in FIG. 7C, the multi-function IC card 21 reads out
the balance from the amount information memory part 212 of the card
by a stored balance read out processing (step 651) with an inquiry
key detection and displays the stored balance in the display part
215 by a display processing (step 652). The multi-function IC card
21 stands by for the next key input (step 653), while the balance
is displayed. If the owner leaves the card alone with the balance
displayed, a time-over is detected after an elapse of a
predetermined time, control is handed over to a consummation
processing (step 622), and the power is turned off for a
consummation.
[0063] Meanwhile, if the owner further hits the inquiry key when
the card is in a balance displaying mode, the hitting is detected
by an inquiry key input detection processing (step 655), and the
multi-function IC card 21 reads out the most recent of the dates
recorded in the date of the transaction detail memory part and
displays the date information on the display part 215 by a display
processing (step 657). After the date information is displayed, the
multi-function IC card 21 stands by for the next key input in a key
input stand-by processing (step 658). If the owner leaves the
multi-function IC card 21 alone, a time-over is detected (step 659)
and the processings are consummated. If the inquiry key is further
hit, the inquiry key detection processing (step 660) detects the
input, so that the most recent piece of amount information of the
transaction date is read from the transaction detail memory part in
step 661. The amount information is then displayed on the display
part 215 by a display processing (step 662); e.g. a number with a
positive sign is displayed if the transaction is an amount
replenishment. From the inquiry key input detecting processing
(step 653) after the stored balance inquiry step to amount
information processing (step 662), as long as an inquiry key
hitting is detected, the transaction date and the transaction
amount are displayed alternately in counter-chronological order.
After all pieces of transaction detail are displayed, the most
recent piece of information on transaction detail is displayed. The
data stored in the transaction detail memory part is displayed
repeatedly in counter-chronological order, until control is handed
over to a control by either a consummation processing (step 622)
that turns off the power by detecting a hitting of a power key of
the input keys 216 or a card-usage-ready status processing (step
631), for instance, pursuant to a zero key detection processing
(step 664).
[0064] The owner can confirm the stored balance by this balance
inquiry. If necessary, he can decide whether to replenish an amount
to the card or transfer an amount to his deposit account. By
checking the transaction detail, he can determine when and how many
of purchases, replenishments or redepositings were made. The
processings can be consummated with a power key at any point, or a
card-usage-ready status can be created with a numeric key so that a
processing can be executed.
[0065] When an owner makes a purchase with the multi-function IC
card 21 after he puts it in a card-usage-ready status, he inserts
it into the seller's POS terminal device, which is a card reading
terminal. The card is inserted into the card reading/writing part
521 of FIG. 5A, so that it can communicate bi-directionally with
the card contacting part 217.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 7B, after a series of judgment steps of a
card-usage-ready status display processing (step 631) of the
multi-function IC card 21, the multi-function IC card 21 detects
that it is inserted into the card's reading/writing part 521 of a
card reading/writing unit 52, by a receipt at the card's contacting
part 217 of a signal from a POS terminal device (YES in step 637).
Next, to confirm that the POS terminal device is a valid reading
terminal, the multi-function IC card 21 reads out the stored
keyword and bank number from the keyword memory part 213 and
notifies the POS terminal device, which is a reading terminal.
Then, the multi-function IC card 21 stands by to receive the
information on the amount and the date of the owner's purchase from
the reading terminal in a receiving consummation judgment
processing (step 639). The information on the amount and date of a
purchase is inputted by a POS registering unit 51 of the POS
terminal device, which is a reading terminal, and sent to the card.
When the multi-function IC card 21 detects a consummation of
receiving the information, it reads out the stored balance from the
amount information memory part 212 in a balance deficiency judgment
processing (step 640) to compare it with the purchase amount. Since
a payment is possible if the stored amount is greater than or equal
to the purchase amount, the multi-function IC card 21 reduces the
purchase amount from the stored balance and revises the data of the
amount information memory part 212 as the new stored balance. In a
transaction detail memory processing (step 642), the multi-function
IC card 21 memorizes the data on the amount and date of the
purchase as an additional transaction detail memory of the amount
information memory part 212. This additional memory is stored in a
predetermined memory area, so that a read-out in
counter-chronological order in response to an inquiry of the stored
balance and transaction detail can be performed.
[0067] Next, the multi-function IC card 21 displays the purchase
amount in its display part 215 pursuant to an amount display
processing (step 643). The multi-function IC card 21 notifies the
POS terminal device 4 of the processing consummation of the
purchase by sending a processing consummation signal to the POS
terminal device (step 644) with this display on. A mutual
verification based on what is displayed enables the owner to
confirm the purchase amount with the amount actually paid by the
card, when he receives the card returned from the insertion to the
POS terminal.
[0068] Meanwhile, if a balance is found to be not sufficient for
the purchase amount in a stored balance judgment processing (step
640), the information that the stored balance is not sufficient is
sent to the POS terminal in step 645. The POS terminal device 4
that receives this information notifies this condition to the FOS
terminal device operator and advises him to forego the commercial
transaction, change the amount paid with the card or use other
method of commercial transaction. This helps the seller to handle a
customer flexibly.
[0069] After these processings are completed, the multi-function IC
card 21 changes the control to stand by for a detection of a next
input intervention (step 632), and stands by until a key input or a
receiving of a signal from the POS terminal device 4 is detected.
In the mean time, if no detection is made for a predetermined time
period, a time-over is detected in the time-over judgment (step
633) and the power is turned off.
[0070] (2) ATM terminal unit 2 (Refer to FIG. 3.)
[0071] Ordinarily, an ATM terminal unit 2 is connected with a bank
center device 3 and is and equipped with a medium card
reading/writing part 411, a medium card control part 412, an input
operation control part 413, an operation processing part 410 and a
line controlling unit 414.
[0072] The ATM terminal unit 2 writes the information about the
amount the owner transfers between his bank deposit account and the
multi-function IC card 21 i.e. the cashless medium 1.
[0073] The following is an explanation of the actions shown in FIG.
8.
[0074] The owner inputs the valid personal identification code of
the card by turning on the power of the multi-function IC card 21.
After confirming the card-usage-ready status, he makes a selection
input of a transaction kind to an ATM terminal unit 2. At this
time, the ATM terminal unit 2 instructs the owner to select a
transaction kind in a transaction selection screen display
processing (step 711) by having him make a selection of input of a
transaction kind. The owner makes the selection input of a
transaction kind by following this instruction. After detecting an
input in a condition of standing by for the detection of a
selection input (step 712), the ATM terminal unit 2 reads the
transaction kind selected by the input operation control part 413
(step 713). Here, the ATM terminal unit 2 displays an instruction
to insert the multi-function IC card 21 and stands by until a card
insertion to the card reading/writing part 411 is detected. The
detection of the card insertion triggers a communication between
the ATM terminal unit 2 and the multi-function IC card 21, and the
ATM terminal unit 2 receives the information on the card's keyword
and bank number (step 716). Using these data, a validity check of
the multi-function IC card 21 is performed (step 717). If it is
judged to be invalid (NO), the ATM terminal unit 2 displays an
invalid card insertion by a display step 721 and concludes its
processing by ejecting the card (step 720). If it is judged to be
valid (YES), the ATM terminal unit 2 reads the bank deposit account
number from the multi-function IC card 21 (step 718). The ATM
terminal unit 2 judges whether the transaction kind is an amount
replenishment by a judgment processing (step 731) that judges the
transaction kind inputted by an owner. If the transaction kind is
an amount replenishment (YES), the ATM terminal unit 2 displays an
instruction to input the personal identification code of the
account (step 732), and stands by for an input of the personal
identification code (step 733). When the personal identification
code is inputted, the ATM terminal unit 2 sends the transaction
kind, the deposit account number and personal identification code
to the bank center device 3 using a line controlling unit (step
734) and asks for a validity check. The ATM terminal unit 2 stands
by for the check processing by the bank center device 3 (step 735),
and judges whether the check result is normal or not. If the ATM
terminal unit 2 judges the personal identification code to be
invalid, the invalidity of the personal identification code input
is displayed to the owner (step 746) and terminates its processings
after ejecting the cashless medium 1. If the ATM terminal unit 2
judges the personal identification code to be valid, the ATM
terminal unit 2 instructs the owner to input the amount he wants to
replenish to the cashless medium 1 (step 737). After detecting the
amount input consummation in an amount input detection processing
(step 738), the replenishing amount is sent to the bank center
device 3 (step 739). This amount is notified to the bank center
device 3 as the withdrawal amount from the deposit account. Next,
the ATM terminal unit 2 stands by for the consummation of the
processing of the bank center device 3 (step 740) and judges
whether it is normal (step 741). If the ATM terminal unit 2 judges
that the consummation is abnormal (NO), the owner of the
multi-function IC card 21 has an insufficient balance in his
deposit account, and the owner is notified of his account balance
deficiency (step 747), and the ATM terminal unit 2 terminates its
processing. If the ATM terminal unit 2 judges that the consummation
is normal (YES), the owner's withdrawal of his inputted amount is
confirmed and the ATM terminal unit 2 knows it is possible to
execute an amount replenishment to the multi-function IC card 21.
Then, the ATM terminal unit 2 sends the replenishing amount to the
multi-function IC card 21 in a communication processing (step 742).
The ATM terminal unit 2 stands by for the consummation of the
replenishment processing within the multi-function IC card 21 in a
card processing consummation stand by processing (step 743). When
the ATM terminal unit 2 consummates this processing, it receives
the new balance stored in the multi-function IC card 21 from the
card (step 744), and sends the new balance to the bank center
device 3, which in turn writes the new balance to its medium
balance log file 324. The bank center device 3 stands by for the
processing consummation (step 719), and when the ATM terminal unit
2 receives the consummation notice, it ejects the multi-function IC
card 21 in a card ejection step 720. The owner receives the ejected
the multi-function IC card 21 and confirms the consummation of the
amount replenishment to it by taking a look at the amount indicated
on the card's display part 215.
[0075] If the transaction kind is judged not (NO) to be an amount
replenishment (step 731), the ATM terminal unit 2 judges whether
the transaction kind is a redepositing in a redepositing judgment
processing (step 751). If the transaction kind is not a
redepositing, the ATM terminal unit 2 executes other processings
according to the particular transaction kind and consummates its
processings (step 761).
[0076] Redepositing is defined as the owner depositing at least a
part of the balance stored in the multi-function IC card 21 back to
his deposit account. It means that the multi-function IC card 21
transfers a part of the amount stored in the multi-function IC card
21 back to the deposit account via the bank center device 3.
[0077] If the transaction kind is judged (YES) to be a
redepositing, the ATM terminal unit 2 sends the transaction kind
and the deposit account number to the bank center device 3 and asks
for a validity check (step 752). The ATM terminal unit 2 stands by
for the processing consummation at the bank center device 3 (step
753), and instructs the owner to input the redepositing amount
(step 754). When the ATM terminal unit 2 detects the input amount
(step 755), the ATM terminal unit 2 notifies the multi-function IC
card 21 of the redepositing amount (step 756). The ATM terminal
unit 2 then stands by for a consummation of the stored balance
subtraction processing within the multi-function IC card 21 (step
757), and judges whether the processing within the multi-function
IC card 21 is properly consummated (step 758). If the stored
balance is less than the redepositing amount, redepositing cannot
be performed, and the multi-function IC card 21 sends the balance
deficiency. The ATM terminal unit 2 notifies the owner who operates
the ATM terminal unit 2 by displaying the result (step 762). If the
intra-card processing is properly consummated, a redepositing from
the multi-function IC card 21 becomes possible, and the ATM
terminal unit 2 receives the new balance stored in the
multi-function IC card 21 (step 759), and notifies the redepositing
amount and the new balance stored in the card to the bank center
device 3. The ATM terminal unit 2 stands by for the consummation of
the deposit account revising stand by processing at the bank center
device 3 (step 719), and after ejecting the multi-function IC card
21 (step 720), the ATM terminal unit 2 consummates its processing.
Thus, the ATM terminal unit 2 can subtract the redepositing amount
specified by the owner from the amount stored in the card and
redeposit it to the deposit account of the bank center device
3.
[0078] (3) A POS terminal device (Refer to FIGS. 5A and 5B.)
[0079] A card reading/writing unit 52 is added to an ordinary
seller POS register unit 51 for merchandise sales management.
[0080] The card reading/writing unit 52 comprises a card
reading/writing part 521 for controlling their reading and writing,
a sales tallying file 53, a card control part 522, a sales tallying
file control part 524, an operation processing part 520 and a line
controlling unit 525.
[0081] The sales tallying file 53 stores a transaction number total
532 and an amount total 533 tallied by a billed bank number 531, as
well as a grand total 534.
[0082] The following is a explanation of an action of a POS
terminal device, shown in FIG. 9.
[0083] When an owner shops at a seller with the cashless medium 1,
the card reading/writing unit 52 of the POS register unit 51 shown
in FIG. 5A becomes a reading terminal unit of the multi-function IC
card 21. The POS register unit 51 performs a shopping check-out
processing by a seller. If a commercial transaction is with the
multi-function IC card 21, the POS register unit 51 and the card
reading/writing unit 52 perform a sales processing by communicating
with each other. The POS terminal device performs its processing,
when the multi-function IC card 21 is inserted into the card
reading/writing unit 52. There are three kinds of the
multi-function IC card 21. A shopping card for making a purchase,
discussed previously, a maintenance card for maintaining the card
reading/writing unit 52, And a settlement card for settling a sales
tallying file that stores amount data within the card
reading/writing unit 52 by a sales processing. The card inserted by
a customer is limited to the shopping card among the above three
kinds.
[0084] A customer inserts his card into the card reading/writing
part 521 of the card reading/writing unit 52 to clear his
shopping.
[0085] A POS terminal device stands by for a detection of an
insertion of the multi-function IC card 21 (step 811). If a card
insertion is detected, the POS terminal device judges in a card
kind judgment processing (step 812) whether the inserted card is a
shopping card. If the POS terminal device judges that the inserted
card is in fact a shopping card (YES), the POS terminal device
receives from the multi-function IC card 21 the keyword and bank
number stored respectively in the keyword memory part 213 and the
amount information memory part 212 (step 813). The POS terminal
device then performs a validity check of the card (step 814). If it
judges it to be invalid (NO), the POS terminal device sends the
keyword mismatch to the POS register unit 51 in a mismatch notice
processing (step 827), and ejects the card in a card ejecting
processing (step 823) and consummates its processing. If the POS
terminal device judges that the inserted card is valid (YES), the
POS terminal device sends the information that the card is accepted
by a POS register notice processing (step 815) to the POS register
unit 51. After this status, normal card sales processings are
executed.
[0086] First, after confirming a receipt consummation of a card
acceptance notice sent to the POS register unit 51 (step 816), the
POS terminal device receives the information on the purchase amount
from the POS register unit 51 (step 817). At this time, the POS
terminal device simultaneously receives the date as well as the
amount of the commercial transaction from the POS register unit 51.
The information on the amount and the date of the commercial
transaction is sent to the multi-function IC card 21 in a card
sending processing (step 818). The POS terminal device stands by
for a consummation of the intra-card purchase processing (step
819). When the POS terminal device receives the consummation of the
purchase processing within the multi-function IC card 21 by a card
processing judgment processing (step 820), the POS terminal device
revises the sales tallying file 53 in a file revising processing
(step 821), using the data of the keyword and bank number already
received from the card and the data of the amount and date of the
commercial transaction as the revision data. The revision is
executed by adding the number and amount of the commercial
transaction classified by the bank number of the issuing bank. All
the commercial transaction data identified by the same bank number
are characteristically tallied in a memory on the sales tallying
file 53. Therefore, even if the seller deals with a large number of
customers, the memory capacity on the sales tallying file 53
becomes the capacity governed by the number of financial
institutions that issue the multi-function IC card 21.
[0087] When the revision of the sales tallying file 53 is
consummated, the POS terminal device sends a processing
consummation in a processing consummation notice processing (step
822) to the POS register unit 51. After ejecting the multi-function
IC card 21, in a card ejecting processing (step 823), the POS
terminal device consummates its processing.
[0088] If the inserted card is detected in the card kind judgment
processing (step 824) to be a maintenance card for the POS terminal
device rather than a shopping card, the POS terminal device has its
maintenance personnel maintain the hardware of the card
reading/writing unit 52 or the software that works on the operation
processing part 520 in a maintenance card processing (step
829).
[0089] Meanwhile, if the inserted card is detected by the card kind
judgment transaction (step 825) to be a settlement card, the POS
terminal device performs a closing processing of the sales tallying
file 53 in a settlement card processing (step 830). The closing
processing is performed in preparation for sending the sales
tallying file 53 to the bank center device 3 shown in FIG. 1. If
any of the sales tallying data is closed, it will be re-added as
one sales tallying file. The communication to the bank center
device 3 is performed directly by a communication line controlled
primarily by the bank center device 3 or by a transmission system
to it on a side connected with the POS register unit 51. The
content of the communication to the bank center device 3 or the
transmission system comprises a datum part codified in a manner
predetermined by the bank center device 3 and an ordinary text
datum part "as is" of the sales tallying file 53. The codification
is meant to be for security protection of the data in the sales
tallying file 53, while they are being sent to the bank center
device 3. (The sending processing to the bank center device 3 is
not shown in the drawings.)
[0090] (3) The bank center device 3 (Refer to FIG. 4.)
[0091] The bank center device 3 comprises the following files: a
deposit ledger file 321, a non-settled fund file 322, a seller
ledger file 323 (for a seller's account) and a medium balance log
file 324. It also comprises an operation processing part 31 (which
includes a deposit ledger file control part 311, a non-settled fund
file control part 312, a seller ledger file control part, a medium
balance log file control part 314 and an operation control part
310) that controls reading and writing of each of the above files,
and a line controlling unit 33.
[0092] The following is an explanation of the bank center device 3,
by referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B.
[0093] The bank center device 3, as shown in FIG. 3, performs
on-line real-time processing actions, such as moving funds between
the deposit ledger file 321 and the non-settled fund file 322 and
logging the stored balance, when the card's owner replenishes the
multi-function IC card 21 or redeposits a part of the amount stored
in the multi-function IC card 21. It also performs batch processing
actions, such as making a fund settlement between the non-settled
fund file 322 and the seller ledger file 323 by up-loading the
sales tallying file 53 in the POS terminal device.
[0094] As shown in FIG. 10A, in the on-line real-time processing
with the ATM terminal unit 2, after the customer begins a
processing at the ATM terminal unit 2, the bank center device 3
receives the transaction kind, the account number for identifying
the deposit ledger file 321 and the personal identification code of
the account from the ATM terminal unit 2 (step 911). Then, the bank
center device 3 reads the content of the deposit ledger 321 (step
912). When the bank center device 3 detects a replenishment
processing in a transaction kind judgment processing (step 921),
the bank center device 3 judges whether the personal identification
code inputted by the customer matches that memorized in the deposit
ledger file 321 in a judging step 922. If the bank center device 3
detects a mismatch, it sends the information about the mismatch of
the personal identification code to the ATM terminal unit 2 (step
933), rejects a fund withdrawal from the deposit ledger file 321
and consummates the processing. If the bank center device 3 detects
a match, it stands by to receive a data about the amount the
customer inputs from the ATM terminal unit 2 (step 924). The
receiving amount data is the data of the amount replenished to the
cashless medium 1. The amount is subtracted from the customer's
account in the deposit ledges file 321 and added to the non-settled
fund file 322. On receiving the amount data, the bank center device
3 compares the amount with the customer's account balance memorized
in the deposit ledger file 321 in a judging processing (step 925).
If the account balance is less than the replenishing amount, the
bank center device 3 sends an account balance deficiency to the ATM
terminal unit 2 (step 932) and consummates the processing. If a
sufficient account balance is found, the bank center device 3 sends
to the ATM terminal unit 2 that its processings are consummated
normally (step 926). The ATM terminal unit 2 stands by to receive
an information on a new stored balance that the bank center device
3 sends after the normal processing consummation notice (step 927).
This new stored balance is the amount sent back from the ATM
terminal unit 2 after the replenishing amount and the current
stored balance are added together within the cashless medium 1.
After the receiving is consummated, the bank center device 3
revises the deposit ledger file 321 by subtracting the replenishing
amount from the customer's account balance memorized in the deposit
ledger file 321 by a revising processing (step 928). Next, the bank
center device 3 revises the non-settled fund file 322 by adding the
replenishing amount to the balance of the non-settled fund file
322. When the file revision is consummated, the bank center device
3 stores a record by writing the new stored balance of the cashless
medium 1 received in a log storage processing (step 930) into the
medium balance log file 324. Then, the bank center device 3 notices
the ATM terminal unit 2 that it has consummated its processings in
a sending processing (step 931).
[0095] If the bank center device 3 finds that the transaction kind
from the ATM terminal unit 2 is a redepositing in a transaction
kind judging processing (step 941), the bank center device 3 sends
a processing continuation to the ATM terminal unit 2 (step 942).
The bank center device 3 stands by to receive the data on the
redepositing amount and the new stored balance of the cashless
medium 1 from the ATM terminal unit 2 (step 943). On receiving the
data from the ATM terminal unit 2, the bank center device 3 revises
the deposit ledger file 321 by adding the redepositing amount data
to the customer's account balance 321 in an adding processing (step
944). Then, the bank center device 3 revises the non-settled fund
file 322 by subtracting the redepositing amount from the balance of
the non-settled fund file 322 in a subtracting processing (step
945). Thus, the bank center device 3 enables a customer to
redeposit the amount from the cashless medium 1 to his deposit
account. The cashless medium 1 hands control over to a processing
of logging the cashless medium 1 (step 930) and notifies the ATM
terminal unit 2 that the bank center device 3 has consummated its
processings by a consummating processing (step 931).
[0096] If the bank center device 3 finds a transaction from the ATM
terminal unit 2 to be neither a replenishing processing nor a
redepositing in the transaction kind judging, the transaction is
processed as another transaction the bank center device 3 performs
in step 946.
[0097] A seller can make a fund settlement of the seller ledger
file 323 by billing the amount stored in the sales tallying file 53
within the POS terminal device to a bank. The bank center device 3
receives the data of the sales tallying file 53 from the POS
terminal device (step 951), as shown in FIG. 10B. On consummating
the data receipt, the bank center device 3 notifies the POS
terminal device of the data receipt consummation (step 952), and
moves to a decoding processing of the received data (step 953). The
codified part is the codification of the sales tallying file 53,
and its content becomes the same as a simultaneously sent ordinary
text part of the sales tallying file 53 when it is decoded. To
confirm it, the bank center device 3 performs a matching check of
the decoded result of the codified part and the ordinary text part
in a validity judgment processing (step 955). If an unmatched datum
is found, the sent sales tallying file 53 is not deemed to be
valid, and the bank center device 3 performs an extraordinary
processing (step 950). The bank center device 3 judges that the
data sent from the POS terminal device 4 are valid only after all
of the data are matched. The bank center device 3 rearranges the
data by an issuing institution in a processing of data sorting that
uses the bank number in the sales tallying file 53 as a key (step
956). The bank center device 3 judges the data on the sales
tallying file 53 with the bank number of the bank center device 3
(step 957), and sorts out the data pertaining to the particular
bank that owns the bank center device 3. The bank center device 3
deducts the data of the particular bank from the balance of the
non-settled fund file 322 in a non-settled fund subtraction
processing (step 961) and revises the non-settled fund file 322.
Next, if the bank center device 3 finds the amount data of the
cashless medium 1 issued by another bank in an another bank data
judging processing, the bank center device 3 performs a processing
of creating exchange billing data for the other bank (step 962).
The bank center device 3 revises he processing of drawing funds to
the seller ledger file 323 in a fund drawing processing (step 959),
and performs the fund drawing to the seller ledger file 323 of the
seller that sent the sales tallying file 53, and consummates the
processing.
[0098] The following is a description of each unit necessary for an
electronic money transaction.
[0099] We assume here the use of the multi-function IC card 21 as
the cashless medium 1 for an electronic purse processing, and the
POS terminal device for a seller's reading/writing terminal unit,
and the ATM terminal unit 2 for a bank's reading/writing terminal
unit.
[0100] (1) A basic operation of the multi-function IC card 21
(Refer to FIG. 6.)
[0101] In the initial condition of the multi-function IC card 21
that is issued by a bank to its depositor, the bank number and the
deposit account number of the issuer are stored in the amount
information memory part 212 and keywords, such as the personal
identification code preregistered by the depositor, are stored in
the keyword memory part 213.
[0102] If the card is taken out (J1), its power is confirmed to be
turned on (J3) by hitting a power key (J2), and the personal
identification code is inputted properly (J4). Then the
multi-function IC card 21 is in a working condition (J5). When an
authorized user wants to confirm the stored amount, such as in a
case as of a disbursement from his bank deposit account or
immediately before a purchase, he hits a reference key KS (J6) and
the current stored balance is displayed on the display part 215
(J7).
[0103] When he further hits the reference key KS (J8), the date of
the most recent (i.e. the last) transaction is displayed (J9). When
he further hits the reference key KS (J10), the amount of the most
recent (i.e. the last) transaction is displayed (J11). When he
further hits the reference key KS, the date and amount of the next
most recent transaction is displayed in LIFO order. This display
can be used as information for a home ledger entry.
[0104] Since the multi-function IC card 21 has few display digits
in the preferred embodiment of this invention, they sequentially
display the date and the amount of the transaction with two
hittings of the reference key KS. However, if the display digits or
rows are increased, a simultaneous display of the date and amount
of more than one transaction become possible, for instance with a
single hitting of the reference key KS.
[0105] The card in a working condition keeps the status of
power-on, while it is inserted to the card reading/writing unit 52
or the ATM terminal unit 2, but after it is ejected from them, its
power is turned off by an automatic time off function after an
elapse of a predetermined time period (J13). When the power is on,
the power of the multi-function IC card 21 is turned off at the
moment when the power key is hit (J12).
[0106] Also, in a status of J7, where the balance is displayed in
the display part 215, a hitting of a zero key (J14) puts the card
in a shopping processing status. If a power key is hit (J15) or
time is out in this status (J7), the card is put in power-off
status (J16).
[0107] Meanwhile, there are two cases for a wrong input of the
personal identification code in a key input status of the personal
identification code (J4).
[0108] If the limit number of wrong inputs of the personal
identification code is exceeded, the card is put in an error status
(J17). When time is up or the power key is hit (J18), the card is
put in a power-off status (J19). In the preferred embodiment of
this invention, the cashless medium 1 memorizes the change into
this status, and the cashless medium 1 displays (J17) on its
display part 215 that the card is in an error status and cannot
restore its normal status (J3), even if the power key is hit
thereafter.
[0109] If the limit number of wrong inputs of the personal
identification code is not exceeded, the cashless medium 1 displays
(J21) an error of a wrong input of the personal identification
code, such as "E", on its display part 215. Another key hitting
puts the cashless medium 1 in a status of J4 again. Alternatively,
if a key is not hit, the card is put into a power-off status (J23)
when time is up. In the preferred embodiment of this invention,
since the number of wrong inputs of the personal identification
code is memorized in its memory means 11, even if the power is
turned off and even if the power key is hit again, after time is up
(J22), the cashless medium 1 is up into a status (J4), as long as
the cashless medium 1 is in a status where the limit number of
wrong inputs of the personal identification code is not
exceeded.
[0110] (2) An amount replenishment to the cashless medium 1 (Refer
to FIG. 11.)
[0111] When the stored amount is replenished from the deposit
account with the ATM terminal unit 2, the owner has to put the
multi-function IC card 21 in a working status (J5) by the actions
so far described. If he inserts it in the ATM terminal unit 2 by
performing a predetermined inputting operation, the stored balance
is replenished, and the display part 215 displays the amount and it
could be substituted for a receipt.
[0112] After detecting an input to instruct an amount replenishment
with a transaction selection key and the card insertion (K2), the
ATM terminal unit 2 reads the stored bank number and account number
from the card (K3, K4). After verifying its validity, the ATM
terminal unit 2 stands by to review the input of the personal
identification code and and the amount (K5). After a proper input
operation is performed, the ATM terminal unit 2 sends the inputted
replenishing amount to the card (K6). The card, i.e. the cashless
medium 1, calculates the new stored balance by adding this amount
to the current stored balance (K7) and sends it to the ATM terminal
unit 2 (K8). The ATM terminal unit 2 reads all these data (the bank
number, the account number, the personal identification code of the
account, the inputted replenishing amount, and the new stored
balance) (K9) and sends them in a batch to the bank center device 3
(K10).
[0113] The bank center device 3 reads the proper deposit account
ledger from the deposit ledger file 321 (K11), confirms the
personal identification code (K12), revises the account balance
(K13), updates the deposit ledger file 321 (K14), revises the
non-settled fund file 322 by adding the inputted replenishing
amount (K15), writes the new stored balance to the medium log file
324 (K16), and sends a transaction consummation notice to the ATM
terminal unit 2 that all these processings have been consummated
(K17).
[0114] After receiving the notice, the ATM terminal unit 2 sends a
transaction consummation order to the card, i.e. the cashless
medium 1 (K18), the cashless medium 1 rewrites the stored balance
(K19), stores a transaction record by creating it (K20), displays
the replenishing amount to its display part 215 (K21) and
consummates all processings. After receiving a notice that the
card's processings have been consummated from the card (K21), the
ATM terminal unit 2 ejects the card (K22). Thereafter, the cashless
medium 1 displays a replenishing amount (K23) in its display part
215, and turns its own power off (K24) by a hitting the power key
or by turning off automatically when time is up. In extraordinary
cases discussed earlier such as the mismatch of the personal
identification code, the account balance deficiency, the
corresponding processings are performed as shown in the flow charts
shown later.
[0115] A redepositing of an excess stored amount to the deposit
account is performed basically in the same manner as the amount
replenishment to the cashless medium 1 , although the steps are
more or less different in the input of the personal identification
code and its confirmation.
[0116] (3) A shopping with the cashless medium 1 (Refer to FIG.
12.)
[0117] At a shopping check out time, if an owner of the cashless
medium 1, i.e. the multi-function IC card 21, inserts the
multi-function IC card 21 in working order into a seller POS
terminal device 4, the purchase amount total is deducted from the
stored balance. The purchase amount deducted from the
multi-function IC card 21 is displayed in the display part 215 of
the multi-function IC card 21, which amount can be matched with a
shopping receipt received separately.
[0118] When the card reading/writing unit 52 detects an insertion
of the multi-function IC card 21 in a working status (M1), it
stands by (M2) after reading the bank number and keyword outputted
from the multi-function IC card 21 (M3). When a summation key is
hit (M4) after all the sales amounts are tallied, the POS register
unit 51 computes the sum (M5). Then, after detecting a card
insertion (M6), the POS register unit 51 sends the purchase amount
to the card reading/writing unit 52 (M7). The card reading/writing
unit 52 sends the purchase amount to the multi-function IC card 21
through its card reading/writing part 521 (M8). The multi-function
IC card 21 rewrites the stored balance (M10), stores the
transaction record by creating it (M11), and displays the deducted
amount in its display part 215 (M12). The multi-function IC card 21
then sends the transaction record to the POS terminal device 4
(M13). The card reading/writing unit 52 stores the tallied sum of
the sales amount with the multi-function IC card 21 sorted by the
issuing bank of the multi-function IC card 21 in the sales tallying
file 53 by revising its memory (M14), and notifies the POS register
unit 51 of the transaction consummation (M15) and ejects the card
(M16). The POS register unit 51 that receives the consummation
notice issues a receipt (M18) after making a tally (M17).
[0119] When ejected from the POS terminal device 4, the
multi-function IC card 21 displays the deducted amount on its
display part 215 (M19) and turns its power off (M20) when time is
up or the power key is hit.
[0120] (4) Depositing of the seller's sales to its bank (Refer to
FIG. 13.)
[0121] After finishing the sales activities, the seller clears the
POS terminal device 4. With a clearing input (N1), the card
reading/writing part 521 fixes the sales tallying file (so that it
become temporarily unchangeable) and sends an instruction (N2), as
well as making a sending message by codification (N3) and sends the
bank center device 3 of the predesignated by the POS terminal
device 4 (N4).
[0122] The bank center device 3 receives such messages (N5),
decodes them (N6) and classifies them into a home bank part and a
foreign bank part (N7, N10). The bank center device 3 revises the
the non-settled fund file 322 by deducting the amount in the home
bank part (N8) and credit the seller's deposit account by revising
the seller ledger file 323 (N9). The amount in the foreign bank
part is billed to the appropriate bank through the exchange
clearance system (N11) and credits the seller's deposit account
after the non-settled fund file 322 of the appropriate bank is
prepaided (N12) and its consummation is confirmed (N13). Thus, all
settlements are concluded.
[0123] (5) A method for compensating for the failure of the
cashless medium 1
[0124] Cash can be used at any time, unless it's lost, but the
cashless medium 1, i.e. the multi-function IC card 21, becomes
unusable when it fails, whether it has a stored balance or not. The
owner has to go to bank to have his failed card exchanged. However,
in this system, wherein the individual transaction detail is not
controlled, the bank has to make a formula for the amount of
compensation, such as the following and ask the owner of the
multi-function IC card 21 for an agreement.
[0125] First, the bank center device 3 searches the stored balance
of the multi-function IC card 21 at the most recent transaction
time from the medium balance log file 324, which is the maximum
amount of compensation.
[0126] Then, the bank analyzes the trend (the rate of stored amount
depletion) of the commercial transactions made with the
multi-function IC card 21 to estimate the current stored balance
from the last ATM transaction date. The sum of the estimated
current balances will tend to approximate the sum of the actual
current balances, by the law of large numbers. The estimated
current balance is paid out from the non-settled fund file 322, the
amount of difference from what the card owner claims is made up for
(within the balance of the medium balance log file 324), and the
new stored balance is computed by adding these two amounts. This
sum is then stored in the amount information memory part 212 of the
multi-function IC card 21 that is issued to the owner as a
replacement. This difference could ordinarily be an overpayment,
the loss of which could be covered by an insurance policy.
[0127] Since the deposit data is separated by the bank number into
the home bank part and the foreign bank part, the revising of the
seller ledger file 323 is applied with the existing settlement
method, wherein the home bank part is treated as a cash deposit and
can be used immediately, whereas the foreign bank part is treated
as a not-yet-cleared-fund deposit and cannot be used
immediately.
[0128] In this invention's preferred embodiment of the POS terminal
device 4 which accommodates the cashless medium 1, i.e. the
multi-function IC card 21, the POS register unit 51 is explained.
In addition, if vending machines are equipped with a mechanism that
accommodates the multi-function IC card 21 so that a ticket, a pack
of cigarettes, a telephone card, a drink, etc. can be purchased,
more commercial transactions become cashless enabling the
electronic purse system to be used as a general purpose paying
method.
[0129] This invention enables completely cashless commercial
transactions, because a commercial transaction is made with
exchanges of the amount information written in the cashless medium
1.
[0130] Since an ATM terminal unit 2 set at a place like a bank
office will only need exchange of amount information, and no longer
need physical exchange of money, the ATM terminal unit 2 can be
made much smaller.
[0131] Since the non-settled fund file 322 stores only the sum of
the amount information written in more than one cashless medium 1,
its memory capacity does not have to be large.
[0132] Since a seller will no longer have to process a cumbersome
commercial transaction currently required with a credit card and,
instead, will only have to process the sum of the amount in the
amount information gained from more than one commercial transaction
classified by the bank number, the seller can process the
commercial transaction more quickly than with other settlement
processings. Besides, since few tickets will be required, unlike a
commercial transaction made with a credit card, paperwork will be
simplified.
[0133] This card will enable total elimination of bad debt loss
occurring with a credit card when a commercial transaction is
executed without approval from the credit card company. Thus, the
seller can accept the multi-function IC card 21 with
confidence.
[0134] Therefore, this invention enables easily operable cashless
transactions.
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