Electronic Money Server Lock Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic money systems face difficulties in preventing unauthorized use and efficiently restoring the original state of electronic money when a portable terminal with electronic money function is lost, as existing methods require complex procedures to restore the terminal after balance collection.

Innovation Solution

An electronic money server system that locks and unlocks the electronic money function section of a portable terminal using identification information, allowing for secure prevention of unauthorized use and easy restoration when the terminal is found, through lock requests, restoration requests, and balance management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If balance collection processing is performed when the portable terminal is lost, then unauthorized use by a third party can be prevented, but various procedures and operations are needed to restore the portable terminal device to the original state

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of unauthorized useVSAvoidrestoration to original state

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the electronic money function from the portable terminal by implementing a lock mechanism that can be independently activated. When a terminal is reported lost, only the electronic money function is locked while the terminal itself remains operational for other purposes. This segmentation allows the terminal to be restored to its original state by simply unlocking the electronic money function, avoiding complex restoration procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary locking of the electronic money function before balance collection is executed. By locking the function first, the system prevents unauthorized use while maintaining the terminal's operational status. This preliminary action simplifies subsequent restoration, as the terminal only needs to be unlocked rather than fully restored.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the electronic money function is locked when the portable terminal is lost, then security is improved, but the terminal cannot be easily restored to original state after being found

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity of electronic moneyVSAvoidrestoration of terminal function

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the electronic money function from the overall terminal system and applies a specific lock mechanism to it. This extraction allows the lock to be applied selectively to only the electronic money component, leaving the rest of the terminal unaffected. Consequently, restoration involves only removing the lock from the extracted function rather than restoring the entire terminal system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameter of the electronic money function from 'unlocked' to 'locked' state when loss is reported. This parameter change provides a simple binary state that is easy to reverse. When the terminal is found, the parameter is simply changed back from 'locked' to 'unlocked', enabling easy restoration without complex procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If complex restoration procedures are required after balance collection, then unauthorized use is prevented, but the time and operations needed for restoration increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of electronic money misuseVSAvoidrestoration time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The lock is applied preliminarily to the electronic money function before any balance collection occurs. This preliminary locking prevents unauthorized use while keeping the terminal otherwise functional. Restoration requires only unlocking the function, a simple operation that takes minimal time compared to complex restoration procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of collecting balances first and then dealing with restoration complexity, the system inverts the approach by locking the function first and maintaining simple unlock capability. This inversion simplifies the restoration process while still preventing unauthorized use, reducing the time required for restoration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS10885518B2Electronic money server, electronic money server program product, recording medium, and loss processing method

Publication Date: 2021.01.05 RAKUTEN GROUP INC

AI summary

The objective of the present invention is, with respect to a portable terminal which is provided with an electronic money function, to facilitate restoration of an original state if a terminal has been discovered, while preventing unauthorized usage of electronic money at a time of loss for a terminal which is provided with an electronic money function. If a terminal is lost, an electronic money server is accessed from a second terminal in order to perform a loss lock request. The electronic money server turns ON a loss lock flag corresponding to an electronic money ID in order to output a negative flag ON instruction for an electronic money function section at a point at which access has been made from the terminal. For the electronic money function section, by turning ON a negative flag, the electronic money function section is locked so that settlements and charges are disabled.