Abstract:
An electronic money system and an electronic money terminal used therein which facilitate and promote the transaction by card representing cash. A user carries out a transaction by using an information card storing data representing monetary value, and in a case where the balance on the card is insufficient, the balance due is charged to a designated account or paid by loan. The user of the information card is able to carry out a transaction solely by information card even when the balance stored in the information card is insufficient.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to an electronic money system and an electronic money terminal used therein, and more particularly to an electronic money system, as well as to an electronic money terminal, operative with the use of a portable electronic device which is typically but not exclusively an information card storing monetary value data is used. The invention also is concerned with a transaction method which uses the electronic money system.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    A cash card or credit card issued by a bank or a credit company when used requires a salesclerk at the store equipped with a compatible card terminal to operate the card terminal to read the card number stored in a magnetic stripe on the card, and to enter the amount of the sales.  
           [0005]    The card terminal then forms connection with a management computer of the bank or the credit company and sends information such as card number and the amount of the sales to the management computer. The management computer manages such information as expiration dates, transaction limits, loss and theft, for each card a user carries, and determines whether the card transaction is allowable based on the information regarding the card number and the amount of the transaction sent from the card terminal via communication lines. When a card transaction is allowable, the management computer sends back information to that effect and debits the transaction amount from the designated account.  
           [0006]    As seen from the above, the system using a cash card or credit card requires transmitting of a card verification request from a card terminal to the management computer of the bank or the credit company each time the user uses the card. The conventional system thus has a disadvantage of requiring the connection forming process, making the process of card transaction somewhat cumbersome.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic money system and an electronic money terminal used therein, as well as a transaction method, that facilitate and promote transactions using a portable electronic device or unit, typically an information card, which represents monetary value.  
           [0008]    To this end, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic money system, comprising: an electronic money terminal having withdrawing means for withdrawing a transaction amount from electronic money representing monetary value stored in a portable electronic device, and processing means for processing a balance due when the transaction amount exceeds the amount stored in the portable electronic device; and electronic money management means for compiling the transaction amount withdrawn from the electronic money through the electronic money terminal and the amount processed by the balance due processing means.  
           [0009]    The portable electronic device may be an information card.  
           [0010]    Preferably, the information card is a contactless-type information card which exchanges the amount data in a contactless manner.  
           [0011]    The electronic money system may further comprise a money deposit terminal for updating the amount data stored in the portable electronic device.  
           [0012]    The arrangement may be such that the balance due processing means processes the balance due such that the balance due is paid on credit.  
           [0013]    The balance due processing means may have reading means for reading a credit flag embedded in the electronic device.  
           [0014]    The electronic device may have a personal identification function.  
           [0015]    Preferably, the electronic device is integrated with a communication terminal.  
           [0016]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic money terminal in which settlement and clearing are carried out by using electronic money contained in an electronic device, comprising: processing means for processing a payment of a balance due so that the payment be deferred when an amount of a transaction exceeds the amount of money data contained in the electronic device representing monetary value, at the time the transaction amount is withdrawn from a balance.  
           [0017]    The arrangement may be such that the processing means shares the balance due to a designated account or loan: namely, it determines whether the balance due is to be funded from the account or loan, or from both of them, and stores the share or the funded amount.  
           [0018]    The present invention in its still another aspect provides a transaction method which uses electronic money, comprising the steps of: subtracting a transaction amount from electronic money contained in an electronic device; and processing a payment of a balance due so that the payment be deferred when the transaction amount exceeds the amount of electronic money contained in the electronic device.  
           [0019]    In this method, the deferred payment of the balance due may be funded from a designated account or by loan.  
           [0020]    The present invention in its further aspect provides an electronic money system, comprising: an electronic money terminal having means for withdrawing a transaction amount from a balance on an electronic device having information storage unit for storing electronic money representing monetary value, and for allowing the payment of any balance due to be deferred when the transaction amount exceeds the balance; and electronic money management means for compiling the transaction amount withdrawn from the balance in the electronic device through the electronic money terminal and an amount of the allowed deferred payment.  
           [0021]    The electronic device may be a card-type storage medium.  
           [0022]    Preferably, the card-type storage medium is a contactless information card which exchanges the transaction amount data in a contactless manner.  
           [0023]    The electronic device may have at least one of a communication terminal function, a personal identification and verification function, and an entry or exit key function.  
           [0024]    Preferably, the electronic money management means is arranged to record date and time of the transaction using the electronic device, along with the amount of the transaction.  
           [0025]    A user of the electronic money system having the foregoing features carries out a transaction by using an electronic device, typically an information card, storing data representing monetary value, and when the balance on the card is short, the balance due is charged to a designated account or paid by loan. The user of the information card is therefore able to carry out a transaction solely by the electronic device, e.g., an information card, even when the balance stored herein is insufficient. The user therefore can fully enjoy the advantages offered by the use of the electronic money system.  
           [0026]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of the preferred embodiments when the same is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
           [0027]    It is to be noted that the electronic device to be used in the electronic money system of the invention is not limited to card-type medium, although information cards are specifically mentioned in the following description. Thus, any portable electronic device which carries data representing monetary value can be used, for example, a mobile phone, a mobile computer or a watch. Furthermore, an information card may have one or more functions n addition to carrying electronic data representing monetary value. For example, an information card may also serve as a personal identification card for office staffs, an electronic key for locking and unlocking the office (especially where the security is demanded), a railway pass, a driver&#39;s license, a passport, an insurance document, or the like, depending on the contents of memory mounted on the electronic device. Thus, the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms, and all such forms are encompassed by the scope of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the electronic money system according to the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electronic money management unit;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a security server;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an integrated server;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of an IC card;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an IC card;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIGS. 7A and 7B are illustrations of data written on the IC card;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the exterior of a deposit terminal;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a deposit terminal;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a cash deposit routine using a deposit terminal;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the exterior of an electronic money terminal;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an electronic money terminal;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 13 is a flow chart of an IC card transaction routine using an electronic money terminal;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate electronic money log data; and  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 15 is a flow chart of settling and clearing routine in an electronic money management unit. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0043]    One embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0044]    (1) Configuration of an Electronic Money System  
         [0045]    Referring now to FIG. 1, an electronic money system generally denoted by reference numeral  1  has the following components: an electronic money management unit  10  serving to issue IC cards  50  while managing electronic money and settling and clearing the electronic money account; a plurality of deposit terminals  21   x that are used to deposit electronic money (money data) into IC cards  50 ; a plurality of electronic money terminals  25   x  located at outlets  3 , for accepting payment from users through the IC cards  50  on which electronic money is held; vending machines  19  which sell commercial items to users when paid by means of the IC cards  50 ; and a vending machine server  18  which stores data from the vending machines, concerning the reports of uses of the IC cards  50 , such as monetary amounts of transactions, and dates and times.  
         [0046]    Referring now to FIG. 2, the electronic money management unit  10  in the electronic money system  1  includes a security server  11 , an electronic money server  13 , an issue data server  14 , an issue unit  15 , an integrated server  16 , and an access server  17 . These servers are connected to one another through a data bus BUS 1 , forming a first LAN (Local Area Network). Also, deposit terminals  21   1  to  21   n , electronic money terminals  25   1  to  25   n , and the vending machine server  18  linked to the vending machines  19   1  to  19   n  are connected to one another through a data bus BUS 2 , forming a second LAN. The first and second LANs are connected to each other via the access server  17 .  
         [0047]    As shown in FIG. 3, the security server  11  in the electronic money management unit  10  includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  11 A, a storage unit  11 B, a mutual authentication unit  11 C, and a communication unit  11 H. The CPU  11 A is operated according to an operating program stored in the storage unit  11 B. Data exchanged between the integrated server  16  and other terminals or servers enters the CPU  11 A via the communication unit  11 H. The CPU  11 A allows the exchanged data to be encrypted with a predetermined encryption key. The CPU  11 A further allows the mutual authentication unit  11 C to verify the data source.  
         [0048]    Referring to FIG. 4, the integrated server  16  includes a CPU  16 A, a storage unit  16 B, a database  16 C, and a communication unit  16 H. The CPU  16 A runs on an operating program stored in the storage unit  16 B. The CPU  16 A allows various transaction reports to be passed over the second LAN, through the access server  17 , over the first LAN, via the security server  11  to the integrated server  16 . Such transaction reports include but may not be limited to amount data equivalent to the amount of money deposited through the deposit terminals  21   1  to  21   n , and a transaction report of the IC card  50  including IC card number, transaction amounts and transaction dates, which are stored in the electronic money terminals  25   1  to  25   n . The integrated server  16  receives these reports from the communication unit  16 H, and then stores them into the database  16 C via a data bus BUS 16 .  
         [0049]    The integrated server  16  also stores in the database  16 C the amount data to be withdrawn from a user&#39;s designated account which is sent from a bank/credit card company management computer  100  (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a “management computer  100 ”) via the electronic money server  13 .  
         [0050]    The electronic money server  13  transmits/receives data to/from the bank/credit card company management computer  100  external to the electronic money management unit  10  over predetermined communications lines. Further, the electronic money server  13  settles and clears the account, for example, once a month based on a variety of information on the electronic money stored in the database  16 C of the integrated server  16 .  
         [0051]    In the issue data server  14 , IC card number of the IC card  50  issued by the issue unit  15  is registered into a database in combination with credit card number of the user who possesses the IC card  50 .  
         [0052]    The vending machine server  18  stores transaction reports of the IC card  50  including transaction amounts and dates which have been transmitted from the vending machines  19   1  to  19   n . These reports are then delivered, for example, once a day, over the second LAN, through the access server  17 , over the first LAN, via the security server  11  to the integrated server  16 . The reports are then stored in the database  16 C of the integrated server  16 .  
         [0053]    According to the electronic money system  1  of the illustrated embodiment, the card issuing unit  15  in the electronic money management unit  10  issues IC (Integrated Circuit) cards  50  from/to which data can be read/written in a contactless manner. The IC cards  50  are then given to users at an issue window site  2  in each tenant company (see FIG. 1). Each of the IC cards  50  has a memory into which IC card number is uniquely prestored.  
         [0054]    Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the IC card  50  is a battery-free IC card that is free of a battery for power supply. The IC card of this type includes a flat substrate  55  used as a base, a coiled loop antenna  52  for receiving the electromagnetic wave emitted from a data read/write unit  60  to convert it into an electric signal, a modem (modulation/demodulation) circuit  53  for modulating transmission data or demodulating received data, and a control unit  54  for analyzing the received data and for generating data to be transmitted.  
         [0055]    In the IC card  50  of this type, the electromagnetic wave emitted from the data read/write unit  60  is received by the loop antenna  52 , and then transmitted as a modulated wave to the modem circuit  53 . The modulated wave is demodulated by the modem circuit  53  and is sent to a signal processing circuit  54  so as to be used as transmission data D 1  that has been transmitted from the data read/write unit  60 .  
         [0056]    The signal processing circuit  54  incorporates a control unit  59  including a hard logic circuit or a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and a memory unit including a ROM (Read Only Memory)  57  and a RAM (Random Access Memory)  58 . The control unit  59  analyzes the transmission data D 1  on the RAM  58  according to the program written to the ROM  57 , and then reads various data D 2  regarding the electronic money stored in the RAM  58  based on the analyzed transmission data D 1 , which is then sent to the modem circuit  53 . The modem circuit  53  modulates the data D 2 , and delivers it to the data read/write unit  60  as an electromagnetic wave from the loop antenna  52  (see FIG. 5).  
         [0057]    The modem circuit  53  contains a power supply circuit for converting electromagnetic wave energy into a stable dc power supply. The electromagnetic wave emitted from the data read/write unit  60  and received by the loop antenna  52  is based to generate a dc power supply DC 1  which is then sent to the control unit  59 . A clock signal CLK 1  generated on the basis of the received electromagnetic wave is also sent to the control unit  59  while a control signal CTL 1  for various controls is received from the control unit  59 .  
         [0058]    In the data read/write unit  60 , various kinds of transmission data sent via a data bus BUS are input into a modem circuit  61  that modulates the input data according to the received data using a carrier wave of a predetermined frequency band where the input data can be efficiently emitted as an electromagnetic wave. The modulated data is then emitted from a loop antenna  62  in the form of the electromagnetic wave.  
         [0059]    Further, in the data read/write unit  60 , the electromagnetic wave emitted from the IC card  50  is received as a modulated wave by the loop antenna  62  and sent to the modem circuit  61 . The modem circuit  61  demodulates the modulated wave, and then sends it as data transmitted from the IC card  50  to a signal processing unit (not shown) via the data bus BUS.  
         [0060]    A variety of information on the electronic money is stored in the RAM  58  of the IC card  50  where such information is saved into a plurality of files managed with a directory. Specifically, the RAM  58  of the IC card  50  stores therein management information D 10  or an upper-level information unit of the directory, and electronic money information D 20  or a low-level information unit of the directory. The management information D 10  may include but not be limited to IC card number D 11 , file/directory definition information D 12  and file access key  13 , as shown in FIG. 7A. As shown in FIG. 7B, the electronic money information D 20  may include but not be limited to balance data D 22  indicating a balance of electronic money, electronic money log data D 23  indicating transaction reports of electronic money, a credit card flag D 24  that is previously registered into the IC card  50  before the card is received by a user, as described later, and any other user information D 25  such as staff number or entry/exit data. When the balance data D 22  falls short of the amount data of the transaction amount while a user uses the IC card  50  for shopping and the like, the credit card flag D 24  is used to indicate whether or not the balance due may be paid through a credit card. The aforementioned data are written to the files, respectively.  
         [0061]    The user who has received an IC card  50  is able to enter on the IC card  50  electronic money data equivalent to a desired amount of money, either by cash or cash card/credit card via a deposit terminal  21   X  shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 8, the exterior of a deposit terminal  21   X  comprises a card communication unit  21 D (having the same construction as that implemented by the loop antenna  62  and the modem circuit  61  in FIG. 5) for exchanging data with an IC card  50  in a contactless manner, a credit card communication unit  21 E which reads out data on magnetic stripe of cash cards/credit cards  40 , a cash receiver  21 J for receiving cash, a display unit  21 F and an operation unit  21 G provided together in a touch panel, and a receipt ejector  21 I for ejecting receipts on which details of transactions are printed.  
         [0062]    The deposit terminal  21   X  may accept different depositing methods by which electronic money data enters an IC card  50 . The user may throw cash into the cash receiver  21 J so that the deposit terminal  21   X  will write equivalent electronic money data to the RAM  58  of the IC card  50 . Alternatively, the user may insert into credit card communication unit  21 E a cash card issued from a bank or a credit card issued from a credit card company. The user then specifies a desired sum to deposit by operating on the operating unit  21 G, so that the deposit terminal  21   X  will transfer from a designated cash card/credit card account into the IC card  50  the specified monetary value. A cash card herein refers to a card for utilizing deposits in bank accounts, while a credit card refers to a card by means of which the credit card company which has issued the credit card loans a particular amount of money to the card holder.  
         [0063]    Referring to FIG. 9, a CPU  21 A in a deposit terminal  21   X  performs a deposit processing routine as shown in FIG. 10 according to a particular program stored in a storage unit  21 B. When the user brings an IC card  50  close to the card communication unit  21 D and initiates a deposit via the operation unit  21 G, the CPU  21 A starts the deposit processing routine (step SP 10  shown in FIG. 10). The routine then proceeds to step SP 11  to read out from the IC card  50  a set of information including the card number and to prompt the user to select depositing method via the operation unit  21 G.  
         [0064]    If the user selects deposit by means of cash (hereinafter referred to as the first depositing method), the CPU  21 A opens the cash receiver  21 J for the user to throw cash therein. When the user has thrown cash in the cash receiver  21 J, the CPU  21 A counts the amount of received cash.  
         [0065]    If the user selects deposit by means of cash card/credit card  40  (hereinafter referred to as the second depositing method), the CPU  21 A prompts the user with a message on the display unit  21  to insert a cash card/credit card  40  into the credit card communication unit  21 E and to specify the amount to deposit. Accordingly, the user specifies a desired sum to be deposited via the operation unit  21 G.  
         [0066]    When the first depositing method has been selected by the user, the routine skips from step SP 12  to step SP 17 . In step SP 17 , the CPU  21 A informs, via the card communication unit  21 D, the IC card  50  of the amount of cash which has been thrown into the cash receiver  21 J by the user. At this time, data indicating the cash amount is also transmitted via the communication unit  21 H to the integrated server  16  of the electronic management unit  10 , and is then stored therein. Thus, the control unit  59  of the IC card  50  adds electronic money value according to the received cash amount data to the balance of the electronic money value stored in RAM  58 , thereby updating the balance data D 22  (shown in FIG. 7B) indicating the electronic money balance.  
         [0067]    Alternatively, when the user has selected the second depositing method, the CPU  21 A proceeds with the routine from step SP 12  to step SP 13 . In step SP 13 , the CPU  21 A reads the magnetic stripe of the cash card/credit card  40  which has been inserted into the credit card communication unit  21 E to identify the number of that particular cash card/credit card. The CPU  21 A then transmits via communication unit  21 H to the electronic money management unit (shown in FIG. 1) the number of the cash card/credit card  40 , the PIN (personal identification number) for the cash card/credit card  40  which has been entered by the user via the operating unit  21 G, a verification request for the cash card/credit card  40  and the requested transaction/credit amount. At this time, the mutual authentication unit  21 C of the deposit terminal  21   X  verifies that the destination of the transmission from the CPU  21 A is a legitimate one.  
         [0068]    When the above transmission is authenticated and completed, the electronic money management unit  10  forwards via a communication line to the management computer  100  of the bank/credit card company which is in charge of the particular cash card/credit card the number of cash card/credit card, the user-entered PIN, the verification request and the requested transaction/credit amount which have been transmitted from the deposit terminal  21   X .  
         [0069]    The bank/credit card company management computer  100  holds therein legitimate pairs of card number and corresponding PIN for each cash card/credit card which has been issued. The bank/credit card company management computer  100  compares the pair of cash card/credit card number and user-entered PIN transmitted from electronic money management unit  10  against the legitimate pairs. When a match is found, the transmitted verification request is properly received by the bank/credit card company management computer  100 .  
         [0070]    The bank/credit card company management computer  100  then checks balance of the account designated for the cash card/credit card identified by the transmitted cash card/credit card number, and also determines whether or not the card is valid based on such information as expiration date of the card and any loss and theft for the card.  
         [0071]    If the user-entered amount to deposit does not exceed the balance of the designated account and also the cash card/credit card is found valid, the bank/credit card company management computer  100  authorizes the transaction/credit of that amount, returns a message to that effect to the electronic money management unit  10  and transfers the specified value from the designated account to the integrated server  16  of the electronic money management unit  10 . On the other hand, if the user-entered amount to deposit exceeds the balance of the designated account or the cash card/credit card is found invalid, the bank/credit card company management computer  100  rejects the request for the transaction/credit of that amount, and returns a message to that effect to the electronic money management unit  10 .  
         [0072]    The electronic money management unit  10  forwards the verification result to the deposit terminal  21   X . In step SP 14  of the flow shown in FIG. 10, the CPU  21 A of the deposit terminal  21   X  receives the verification result via the communication unit  21 H.  
         [0073]    If the verification result is positive, the CPU  21 A proceeds with the routine from step SP 15  to step SP 17  in which the user-specified sum is forwarded to the IC card  50 . Thus, the control unit  59  of the IC card  50  adds electronic money value according to the received sum to the balance of the electronic money value stored in RAM  58 , thereby updating the balance data D 22  (shown in FIG. 7B) indicating the electronic money balance.  
         [0074]    Thereafter the CPU  21 A ejects a receipt indicating the details of transaction through the receipt ejector  21 I to complete the deposit processing routine.  
         [0075]    If the verification result received in step SP 14  is negative, the CPU  21 A proceeds with the routine from step SP 15  to step SP 16 . In step SP 16 , a message is displayed on the display unit indicating that the cash card/credit card inserted into the credit card communication unit  21 E by the user has not been accepted for transaction/credit of the specified amount, and then in step SP 18  the deposit processing routine ends.  
         [0076]    When the first depositing method is used to enter electronic money data on the IC card  50 , the deposit terminal  21   X  transmits data indicating the electronic money value to the integrated server  16  of the electronic money management unit  10 , and stores the data therein. While, when the second depositing method is used to enter electronic money data on the IC card  50 , the bank/credit card company management computer  100  transmits data indicating the electronic money value to the integrated server  16  of the electronic money management unit  10 , and stores the data therein.  
         [0077]    Thus, the integrated server  16  of the electronic money management unit  10  is made to hold data indicating the electronic money value deposited on the IC card  50  (by means of cash or by means of cash card/credit card).  
         [0078]    Thus, the user is allowed to shop using the IC card in which the user has deposited a desired amount of electronic money by means of cash, cash card/credit card, etc.  
         [0079]    Different stores have their own electronic money terminals  25   X  ( 25   1 ˜ 25   n ) which may be coupled to POS (Point Of Sale) registers. As shown in FIG. 11, the electronic money terminal  25   X  comprises a main unit to be operated by the sales clerks, and an IC card read/write unit  25 K which exchanges data in a contactless manner with the IC card  50  brought close thereto by the user.  
         [0080]    On the exterior of the main unit  25 J, there are provided a display unit  25 F and an operation unit  25 G together in a touch panel. The operation unit  25 G has arithmetic function keys  25 G 1 , function keys  25 G 2 , a ¥-100-unit key  25 G 3 , a ¥-1000-unit key  25 G 4 , and so forth. Each function key  25 G 2  may be preassigned with the price of merchandise frequently sold so that the salesclerk operating the main unit  25 J can readily enter the sum of a plurality of items sold, by using function keys  25 G 2  and arithmetic function keys  25 G 1  in such combination as, for example, “F1*3+F2*2”. The ¥-100-unit key  25 G 3  and the ¥-1000-unit key  25 G 4  are used when a salesclerk enters the price of merchandise by number entry keys of the arithmetic function keys  25 G 1 .  
         [0081]    Further, on the exterior of the IC card read/write unit  25 K, there are provided a card communication unit  25 D (having the same construction as that formed by the combination of the loop antenna  62  and the modem circuit  61  in FIG. 5) for exchanging data with the IC card  50  in a contactless manner, and a display unit  25 L for displaying details of a transaction. The arrangement is such that the user using the electronic money terminal  25   X  is deemed to have an intent of using IC card  50  (i.e. an intent of purchase) when the user holds the IC card  50  over (brings the IC card  50  close to) the IC card read/write unit  25 K of the electronic money terminal  25   X .  
         [0082]    The display unit  25 L has a sales amount display area  25 L 1  for displaying the sales amount entered by a salesclerk through the operation unit  25 G at the main unit  25 J, a balance due display area  25 L 2  for displaying the amount short of sales amount when the balance on the IC card  50  is insufficient, and a balance display area  25 L 3  for displaying the balance of the electronic money on the IC card  50  after the transaction using IC card  50  is carried out.  
         [0083]    Referring now to FIG. 12, a CPU  25 A on the electronic money terminal  25   X  executes a routine for an IC card transaction in accordance with the program in FIG. 13 stored in a storage unit  25 B. The CPU  25 A initiates the IC card transaction routine at step SP 20  when a salesclerk implements the transaction starting operation through the operation unit  25 G of the main unit  25 J while a user holds the IC card  50  close to the card communication unit  25 D of the IC card read/write unit  25 K. Then the process proceeds to step SP 21  to read such data as a card number from the IC card  50  while prompting the salesclerk to enter the sales amount through the operation unit  25 G.  
         [0084]    At this stage, as the salesclerk enters the price of the merchandise through the operation panel  25 G, the CPU  25 A further proceeds with the routine to step SP 22 , and performs a subtraction of the sales amount from the balance or remainder data D 22  (FIG. 7B) stored in the RAM  58  on the IC card  50  based on the specific sales amount. At the same time, the CPU  25 A serves to store, in the electronic money transaction memory area in the storage unit  25 B of the electronic money terminal  25   X , data regarding the amount of the electronic money subtracted, along with the card number of the IC card  50  and date/time of the transaction. Date and time of the transaction are detected by a timer  25 T provided in the main unit  25 J.  
         [0085]    When, at this stage, the sales amount is greater than the current balance (remainder) of the electronic money stored in the IC card  50 , the CPU  25 A displays a reminding message to the display unit  25 F and balance due display unit  25 L, and proceeds with the routine from a step SP 23  to a step SP 24  to read a credit card flag (FIG. 7B) stored in the IC card  50 . When a credit card transaction is allowable, step SP 25  stores in the credit card transaction memory area of the storage unit  25 B of the electronic money terminal  25 X, an amount of the balance due as an amount to be funded by a credit card transaction.  
         [0086]    As a result of such operations, the amount fetched from the remainder on the IC card  50  along with the card number of the IC card  50  and transaction date/time data, is stored in the storage unit  25 B of the electronic money terminal  25   x , as an electronic money transaction data. The amount of credit card transaction, along with the card ID of the IC card  50  and transaction date/time data, is stored in the storage unit  25 B of the electronic money terminal  25   x , as credit card transaction data.  
         [0087]    It should be noted that when the IC card  50  is handed out to the individual users, the issue data server  14  (FIG. 2) of the electronic money management unit  10  registers an account number of effective credit card issued by a credit card company each user registers and a card number of the IC card  50  handed out to that particular user. The credit card flag D 24  (FIG. 7B) in the RAM  58  on the IC card  50  at that time is set to enable credit card transaction. Then the electronic money management unit  10  routinely checks the validity of that credit card account through interrogating the credit card company expiration date of the card, overdue payments, loss and theft information, and so forth.  
         [0088]    If the result of such check proved that the credit card is invalid, the electronic money management unit  10  sends to each electronic money terminal  25   x  ( 25   1 - 25   n ) a message indicating that the credit card transaction is disabled, along with the number of the IC card  50  on which the invalidated credit account number is registered. This prevents each terminal  25   x  ( 25   1 - 25   n ) from performing the credit card transaction for the balance due incurred upon usage of that IC card  50 , and displays on the display unit  25 F and  25 L a message reminding insufficiency of balance while altering the credit card flag in the memory of the IC card  50  to disable the credit card transaction.  
         [0089]    When the status of the credit card flag set in the memory of the IC card  50  is changed to disable the credit card transaction, each electronic money terminal  25   x  ( 25   1 - 25   n ) conducts only electronic money transaction within the amount previously deposited. Consequently, CPU  25  on the electronic money terminal  25   x  proceeds with the process from step SP 24  to SP  26  in FIG. 13, and displays a message indicating the credit card is invalid on the display unit  2 SF and  25 L.  
         [0090]    When the transaction routine using the IC card  50  is finished, the CPU  25 A of the electronic money terminal  25   x  proceeds with the process to step SP 27  and writes the particular transaction report as an electronic money log data D 23  (FIG. 7B) on the RAM  58  of the IC card  50 . Step SP  28  then ends the IC card transaction routine.  
         [0091]    As a consequence, the storage unit  25 B in the electronic money terminal  25   x  stores the amount of transaction using the electronic money previously stored on the IC card  50  and the amount of credit card transaction conducted when the balance of electronic money is insufficient, as separate transaction reports upon usage of the IC card  50 . The transaction date/time is also stored in the storage unit  25 B as a transaction report data along with the transaction amount.  
         [0092]    The electronic money log data D 23  (FIG. 7B) to be written on the RAM  58  of the IC card  50  is configured to include, for example, up to fifteen of transaction report blocks written in a cyclic manner, each one of the transaction report blocks consisting of 32 bytes data providing 12 items, as shown in FIG. 14A.  
         [0093]    This transaction report block contains a communication identifying information D 23   1  for identifying through the IC card  50  a communication to be written on the block at the time of the transaction, a log type data D 23   2  indicating the types of electronic money transaction (method of deposit, type of purchase, and whether the transaction involved credit card or just electronic money) of that particular transaction report, a date/time information D 23   3 , a terminal number data D 23   4  indicating the number of electronic money terminal used, a transaction amount (dealing value) information D 23   5  of the particular transaction report, a key version information D 23   6  indicating the version of encryption key at the time the IC card  50  is used, a balance data D 23   7  indicating the balance of the electronic money in the IC card  50  after the transaction has been carried out, a communication identifying information D 23   8  for identifying the communication between the electronic money terminal  25   x  used for that particular transaction and the IC card  50 , and a signature information D 23   9  written according to the key designated by the above-described key version information D 23   6 .  
         [0094]    Thus, the control unit  59  of the IC card  50  is constructed to form the electronic money log data D 23  including one transaction report block (FIG. 14A) for each transaction. The transaction using electronic money previously stored on the IC card  50  and the transaction using credit card when the balance of the electronic money is insufficient are reported separately, each forming a separate transaction report block.  
         [0095]    The electronic money log data D 23  thus formed each time a transaction using the IC card  50  is carried out, is written on the RAM  58  of the IC card  50  at step SP 27  of the above-described IC card transaction routine of FIG. 13. The log data D 23  is also stored in the storage unit  25 B of the electronic money terminal  25   x  at above-described step SP 22  and step SP 25  in FIG. 13.  
         [0096]    The CPU  25 A in the electronic money terminal  25   x  adds a card identification information D 23 A for identifying the IC card  50  shown in FIG. 14B to the electronic money log data D 23  (FIG. 14A) and writes these information on the storage unit  25 B.  
         [0097]    This card identification information D 23 A includes an IC card number D 23 A 1  for specifying the IC card used in the transaction regarding that electronic money log data D 23  to which that card identification information D 23 A is added, a transaction terminal flag D 23 A 2  for indicating whether the electronic money terminal  25   x  writing the electronic money log data D 23  coincides with the electronic money terminal  25   x  used in that specific transaction when the electronic money log data D 23  is formed, a key version information D 23 A 3  for indicating the version of communication data encryption key used when writing that electronic money log data D 23  to the electronic money terminal  25   x , and a signature information D 23 A 4  written in accordance with the key designated by the key version information D 23 A 3 .  
         [0098]    When a transaction using an IC card  50  is carried out and the electronic money log data D 23  is updated, the CPU  25 A of the electronic money terminal  25   x  writes the electronic money log data D 23  to the RAM  58  of the IC card, and also writes the card identification information D 23 A along with the electronic money log data D 23  to the storage unit  25 B of the electronic money terminal  25   x . An IC card  50  stores an electronic money log data D 23  including old data of up to the past 15 times of transaction. Every time an IC card  50  is newly used, these old data included in the electronic money log data D 23  along with the card identification information D 23 A is written to the electronic money terminal  25   x  at which the IC card is used.  
         [0099]    Accordingly, an electronic money terminal  25   x  writes the electronic money log data D 23  regarding the past 15 times of transaction to the storage unit  25 B, every time an IC card is used. If an old data block included in the electronic money log data D 23  has the terminal number information D 23   4  referring to another electronic money terminal  25   x , the terminal transaction flag D 23 A 2  included in the card identification information D 23 A denotes that the specific data block is indicating the transaction with another electronic money terminal  25   x . This denotation is used by the electronic money management unit  10  for settle and clear process performed afterwards.  
         [0100]    Thus, an electronic money terminal  25   x  stores transaction reports (electronic money log data D 23 ) including transaction amount, card number, and date/time information, of each time an IC card is used. Once a day, the electronic money management unit  10  collects all the transaction reports of IC cards  50  stored in each electronic money terminal  25   x  ( 25   1  to  25   n ).  
         [0101]    From all the information included in IC card transaction reports (electronic money log data D 23  and card identification information D 23 A) collected from electronic money terminals  25   x  ( 25   1  to  25   n ), the electronic money management unit  10  then compiles the credit card transaction information regarding each IC card, in every predetermined period. The electronic money management unit  10  then transmits the compiled information along with the card number of an IC card  50  to the management computer  100 , according to the registered credit card account number.  
         [0102]    At this point, the management computer  100  withdraws from a users account the total amount of money that was determined to be paid by a credit card, and transfers the total amount to the electronic money management unit  10  to store it in the integrated server  16 .  
         [0103]    Accordingly, the amounts of money memorized as the credit card transaction amounts due to insufficiency of the electronic money in the IC card  50  are put together and withdrawn from the user&#39;s account by the management computer  100 , and stored in the integrated server  16  of the electronic money management unit  10 .  
         [0104]    As described above, even when the balance of the electronic money is insufficient, so that the balance due is determined to be paid by a credit card, the management computer  100  does not immediately implement the withdrawing process. It puts together the amounts of money for the credit card payment and withdraws from the user&#39;s account afterwards so that one communication for sending a withdrawing request from the electronic money management unit  10  to the management computer  100  will cover many times of transaction. Thus, the communication expense will not be incurred every time an IC card  50  is used, and an IC card  50  (a credit card) can be used even when the sales amount are small.  
         [0105]    In every predetermined period, for example once a month, the electronic money management unit  10  settles and clears the transactions using transaction reports (electronic money log data D 23  and card identification information D 23 A) collected once a day from money terminals  25   x  ( 25   1  to  25   n ).  
         [0106]    More specifically, the electronic money server  13  of the electronic money management unit  10  implements the settle and clear process shown in FIG. 15, following the order from the integrated server  16  to start processing. At step SP 31 , transaction reports (electronic money log data D 23  and card identification information D 23 A) is classified by the time zones of transaction according to the Date/Time information D 23   3  (FIG. 14A). Meanwhile, the fee to be charged to each store to utilize the electronic money system  1  is stored in the database  16 C of the integrated server  16  in advance. Plural fee rates against the sales amount may be set depending on time zones. In the present embodiment, the fee rate may be 5% when the time of the transaction using the IC card  50  is from 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (the first time zone), and 7% for a transaction from 5:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. (the second time zone).  
         [0107]    Therefore, the electronic money server  13  classifies electronic money log data D 23  into the first time zone and the second time zone at step SP 31 , and then settles and clears the transactions according to the fee rate of each time zone.  
         [0108]    Accordingly, the electronic money server  13  implements the settle and clear process using the fee rate of 5% for the first time zone and 7% for the second time zone. The profit for each store will be the sales amount after subtraction of 5% fee for the transaction carried out in the first time zone and 7% for the second time zone. After settling and clearing the transactions, the electronic money server  13  withdraws the profit amount according to the results of the settling and clearing from the database  16 C of the integrated server  16 , and transfers to the account of each store at step SP 33 . At this point, the transference details including details classified by time zones and data in total will be distributed to each store.  
         [0109]    Then, the electronic money server  13  completes the settle and clear process at step SP 34 .  
         [0110]    By changing the fee rate for utilizing the electronic money system  1  according to time zones, setting low fee rate at daytime when relatively low-priced goods tend to be sold and high fee rate at nighttime when relatively high-priced goods tend to be sold, the fee rate reflecting the price setting at each store can be applied.  
         [0111]    The operation of the above-described configuration of the electronic money system  1  will be described hereafter. A user first deposits a certain amount of electronic money (money data) in an IC card at a deposit terminal  21   x . When the user tries to carry out the transaction using the IC card at an electronic money terminal  25   x  at a certain store, when the electric money (money data) deposited in the IC card is insufficient for the amount the user intends to spend, the electronic money terminal  25   x  checks the credit card flag D 24  (FIG. 7B). If the credit card flag is set, the balance due is memorized as the credit card transaction amount of when the electronic money transaction amount is memorized. The amount data memorized as the credit card transaction amount is settled and cleared in certain timing by the electronic money management unit  10 .  
         [0112]    Thus, even if the electronic money (money data) in an IC card is insufficient when a user carried out the transaction using the IC card  50  at electronic money terminals  25   x  in stores, the user can complete the payment by the IC card alone, without adding any cash.  
         [0113]    Therefore, by applying the above-described configuration, a user can complete the payment using only an IC card  50  by allocating the balance due to be paid by a credit card, even when the electronic money deposited in an IC card  50  is insufficient at the electronic money terminals  25   x .  
         [0114]    The data regarding the money amounts determined to be paid by credit cards are collectively settled and cleared together in a certain timing by the electronic money management unit  10 , making it unnecessary to request the management computer  100  to verify each time an IC card  50  is used.  
         [0115]    All these features independently or in combination serve to further enhance the utility of IC cards  50  as substitutes for cash.  
         [0116]    Although the invention has been described through its preferred form, it is to be understood that the described embodiment is only illustrative and various changes and modifications may be imparted thereto.  
         [0117]    For instance, although in the described embodiment the balance due is determined to be paid by a credit card in the above description when the electronic money deposited in the IC card is insufficient, the balance due may be paid by cash card from an account of a banks.  
         [0118]    Furthermore, although the IC card is described above as being a contactless card, the described embodiment may be modified to allow the use of contact-type IC cards.  
         [0119]    Still further, although the above description assumes that an IC card is used at electronic money terminals  25   x , the invention also can be implemented such that IC cards are usable on vending machines  19   x , provided that the vending machines  19   x  are configured to have the function for funding the balance due from a credit card account or from a cash card account.  
         [0120]    In the described embodiment, transaction reports on IC cards  50  stored in each electronic money terminal  25   x  are collected once a day and the settle and clear process is implemented once a month by the electronic money management unit  10 , but other various timings of collecting transaction reports from electronic money terminals  25   x  and of implementing the settle and clear process can be applied within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0121]    It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the function carried out by an IC card  50  described above can be incorporated in other types of portable electronic devices, such as, mobile telephones, mobile computers, watches, and so forth, and the use of such portable electronic devices in the described electronic money system falls within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0122]    It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that usage of a memory mounted on an IC card  50  allows various additional functions besides being a carrier of the electronic money, such as, identifying individuals (verifying that the person is identical by checking the registered information regarding the individual) as with an employee ID. In addition, the IC card may also serve as an electronic key such as a key to enter or exit an office (for allowing to enter or to exit the room requiring security), railway pass, driver&#39;s license, passport, health insurance card, point awarding card, and so forth.