Electronic money service system and electronic money payment method

Abstract

The present invention pertains to an electronic money settlement method that is realized by an electronic money business operator system that provides an electronic money service. The method includes: managing, in an associated manner for each user who uses an electronic money service, an electronic money account of the user and a deposit account of the user; virtually setting the balance of the electronic money account so as to be synchronized with the balance of the deposit account; and making a request to a financial institution system for a remittance process such that an amount for settlement is, in response to the settlement using the electronic money, directly remitted from the deposit account associated with the electronic money account to a deposit account, at a financial institution, of a money recipient who is to receive the amount through the settlement.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic money service system (electronic money settlement system) and an electronic money settlement method.

Background Art

[0002] Currently, various electronic payment means (sometimes referred to as "cashless payment means") are widespread. For example, a credit card is a post-payment type of electronic payment means. A user has the credit card company pay the price of goods, etc. at a franchise store (retail store) on their behalf, and later pays the price by having the amount withdrawn from the deposit in their own deposit account according to the bill from the credit card company. Usually, for the use of a credit card, a certain level of credit is required from the user, so the credit card company sets a usage limit corresponding to the credit extension (credit granting) to the user through a prior review.

[0003] On the other hand, electronic money is a pre-payment type of electronic payment means. A user first converts electronic monetary value information (for example, referred to as "points" or "value") into a physical or electronic card ("prepaid card") in exchange for cash in advance (referred to as "charging"), and pays the price of goods, etc. from the monetary value information embodied in the prepaid card at the time of settlement at a franchise store. The electronic money operator that provides the electronic money service later aggregates the prices for each franchise store and pays the franchise stores. An "electronic money account" is associated with the prepaid card, and the monetary value information corresponding to the amount charged is recorded in the electronic money account. Also, at the time of charging, withdrawal from the deposit in the deposit account or payment by credit card can be selected. [[ID=ip="18]]

[0004] Debit cards are electronic payment methods that allow for immediate settlement from funds in a deposit account. In Japan, they are known as "J-Debit." With debit cards, at the time of payment, an amount equivalent to the price of the goods or services is immediately deducted from the user's deposit account to secure a credit limit. This amount is temporarily accounted for in a temporary account at the bank, and the bank settles the transaction with the merchant at a later date.

[0005] The electronic payment methods such as electronic money mentioned above can be understood as the transfer of funds via a deposit account and / or electronic money account. For example, in the case of electronic money, funds withdrawn from the user's deposit account are deposited into the electronic money account, and when payment for goods, etc., is made using electronic money at a participating store, the equivalent amount of monetary value information is deducted from the electronic money account, and at a later date, the payment (usually with a fee deducted, but this is omitted here) is deposited from the electronic money provider's deposit account into the participating store's deposit account.

[0006] For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a deposit system configured to enable withdrawals using a card that has a receiving ID usable only for receiving payments and a spending ID usable for spending payments, by having a card that enables secure receiving payments by having a receiving ID usable only for receiving payments and a spending ID usable for spending payments. When a bank account management server device that manages bank accounts for deposits receives remittance request information including the receiving ID and the remitter ID, it executes a remittance process to the account of the card management company, and accordingly changes the card's spending limit as appropriate, thereby enabling withdrawals using the card with the spending ID.

[0007] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 below discloses technology for providing a highly convenient fund transfer service for users. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] WO2013 / 186931 publication [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-26776 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] In a remittance process using a system like the one described in Patent Document 1 above, the initial deposit by the remitter for the remittance request and the withdrawal of the received amount by the recipient require procedures through a financial institution such as a bank.

[0010] Therefore, when users use electronic money services provided by electronic money service providers, they must first transfer funds from their bank deposit account to their electronic money account with the electronic money service provider, which presents a cumbersome problem for users.

[0011] Furthermore, in Japan, electronic money is subject to the restrictions of the Payment Services Act. Under the Payment Services Act, unless the entire amount of funds is withdrawn from a user's electronic money account and deposited into a bank account, the balance in the electronic money account is considered to be stagnant funds (unpaid debt) in the process of transferring funds. In such cases, the fund transfer business operator (i.e., the electronic money business operator) is obligated to deposit an amount equal to or greater than the stagnant funds with a depositary to protect the user's assets. Therefore, in the system shown in Patent Document 1, unless the recipient withdraws funds from their account within the card management company, the card management company is required to deposit an amount equivalent to the balance in the recipient's account in accordance with the Payment Services Act, which presents a significant financial burden for the card management company.

[0012] Furthermore, when paying for goods and services using electronic money, from the user's perspective, the monetary value information is immediately deducted from their electronic money account. However, from the merchant's perspective, the amount equivalent to the payment is deposited into their bank account, for example, the following month, according to the merchant agreement. Therefore, for the merchant (recipient), the payment is uncollected at the time of sale, leading to an increase in accounts receivable and significantly impacting the merchant's cash flow.

[0013] Therefore, the present invention aims to realize an electronic money service that is highly convenient for users, merchants, and electronic money service providers.

[0014] More specifically, one of the objectives of the present invention is to provide an electronic money payment scheme that eliminates the hassle of users depositing funds into their electronic money accounts.

[0015] Another objective of the present invention is to provide an electronic money payment scheme that enables the immediate deposit of an amount equivalent to the monetary value information deducted from the user's electronic money account into the merchant's deposit account in electronic money payments.

[0016] Furthermore, one of the objectives of the present invention is to provide an electronic money payment scheme that, under the Payment Services Act, can free electronic money operators from the obligation to make deposits that depend on the balance of electronic money accounts.

[0017] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a new electronic money payment scheme that combines the convenience of a post-payment electronic payment method such as a credit card. [Means for solving the problem]

[0018] The present invention, which solves the above problems, comprises the following inventive features or technical characteristics. The present invention can be understood as an invention relating to a product (apparatus, system, or computer program), or as an invention relating to a method.

[0019] According to one aspect, the present invention is an electronic money settlement method realized by an electronic money business operator system that provides electronic money services. The electronic money settlement method includes the electronic money business operator system associating and managing the electronic money account of a user with the user's deposit account for each user who uses the electronic money service, virtually setting the balance of the electronic money account so as to be linked to the balance of the deposit account, and requesting a fund transfer process to a financial institution system so that, in response to a settlement by electronic money, the amount for the settlement is directly transferred from the deposit account associated with the electronic money account to the deposit account of the recipient's financial institution that should receive the amount by the settlement.

[0020] The virtual setting includes virtually setting the balance of the user's electronic money account based on the balance of the deposit account obtained by inquiring about the balance of the user's deposit account to the financial institution system.

[0021] Also, the virtual setting includes inquiring about the balance of the user's deposit account when there is communication from an electronic money application on the user's information communication terminal device.

[0022] The method further includes the electronic money business operator system receiving a settlement approval request from a settlement terminal device in a settlement by electronic money and transmitting a settlement approval indicating approval of the settlement to the settlement terminal device based on the balance of the electronic money account.

[0023] Requesting the fund transfer process includes transmitting a fund transfer request to the financial institution based on the settlement approval.

[0024] The method further includes the electronic money business operator system reducing the balance of the electronic money account according to the amount for the settlement.

[0025] Further, when the electronic money operator system receives a remittance completion notice indicating that the financial institution has completed the remittance process, the method further includes verifying whether the balance after the reduction of the electronic money account matches the balance of the deposit account based on the remittance completion notice.

[0026] From another aspect, the present invention is an electronic money settlement method realized by an electronic money operator system that provides an electronic money service. The electronic money operator system manages by associating an electronic money account of a user with at least one other account other than the electronic money account for each user who uses the electronic money service, and virtually sets the balance of the electronic money account based on the balance of the other account.

[0027] Here, the other account is at least one of the user's deposit account and credit card account.

[0028] Further, the virtual setting of the balance includes virtually setting the balance based on the balance of the deposit account and the available credit balance of the credit card account.

[0029] Further, the virtual setting of the balance includes virtually setting the balance so as to be linked to the change in the balance of the deposit account.

[0030] Further, the virtual setting of the balance includes virtually setting the balance so as to be linked to the change in the available credit balance of the credit card account.

[0031] Further, the virtual setting of the balance includes the electronic money operator system setting the balance of the electronic money account based on a credit limit setting request transmitted from an electronic money application on the user's information communication terminal device.

[0032] The aforementioned credit limit setting request is created based on a credit limit approval that indicates approval of the credit limit in response to a credit limit approval request sent to the credit card business operator by the electronic money application.

[0033] Furthermore, the present invention, in yet another view, is an electronic money service provider system that provides electronic money services. The system includes means for managing, for each user who uses the electronic money service, an electronic money account of the user and a deposit account of the user; means for virtually setting the balance of the electronic money account in conjunction with the balance of the deposit account; and means for requesting a financial institution system to process a transfer so that, in response to a payment made by electronic money, the amount for the payment is directly transferred from the deposit account associated with the electronic money account to the deposit account of the recipient at the financial institution who is to receive the amount through the payment.

[0034] In this disclosure, "means" does not merely mean physical means, but also includes cases where the functions of those means are realized by software. Furthermore, the functions of one means may be realized by two or more physical means, or the functions of two or more means may be realized by one physical means.

[0035] Furthermore, in this disclosure, "system" includes a logical collection of multiple devices (or functional modules that perform a specific function), regardless of whether each device or functional module is physically a single entity or separate entities. [Effects of the Invention]

[0036] According to the present invention, a highly convenient electronic money service is realized for users, merchants, and electronic money service providers.

[0037] In particular, users don't need to worry about the balance in their e-money account as long as they have a balance in their deposit account, freeing them from the hassle of depositing money into their e-money account.

[0038] Furthermore, when a payment is made using electronic money, participating merchants can instantly receive the amount equivalent to the monetary value information deducted from the user's electronic money account into their bank account, improving the merchants' cash flow.

[0039] Furthermore, under the Payment Services Act, electronic money businesses can keep their deposit obligations, which depend on the balance of their electronic money accounts, lower, thereby improving their cash flow.

[0040] Furthermore, according to the present invention, a new electronic money payment scheme is realized that combines the convenience of post-payment electronic payment methods such as credit cards, further improving the convenience of electronic money use for users.

[0041] Other technical features, objectives, and effects or advantages of the present invention will be illustrated by the following embodiments described with reference to the attached drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0042] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an electronic money service system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the schematic configuration of a financial institution system for a fund transfer management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electronic money service provider system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an example of the data structure of a user information database in an electronic money service provider system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the schematic configuration of an information and communication terminal device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing an example of balance synchronization processing between different types of accounts by an electronic money service provider system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of electronic money payment processing in an electronic money service provided by an electronic money service system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of synchronization between different types of accounts in an electronic money service according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a block diagram showing an example of an electronic money service system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of synchronization between different types of accounts in an electronic money service according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11A] Figure 11A is a flowchart showing an example of electronic money payment processing in an electronic money service provided by an electronic money service system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11B] Figure 11B is a flowchart showing an example of electronic money payment processing in an electronic money service provided by an electronic money service system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12A] Figure 12A is a flowchart showing another example of electronic money payment processing in an electronic money service provided by an electronic money service system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12B] Figure 12B is a flowchart showing another example of electronic money payment processing in an electronic money service provided by an electronic money service system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a flowchart showing yet another example of electronic money payment processing in an electronic money service provided by an electronic money service system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of synchronization between different types of accounts in an electronic money service according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15]Figure 15 shows an example of the concept of synchronization between heterogeneous accounts in an electronic money service system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] Figure 16 shows an example of the hardware configuration of an electronic money service provider system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0043] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are merely illustrative, and there is no intention to exclude various modifications or applications of techniques not explicitly stated below. The present invention can be implemented by various modifications (for example, by combining each embodiment) without departing from its spirit. In the following drawings, identical or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. The drawings are schematic and do not necessarily correspond to actual dimensions or proportions. There may be parts in the drawings where the dimensional relationships and proportions differ from those of other parts.

[0044] The gist of this invention is to link (synchronize) balances between different types of accounts owned by a user. Here, "account" refers to something (some entity) used to manage money or monetary value information for each user, and includes, but is not limited to, a deposit account, an electronic money account, a credit card account (credit limit), etc. Note that the term "credit card account" is generally used to mean a deposit account from which credit card usage fees are deducted, but the "credit card account" as used in this disclosure is distinct from this. Furthermore, as described below, the "electronic money service" as used in this disclosure is a new service that includes elements or convenience of a post-payment electronic payment method, and is interpreted broadly, not limited to the conventional concept of a prepaid electronic payment method.

[0045] Furthermore, "synchronization" in electronic money services refers to the phenomenon where, when the balance of one account changes, the balances of other accounts also change accordingly. However, as will be explained later, the balance of an electronic money account does not represent monetary value information equivalent to funds actually deposited in advance by the electronic money service provider from the user, but rather is a virtual balance based on the balances of deposit accounts and / or credit card accounts.

[0046] For example, as shown in Figure 15, if a user's deposit account balance is 200,000 yen (which may be in the legal tender of the country in question) and their credit card account balance is 200,000 yen, the balance in their electronic money account will be the sum of these amounts, 400,000 yen. As will be explained in more detail below, the user can use electronic money payments as if this sum were already in their electronic money account without actually having to charge 400,000 yen.

[0047] [First Embodiment] This embodiment is characterized in that the balance of the user's electronic money account is synchronized with the balance of their deposit account.

[0048] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an electronic money service system according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the electronic money service system 1 of this embodiment may consist of, for example, a financial institution system 20 and an electronic money service provider system 30 that are communicated with each other via a communication network 10. The electronic money service system 1 may also include an information and communication terminal device 40 and a payment terminal device 50 that are communicated with the communication network 10. The information and communication terminal device 40 is used to function as an electronic virtual card implementing electronic money service functions, as will be described later, and may be replaced by a conventional physical card. In this disclosure, the payment terminal device 50 is described as a device installed in a physical store, but it may also be in a virtual store such as an online shopping site.

[0049] The communication network 10 may include, for example, an IP-based computer network (hereinafter referred to as "IP network"). The communication network 10 may also include a content delivery network (CDN). In this disclosure, the communication network 10 is used as a broad concept that includes the internet built by IP networks, but it is not intended to exclude networks of other protocols that enable inter-node communication, not limited to IP networks. For example, predetermined nodes, such as between the financial institution system 20 and other financial institution systems not shown, may be connected by a dedicated network. Furthermore, the financial institution system 20 may include, for example, the communication network 10 as an intranet. The communication network 10 may also include a wireless network (e.g., Wi-Fi®) built by wireless base stations or wireless access points not shown. The communication network 10 may also include a mobile communication network compliant with mobile communication system standards.

[0050] Financial Institution System 20 is a so-called banking system managed and operated by a financial institution or a party entrusted by such a financial institution. In this disclosure, "financial institution" means a financial institution that manages or handles deposit accounts or accounts (hereinafter collectively referred to as "deposit accounts") that are regulated by the Banking Act and similar laws and are subject to the deposit insurance system. For example, ordinary banks and credit unions are included in financial institutions in this disclosure. Also, "bank account" is one type of deposit account. In this disclosure, "deposit account" may be referred to simply as "account" or "bank account" for customary or convenient reasons, but please note that it is distinguished from "electronic money accounts" managed by electronic money service providers.

[0051] The financial institution system 20 may, in general terms, include various host computers and database systems that are systematized and organized according to financial institution functions or operations, such as the channel system 22, the accounting system 24, and the information system 26, as shown in Figure 2, for example. These systems may be connected via a backbone network that includes, for example, hubs and ESB (Enterprise Service Bus). The backbone network is one form of the communication network 10. Furthermore, the financial institution system 20 may include an open system using general-purpose computing devices.

[0052] A financial institution typically has a head office and several branches that manage each user's deposit account. Such a head office and / or branches (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "branches") may be virtual rather than physical, and may be a so-called online bank. Alternatively, a financial institution may have a dedicated branch for electronic money providers that offer the electronic money services described in this disclosure. As is known, users may apply for and open such deposit accounts, for example, through online procedures.

[0053] The channel system 22 controls connections to various channels, such as systems at sales offices (including branches and business-only branches; the same applies hereinafter), ATMs, and internet banking services. The accounting system 24 manages transactions (deposit ledger) of deposit accounts of customers or depositors (users), such as corporations and individuals. The accounting system 24 is responsible for one of the core operations of a financial institution, and together with other core operations, it is sometimes referred to as the core system. The information system 26 manages a data warehouse or database that holds customer information, transaction information, etc., on a transactional basis, as well as the financial institution's management information. It should be noted that the system configuration in the financial institution system 20 described above is just one example, and its definition or scope may differ depending on the system vendor or financial institution, and this should not affect the interpretation of the present invention.

[0054] Returning to Figure 1, the electronic money business operator system 30 is a computer system managed and operated by an electronic money business operator or a party entrusted by such an operator. In this disclosure, the term "electronic money business operator" corresponds to the concept of "issuer of prepaid payment instruments" as defined in the Payment Services Act, but it should not be interpreted narrowly solely by the Payment Services Act, but rather as a concept derived from the gist of the present invention. An electronic money business operator may be a different business entity distinct from a financial institution. An electronic money business operator can use the electronic money business operator system 30 to provide a fund settlement service (hereinafter referred to as "electronic money service") based on monetary value information (e.g., points). The hardware configuration of the computing devices constituting the electronic money business operator system 30 is shown in Figure 16, for example, but since such a configuration is known, its details are omitted. The electronic money business operator system 30 realizes the electronic money service by collaborating with various hardware resources, for example, by executing an electronic money service program under the control of a processor.

[0055] The electronic money service provider system 30 manages the balance of a customer's or member's (i.e., user's) electronic money account and may provide electronic money services to the user up to the limit of that balance. Typically, for such electronic money services, the user may be provided in advance with a physical or virtual unique medium (e.g., a card or pass) associated with their electronic money account. Monetary value information may be managed in a so-called stored value manner, for example, stored in a physical card or an IC chip installed in an information and communication terminal device 40, or it may be managed centrally on a server in a server management manner. Settlement of payments using electronic money (payment of settlement amount) is one form of electronic money service. Another form is a service that allows sending and receiving money between electronic money accounts of the same or different users, i.e., a fund transfer service. Hereinafter, remittances by electronic money service providers may be referred to as "fund transfers" to distinguish them from "remittances" by financial institutions.

[0056] In this disclosure, the electronic money service provider system 30 manages, for example, information about the user's deposit account and credit card account (credit limit) that is synchronized with the user's electronic money account, in order to provide electronic money services. Here, "synchronization" means that in electronic money services, when the balance of one account changes, the balances of other accounts also change accordingly.

[0057] For example, a user's e-money account balance is set to match the balance of their bank account. Another example is that the e-money account balance is set to match the bank account balance, up to a predetermined limit. In other words, if the predetermined limit is 100,000 yen, even if the bank account balance increases by 30,000 yen (from 80,000 yen to 110,000 yen), the e-money account balance will not be set to more than 100,000 yen. Yet another example is that the e-money account balance is set to the sum of the bank account balance and the available balance (credit balance) of the credit card account.

[0058] However, the balance of the electronic money account referred to here is not monetary value information equivalent to the actual funds deposited by the electronic money service provider from the user, but rather a virtual balance based on the balances of the deposit account and / or credit card account. In other words, the sum of the electronic money account balance and the balance of the deposit account, etc., is not the amount that the user can use (spend). The electronic money service provider system 30 manages the balance of the user's electronic money account based on the balance of the deposit account and / or the credit balance of the credit card account.

[0059] The information and communication terminal device 40 is a terminal device operated by a user for using electronic money services. The information and communication terminal device 40 is typically a mobile or portable computing device owned by the user, and may be, for example, a feature phone, smartphone, PDA, handheld computer, tablet computer, or other intelligent device. In this disclosure, the information and communication terminal device 40 is assumed to be a smartphone.

[0060] The information and communication terminal device 40 typically consists of hardware resources such as a CPU (processor), chipset and memory, communication module, and user interface (e.g., display or touch panel, speaker and vibrator), and software resources such as an operating system (e.g., which may include a kernel, various device drivers, standard libraries, etc.) (hereinafter referred to as "OS") (see Figure 5). Under the control of the processor, the information and communication terminal device 40 executes various application programs on the OS to realize desired functions.

[0061] In this disclosure, the information and communication terminal device 40 implements an application program (hereinafter referred to as the "electronic money application program") as one of its application programs, which enables electronic money service functions (for example, depositing (charging) and withdrawing electronic money, making payments with electronic money, and sending and receiving electronic money). In other words, the information and communication terminal device 40 can provide users with functions for electronic money services such as electronic payment services and money transfer services by executing the electronic money application program under the control of the processor. Hereinafter, the actual electronic money service functions realized by the execution of the electronic money application program on the information and communication terminal device 40 will be referred to as the "electronic money app".

[0062] For example, when a user uses an electronic money service, they are required to log in to their electronic money account via an electronic money app. For instance, when a user launches the electronic money app on the information and communication terminal device 40 and enters their account ID and password on the login screen, the information and communication terminal device 40 sends a login request (user authentication request) to the electronic money service provider system 30. After receiving login authentication from the electronic money service provider system 30, the user is able to use the electronic money app. Alternatively, login authentication may be performed within the electronic money app on the information and communication terminal device 40, and the information and communication terminal device 40 may send the login authentication result to the electronic money service provider system 30.

[0063] Furthermore, when making an electronic money payment, the user can have the balance of their electronic money account displayed on the user interface of the information and communication terminal device 40. As described above, the balance of the electronic money account displayed on the user interface of the information and communication terminal device 40 is not based on the amount the user has paid to the electronic money service provider in advance, but rather on the balance of the user's deposit account and / or the credit balance of their credit card account.

[0064] Furthermore, when making an electronic money payment, the user can make an electronic money payment by displaying a geometric pattern on the user interface of the information and communication terminal device 40 and having the payment terminal device 50 of the store or other establishment read it, or by having the information and communication terminal device 40 read a geometric pattern presented by the store or other establishment. The geometric pattern may be, for example, a barcode or a QR code (registered trademark). As another example, the user can make an electronic money payment in a contactless manner, for example, by bringing the information and communication terminal device 40 close to or holding it over the payment terminal device.

[0065] As mentioned above, the information and communication terminal device 40 is used as a virtual so-called "electronic money card" realized by the electronic money service function, and therefore, a conventional physical card may be used as the electronic money card instead of the information and communication terminal device 40.

[0066] The payment terminal device 50 is, for example, a terminal device installed at a merchant or the like for making electronic money payments. For example, the payment terminal device 50 may be a point-of-sale (POS) register operated by an employee at a convenience store or the like. As described above, the payment terminal device 50 sends a payment approval request to the electronic money service provider system 30 by, for example, reading a geometric pattern displayed on the user interface of the information and communication terminal device 40, and makes the payment after receiving payment approval from the electronic money service provider system 30 based on a balance check of the electronic money account.

[0067] In the electronic money service system 1 configured as described above, the electronic money business system 30 controls the system to synchronize balances between different types of accounts owned by the user. For example, the electronic money business system 30 sets the balance of the user's electronic money account to synchronize with the balance of the user's deposit account. However, the balance of the electronic money account is not set by an actual transfer of funds. In other words, the synchronization referred to here does not mean that funds are actually withdrawn from the user's deposit account and deposited into a deposit account managed by the electronic money business system 30, and that this is reflected in the balance of the user's electronic money account. The electronic money business system 30 checks the balance of the user's deposit account and presents that balance to the user as the balance of the user's electronic money account. Therefore, from the user's perspective, even without charging the electronic money account, if there is a deposit into the deposit account, it is as if monetary value information equivalent to the deposit amount is charged to the electronic money account. On the other hand, since the balance in a user's electronic money account is not deposited in advance by the electronic money business system 30 from the user, it is not considered stagnant funds, and the electronic money business may be exempt from the obligation to make a deposit.

[0068] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electronic money service provider system according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the electronic money service provider system 30 may, in relation to the electronic money service in this disclosure, generally include, for example, a business management database 310, an account management unit 320, and a transaction management unit 330. These components are connected, for example, via a LAN. Although not shown, the electronic money service provider system 30 may also include a mail server.

[0069] The business management database 310 is a database system for managing data related to the overall operations of an electronic money business operator, and may include, for example, a user information database 312 and a transaction history database 314.

[0070] The user information database 312 is a database that stores information about users (hereinafter referred to as "user information"). User information is an electronic money account that includes information necessary to provide electronic money services such as fund transfers and electronic money payments. The user information database 312 may be composed of, for example, as shown in Figure 4, personal attribute information (e.g., name, date of birth, address, telephone number, and personal number, etc.) for each user, account attribute information (e.g., account ID, email address, financial institution attribute information (e.g., financial institution number, branch number, account type, account number, and account holder name, etc.)), and balance. In other words, a user's electronic money account is associated with a deposit account at a financial institution. Furthermore, as described in other embodiments, a user's electronic money account may be associated with a different type of account such as a deposit account at a financial institution and / or a credit card account, etc. It can be associated with a user. As mentioned above, the account ID may consist of, for example, a receipt ID that can only be used for receiving funds and a consumption / use ID that can only be used for consumption / use (payment). The balance is the value indicated by the monetary value information calculated based on the user's transaction history in the transaction history database 314. The user information shown in the figure is configured to identify each user by a user ID, but any information that uniquely identifies a user is acceptable, for example, an account ID or email address may be used as the user ID. User information is typically managed securely by, for example, hashing or encryption.

[0071] The transaction history database 314 is a database that records all or part of the transaction data (hereinafter referred to as "transaction history data") of users in the electronic money service as a history. The user's transaction history data may be managed in association with, for example, the user ID in the user information database 312. The transaction history data is recorded, for example, for each predetermined account (e.g., deposits, withdrawals, etc.). Alternatively or additionally, the electronic money business system 30 may also have an account database that records the user's account transactions.

[0072] Returning to Figure 3, the account management unit 320 is a component that comprehensively manages user accounts registered with the electronic money service provider. For example, the account management unit 320 receives login requests from the information and communication terminal device 40 when the user launches an electronic money application on the information and communication terminal device 40, and performs login authentication.

[0073] Furthermore, the account management unit 320 may include a balance synchronization unit 322 for synchronizing the balance of an electronic money account with the balance of a deposit account at a financial institution. The balance synchronization unit 322, for example, obtains the balance by querying the deposit account balance via an API (Application Programming Interface) connection with the financial institution system 20, and thereby updates the balance in the user information database 312. In this example, the balance synchronization unit 322 is configured as part of the account management unit 320, but is not limited to this, and may be configured separately from the account management unit 320, or may be configured as part of the transaction management unit 330, which will be described later.

[0074] The transaction management unit 330 records and manages user transactions as transaction history using the transaction history database 314. The transaction management unit 330 may include, for example, a fund transfer management unit 332 that performs fund transfer processing between user accounts. In this example, the fund transfer management unit 332 is configured as part of the transaction management unit 330, but is not limited to this and may be configured separately from the transaction management unit 330.

[0075] As an example, when the Transaction Management Unit 330 receives a payment approval request from the merchant's payment terminal 50 in response to a user's request for payment using electronic money via the information and communication terminal 40, it refers to the user information database 312 to determine whether the user's electronic money account balance is greater than the payment amount. If it determines that the electronic money account balance is greater than the payment amount, it sends a payment approval to the payment terminal 50 and executes the payment process (account transaction) to complete the payment. The payment process includes a remittance request to the financial institution system 20. That is, the Transaction Management Unit 330 requests the financial institution system 20 to remit funds equivalent to the payment amount from the user's deposit account to the merchant's deposit account, which is the recipient. In response, the financial institution system 20 immediately withdraws the amount equivalent to the payment amount from the user's deposit account and deposits that amount into the merchant's deposit account. In this case, the financial institution system 20 does not account the amount equivalent to the payment amount in a temporary account, which is different from J-Debit (the name of the debit service in Japan).

[0076] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the schematic configuration of an information and communication terminal device according to one embodiment of the present invention. That is, as shown in the figure, the information and communication terminal device 40 is configured to include, for example, a control unit 410, a storage unit 420, a user interface unit 430, and a communication interface unit 440. The figure shows components of the information and communication terminal device 40 that are particularly relevant to this disclosure. Such components can be realized as hardware components themselves, or, for example, by the processor of the information and communication terminal device 40 running an electronic money application program on the OS and cooperating with various hardware resources.

[0077] The control unit 410 is a component for comprehensively controlling the information and communication terminal device 40 in order to enable the information and communication terminal device 40 to function as an electronic money application for electronic money services. Typically, it includes the processor 412 and OS (including, for example, various device drivers) of the information and communication terminal device 40. In other words, the processor 412 executes an electronic money application program, thereby realizing an electronic money application (i.e., a virtual device) on the information and communication terminal device 40.

[0078] The input / output control unit 414 is a component that is implemented, for example, by the functions of the OS, and controls input / output access to the memory unit 420, the user interface unit 430, and the communication interface unit 440, respectively.

[0079] The storage unit 420 is a component that stores various programs and datasets, and typically includes a memory device provided for use by the processor 412 of the information and communication terminal device 40. As an example, the storage unit 420 stores the OS, an electronic money application program, and a user profile. The electronic money application program is downloaded from, for example, a designated website, or pre-installed. The electronic money application program may include an application program body for using the electronic money service and subprograms or modules for implementing the fund transfer management method in this disclosure. Alternatively, the electronic money application program may consist only of subprograms or modules for implementing the electronic money payment method in this disclosure. The user profile may include, for example, at least some or all of the data related to the electronic money service in this disclosure, such as personal attribute information, account information, and account information.

[0080] The user interface unit 430 is a component that enables the user to interactively operate the information and communication terminal device 40, and may include, for example, an input / output device consisting of a touch panel integrating a display and a position input mechanism. As an example, in response to a predetermined operation on the user interface unit 430 by the user, the user interface unit 430 displays a predetermined screen (e.g., a login screen, a balance display screen, and a payment screen). For example, the payment screen displays a geometric pattern for electronic money payment.

[0081] The communication interface unit 440 is a component that sends and receives various types of data to and from other external devices, such as the electronic money service provider system 30 and the financial institution system 20, via the communication network 10, and typically includes a communication interface circuit or chipset. In this disclosure, the communication interface unit 440 accesses the electronic money service provider system 30 for the purpose of checking, managing, and settling electronic money accounts, and also receives emails regarding the completion of remittance processing.

[0082] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of balance synchronization processing between different types of accounts by an electronic money service provider system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Such processing is realized, for example, by the electronic money service provider system 30 executing an electronic money service program under the control of a processor, in cooperation with various hardware resources. In the figure, an example is shown in which the electronic money service provider system 30 receives a login from a user via an electronic money application on an information and communication terminal device 40 and synchronizes the balance of the user's electronic money account with the balance of their deposit account.

[0083] As shown in the figure, the electronic money service provider system 30 monitors whether or not there has been communication with the email application on the user's information and communication terminal device 40 (S601). For example, communication between the electronic money service provider system 30 and the email application occurs when the user launches the email application. Alternatively, it may occur when logging in, which is associated with launching the email application. As another example, communication with the email application occurs when the user selects the refresh button on the email application screen. Or, the email application may periodically communicate with the electronic money service provider system 30 while it is running.

[0084] If the electronic money service provider system 30 determines that there has been communication with the email application (Yes in S601), it refers to the user information database 312 to identify the deposit account associated with the electronic money account of the logged-in user (S602). Subsequently, the electronic money service provider system 30 inquires about the balance of the deposit account from the financial institution system 20 that manages the identified user's deposit account and retrieves the balance (S603).

[0085] Next, the electronic money business system 30 refers to the transaction history database 314 and determines whether or not there has been a change in the balance of the deposit account (S604). For example, the electronic money business system 30 refers to the transaction history database 314 and compares the balance of the most recent deposit account with the balance of the acquired deposit account to determine whether or not they match.

[0086] If the electronic money service provider system 30 determines that there has been no change in the deposit account balance (No in S604), it returns to monitoring whether or not there has been communication with the email application (S601). On the other hand, if the electronic money service provider system 30 determines that there has been a change in the deposit account balance (Yes in S604), it adds updated transaction history data to the transaction history database 314 and updates the balance in the user information database 312 accordingly (S605).

[0087] As described above, the electronic money service provider system 30 responds to communication with the electronic money application on the user's information and communication terminal device 40 by obtaining the balance of the deposit account associated with the user's electronic money account and setting the balance of the electronic money account with the obtained balance. As a result, when the user uses the electronic money service, the balance of the electronic money account and the balance of the deposit account are synchronized.

[0088] The above example synchronizes the balance of an electronic money account with the balance of a deposit account, triggered by communication between the electronic money application on the information and communication terminal device 40 and the electronic money business system 30. However, the system is not limited to this. For example, the electronic money business system 30 may respond to a deposit account balance change notification from the financial institution system 20 by checking the balance of the user's deposit account in the financial institution system 20 via a reference API, retrieving the balance, and reflecting it in the user's electronic money account balance. Alternatively, the electronic money business system 30 may periodically or irregularly check the balance of the user's deposit account in the financial institution system 20, retrieving the balance, and reflecting it in the user's electronic money account balance.

[0089] Figure 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of electronic money payment processing in an electronic money service provided by an electronic money service system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The diagram shows the processing flow when a user pays for goods, etc., at a merchant using electronic money. On the merchant side, for example, the price of the goods, etc., is entered into the payment terminal device 50. Note that some of the processes shown in the diagram can be executed in parallel and are not necessarily executed in the order described below, and the order of some processes can be changed (the same applies hereinafter). Electronic money payment processing can be divided into front-end processing between the information and communication terminal device 40 and the electronic money business operator system 30 via the payment terminal device 50, and back-end processing between the electronic money business operator system 30 and the financial institution system 20.

[0090] In other words, as shown in the figure, a user who wishes to pay with electronic money presents the information and communication terminal device 40 to the merchant (S701). For example, in the case of so-called barcode-based electronic money payment, the user launches an electronic money application on the information and communication terminal device 40 and displays a barcode on the user interface unit 430, which is then read by the payment terminal device 50. As a result, the information and communication terminal device 40 notifies the payment terminal device 50 of the information necessary for electronic money payment as a payment request (S702). Alternatively, in the case of so-called contactless electronic money payment, the user brings the information and communication terminal device 40 close to or over the payment terminal device 50, thereby transmitting a payment request from the information and communication terminal device 40 to the payment terminal device 50.

[0091] When the payment terminal device 50 receives a payment request from the information and communication terminal device 40 (S703), it generates a payment approval request based on the payment request and the entered amount, and transmits it to the electronic money business system 30 (S704).

[0092] When the electronic money business system 30 receives a payment authorization request from the payment terminal device 50, it checks whether the user's electronic money account has sufficient funds for payment based on the received payment authorization request (S705). If the electronic money business system 30 determines that the user's electronic money account has sufficient funds for payment, it sends a payment authorization to the payment terminal device 50 (S706). The electronic money business system 30 also sends a remittance request to the financial institution system 20 (S707). The remittance request is a request to transfer funds equivalent to the payment amount from the user's deposit account to the merchant's deposit account.

[0093] When the payment terminal 50 receives payment authorization, it performs the completion process for the electronic money payment (S708). For example, the payment terminal 50 notifies the user that the payment is complete by displaying and / or sounding a signal, and also records the payment transaction. As a result, from the merchant's perspective, the sales transaction with the user is completed, and from the user's perspective, the purchase transaction with the merchant is completed and the goods are delivered.

[0094] Furthermore, after payment approval, the electronic money service provider system 30 updates the user's electronic money account (S709). Specifically, the electronic money service provider system 30 updates the transaction history database 314 by adding transaction history data obtained by subtracting the monetary value information equivalent to the payment amount from the balance of the user's electronic money account, and updates the balance of the user's electronic money account in the user information database 312 accordingly. Subsequently, the electronic money service provider system 30 sends a payment completion notification to the information and communication terminal device 40 indicating that the payment by electronic money has been completed (S710). The payment completion notification may include information indicating the balance of the electronic money account after payment.

[0095] When the information and communication terminal device 40 receives a payment completion notification, it displays the latest balance of the electronic money account on the user interface unit 430 based on the received payment completion notification, and also displays that the payment has been successfully completed (S711).

[0096] The above describes the front-end processing between the information and communication terminal device 40 and the electronic money business operator system 30 via the payment terminal device 50.

[0097] Meanwhile, as a backend process, when the financial institution system 20 receives a remittance request from the electronic money business system 30, it processes the remittance based on the received request (S712). That is, in response to the remittance request, the financial institution system 20 immediately withdraws funds equivalent to the payment amount from the user's deposit account and deposits the amount into the merchant's deposit account. This allows the merchant to immediately receive the payment made by the user via electronic money into their own deposit account.

[0098] When the financial institution system 20 completes the remittance process, it sends a remittance completion notification to the electronic money service provider system 30 (S713). Upon receiving the remittance completion notification, the electronic money service provider system 30 verifies the transaction history in the transaction history database 314 (S714). In other words, the electronic money service provider system 30 verifies whether the balance indicated by the transaction history data matches the balance in the deposit account.

[0099] Furthermore, after the electronic money business system 30 receives a transfer completion notification from the financial institution system 20, it may also send a deposit notification to the merchant informing them that the funds have been deposited into their deposit account. The deposit notification may be sent, for example, to a payment terminal device 50, or to an information and communication terminal device registered in association with the merchant (for example, a registered email address).

[0100] As described above, the electronic money business system 30, at the front end, processes the user's electronic money payment as before, and at the back end, it requests the financial institution system 20 to transfer funds from the user's deposit account to the merchant's deposit account, thereby depositing funds equivalent to the amount withdrawn from the user's deposit account into the merchant's deposit account.

[0101] The above describes an example of electronic money service where a user makes a payment using electronic money at a participating merchant, but it is not limited to this. For example, another form of electronic money service may be the transfer of electronic money (fund transfer) between electronic money accounts of the same or different users. In this case, in accordance with the transfer instruction from the user who is the sender, the electronic money service provider system 30 reduces the balance of the sender's electronic money account by the amount of monetary value information equivalent to the transfer amount, and instructs the financial institution system 20 to transfer funds from the sender's deposit account to the recipient user's deposit account. As a result, funds equivalent to the transfer amount are deposited into the recipient's deposit account and the balance increases, and the balance of the recipient's electronic money account also increases by the amount of monetary value information equivalent to the transfer amount.

[0102] (Specific example) Figure 8 illustrates an example of synchronization between different types of accounts in an electronic money service according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the figure shows how a user's deposit account and electronic money account are synchronized. In the following example, the unit of monetary value information in the electronic money account is shown as points.

[0103] In other words, as shown in the diagram, suppose that 200,000 yen was deposited into the user's deposit account on 2022 / 02 / 9, and the balance became 200,000 yen. Accordingly, the balance of the electronic money account will become 200,000 points.

[0104] Next, suppose the user purchases goods worth 15,000 yen at a participating store on 2022 / 02 / 25 using electronic money payment. As a result, the user's electronic money account balance becomes 185,000 points, and 15,000 yen is transferred from the user's bank account to the participating store's bank account, so the user's bank account balance becomes 185,000 yen.

[0105] As described above, according to this embodiment, when a user makes a deposit into their bank account or makes an electronic money payment, the balance in their bank account changes, and consequently, the balance in their electronic money account also changes, so the balances in both accounts are kept synchronized. Furthermore, when another user sends electronic money (transfers funds), the balance in the recipient user's bank account changes, and consequently, the balance in their electronic money account also changes, so the balances in both accounts are kept synchronized.

[0106] [Second Embodiment] This embodiment is a variation of the above embodiment, characterized in that the balance of the user's electronic money account is synchronized with the credit balance of the credit card account. In other words, the user's electronic money account is set with monetary value information equivalent to the credit balance based on the credit limit extended to the user by the credit card company. It should be noted that the balance of a deposit account for a debit card can also be considered as a credit limit, and in this sense, the present invention can be similarly applied to debit cards as well.

[0107] Figure 9 is a block diagram showing an example of an electronic money service system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The electronic money service system 1' shown in the figure differs from the electronic money service system 1 shown in Figure 1 in that a credit card business system 60 is added, and several systems and devices are configured accordingly.

[0108] In other words, the credit card business system 60 is a computer system managed and operated by a credit card business or a party entrusted by it. That is, as is well known, the credit card business system 60 manages the credit card accounts of members (users) who have undergone credit checks and executes processing related to credit card payments. For example, when a credit card payment is made, the credit card business system 60 receives a payment authorization request from the payment terminal device 50, checks the user's credit balance, and sends payment authorization to the payment terminal device 50. The credit card business system 60 also reduces the credit balance of the user's credit card account. Furthermore, the credit card business system 60 aggregates the amount used based on the billing date and requests the financial institution system 20 to debit the billed amount from the user's deposit account. The user's credit balance fluctuates according to the amount used for credit card payments.

[0109] Furthermore, the credit card business system 60 checks the credit balance based on the credit amount approval request from the electronic money app on the information and communication terminal device 40 and sends a credit amount approval to the information and communication terminal device 40. The credit amount approval request corresponds to the payment approval request when using a credit card. For example, the credit amount approval request is sent to the credit card business system 60 when the user launches the electronic money app on the information and communication terminal device 40. Alternatively, the electronic money app on the information and communication terminal device 40 may send a credit amount approval request to the credit card business system 60 when it attempts to display the available amount on the user interface.

[0110] When the electronic money application on the information and communication terminal device 40 receives a credit limit approval from the credit card business system 60 in response to a credit limit approval request, it sends a credit limit setting request created based on the credit limit approval to the electronic money business system 30. When the electronic money business system 30 receives the credit limit setting request from the information and communication terminal device 40, it sets the balance of the user's electronic money account in the user information database 312 as the credit limit based on the received credit limit setting request.

[0111] Furthermore, when payment is made using electronic money, the electronic money application on the information and communication terminal device 40 notifies the credit card business system 60 that it has used the credit amount equivalent to the payment amount. Alternatively, the payment terminal device 50 may identify the credit card business system 60 based on the payment request and, on behalf of the user, notify the credit card business system 60 that it has used the credit amount equivalent to the payment amount. As a result, the credit card business system 60 deducts the amount equivalent to the payment amount from the user's credit balance.

[0112] (Specific example) Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of synchronization between different types of accounts in an electronic money service according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the diagram shows how a user's electronic money account and credit card account are synchronized. In the following example, the unit of monetary value information in the electronic money account is shown as points. Also, the user is assumed to have a credit limit of, for example, 200,000 yen.

[0113] In other words, as shown in the diagram, suppose that on February 10, 2022, a payment of 50,000 yen was withdrawn from the user's deposit account, resulting in a credit balance of 200,000 yen. This means that the payment for the transaction made via credit card has been repaid. The electronic money app receives credit amount approval at a predetermined time and, based on this approval, requests the electronic money service provider system 30 to set the credit amount. Therefore, the balance of the electronic money account becomes 200,000 points.

[0114] Next, let's assume that on February 28, 2022, the user purchased goods or services worth 10,000 yen at a credit card-accepting merchant using credit card payment. Therefore, the user's credit card balance becomes 190,000 yen, and accordingly, the user's electronic money account balance becomes 190,000 points.

[0115] Next, suppose the user purchases goods or services worth 5,000 yen at an electronic money merchant on the same day, using electronic money payment from their credit card's credit limit. Accordingly, the user's electronic money account balance becomes 185,000 points, and furthermore, the user's credit card account credit balance becomes 185,000 yen.

[0116] As described above, according to this embodiment, when a user makes a credit card payment, the balance of the electronic money account also changes in accordance with the change in the credit balance of the credit card account, so the balances of both accounts are kept in a synchronized state.

[0117] [Third Embodiment] This embodiment is a variation of the above embodiment, characterized in that the balance of the user's electronic money account is synchronized based on the balance of the deposit account and the credit balance of the credit card account. In other words, the user's electronic money account is set with monetary value information equivalent to the sum of the balance of the deposit account and the credit balance based on the credit limit extended to the user by the credit card company.

[0118] The electronic money service provider system 30 checks the balance of the user's deposit account and sets a first balance for the user's electronic money account based on the obtained balance. It also sets a second balance for the user's electronic money account based on the credit amount requested by the electronic money application on the user's information and communication terminal device 40. The electronic money service provider system 30 manages the sum of the first balance and the second balance as the balance of the user's electronic money account.

[0119] As described above, the user can make a payment using electronic money via the electronic money application on the information and communication terminal device 40. In this case, the user can choose to make the payment from a first balance associated with a deposit account or from a second balance associated with a credit balance. The payment terminal device 50 sends a payment approval request based on the selected payment method and payment amount to the electronic money service provider system 30 and receives payment approval.

[0120] Figures 11A and 11B are flowcharts showing an example of electronic money payment processing in an electronic money service provided by an electronic money service system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0121] First, a user who wishes to pay using electronic money presents the information and communication terminal device 40 to the merchant. As a result, the information and communication terminal device 40 notifies the payment terminal device 50 of the information necessary for electronic money payment as a payment request. Subsequently, as shown in Figure A, the payment terminal device 50 transmits a payment approval request based on the payment request to the electronic money service provider system 30, and the electronic money service provider 30 receives the payment approval request from the payment terminal device 50 (S1101).

[0122] The electronic money service provider system 30, in accordance with the payment authorization request, checks the balance of the user's deposit account with the financial institution system 20 and obtains the balance (S1102). Subsequently, or in parallel thereafter, the electronic money service provider system 30, in accordance with the payment authorization request, checks the credit balance of the user's credit card account with the credit card service provider system 60 and obtains the credit balance (S1103).

[0123] Next, the electronic money business system 30 calculates the sum of the balances of the acquired deposit accounts and the credit balance of the credit card accounts and temporarily stores it (S1104). Subsequently, the electronic money business system 30 determines whether the payment amount (amount used) is less than or equal to the calculated sum (S1105).

[0124] If the electronic money business operator system 30 determines that the payment amount is not less than or equal to the calculated total amount (No. in S1105), it notifies the payment terminal device 50 of the payment rejection (S1106) and terminates the process.

[0125] On the other hand, if the electronic money business operator system 30 determines that the settlement amount is less than or equal to the calculated total amount (Yes in S1105), it requests the financial institution system 20 to reserve an amount equivalent to the required settlement amount from the user's deposit account balance (S1107). Subsequently, according to the response of the financial institution system 20 to the request, the electronic money business operator system 30 determines whether the reserved amount is insufficient for the settlement amount (S1108).

[0126] The electronic money business system 30 determines that the reserved amount is sufficient to cover the payment amount, that is, that the reserved amount is not insufficient for the payment amount (No. in S1108), and requests the financial institution system 20 to execute the payment process (S1109). For example, the electronic money business system 30 sends a remittance request to the financial institution system 20. The remittance request is a request to transfer funds equivalent to the payment amount from the user's deposit account to the merchant's deposit account. The electronic money business system 30 also sends a payment approval to the payment terminal device 50. As a result, the payment using electronic money is completed at the payment terminal device 50. The latest balance of the electronic money account is also displayed on the user interface of the information and communication terminal device 40.

[0127] On the other hand, if the electronic money business operator system 30 determines that the reserved amount is insufficient to cover the payment amount, that is, that the reserved amount is insufficient to cover the payment amount (Yes in S1108), it requests the credit card business operator system 60 to reserve an amount equivalent to the insufficient amount from the credit balance of the user's credit card account (S1110 in Figure 11B). Subsequently, according to the response of the financial institution system 20 to this request, the electronic money business operator system 30 determines whether the reserved amount is insufficient to cover the payment amount (S1111).

[0128] If the electronic money business system 30 determines that the reserved amount is sufficient to cover the payment amount, that is, that the reserved amount is not insufficient for the payment amount (No. in S1111), it requests the credit card business system 60 to execute the payment process (S1112). As a result, the electronic money payment is completed at the payment terminal device 50. The latest balance of the electronic money account is also displayed on the user interface of the information and communication terminal device 40.

[0129] On the other hand, if the electronic money business system 30 determines that the reserved amount is insufficient to cover the payment amount, that is, that the reserved amount is insufficient to cover the payment amount (Yes in S1111), it requests the financial institution system 20 and / or the credit card business system 60 to release the reserved amount (S1113). Subsequently, the electronic money business system 30 notifies the payment terminal device 50 of the payment rejection (S1114) and terminates the process.

[0130] Figures 12A and 12B are flowcharts illustrating other examples of electronic money payment processing in an electronic money service provided by an electronic money service system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the flowcharts shown in these figures are the same as those shown in Figures 11A and 11B above, except that in electronic money payments, the payment amount is first reserved from the credit balance of the credit card account before payment is made. Therefore, their explanation is omitted.

[0131] Figure 13 is a flowchart illustrating yet another example of electronic money payment processing in an electronic money service provided by an electronic money service system according to one embodiment of the present invention. In other words, this figure further generalizes the electronic money payment processing so that it can be applied when there are multiple heterogeneous accounts. Note that explanations of processes that are the same as or substantially the same as those in the flowchart described above will be omitted as appropriate.

[0132] In other words, as shown in the figure, when the electronic money service provider system 30 obtains the payment amount (S1301), it identifies the number of different types of accounts associated with the user's electronic money account (S1302). For example, as mentioned above, if a user's electronic money account is associated with both a deposit account and a credit card account, the number of accounts will be 2.

[0133] Next, the electronic money business system 30 forks the reserve process according to the number of identified accounts (S1303). Forking refers to the process by which a program running on a computing device creates a copy of itself and runs it as a new process.

[0134] The electronic money business system 30 processes the reservation process so that an amount equivalent to the payment amount is reserved in different types of accounts (S1304). In the example described above, the first reservation process requests a reservation from the financial institution system 20, and the second reservation process requests a reservation from the credit card business system 60.

[0135] The electronic money service provider system 30 determines whether there is an error in any of the reservation requests (S1305). If the electronic money service provider system 30 determines that there is no error in any of the reservation processes (No in S1305), it executes the settlement process (S1306). On the other hand, if the electronic money service provider system 30 determines that there is an error in any of the reservation processes (Yes in S1305), it cancels the reservation (S1307) and rejects the settlement (S1308).

[0136] In electronic money payments, there are various ways in which the balance of the deposit account associated with the electronic money account or the credit balance of the credit card account is used first. For example, a user may set which one to use first on their My Page on the website, or they may select it on the screen of the payment terminal 50 at the time of payment. As another example, a merchant may decide to prioritize cash payments (deposit account) on their end (for example, on the payment terminal 50 or the merchant's My Page). As yet another example, the larger (or smaller) of the balance and credit balance may be selected first.

[0137] (Specific example) Figure 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of synchronization between different types of accounts in an electronic money service according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the diagram shows how a user's electronic money account synchronizes with a deposit account and a credit card account. In the following example, the unit of monetary value information in the electronic money account is shown as points. Also, the user is assumed to have a credit limit of, for example, 200,000 yen.

[0138] In other words, as shown in the diagram, suppose that 200,000 yen was deposited into the user's deposit account on 2022 / 02 / 9, and the balance became 200,000 yen. Accordingly, the balance of the electronic money account will become 200,000 points.

[0139] Next, on February 10, 2022, the user's credit card will have a 50,000 yen payment deducted from their deposit account, bringing the deposit account balance to 150,000 yen. As a result, the credit card's credit limit will be restored to its maximum, resulting in a credit balance of 200,000 yen. The electronic money app will receive credit amount approval at a predetermined time and, based on this approval, will request the electronic money service provider system 30 to set the credit amount. Therefore, the balance of the electronic money account will be 350,000 points.

[0140] Next, suppose the user purchases goods worth 15,000 yen at a participating store on 2022 / 02 / 25 using electronic money payment. As a result, the user's electronic money account balance becomes 335,000 points, and 15,000 yen is transferred from the user's bank account to the participating store's bank account, so the user's bank account balance becomes 135,000 yen.

[0141] Next, let's assume that on February 28, 2022, the user purchased goods or services worth 10,000 yen at a credit card-accepting merchant using a credit card. Therefore, the user's credit card balance becomes 190,000 yen, and accordingly, the user's electronic money account balance becomes 325,000 points.

[0142] Next, suppose the user purchases goods worth 5,000 yen at an electronic money merchant on the same day, using the credit limit on their credit card for electronic money payments. Accordingly, the user's electronic money account balance becomes 320,000 points, and furthermore, the user's credit card account balance becomes 185,000 yen.

[0143] As described above, according to this embodiment, in conjunction with a user's electronic money payment, the balance of the electronic money account will also fluctuate in accordance with the changes in the balance of the deposit account and / or the credit balance of the credit card account. Therefore, if the balance of the electronic money account is set to be the sum of the balance of the deposit account and the credit balance of the credit card account, the user will be able to use electronic money payments within the range of the sum of both accounts.

[0144] The embodiments described above are illustrative examples for illustrating the present invention and are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments only. The present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from its spirit.

[0145] For example, in the methods disclosed herein, steps, operations, or functions may be performed in parallel or in different orders, as long as this does not result in a contradiction in the outcome. The steps, operations, and functions described are provided merely as examples, and some of the steps, operations, and functions may be omitted, combined with each other to form a single unit, or other steps, operations, or functions may be added, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0146] Furthermore, although various embodiments are disclosed herein, specific features (technical matters) in one embodiment can be added to or replaced in other embodiments, with appropriate improvements, and such forms are also included in the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0147] 1…Electronic money service system 10…Communication Networks 20…Financial Institution Systems 22... Channel System 24…Accounting System 26…Information system 30…Electronic money business system 310... Business Management Database 312...User Information Database 314…Transaction History Database 320…Account Management Department 322...Balance Synchronization Unit 330…Transaction Management Department 332…Funds Transfer Management Department 40… Information and communication terminal equipment 410... Control Unit 412… Processor 414…Input / Output Control Unit 420...Storage section 430...User Interface Section 440...Communication Interface Unit 50…Payment terminal device 60…Credit card business system

Claims

1. An electronic money payment method implemented by an electronic money service provider system that provides electronic money services, The aforementioned electronic money service provider system For each user using the aforementioned electronic money service, the user's electronic money account and the user's deposit account are linked and managed accordingly. Setting the balance of the electronic money account to be linked to the balance of the aforementioned deposit account, This includes, in response to a payment made by electronic money, requesting a financial institution system to process a transfer so that the amount for the payment is directly transferred from the deposit account associated with the electronic money account to the deposit account at the financial institution of the recipient who is to receive the amount through the payment, Setting the balance includes setting the balance of the user's electronic money account based on the balance of the deposit account obtained by checking the balance of the user's deposit account with the financial institution system, Electronic money payment method.

2. Setting the balance includes checking the balance of the user's deposit account when communication is received from the electronic money application on the user's information and communication terminal device. The electronic money payment method according to claim 1.

3. The electronic money service provider system further includes receiving a payment authorization request from a payment terminal device for payment using the electronic money, and transmitting a payment authorization to the payment terminal device indicating authorization of the payment based on the balance of the electronic money account. The electronic money payment method according to claim 1.

4. Requesting the aforementioned remittance process includes, based on the aforementioned settlement approval, sending a remittance request to the financial institution. The electronic money payment method according to claim 3.

5. The electronic money service provider system further includes reducing the balance of the electronic money account in accordance with the amount for the payment. The electronic money payment method according to claim 1.

6. When the electronic money service provider system receives a transfer completion notice from the financial institution indicating the completion of the transfer process, it further includes verifying, based on the transfer completion notice, whether the reduced balance of the electronic money account matches the balance of the deposit account. The electronic money payment method according to claim 5.

7. An electronic money service provider system that provides electronic money services, For each user using the aforementioned electronic money service, means for associating and managing the user's electronic money account with the user's deposit account, Means for setting the balance of the electronic money account to be linked to the balance of the deposit account, The system includes means for requesting a financial institution system to process a transfer so that, in response to a payment made by electronic money, the amount for the payment is directly transferred from the deposit account associated with the electronic money account to the deposit account at the financial institution of the recipient who is to receive the amount through the payment, The means for setting the balance of the user's electronic money account is to set the balance of the user's electronic money account based on the balance of the deposit account obtained by checking the balance of the user's deposit account with the financial institution system. Electronic money service provider system.

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