Settlement proxy device

Abstract

This settlement proxy device makes a settlement request to a settlement device, as a proxy for a train-station terminal such as a ticket gate. Without waiting for a response from the settlement device, the train-station terminal can perform passage control at a train station according to a signal from the settlement proxy device.

Description

Payment processing device

[0001] The present invention relates to payment of freight using a credit card.

[0002] A fare collection system has been proposed that includes a fare calculation server that calculates fares and a settlement server that settles fares (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-177575

[0004] In the system described in Patent Document 1, the ticket gate requests payment processing from the payment device, and the ticket gate controls passage based on the result. However, a response from the payment device can take several seconds or more. Therefore, in the system described in Patent Document 1, passage control at the ticket gate takes time, which may make it difficult to smoothly operate the station, especially during crowded times such as rush hour.

[0005] The present invention includes the following embodiment.

[0006] a payment agent that processes fare payments using credit cards, the payment agent being connected via a network to a boarding station terminal installed at a boarding station, a disembarking station terminal installed at a disembarking station, a fare calculation device that calculates fares for each means of transport, and a payment device that executes payment processing; the payment agent stores, in association with each other, transport facility identification information that identifies the transport facility and affiliated store identification information that identifies information about the transport facility as a credit card affiliated store; receives station identification information that identifies the boarding station from the boarding station terminal; transmits the station identification information received from the boarding station terminal to the fare calculation device; receives a signal related to traffic control at the boarding station from the fare calculation device; transmits the signal related to traffic control received from the fare calculation device to the boarding station terminal; receives credit card information from the boarding station terminal; receives station identification information that identifies the disembarking station from the disembarking station terminal; transmits the station identification information received from the disembarking station terminal to the fare calculation device; receives, from the fare calculation device, the signal related to traffic control at the disembarking station, the transport facility identification information, and fare information for each means of transport identified by the transport facility identification information; A payment agent that transmits a signal regarding passage control received from the fare calculation device to the disembarking station terminal, receives the credit card information from the disembarking station terminal, associates and stores the credit card information received from the boarding station terminal and the disembarking station terminal with affiliated store identification information stored in association with the transportation facility identification information received from the fare calculation device, and fare information received from the fare calculation device, and transmits the associated and stored credit card information, affiliated store identification information, and fare information to the payment device.

[0007] a payment agent that processes fare payments using credit cards, the payment agent being connected via a network to boarding station terminals installed at boarding stations, disembarking station terminals installed at disembarking stations, and a payment device that executes payment processing; the payment agent stores, in association with each other, transportation facility identification information that identifies the transportation facility and affiliated store identification information that identifies the transportation facility as a credit card affiliated store; the payment agent receives station identification information that identifies the boarding station from the boarding station terminal; transmits a signal related to traffic control to the boarding station terminal; receives credit card information from the boarding station terminal; receives station identification information that identifies the disembarking station from the disembarking station terminal; transmits a signal related to traffic control to the disembarking station terminal; receives the credit card information from the disembarking station terminal; calculates fare information for each transportation facility using the station identification information received from the boarding station terminal and the station identification information received from the disembarking station terminal; and stores, in association with each other, the credit card information received from the boarding station terminal and the disembarking station terminal, affiliated store identification information that is stored in association with the transportation facility identification information that identifies the transportation facility that calculated the fare information, and the calculated fare information; A payment agent device that transmits the associated and stored credit card information, affiliated store identification information, and shipping information to the payment device.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the payment agent device issues a payment request to the payment device instead of a station terminal such as a ticket gate. The station terminal can control passage at the station in response to a signal from the payment agent device without waiting for a response from the payment device.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a system including a payment proxy device according to embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a station information table. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a transportation facility information table. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a fare information table. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of a payment proxy device according to embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of a payment proxy device according to embodiment 1. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a system including a payment proxy device according to embodiment 2. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of a payment proxy device according to embodiment 2. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of a payment proxy device according to embodiment 2.

[0010] [Payment proxy device according to embodiment 1] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a system including a payment proxy device according to embodiment 1. The payment proxy device according to this embodiment is a device that handles fare payments using credit cards. As shown in Fig. 1, the payment proxy device according to this embodiment is connected via a network to a boarding station terminal installed at a boarding station, a disembarking station terminal installed at a disembarking station, a fare calculation device that calculates fares for each transportation mode, and a payment device that executes payment processing. An example of a network is the Internet.

[0011] (Boarding station terminal, disembarking station terminal) The boarding station terminal is a station terminal installed at the boarding station, and the disembarking station terminal is a station terminal installed at the disembarking station. Examples of boarding station terminals and disembarking station terminals in this embodiment include ticket gates installed at stations, as well as terminals carried by station staff. "Installed" does not only include cases where the terminal is fixed to the station, but also includes all forms in which the terminal is used at the station, such as when carried by station staff.

[0012] In applying this embodiment, station terminals do not need to be installed at all stations operated by the transportation system, but it is sufficient if they are installed at least the boarding and disembarking stations that are the starting and ending points for fare calculation. In other words, in this embodiment, station terminals may or may not be installed at stations that are passed through, such as Station B and Station C described below.

[0013] The boarding station terminal and the disembarking station terminal each have a reader / writer function that reads the passenger's credit card information from the passenger's smartphone, contactless IC card, etc. The credit card information is information required for payment using a credit card, and examples of the credit card information include the credit card number, as well as information such as the credit card's expiration date and issuing country.

[0014] A credit card can be any name as long as it inquires of a payment device whether or not a payment can be made. Examples of credit cards include cards commonly known as credit cards, as well as prepaid cards and debit cards that inquire of a payment device whether or not a payment can be made. Credit cards are limited to cards that do not have electronic money loaded onto them, and cards that do have electronic money loaded onto them are not considered credit cards. This is because the latter cards do not inquire of a payment device whether or not a payment can be made, but rather determine whether or not a payment can be made based on the amount loaded onto the card.

[0015] (Fare calculation device) A fare calculation device is a device that calculates fare information. An example of a fare calculation device is a computer device that executes fare calculations. An example of a computer device is a server device or a board equipped with an IC chip. Fare information refers to information relating to the fare from the boarding station to the disembarking station, such as 350 yen or 740 yen.

[0016] (Payment device) A payment device is a device that executes payment processing. An example of a payment device is a computer device of a financial institution that issues credit cards. An example of a computer device is a server device or a board equipped with an IC chip. An example of payment processing is processing related to whether or not a payment can be made, such as authorization (often abbreviated as "authorization").

[0017] (Payment Agent Device) The payment agent device is a device that handles fare payments using credit cards. Examples of payment agent devices include computer devices. Examples of computer devices include server devices and boards equipped with IC chips.

[0018] The payment agent device of this embodiment stores three tables: a station information table, a transportation facility information table, and a fare information table. These will be explained in order below.

[0019] (Station Information Table) Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a station information table. As shown in Fig. 2, the payment agent device can store station identification information, for example, in table format. Station identification information is information that identifies a station. The station identification information may be stored in association with station names, transportation facility identification information (described later), and the like.

[0020] (Transportation Information Table) FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a transportation information table. As shown in FIG. 3, the payment agent device can store, in table format, for example, transportation identification information that identifies a transportation facility and affiliated store identification information that identifies the transportation facility as a credit card affiliated store, in association with each other. The transportation identification information is information that identifies the transportation facility. The affiliated store identification information is information that identifies the transportation facility as a credit card affiliated store. The affiliated store identification information is assigned to the transportation facility by the financial institution that manages the payment device, for example, based on an affiliated store agreement concluded between the financial institution and the transportation facility. In addition to the affiliated store identification information, the transportation identification information may also be stored in association with the name of the transportation facility, etc.

[0021] According to this embodiment, it is necessary to install a station terminal according to this embodiment, i.e., a station terminal equipped with the function of communicating with the payment agent device according to a predetermined protocol, at each station. Station terminals without this function cannot perform traffic control by the payment agent device. Therefore, traffic control is not necessary at passing stations that are not boarding or disembarking stations. Furthermore, it would be convenient if fares could be calculated for each transportation mode during direct service that passes through stations that do not have a station terminal according to this embodiment. Therefore, this embodiment employs a data structure in which the payment agent device stores, in association with the transportation facility identification information of transportation facilities that have a boarding station terminal and / or a disembarking station terminal, and the merchant identification information identifying the transportation facility's credit card affiliated store, and stores, in association with the transportation facility identification information of transportation facilities that do not have a boarding station terminal and / or a disembarking station terminal, the merchant identification information identifying the transportation facility's credit card affiliated store. This eliminates the need to install station terminals according to this embodiment at every station. Furthermore, fare payments for each transportation mode can be performed even during direct service that passes through stations that do not have a station terminal according to this embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this data structure, and the payment agency device of the present invention not only includes cases where the payment agency device has this data structure, but also cases where it has a data structure that stores, in association with each other, transportation facility identification information for only transportation facilities that have boarding station terminals and / or disembarking station terminals installed, and affiliated store identification information that identifies information about the transportation facility as a credit card affiliated store.

[0022] (Freight Information Table) Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a fare information table. As shown in Fig. 4, the payment agent device can store credit card information, affiliated store identification information, and fare information in association with each other, for example, in table format.

[0023] (Operation Example) FIGS. 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating an operation example of the payment agent device according to the first embodiment.

[0024] In the following, we will take as an example the case where a passenger boards a train that runs directly from Station A to Station D, passing through Stations B and C. Station A is the boarding station, and the station identification information identifying Station A is "123456". Station B is a passing station, and the station identification information identifying Station B is "234567". Station C is a passing station, and the station identification information identifying Station C is "345678". Station D is the disembarking station, and the station identification information identifying Station D is "456789".

[0025] Furthermore, the section from Station A to Station B is operated by X Railway, and the fare for that section is 300 yen. Furthermore, the section from Station B to Station C is operated by Y Railway, and the fare for that section is 200 yen. Furthermore, the section from Station C to Station D is operated by Z Electric Railway, and the fare for that section is 400 yen. Furthermore, the transportation facility identification information identifying X Railway is X, the transportation facility identification information identifying Y Railway is Y, and the transportation facility identification information identifying Z Electric Railway is Z.

[0026] Furthermore, X Railway is a credit card affiliate of the financial institution that manages the payment device, and the affiliate identification information that identifies this affiliate is "001." Y Railway is also a credit card affiliate of the financial institution that manages the payment device, and the affiliate identification information that identifies this affiliate is "002." Z Railway is also a credit card affiliate of the financial institution that manages the payment device, and the affiliate identification information that identifies this affiliate is "003."

[0027] Also, station terminals according to this embodiment are installed in stations operated by X Railway and Z Railway, but station terminals according to this embodiment are not installed in stations operated by Y Railway. The station terminals installed in X Railway stations are boarding station terminals, and the station terminals installed in Z Railway stations are disembarking station terminals.

[0028] In addition, the payment agent device stores, in the transportation information table, transportation identification information for X Railway and Z Electric Railway in association with affiliated store identification information that identifies these transportation companies as credit card affiliated stores, and also stores transportation identification information for Y Railway in association with affiliated store identification information that identifies its information as a credit card affiliated store.

[0029] Each step will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5C.

[0030] (Step 10) First, the boarding station terminal reads credit card information from the passenger's user terminal, such as a credit card or smartphone.

[0031] (Step 11) Next, the payment agent device receives station identification information that identifies the boarding station from the boarding station terminal. Specifically, the payment agent device receives the station identification information "123456" from the station terminal of Station A operated by X Railway.

[0032] In this step, the payment agent device may receive, for example, a value that can uniquely identify the credit card number together with station identification information from the boarding station terminal. The boarding station terminal can generate or obtain a value that can uniquely identify the credit card number, for example, using the credit card number included in the credit card information read in step 10. Examples of values ​​that can uniquely identify the credit card number include a hash value obtained by calculating a hash function with the credit card number as a parameter, a value obtained by encrypting the credit card number with an encryption key, and a value that has a one-to-one correspondence with the credit card number obtained by sequentially incrementing from a predetermined number such as 1.

[0033] (Step 12) Next, the payment agent device transmits the station identification information received in step 11 to the fare calculation device. Specifically, the payment agent device transmits the station identification information "123456" received in step 11 to the fare calculation device. Note that if a value that can uniquely identify a credit card number is received together with the station identification information in step 11, the payment agent device transmits the station identification information and this value to the fare calculation device.

[0034] (Step 13) Next, the payment agent device receives a signal related to traffic control at the boarding station from the fare calculation device. An example of the signal includes information indicating "normal" or "abnormal." The signal is generated based on, for example, the results of a check to see if there is double boarding (e.g., a cycle check).

[0035] (Step 14) Next, the payment agent device transmits the signal regarding passage control received from the fare calculation device in step 13 to the boarding station terminal.

[0036] (Step 15) Next, the boarding station terminal performs passage control based on the passage control signal received from the payment agent device. Examples of passage control include, for example, control to open or keep open the ticket gate doors if the received signal indicates normality, control to close or keep closed the ticket gate doors if the signal indicates an abnormality, and control to display an indication of normality or abnormality on the screen of the station terminal or the like.

[0037] (Step 16) Next, the payment agent device receives from the boarding station terminal the credit card information that the boarding station terminal read in step 10. As described above, the credit card information includes, for example, the credit card number as well as information such as the expiration date and issuing country. In this way, by receiving the credit card information after passage control at the station terminal, the station terminal can perform passage control prior to sending the credit card information, thereby shortening the time required to perform passage control.

[0038] This step may be executed in step 11. That is, the payment agent device may receive the station identification information from the boarding station terminal and also receive the credit card information in step 11. "Receiving the credit card information from the boarding station terminal" includes not only a form in which the credit card information is received after receiving the station identification information from the boarding station terminal, as in this embodiment, but also a form in which the credit card information is received together with the station identification information from the boarding station terminal, which differs from this embodiment.

[0039] (Step 17) Next, the exit station terminal reads credit card information from the passenger's user terminal, such as a credit card or smartphone.

[0040] (Step 18) Next, the payment agent device receives station identification information identifying the alighting station from the alighting station terminal. Specifically, the payment agent device receives the station identification information "456789" from the station terminal of Station D operated by Z Electric Railway.

[0041] In this step, similar to step 11, the payment agent device may receive, for example, a value that can uniquely identify the credit card number together with station identification information from the disembarking station terminal.

[0042] (Step 19) Next, the payment agent device transmits to the fare calculation device the station identification information received in step 18. Specifically, the payment agent device transmits the station identification information "456789" received in step 18 to the fare calculation device.

[0043] If the payment agent device receives a value that can uniquely identify a credit card number together with the station identification information in step 18, it transmits the station identification information and that value to the fare calculation device, as in step 12. If the fare calculation device receives a value that can uniquely identify a credit card number from the payment agent device in step 12 and this step, it can use that value to determine which station the passenger boarded the train at and which station he or she disembarked from, using the station identification information of the boarding station received from the payment agent device in step 12 and the station identification information of the disembarking station received from the payment agent device in this step. In the example of this embodiment, the fare calculation device can perform fare calculation assuming that Station A is the boarding station and Station D is the disembarking station.

[0044] (Step 20) Next, the payment agent device receives from the fare calculation device a signal related to traffic control at the disembarkation station, transportation facility identification information, and fare information for each transportation facility identified by the transportation facility identification information. Specifically, the payment agent device receives from the fare calculation device transportation facility identification information X for X Railway and fare information of 300 yen, transportation facility identification information Y for Y Railway and fare information of 200 yen, and transportation facility identification information Z for Z Electric Railway and fare information of 400 yen. An example of the traffic control signal is the same as in step 13, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0045] (Step 21) Next, the payment agent device transmits the signal regarding passage control received from the fare calculation device in step 20 to the disembarking station terminal. In this step, the payment agent device may calculate the sum of the fare information for each transportation mode received in step 20 (i.e., the total fare of 900 yen from Station A to Station D) and transmit the calculation result to the disembarking station terminal along with the signal regarding passage control. Also, the total fare may not be calculated by the payment agent device, but may be calculated by the fare calculation device and transmitted from the fare calculation device to the payment agent device. In this case, the payment agent device can transmit the total fare received from the fare calculation device along with the signal regarding passage control to the disembarking station terminal.

[0046] (Step 22) Next, the disembarking station terminal performs traffic control based on the traffic control signal received from the payment agent device. Traffic control at the disembarking station is basically the same as the traffic control at the boarding station described in step 15, but in addition, it is possible to perform further control, such as displaying fare information on the station terminal.

[0047] (Step 23) Next, the payment agent device receives from the deplaning station terminal the credit card information that the deplaning station terminal read in step 17. By receiving the credit card information after passage control at the station terminal, as in step 16, the station terminal can execute passage control prior to transmitting the credit card information, thereby shortening the time required to execute passage control. As in step 16, this step may also be executed in step 18. That is, in step 18, the payment agent device may receive the credit card information together with the station identification information from the deplaning station terminal. "Receiving the credit card information from the deplaning station terminal" includes not only a form in which the credit card information is received after receiving the station identification information from the deplaning station terminal, as in the present embodiment, but also a form in which the credit card information is received together with the station identification information from the deplaning station terminal, which differs from the present embodiment.

[0048] (Step 24) Next, the payment agent device associates and stores one of the credit card information received from the boarding station terminal and the disembarking station terminal in steps 16 and 23, the member store identification information stored in association with the transportation facility identification information received from the fare calculation device in step 20, and the fare information received from the fare calculation device in step 20. Specifically, the payment agent device associates and stores X Railway member store identification information 001, fare information 300 yen, and one of the credit card information received from the boarding station terminal and the disembarking station terminal in steps 16 and 23, associates and stores Y Railway member store identification information 002, fare information 200 yen, and one of the credit card information received from the boarding station terminal and the disembarking station terminal in steps 16 and 23, and associates and stores Z Railway member store identification information 003, fare information 400 yen, and one of the credit card information received from the boarding station terminal and the disembarking station terminal in steps 16 and 23. The payment processing device reads, for example, from the transportation information table of Figure 3, the affiliated store identification information stored in association with the transportation identification information received from the fare calculation device in step 20, and stores this read affiliated store identification information in association with the credit card information and fare information.

[0049] (Step 25) Next, the payment agent device transmits to the payment device the affiliated store identification information, credit card information, and fare information that were associated and stored in step 24. For example, the payment agent device transmits to the payment device affiliated store identification information 001, fare information of 300 yen, and credit card information for X Railway, associated with each other; affiliated store identification information 002, fare information of 200 yen, and credit card information for Y Railway, associated with each other; and affiliated store identification information 003, fare information of 400 yen, and credit card information for Z Railway, associated with each other.

[0050] According to the first embodiment described above, the payment agent device makes a payment request to the payment device instead of a station terminal such as a ticket gate. Therefore, the station terminal can control passage at the station in response to a signal from the payment agent device without waiting for a response from the payment device. Furthermore, the payment agent device stores, in a transportation facility information table, transportation facility identification information for X Railway and Z Railway associated with affiliated store identification information identifying these transportation facilities as credit card affiliated stores, and also stores transportation facility identification information for Y Railway associated with affiliated store identification information identifying its credit card affiliated store. Therefore, fare payments can be made for each transportation facility, including transportation facilities that operate stations without station terminals.

[0051] [Payment agent device according to embodiment 2] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example configuration of a system including a payment agent device according to embodiment 2. This embodiment differs from embodiment 1 in that the payment agent device executes the freight calculation process, whereas a fare calculation device separate from the payment agent device executes this process, but otherwise has the same configuration as embodiment 1. An example of the operation of the payment agent device according to embodiment 2 will be described below.

[0052] (Step 40) First, the boarding station terminal reads credit card information from the passenger's user terminal, such as a credit card or smartphone. This step is the same as step 10 described above.

[0053] (Step 41) Next, the payment agent device receives station identification information that identifies the boarding station from the boarding station terminal. Specifically, the payment agent device receives the station identification information "123456" from the station terminal of Station A, which is operated by X Railway. This step is the same as step 11 described above. As in step 11, in this step, the payment agent device may receive, for example, a value that can uniquely identify a credit card number along with the station identification information from the boarding station terminal.

[0054] (Step 42) Next, the payment agent device transmits a signal related to passage control to the boarding station terminal. This signal is the same as that described in step 14.

[0055] (Step 43) Next, the boarding station terminal performs passage control based on the signal related to passage control received from the payment agent device. The passage control in this step is the same as that in step 15.

[0056] (Step 44) Next, the payment agent device receives from the boarding station terminal the credit card information that the boarding station terminal read in step 40. This step is the same as step 16. As in the case of step 16, this step may also be executed in step 41.

[0057] (Step 45) Next, the exit station terminal reads credit card information from the passenger's user terminal, such as a credit card or smartphone. This step is the same as step 17.

[0058] (Step 46) Next, the payment agent device receives station identification information identifying the alighting station from the alighting station terminal. Specifically, the payment agent device receives the station identification information "456789" from the station terminal of Station D operated by Z Electric Railway. This step is the same as step 18 described above. As in step 18, in this step, the payment agent device may receive, for example, a value that can uniquely identify the credit card number along with the station identification information from the alighting station terminal.

[0059] (Step 47) Next, the payment agent device transmits a signal related to passage control to the terminal at the exit station. This signal is the same as that described in step 21.

[0060] (Step 48) Next, the disembarking station terminal performs traffic control based on the traffic control signal received from the payment agent device. The traffic control in this step is the same as that described in step 22, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0061] (Step 49) Next, the payment agent device receives from the alighting station terminal the credit card information that the alighting station terminal read in step 45. This step is the same as step 23. As in step 23, this step may be executed in step 46.

[0062] (Step 50) Next, the payment agent device calculates fare information for each transportation mode using the station identification information received from the boarding station terminal in step 41 and the station identification information received from the disembarking station terminal in step 46. Specifically, the payment agent device calculates 300 yen as fare information for X Railway, 200 yen as fare information for Y Railway, and 400 yen as fare information for Z Electric Railway. As described in step 19, if a value that can uniquely identify the credit card number is received from the payment agent device in steps 41 and 46, the payment agent device can use that value to perform fare calculation, assuming that the station identified by the station identification information received in step 41 is the boarding station and the station identified by the station identification information received in step 46 is the disembarking station.

[0063] (Step 51) Next, the payment agent device associates and stores one of the credit card information received from the boarding station terminal and the disembarking station terminal in steps 44 and 49, the member store identification information stored in association with the transportation facility identification information that identifies the transportation facility that calculated the fare information in step 50, and the fare information calculated in step 50. Specifically, the payment agent device associates and stores X Railway's member store identification information 001, fare information 300 yen, and one of the credit card information received from the boarding station terminal and the disembarking station terminal in steps 44 and 49, respectively; associates and stores Y Railway's member store identification information 002, fare information 200 yen, and one of the credit card information received from the boarding station terminal and the disembarking station terminal in steps 44 and 49, respectively; and associates and stores Z Railway's member store identification information 003, fare information 400 yen, and one of the credit card information received from the boarding station terminal and the disembarking station terminal in steps 44 and 49, respectively.

[0064] (Step 52) Next, the payment agent device transmits to the payment device the affiliated store identification information, credit card information, and fare information that were associated and stored in step 51. Specifically, the payment agent device transmits to the payment device affiliated store identification information 001, fare information of 300 yen, and credit card information for X Railway, associated with each other; affiliated store identification information 002, fare information of 200 yen, and credit card information for Y Railway, associated with each other; and affiliated store identification information 003, fare information of 400 yen, and credit card information for Z Railway, associated with each other.

[0065] The payment agency device according to the first embodiment allows for the construction and management of a fare calculation device separately from the payment agency device, and is preferably applied in cases where the fare calculation process is relatively complicated, such as on routes where multiple transportation facilities share common tracks. In contrast, the payment agency device according to the second embodiment allows for the payment agency device and fare calculation device to be built into the same device, and is preferably applied in cases where the fare calculation is relatively simple, such as on routes operated by a single transportation facility where the fare can be easily calculated once the stations between two points are determined.

[0066] Although the embodiments have been described above, these descriptions are merely examples and do not limit the configurations described in the claims. Even if the configuration differs from the above description, as long as it has the configurations described in the claims, it will still achieve the effects of the present invention and be included in the present invention.

Claims

1. A payment agent that handles fare payments using credit cards, the payment agent being connected via a network to a boarding station terminal installed at a boarding station, a disembarking station terminal installed at a disembarking station, a fare calculation device that calculates fares for each transportation means, and a payment device that executes payment processing, the payment agent storing transportation means identification information that identifies the transportation means and affiliated store identification information that identifies information about the transportation means as a credit card affiliated store in association with each other, receiving station identification information that identifies the boarding station from the boarding station terminal, transmitting the station identification information received from the boarding station terminal to the fare calculation device, receiving a signal related to traffic control at the boarding station from the fare calculation device, transmitting the signal related to traffic control received from the fare calculation device to the boarding station terminal, receiving credit card information from the boarding station terminal, receiving station identification information that identifies the disembarking station from the disembarking station terminal, transmitting the station identification information received from the disembarking station terminal to the fare calculation device, receiving a signal related to traffic control at the disembarking station, the transportation means identification information, and fare information for each transportation means identified by the transportation means identification information from the fare calculation device, A payment agent device that transmits a signal regarding passage control received from the fare calculation device to the disembarking station terminal, receives the credit card information from the disembarking station terminal, associates and stores one of the credit card information received from the boarding station terminal and the disembarking station terminal with affiliated store identification information stored in association with the transportation facility identification information received from the fare calculation device, and fare information received from the fare calculation device, and transmits the associated and stored credit card information, affiliated store identification information, and fare information to the payment device.

2. A payment agent that processes fare payments using credit cards, said payment agent being connected via a network to a boarding station terminal installed at a boarding station, a disembarking station terminal installed at a disembarking station, and a payment device that executes payment processing; storing transportation facility identification information that identifies said transportation facility and affiliated store identification information that identifies information of said transportation facility as a credit card affiliated store in association with each other; receiving station identification information that identifies the boarding station from said boarding station terminal; transmitting a signal related to traffic control to said boarding station terminal; receiving credit card information from said boarding station terminal; receiving station identification information that identifies the disembarking station from said disembarking station terminal; transmitting a signal related to traffic control to said disembarking station terminal; receiving the credit card information from said disembarking station terminal; calculating fare information for each transportation facility using the station identification information received from said boarding station terminal and the station identification information received from said disembarking station terminal; storing one of the credit card information received from said boarding station terminal and said disembarking station terminal in association with affiliated store identification information that identifies the transportation facility that calculated the fare information and the calculated fare information in association with each other; A payment agent transmits the associated and stored credit card information, affiliated store identification information, and shipping information to the payment device.

3. A payment agency as claimed in claim 1 or 2, which stores, in association with each other, transport agency identification information of a transport agency which has the boarding station terminal and / or the disembarking station terminal installed and affiliated store identification information which identifies the information of the transport agency as a credit card affiliated store, and which stores, in association with each other, transport agency identification information of a transport agency which does not have the boarding station terminal and / or the disembarking station terminal installed and affiliated store identification information which identifies the information of the transport agency as a credit card affiliated store.

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