U.S. patent application number 11/293195 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-06 for accounting and account reconciliating system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Katsuya Nakagawa, Satoshi Washizuka.
Application Number | 20060074779 11/293195 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24709671 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060074779 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Washizuka; Satoshi ; et
al. |
April 6, 2006 |
Accounting and account reconciliating system
Abstract
An accounting and reconciliation system includes a seller
terminal that receives credit data guaranteeing payment, and
payment data. A buyer terminal for a buyer sends purchase request
data containing transaction information which specifies purchase
transaction conditions. A reconciliation unit mediates a purchase
transaction between the buyer and the seller in response to
receiving the purchase request data communicated from the buyer
terminal to the reconciliation unit. The reconciliation unit
includes communication circuitry for communicating with the buyer
terminal and the seller terminal and a processing system responsive
to the purchase request data for sending the credit data to the
seller terminal, and for sending the payment data to the seller
terminal after receiving acknowledgment data indicative of the
buyer's acknowledgment of receipt.
Inventors: |
Washizuka; Satoshi; (San
Jose, CA) ; Nakagawa; Katsuya; (Soraku-gun,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIXON & VANDERHYE, PC
901 NORTH GLEBE ROAD, 11TH FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22203
US
|
Assignee: |
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
Osaka
JP
|
Family ID: |
24709671 |
Appl. No.: |
11/293195 |
Filed: |
December 5, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09675252 |
Sep 29, 2000 |
|
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|
11293195 |
Dec 5, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/30 ;
705/40 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 20/02 20130101;
G06Q 30/06 20130101; G06Q 20/425 20130101; G06Q 20/32 20130101;
G06Q 20/322 20130101; G06Q 20/12 20130101; G06Q 20/10 20130101;
G06Q 20/40 20130101; G06Q 40/12 20131203; G06Q 20/327 20130101;
G06Q 40/00 20130101; G06Q 40/025 20130101; G06Q 20/3227 20130101;
G06Q 20/102 20130101; G06Q 20/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/030 ;
705/040 |
International
Class: |
G07B 17/00 20060101
G07B017/00 |
Claims
1. A buyer terminal for a buyer for use in an accounting and
reconciliation system comprising a seller terminal for a seller and
a reconciliation unit, the seller terminal receiving credit data
guaranteeing payment for a product or service, and receiving
payment data for the product or service, and the reconciliation
unit mediating a purchase transaction between the buyer and the
seller in response to receiving purchase request data and
comprising communication circuitry for communicating with the buyer
terminal and the seller terminal, and a processing system
responsive to the purchase request data for sending the credit data
to the seller terminal and for sending the payment data to the
seller terminal after receiving acknowledgment data indicative of
the buyer's acknowledgment of receipt of the product or service,
the buyer terminal comprising: short-distance communication
circuitry for communicating with the seller terminal; wide area
communication circuitry for communicating with the reconciliation
unit; one or more input devices; a processing system for sending
the purchase request data to the reconciliation unit via the wide
area communication circuitry, the purchase request data including
purchase transaction information which specifies purchase
transaction conditions for the product or service, and for, in
response to an input by the buyer using the one or more input
devices, sending to the seller terminal via the short-distance
communication, for forwarding thereafter by the seller terminal to
the reconciliation unit, the acknowledgement of receipt of the
product or service.
2. A seller terminal for a seller for use in an accounting and
reconciliation system comprising a buyer terminal for a buyer and a
reconciliation unit, the buyer terminal sending purchase request
data including purchase transaction information which specifies
purchase transaction conditions for a product or service, and the
reconciliation unit mediating a purchase transaction between the
buyer and the seller in response to receiving the purchase request
data sent from the buyer terminal and comprising communication
circuitry for communicating with the buyer terminal and the seller
terminal, and a processing system responsive to the purchase
request data for sending credit data guaranteeing payment for the
product or service and for sending payment data for the product or
service after receiving acknowledgment data indicative of the
buyer's acknowledgment of receipt of the product or service, the
seller terminal comprising: wide area communication circuitry for
communicating with the reconciliation unit; short-distance
communication circuitry for communicating with the buyer terminal;
and a processing system for receiving the credit data and the
payment data from the reconciliation unit and for receiving, via
the short distance communication circuitry, the acknowledgment data
from the buyer terminal and forwarding, via the wide area
communication circuitry, the acknowledgment data to the
reconciliation unit.
3. A buyer terminal for a buyer for use in an accounting and
reconciliation system comprising a seller terminal for a seller and
a reconciliation unit, the seller terminal receiving credit data
guaranteeing payment for a product or service, and receiving
payment data for the product or service, and the reconciliation
unit mediating a purchase transaction between the buyer and the
seller in response to receiving purchase request data and
comprising communication circuitry for communicating with the buyer
terminal and the seller terminal, and a processing system
responsive to the purchase request data for sending the credit data
to the seller terminal and for sending the payment data to the
seller terminal after the product or service is supplied from the
seller, the buyer terminal comprising: short-distance communication
circuitry for communicating with the seller terminal; wide area
communication circuitry for communicating with the reconciliation
unit; one or more input devices; a processing system for sending
the purchase request data to the reconciliation unit via the wide
area communication circuitry, the purchase request data including
purchase transaction information which specifies purchase
transaction conditions for the product or service, for receiving
delivery list data relating to delivery of the product or service
from the seller terminal via the short-distance communication
circuitry, and for sending acknowledgment data input using the one
or more input devices in response to the delivery list data to the
seller terminal via the short-distance communication circuitry.
4. A seller terminal for a seller for use in an accounting and
reconciliation system comprising a buyer terminal for a buyer and a
reconciliation unit, the buyer terminal sending purchase request
data including purchase transaction information which specifies
purchase transaction conditions for the product or service,
receiving delivery list data relating to delivery of the product or
service, and sending acceptance data in response to the delivery
list data, and the reconciliation unit mediating a purchase
transaction between the buyer and the seller in response to
receiving the purchase request data sent from the buyer terminal
and comprising communication circuitry for communicating with the
buyer terminal and the seller terminal and a processing system
responsive to the purchase request data for sending credit data to
the seller terminal and for sending the payment data to the seller
terminal after the product or service is supplied from the seller,
the seller terminal comprising: wide area communication circuitry
for communicating with the reconciliation unit; short-distance
communication circuitry for communicating with the buyer terminal;
and a processing system for receiving from the reconciliation unit,
via the wide area communication circuitry, the credit data and the
payment data and for sending to the buyer terminal, via the
short-distance communication circuitry, the delivery list data.
5. A method for making purchases without the use of a credit card,
comprising: generating in a buyer terminal of a buyer a purchase
request for a product or service sold by a seller; sending the
purchase request from the buyer terminal to a reconciliation unit
via a wide area communication network to which the buyer terminal
and the reconciliation are connected; generating credit data in the
reconciliation unit based on the purchase request from the buyer
terminal, the credit data guaranteeing payment to the seller by the
reconciliation unit; sending the credit data from the
reconciliation unit to a seller terminal of the seller via a wide
area communication network to which the seller terminal and the
reconciliation unit are connected; sending delivery list data from
the seller terminal to the buyer terminal via a short-distance
communication network, the delivery list data relating to delivery
to the buyer from the seller of the product or service; sending
acknowledgment data from the buyer terminal to the seller terminal
via the short-distance communication network, the acknowledgment
data acknowledging the delivery to the buyer from the seller of the
product or service specified in the delivery list data; sending the
acknowledgment data from the seller terminal to the reconciliation
unit via the wide area communication network to which the seller
terminal and the reconciliation unit are connected; and sending
payment data from the reconciliation unit to the seller terminal
via the wide area communication network to which the seller
terminal and the reconciliation unit are connected.
6. A buyer terminal for a buyer comprising: first communication
circuitry for communicating with a seller terminal for a seller;
second communication circuitry for communicating with a
reconciliation unit mediating a purchase transaction between the
buyer and the seller; one or more input devices; and a processing
system a) for sending purchase request data to the reconciliation
unit via the second communication circuitry, the purchase request
data including purchase transaction information which specifies
purchase transaction conditions for a product or service, and b)
for, in response to an input by the buyer using the one or more
input devices, sending to the seller terminal via the first
communication circuitry, for forwarding by the seller terminal to
the reconciliation unit, an acknowledgment of receipt of the
product or service.
7. The buyer terminal as set forth in claim 6, wherein the first
communication circuitry is short-distance communication circuitry
and the second communication circuitry is wide area communication
circuitry.
8. The buyer terminal as set forth in claim 6, wherein the
processing system receives delivery list data relating to delivery
of the product or service from the seller terminal via the first
communication circuitry, and sends the acknowledgment data input in
response to the delivery list data.
9. The buyer terminal as set forth in claim 8, wherein the first
communication circuitry is short-distance communication circuitry
and the second communication circuitry is wide area communication
circuitry.
10. A seller terminal for a seller comprising: first communication
circuitry for communicating with a buyer terminal for a buyer;
second communication circuitry for communicating with a
reconciliation unit mediating a purchase transaction between the
buyer and the seller; and a processing system a) for receiving
credit data from the reconciliation unit, via the second
communication circuitry, the credit data including purchase
transaction information which specifies purchase transaction
conditions for a product or service, and b) for receiving, via the
first communication circuitry, acknowledgment data from the buyer
terminal and forwarding, via the second communication circuitry,
the acknowledgment data to the reconciliation unit.
11. The seller terminal as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first
communication circuitry is short-distance communication circuitry
and the second communication circuitry is wide area communication
circuitry.
12. The seller terminal as set forth in claim 10, wherein the
processing system sends delivery list data to the buyer terminal
via the first communication circuitry, the delivery list data
relating to delivery of the product or service.
13. The seller terminal as set forth in claim 12, wherein the first
communication circuitry is short distance communication circuitry
and the second communication circuitry is wide area communication
circuitry.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a divisional of application Ser. No.
09/675,252, filed Sep. 29, 200.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an accounting and account
reconciliating system which can execute accounting and account
reconciliation through communications using, for example, cellular
phones, and the invention particularly relates to an accounting and
account reconciliating system which allows accounting and account
reconciliation of products purchased by a buyer without a credit
card.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Conventional portable electronic account reconciliating
systems include, for example, the Internet connection service for
cellular phones, or also known as "i-mode", offered by NTT DOCOMO
Inc., where, for example, reservation and selling of air tickets
are conducted. Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
198739/1998 (Tokukaihei 10-198739) (published date: Jul. 31, 1998)
and No. 2000-69571 (published date: Mar. 3, 2000) disclose an
electronic account reconciliating system using cellular phones.
More specifically, the publication 10-198739 discloses a personal
electronic account reconciliating system using portable paying
means equipped with a plurality of communication means. Also, the
publication 2000-69571 discloses an electronic account
reconciliating system which includes a step whereby a buyer is
identified to be a member of a wireless network.
[0004] As above, NTT DOCOMO Inc. offers ticket-less sales of air
tickets on the cellular-phone-based "i-mode" service. However, in
this system, reconciliation of accounts is made in the end by a
credit card authority and it requires the user to possess a credit
card. Further, because reconciliation is made by a credit card,
payment to the airline companies as the claiming party is made on a
monthly basis, which creates the problem that the system is not
spontaneous and the interest before the actual payment must be born
to either the user, credit company, other claiming party. Further,
when reconciliation is made abroad, due to the time delay from the
date products and services were offered to the time of actual
payment, there is a loss or margin on a balance sheet depending on
the exchange rate.
[0005] The electronic account reconciliating system disclosed in
the publication 10-198739 has the same problem since it also
employs an account reconciliating function by a credit card as the
final reconciliating means. Further, the publication 2000-69571
does not disclose anything about a specific transaction scheme on
the electronic account reconciliating system
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
accounting and account reconciliating system which, for the buyers'
advantage, allows accounting and account reconciliation without a
credit card, and for the suppliers' advantage, allows instant
redemption of the counter value for the supplied products or
services.
[0007] In order to achieve the foregoing object, an accounting and
account reconciliating system in accordance with the present
invention includes: paying means including first communicating
means for establishing communications, the paying means for
applying for accounting in transactions between a buyer and a
supplier; reconciliating means including second communicating means
for establishing communications, the arbitrating account
reconciliating means reconciliation in the transactions; and
claiming means including third communicating means for establishing
communications, the claiming means for claiming a counter value in
the transactions, the accounting and account reconciliating system
for carrying out accounting and account reconciliation by
communications between the paying means, the claiming means, and
the reconciliating means, wherein: the paying means includes first
data processing means which creates accounting application data for
applying for accounting and account reconciliation for products or
services ordered by the buyer to the supplier, and which sends the
accounting application data to the reconciliating means via the
first communicating means, and when the products or services are
supplied to the buyer from the supplier, the first data processing
means creates acknowledgement data which indicates supplied content
and sends the acknowledgement data to the claiming means via the
first communicating means, and the reconciliating means includes
second data processing means which receives the accounting
application data via the second communicating means, creates credit
data based on the accounting application data received, and sends
the credit data created to the claiming means via the second
communicating means, the credit data for guarantee of account
reconciliation of the products or services by the reconciliating
means and containing information which specifies transaction
conditions of the products or services, and the claiming means
includes third data processing means which receives via the third
communicating means the credit data sent from the reconciliating
means and the acknowledgement data sent from the paying means, and
judges whether the supplied content of the products or services
satisfies the transaction conditions contained in the credit data
based on the credit data and the acknowledgement data received, and
when judges satisfy, sends the acknowledgement data received to the
reconciliating means via the third communicating means, and the
second data processing means of the reconciliating means, when
received the acknowledgement data from the claiming means via the
second communicating means, purchases the acknowledgement data upon
confirmation of content of the acknowledgement data, and bills the
buyer for the payment of the counter value for the supplied
products or services so as to redeem money.
[0008] With this arrangement, the first data processing means
creates accounting application data, and the accounting application
data thus created is sent to the reconciliating means via the first
communicating means. The reconciliating means creates credit data
based on the accounting application data, and the credit data thus
created is sent to the claiming means via the second communicating
means.
[0009] On the other hand, when the buyer receives products or
services from the supplier, the first data processing means of the
paying means creates acknowledgement data, and the acknowledgement
data thus created is sent to the claiming means via the first
communicating means.
[0010] The third data processing means of the claiming means judges
whether supply of the products or services has satisfied the
transaction conditions, based on the content of the credit data
received and the content of the acknowledgement data received. When
the transaction satisfied the transaction conditions, the
acknowledgement data is sent to the reconciliating means via the
third communicating means.
[0011] The second data processing means of the reconciliating
means, upon confirmation of the content of the acknowledgement
data, purchases the acknowledgement data and bills the buyer for
the payment of the counter value in the transaction so as to redeem
the money.
[0012] In this manner, the reconciliating means creates credit data
which guarantees account reconciliation by the reconciliating
means, and transactions and account reconciliation of products or
services are carried out based on the credit data, thereby making
it possible to carry out transactions and account reconciliation
without a credit card which guarantees the identity and credit of
the buyer. Accordingly, the buyer is not required to have a credit
card. Further, from the suppliers' stand point, since account
reconciliation of transactions is guaranteed by the reconciliating
means even when products or services were ordered from a buyer
whose identity and credit history are unknown, the supplier can
supply the products or services to the buyer with confidence.
[0013] Further, by the system where the reconciliating means
purchases the acknowledgement data, the supplier can obtain the
counter value for the products or services instantly from the
reconciliating means, thus greatly reducing the time lag between
supply of products or services and redemption of the counter value.
As a result, there is no problem as to who will bear the interest
which derives from the time lag as in account reconciliation by a
credit card, or the problem of a loss or merit on a balance sheet
which arises from a change in exchange rate.
[0014] For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of
the invention, reference should be made to the ensuing detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is an explanatory drawing showing a schematic
structure of an accounting and account reconciliating system in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of
paying means in the accounting and account reconciliating
system.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of
claiming means in the accounting and account reconciliating
system.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of
reconciliating means in the accounting and account reconciliating
system.
[0019] FIG. 5 is an explanatory drawing briefly showing a flow of
accounting and account reconciliation processes in the accounting
and account reconciliating system.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process flow in the paying
means.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process flow in the claiming
means.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process flow in the
reconciliating means.
[0023] FIG. 9 is an explanatory drawing showing a schematic
structure of estimate data sent to the paying means from the
claiming means.
[0024] FIG. 10 is an explanatory drawing showing a schematic
structure of accounting application data sent to the reconciliating
means from the paying means.
[0025] FIG. 11 is an explanatory drawing showing a schematic
structure of credit data sent to the claiming means from the paying
means.
[0026] FIG. 12 is an explanatory drawing showing a schematic
structure of acknowledgement data which is sent to the claiming
means from the paying means, and to the reconciliating means from
the claiming means.
[0027] FIG. 13 is an explanatory drawing showing an example of
another structure of the accounting and account reconciliating
system in accordance with the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of
paying means in an accounting and account reconciliating system in
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of
claiming means in the accounting and account reconciliating
system.
[0030] FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of
reconciliating means of the accounting and account reconciliating
system.
[0031] FIG. 17 is an explanatory drawing briefly showing a flow of
accounting and account reconciliation processes in the accounting
and account reconciliating system.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
First Embodiment
[0032] The following describes one embodiment of the present
invention referring to the attached drawings.
[0033] FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of an accounting and
account reconciliating system in accordance with the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the present accounting and account
reconciliating system includes paying means 1, claiming means 2,
and reconciliating means 3.
[0034] The paying means 1 is for applying for accounting by a buyer
in a transaction between the buyer and a supplier, and it is
realized, for example, by a cellular phone of each buyer. The
claiming means 2 is for claiming a counter value in the transaction
by the supplier, and it is a terminal used by the supplier. The
reconciliating means 3 is for arbitrating the account
reconciliation in the transaction, and it is a terminal
administered by a communication server, etc.
[0035] The paying means 1, claiming means 2, and reconciliating
means 3 each has communication means for communicating between
parties. The paying means 1 and the claiming means 2 are capable of
short-distance wireless communications therebetween through their
IR communication functions. The claiming means 2 and the
reconciliating means 3 can communicate each other via a network
such as the Internet. The reconciliating means 3 and the paying
means 1 can communicate each other, for example, through a private
digital network of the communication server.
[0036] The following describes structures of the paying means 1,
claiming means 2, and reconciliating means 3 in this order.
[0037] FIG. 2 is a block diagram which shows a structure of the
paying means 1. In the present embodiment, the paying means 1 is
realized by a cellular phone or a function of the cellular phone,
and it includes data processing means 11 (first data processing
means) display means 12, short-distance communicating means 13
(first communicating means), wide area communicating means 14
(first communicating means), and talking means 15 and operating
means 16 (operating means, information setting means).
[0038] The data processing means 11 is made up of a CPU, ROM, and
RAM, etc., and carries out data processing based on a predetermined
algorithm, and control of each block (each means listed above). The
display means 12 is realized, for example, by a small liquid
crystal display. The short-distance communicating means 13 is for
short-distance communications through IR ray or weak
electromagnetic wave. The wide area communicating means 14 is for
carrying out communications via connection through an
electromagnetic wave to a wide area network such as a cellular
phone network. The talking means 15 makes up an audio interface
such as a speaker and microphone. The operating means 16 is
realized by push buttons, etc. Input of various information is
allowed by operation of the operating means 16 by the user
(buyer).
[0039] FIG. 3 is a block diagram which shows a structure of the
claiming means 2. In the present embodiment, the claiming means 2
includes data processing means 21 (third data processing means),
display means 22 (confirming means), short-distance communicating
means 23 (third communicating means), and wide area communicating
means 24 (third communicating means) and operating means 2S
(estimation input means, confirming means).
[0040] The data processing means 21 is made up of a CPU. ROM, and
RAM etc., and carries out data processing based on a predetermined
algorithm, and control of each means (each means listed above). The
display means 22 is realized, for example, by a small liquid
crystal display. The short-distance communicating means 23 is for
short-distance communications through IR ray or weak
electromagnetic wave. The wide area communicating means 24 is for
carrying out communications via connection through an
electromagnetic wave to a wide area network such as a cellular
phone network. The operating means 25 is realized by push buttons,
etc.
[0041] FIG. 4 is a block diagram which shows a structure of the
reconciliating means 3. In the present embodiment, the
reconciliating means 3 includes data processing means 31 (second
data processing means), display means 32, database means 33 (memory
means), first wide area communicating means 34 (second
communicating means), and second wide area communicating means 35
(second communicating means) and operating means 36 (condition
setting means).
[0042] The data processing means 31 is made up of a CPU, ROM, and
RAM, etc., and carries out data processing based on a predetermined
algorithm, and control of each means (each means listed above). The
display means 32 is realized for example, by a CRT. The database
means 33 stores information for recognizing terminals of the paying
means 1 and claiming means 2 in communications (e.g., terminal ID),
and information of payment conditions and price, etc. The first
wide area communicating means 34 is for carrying out communications
via connection through an electromagnetic wave to a cellular phone
network, etc. The second wide area communicating means 35 is for
carrying out communications via connection to a network such as the
Internet. The operating means 36 is realized by a keyboard or
mouse.
[0043] The following describes processes of the accounting and
account reconciliating system in accordance with the present
invention referring to FIG. 5, which briefly shows the flow of the
processes. The operations of the paying means 1, claiming means 2,
and reconciliating means 3 will be described in detail later.
[0044] FIG. 5 shows a process flow of transactions on the
accounting and account reconciliating system of the present
invention when communication between a buyer and a supplier is
established.
[0045] First, the buyer indicates products or services of his wants
and sends a request for an estimate to the supplier (step 001; step
will be abbreviated to S hereinafter). Upon receiving the request
for an estimate, the supplier responds to the request either by
inputting an estimate to the claiming means 2 or by operating to
find an estimate from a pre-registered "estimate list" of the
claiming means 2 (S002). The claiming means 2 creates estimate data
based on the estimate input operation, and sends the estimate data
thus created to the paying means 1 (S003). Details of the estimate
data with regard to its content will be described later.
[0046] The paying means 1 in receipt of the estimate data displays
the content of the estimate (S004). If the buyer accepts the
estimate content displayed on the paying means 1, the buyer makes
an acceptance operation of payment on the paying means 1 (S005).
When there is an acceptance operation of payment by the buyer, the
paying means 1 creates accounting application data and sends it to
the reconciliating means 3 (S006). On the other hand, when there is
no acceptance operation of payment by the buyer, or there is a
rejection operation of payment, the paying means 1 destroys the
estimate data received.
[0047] The accounting application data is the data for applying for
accounting and account reconciliation for the products or services
ordered by the buyer to the supplier, which details will be
described later.
[0048] The reconciliating means 3 in receipt of the accounting
application data from the buyer creates electronic credit data
(simply "credit data" hereinafter) based on the accounting
application data. The reconciliating means 3 then finds the
claiming means 2 which has created the estimation data from a
claiming means ID in the estimation data contained in the
accounting application data, and sends the credit data to the
claiming means 2 involved (S007), and stores the content of the
credit data in the database means 33.
[0049] The credit data is the data which guarantees reconciliation
of accounts by the reconciliating means 3 for the product or
services and which contains information specifying conditions of
transactions on the products or services, details of which will be
described later.
[0050] The claiming means 2 in receipt of the credit data displays
required content on the display means 22 (S008) The supplier then
supplies the products or services to the buyer based on the content
of the credit data displayed (S009).
[0051] Here, in case where the credit data cannot be executed
according to its content due to shortage in inventory, etc., the
claiming means 2 may ask the paying means 1 and/or reconciliating
means 3 for cancellation of the process and either sends executable
estimation data to the paying means 1, or sends only a corrected
portion of the previously select estimation data.
[0052] The data processing means 21 of the claiming means 2 creates
delivery list data for requesting the paying means 1 to issue
acknowledgement data (electronic record) which indicates whether
the transaction satisfied the transaction conditions specified in
the credit data, and thus the buyer. The data processing means 21
then sends the delivery list data to the paying means 1 by the
short-distance communicating means 23 (S010). Details of the
acknowledgement data with regard to its content will be described
later.
[0053] The paying means 1 in receipt of the delivery list data
displays the delivery list on the display means 12 (S011). The
buyer who has received the products or services confirms whether
the content of the products or services matches the content of the
delivery list displayed, and makes an receiving operation on the
paying means 1 for the delivery list data received (S012). The
paying means 1, by this receiving operation, creates
acknowledgement data for the delivery list data and sends it to the
claiming means 2 by the short-distance communicating means 13
(S013).
[0054] The claiming means 2 in receipt of the acknowledgement data
displays an acknowledgement corresponding to the acknowledgement
data to the supplier (S014). When the supplier makes an
acknowledgement acceptance operation by the operating means 25
(S015), the wide area communicating means 24 sends the
acknowledgement data to the reconciliating means 3 (S016). Note
that, the acceptance operation may be omitted.
[0055] The reconciliating means 3 in receipt of the acknowledgement
data compares the transaction content described in the credit data
with the acknowledgement data, and, when predetermined conditions
are met (when the content of the acknowledgement data satisfies the
transactions conditions in the credit data), purchases the
acknowledgement data and the purchase is notified to the claiming
means 2, and pays money of the purchase to the claiming means 2
(S017).
[0056] The claiming means 2, upon confirming purchase and payment
of money by the reconciliating means 3, sends data which
corresponds to a receipt to the reconciliating means 3 (S018). The
reconciliating means 3 then bills the buyer for the payment of the
counter value (S019), and the buyer pays the counter value by a
predetermined payment method, for example, such as transfer to
his/her bank account (S020).
[0057] The following describes processes in the paying means 1 in
detail referring to FIG. 6.
[0058] In the paying means 1, when the buyer makes the estimate
receiving operation by the operating means 16 (S101), the data
processing means 11 operates the short-distance communicating means
13 and waits for the estimate data from the short-distance
communicating means 23 of the claiming means 2 (S102). Note that,
when there is no reception of the estimate data for an extended
period, waiting of estimate data by the operating means 16 may be
interrupted as one can easily imagine and such a process is not
included in the flow. When the estimate data is received (S103),
the data processing means 11 displays the content of the estimate
data received on the display means 12 and aborts the operation of
the short-distance communicating means 13.
[0059] Here, if the operating means 16 makes a rejection operation
of the estimate (S104), the data processing means 11 destroys the
estimate data (S105). On the other hand, if the data processing
means 111 makes an acceptance operation of the estimate (S104), the
data processing means 11, after confirming and setting various
conditions for the buyer by the display means 12 and the operating
means 16, creates accounting application data by a predetermined
procedure (algorithm) (S106).
[0060] Here, the various conditions include effective period of
accounting application, delivery date, delivery method, possibility
of separate delivery, conditions associated with delivery, and due
date of payment from the bank. Note that, there are cases where
these conditions are not set depending on circumstances. These
various conditions are added as additional information to the
accounting application data by the data processing means 11. The
wide area communicating means 14 sends the accounting application
data created to the reconciliating means 3 (S107).
[0061] Note that, the conditions associated with delivery as listed
above include {circle around (1)} setting a level of maintenance
service, {circle around (2)} conditions of sending products one by
one as it becomes available or altogether at once when they become
available, when a plurality of products are to be sent, and {circle
around (3)} whether it is needed to install or set up the products
sent, etc.
[0062] Upon sending the accounting application data by the wide
area communicating means 14, the data processing means 11 operates
the short distance communicating means 13 again and waits for
delivery list data from the short-distance communication means 23
of the claiming means 2 (S108). The delivery list data is the data
without unnecessary part of the estimation data, but is
substantially the same as the estimation data in terms of its
content.
[0063] When the delivery list data is received within a
predetermined time from the time the accounting application data
was sent, the data processing means 11 displays the reception of
the data on the display means 12, and waits for a receiving
operation or non-receiving operation by the operating means 16
(S1111). Note that, the "predetermined time" refers to the time
specified in the accounting application data or time which has been
set beforehand by the paying means 1 in accord with a predetermined
algorithm.
[0064] If the delivery list data was not received within the
predetermined time (S108, S109), or if the non-receiving operation
was carried out after the delivery list data was received (S111),
the data processing means 11 goes to a canceling procedure based on
a predetermined algorithm which is specified in the accounting
application data or which has been set beforehand in the paying
means 1 (S110).
[0065] On the other hand, if the operating means 16 carries out the
receiving operation, the data processing means 11 creates
acknowledgement data (S112), and the short-distance communicating
means 13 sends the acknowledgement data created to the claiming
means (S113). The acknowledgement data contains information of
whether the products or services in the delivery list data were
received by the buyer.
[0066] The following describes processes in the claiming means 2 in
detail referring to FIG. 7.
[0067] In the claiming means 2, when the supplier makes an estimate
input through the operating means 25 in response to the estimate
request from the buyer with regard to the products or services of
interest (S201), the data processing means 21 operates the
short-distance communicating means 23 to send estimate data to the
paying means 1 (S202). Then, the data processing means 21 operates
the wide area communicating means 24 and waits for credit data
which is sent from the reconciliating means 3 (S202, S204).
[0068] If the credit data was received in S203 within a
predetermined time from the time the estimate data was sent, the
data processing means 21 displays various conditions contained in
the credit data on the display means 22, and waits for an
acceptance operation of the supplier through the: operating means
25 (S205). Note that, the predetermined time refers to the time
specified in the estimate data, or time which has been set
beforehand in the claiming means 2 in accord with a predetermined
algorithm. Also, the display means 22 and operating means 25 make
up confirming means for having the supplier confirm the content of
the credit data.
[0069] On the other hand, if there is no acceptance operation, or
there is a rejection operation in S205, or if there is no reception
of the credit data within the predetermined time in S203 and S204,
the data processing means 21 carries out a predetermined exception
process (S206).
[0070] The exception process is the process which is specified in
the estimate data or which has been set beforehand in the claiming
means 2. Specifically, such an exception process includes
destruction of credit data, termination of product or service
supply, and a request for changing conditions for the
reconciliating means 3 or paying means 1.
[0071] If there is an acceptance operation in S205, the data
processing means 21 creates delivery list data by a predetermined
procedure (algorithm) based on the content of the acceptance
operation and/or content of the credit data (S207). The data
processing means 21 then operates the short-distance communicating
means 23 to send the delivery list data created to the paying means
1 (S208).
[0072] Parallel to the transmission of the delivery list data, the
supplier supplies the products or services to the buyer.
[0073] The data processing means 21 continuously operates the
short-distance communicating means 23 and waits for acknowledgement
data from the paying means 1 (S209). The acknowledgement data is
created by the paying means 1 for the products or services supplied
from the supplier to the buyer, and for the reception of the
delivery list data.
[0074] When the acknowledgement data is received within a
predetermined time from the time the delivery list data was sent
(S209, S210), the data processing means 21 aborts the operation of
the short-distance communicating means 23, and displays the content
of the acknowledgement data received on the display means 22. Note
that, the predetermined time refers to the time which is specified
in the credit data, or time which has been set beforehand by a
predetermined algorithm in the claiming means 2.
[0075] When the supplier carries out the process of acknowledgement
acceptance via the operating means 25 (S211), the data processing
means 21 operates the wide area communicating means 24 to send the
acknowledgement data to the reconciliating means 3 (S212). Then,
the data processing means 21, upon confirmation of purchase of the
acknowledgement corresponding to the acknowledgement data by the
reconciliating means 3 (S213), operates the wide area communicating
means 24 to send data corresponding to a receipt to the
reconciliating means 3 (S215). Note that, the purchase confirmation
can be effectuated by checking whether money has been transferred
by the reconciliating means 3, for example, to the bank account
specified by the supplier.
[0076] On the other hand, when there is no reception of
acknowledgement data within the predetermined time in S209 and
S210, in the event where there was no process of acknowledgement
acceptance in S211 or there was no confirmation of acknowledgement
purchase by the reconciliating means 3 in S213, the exception
process is carried out In S214 in accord with a predetermined
algorithm which is specified in the credit data or which is set
beforehand in the claiming means 2.
[0077] The following describes an example of the exception process
in S214.
[0078] {circle around (1)} The case where the acknowledgement data
was not received within the predetermined time in S210.
[0079] First, each means and communication paths are checked for
error or trouble. If no error is found, the data processing means
21 requests the paying means 1 to send the acknowledgement data
again. If the buyer does not respond via the paying means 1 to the
request for re-transmission of the acknowledgement data while the
delivery content of the products, etc., does not have any problem,
the data processing means 21 requests, as an exceptional measure,
the reconciliating means 3 for the pre-payment of the products
supplied to the buyer so as to redeem money. Then, mediation which
might follow may be conducted between the administrator of the
reconciliating means 3 and the buyer, or, alternatively, by
directly contacting the buyer from the supplier.
[0080] Further, if it is the buyer's fault, the data processing
means 21 may ask the reconciliating means 3 to take a punitive
measure against the buyer, which prevents future services to the
buyer even when the buyer makes another accounting application via
the paying means 1. On the other hand, if it is the supplier's
fault, the data processing means 21 may cancel the contract with
the supplier in the present system.
[0081] {circle around (2)} The case where the acknowledgement data
was not accepted in S211.
[0082] In case where the acknowledgement data received was broken,
each means and communication paths are checked for error or
trouble. If no error is found, the data processing means 21
requests the paying means 1 for re-transmission of the
acknowledgement data. Further, in case where the buyer has
manipulated the acknowledgement data while no error or trouble is
found in each means or communication paths and the delivery content
of the products, etc., does not have any problem, the data
processing means 21 requests, as an exception measure, the
reconciliating means 3 for the pre-payment of the products supplied
to the buyer so as to redeem money. Then, mediation which might
follow may be conducted between the administrator of the
reconciliating means 3 and the buyer, or, alternatively, by
directly contacting the buyer from the supplier.
[0083] If it is the buyer's or supplier's fault as above, the same
processes as described above may be carried out.
[0084] {circle around (3)} The case where purchase confirmation
failed in S213.
[0085] When there was no purchase, the supplier asks the
reconciliating means 3 for the reason of no purchase. If It was
found that the acknowledgement data sent to the reconciliating
means 3 was broken, the data processing means 21 re-transmits the
acknowledgement data to the reconciliating means 3. Further, in
case where the contract, for example, between the administrator of
the reconciliating means 3 and the supplier has been terminated,
any suitable measure for the re-contract is taken.
[0086] The following describes processes in the reconciliating
means 3 referring to FIG. 8.
[0087] In the reconciliating means 3, when the first wide area
communicating means 34 receives the accounting application data
which is sent from the paying means 1 (S301), the data processing
means 31 compares the content of the accounting application data
received, account balance al the buyer, upper limit of purchase per
month, and upper limit of money which can be paid by single
reconciliating, and if they do not have any problem, creates credit
data based on the accounting application data received (S302). Note
that, the upper limit of payment may be decided for each supplier.
The data processing means 31 then operates the second wide area
communicating means 35 to send the credit data to the claiming
means 2 involved (S303).
[0088] The credit data, being so central to the transaction, is
created by collating it with data stored in the database means 33
while paying extra caution when specifying the paying means 1 and
claiming means 2. With regard to various conditions specified in
the credit data, such as transaction conditions like delivery date
of products, delivery method, possibility of separate delivery, and
other conditions associated with delivery, and such as purchase
conditions like price of acknowledgement data, can be set or
changed as required in accord with a predetermined algorithm, or by
the operating means 36. Additionally, the content of the credit
data is stored in the database means 33.
[0089] After sending the credit data to the claiming means 2, the
delivery list data and acknowledgement data are transmitted between
the paying means 1 and claiming means 2. Then, when the
acknowledgement data from the claiming means 2 is received by the
second wide area communicating means 35 within a predetermined time
after sending the credit data to the claiming means 2 (S304), the
data processing means 31 compares the content of the corresponding
credit data stored in the database means 33 with the content of the
acknowledgement data received, in accord with a predetermined
procedure (S306). Note that, the predetermined time is the time
which is specified in the credit data, or time which has been set
beforehand in the reconciliating means 3 in accord with a
predetermined algorism.
[0090] If the acknowledgement data was authenticated in S306 (when
the content of supplied products or services contained in the
acknowledgement data satisfies transaction conditions contained in
the credit data), the data processing means 31 purchases the
acknowledgement at the price which was set in the credit data
(S308). On the other hand, if there is no reception of the
acknowledgement data within the predetermined time (S304, S305), or
if the acknowledgement data was not authenticated in S306, an
exception process is carried out based on a predetermined algorithm
which is specified in the credit data or which has been set
beforehand in the reconciliating means 3 (S307).
[0091] Note that, the exception process of S307 is basically the
same as the exception process in S214. That is, when there is no
trouble in each means and communication paths upon checking,
mediation is suitably carried out between the parties of interest.
The exception processes in S312 and S316 described below are
basically also the same as above.
[0092] When there is reception of data which corresponds to a
receipt by the claiming means 2 within a predetermined time from
the purchase of the acknowledgement by the reconciliating means 3
in S308 (S309), the data processing means 31 checks the content of
the receipt for error (S311). Note that, the predetermined time
refers to the time which is specified in the credit data, or time
which has been set beforehand in the reconciliating means 3 in
accord with a predetermined algorithm. If the content of the
receipt is correct, the data processing means 31 bills the buyer
for the payment of the counter value in the transaction at the
timing which is specified in the credit data, or the timing which
has been set beforehand in the reconciliating means 3 in accord
with a predetermined algorithm (S313).
[0093] On the other hand when there is no reception of data which
corresponds to a receipt from the claiming means 2 within the
predetermined time from the purchase of the acknowledgment by the
reconciliating means 3 In S308 (S309, S310), or when an error is
found in S311 in the receipt data received, the data processing
means 31 carries out an exception process which is specified in the
credit data, or which has been set beforehand in the reconciliating
means 3 in accord with a predetermined algorithm (S312).
[0094] The transaction process is finished upon confirmation of the
payment of the counter value within a predetermined time in S314
after billing the buyer for the payment of the counter value in
S313. Note that, the predetermined time refers to the time which is
specified in the credit data, or time which has been set beforehand
in the reconciliating means 3 in accord with a predetermined
algorithm. On the other hand, when there is no confirmation of the
payment of the counter value within the predetermined time (S314,
S315), a predetermined exception process which is specified in the
credit data, or which has been set beforehand in the reconciliating
means 3 is carried out (S316).
[0095] The following describes data structures of the estimate
data, accounting application data, credit data, and acknowledgement
data in this order.
[0096] FIG. 9 shows one content example of the estimate data. The
estimate data is chiefly made up of information such as estimate ID
41, claiming means ID 42, supplier Information 43, estimate due
information 44, payment information 45, transaction conditions 46,
product information 47, total amount 48, and additional information
49.
[0097] The estimate ID 41 is the ID for identifying each estimate
data. The claiming means ID 42 is the ID for identifying the
claiming means 2 which has transferred the estimate data to the
paying means 1. The supplier information 43 includes a supplier ID
for identifying the supplier who has created the estimate, and the
name, address, and phone number of the supplier. The estimate due
information 44 is the information which relates to an estimate date
and effective period of the estimate.
[0098] The payment information 45 includes information of payment
due and payment options. The payment due specifies the time period
from the supply of products or services to the completion of
payment. The payment options include possibility of payment in
installments or the number of in statements.
[0099] The transaction conditions 46 include information offering
an option of shipping or supplying products or services at once,
information offering an option of shipping or supplying products or
services separately, information offering options when shipping or
supplying products or services separately (how the plurality of
products or services should be shipped or supplied separately to
the buyer), and information which relates to delivery of products
or services, as well as information which specifies processes in
case where the delivery failed.
[0100] The transaction conditions 46 also include information which
specifies a usual payment method of the counter value, and an
alternate payment method in replacement of the usual payment
method. The usual payment method of the counter value, for example,
is the method by money transfer to or payment from a bank account,
and the alternate payment method is the method by a credit card,
for example. The transaction conditions 46 further include
information which specifies the option of choosing a credit card
which can be used.
[0101] The data processing means 11 of the paying means 1 asks the
buyer via the display means 12 to confirm whether the payment of
the counter value is to be made by the alternate method in case
where the payment of the counter value by the usual payment method
fails due to trouble in the present system, thereby ensuring
transactions even in case of an unexpected trouble in the present
system.
[0102] The product information 47 is the information which relates
to a product ID for identifying the products or services to be
supplied, a product name (service name), and the unit price and
number of products or services to be supplied. These information
relating to products or services is managed in the form of a list
for each product or service supplied. The total amount 48 indicates
the total amount of the estimate.
[0103] The additional information 49 is the information which is
added to the estimate data as required, and it includes, for
example, due information and process information. The due
information is the information which specifies the time period from
the transmission of the estimate data to the paying means 1 by the
claiming means 2 to the reception of the credit data from the
reconciliating means 3. The process information specifies the
exception process in S206 of FIG. 7.
[0104] The following describes the accounting application data.
FIG. 10 shows a content example of the accounting application data.
The accounting application data is chiefly made up of Information
such as accounting application ID 51, paying means ID 52, buyer ID
53, buyer information 54, accounting application date 55, repeated
usage conditions 56, estimate data 57, and additional information
58.
[0105] The accounting application ID 51 is the ID for identifying
the accounting application data. The paying means ID 52 is the ID
for identifying the paying means 1 which has made accounting
application. The buyer ID 53 is the ID for identifying the buyer
who has agreed to the estimate content and accepted payment. The
buyer information 54 is the information which is added to the
accounting application data in case where the buyer does not
respect for secrecy, which includes, for example, name, address,
and phone number of the buyer. The accounting application date 55
is the date the accounting application data was created.
[0106] The repeated usage conditions 56 is the information which
relates to repeated usage conditions such as setting whether to use
the same accounting application data repeatedly for a predetermined
number of times as credited data, in the case where similar
transactions are expected in the future, and setting of the number
of predetermined times.
[0107] The estimate data 57 is the estimate data described above,
in which payment options are selected or indicated by the buyer as
required. Thus, the accounting application data includes the
estimate data sent from the claiming means 2.
[0108] The additional information 58 in the information which is
added as required to the accounting application data, and it
includes, for example, due information and process information. The
due information is the information which specifies the time period
from the transmission of the accounting application data to the
reconciliating means 3 by the paying means 1 to the reception of
the delivery list data by the claiming means 2. The process
information relates to processes of a cancelling procedure of
products or services purchased.
[0109] The following describes the credit data. FIG. 11 shows a
content example of the credit data. The credit data is chiefly made
up of information such as credit ID 61, reconciliating means ID 62,
reconciliating system information 63, credit data created date 64,
accounting application data 65, and additional Information 66.
[0110] The credit ID 61 is the ID for identifying the credit data.
The reconciliating means ID 62 is the ID for identifying the
reconciliating means 3 which issues the credit data. The
reconciliating system information 63 is the information which
relates to location or emergency address of the system (e.g.,
claiming means 2 and reconciliating means 3) in case of trouble
such as system failure. The credit data created data 64 is the
information which relates to the date the reconciliating means 3
created the credit data. The accounting application data 65 is the
accounting application data which includes a request for data in
reconciliation, addition or change of reconciliating conditions,
and selection or indication of options, all made by the
reconciliating means 3 as required based on a predetermined
algorism.
[0111] The additional information 66 is the information which is
added as required to the credit data, and it includes, for example,
process information, transaction conditions, and due information.
The process information specifies each of the exception processes
in S214 of FIG. 7, S307, S312, and S316 of FIG. 8. The transaction
conditions are the information of purchase conditions as described,
such as delivery of products, delivery method, possibility of
separate delivery, conditions associated with delivery, and price
of the acknowledgement.
[0112] The due information includes, along with other information,
{circle around (1)} information which specifies the time period
from the transmission of the delivery list data to the paying means
1 to the reception of the acknowledgement data in the claiming
means 2, {circle around (2)} information which specifies the time
period from the transmission of the credit data to the claiming
means 2 to the reception of the acknowledgement data in the
reconciliating means 3, {circle around (3)} information which
specifies the time period from the purchase of the acknowledgement
to the reception of data which corresponds to a receipt In the
reconciliation means 3, and {circle around (4)} information which
specifies the time period from the billing of the counter value to
the buyer to the payment of the counter value, and which specifies
the timing of billing the counter value payment in the reconciling
means 3.
[0113] The following describes the acknowledgement data. FIG. 12
shows a content example of the acknowledgement data. The
acknowledgement data is chiefly made up of information such as
acknowledgement ID 71, paying means ID 72, buyer ID 73, buyer
information 74, acknowledgement data created date 75, credit ID 76,
and data specified in credit data 77.
[0114] The acknowledgement ID 71 is the ID for identifying the
acknowledgement data. The paying means ID 72 is the ID for
identifying the paying means 1 which has created the
acknowledgement data. The buyer ID 73 is the ID for identifying the
buyer who has operated the paying means 1. The buyer information 74
is the information added to the acknowledgement data in case where
the buyer does not request for secrecy, which includes, for
example, name, address, and phone number of the buyer.
[0115] The acknowledgement data created date 75 is the information
which indicates the date the paying means 1 created the
acknowledgement data. The credit ID 76 is the ID for identifying
the credit data which corresponds to the acknowledgement data.
[0116] The data specified in credit data 77 is the information for
specifying a verification level of the buyer. In the case where the
verifying function of the paying means 1 includes a plurality of
verifying means such as verification at a terminal level by a
secret key or verification utilizing a finger print or retina, the
buyer is verified by the specified verification level. For example,
when supplying respectively expensive products, a higher
verification level is specified.
[0117] The present embodiment adopts a so-called "post-payment
method" in which the buyer makes payment after receiving products.
In this case, if it is certain that products or services will be
supplied to the buyer, the steps of S010 through S016 in FIG. 5 may
be omitted.
[0118] Note that, the reliability of each data in the foregoing
communications and the reliability of communications itself can be
improved by suitably following the procedure of a well-known
symmetric key cryptographic system, public key cryptographic
system, and common electronic signature by hash function. Thus, in
this case, as shown in FIG. 13, the paying means 1, claiming means
2, and reconciliating means 3 may be structured to communicate each
other on the Internet. In the present embodiment, the wide area
network to which the paying means is connected and the wide area
network to which the claiming means is connected are realized by
separate networks of the private network and the Internet network.
However, evidently, these networks may be realized collectively by
the Internet network, or by the private network, as shown in the
structure of FIG. 13.
[0119] Further, the reconciliating means 3 may be realized, for
example, by a terminal placed in retailers such as convenience
stores so as to allow the buyer to carry out the procedure of
counter value payment in S020 of FIG. 5 through such terminal,
thereby realizing easy payment by cash.
[0120] Further when the buyer and the supplier remain unchanged and
the same transaction is repeated, the data processing means 31 of
the reconciliating means 3 may use the same credit data. In this
case, a procedure of inputting information distinct to the buyer
and the supplier, such as ID, name, address, or a procedure of
claiming new credit data can be omitted. Note that, in this case,
the credit ID 61 and the credit data created date 64 are not
changed either, and the credit data is used repeatedly.
[0121] In the present embodiment, the buyer and the person to which
products or services are supplied are identical. However, products
or services can easily sent to a third person by specifying the
recipient of the products or services, or the paying means 1 of the
recipient in the accounting application data.
[0122] As described, in the present invention, the reconciliating
means 3 creates credit data which guarantees account reconciliation
of transactions by the reconciliating means 3, and transactions and
account reconciliation of products or services are carried out
based on this credit data, making it possible to make transactions
and account reconciliation even when a buyer does not have a credit
card which guarantees the identity and credit of the buyer.
Therefore, transactions and account reconciliation are ensured
without requiring the buyer to have a credit card.
[0123] Further, from the suppliers' stand point, account
reconciliation of orders from a buyer whose identity and credit are
unknown are guaranteed by the reconciliating means 3 which issues
credit data, thereby allowing the suppliers to supply products or
services with confidence. Further, unlike account reconciliation by
a credit card where redemption of the counter value for the
supplied products or services takes a month or so, by the system
where the reconciliating means 3 purchases an acknowledgement,
redemption of money can be made instantly, making it possible to
hedge various risks.
[0124] Further, from the buyers' stand point, by specifying
conditions such as a request for certifying quality or quantity of
products or services, or due date of delivery In the data of credit
data, the buyer can receive products or services without errors and
with confidence in the transaction.
Second Embodiment
[0125] The following will describe another embodiment of the
present invention referring to the attached drawing. Note that,
those elements having the same arrangements as those described in
the First Embodiment are given the same reference numerals and
explanations thereof are omitted here.
[0126] The present embodiment relates to transactions wherein no
communication is established between the buyer and the supplier.
Thus, the paying means 1 of FIG. 2, the claiming means 2 of FIG. 3,
and the reconciling means 3 of FIG. 4 are not provided with the
short-distance communicating means 13, the short-distance
communicating means 23, and the second wide area communicating
means 35, respectively. Instead, the wide area communicating means
14 and 24 of FIGS. 2 and 3, and the first wide area communicating
means 34 of FIG. 4 are realized by Internet connecting means 17
(first communicating means), Internet connecting means 26 (second
communicating means), and Internet connecting means 37 (third
connecting means) which are capable of wireless or wired
communications. FIG. 14, FIG. 15, and FIG. 16 show respective
structures of paying means 1, claiming means 2, and reconciling
means 3, respectively, of the present embodiment. Further, the
entire system structure is as shown in FIG. 13, which, however, is
different from the First Embodiment in terms of the way processes
are carried out. The following will describe the processes in an
accounting and account reconciliating system of the present
embodiment referring to FIG. 17.
[0127] FIG. 17 shows a process flow of transactions wherein
purchase by a buyer is arbitrated by the reconciliating means 3
while no communication is established between the buyer and the
supplier.
[0128] First, the buyer indicates products or services of his wants
and sends a request for an estimate to the supplier (S901). Upon
receiving the request for an estimate, the supplier responds to the
request either by Inputting an estimate to the claiming means 2 or
by operating to find an estimate from a pie-registered "estimate
list" of the claiming means 2 (S902). The claiming means 2 creates
estimate data based on the estimate input operation, and sends the
estimate data thus created to the paying means 1 (S903).
[0129] The paying means 1 in receipt of the estimate data displays
the content of the estimate (S904). If the buyer accepts the
estimate content displayed on the paying means 1, the buyer makes
an acceptance operation of payment on the paying means 1 (S905).
When there is an acceptance operation of payment by the buyer, the
paying means 1 creates accounting application data and sends it to
the reconciliating means 3 (S906). On the other hand, when there is
no acceptance operation of payment by the buyer, or there is a
rejection operation of payment, the paying means 1 destroys the
estimate data received.
[0130] The data processing means 31 of the reconciliating means 3
in receipt of the accounting application data from the buyer via
the Internet connecting means 37 creates credit data based on the
accounting application data. The reconciliating means 3 then finds
the claiming means 2 which has created the estimation data from a
claiming means ID in the estimation data contained in the
accounting application data, and sends the credit data to the
claiming means 2 involved (S907), and stores the content of the
credit data in the database means 33.
[0131] In this case, the data processing means 31 constitutes
credit data creating means which receives the accounting
application data via the Internet connecting means, creates the
credit data based on the accounting application data received, and
sends the credit data created to the claiming means 2 via the
Internet connecting means, where the credit data is the data which
guarantees account reconciliation of the products or services by
the reconciliating means 3 and contains information which specifies
transaction conditions of the products or services.
[0132] The data processing means 21 of the claiming means 2 in
receipt of the credit data via the Internet connecting means 26
displays required content on the display means 22 (S908). The
supplier then supplies the products or services to the
reconciliating means 3 based on the content of the credit data
displayed (S909).
[0133] In this case, the data processing means 21 constitutes
product supply promoting means which receives via the Internet
connecting means the credit data sent from the reconciliating means
3, and promotes the supplier to supply to the reconciliating means
3 products or services which satisfy the transaction conditions of
the credit data received.
[0134] The data processing means 31 of the reconciliating means 3
checks for any conflict between content of the products or service
is supplied to the buyer and the content of the credit data, and
when there is no conflict, makes payment of money for the products
or services supplied to the claiming means 2 (S910). The claiming
means 2 in receipt of money sends data which corresponds to a
receipt of the payment to the reconciliating means 3 (S911).
[0135] Parallel to the processes in S910 and S911, the data
processing means 31 of the reconciliating means 3 creates delivery
list data based on the content of the products or services supplied
by the supplier and sends the delivery list data created to the
paying means 1 (S912).
[0136] In this case the data processing means 31 constitutes
delivery list creating means which, when received from the supplier
products or services which are based on the content of the credit
data and when the content of the products or services satisfy the
transaction conditions in the credit data, makes payment for the
products or services to the claiming means 2, creates delivery list
data which indicates supply content of the products or services,
and sends the delivery list created to the paying means 1.
[0137] The paying means 1 in receipt of the delivery list data from
the reconciliating means 3 displays a delivery list by the display
means 12 (S913). When the paying means 1 makes an acceptance
operation of the buyer with respect to the delivery list by the
operating means 16 (S914), the data processing means 11 of the
paying means 1 creates acceptance data based on the delivery list
and sends the acceptance data created to the reconciliating means 3
(S915).
[0138] Here, in the case where the paying means 1 does not receive
the delivery list data for an extended period of time, the data
processing means 11 of the paying means 1 makes an inquiry to the
reconciliating means 3. In the event where the delivery list data
is broken and the products or services have been supplied to the
reconciliating means 3 by the supplier, the data processing means
11 may create a special acceptance data based on the accounting
application data and send it to the reconciliating means 3 so that
the buyer can receive the products or services from the
reconciliating means 3.
[0139] The data processing means 31 of the reconciliating means 3
in receipt of the acceptance data supplies the products or services
supplied by the supplier to the buyer (S916). Then, the
reconciliating means 3 claims the buyer for the payment of the
counter value (S917), and the buyer pays the counter value to the
reconciliating means 3 (S918). The payment of counter value in S918
may be made by automatic withdrawal of money from the buyer's bank
account.
[0140] In this case, the data processing means 31 constitutes
counter value claiming means which, when received the acceptance
data for the delivery list from the paying means 1, supplies the
products or services supplied by the claiming means 2 to the buyer,
and claims the buyer for the payment of the counter value of the
products or services so as to redeem the counter value.
[0141] Note that, if it is certain that the buyer will be correctly
recognized by the reconciliating means 3, the processes in S912
through S915 in the present embodiment may be omitted.
[0142] As described, as in the First Embodiment, the reconciliating
means 3 creates credit data which guarantees account reconciliation
of transactions by the reconciliating means 3, and transactions and
account reconciliation of the products or services are carried out
based on the credit data, allowing the buyer to make transactions
and account reconciliation without a credit card which guarantees
his identity and credit. Further, since the reconciliating means
guarantees account reconciliation of transactions even for orders
of products or services from a buyer whose credit is questionable,
the supplier can supply products or services with confidence, as
with the effects in the First Embodiment.
[0143] Further, in addition to the effects of the First Embodiment,
the following effect is obtained. In the case where, for example,
the reconciling means 3 has a nation-wide distributing system (may
be a network when products are electronic data), while delivery may
be made from the supplier to the nearest reconciling means 3, it
may take time to transfer products or services to the buyer. Even
in such a case, the supplier can quickly redeem a counter value for
the delivered content.
[0144] The accounting and account reconciliating system in
accordance with the present invention may have an arrangement
including portable paying means which includes first communicating
means, reconciliating means which includes second communicating
means, and claiming means which includes third communicating means,
wherein the paying means creates accounting application data and
sends the accounting application data created to the reconciliating
means via the first communicating means, and the reconciliating
means creates electronic credit data based on the accounting
application data sent from the paying means and sends the
electronic credit data created to the claiming means via the second
communicating means, and the claiming means creates electronic
record data which satisfies conditions specified by the electronic
credit data sent from the reconciliating means and returns the
electronic record data back to the reconciliating means via the
third communicating means, and the reconciliating means, upon
confirmation that the electronic record data returned from the
claiming means satisfies the content contained in the electronic
credit data which was sent before, purchases the electronic record
data from the claiming means, and thereafter bills the user for the
payment of the counter value so as to redeem money.
[0145] With this arrangement, the supplier can claim redemption of
money for the supplied of products or services instantly, unlike
account reconciliation by a credit card which takes time.
[0146] Further, the accounting and account reconciliating system in
accordance with the present invention may have an arrangement in
which the paying means obtains data which is associated with
accounting via communications from the claiming means when creating
the accounting application data.
[0147] Also, the accounting and account reconciliating system in
accordance with the present invention may have an arrangement in
which the claiming means obtains data which is associated with the
record via communications from the paying means when creating the
electronic record data.
[0148] With these arrangements, it is ensured that the buyer
receives the products or services for the payment.
[0149] Further, the accounting and account reconciliating system in
accordance with the present invention may have an arrangement which
specifies effective period of accounting application, delivery
date, delivery method, possibility of separate delivery, conditions
associated with delivery, or due date of payment from a bank, as
the content of the accounting application data which is created in
the paying means.
[0150] With this arrangement, the buyer has the option of choosing
a transaction content which suits him/her.
[0151] Further, the accounting and account reconciliating system in
accordance with the present invention may have an arrangement in
which the reconciliating means specifies delivery date, delivery
method, possibility of separate delivery, conditions associated
with delivery, or conditions which relates to purchase of the
electronic record data from the claiming means.
[0152] With this arrangement, it is possible to set suitable
transaction conditions in the reconciliating means according to a
paying ability of the buyer or credibility of the paying ability as
judged by the supplier. Note that, the paying ability may be
associated with, for example, the balance of the buyer's account
designated by the buyer at the time of the payment.
[0153] Further, the accounting and account reconciliating system in
accordance with the present invention may have an arrangement in
which the paying means asks the buyer to confirm whether to use a
credit card for the payment of the counter value in either of the
paying means, claiming means, and reconciliating means in case of a
problem in paying ability of the buyer or credibility of the paying
ability as judged by the supplier, or in case of a technical
trouble.
[0154] With this arrangement, transactions are ensured even in case
where there is a problem in paying ability of the buyer or
credibility of the paying ability as judged by the supplier, or in
case of technical troubles in the system.
[0155] Further, the accounting and accounting reconciliating system
in accordance with the present invention may have an arrangement in
which, when the supplier cannot accept the conditions contained in
the received electronic credit data from the reconciliating means,
the claiming means either sends a request to the reconciliating
means to change the conditions, or reject the electronic credit
data.
[0156] With this arrangement, the supplier will not be forced by
the buyer or the conditions set in the reconciliating means to
engage in transactions which are disadvantageous to the
supplier.
[0157] Further, the accounting and account reconciliating system in
accordance with the present invention may have an arrangement in
which the same credit data is used repeatedly for several times in
the case where the user (buyer) and the supplier remain
unchanged.
[0158] With this arrangement, when repeating similar transactions,
it is possible to save communication expense and omit extra
processes.
[0159] Further, an accounting reconciliation server in accordance
with the present invention may have an arrangement which receives
via communicating means accounting application data created in the
paying means, and creates electronic credit data based on the
accounting application data received, and sends the electronic
credit data created to the claiming means via the communicating
means, and when received from the supplier products or services
which are based on the content of the electronic credit data and
when the content satisfies conditions in the electronic credit
data, pays a counter value of the products or services to the
claiming means, and creates delivery list data which indicates
supply content of the products or services, and sends the delivery
list data created to the paying means, and when received acceptance
data from the paying means, supplies to the buyer the products or
services supplied by the supplier, and claims the buyer for the
payment of the counter value of the products or services so as to
redeem the counter value.
[0160] Note that, Domestic Re-Application of PCT International
Publication No. WO99/09502 (published date: Mar. 14, 2000;
International Publication Date: Feb. 25, 1999) discloses an account
reconciliating method in which electronic values are accumulated in
a cellular phone in the form of a pre-paid card. However, in this
system, account reconciliation is made by downloading electronic
values onto a value card program, which is fundamentally different
from the account reconciliating method of the present:
invention.
[0161] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that
the same way may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to
be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the
invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one
skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of
the following claims.
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