Remittance method, program, and information processing device

Abstract

In the present invention, an exchange system 1 comprises a plurality of servers 20 used respectively by a plurality of financial institutions excluding the Bank of Japan. Each of the plurality of servers 20 stores information about a plurality of accounts, including deposit accounts which are in the name of other financial institutions and were mutually opened among the plurality of financial institutions. Upon receiving a first remittance instruction with a first financial institution designated as a remittance source and a second financial institution designated as a remittance destination, a first server 20A of the first financial institution executes first processing for depositing funds equal to the remittance amount designated by the first remittance instruction into a deposit account in the name of the second financial institution stored in the first server 20A.

Description

Remittance Method, Program, and Information Processing Apparatus Cross - Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2024 - 233072 filed in Japan on December 27, 2024, and the entire disclosure of this prior application is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This disclosure relates to a remittance method, a program, and an information processing apparatus.

[0003] Conventionally, technologies related to the foreign exchange system are known. For example, in Patent Document 1, (1) the first bank server transmits a plurality of first detail data indicating the transfer amount from the account managed by the first bank server to the account managed by the second bank server to the second bank server, and transmits a telegram for remitting the amount corresponding to the plurality of first detail data from the first bank remittance account of the first bank server to the first bank deposit account of the second bank server to the All - Bank System (National Bank Data Communication System); (2) the All - Bank System processes the telegram received from the first bank server in real time and transmits a telegram of the processing result to the second bank server; (3) the second bank server deposits the total amount of the plurality of first detail data into the first bank deposit account of the second bank server based on the telegram received from the All - Bank System, and moves funds from the first bank deposit account of the second bank server to the account of the customer of the second bank based on the plurality of first detail data received from the first bank server; and (4) when the Bank of Japan System receives the debit and credit balance calculated for each bank from the All - Bank System, it is disclosed that the Bank of Japan current account deposit or withdrawal is executed between each bank and the All - Bank Network.

[0004] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021 - 149388

[0005] According to the conventional technology described above, a first bank transfer account and a first bank deposit account are prepared in advance on the first bank server and the second bank server, respectively, to temporarily pool funds. By processing multiple first transaction data as a single fund transfer from the first bank transfer account on the first bank server to the first bank deposit account on the second bank, the number of messages sent to the interbank system can be reduced. However, conventional domestic exchange systems, including the conventional technology described above, are based on the premise of sending and receiving messages via the interbank system.

[0006] Here, let's consider a scenario where, for example, a sender (first user), who is a subscriber of the first bank, sends money to a deposit account in the name of the recipient (second user) that is opened at the second bank.

[0007] In the conventional domestic foreign exchange system, the first bank that receives a transfer request from the remitter notifies the interbank system of the transfer instruction message related to that transfer request. The interbank system then notifies the second bank of the transfer instruction message related to that transfer request. The second bank then deposits the funds into the recipient's deposit account based on the transfer instruction message notified by the interbank system. The interbank system then notifies the Bank of Japan of the difference in the amount received by each bank on each business day. The Bank of Japan then deposits or withdraws funds from the current accounts it has opened at each bank. If, for example, there is only one transfer request made on a given business day, the amount related to the transfer request will be withdrawn from the current account of the first bank opened by the Bank of Japan, and the same amount will be deposited into the current account of the second bank opened by the Bank of Japan. However, the conventional domestic exchange system relies on the transmission and reception of messages via the interbank system, which has drawbacks such as the inability to transfer funds if the interbank system is unavailable due to network failures, and a time lag before the fund transfer is reflected in the current accounts held by each bank under the Bank of Japan.

[0008] Furthermore, conventional foreign exchange systems generally utilize the SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) network. Specifically, when the first bank receives a transfer request from the remitter, it notifies other banks with which the first bank has a correspondent relationship of the transfer instruction. Subsequently, if the other bank has a correspondent relationship with the second bank, it notifies the second bank of the transfer instruction. If the other bank does not have a correspondent relationship with the second bank, it notifies any bank with which it has a correspondent relationship of the transfer instruction. In this way, in a foreign exchange system using the SWIFT network, the transfer instruction is notified from the first bank to the second bank via one or more banks by tracing the correspondent relationships. Finally, the second bank, having received the transfer instruction, deposits the funds into the recipient's deposit account based on that instruction. However, the conventional foreign exchange system has drawbacks, such as the existence of banks that cannot receive transfers due to limited correspondent bank relationships (i.e., banks that cannot be designated as recipients), and the occurrence of time lags and increased costs in the process of tracing correspondent bank relationships. Thus, there was room for improvement in the conventional foreign exchange system.

[0009] In light of these circumstances, the purpose of this disclosure is to improve the technology related to foreign exchange systems. It should be noted that this disclosure is not limited to the circumstances described above and can be implemented to solve any other problem.

[0010] An exchange system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is an exchange system comprising a plurality of servers used by a plurality of financial institutions other than the Bank of Japan, each of the plurality of servers storing information on a plurality of accounts, including deposit accounts in the name of other financial institutions that have been mutually opened among the plurality of financial institutions, and when the first server of the first financial institution receives a first remittance instruction with the first financial institution as the remitter and the second financial institution as the recipient, it executes a first process of depositing funds of the amount to be remitted specified in the first remittance instruction into a deposit account in the name of the second financial institution that is stored in the first server.

[0011] A server according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a server used by a first financial institution, and includes: a storage unit that stores information on a plurality of accounts, including deposit accounts in the name of one or more second financial institutions that have been mutually opened between the first financial institution and one or more second financial institutions; a communication unit that receives a first remittance instruction with the first financial institution as the remitter and the second financial institutions as the recipient; and a control unit that executes a first process of depositing funds of the amount specified in the first remittance instruction into a deposit account in the name of one of the second financial institutions stored in the storage unit.

[0012] An embodiment of the present disclosure of a management server is a management server capable of communicating with a plurality of servers used by a plurality of financial institutions other than the Bank of Japan, each of the plurality of servers storing information on a plurality of accounts, including deposit accounts in the name of other financial institutions that have been mutually opened among the plurality of financial institutions, and the management server comprises: a storage unit that stores information on registered users; a control unit that, upon receiving a first remittance instruction from the user's terminal device, with a first account opened by a first financial institution as the source and a second account opened by a second financial institution as the destination, sends an instruction to execute a first process to the first server, which moves funds of the amount specified in the first remittance instruction from the first account stored in the first server of the first financial institution to a deposit account in the name of the second financial institution; and upon receiving information from the first server indicating the completion of the first process and a second remittance instruction to deposit the funds of the amount to be remitted into the second account, which deposits the funds of the amount to be remitted into the second account stored in the second server of the second financial institution.

[0013] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the technology relating to the foreign exchange system is improved.

[0014] This is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of a foreign exchange system according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. This is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of a terminal device. This is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of a server. This is a diagram showing a specific example of an opened account. This is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the foreign exchange system according to the first embodiment. This is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of a foreign exchange system according to the second embodiment of this disclosure. This is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of a management server. This is a sequence diagram showing a first example of the operation of the foreign exchange system according to the second embodiment. This is a sequence diagram showing a second example of the operation of the foreign exchange system according to the second embodiment. This is a sequence diagram showing a third example of the operation of the foreign exchange system according to the second embodiment.

[0015] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below.

[0016] (Outline of the First Embodiment) An outline of the foreign exchange system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figure 1. The foreign exchange system 1 comprises a terminal device 10 and a plurality of servers 20. The terminal device 10 and the servers 20 can communicate with each other via a network 30, which includes, for example, a mobile communication network and / or the Internet.

[0017] The terminal device 10 is any information processing device that can be used by the user. For example, a smartphone, tablet, PC (Personal Computer), or ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) can be used as the terminal device 10. Although one terminal device 10 is shown in Figure 1, the number of terminal devices 10 provided by the foreign exchange system 1 may be two or more. The user can use the terminal device 10 to send funds held in their account or funds deposited in cash to the account of a desired recipient. In this embodiment, "account" is described as a bank account, but is not limited to this, and may be any account used for sending and / or receiving money, such as a credit card, electronic wallet, or user account for a payment service. Also, in this embodiment, "deposit account" includes any account that holds the account holder's funds, but does not include, for example, an account for temporarily pooling funds.

[0018] Server 20 is configured to include one or two or more information processing devices that can communicate with each other. Server 20 may be a physical server or a virtual server. In this embodiment, Server 20 is used by a bank other than the Bank of Japan, but is not limited to this, and may be used by any financial institution other than the Bank of Japan that can open an account. In this embodiment, "financial institution" may include financial institutions in Japan or financial institutions overseas. Figure 1 shows a first server 20A used by a first financial institution and a second server 20B used by a second financial institution, but the number of servers 20 provided in System 1 may be three or more. Hereinafter, when the first server 20A and the second server 20B are not particularly distinguished, both will simply be referred to as Server 20. In this embodiment, the foreign exchange system 1 is described as being configured without including the Bank of Japan, the Zengin System, and the SWIFT network, but is not limited to this. For example, the foreign exchange system 1 may be configured without including the Bank of Japan and the Zengin System, and domestic foreign exchange transactions may be completed without going through the Bank of Japan and the Zengin System. For example, the foreign exchange system 1 may be configured without including a SWIFT network, and foreign exchange transactions may be completed without going through the SWIFT network.

[0019] An overview of this embodiment will be given here, and further details will be described later. The foreign exchange system 1 comprises multiple servers 20, each used by multiple financial institutions excluding the Bank of Japan. Each of the multiple servers 20 stores information on multiple accounts, including deposit accounts in the name of other financial institutions that have been mutually opened among the multiple financial institutions. When the first server 20A of the first financial institution receives a first remittance instruction with the first financial institution as the remitter (i.e., the sending financial institution) and the second financial institution as the recipient (i.e., the receiving financial institution), it executes a first process of depositing the amount of funds specified in the first remittance instruction into the deposit account in the name of the second financial institution that the first server 20A stores.

[0020] According to the foreign exchange system 1 described above in this embodiment, deposit accounts in the names of other financial institutions, mutually opened between multiple financial institutions, are prepared in advance. When a first remittance instruction from a remitter (first user) is transmitted, for example, from a terminal device 10 to the first server 20A of the first financial institution, the funds specified in the first remittance instruction are deposited into a deposit account in the name of the second financial institution, which is stored in the first server 20A (i.e., opened by the first financial institution). For the second financial institution, the deposit into the deposit account in the name of the second financial institution stored in the first server 20A increases its assets in real time, allowing it to deposit funds in real time into a deposit account in the name of the recipient (second user), which is stored in the second server 20B (i.e., opened by the second financial institution). Thus, according to this embodiment, domestic foreign exchange transactions do not require the Bank of Japan and the interbank system, and foreign exchange transactions do not require the SWIFT network, making it possible to move funds in real time and complete foreign exchange transactions. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the probability of the aforementioned inconveniences occurring in the conventional domestic foreign exchange system (foreign exchange transactions via the interbank system) is reduced in domestic foreign exchange transactions, and the probability of the aforementioned inconveniences occurring in the conventional foreign exchange system (foreign exchange transactions via the SWIFT network) is reduced in foreign exchange transactions, thus improving the technology related to the foreign exchange system.

[0021] Next, we will explain in detail each component of the foreign exchange system 1.

[0022] (Configuration of the terminal device) As shown in Figure 2, the terminal device 10 comprises a communication unit 11, an input / output unit 12, a storage unit 13, and a control unit 14.

[0023] The communication unit 11 includes one or more communication interfaces that communicate via the network 30. These communication interfaces support, for example, mobile communication standards such as 4G (4th Generation) or 5G (5th Generation), wired LAN (Local Area Network) standards, or wireless LAN standards, but are not limited to these and may support any communication standard. In this embodiment, the terminal device 10 communicates with the server 20 via the communication unit 11.

[0024] The input / output unit 12 includes one or more output devices that output information in a manner that the user can recognize, and one or more input devices that detect user operations. The "output device" is, for example, a display that outputs information as an image, or a speaker that outputs information as sound, but is not limited to these. The "input device" is, for example, a physical key, a capacitive key, a touchscreen integrated with the display, a microphone that accepts voice input, or a camera, but is not limited to these. Furthermore, if the terminal device 10 is an ATM, the input / output unit 12 may further include, for example, a deposit / withdrawal device that allows cash deposits and withdrawals.

[0025] The storage unit 13 includes one or more memories. "Memory" is, for example, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, or an optical memory, but is not limited to these. Each memory included in the storage unit 13 may function as, for example, a main memory, an auxiliary memory, or a cache memory. The storage unit 13 stores any information used for the operation of the terminal device 10. For example, the storage unit 13 may store system programs, application programs, and embedded software.

[0026] The control unit 14 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The "processor" is, for example, a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor specialized for a predetermined process, but is not limited to these. The "programmable circuit" is, for example, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), but is not limited to this. The "dedicated circuit" is, for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), but is not limited to this. The control unit 14 controls the operation of the entire terminal device 10.

[0027] (Server configuration) As shown in Figure 3, the server 20 comprises a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit 23.

[0028] The communication unit 21 includes one or more communication interfaces that communicate via the network 30. These communication interfaces may, for example, correspond to wired LAN standards or wireless LAN standards, but are not limited to these and may correspond to any communication standard. In this embodiment, the server 20 communicates with the terminal device 10 via the communication unit 21.

[0029] The storage unit 22 includes one or more memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 22 may function as, for example, a main memory, an auxiliary memory, or a cache memory. The storage unit 22 stores any information used for the operation of the server 20. For example, the storage unit 22 may store system programs, application programs, databases, etc.

[0030] In this embodiment, the storage unit 22 stores information on multiple accounts, including deposit accounts in the name of other financial institutions that are mutually opened between multiple financial institutions. When the financial institution is a bank, the "deposit account" is, for example, a current account, but is not limited to that; it may also be a savings account. For example, the accounts opened by the first financial institution shown in Figure 4 (i.e., multiple accounts whose information is stored in the storage unit 22A of the first server 20A) include deposit accounts X11, X12, and X13 whose account holders are the first user, the second financial institution, and the third financial institution, respectively. Similarly, the accounts opened by the second financial institution shown in Figure 4 (i.e., multiple accounts whose information is stored in the second server 20B) include deposit accounts X21, X22, and X23 whose account holders are the second user, the first financial institution, and the third financial institution, respectively. The account information includes, for example, account number, account holder, balance, and transaction history information, but is not limited to these.

[0031] The control unit 23 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The control unit 23 controls the operation of the entire server 20.

[0032] (Operation Flow of the Foreign Exchange System) The operation of the foreign exchange system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 5.

[0033] Step S100: The control unit 14 of the terminal device 10 sends a first remittance instruction to the first server 20A, designating the first financial institution as the remittance source and the second financial institution as the remittance destination.

[0034] Specifically, the control unit 14 transmits a first remittance instruction, determined based on the operation of the first user who is a subscriber of the first financial institution, to the first server 20A via the communication unit 11. The first remittance instruction includes, but is not limited to, information specifying the remitter, recipient, and amount to be remitted.

[0035] In this embodiment, the remitter indicated in the first remittance instruction is described as a deposit account X11 in the name of a first user, opened by the first financial institution (i.e., stored in the storage unit 22A of the first server 20A), but the embodiment is not limited to this example. For example, if the terminal device 10 is an ATM and a cash transfer is made, the remitter indicated in the first remittance instruction may be an account in the name of the first financial institution that the first financial institution has opened in advance. Also, for example, if the first financial institution is not a bank, the remitter indicated in the first remittance instruction may be any account, such as a credit card or electronic wallet in the name of a first user issued by the first financial institution, or a user account of the first user in a payment service provided by the first financial institution.

[0036] In this embodiment, the recipient of the first remittance instruction is described as a deposit account X21 in the name of the second user, opened by the second financial institution (i.e., stored in the storage unit 22B of the second server 20B), but the embodiment is not limited to this example. For example, if the second financial institution is not a bank, the recipient of the first remittance instruction may be any account, such as an electronic wallet in the name of the second user issued by the second financial institution, or a user account of the second user in a payment service provided by the second financial institution.

[0037] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the amount to be remitted indicated in the first remittance instruction is described as the amount specified by the first user by operating the input / output unit 12, but the embodiment is not limited to this example. For example, if the first financial institution is located in the first country and the second financial institution is located in the second country, and a foreign exchange transaction is conducted, the amount to be remitted indicated in the first remittance instruction may be the amount converted in currency based on the exchange rate between the two countries.

[0038] Step S101: When the control unit 23A of the first server 20A receives the first remittance instruction in step S100, it executes the first process.

[0039] Specifically, when the control unit 23A receives a first remittance instruction from the terminal device 10 via the communication unit 21A, it executes a first process. The "first process" is the process of depositing funds of the amount specified in the first remittance instruction into a deposit account X12 in the name of a second financial institution, which is stored in the first server 20A (storage unit 22A). Any method can be used to deposit funds into the deposit account X12 in the name of a second financial institution. In this embodiment, the control unit 23A is described as moving funds from a deposit account X11 in the name of a first user, which is stored in the storage unit 22A, to a deposit account X12 in the name of a second financial institution. Alternatively, if a cash transfer is made, the control unit 23A may pre-store information of a deposit account in the name of a first financial institution opened by the first financial institution itself in the storage unit 22A, and then move funds from that deposit account to a deposit account X12 in the name of a second financial institution. In this embodiment, upon completion of the first process, the balance Y11 in the deposit account X11 under the name of the first user decreases by the amount of the transfer, and the balance Y12 in the deposit account X12 under the name of the second financial institution increases by the amount of the transfer.

[0040] The control unit 23A may also update the transaction history Z11 of the deposit account X11 in the name of the first user and the transaction history Z12 of the deposit account X12 in the name of the second financial institution, and store the transaction information related to the above fund transfer as history. Specifically, the control unit 23A may store transaction information as transaction history Z11 and Z12, which includes a transaction ID that can uniquely identify the above fund transfer at the first financial institution, the date on which the fund transfer was made, the amount of decrease in the balance Y11 (withdrawal amount), the amount of increase in the balance Y12 (transfer amount), and the deposit account X21 in the name of the second user, which is the recipient of the transfer.

[0041] Step S102: The control unit 23A of the first server 20A transmits information indicating the completion of the first process and a second remittance instruction to deposit the funds of the remittance amount into the remittance destination indicated in the first remittance instruction, to the second server 20B via the communication unit 21A.

[0042] The second remittance instruction includes, but is not limited to, information indicating the remittance recipient and the remittance amount. The remittance recipient and the remittance amount indicated in the second remittance instruction are the same as those indicated in the first remittance instruction, respectively. In the present embodiment, the remittance recipient indicated in the second remittance instruction is the deposit account X21 in the name of the second user opened by the second financial institution.

[0043] In step S102, the control unit 23A may further transmit information indicating the first user who is the remitter (for example, information indicating the name of the first user and / or the deposit account X11 in the name of the first user) to the second server 20B via the communication unit 21A.

[0044] Step S103: When the control unit 23B of the second server 20B receives the information transmitted from the first server 20A in step S102, it executes the second process.

[0045] The "second process" is a process of depositing the funds of the remittance amount into the deposit account X21 in the name of the second user stored in the second server 20B (storage unit 22B). Any method can be adopted for the deposit into the deposit account X21 in the name of the second user. In the present embodiment, the control unit 23B stores in advance in the storage unit 22B the information of the deposit account in the name of the second financial institution opened by the second financial institution itself, and the funds are transferred from the deposit account to the deposit account X21 in the name of the second user. Therefore, upon completion of the second process, the balance of the deposit account in the name of the second financial institution stored in the second server 20B (storage unit 22B) decreases by the amount of the remittance, and the balance Y21 of the deposit account X21 in the name of the second user increases by the amount of the remittance. The account used as the source of the fund transfer is not limited to the deposit account in the name of the second financial institution, and any name may be used as long as it is a deposit account stored in the second server 20B and holds the assets of the second financial institution.

[0046] Further, the control unit 23B may update the transaction history Z21 of the deposit account X21 in the name of the second user and accumulate the transaction information related to the above fund transfer as a history. Specifically, the control unit 23B may accumulate, as the transaction history Z21, transaction information including a transaction ID that can be uniquely identified by the second financial institution for the above fund transfer, the date on which the fund transfer was made, the increase amount (transfer amount) of the balance Y21, and information indicating the first user who is the remitter (such as the name of the first user and / or information indicating the deposit account X11 in the name of the first user).

[0047] As described above, the foreign exchange system 1 according to the present embodiment is configured without including the Bank of Japan, the Zengin system, and the SWIFT network, and by the above operations, in domestic foreign exchange transactions, foreign exchange transactions can be completed without going through the Bank of Japan and the Zengin system, and in foreign exchange transactions, without going through the SWIFT network.

[0048] (Outline of the Second Embodiment) Referring to FIG. 6, the outline of the foreign exchange system 1 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. The foreign exchange system 1 according to the present embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in that it further includes a management server 40. Note that the same components in the present embodiment and the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

[0049] The management server 40 is configured to include one or two or more information processing devices that can communicate with each other. The management server 40 may be a physical server or a virtual server. In the present embodiment, the management server 40 is used, for example, by a fund transfer operator, but is not limited thereto, and may be used by any operator who conducts foreign exchange transactions as a business. In the present embodiment, the operator using the management server 40 is described as providing a membership-based service that allows remittance to registered members using a terminal device 10 such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a PC. The management server 40 can communicate with each of the terminal devices 10 of registered members and the server 20 via the network 30.

[0050] In the foreign exchange system 1 according to this embodiment, the management server 40 can provide at least some of the functions (for example, balance reference, deposit / withdrawal reference, remittance, and account transfer, etc.) provided by the financial institution where the user has opened a deposit account, in response to a request from a registered user. The functions to be provided may be set for each user. In this embodiment, remittance will be described in particular. A user can make a remittance using their own smartphone or the like as a terminal device 10 via the management server 40 (i.e., by using the services provided by the management server 40), or they can make a remittance using their own smartphone or the like as a terminal device 10 or an ATM without going through the management server 40 (i.e., by using the services provided by the financial institution).

[0051] (Management Server Configuration) As shown in Figure 7, the management server 40 comprises a communication unit 41, a storage unit 42, and a control unit 43.

[0052] The communication unit 41 includes one or more communication interfaces that communicate via the network 30. These communication interfaces may, for example, correspond to wired LAN standards or wireless LAN standards, but are not limited to these and may correspond to any communication standard. In this embodiment, the management server 40 communicates with the terminal device 10 and the server 20 via the communication unit 41.

[0053] In this embodiment, the management server 40 and the terminal device 10 may be connected via the network 30, for example, using a P2P method, or they may be connected via a predetermined relay server. Furthermore, the management server 40 and the server 20 may be connected via an API provided by the management server 40, or they may be connected via an API gateway.

[0054] The storage unit 42 includes one or more memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 42 may function as, for example, a main memory, an auxiliary memory, or a cache memory. The storage unit 42 stores any information used for the operation of the management server 40. For example, the storage unit 42 may store system programs, application programs, and databases. Furthermore, if the management server 40 functions as a node in a blockchain, the storage unit 42 may store any information in the blocks related to that blockchain.

[0055] In this embodiment, the storage unit 42 stores information for each user who has registered as a member of a service provided by a business operator using the management server 40. User information includes, but is not limited to, a user ID that uniquely identifies the user at the business operator using the management server 40, a username, login information for the user to log in to the service provided by the business operator (e.g., a password and authentication information used for multi-factor authentication), and the user's personal information (name, age, address, and identity verification information). It may also include any information about the user. User information may be provided by the user to the business operator when registering as a member, for example, and stored in the storage unit 42. In this embodiment, the first user, who is the remitter, is assumed to have been registered as a member in advance.

[0056] The control unit 43 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The control unit 43 controls the operation of the entire management server 40.

[0057] (Operation Flow of the Foreign Exchange System) Referring to Figure 8, a first example of the operation of the foreign exchange system 1 will be described. In general terms, the operation in this first example differs from the first embodiment described above in that a first remittance instruction is transmitted from the terminal device 10 to the first server 20A via the management server 40. Furthermore, in this first example, the terminal device 10 will be described as a smartphone, tablet terminal, or PC of the first user, rather than an ATM of a financial institution.

[0058] Step S200: The control unit 14 of the terminal device 10 sends a first remittance instruction to the management server 40, with the first financial institution as the remittance source and the second financial institution as the remittance destination.

[0059] Specifically, the control unit 14 transmits a first remittance instruction, determined based on the operation of a first user who is a subscriber of the first financial institution and is registered as a member of a service provided by a business operator using the management server 40, to the management server 40 via the communication unit 11. The content of the first remittance instruction is the same as in the first embodiment described above. As also described above, communication between the terminal device 10 and the management server may be performed, for example, using a P2P method, or via a predetermined relay server.

[0060] Step S201: When the control unit 43 of the management server 40 receives the first remittance instruction from the terminal device 10, it sends the first remittance instruction to the first server 20A.

[0061] Specifically, the control unit 43 transmits the first remittance instruction to the first server 20A via the communication unit 41. As described above, communication between the management server 40 and the first server 20A may be performed, for example, using an API provided by the management server 40, or via an API gateway. Here, the control unit 43 may convert the first remittance instruction into a data format used by the first financial institution (a data format that the first server 20A can process) before transmitting it.

[0062] Steps S202-S205: The same operations as in steps S101-S103 in the first embodiment described above are performed.

[0063] Next, with reference to Figure 9, a second example of the operation of the foreign exchange system 1 will be described. In general terms, the operation of this second example differs from the first embodiment described above in that information indicating the completion of the first process and a second remittance instruction are transmitted from the first server 20A to the second server 20B via the management server 40.

[0064] Steps S300-S301: The same operations as in steps S100-S101 in the first embodiment described above are performed.

[0065] Step S302: The control unit 23A of the first server 20A transmits information indicating the completion of the first process and a second remittance instruction to deposit the funds of the remittance amount into the remittance destination indicated in the first remittance instruction, to the management server 40 via the communication unit 21A.

[0066] The content of the second remittance instruction is the same as in the first embodiment described above. In step S302, the control unit 23A may also transmit information indicating the first user who is the remitter (for example, the name of the first user and / or information indicating the deposit account X11 in the name of the first user) to the management server 40 via the communication unit 21A, as in the first embodiment described above. Furthermore, communication between the first server 20A and the management server 40 may be performed, for example, using an API provided by the management server 40, or via an API gateway.

[0067] Step S303: When the control unit 43 of the management server 40 receives the information sent from the first server 20A in step S302, it sends information indicating the completion of the first process and a second remittance instruction to the second server 20B.

[0068] The control unit 43 may then convert the second remittance instruction into a data format used by the second financial institution (a data format that the second server 20B can process) before sending it.

[0069] Step S304: The same operation as in step S103 in the first embodiment described above is performed.

[0070] Next, with reference to Figure 10, a third example of the operation of the foreign exchange system 1 will be described. In general terms, the operation in this third example corresponds to a combination of the first and second examples described above, and both communication between the terminal device 10 and the first server 20A, and communication between the first server 20A and the second server 20B, are performed via the management server 40.

[0071] Step S400: The same operation as in step S200 described above is performed.

[0072] Step S401: When the control unit 43 of the management server 40 receives the first remittance instruction from the terminal device 10, it sends an instruction to execute the first process to the first server 20A.

[0073] The "instruction to execute the first process" may be the first remittance instruction itself, or it may be an instruction indicating the content of the first process (i.e., an instruction to deposit the amount of funds specified in the first remittance instruction into the deposit account in the name of the second financial institution that the first server 20A has stored).

[0074] Step S402: When the control unit 23A of the first server 20A receives an instruction to execute the first process, it executes the first process.

[0075] Step S403: The same operation as in step S302 described above is performed.

[0076] Step S404: When the control unit 43 of the management server 40 receives the information sent from the first server 20A in step S403, it sends an instruction to execute the second process to the second server 20B.

[0077] The "instruction to execute the second process" may include information indicating the completion of the first process and the second remittance instruction, or it may be an instruction indicating the content of the second process (i.e., an instruction to deposit the funds of the remittance amount into the deposit account X21 in the name of the second user, which is stored by the second server 20B).

[0078] Step S405: When the control unit 23B of the second server 20B receives an instruction to execute the second process, it executes the second process.

[0079] While this disclosure has been described based on the drawings and embodiments, it should be noted that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations based on this disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are within the scope of this disclosure. For example, the functions, etc., included in each component or step can be rearranged in a logically consistent manner, and multiple components or steps can be combined into one or separated.

[0080] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example was explained in which the foreign exchange system 1 employs a method to complete foreign exchange transactions without going through the Bank of Japan and the Zengin System for domestic foreign exchange transactions, and without going through the SWIFT network for foreign exchange transactions. However, it is also possible to have an embodiment in which the foreign exchange system 1 dynamically switches between employing a method that does not go through the Bank of Japan and the Zengin System and a method that does go through them when conducting domestic foreign exchange transactions. Similarly, it is also possible to have an embodiment in which the foreign exchange system 1 dynamically switches between employing a method that does not go through the SWIFT network and a method that does go through them when conducting foreign exchange transactions.

[0081] For example, when the control unit 23A of the first server 20A receives a first remittance instruction, if the score indicating the financial stability of the first financial institution is above a threshold, it may execute the first process in the same manner as in the embodiment described above. If the score is below the threshold, instead of the first process, it may execute a third process that moves the funds of the remittance amount from the first financial institution to the second financial institution using the interbank system or the SWIFT network. Here, the "score" may be calculated by any method from indicators such as the capital adequacy ratio, credit rating, and / or outstanding non-performing loans. The "third process" also includes, in the case of domestic exchange transactions, the process of sending the message of the first remittance instruction to the interbank system, and in the case of foreign exchange transactions, the process of sending the remittance instruction related to the first remittance instruction to other financial institutions that have correspondent relationships with the first financial institution.

[0082] For example, when the control unit 23A of the first server 20A receives a first remittance instruction, if the amount to be remitted is less than a threshold, it may execute the first process in the same manner as in the embodiment described above. If the amount to be remitted is equal to or greater than the threshold, instead of the first process, it may execute a third process that moves the funds of the remittance amount from the first financial institution to the second financial institution using the interbank system or the SWIFT network.

[0083] For example, when the control unit 23A of the first server 20A receives the first remittance instruction, it may suspend the execution of the first process and send a notification indicating the remittance amount specified in the first remittance instruction to the second server 20B via the communication unit 21A. Subsequently, the control unit 23B of the second server device 20B may send information indicating the remittance amount shown in the notification to the terminal device (PC, smartphone, or tablet terminal, etc.) of an employee of the second financial institution, for example, via the communication unit 21B. Here, the control unit 23B may also send a score indicating the financial stability of the first financial institution to the terminal device along with the information indicating the remittance amount. The employee confirms the remittance amount (and score) using the terminal device and then inputs into the terminal device whether to select a method that does not go through the Bank of Japan and the interbank system or a method that does go through it if it is a domestic exchange transaction, or whether to select a method that does not go through the SWIFT network or a method that does go through it if it is a foreign exchange transaction. Next, the control unit 23B of the second server device 20B receives information indicating the method selected by the employee from the terminal device via the communication unit 21B and transmits it to the first server 20A. Then, if a method that does not go through the Bank of Japan and the interbank system is selected when it is a domestic exchange transaction, or if a method that does not go through the SWIFT network is selected when it is a foreign exchange transaction, the control unit 23A of the first server 20A executes the first process in the same manner as in the embodiment described above. If any other method is selected, instead of the first process, it may execute a third process that moves the funds of the transfer amount from the first financial institution to the second financial institution using the interbank system or the SWIFT network.

[0084] Furthermore, it is also possible to implement an embodiment in which a general-purpose computer functions as the server 20 or management server 40 according to the above-described embodiment. Specifically, a program describing the processing content that realizes each function of the server 20 or management server 40 according to the above-described embodiment is stored in the memory of the general-purpose computer, and the processor reads and executes the program. Therefore, this disclosure can also be implemented as a program that can be executed by a processor, or as a non-temporary computer-readable medium that stores said program.

[0085] 1 Exchange System 10 Terminal Device 11 Communication Unit 12 Input / Output Unit 13 Storage Unit 14 Control Unit 20 Server 20A First Server 20B Second Server 21, 21A, 21B Communication Unit 22, 22A, 22B Storage Unit 23, 23A, 23B Control Unit 30 Network 40 Management Server 41 Communication Unit 42 Storage Unit 43 Control Unit

Claims

1. A foreign exchange system comprising multiple servers used by multiple financial institutions excluding the Bank of Japan, wherein each of the multiple servers stores information on multiple accounts, including deposit accounts in the name of other financial institutions that have been mutually opened among the multiple financial institutions, and the first server of the first financial institution, upon receiving a first remittance instruction with the first financial institution as the remitter and the second financial institution as the recipient, executes a first process of depositing funds of the amount specified in the first remittance instruction into a deposit account in the name of the second financial institution stored in the first server.

2. The foreign exchange system according to claim 1, wherein the first remittance instruction includes an instruction to send funds from a first account opened by the first financial institution, and the first server, by executing the first process, moves the funds of the remittance amount from the first account stored by the first server to a deposit account in the name of the second financial institution.

3. The foreign exchange system according to claim 2, wherein the first remittance instruction includes an instruction to send funds to a second account opened by the second financial institution, and the second server of the second financial institution executes a second process of depositing the funds of the remittance amount into the second account stored by the second server.

4. The foreign exchange system according to claim 3, further comprising a management server, wherein the management server stores information of registered users, and when it receives the first remittance instruction from the user's terminal device, it transmits the first remittance instruction to the first server.

5. The foreign exchange system according to claim 4, wherein the first server transmits to the management server information indicating the completion of the first process and a second remittance instruction to deposit the funds of the remittance amount into the second account; the management server transmits to the second server information indicating the completion of the first process and the second remittance instruction; and the second server executes the second process based on the second remittance instruction received from the management server.

6. The foreign exchange system according to claim 3, further comprising a management server, wherein the first server transmits to the management server information indicating the completion of the first process and a second remittance instruction to deposit the funds of the remittance amount into the second account; the management server transmits to the second server information indicating the completion of the first process and the second remittance instruction; and the second server executes the second process based on the second remittance instruction received from the management server.

7. An exchange system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a system that does not include the Bank of Japan and the nationwide bank data communication system, and that completes domestic exchange transactions without going through the Bank of Japan and the nationwide bank data communication system.

8. A foreign exchange system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is configured without including a SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) network and completes foreign exchange transactions without using a SWIFT network.

9. A server used by a first financial institution, comprising: a storage unit that stores information on a plurality of accounts, including deposit accounts in the name of one or more second financial institutions mutually opened between the first financial institution and one or more second financial institutions; a communication unit that receives a first remittance instruction with the first financial institution as the remitter and the second financial institutions as the recipient; and a control unit that executes a first process of depositing funds of the amount specified in the first remittance instruction into a deposit account in the name of one of the second financial institutions stored in the storage unit.

10. A management server capable of communicating with multiple servers used by multiple financial institutions other than the Bank of Japan, wherein each of the multiple servers stores information on multiple accounts, including deposit accounts in the name of other financial institutions that have been mutually opened among the multiple financial institutions, and the management server comprises: a storage unit that stores information on registered users; a control unit that, upon receiving a first remittance instruction from the user's terminal device, with a first account opened by a first financial institution as the source and a second account opened by a second financial institution as the destination, sends an instruction to execute a first process to the first server, which moves funds of the amount specified in the first remittance instruction from the first account stored in the first server of the first financial institution to a deposit account in the name of the second financial institution; and upon receiving information from the first server indicating the completion of the first process and a second remittance instruction to deposit the funds of the amount to be remitted into the second account, which deposits the funds of the amount to be remitted into the second account stored in the second server of the second financial institution.

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