Charging system and control method

Abstract

Users can easily and quickly raise funds by having their payment for their work transferred to a bank account. [Solution] The charge system 10 includes an acquisition means for acquiring account information relating to a user's account linked to a prepaid payment method; a transfer determination means for determining whether or not payment for labor has been made to the user's account for a predetermined period of time; a transfer deposit amount determination means for determining whether or not the amount of payment for labor has been made to the user's account for a predetermined period of time; a first charge acceptance means for receiving a first charge request from a user; and a charge means for receiving a charge request, and when the transfer determination means determines that payment for labor has been made to the user's account for a predetermined period of time, and the transfer deposit amount determination means determines that the amount of payment for labor has been made to the user's account for a predetermined period of time, the charge means for charging the received first amount to the prepaid payment method.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] Embodiments disclosed in the present specification and drawings relate to a charge system and a control method.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] A user who is an account holder that has opened an account at a financial institution such as a bank may face a temporary shortage of funds. For example, there are two weeks until the scheduled transfer date of compensation for labor such as the next salary, pension, or outsourced work income, but sudden expenses accumulate, resulting in insufficient living funds, or the product the user intends to purchase exceeds the budget, and if the user waits until the next scheduled transfer date of compensation for labor, the product is likely to be sold out.

[0003] In such cases, as one of the systems for users to raise funds, the company that employs the user may have introduced a salary advance system, which is one of in-house loan systems. By using the salary advance system introduced by this company, the user can raise funds easily and quickly.

[0004] However, the mechanism of the salary advance system as an in-house loan system imposes a heavy burden on the company during introduction and operation, and although there is demand mainly from part-time employees with limited available funds, the introduction of such systems is limited to large corporations. In addition, since the user's use of the salary advance system, which is one of the in-house loan systems, will let the company know that the user is borrowing money, a psychological burden is imposed on the user. In such cases, it would be convenient for the user if funds could be easily and quickly raised from the financial institution where the account has been opened, using a user terminal such as a portable terminal like a smartphone or a stationary terminal like a personal computer.

[0005] Furthermore, it would be convenient for users if financial institutions could provide funds directly to users who hold salary accounts, without going through their employers. Employing companies could also improve employee satisfaction simply by providing labor information and other data, without incurring any burden during implementation or operation. For financial institutions, improving customer satisfaction by enhancing convenience for users who have accounts with them to receive their wages is also important. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6870126 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] The present invention aims to provide a charge system and control method that allows users, whose compensation for labor is transferred to a financial institution account, to easily and quickly raise funds. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The charging system according to the present invention is A means for obtaining account information related to a user's account linked to a prepaid payment method, A transfer determination means that determines whether or not payment for labor has been transferred to the user's account for a predetermined period of time, based on the aforementioned account information. A means for determining the amount of money to be transferred to the user's account based on the account information, which determines whether the amount of money transferred as payment for the work during the predetermined period is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, A first charge receiving means that receives a request for a first charge from the user via a communication network, A charge means that charges the first amount received from a financial institution to the prepaid settlement means when the first charge receiving means receives a request for a first charge, the transfer determination means determines that a transfer of payment for the labor has been made to the user's account for a predetermined period, and the transfer deposit amount determination means determines that the amount of payment for the labor has been deposited to the user's account for a predetermined period, and the first charge means charges the first amount received from the financial institution to the prepaid settlement means. It is equipped with.

[0009] Furthermore, the control method according to the present invention is The charge system includes the step of obtaining account information relating to a user's account linked to a prepaid payment method, The charge system includes a step of determining, based on the account information, whether or not payment for labor has been transferred to the user's account for a predetermined period of time. The charge system includes a step of determining, based on the account information, whether the amount of payment for the labor has been transferred to the user's account within the predetermined period and is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. The charging system includes the step of receiving a first charge request from the user via a communication network, The charge system receives a request for a first charge, determines that payment for labor has been made to the user's account for a predetermined period, and determines that the amount of payment for labor has been deposited into the user's account for a predetermined period is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, and then charges the first amount received from the financial institution to the prepaid payment method. It is equipped with. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a charge network system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the charging system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This diagram illustrates the sequence of events when the first charge is performed in the charging system shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This diagram shows a flowchart illustrating the processing details of the prepaid card issuance process performed by the charging system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] This figure shows a management list linked to a username, prepaid card number, and account number in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] This diagram shows a flowchart illustrating the processing details of the target user extraction process performed by the charge system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] This diagram shows a flowchart illustrating the processing details of the charge execution process performed by the charge system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] This figure shows an example of a prepaid card screen displayed on a user terminal as a result of the charge execution process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of the post-payment instant charge service overview screen displayed on the user terminal by the charge execution process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] This figure shows an example of a terms of service screen displayed on the user terminal by the charge execution process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] This figure shows an example of a first charge execution screen displayed on the user terminal by the charge execution process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] This figure shows an example of a completion screen displayed on the user terminal after the charge execution process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] This diagram shows a flowchart illustrating the processing details of the debt collection process performed by the charge system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14] This diagram shows a flowchart illustrating the processing details of the debt collection repetition process performed by the charge system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 15]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a charging system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flowchart for explaining the processing content of a first amount selection range change process executed by the charging system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a charging system according to a first modification. [Figure 18] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flowchart for explaining the processing content of a first amount selection range change process executed by the charging system according to the first modification. [Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, the charging system and the control method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having substantially the same functions and configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions will be given only when necessary.

[0012] [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a charging network system 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the charging network system 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to include a charging system 10 that is a system of a financial institution, and one or a plurality of user terminals 20 that are terminals of users who have opened accounts at the financial institution. The charging system 10 and the user terminal 20 are interconnected via a communication network 30.

[0013] The charge system 10 is comprised of, for example, an accounting system installed in a financial institution, and includes auxiliary systems and subsystems such as an internet banking system and a card issuance system that have functions to complement the processing to be performed in this accounting system as needed. In this embodiment, in particular, the charge system 10 manages the accounts of multiple users, and these accounts receive periodic or irregular payments for labor from the companies employing the users. A fixed or variable amount of payment for labor is transferred to these user accounts. Payment for labor includes, for example, salaries, pensions, or business outsourcing income. In the following, the case where the payment for labor is a salary will be used as an example.

[0014] Furthermore, prepaid payment instruments are linked to the accounts of multiple users, and the amount requested by the user is charged from the account to the prepaid payment instrument. Prepaid payment instruments are provided, for example, by financial institutions, money transfer service providers, and third-party prepaid payment instrument issuers. Money transfer service providers are businesses other than banks that are registered under the Payment Services Act. Prepaid payment instruments are electronic payment services using a prepaid method, or so-called prepaid method, and are services that allow payments to be made, for example, by charging a predetermined amount. Examples of these prepaid payment instruments include foreign exchange transactions, money transfer transactions, and prepaid payment instruments as defined in the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, the Banking Act, and the Payment Services Act. In this embodiment, the first charge, described later, is made by a prepaid payment instrument, and the second charge is made by one of the following: a foreign exchange transaction, a money transfer transaction, or a prepaid payment instrument. Here, a money transfer transaction is a foreign exchange transaction conducted by a money transfer service provider. Prepaid payment instruments can be provided by banks and money transfer service providers. Furthermore, prepaid payment methods include, for example, payments using prepaid cards and code payments using barcodes or QR codes (registered trademarks). In the following explanation, we will use the case of payments using prepaid cards as an example.

[0015] In this embodiment, a charge is made to the prepaid card by performing either a first charge or a second charge. The first charge and the second charge will be described in detail below. The second charge is made within the limits of the deposit balance in the account linked to the prepaid card. In other words, when a second charge is made, the second amount selected when the charge means 117 receives the request for the second charge is charged to the prepaid card, and the second amount selected when the request for the second charge is received is immediately debited from the account linked to the prepaid card. On the other hand, the first charge is made outside the limits of the deposit balance in the account linked to the prepaid card. In other words, when a first charge is made, the first amount selected when the request for the first charge is received is directly charged to the prepaid card from the financial institution. For this reason, when a first charge is made, the first amount selected when the request for the first charge is received is not immediately debited from the account linked to the prepaid card. In the following, the first charge will also be referred to as the deferred charge, and the second charge will also be referred to as the regular charge, as necessary.

[0016] The user terminal 20 consists of, for example, a portable terminal such as a smartphone or a stationary terminal such as a personal computer, which are owned by the user. Each user has opened an account at the financial institution where this charge system 10 is installed, and manages this opened account using the user terminal 20. In addition, each user manages the prepaid card linked to their account using the user terminal 20. The user terminal may have, for example, a dedicated application for managing prepaid payment methods built in, or a function for managing prepaid payment methods may be built in as a function of a bank application or employee benefits application for managing internet banking.

[0017] The communication network 30 is composed of, for example, public communication lines such as the Internet, or virtual private lines such as VPN (Virtual Private Network). Therefore, users who have opened an account with this financial institution can, as needed, connect their user terminal 20 to the charge system 10 via the communication network 30 to perform internet banking services such as checking account balances, making account transfers, and borrowing funds, as well as managing prepaid cards such as issuing prepaid cards, charging prepaid cards, and checking prepaid card usage details.

[0018] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the charging system 10 shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, the charging system 10 according to this embodiment is composed of a processing unit 11, a communication unit 12, an input unit 13, a display unit 14, a volatile storage unit 15, and a non-volatile storage unit 16, which are interconnected via an internal bus.

[0019] The processing unit 11 is a so-called arithmetic processing unit, and in this embodiment, it realizes various functions by, for example, reading and executing processing programs stored in the non-volatile storage unit 16. The processing unit 11 also reads data necessary for executing various programs from the volatile storage unit 15 and the non-volatile storage unit 16, and stores the generated data in the volatile storage unit 15 and the non-volatile storage unit 16. The processing unit 11 is composed of, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

[0020] The processing unit 11 according to this embodiment includes a prepaid card issuing means 111, an acquisition means 112, a transfer determination means 113, a transfer deposit amount determination means 114, a control means 115, an estimation means 116, a charging means 117, a scheduled date change means 118, a refund suspension means 119, a debt collection means 120, a first amount selection means 121, and a charge acceptance means 122. Each part of the processing unit 11 is realized by the processor of the charge system 10 executing a predetermined program. At least one of the parts of the processing unit 11 may be configured by hardware. Furthermore, the functions of the processing unit 11 may be realized by the cooperation of multiple charge systems 10 that can communicate with each other.

[0021] The prepaid card issuance means 111 accepts a request for a prepaid card from a user, issues a prepaid card if the user information does not meet the predetermined conditions for issuing a prepaid card, and links the prepaid card with the user's account information. Here, user information refers to information about the user. User information includes, for example, the user's name, age, address, telephone number, etc. The predetermined conditions include, for example, the user being an authorized recipient, a recipient requiring attention, no communication required, deceased, a recipient account requiring attention, a transfer suspension (fraudulent account), a non-resident, etc. These predetermined conditions are also called exclusion conditions. Account information refers to information about the user's account. Account information includes, for example, the account holder's name, account number, account type, and information that identifies the transaction details for that account, such as the transaction amount, description, transaction date, and account balance after transaction.

[0022] Acquisition means 112 is a means for acquiring account information linked to a prepaid card. Transfer determination means 113 is a means for determining, based on the account information, whether or not salary transfers have been made to the user's account for a predetermined period. Here, the predetermined period is, for example, a period of 2 months, 3 months, 6 months, etc.

[0023] The deposit amount determination means 114 is a means that determines, based on account information, whether the amount of salary deposits made to the user's account over a predetermined period is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. The control means 115 is a means that controls the first charge application input means, which inputs whether or not to initiate an application for the first charge request. The estimation means 116 is a means that estimates the next scheduled salary deposit date for the user based on account information.

[0024] The charging means 117 is a means of charging the first amount received from the financial institution onto the prepaid card when the charging acceptance means 122 accepts a request for a first charge, the transfer determination means 113 determines that salary transfers have been made to the user's account for a predetermined period, and the transfer deposit amount determination means 114 determines that the amount of salary transfers made to the user's account for a predetermined period is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. Furthermore, if the charging means 117 accepts a request for a second charge and the second amount related to the second charge request is deposited in the user's account linked to the prepaid card, it charges the second amount received from the user's account linked to the prepaid card onto the prepaid card.

[0025] The scheduled payment date change means 118 is a means of changing the next scheduled payment date of salary, which has been estimated by the estimation means 116, based on an input operation that changes the scheduled payment date of the user's salary. The refund suspension means 119 is a means of suspending the refund of the amount charged by the first charge when the charge means 117 has performed the first charge to the prepaid card. In other words, the refund suspension means 119 suspends the refund from the charge balance to the user's account for the amount of the first charge. The debt collection means 120 is a means of collecting the debt arising from the first charge from the user's account on the next scheduled payment date of salary.

[0026] The first amount selection means 121 is a means for receiving input operations to select a first amount. The charge acceptance means 122 receives a request for a first charge from the user via the communication network 30. The charge acceptance means 122 also receives a request for a second charge from the user via the communication network 30.

[0027] The communication unit 12 is an interface for sending and receiving data and information between the financial institution's web server and user terminal 20 via wireless or wired communication. The communication method and standards used by the communication unit 12 are not particularly limited.

[0028] The input unit 13 is an interface for the user of the charging system 10 to input various information. It consists of the input unit 13, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and other information input means. The display unit 14 has image display means such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display.

[0029] The volatile memory unit 15 is composed of, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory) and temporarily stores data and variables necessary for executing various processing programs. The non-volatile memory unit 16 is composed of, for example, ROM or a hard disk drive and non-volatilely stores various processing programs and data.

[0030] The charging system 10 does not necessarily have to include an input unit 13 and a display unit 14. In other words, the charging system may be configured by a server or the like.

[0031] In this configuration of the charge network system 1, the present embodiment provides a system environment that allows a user to receive funds from a financial institution onto a prepaid card linked to their account, provided that the user's account has received salary deposits for a predetermined period, and the amount of salary deposits for that period is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount.

[0032] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the sequence of events when the first charge is performed in the charge system shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 3, in the charge network system 1 configured as shown in Figure 1, if a user who has an account that receives salary deposits for a predetermined period or longer and receives salary deposits of a predetermined amount or more during that period suddenly needs funds, the user uses the first charge service, which is a service related to the first charge that charges the first amount received from the financial institution onto a prepaid card. Hereinafter, the first charge service will also be referred to as the deferred charge service as necessary. This first charge service is a deferred charge service that, for example, allows charging even if the user's deposit account has no balance, and the charge amount is paid on the next salary deposit date, and is a service similar to a salary advance system.

[0033] In the example shown in Figure 3, when the user uses the deferred payment charge service on November 12th, the deferred payment charge is executed, and as shown in the card balance of the prepaid card, the charge system 10 charges 30,000 yen to the prepaid card. Also in the example shown in Figure 3, when the user uses the prepaid card on November 15th, the card balance becomes 0 yen. Then, in the example shown in Figure 3, when payday (the scheduled date for the next salary payment) arrives on November 25th, the financial institution collects the 30,000 yen receivable arising from the deferred payment charge, i.e., the advance payment receivable, from the user's account via the charge system 10, and deposits the remaining salary into the user's account. The following will explain this series of processes in detail.

[0034] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating the processing details of the prepaid card issuance process performed by the charging system according to the first embodiment. This prepaid card issuance process is realized by the processing unit 11 reading and executing the prepaid card issuance process program stored in the non-volatile storage unit 16. This prepaid card issuance process is performed, for example, when a request for a prepaid card is received from a user terminal 20 via the communication network 30.

[0035] As shown in Figure 4, first, the prepaid card issuing means 111 in the processing unit 11 of the charging system 10 displays a prepaid card issuing screen (step S10). That is, the prepaid card issuing means 111 causes the user terminal 20 connected via the communication network 30 to display a prepaid card issuing screen for accepting requests for prepaid card issuance. This prepaid card issuing screen displays, for example, a request button for accepting requests for prepaid card issuance.

[0036] Next, as shown in Figure 4, the prepaid card issuing means 111 determines whether or not it has received a request to issue a prepaid card (step S11). Specifically, the prepaid card issuing means 111 determines whether or not it has received a request to issue a prepaid card from the user terminal 20 via the communication network 30. If, in step S11, the prepaid card issuing means 111 has not received a request to issue a prepaid card (step S11: No), it waits by repeating steps S10 and S11 until it receives a request to issue a prepaid card.

[0037] On the other hand, if the issuance of a prepaid card is accepted in step S11 (step S11: Yes), the prepaid card issuance means 111 acquires user information (step S13). Specifically, the prepaid card issuance means 111 acquires user information about the user who requested the issuance of a prepaid card via the communication network 30. More specifically, the prepaid card issuance means 111 acquires user information based on the information entered by the user when requesting the issuance of a prepaid card. Although the prepaid card issuance means 111 acquires user information via the communication network 30, the acquisition of user information is not limited to the communication network 30. That is, the source from which user information is acquired is arbitrary, and the prepaid card issuance means 111 may acquire user information from, for example, the non-volatile storage unit 16 or an external storage device.

[0038] Next, as shown in Figure 4, the prepaid card issuing means 111 determines whether or not predetermined conditions are met (step S15). Specifically, the prepaid card issuing means 111 determines whether or not the user information meets predetermined conditions based on the user information obtained in step S13. More specifically, the prepaid card issuing means 111 determines whether or not the user falls under predetermined conditions based on the user information. In other words, the prepaid card issuing means 111 determines whether or not predetermined conditions are met by determining whether or not the user who requested the issuance of a prepaid card falls under any of the predetermined conditions, such as being an authorized recipient, a recipient requiring attention, not requiring communication, being deceased, designating a transfer suspension (fraudulent account), or being a non-resident.

[0039] Then, in step S15, if the predetermined conditions are not met, that is, if the predetermined conditions are not satisfied (step S15: No), the prepaid card issuing means 111 issues a prepaid card (step S17). Specifically, the prepaid card issuing means 111 issues a so-called virtual card, which is issued as a prepaid card and contains only the information necessary for payment, such as the prepaid card number and expiration date. The prepaid card issuing means 111 may also issue a physical card along with the virtual card as a prepaid card.

[0040] Next, as shown in Figure 4, the prepaid card issuing means 111 links the prepaid card with the account information (step S19). Specifically, the prepaid card issuing means 111 links the prepaid card number of the prepaid card issued in step S17 with the account information included in the user information.

[0041] Figure 5 shows a management list in the first embodiment in which the username, prepaid card number, and account number are linked. As shown in Figure 5, the management list LT1 links the username of the user to whom the prepaid card was issued, the prepaid card number of the issued prepaid card, and the account number. This management list LT1 is stored, for example, in the non-volatile storage unit 16.

[0042] As shown in Figure 5, the management list LT1 indicates that prepaid cards have been issued to users "AAA" and "EEE". The prepaid card number for user "AAA" is "111-111-11", and this prepaid card number is linked to the account number "WWWXXX". The prepaid card number for user "EEE" is "111-112-15", and this prepaid card number for user "EEE" is linked to the account number "YYYZZZ".

[0043] In Figure 5, the management list LT1 is configured to link the username, prepaid card number, and account number. However, the information linked in the management list LT1 is not limited to the username, prepaid card number, and account number. For example, the information linked in the management list LT1 may include information other than the username, prepaid card number, and account number.

[0044] On the other hand, in step S15, if the predetermined conditions are met, that is, if the predetermined conditions are satisfied (step S15: Yes), the prepaid card issuing means 111 notifies that it cannot issue the card (step S21). Specifically, the prepaid card issuing means 111 notifies the user terminal 20 via the communication network 30 that it cannot issue a prepaid card.

[0045] The prepaid card issuance process according to this embodiment is terminated by executing the process in step S19 or step S21.

[0046] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating the processing details of the target user extraction process performed by the charge system 10 according to the first embodiment. This target user extraction process is realized by the processing unit 11 reading and executing the target user extraction process program stored in the non-volatile storage unit 16. This target user extraction process is executed at predetermined timings, and in this embodiment, it is executed on specific calendar days such as the 1st of each month or the last day of each month. However, the predetermined timing at which the target user extraction process is executed is not limited to these, and it may also be executed on specific days of the week such as every Monday, or at predetermined intervals such as every 10 days.

[0047] As shown in Figure 6, first, the acquisition means 112 in the processing unit 11 of the charge system 10 acquires account information associated with the prepaid card (step S31). Specifically, the acquisition means 112 acquires account information associated with the prepaid card based on the account number associated with each user's prepaid card number included in the management list LT1 stored in the non-volatile storage unit 16. In this embodiment, the account information acquired in step S31 is that of one user, and the process described later is repeated for all users.

[0048] Next, as shown in Figure 6, the transfer determination means 113 in the processing unit 11 of the charge system 10 extracts transfer information (step S33). Specifically, the transfer determination means 113 extracts transfer information from the user's account information obtained in step S31. More specifically, the transfer determination means 113 selects and extracts transactions containing words such as salary transfer, salary, and wages from the summary field, which is one of the pieces of information that identifies the transaction details, and also extracts the processing amount for transactions containing words such as salary transfer, salary, and wages.

[0049] Next, as shown in Figure 6, the transfer determination means 113 determines whether or not salary transfers have been made for a predetermined period (step S35). Specifically, based on the transfer information extracted in step S33, the transfer determination means 113 determines whether or not salary transfers have been made every month for the past six months or more, which is the predetermined period. Note that setting this condition is arbitrary; for example, the predetermined period may be three months or twelve months. Alternatively, the condition may be that salary transfers have been made for a predetermined number of times, for example, five times or more, during a predetermined period of six months.

[0050] Then, in step S35, if it is determined that salary payments have been made for a predetermined period (step S35: Yes), the payment amount determination means 114 in the processing unit 11 of the charge system 10 determines whether the amount of salary payments has been made equal to or greater than a predetermined amount (step S37). Specifically, based on the payment information extracted in step S33, the payment amount determination means 114 determines whether the amount of salary payments has been made for a predetermined period of 6 months or more, and whether the amount has been 70,000 yen or more. The setting of the payment amount condition is arbitrary; for example, it may be 60,000 yen or more, or 100,000 yen or more. Alternatively, the average payment amount for the past 6 months or more may be 70,000 yen or more.

[0051] Then, in step S37, if it is determined that the amount of the salary transfer is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount (step S37: Yes), the transfer amount determination means 114 registers the user as a target (step S39). Specifically, the transfer amount determination means 114 registers the user in the service permission list as a user who can use the first charge service. By being registered in this service permission list, the user becomes a user who can use the first charge service.

[0052] After the processing in step S39, if it is determined in step S35 that the salary has not been transferred for a predetermined period (step S35: No), or if the amount of the salary to be transferred in step S37 is not equal to or greater than a predetermined amount (step S37: No), the transfer determination means 113 determines whether or not the determination has been made for all users (step S41). Specifically, the transfer determination means 113 determines whether or not this target user extraction process has been performed for all users registered in the management list LT1, that is, for all users who have been issued a prepaid card.

[0053] Then, if a decision has not been made for all users in step S41 (step S41: No), the process returns to step S31 described above, and the same process is repeated for the next user. On the other hand, if a decision has been made for all users in step S41 (step S41: Yes), the target user extraction process according to this embodiment is terminated. As can be seen from this, users who have not received salary deposits into their accounts for a predetermined period, and who have not received a predetermined amount of salary deposits during that period, will not be registered in the service permission list.

[0054] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating the processing details of the charge execution process performed by the charge system according to the first embodiment. This charge execution process is realized by the processing unit 11 reading and executing the charge execution process program stored in the non-volatile storage unit 16. This charge execution process is performed, for example, when a user logs in to their My Page related to a prepaid card from a user terminal 20 via the communication network 30. In other words, it is a process that is performed individually when each user logs in to their My Page related to a prepaid card.

[0055] As shown in Figure 7, first, the control means 115 in the processing unit 11 of the charging system 10 displays the prepaid card screen on the user terminal 20 (step S51). That is, the control means 115 causes the user terminal 20, which is connected via the communication network 30, to display the prepaid card screen as the portal screen after logging into My Page.

[0056] Figure 8 shows an example of a prepaid card screen displayed on a user terminal by the charge execution process according to the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 8, the prepaid card screen W10 includes a prepaid card information display field F10 that displays, for example, the prepaid card number, the type of prepaid card, the expiration date of the prepaid card, and the balance of the prepaid card, and a usage history display field F12 that displays the most recent usage history of the prepaid card.

[0057] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, the prepaid card screen W10 also displays a details button B10 that the user touches when inquiring about the details of the prepaid card displayed in the prepaid card information display field F10, a charge button B12 that the user touches when using a service related to a second charge from the account linked to the prepaid card displayed in the prepaid card information display field F10, that is, when initiating an application for a second charge request, a deferred charge button B14 that the user touches when using the deferred charge service, which is a service related to the first charge, that is, when initiating an application for a first charge request, and other buttons B16 that the user touches when performing other settings. The deferred charge button B14 corresponds to the first charge application input means in this embodiment. The charge button B12 corresponds to the second charge application input means in this embodiment.

[0058] In step S51, if the user touches and selects the charge button B12 on the prepaid card screen W10, a second charge execution screen is displayed on the user terminal. The second charge execution screen displays a second amount selection field for selecting the second amount related to the second charge request, and a second charge execution button for entering the second charge request. To perform the second charge, the user enters an amount in the second amount selection field and touches and selects the second charge execution button. When this second charge execution button is touched and selected, the charge reception means 122 receives a request for a second charge from the user via the communication network 30. The charge means 117 then charges the prepaid card with the second amount received from the user's account linked to the prepaid card, provided that the charge reception means 122 has received the request for a second charge and the second amount related to the second charge request is deposited in the user's account linked to the prepaid card.

[0059] Furthermore, in step S51, when a user logs into My Page, the control means 115 determines whether the user is registered in the service permission list in the target user extraction process described above. If the user is registered in the service permission list, that is, if the transfer determination means 113 determines that salary transfers have been made to the user's account for a predetermined period, and the transfer deposit amount determination means 114 determines that the amount of salary transfers to the user's account for a predetermined period is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, the control means 114 controls the deferred payment charge button B14 to enable input operation. On the other hand, if the user is not registered in the service permission list, that is, if the transfer determination means 113 determines that salary transfers have not been made to the user's account for a predetermined period, or if the transfer deposit amount determination means 114 determines that the amount of salary transfers to the user's account for a predetermined period is not equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, the control means 114 controls the deferred payment charge button B14 to disable input operation. Therefore, if a user is not registered in the service permission list, they cannot use the deferred payment charge service. In this embodiment, the explanation will proceed on the premise that in step S51, the user touched and selected the deferred payment charge button B14.

[0060] When the deferred payment charge button B14 is touched and selected, the control means 115 displays a deferred payment charge service overview screen on the user terminal (step S53). Specifically, in order to allow the user to confirm the overview of the deferred payment charge service, the control means 115 causes the user terminal 20, which is connected via the communication network 30, to display a deferred payment charge service overview screen containing information about the deferred payment charge service.

[0061] Figure 9 is a diagram showing an example of the post-payment charge service overview screen displayed on the user terminal by the charge execution process according to the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 9, the post-payment charge service overview screen W20 includes a post-payment charge service overview display field F20 that displays an overview of the post-payment charge service, and a precautions display field F22 that displays precautions to be taken when using the post-payment charge service.

[0062] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 9, the Postpay Charge Service Overview Screen W20 displays a "Next" button B20 that the user touches to proceed with the Postpay Charge Service. The Postpay Charge Service Overview Screen W20 may also display a "Back" button that the user touches to return to the Prepaid Card Screen W10. If the user touches the "Back" button, the charge execution process shown in Figure 7 is terminated. In this embodiment, the explanation proceeds on the premise that the user touches the "Next" button B20.

[0063] When the "Next" button B20 is touched and selected, the control means 115 displays the terms of service screen (step S55), as shown in Figure 7. Specifically, the control means 115 causes the user terminal 20 connected via the communication network 30 to display the terms of service screen regarding the deferred payment charge service.

[0064] Figure 10 shows an example of a terms of service screen displayed on the user terminal 20 by the charge execution process according to the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 10, this terms of service screen W30 includes, for example, a terms of service display field F30 that displays the terms of service that the user needs to understand and accept in order to use this deferred payment charge service, and an amount selection field F32 that allows the user to select the amount to be charged when executing the deferred payment charge service.

[0065] Furthermore, the first amount selection means 121 accepts input operations via the amount selection field F32 to select the charge amount when performing a deferred charge service. As shown in Figure 10, the amount selection field F32 displays the first amount of 30,000 yen selected by the user. For example, the user touches the amount selection field F32 to expand the pull-down list and touches to select any first amount from 10,000 yen, 20,000 yen, and 30,000 yen. The first amount selection means 121 accepts the first amount selected by the user and displays the selected amount in the amount selection field F32. Note that the amounts selectable in the pull-down list are arbitrary and may be selectable in increments of 1,000 yen or 100,000 yen. Also, the method of selecting the first amount is arbitrary and may be such that the user enters their desired amount within a predetermined range.

[0066] The Terms of Service display field F30 is configured to allow users to scroll vertically because it is not possible to display all the terms on a single screen. Therefore, users will review and understand the terms of service displayed as text information in this Terms of Service display field F30 by scrolling.

[0067] In this embodiment, the deferred payment charge service is based on three contracts concluded between the financial institution and the user: a deferred payment wage claim assignment contract, a collection agency contract, and a direct debit contract. Therefore, the user understands the contents of these three contracts from the terms of service displayed in the terms of service display field F30. If the user agrees to these three contracts, they touch the agree button B30 to select it. When the agree button B30 is touched and selected, the user is deemed to have agreed that the claim arising from the first charge will be collected from the user's account on the next scheduled payday. In other words, the agree button B30 is a button for inputting whether or not the user agrees to the collection of the claim arising from the first charge from the user's account on the next scheduled payday. In addition, the terms of service screen W30 displays (not shown) a disagree button for the user to touch if they do not agree to this contract. This agree button B30 corresponds to the debt collection agreement input means in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the explanation will proceed on the premise that the user has selected a first amount of 30,000 yen.

[0068] Next, as shown in Figure 7, the control means 115 determines whether or not the user has agreed to the terms of service (step S56). Specifically, the control means 115 determines whether or not the user has agreed to the terms of service by accepting the selection of either the agree button B30 or the disagree button on the terms of service screen W30.

[0069] Then, in step S56, if the consent button B30 is touched and selected, that is, if the user agrees to the terms of service (step S56: Yes), the control means 115 displays the first charge execution screen (step S57). Specifically, the control means 115 causes the first charge execution screen to be displayed on the user terminal 20 connected via the communication network 30.

[0070] Figure 11 is a diagram showing an example of a first charge execution screen displayed on a user terminal by the charge execution process according to the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 11, the first charge execution screen W40 includes a charge date display field F40 that displays the charge date (today's date, i.e., the date on which the deferred payment charge service is being used), a usage amount display field F42 that displays the usage amount, a fee display field F44 that displays the fee, a total amount display field F46 that displays the total amount of the usage amount and the fee, a withdrawal date display field F48 that displays the withdrawal date, and a note display field F50 that displays notes to be noted when performing a deferred payment charge.

[0071] The amount displayed in the usage amount display field F42 is the first amount selected by the user via the amount selection field F32 on the terms of service screen W30. Furthermore, on this first charge execution screen W40, the user may be allowed to arbitrarily specify the amount to be charged later. This is to allow the user to change the usage amount after considering the fees.

[0072] In the example shown in Figure 11, the financial institution's fee displayed in the fee display field F44 is also a fixed amount. In other words, the fee that the user pays to the financial institution when receiving a deferred payment charge is fixed. In this example in Figure 11, it is set at 300 yen. However, this fee paid to the financial institution does not have to be a fixed amount; it may be a variable amount. For example, if the user's account has been receiving salary deposits for more than one year, the fee may be set lower, for example, to 200 yen.

[0073] Furthermore, if the user can arbitrarily change the amount to be charged later, a predetermined percentage of the first amount may be set as a fee and displayed in the fee display field F44. For example, if the predetermined percentage is 1% and the amount to be charged later is 50,000 yen, the fee that the user pays to the financial institution will be 500 yen. Therefore, the amount of 500 yen will be displayed in the fee display field F44.

[0074] The withdrawal date display field F48 displays the user's next scheduled salary payment date as the withdrawal date. Specifically, the estimation means 116 estimates the user's next scheduled salary payment date based on the account information. More specifically, the estimation means 116 estimates the date on which a past salary payment transaction was made from the account information as the next scheduled salary payment date. For example, if the account information indicates that salary payments are made on the 25th of each month, the next scheduled salary payment date is expected to be the 25th of the following month. Therefore, the estimation means 116 estimates the next scheduled salary payment date based on the date on which a past salary payment transaction was made in the user's account information and displays it in the withdrawal date display field F48.

[0075] However, the salary payment date may be changed to an earlier or later date due to the employer's circumstances. For this reason, the withdrawal date displayed in the withdrawal date display field F48 may be made editable by the user. For example, if the user touches and selects the withdrawal date display field F48, the withdrawal date display field F48 becomes the withdrawal date input field. In this embodiment, along with the next scheduled salary payment date estimated by the estimation means 116, the next business day after the next scheduled salary payment date is displayed as an option. Note that candidate dates other than the next business day after the next scheduled salary payment date estimated by the estimation means 116 may also be displayed as options. For example, the business day before the next scheduled salary payment date may be displayed as an option.

[0076] The scheduled date change means 118 then accepts the input operation of selecting the actual withdrawal date from the options displayed in the withdrawal date input field as an input operation to change the scheduled date of the user's next salary payment, and changes the scheduled date of the next salary payment estimated by the estimation means 116 based on the input operation of selecting the actual withdrawal date.

[0077] Furthermore, the estimation means 116 may acquire calendar information related to the calendar and estimate the next scheduled payment date based on the calendar information along with the account information. For example, since the next scheduled payment date estimated by the estimation means 116 may fall on a weekend, public holiday, or a financial institution holiday such as the year-end and New Year period, the estimation means 116 can estimate the next scheduled payment date to be the opening day of the financial institution before or after a financial institution holiday by estimating the next scheduled payment date based on calendar information including financial institution holidays along with the account information.

[0078] On this first charge execution screen W40, users who have entered and confirmed various information and decided to receive a deferred charge touch the first charge execution button B40 to select it. When this first charge execution button B40 is touched and selected, the charge acceptance means 122 receives a request for the first charge from the user via the communication network 30. Therefore, when the first charge execution button B40 is touched and selected, the charge means 117 charges the amount that the user should receive as a deferred charge as the first amount to the user's prepaid card (step S59). In this way, the charge means 117 charges the first amount to the user's prepaid card when the consent button B30 is entered, indicating consent that the debt arising from the first charge will be collected from the user's account on the next scheduled payday.

[0079] In this embodiment, the amount charged to the user's prepaid card in step S59 is the amount set as the amount to be charged later on the terms of service screen W30 or the first charge execution screen W40. In other words, in the example of the first charge execution screen W40 in Figure 11, 30,000 yen, which is the amount to be charged later, is charged to the user's prepaid card. In this case, the financial institution's fee is collected when the financial institution collects the debt on the next scheduled salary payment date, and the amount is the amount of the charged later plus the fee.

[0080] However, instead of directly charging the amount of the deferred payment charge to the prepaid card, it may be possible to deduct the financial institution's fees from the amount of the deferred payment charge before charging the user's prepaid card.

[0081] Simultaneously with performing a deferred payment charge, the charge means 117 stores first charge information, which is information related to the first charge, in the non-volatile storage unit 16. For example, the non-volatile storage unit 16 stores information including at least the user's name, account type, account number, deferred payment charge amount, deferred payment charge date, and the next scheduled salary payment date as the first charge information.

[0082] Next, as shown in Figure 7, if the charging process in step S59 is executed, the control means 115 displays a completion screen on the user's terminal 20 (step S61). Specifically, the control means 115 causes the user terminal 20, which is connected via the communication network 30, to display a completion screen.

[0083] Figure 12 shows an example of a completion screen displayed on a user terminal after the charge execution process according to the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 12, the completion screen W50 is constructed by overlaying a completion message display field F60 on the first charge execution screen W40 described above. Upon confirming that the post-payment charge has been completed by this completion message display field F60, the user touches the confirmation button B50 to select it.

[0084] Next, as shown in Figure 7, the refund halting means 119 in the processing unit 11 of the charge system 10 stops the refund of the amount charged by the execution of the first charge (step S63). Specifically, the refund halting means 119 stops the refund of the amount charged by the execution of the first charge when the charge means 117 performs the first charge to the prepaid card. More specifically, the refund halting means 119 stops the refund of the amount charged by the execution of the first charge while the first charge information is stored in the non-volatile storage unit 16. This is intended to reduce the risk of loss, and also to prevent legal problems from arising with the first charge service, as the amount charged to the prepaid card by the execution of the first charge would be refunded to the user's account and the first charge service would be evaluated as a loan.

[0085] On the other hand, if the "Disagree" button is touched and selected in step S56, that is, if the user does not agree to the terms of service (step S56: No), or if step S63 is executed, the charge execution process according to this embodiment is terminated.

[0086] Figure 13 is a flowchart illustrating the processing details of the debt collection process performed by the charge system 10 according to the first embodiment. This process is achieved by the processing unit 11 reading and executing the debt collection processing program stored in the non-volatile storage unit 16.

[0087] This debt collection process is performed at predetermined intervals. In this embodiment, for example, it is performed every business day after the nighttime processing for the charge system 10 at the financial institution is completed. This is because the nighttime processing involves deposit processing, including salary transfers, to the user accounts of the charge system 10, and the time immediately after the completion of this nighttime processing is the most suitable time to collect debts from the user accounts. However, the predetermined interval at which the debt collection process is performed is not limited to this. For example, it may be performed at midnight on the last business day, or at 3:00 PM on every business day.

[0088] Furthermore, this debt collection process is not necessarily required for the charge system 10. For example, this debt collection process may be performed by a system separate from the charge system 10.

[0089] As shown in Figure 13, first, the debt collection means 120 determines whether today is the scheduled payment date for the salary of a user who has received a deferred payment charge (step S71). Specifically, the debt collection means 120 determines whether the day on which this debt collection process is being performed is the scheduled payment date for a particular user who has received a deferred payment charge, as specified on the first charge execution screen W40.

[0090] As described above, the first charge information for users who have received the first charge is stored in the non-volatile storage unit 16. Therefore, the debt collection means 120 reads the first charge information stored in the non-volatile storage unit 16 to obtain the next scheduled salary payment date specified by a user, and determines whether this obtained salary payment date matches the date on which the debt collection process is being executed. For this reason, in the debt collection process in this embodiment, the process described later is repeatedly executed for all users who have used the deferred payment charge service.

[0091] Then, in step S71, if the day on which the debt collection process is being performed is the scheduled salary payment date specified by the user (step S71: Yes), the charge system 10 determines whether the balance in the user's account is equal to or greater than the amount of the debt incurred by the first charge (step S73). In the example described above, the amount of the debt incurred by the first charge is 30,110 yen, so the debt collection means 120 determines whether the balance in the user's account is 30,110 yen or more.

[0092] Then, in step S37, if the balance in the user's account is equal to or greater than the amount of the claim arising from the first charge (step S73: Yes), the debt collection means 120 performs debt collection (step S75). In the above example, the debt collection means 120 recovers 30,110 yen from the user's account. In other words, in this embodiment, the first amount that the charge means 117 receives from the financial institution and charges to the prepaid card is the amount charged to the prepaid card, and the debt collection means 120 in this embodiment recovers the first amount plus a fee from the user's account.

[0093] Furthermore, if, for example, the financial institution's fee is collected at the time of the first charge, then in the execution of debt collection in step S75, only the amount the user received from the deferred payment charge will be collected from the user's account. In the example above, the user received a deferred payment charge of 30,000 yen, so 30,000 yen will be collected from the user's account.

[0094] Next, as shown in Figure 13, the debt collection means 120 deletes the user's information from the first charge information stored in the non-volatile memory unit 16 (step S77). In other words, the debt incurred by this user receiving a deferred payment charge is extinguished from the charge system 10 by deleting the user's information from the first charge information.

[0095] Next, as shown in Figure 13, the debt collection means 120 releases the suspension of refunds (step S79). Specifically, the debt collection means 120 releases the suspension of refunds to the user's account by simultaneously collecting the debt from the user's account and deleting the user's information from the first charge information stored in the non-volatile storage unit 16.

[0096] After step S79 is performed, or if it is not the scheduled salary payment date specified by the user (step S71: No), or if the balance in the user's account is not equal to or greater than the amount of the debt (step S73: No), the debt collection means 120 determines whether or not this debt collection process has been performed for all users included in the first charge information (step S81).

[0097] If this debt collection process has not been performed for all users included in the first charge information (step S81: No), the process returns to step S71 described above, and the process described above is repeated for the next user included in the first charge information. On the other hand, if this debt collection process has been performed for all users included in the first charge information (step S81: Yes), the debt collection means 120 terminates this debt collection process.

[0098] Figure 14 is a flowchart illustrating the processing details of the debt collection repetition process performed by the charge system 10 according to the first embodiment. This process is achieved by the processing unit 11 reading and executing the debt collection repetition process program stored in the non-volatile storage unit 16.

[0099] This debt collection repetition process is executed at predetermined intervals. In this embodiment, for example, it is executed every business day after the completion of nighttime processing for the charge system 10 at the financial institution. This is because nighttime processing involves deposit processing, including salary transfers, to the user accounts of the charge system 10, and the period immediately after the completion of this nighttime processing is the most suitable time to collect debts from the user accounts. However, the predetermined interval at which the debt collection repetition process is executed is not limited to this; for example, it may be executed once every three business days or once a week.

[0100] Furthermore, this debt collection repetition process is not necessarily a required process for the charge system 10. For example, this debt collection process may be executed by a system separate from the charge system 10.

[0101] As shown in Figure 14, first, the debt collection means 120 determines, based on today, whether the scheduled salary payment date for the user who received the deferred payment charge has passed (step S91). Specifically, the debt collection means 120 determines whether the day on which this debt collection repetition process is being executed has already passed the scheduled salary payment date specified on the first charge execution screen W40 for a particular user who received the deferred payment charge.

[0102] As described above, the first charge information for users who have received a deferred payment charge is stored in the non-volatile storage unit 16. Furthermore, if the debt incurred by the first charge has been recovered from the user's account on the scheduled salary payment date through the debt collection process described above, that user has already been removed from this first charge information. Therefore, the users remaining in the first charge information stored in the non-volatile storage unit 16 are those from whom the debt incurred by the first charge has not been recovered. For this reason, in this embodiment, users whose scheduled salary payment date has already passed are extracted from among the users remaining in this first charge information. In the debt collection repetition process in this embodiment, the process described later is repeatedly executed for all users remaining in the first charge information.

[0103] Note that the processing in steps S73 to S81 following step S91 in the debt collection repetition process is the same as the processing in steps S73 to S81 in the debt collection process described above, so the explanation is omitted. If this debt collection process has been performed for all users included in the first charge information (step S81: Yes), the debt collection means 120 terminates this debt collection process.

[0104] As described above, according to the charge network system 1 and charge system 10 of this embodiment, it is determined whether or not salary deposits have been made into the user's account for a predetermined period, and whether or not the amount of salary deposits into the user's account during that period is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. If it is determined that salary deposits have been made into the user's account for a predetermined period, and that the amount deposited into the user's account during that period is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, the first amount received from the financial institution is charged to the prepaid card. Therefore, users can easily and quickly raise funds. Furthermore, since this fundraising is carried out by the charge system 10, it is possible to easily and quickly raise funds while reducing the burden on the employing company during introduction and operation, as well as reducing the psychological burden on the user of having their borrowing known to their employing company, while users whose salaries are deposited into a financial institution account can easily and quickly raise funds.

[0105] Furthermore, assuming the user's consent, the charge system 10 will automatically collect the debt arising from the first charge from the user's account on the next scheduled payday specified by the user, thereby reducing the workload required for financial institutions to collect debts. In addition, employers will not have to perform administrative tasks such as deducting the amount of salary advance paid from payroll deductions or listing the amount of salary deductions on payslips when collecting debts, thus reducing the workload required for employers to collect debts.

[0106] Furthermore, if the debt incurred by the first charge cannot be collected on the scheduled salary payment date, the charge system 10 will continue to attempt to collect the debt incurred by the first charge from the user's account at predetermined intervals, thereby reducing the workload of financial institutions that repeatedly attempt to collect debts.

[0107] [Second Embodiment] In the charge system 10 relating to the charge network system 1 according to the first embodiment described above, the first amount is selected by the user from a predetermined range of options such as 10,000 yen, 20,000 yen, and 30,000 yen, but is not limited to this. In the charge system 10 relating to the charge network system 1 according to the second embodiment, the range of options for the first amount may be changed by calculating the expected salary payment amount based on the user's work information. The differences from the first embodiment will be described below.

[0108] Figure 15 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the charge system 10 according to the second embodiment. As shown in Figure 15, the function of the first amount selection means in the processing unit 11 differs from that of the first embodiment described above, so it will be referred to as the first amount selection means 121a. The configuration and functions other than the first amount selection means 121a are the same as those in Figure 2 of the first embodiment, so their explanation will be omitted.

[0109] The first amount selection means 121a according to the second embodiment changes the range of first amounts that the user can select based on labor information. Here, labor information refers to information about the user's work at the company that employs the user. This labor information includes at least the user's attendance information and the user's hourly wage information. The user's attendance information refers to information about the user's attendance over a predetermined period. Attendance information may be, for example, the total working hours over a predetermined period, or the working hours per month or per day over a predetermined period. It may also be the working hours for one month up to the date the deferred payment charge service was applied for, or the working hours for the past six months up to the date the deferred payment charge service was applied for, or the working hours within the payroll period of the month in which the deferred payment charge service was applied for. The hourly wage information refers to information about the user's hourly wage. Note that the hourly wage information is not limited to hourly wages, but may be any information about wages over a predetermined period of time.

[0110] Figure 16 is a flowchart illustrating the processing details of the first amount selection range change process executed by the charge system according to the second embodiment. This first amount selection range change process is realized by the processing unit 11 reading and executing the first amount selection range change process program stored in the non-volatile storage unit 16. This first amount selection range change process is executed when an application for a deferred payment charge service is received from a user.

[0111] As shown in Figure 16, first, the first amount selection means 121a in the processing unit 11 of the charge system 10 determines whether or not it has accepted an application for the first charge service (step S101). Specifically, the first amount selection means 121a determines whether or not it has accepted an application for the post-payment charge service by determining whether or not the user has touched and selected the post-payment charge button B14 via the user terminal 20 connected via the communication network 30. If it is determined in step S101 that it has not accepted an application for the post-payment charge service (step S101: No), the first amount selection means 121a waits by repeating the process in step S101 until it accepts an application for the post-payment charge service.

[0112] On the other hand, if an application for the deferred charge service is accepted in step S101, that is, if an application for the first charge service is accepted (step S101: Yes), the acquisition means 112 in the processing unit 11 of the charge system 10 acquires the user's work information (step S103). Specifically, the acquisition means 112 acquires the user's work information from the user's workplace via the communication network 30. More specifically, the acquisition means 112 acquires the user's work information from the payroll calculation system of the employing company, including the working hours during the payroll calculation period for the current month and the hourly wage information for the current month. Although the acquisition means 112 acquires the user's work information from the payroll calculation system of the employing company, if the user's work information is stored in the non-volatile storage unit 16, the acquisition means 112 may acquire the user's work information from the non-volatile storage unit 16.

[0113] Next, as shown in Figure 16, the acquisition means 112 acquires the payroll transfer destination information (step S104). Specifically, the acquisition means 112 acquires the payroll account number as the transfer destination information from the payroll calculation system of the user's employing company.

[0114] Next, as shown in Figure 16, the acquisition means 112 acquires account information (step S105). Specifically, the acquisition means 112 acquires the account number associated with the prepaid card from the management list LT1 stored in the non-volatile storage unit 16 as account information.

[0115] Next, as shown in Figure 16, the first amount selection means 121a determines whether the salary deposit account number and the account number associated with the prepaid card match (step S106). Specifically, the first amount selection means 121a determines whether the salary deposit account number and the account number associated with the prepaid card match by comparing the salary deposit account number in the deposit account information obtained in step S104 with the account number in the account information associated with the prepaid card obtained in step S105.

[0116] Then, in step S106, if the salary deposit account number matches the account number associated with the prepaid card (step S106: Yes), the first amount selection means 121a calculates the planned salary deposit amount (step S107). Specifically, the first amount selection means 121a calculates the planned salary deposit amount to be deposited on the next scheduled payday based on the attendance information and hourly wage information in the labor information. More specifically, the first amount selection means 121a calculates the planned salary deposit amount to be deposited on the next scheduled payday based on the working hours during the current month's pay period and the current month's hourly wage information.

[0117] Next, as shown in Figure 16, the first amount selection means 121a changes the selection range of the first amount (step S109). Specifically, the first amount selection means 121a changes the selection range of the first amount that the user can select according to the planned salary payment amount calculated in step S105. For example, if the planned salary payment amount is between 60,000 yen and 79,999 yen, the selection range of the first amount may be changed to 1 yen to 30,000 yen, and if it is between 80,000 yen and 99,999 yen, the selection range of the first amount may be changed to 1 yen to 50,000 yen. This changed selection range of the first amount is stored in the non-volatile storage unit 16 and used in the charge execution process when the user selects the amount to charge when executing the deferred payment charge service.

[0118] In step S106, if the recipient account number and the account number associated with the prepaid card do not match (step S106: No), or by executing step S109, the first amount selection range change process according to this embodiment is terminated.

[0119] As described above, in the charge system 10 according to the second embodiment, the range of the first amount to be selected is changed according to the user's working hours, so that users whose salaries are deposited into their financial institution accounts can easily and quickly obtain funds corresponding to the amount of their salary deposited.

[0120] In step S106 of the first amount selection range change process according to the second embodiment described above, the first amount selection range change process is terminated if the recipient account number and the account number associated with the prepaid card do not match (step S106: No), but this is not limited to this. For example, the debt collection means 120 may collect the debt generated by the execution of the first charge from the salary transfer account number if the recipient account number and the account number associated with the prepaid card do not match (step S106: No). This allows debt collection to be performed even if the recipient account changes.

[0121] [Variation 1] In the charge system 10 according to the second embodiment described above, the range of the first amount to be selected is changed based on the user's work information. However, it is also possible to change the range of the first amount to be selected according to the average amount of salary deposits. The difference from the second embodiment will be explained by describing the case where this modified example is applied to the second embodiment described above, as Modification Example 1.

[0122] Figure 17 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the charge system 10 according to Modification 1. As shown in Figure 17, the function of the first amount selection means in the processing unit 11 differs from that of the second embodiment described above, so it will be referred to as the first amount selection means 121b. The configuration and functions other than the first amount selection means 121b are the same as those in Figure 2 of the first embodiment and Figure 15 of the second embodiment, so their explanation will be omitted.

[0123] The first amount selection means 121b in the modified example 1 changes the range of first amounts that the user can select based on the amount of salary deposit included in the account information.

[0124] Figure 18 is a flowchart illustrating the processing details of the first amount selection range change process performed by the charge system according to Modification 1. This first amount selection range change process is realized by the processing unit 11 reading and executing the first amount selection range change process program stored in the non-volatile storage unit 16. This first amount selection range change process is executed when an application for the deferred payment charge service is received from a user. Note that the processing in step S101 is equivalent to that in Figure 16 of the second embodiment described above, so its explanation is omitted.

[0125] On the other hand, if an application for the deferred charge service is accepted in step S101, that is, if an application for the deferred charge service is accepted (step S101: Yes), the acquisition means 112 in the processing unit 11 of the charge system 10 acquires the user's account information (step S111). Specifically, the acquisition means 112 acquires account information associated with the prepaid card based on the account number associated with each user's prepaid card number included in the management list LT1 stored in the non-volatile storage unit 16.

[0126] Next, as shown in Figure 18, the first amount selection means 121b in the processing unit 11 of the charge system 10 extracts transfer information (step S113). Specifically, the first amount selection means 121b extracts transfer information from the user's account information obtained in step S111. More specifically, the first amount selection means 121b extracts multiple salary deposit amounts included in the account information as transfer information. The first amount selection means 121b selects and extracts transactions containing words such as salary transfer, salary, and wages from the description field, which is one of the pieces of information that identifies the transaction content, and also extracts the processing amount for transactions containing words such as salary transfer, salary, and wages.

[0127] Next, as shown in Figure 16, the first amount selection means 121b calculates the average amount of salary deposits (step S115). Specifically, the first amount selection means 121b calculates the average amount of salary deposits based on the deposit information extracted in step S113. More specifically, the first amount selection means 121b calculates the average amount of salary deposits based on multiple salary deposit amounts included in the account information.

[0128] Next, as shown in Figure 18, the first amount selection means 121b changes the selection range of the first amount (step S117). Specifically, the first amount selection means 121b changes the selection range of the first amount that the user can select according to the average amount of salary deposits calculated in step S115. For example, if the average amount of salary deposits is between 60,000 yen and 79,999 yen, the selection range of the first amount may be changed to 1 yen to 30,000 yen, and if it is between 80,000 yen and 99,999 yen, the selection range of the first amount may be changed to 1 yen to 50,000 yen. This changed selection range of the first amount is stored in the non-volatile storage unit 16 and used in the charge execution process when the user selects the amount to charge when executing the deferred payment charge service.

[0129] By executing step S107, the first amount selection range change process according to modified example 1 is terminated.

[0130] As described above, in the charge system 10 according to Modification 1, the range of the first amount to be selected is changed according to the average amount of salary deposits made by the user. Therefore, users whose salaries are deposited into their bank accounts can easily and quickly obtain funds corresponding to the amount of their salary deposits.

[0131] [Other variations] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and can be modified in various ways. For example, in the embodiments described above, a prepaid card was used as an example of a prepaid payment means, but the prepaid payment means is not limited to a prepaid card. In other words, the prepaid payment means is arbitrary.

[0132] Furthermore, while the embodiments described above have explained the case where the compensation for labor is a salary, the invention is not limited to this. In other words, the compensation for labor may be an annuity or a business outsourcing income. For example, if the compensation for labor is a business outsourcing income, in the first and second embodiments described above, the charge system 10 may accept the first charge request when the business outsourcing income has been transferred for a predetermined period and the amount of the business outsourcing income is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. Also, if the compensation for labor is an annuity, in the first and second embodiments described above, the charge system 10 may accept the first charge request when the annuity has been transferred for a predetermined period and the amount of the annuity is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. If the compensation for labor is an annuity, the charge system 10 may include an annuity system, or may be connected to an annuity system via the communication network 30.

[0133] Furthermore, the scheduled date change means 118 can, in the charge execution process, prevent the charge means 117 from performing the first charge to the prepaid card from accepting any changes to the scheduled payment date for the next work until the debt arising from the first charge has been collected. This reduces the risk of the user delaying debt collection.

[0134] Furthermore, in the charge systems according to the first and second embodiments described above, the control means 115 may control the first charge application input means so as to disable the input operation to the first charge application input means if the debt collection means 120 has not collected the debt generated by the first charge. In other words, it is also possible to limit the user to applying for the deferred payment charge service only once between the time payment for work is made and the time payment for the next work is made.

[0135] Furthermore, in step S33 of the target user extraction process according to each embodiment described above, the transfer determination means 113 selects and extracts transactions containing words such as salary transfer, salary, and wages from the summary field, which is one of the pieces of information that identifies the transaction details, as transfer information, and also extracts the processing amount for transactions containing words such as salary transfer, salary, and wages, but is not limited to this. That is, in step S33 of the target user extraction process, the content to be extracted as transfer information by the transfer determination means 113 is arbitrary, and for example, it may be set to extract the deposit amount (amount received) for deposit transactions of a predetermined amount or more. As a result, even if a user has received a deposit for salary etc. that does not contain information such as salary transfer, salary, or wages in the summary field, if a deposit of a predetermined amount or more has been made for a predetermined period of time or longer, the user can be extracted as a target in step S37 of the target user extraction process.

[0136] Furthermore, in steps S33 and S35 of the target user extraction process according to each embodiment described above, the transfer determination means 113 extracts transfer information from account information and determines whether or not salary transfers have been made for a predetermined period based on the extracted transfer information, but it is not limited to this. For example, the transfer determination means 113 may extract deposit transactions included in the account information based on the account information, obtain information that identifies the content of deposit transactions from an external payroll system or internet banking system, and determine whether or not salary transfers have been made for a predetermined period by identifying the deposit transactions related to salary among the deposit transactions included in the account information.

[0137] Furthermore, in step S103 of the first amount selection range change process according to the second embodiment described above, the acquisition means 112 acquires the user's work information, specifically the working hours during the current month's payroll period and the hourly wage information for the current month, from the employer's payroll system, but is not limited to this. For example, the acquisition means 112 may acquire the user's working hours during the current month's payroll period from the attendance management system and acquire the user's hourly wage information for the current month from the payroll system.

[0138] Embodiments of the present invention have been described above. Based on the above description, those skilled in the art may be able to conceive of additional effects and various modifications of the present invention, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described above. Various additions, modifications, and partial deletions are possible without departing from the conceptual idea and spirit of the present invention derived from the claims and their equivalents.

[0139] For example, each part of the processing unit 11 may be implemented by the processor of the charge system 10 executing a predetermined program, with the software processing being concretely realized using hardware resources, or it may be implemented by the implemented hardware itself. If it is configured in software, a program that realizes at least some of the functions of the processing unit 11 may be stored on a recording medium such as a flexible disk or CD-ROM, and loaded into a computer for execution. The recording medium is not limited to removable ones such as magnetic disks or optical disks, but may also be a fixed recording medium such as a hard disk drive or memory.

[0140] Furthermore, a program that implements at least some of the functions of the processing unit 11 may be distributed via communication lines such as the Internet (including wireless communication). In addition, the program may be encrypted, modulated, or compressed and distributed via wired or wireless lines such as the Internet, or stored on a recording medium. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0141] 1...Charge network system, 10...Charge system, 11...Processing unit, 12...Communication unit, 13...Input unit, 14...Display unit, 15...Volatile memory unit, 16...Non-volatile memory unit, 20...User terminal, 30...Communication network, 111...Prepaid card issuance means, 112...Acquisition means, 113...Transfer determination means, 114...Transfer deposit amount determination means, 115...Control means, 116...Estimation means, 117...Charge means, 118...Schedule date change means, 119...Refund suspension means, 120...Debt collection means, 121, 121a, 121b...First amount selection means, 122...Charge acceptance means

Claims

1. A means for obtaining account information related to a user's account linked to a prepaid payment method, A transfer determination means that determines whether or not payment for labor has been transferred to the user's account for a predetermined period of time, based on the aforementioned account information. A means for determining the amount of money to be transferred to the user's account based on the account information, which determines whether the amount of money transferred as payment for the work during the predetermined period is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, A charge receiving means that receives a first charge request from the user via a communication network, A charge means that, when the charge receiving means receives a request for a first charge, the transfer determination means determines that a transfer of payment for the labor has been made to the user's account for a predetermined period, and the transfer deposit amount determination means determines that the amount of payment for the labor has been deposited to the user's account for a predetermined period is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, charges the first amount received from the financial institution to the prepaid settlement means. A first amount selection means that accepts an input operation for selecting the first amount, Equipped with, The acquisition means acquires the user's account number linked to the prepaid payment method as account information, and also acquires the user's salary deposit account number. The first amount selection means is a charge system that changes the range of the first amount selection when the salary deposit account number matches the account number associated with the prepaid payment method.

2. A first charge request input means for inputting whether or not to initiate an application for the first charge request, The charge system according to claim 1, further comprising: a control means for controlling the first charge application input means to enable an input operation to the first charge application input means when the transfer determination means determines that a transfer of payment for the labor has been made to the user's account for a predetermined period, and the transfer deposit amount determination means determines that the amount of payment for the labor has been deposited to the user's account for a predetermined period, to a predetermined amount or more.

3. A debt collection consent input means for inputting whether or not the user agrees that the debt arising from the first charge will be collected from the user's account on the scheduled payment date for the next work, The charge system according to claim 1, wherein the charge means charges the first amount to the user's prepaid payment means when the debt collection consent input means inputs consent that the debt arising from the first charge will be collected from the user's account on the scheduled payment date for the next work.

4. The charge system according to claim 3, further comprising estimation means for estimating the scheduled date for payment of the user's next work based on the account information.

5. The charge system according to claim 4, wherein the estimation means estimates the scheduled date for payment of the next payment for the work based on calendar information relating to a calendar, together with the account information.

6. The charge system according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising a scheduled date changing means for changing the scheduled date for payment of compensation for the next work estimated by the estimation means, based on an input operation to change the scheduled date for payment of compensation for the user's work.

7. The charge system according to claim 3, further comprising a debt collection means for collecting the debt arising from the first charge from the user's account on the scheduled payment date for the payment of the next labor.

8. The first amount is the amount charged to the prepaid payment method, The charge system according to claim 7, wherein the debt collection means collects from the user's account an amount equal to the first amount plus a fee.

9. The acquisition means acquires the user's work information from the user's workplace, including at least the user's attendance information and hourly wage information relating to the user's hourly wage. The charge system according to claim 1, wherein the first amount selection means changes the range of first amounts that the user can select based on the labor information.

10. The charge system according to claim 9, wherein the first amount selection means calculates the scheduled amount of compensation for work to be transferred on the scheduled payment date for the next work based on the attendance information and hourly wage information in the work information, and changes the range of the first amount that the user can select according to the calculated scheduled amount of compensation for work.

11. The charge system according to claim 1, wherein the first amount selection means changes the range of first amounts that the user can select based on the amount of the transfer of payment for labor included in the account information.

12. The charge system according to claim 11, wherein the first amount selection means calculates an average amount of the deposit amounts based on the deposit amounts of the transfers of payment for multiple labor included in the account information, and changes the range of the first amount that the user can select according to the calculated average amount.

13. The charge system according to claim 2, wherein the control means controls the first charge application input means to invalidate the input operation to the first charge application input means when the debt generated by the first charge has not been collected.

14. The aforementioned prepaid payment method is a prepaid card. The charge system according to claim 1, further comprising a prepaid card issuing means for receiving a request for the issuance of the prepaid card from the user, issuing a prepaid card if the user information relating to the user does not meet predetermined conditions, and linking the prepaid card with the user's account information.

15. An acquisition means for acquiring account information relating to a user's account linked to a prepaid payment method, A transfer determination means that determines whether or not payment for labor has been transferred to the user's account for a predetermined period of time, based on the aforementioned account information. A means for determining the amount of money to be transferred to the user's account based on the account information, which determines whether the amount of money transferred as payment for the work during the predetermined period is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, A charge receiving means that receives a first charge request from the user via a communication network, A charge means that, when the charge receiving means receives a request for a first charge, the transfer determination means determines that a transfer of payment for the labor has been made to the user's account for a predetermined period, and the transfer deposit amount determination means determines that the amount of payment for the labor has been deposited to the user's account for a predetermined period is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, charges the first amount received from the financial institution to the prepaid settlement means. A debt collection consent input means for inputting whether or not the user agrees that the debt arising from the first charge will be collected from the user's account on the scheduled payment date for the next work, Estimation means for estimating the scheduled date of payment for the user's next work based on the account information, The system includes a scheduled payment date changing means that changes the scheduled payment date for the next work, estimated by the estimation means, based on an input operation to change the scheduled payment date for the user's work, The charging means, when the debt collection consent input means receives input indicating consent that the debt arising from the first charge will be collected from the user's account on the scheduled payment date for the next work, charges the first amount to the user's prepaid payment means. The aforementioned date change means, when the charge means executes the first charge to the prepaid settlement means, will not accept any changes to the scheduled payment date for the next labor until the claim arising from the first charge is collected. Charging system.

16. An acquisition means for acquiring account information relating to a user's account linked to a prepaid payment method, A transfer determination means that determines whether or not payment for labor has been transferred to the user's account for a predetermined period of time, based on the aforementioned account information. A means for determining the amount of money to be transferred to the user's account based on the account information, which determines whether the amount of money transferred as payment for the work during the predetermined period is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, A charge receiving means that receives a first charge request from the user via a communication network, A charge means that, when the charge receiving means receives a request for a first charge, the transfer determination means determines that a transfer of payment for the labor has been made to the user's account for a predetermined period, and the transfer deposit amount determination means determines that the amount of payment for the labor has been deposited to the user's account for a predetermined period is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, charges the first amount received from the financial institution to the prepaid settlement means. A charging system comprising: a refund suspension means for suspending the refund of the amount charged by the execution of the first charge when the charging means performs the first charge to the prepaid payment means.

17. An acquisition means for acquiring account information relating to a user's account linked to a prepaid payment method, A transfer determination means that determines whether or not payment for labor has been transferred to the user's account for a predetermined period of time, based on the aforementioned account information. A means for determining the amount of money to be transferred to the user's account based on the account information, which determines whether the amount of money transferred as payment for the work during the predetermined period is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, A charge receiving means that receives a first charge request from the user via a communication network, The system includes a charge receiving means which receives a request for a first charge, a transfer determination means which determines that a transfer of payment for the labor has been made to the user's account for a predetermined period, and a transfer deposit amount determination means which determines that the amount of payment for the labor has been deposited to the user's account for a predetermined period is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, and in such cases the first amount received from the financial institution is charged to the prepaid settlement means, The charge acceptance means accepts a second charge request that is different from the first charge request via the communication network. The charging means is a charging system that, when the charging receiving means receives a request for the second charge and the second amount related to the request for the second charge is deposited into the user's account linked to the prepaid payment means, charges the second amount received from the user's account linked to the prepaid payment means to the prepaid payment means.

18. A method for controlling a charging system, The charge system includes the step of obtaining the user's account number linked to the prepaid payment method as account information relating to the user's account linked to the prepaid payment method, The charge system includes a step of determining, based on the account information, whether or not payment for labor has been transferred to the user's account for a predetermined period of time. The charge system includes a step of determining, based on the account information, whether the amount of payment for the labor has been transferred to the user's account within the predetermined period and is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. The charging system includes the step of receiving a first charge request from the user via a communication network, The charge system receives a request for a first charge, determines that payment for labor has been made to the user's account for a predetermined period, and determines that the amount of payment for labor has been deposited into the user's account for a predetermined period equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, and charges the first amount received from the financial institution to the prepaid payment method. A step of receiving an input operation for selecting the first amount, The process of obtaining the user's bank account number for salary deposits, The process of changing the selection range of the first amount when the salary deposit account number matches the account number associated with the prepaid payment method, A control method comprising:

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