Patent Publication Number: US-2020302422-A1

Title: Electronic settlement system, electronic settlement server, negotiable-value providing apparatus, mobile communication terminal, and electronic settlement method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/596,564, filed Oct. 9, 2009 and having a 35 USC 371(c) completion date of Mar. 8, 2010, which application is a National Stage application of International Pat. App. No. PCT/JP2008/051686, filed Feb. 1, 2008, which application claims priority to Japanese Pat. App. Nos. 2007-110213, filed Apr. 19, 2007, and 2007-136194, filed May 23, 2007, respectively. Each of the above-identified applications is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an electronic settlement system, an electronic settlement server, a negotiable-value providing apparatus, a mobile communication terminal, and an electronic settlement method, and more specifically, to an electronic settlement system, an electronic settlement server, a negotiable-value providing apparatus, a mobile communication terminal, and an electronic settlement method which enable electronic settlement corresponding to cash settlement. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     With recent advanced information processing and communication techniques and prevailing communication infrastructures, a payment method has been diversified, and various methods replacing payment in cash have been proposed and utilized. 
     The methods replacing payment in cash include credit cards of what is called a deferred payment type, prepaid cards, and debit cards, which are of an immediate payment type. 
     For payment in game halls such as pachinko parlors, casinos, ticket counters for bicycle and horse races, and various lottery stands (hereinafter referred to as game halls), a payment method other than cash payment is expected to improve users&#39; (players&#39;) convenience and to increase the operation rate of game machines and thus the sales of the game halls. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     However, in order to regulate players&#39; excessive borrowing, the use of credit cards in game halls is generally limited. Furthermore, given that a settlement method using credit cards in game halls is permitted, a record on the usage of credit is sent to the player&#39;s home or a credit company calls the player to confirm the player&#39;s identity. This is cumbersome to the player. Moreover, personal information may leak because the player needs to let the game hall know the player&#39;s credit card number and personal identification number for settlement, with the record of the personal information remaining inside the game hall. The player may thus have a considerable resistance to this. Therefore, the utilization and prevalence of settlement with credit cards in game halls is difficult. 
     Furthermore, for payment with prepaid card, another settlement method other than cash payment, if the player spends all of the player&#39;s cash as a result of the game, the player cannot buy an additional prepaid card. Even if the player desires to play a little more or to eat some food or buy something in the game hall after spending all of the player&#39;s cash for the game, no settlement method is presently available for meeting such a demand. Thus, the game hall simply has to throw away an opportunity to capitalize on such a potential demand. 
     Furthermore, to utilize a settlement method other than cash payment, the user conventionally needs to sign a prior written contract with a settlement company that undertakes settlement. Thus, inconveniently, the user cannot immediately utilize the settlement method other than cash payment. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic settlement scheme that is similar to cash settlement and available in gale halls. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic settlement scheme allowing signing of a contract enabling what is called the online utilization of an electronic settlement scheme. 
     Means for Solving the Problems 
     Means for solving the above-described problems according to the present invention is characterized as follows. A first aspect of the present invention proposes an electronic settlement system comprising an electronic settlement server, a mobile communication terminal capable of communicating with the electronic settlement server, and a negotiable-value providing apparatus capable of communicating with the electronic settlement server and the mobile communication terminal. 
     The electronic settlement system is further characterized as follows. The mobile communication terminal acquires equipment identification information (for example, an equipment ID) identifying the negotiable-value providing apparatus, from a negotiable-value providing apparatus, generates a settlement request message containing user identification information (for example, a user ID) identifying a user, a transfer amount corresponding to consideration for provision of a negotiable value, and the equipment identification information, and transmits the settlement request message to the electronic settlement server. According to a result of a check of a credit status of the user identified based on the user identification information, the electronic settlement server transmits, to the negotiable-value providing apparatus, a provision instruction message instructing the negotiable-value providing apparatus to provide a negotiable value corresponding to the transfer amount, and transmits a transfer request message requesting a transfer of an amount corresponding to the transfer amount from the user&#39;s account to a predetermined account. Upon receiving the provision instruction message from the electronic settlement server, the negotiable-value providing apparatus provides a negotiable value corresponding to the transfer amount (for example, rental balls, rental medals, prepaid cards, house cards that are valid only in the game hall, and casino chips; hereinafter referred to as the negotiable value). 
     The electronic settlement system allows even a user having no cash in hand to easily and securely buy a negotiable value. 
     A second aspect of the present invention proposes an electronic settlement server that is an apparatus carrying out an electronic settlement scheme according to the present invention. The electronic settlement server is characterized in that upon receiving, from a mobile communication terminal, a settlement request message containing user identification information (for example, a user ID) identifying a user, a transfer amount corresponding to consideration for provision of a negotiable value, and equipment identification information (for example, an equipment ID), which is information identifying a negotiable-value providing apparatus from which the user has requested provision of the negotiable value, from a mobile communication terminal, the electronic settlement server transmits, according to a result of a check of a credit status of the user, a provision instruction message instructing the negotiable-value providing apparatus identified based on the equipment identification information to provide a negotiable value corresponding to the transfer amount, and transmits a transfer request message requesting a transfer of an amount corresponding to the transfer amount from the user&#39;s account to a predetermined account. 
     The electronic settlement server allows even a user having no cash in hand to easily and securely buy a negotiable value. 
     A third aspect of the present invention proposes a negotiable-value providing apparatus carrying out an electronic settlement scheme according to the present invention. The negotiable-value providing apparatus is characterized by transmitting equipment identification information (for example, an equipment ID) identifying the negotiable-value providing apparatus to a mobile communication terminal, and upon receiving a provision instruction message transmitted in response to a settlement request message containing user identification information (for example, a user ID) identifying a user, a transfer amount corresponding to consideration for a negotiable value, and the equipment identification information, providing the negotiable value corresponding to the transfer amount. 
     The negotiable-value providing apparatus allows even a user having no cash in hand to easily and securely buy a negotiable value. 
     A fourth aspect of the present invention proposes a mobile communication terminal that is an apparatus carrying out an electronic settlement scheme according to the present invention. The mobile communication terminal is characterized by acquiring equipment identification information (for example, an equipment ID) identifying a negotiable-value providing apparatus, from the negotiable-value providing apparatus, generating a settlement request message containing user identification information (for example, a user ID) identifying a user, a transfer amount corresponding to consideration for provision of a negotiable value, and the equipment identification information, transmitting the settlement request message to the electronic settlement server, and according to a result of a check of a credit status of the user carried out by the electronic settlement server, allowing the electronic settlement server to transmit, to the negotiable-value providing apparatus, a provision instruction message instructing the negotiable-value providing apparatus to provide a negotiable value corresponding to the transfer amount. 
     The mobile communication terminal allows even a user having no cash in hand to easily and securely buy a negotiable value. 
     A fifth aspect of the present invention proposes an electronic settlement method for carrying out an electronic settlement scheme according to the present invention. The electronic settlement method is characterized by comprising a step of receiving equipment identification information identifying a negotiable-value providing apparatus, a step of generating a settlement request message containing user identification information identifying a user, a transfer amount corresponding to consideration for a negotiable value, and the equipment identification information, and transmitting the settlement request message, a step of, in response to the settlement request message, inquiring about a credit status of the user, and according to a result for the inquiry of the user&#39;s credit status, transmitting, to a negotiable-value providing apparatus identified by the equipment identification information, a provision instruction message instructing the negotiable-value providing apparatus to provide a negotiable value corresponding to the transfer amount, a step of transmitting a transfer request message requesting a transfer of an amount corresponding to the transfer amount from an account of the user identified by the user identification information to a predetermined account, and a step of, according to the provision instruction message, providing the negotiable value corresponding to the transfer amount to the negotiable-value providing apparatus. 
     The electronic settlement method allows even a user having no cash in hand to easily and securely buy a negotiable value. 
     A sixth aspect of the present invention proposes an electronic settlement system characterized by comprising an electronic settlement server capable of requesting a charge accommodating network (for example, a multi-payment network operated in Japan; not particularly limited; hereinafter referred to as a charge accommodating network) managing a user account, a settlement company account, and a game hall company account to carry out a transfer between the accounts and storing a user retained amount and a game hall company retained amount, a mobile communication terminal (for example, a cellular phone with a non-contact IC card; hereinafter referred to as a mobile communication terminal), and a negotiable-value providing apparatus (for example, a ball renting machine, a prepaid card issuing machine, a house card issuing machine, or a casino chip providing machine; hereinafter referred to as a negotiable-value providing apparatus). 
     In the electronic settlement system, the mobile communication terminal communicates with the negotiable-value providing apparatus via short-distance communication means (for example, a non-contact IC card and a reader/writer therefor, infrared communication, or radio communication means such as Bluetooth; hereinafter referred to as the short-distance communication means) to acquire equipment identification information (for example, an equipment ID) identifying the negotiable-value providing apparatus, generates a payment request message containing user identification information (for example, a user ID) identifying a user and the equipment identification information, and transmits the payment request message to the electronic settlement server. Furthermore, the electronic settlement server adds a user transfer amount (for example, a transfer amount minus a charge to be paid to a settlement company) corresponding to an amount transferred from the user account to the settlement company account, to the user retained amount, instructs, according to the payment request message, the negotiable-value providing apparatus to provide a negotiable value corresponding to a user payment amount (for example, a rental ball charge of 1,000 yen), subtracts an amount corresponding to the user payment amount from the user retained amount, while adding an amount corresponding to the user payment amount to a game hall company retained amount, and requests the charge accommodating network to transfer an amount (for example, the game hall company retained amount minus the charge to be paid to the settlement company) corresponding to the game hall company retained amount from the settlement company account to the game hall company account. Additionally, upon receiving the instruction (for example, a provision instruction message) to provide the negotiable value from the electronic settlement server, the negotiable-value providing apparatus provides the negotiable value corresponding to the user payment amount. 
     The electronic settlement system enables provision of a new settlement method replacing existing settlement methods such as credit cards and debit cards. 
     A seventh aspect of the present invention proposes an electronic settlement server capable of requesting a charge accommodating network managing a user account, a settlement company account, and a game hall company account to carry out a transfer between the accounts, and instructing a negotiable-value providing apparatus to provide a negotiable value corresponding to a user payment amount (for example, a rental ball charge of 1,000 yen) according to a payment request message from a mobile communication terminal. 
     The electronic settlement server is characterized by comprising storage means (for example, a database unit) for storing a user retained amount and a game hall company retained amount, transfer request processing means (for example, a transfer request processing unit) for adding the user transfer amount corresponding to the transfer amount from the user account to the settlement company account, to the user retained amount, payment request processing means (for example, payment request processing unit) for, according to the payment request message, subtracting the amount corresponding to the user payment amount from the user retained amount, while adding the amount corresponding to the user payment amount to the game hall company retained amount, and requesting the charge accommodating network to transfer the amount corresponding to the game hall company retained amount from the settlement company account to the game hall company account, and provision instructing means (for example, provision instructing unit) for instructing the negotiable-value providing apparatus to provide the negotiable value corresponding to the user payment amount. 
     The electronic settlement system enables provision of a new settlement method replacing existing settlement methods such as credit cards and debit cards. 
     A third aspect of the present invention proposes a mobile communication terminal for an electronic settlement system. The mobile communication terminal carries out communication via short-distance communication means to acquire equipment identification information identifying a negotiable-value providing apparatus from the negotiable-value providing apparatus, generates a payment request message containing user identification information identifying a user and the equipment identification information, and transmits the payment request message to an electronic settlement server to allow the electronic settlement server to instruct to provide a negotiable value corresponding to a user payment amount (for example, a rental ball charge of 1,000 yen). 
     The mobile communication terminal functions as a terminal apparatus implementing a new settlement method replacing existing settlement methods such as credit cards and debit cards. 
     An eighth embodiment of the present invention proposes an electronic settlement method. 
     The electronic settlement method is characterized by comprising a step (for example, a process S 204  of transmitting a transfer request) of requesting a charge accommodating network to transfer a transfer amount specified by a user from a user account to a settlement company account, a step (for example, a retained amount data process S 207 ) of adding a user transfer amount corresponding to the transfer amount, to a user retained amount for storage, a step (for example, S 303 ) of receiving a payment request message containing equipment identification information acquired through communication with a negotiable-value providing apparatus via short-distance communication means and identifying the negotiable-value providing apparatus and user identification information identifying the user, a step (for example, a process S 305  of transmitting a provision instruction message) of according to the payment request message, instructing the negotiable-value providing apparatus to provide a negotiable value corresponding to a user payment amount (for example, a rental ball charge of 1,000 yen), a step (for example, a transfer process S 307 ) of subtracting an amount corresponding to the user payment amount from the user retained amount, while adding the amount corresponding to the user payment amount to a game hall company retained amount, and a step (for example, a process S 402  of transmitting a transfer request) of requesting the charge accommodating network to transfer an amount corresponding to the game hall company retained amount from the settlement company account to the game hall company account. 
     The electronic settlement system enables provision of a new settlement method replacing existing settlement methods such as credit cards and debit cards. 
     A ninth aspect of the present invention proposes an electronic settlement system intended mainly for a single game hall company and comprising an electronic settlement server capable of requesting a charge accommodating network managing a user account, a settlement company account, and a game hall company account to carry out a transfer between the accounts, the electronic settlement server being capable of storing a user retained amount, a mobile communication terminal, and a negotiable-value providing apparatus. 
     In the electronic settlement system, the mobile communication terminal communicates with the negotiable-value providing apparatus via short-distance communication means to acquire equipment identification information (for example, an equipment ID) identifying the negotiable-value providing apparatus, generates a payment request message containing user identification information (for example, a user ID) identifying a user and the equipment identification information, and transmits the payment request message to the electronic settlement server. The electronic settlement server adds a user transfer amount (for example, a transfer amount minus a charge to be paid to a settlement company) corresponding to an amount transferred from the user account to the settlement company account, to the user retained amount and requests the charge accommodating network to transfer an amount (for example, the user transfer amount minus a charge to be paid to the settlement company) corresponding to the transfer amount from the settlement company account to the game hall company account, then according to the payment request message, instructs the negotiable-value providing apparatus to provide a negotiable value corresponding to a user payment amount (for example, a rental ball charge of 1,000 yen), and subtracts an amount corresponding to the user payment amount from the user retained amount. Upon receiving the instruction to provide the negotiable value from the electronic settlement system, the negotiable-value providing apparatus provides the negotiable value corresponding to the user payment amount. 
     The electronic settlement system enables provision of a new settlement method replacing existing settlement methods such as credit cards and debit cards. 
     A tenth aspect of the present invention proposes a an electronic settlement server intended mainly for a single game hall company and which is capable of requesting a charge accommodating network managing a user account, a settlement company account, and a game hall company account to carry out a transfer between the accounts, and according to a payment request message from a mobile communication terminal, instructing a negotiable-value providing apparatus to provide a negotiable value corresponding to a user payment amount (for example, a rental ball charge of 1,000 yen). 
     The electronic settlement server is characterized by comprising storage means (for example, a database unit) for storing a user retained amount, transfer request processing means (for example, a transfer request processing unit) for adding a user transfer amount corresponding to a transfer amount from the user account to the settlement company account, to the user retained amount and requesting the charge accommodating network to transfer an amount corresponding to the transfer amount from the settlement company account to the game hall company account, payment request processing means (for example, a payment request processing unit) for, according to the payment request message, subtracting an amount corresponding to the user payment amount from the user retained amount, and provision instructing means (for example, a provision instructing unit) for instructing the negotiable-value providing apparatus to provide the negotiable value corresponding to the user payment amount. 
     The electronic settlement server enables provision of a new settlement method replacing existing settlement methods such as credit cards and debit cards. 
     An eleventh aspect of the present invention proposes an electronic settlement method. 
     The electronic settlement method is characterized by comprising a step (for example, a process S 504  of transmitting a transfer request) of requesting a charge accommodating network to transfer a transfer amount specified by a user from a user account to a settlement company account, a step (for example, a process S 507  of transmitting the transfer request) of requesting the charge accommodating network to transfer an amount corresponding to the transfer amount from the settlement company account to a game hall company account, a step (for example, a retained amount data process S 510 ) of adding a user transfer amount corresponding to the transfer amount from the user account to the settlement company account, to a user retained amount for storage, a step (for example, S 603 ) of receiving a payment request message containing equipment identification information acquired through communication with a negotiable-value providing apparatus via short-distance communication means and identifying the negotiable-value providing apparatus and user identification information identifying the user, a step (for example, a process S 605  of transmitting a provision instruction message) of, according to the payment request message, instructing the negotiable-value providing apparatus to provide a negotiable value corresponding to a user payment amount (for example, a rental ball charge of 1,000 yen), and a step (for example, a subtraction process S 607 ) of subtracting an amount corresponding to the user payment amount from the user retained amount. 
     The electronic settlement method enables provision of a new settlement method replacing existing settlement methods such as credit cards and debit cards. 
     The present invention is further characterized as follows. 
     Before transmitting the provision instruction message and the transfer request message, the electronic settlement server stores a computerized contract document for a contract signed between the user and the settlement company serving as an operator of the electronic settlement system, the contract specifying that the settlement company withdraws the specified amount from the user account, as well as a computerized contract document storage original attached to the computerized contract document and having the verified user&#39;s electronic signature and settlement company&#39;s electronic signature. 
     Furthermore, the electronic settlement server transmits the computerized contract document storage original for a bank in which the user account to be dealt with is present. 
     Additionally, the electronic settlement method according to the present invention further comprises a step of receiving a computerized contract document for a contract signed between the user and the settlement company serving as an operator of the electronic settlement system, the contract specifying that the settlement company withdraws the specified amount from the user account, as well as the user&#39;s electronic signature and electronic certificate both attached to the contract document, a step of verifying the user&#39;s electronic signature and electronic certificate and according to a result of the verification, transmitting a computerized contract document and an electronic signature and an electronic certificate of the settlement company, and a step of receiving and storing the computerized contract document, the user&#39;s electronic signature and the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature both attached to the computerized contract document, and a computerized contract document storage original including a time stamp. 
     According to the present invention having these additional features, the user can immediately utilize the settlement method other than cash payment without the need for a prior written contact between the settlement company and the user. 
     Advantages of the Invention 
     The present invention allows implementation of electronic settlement replacing cash settlement and which can be utilized in game halls. 
     Another aspect of the present invention allows implementation of easy and secure electronic settlement which can be utilized in game halls. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a network diagram showing an example of an electronic settlement system; 
         FIG. 2  is a function block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a negotiable-value providing apparatus and a mobile communication terminal; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a payment request generating unit; 
         FIG. 4  is a function block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electronic contract applying unit; 
         FIG. 5  is a function block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electronic settlement server; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a user table stored in a database unit; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram of an example of the configuration of a negotiable-value providing apparatus table stored in the database unit; 
         FIG. 8  is a function block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electronic contract processing unit; 
         FIG. 9  is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the electronic settlement system; 
         FIG. 10  is a sequence diagram continued from  FIG. 9  and showing an example of the operation of the electronic settlement system; 
         FIG. 11  is a sequence diagram continued from  FIG. 10  and showing an example of the operation of the electronic settlement system; 
         FIG. 12  is a sequence diagram continued from  FIG. 11  and showing an example of the operation of the electronic settlement system; 
         FIG. 13  is a sequence diagram continued from  FIG. 12  and showing an example of the operation of the electronic settlement system; 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram showing an example of an input screen displayed in an output unit; 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of a settlement request message generated by the payment request generating unit; 
         FIG. 16  is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of a transfer request message; 
         FIG. 17  is a network diagram showing an example of an electronic settlement system according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  is a block diagram showing a general configuration of a charge accommodating network; 
         FIG. 19  is a function block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a negotiable-value providing apparatus and a mobile communication terminal; 
         FIG. 20  is a function block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electronic settlement server; 
         FIG. 21  is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a user table stored in a database unit; 
         FIG. 22  is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of user retained amount data stored in the database unit; 
         FIG. 23  is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a game hall company table stored in the database unit; 
         FIG. 24  is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of game hall company retained amount data stored in the database unit; 
         FIG. 25  is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a negotiable-value providing apparatus table stored in the database unit; 
         FIG. 26  is a function block diagram showing an example in which an electronic settlement server has a distributed server configuration; 
         FIG. 27  is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the electronic settlement system; 
         FIG. 28  is a sequence diagram continued from  FIG. 27  and showing an example of the operation of the electronic settlement system; 
         FIG. 29  is a sequence diagram continued from  FIG. 28  and showing an example of the operation of the electronic settlement system; 
         FIG. 30  is a sequence diagram continued from  FIG. 29  and showing an example of the operation of the electronic settlement system; 
         FIG. 31  is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation performed between the electronic settlement server and a charge accommodating network when a user transfer amount is processed; 
         FIG. 32  is a diagram continued from  FIG. 31  and illustrating an example of the operation performed between the electronic settlement server and the charge accommodating network when the user transfer amount is processed; 
         FIG. 33  is a diagram continued from  FIG. 32  and illustrating an example of the operation performed between the electronic settlement server and the charge accommodating network when the user transfer amount is processed; 
         FIG. 34  is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the electronic settlement system performed during communication between the mobile communication terminal and the negotiable-value providing apparatus via short-distance communication means; 
         FIG. 35  is a diagram showing a state observed after the processing between step S 1301  and step S 1307  following the state shown in  FIG. 33 ; 
         FIG. 36  is a sequence diagram showing an example of a process of a transfer to a game hall company account in the electronic settlement system; 
         FIG. 37  is a diagram showing the result of execution of steps S 1401  to S 1405  following the state shown in  FIG. 35 ; 
         FIG. 38  is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of an electronic settlement system performed when a transfer from a user account to a settlement company account is requested according to a third embodiment; 
         FIG. 39  is a diagram showing an example of a state observed before a user transmits a transfer request message to an electronic settlement server; 
         FIG. 40  is a diagram showing a state observed after the user has transmitted a transfer request message requesting a transfer of a user transfer amount of 10,000 yen, from the mobile communication terminal to the electronic settlement server, wherein the transmission follows the state shown in  FIG. 39 ; 
         FIG. 41  is a diagram showing a state observed after the user has transmitted a transfer request message requesting a transfer of game hall company transfer amount, from a mobile communication terminal to the electronic settlement server and a charge accommodating network has executed a transfer process corresponding to the message, wherein the transmission and execution follow the state shown in  FIG. 40 ; 
         FIG. 42  is a diagram showing a state observed after execution of a retained amount data process by the electronic settlement server following the state shown in  FIG. 41 ; 
         FIG. 43  is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of an electronic settlement system  1 A performed during communication between the mobile communication terminal and a negotiable-value providing apparatus via short-distance communication means; 
         FIG. 44  is a diagram showing a state observed after the processing between step S 1601  and step S 1607  following the state shown in  FIG. 42 ; 
         FIG. 45  is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electronic settlement system according to a fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 46  is a function block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a negotiable-value providing apparatus and a mobile communication terminal according to a fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 47  is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electronic settlement server according to a fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 48  is a diagram showing an example of an addition process executed by the electronic settlement system according to the fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 49  is a diagram continued from  FIG. 48  and showing the example of the addition process executed by the electronic settlement system according to the fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 50  is a diagram continued from  FIG. 49  and showing the example of the addition process executed by the electronic settlement system according to the fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 51  is a diagram showing an example of an addition process executed by the electronic settlement system according to the fourth embodiment and which is different from the addition process shown in  FIG. 48 ; 
         FIG. 52  is a diagram continued from  FIG. 51  and showing the example of the addition process executed by the electronic settlement system according to the fourth embodiment; and 
         FIG. 53  is a diagram continued from  FIG. 52  and showing the example of the addition process executed by the electronic settlement system according to the fourth embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 
     
         
           1 ,  1 A,  1 B . . . Electronic settlement systems 
           10 ,  10 A,  10 B . . . Electronic settlement servers 
           20 ,  20 A,  20 B . . . Mobile communication terminals 
           30 ,  30 A,  30 B . . . Negotiable-value providing apparatuses 
           40  . . . Financial institution system 
           40 A . . . Charge accommodating network 
           41  . . . User account 
           42  . . . Settlement company account 
           43  . . . Game hall company account 
           206  . . . Electronic contract applying unit 
           402 ,  402 A . . . Payment request processing units 
           403 ,  403 A . . . Database units 
           404  . . . Credit check unit 
           404 A . . . Transfer request processing unit 
           405  . . . Transfer request unit 
           405 A . . . Clearing processing unit 
           406 ,  406 A . . . Provision instructing units 
           408 ,  409 A . . . Electronic contract processing unit 
           410 B . . . Addition request processing unit 
       
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 
     I. First Embodiment 
     I.1. Example of Configuration of the Electronic Settlement System 
       FIG. 1  is a network diagram showing an example of an electronic settlement system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     In an example shown in  FIG. 1 , an electronic settlement system  1  has an electronic settlement server  10 , a mobile communication terminal  20 , a negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 , an authentication server  90 , and a time stamp server  95 . The electronic settlement server  10  is connected to a financial institution system  40  checking credits and executing a process of transferring a specified amount from a user&#39;s account to a specified destination account based on an instruction from the electronic settlement server  10 . Furthermore, the electronic settlement server  10  is connected to a communication network  50  and can communicate with the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  via the communication network  50 . The mobile communication terminal  20  can communicate with the electronic settlement server  10  via a base station  60 , a mobile communication network  70 , and a gateway  80  connecting the mobile communication network  70  and the communication network  50  together. The mobile communication terminal  20  can also communicate with the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  via short-distance communication means. The authentication server  90  can be connected to the electronic settlement server  10  and the mobile communication terminal  20  via the communication network  70 . The time stamp server  95  can be connected to the mobile communication terminal  20  via the communication network. The components of the electronic settlement system  1  will be described below. 
     I.1.1. Negotiable-Value Providing Apparatus 
     The negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  provides a prepared negotiable value (a tangible object or an intangible object that can be bought with money) to a user as consideration for electronic settlement carried out by the user using the mobile communication terminal  20 . The negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  in the present embodiment need not necessarily provide a negotiable value directly to a user. The negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  may be an apparatus such as a CAT terminal for debit cards which provides a negotiable value indirectly to a user by notifying a shop of the possibility of electronic settlement to allow the shop to deliver an article to the user. 
     Furthermore, the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  may output, transmit, or write electronic data to another apparatus or a storage medium as a negotiable value. For example, the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  may transmit a message or a command requesting a playing machine or a game machine connected to the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  via a network to provide a play or a game. In this case, the user can enjoy, through the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 , a play or a game for a play or game charge paid utilizing the electronic settlement system  1 . Additionally, the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  may write electronic data such as the number of times the game machine can be utilized and the amount for which the game machine can be utilized, to a cellular phone including an IC card or an IC card function or a storage medium such as a USB memory. The user allows a playing machine, a game machine, an issuing machine, a clearing machine, or the like to read electronic data from the storage medium to which the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  has written the electronic data. The user can thus acquire a product or a service provided by these apparatuses. 
       FIG. 2  is a function block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  and the mobile communication terminal  20 . The configuration of the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  will be described below with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     The negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  has a network communication processing unit  301 , a provision control unit  302 , a providing apparatus-side short-distance communication unit  303 , and a negotiable-value supply unit  304 . The network communication processing unit  301  has a function of communicating with the electronic settlement server  10  via the communication network  50 . The network communication processing unit  301  is, for example, a communication board with a protocol stack mounted thereon. 
     The provision control unit  302  has the function of instructing and controlling the operation of the network communication processing unit  301 , the providing apparatus-side short-distance communication unit  303 , and the negotiable-value supply unit  304 . The provision control unit  302  is, for example, a microcomputer with a program installed thereon allowing the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  to be implemented. 
     The providing apparatus-side short-distance communication unit  303  has the function of communicating with a terminal-side short-distance communication unit  201  mounted in the mobile communication terminal  20 . The providing apparatus-side short distance communication unit  303  is, for example, a reader/write for a non-contact IC card. A communication scheme used by the providing apparatus-side short-distance communication unit  303  need not be limited to radio communication but may be infrared communication. Furthermore, the present invention can be implemented by a method of using the mobile communication terminal  20  to optically read a bar code displayed by the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  to pass data. Additionally, the communication scheme need not necessarily be of a non-contact type. The present invention can be implemented by a communication scheme using connection with a communication cable or a USB socket. 
     The negotiable-value supply unit  304  has the function of providing a negotiable value to a user according to an instruction from the provision control unit  302 . The negotiable-value supply unit  304  is, for example, a rental ball output unit of a ball renting machine, a medal hopper of a medal renting machine, a casino chip renting machine, a display of an authentication terminal (CAT terminal), or a printer. The negotiable value is anything than can be bought with money. The negotiable value is rental balls, rental medals, casino chips, prepaid cards, on-value cards (house cards), or equivalents. 
     I.1.2. Mobile Communication Terminal 
     Now, the mobile communication terminal  20  will be described with reference to  FIG. 20 . The mobile communication terminal  20  is a terminal apparatus that can communicate with the electronic settlement server  10  via the communication network  50  and also with the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 . The mobile communication terminal  20  is, for example, a cellular phone having a non-contact IC card (for example, FeliCa: Sony Corporation&#39;s registered trademark) function, a cellular phone with short-distance communication means and radio communication means mounted thereon, PDA (Personal Data Assistant), a portable game machine, or an IP telephone including a radio LAN communication apparatus. The mobile communication terminal  20  has the terminal-side short-distance communication unit  201  allowing communication with the above-described providing apparatus-side short-distance communication unit  303 , a payment request generating unit  202 , a radio communication unit  203 , an input unit  204 , an output unit  205 , and an electronic contract applying unit  206 . 
     The terminal-side short-distance communication unit  201  has the function of communicating with the providing apparatus-side short-distance communication unit  303 . The terminal-side short-distance communication unit  201  is, for example, an IC card chip and an antenna. 
     The payment request processing unit  202  has the function of generating a settlement request message requesting the electronic settlement server  10  to pay consideration (charge) for the negotiable value provided by the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 . The payment request processing unit  202  is, for example, a microcomputer with an i appli (“i appli”: NTTDoCoMo, Inc.&#39;s registered trademark; an application downloaded into a cellular phone to allow a value-added function to be added and not particularly limiting an OS; hereinafter referred to as the i appli) mounted thereon. The payment request generating unit  202  has the function of storing information used for the user&#39;s payment.  FIG. 3  shows an example of information stored in the payment request generating unit  202 . In the present example, the payment request generating unit  202  stores a user ID  101  that is information uniquely identifying the user registered as the user of the mobile communication terminal  20 , a password  102  required for the electronic settlement server to authenticate the user, and a bank number  103 , a branch office number  104 , and an account number  105  all identifying an account from which the user withdraws money to be paid, and a personal identification number  106  set for the account. During installation of an application such as the i appli allowed to function as the payment request generating unit  202  by the mobile communication terminal  20  according to the user&#39;s instruction or user registration for making services for the present electronic settlement available, the user is requested by the input unit  204  to input these pieces of information, particularly the bank number  103 , branch office number  104 , account number  105 , and personal identification number  106 . The input information is stored in advance as the pieces of information  101  to  106 . The pieces of information  101  to  106  are used to generate a settlement request message requesting payment of consideration (charge) for provision of a negotiable value. The pieces of information  101  to  106  are transmitted to the electronic settlement server  10  as a part of the settlement request message. 
       FIG. 2  is referred to again, and the mobile communication terminal  20  will be continuously described. 
     The radio communication unit  203  has the function of allowing the mobile communication terminal  20  to connect to the mobile communication network  70  via the base station  60  to communicate via the mobile communication network  70 . The radio communication unit  203  is, for example, a radio communication circuit having a modulation circuit and a demodulation circuit. The mobile communication network  70  may be a communication network for common cellular phones or for WIMAX or a radio LAN. 
     The input unit  204  has the function of converting the user&#39;s instruction into an electric signal and passing the electric signal to the payment request generating unit  202 . The input unit  204  is, for example, keys of a cellular phone, a touch pen and a touch panel, or a pointing device. 
     The output unit  205  has an information output function of allowing the mobile communication terminal  20  to communicate information to the user. The output unit  205  is, for example, a liquid crystal panel of a cellular phone, a liquid crystal panel of a CAT terminal, or a small-sized printer. 
     The electronic contract applying unit  206  has the function of executing a process of electronically signing a contract between the user and the operator, administrator, or the like (hereinafter referred to as a settlement company) of the electronic settlement system  1  before the utilization of the electronic settlement system  1 ; according to the contract, the settlement company withdraws a specified amount from the user account. 
       FIG. 4  is a function block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the electronic contract applying unit  206 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the electronic contract applying unit  206  has a control unit  701 , an encryption processing unit  702 , a storage unit  703 , a decryption processing unit  704 , a determination unit  705 , and a time stamp acquiring unit  706 . 
     The control unit  701  has the function of integrally controlling the operation of the encryption processing unit  702 , storage unit  703 , decryption processing unit  704 , determination unit  705 , and time stamp acquiring unit  706  to order starting of each of these units, input and output of data to and from each unit, and the like. 
     The encryption processing unit  702  has the function of generating an electronic signature by a predetermined encryption method using an encryption key  715 . 
     The storage unit  703  has the function of storing a user-side electronic certificate  711 , a settlement company-side electronic certificate  712 , a computerized contract document  713 , a computerized contract document original  714 , the encryption key  715 , and the like. 
     The user-side electronic certificate  711  is electronic data certifying that one of the signees of the computerized contract document  713  is the user himself. The user-side electronic certificate  711  is electronic data defined in, for example, X.509 of ITU-T Recommendations and includes information on the user (an organization to which the user belongs, the user&#39;s identification name and name, and the like), a public key, an expiration date, a serial number, and a signature. In the present example, the user-side electronic certificate  711  is electronic data issued by the authentication server  90 . 
     According to the present embodiment, the following can also be used as the user-side electronic certificate  711 . [0144] a) A password or the like issued when a contract for the mobile terminal is signed with a financial institution having the user account, [0145] b) A serial number (user ID) written to the mobile communication terminal at the same time when the user downloads an application such as the i appli from the electronic settlement  10 , [0146] c) The manufacture number of the mobile communication terminal  20 , [0147] d) The serial number of an SIM (Subscriber Identity Module Card), [0148] e) The telephone number of the mobile communication terminal  20 , [0149] f) A common ID for the standards typified by OpenID, and 
     g) One or more of the results of a logical calculation or encryption of the pieces of information a) to f) and information describing the date and the amount. 
     The “OpenID” is a standard for the common ID, is in a URL format, and can be commonly utilized in OpenID-compatible sites (see http://openid.net/). 
     The settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  is electronic data certifying that the other of the signees of the electronic contract document  713  is the settlement company. The settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  is electronic data defined in, for example, X.509 of ITU-T Recommendations and includes information on the user (an organization to which the user belongs, the user&#39;s identification name and name, and the like), a public key, an expiration date, a serial number, and a signature. In the present example, the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  is electronic data issued by the authentication server  90 . 
     The computerized contract document  713  is electronic data describing the contents a contract signed between the user and the settlement company, the operator of the system and specifying that the settlement company withdraws a specified amount from the user amount and the bank in which the user&#39;s account is present agrees that the settlement company withdraws the specified amount from the user&#39;s account or the bank is requested to permit the settlement company to withdraw the specified amount from the user&#39;s account. 
     The computerized contract document original  714  is electronic data corresponding to the computerized contract document  713  with the user&#39;s electronic signature, the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature, and the time stamp. The computerized contract document original  714  corresponds to a sealed contract document between the parties concerned. 
     The encryption key  715  is used by the user to generate an electronic signature or to decrypt encrypted information transmitted by the electronic settlement server  10 . The encryption key  715  is, for example, a secrete key for a public key scheme or a common encryption key for a common key scheme. 
     The user-side electronic certificate  711  and the encryption key  715  may be pre-acquired from the authentication server  90 , that is, a certification authority (CA), for storage or installed in the mobile communication terminal  20  by a manufacturer or a vender before shipment thereof. 
     The computerized contract document  713  and the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  are acquired from the electronic settlement server  10  during downloading of an application such as the i appli described below. Of course, the computerized contract document  713  and the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  may be acquired by a different method. 
     The decryption processing unit  704  has the function of decrypting the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature transmitted by the electronic settlement server  10 . 
     The determination unit  705  has the function of verifying the settlement company&#39;s electronic certificate and electronic signature transmitted by the electronic settlement server  10  together with the computerized contract document. 
     The time stamp acquiring unit  706  has the following function provided if the determination unit  705  determines that the computerized contract document is electronically signed by the settlement company, based on the settlement company&#39;s electronic certificate and electronic signature transmitted by the electronic settlement server. The time stamp acquiring unit  706  requests and acquires the time stamp on the computerized contract document with the electronic signature, from the time stamp server  95 , and transmits the computerized contract document with the electronic signature to the electronic settlement server together with the time stamp acquired. Furthermore, the time stamp and the computerized contract document with the electronic signature are stored in the storage unit  703  as a computerized signed contract document original. 
     The electronic contract applying unit  206  and the mobile communication terminal  20  have been described. 
     I.1.3 Electronic Settlement Server 
     Now, the electronic settlement server  10  will be described with reference to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is a function block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the electronic settlement server  10 . 
     The electronic settlement server  10  is an apparatus including an central processing unit (CPU), a main memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an I/O device (I/O), and an external storage device such as a hard disk device as required. The electronic settlement server  10  is, for example, an information processing apparatus such as a computer or a workstation. The ROM or the hard disk device stores a program allowing the information processing apparatus to function as the electronic settlement server  10  or a program allowing an electronic settlement method to be executed by a computer. The program is placed on the main memory and executed by the CPU to implement the electronic settlement server  10  or to execute the electronic settlement method. Furthermore, the program need not necessarily be stored in the storage device in the information processing apparatus. The program may be provided by an external apparatus (for example, a server such as an ASP (Application Service Provider)) and placed on the main memory. Moreover, the electronic settlement server  10  may be configured as a center into which all functions are integrated or as distributed servers divided by functions installed away from one another to enable a distributed process. 
     The electronic settlement server  10  shown in  FIG. 5  has a network communication processing unit  401 , a payment request processing unit  402 , a database unit  403 , a credit check unit  404 , a transfer request unit  405 , a provision instructing unit  406 , a processing result notifying unit  407 , and an electronic contract processing unit  408 . 
     The network communication processing unit  401  has the function of communicating with the mobile communication terminal  20  and the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  via the communication network  50 . The network communication processing unit  401  is, for example, a communication board allowing the protocol stack to be carried out. Upon receiving a request message from the mobile communication terminal  20 , the network communication processing unit  401  passes the request message to the payment request processing unit  402 . Upon receiving a provision instruction message destined for the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  from the provision instructing unit  406 , the network communication processing unit  401  transmits the provision instruction message to the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 . 
     Upon receiving a settlement request message from the mobile communication terminal  20  via the network communication processing unit  401 , the payment request processing unit  402  passes the settlement request message to the credit check unit  404  to allow the credit check unit  404  to inquire about the credit status of the user having issued the settlement request message. If the credit check unit  404  receives, from the financial institution system  40 , a check result indicating that the user&#39;s credit status has no problem, that is, the payment request is acceptable, the payment request processing unit  402  allows the transfer request unit  405  to generate and transmit a transfer request message to the financial institution system  40 . Moreover, the payment request processing unit  402  allows the provision instructing unit  406  to generate a provision instruction message destined for the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  and to transmit the provision instruction message to the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  via the network communication processing unit  401 . 
     The database unit  403  generates a transfer request message based on the settlement request message. The database unit  403  further stores information required to generate a provision instruction message as well as the user&#39;s usage of the present electronic settlement system.  FIG. 6  shows an example of the configuration of a user table stored in the database unit  403 . A user table  500  is data having one record  501  for each user. Each record  501  stores a user ID  502 , a password  503 , a mail address  504 , and usage information  505 . The user ID  502  is information uniquely identifying the user. The password  503  is information required to prevent a third party from pretending to be the user to unfairly utilize the present electronic settlement system. The mail address  503  is information used as a destination address if the processing result notifying unit  407  utilizes an electronic mail to notify the user of the processing result of settlement. The usage information  505  includes various pieces of information such as the frequency at which the user has utilized the present electronic settlement system, the amount for which the user has utilized the system, and the places in which the user has utilized the system. The usage information  505  is utilized for marketing analysis and selective distribution of recommendation information to the user. 
       FIG. 7  shows an example of the configuration of a negotiable-value providing apparatus table stored in the database unit  403 . A negotiable-value providing apparatus table  600  is data having one record  601  for each negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 . Each record  601  stores an equipment ID  602 , an equipment IP address  603 , a destination bank  604 , a branch office name  605 , an account number  606 , and an account holder&#39;s name  607 . 
     The equipment ID  602  is information uniquely identifying the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 . The equipment IP address is information utilized as a destination address for a provision instruction message based on a received settlement request message having the corresponding equipment ID. The destination bank  604 , the branch office name  605 , the account number  606 , and the account holder&#39;s name  607  are information required to identify the destination of the transfer amount from the user&#39;s bank account if the electronic settlement server  10  receives the settlement request message corresponding to the equipment ID. 
       FIG. 5  is referred to again, and the example of configuration of the electronic settlement server  10  will be continuously described. 
     The provision instructing unit  406  allows a provision instruction message destined for the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  to be generated. The provision instructing unit  406  transmits the provision instruction message to the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  via the network communication processing unit  401 . The address of the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  is acquired with reference to the above-described negotiable-value providing apparatus table  600 . 
     Furthermore, the processing result notifying unit  407  serves to notify the user whether or not the settlement request message has been processed. The processing result notifying unit  407  generates an electronic mail destined for the mobile communication terminal  20  and transmits the electronic mail or describes information indicating the processing result on a web page that can be browsed via the mobile communication terminal  20  and wait for browsing via the mobile communication terminal  20 . The content of the notification is, for example, the message “Settlement request has been processed. Thank you for allowing us to serve you” or “Short balance. Settlement has failed.” 
     The electronic contract processing unit  408  has the function of cooperating with the mobile communication terminal  20 , more specifically the electronic contract applying unit  206  thereof, in allowing the user and the operator, administrator, or the like of the electronic settlement system  1  (hereinafter referred to as the settlement company) to electronically sign a contract specifying that the settlement company withdraws the specified amount from the user account before the utilization of the electronic settlement system  1  can be started. 
     Furthermore, the electronic contract processing unit  408  has the function of transmitting data from the computerized contract document original certifying the contract signed between the user and the settlement company, to the financial institution having the user account. 
     Specifically, the electronic contract processing unit  408  has the function of allowing the computerized contract document  713  to be downloaded into the mobile communication terminal  20 , the function of receiving a computerized contract document  711  with an electronic signature and a user-side electronic certificate  711  both transmitted by the mobile communication terminal  20 , the function of verifying the received electronic signature and user-side electronic certificate  711 , and if the electronic signature and the user-side electronic certificate  711  are determined to be valid, transmitting the computerized contract document  713  with the user&#39;s electronic signature as well as the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature and the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712 , to the mobile communication terminal  20 , the function of receiving the computerized contract document original  714  transmitted by the mobile communication terminal  20  for storage, and the function of transmitting the computerized contract document original  714  to an apparatus specified by the financial institution (for example, the financial institution system  40  or a network terminal apparatus (for example, a PC) specified by the financial institution). 
       FIG. 8  is a function block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the electronic contract processing unit  408 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the electronic contract processing unit  408  has a control unit  801 , an encryption processing unit  802 , a storage unit  803 , a decryption processing unit  804 , and a determination unit  805 . 
     The control unit  801  has the function of integrally controlling the operation of the encryption processing unit  802 , storage unit  803 , decryption processing unit  804 , and determination unit  805  to order starting of each of these units, input and output of data to and from each unit, and the like. 
     The encryption processing unit  802  has the function of generating the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature by a predetermined encryption method using an encryption key  811 . 
     The storage unit  803  has the function of storing the user-side electronic certificate  711 , the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712 , the computerized contract document  713 , the computerized contract document original  714 , the encryption key  811 , and the like. 
     The user-side electronic certificate  711 , settlement company-side electronic certificate  712 , computerized contract document  713 , and computerized contract document original  714  are the same as those stored in the storage unit  703  of the electronic contract applying unit  20 . Thus, the description of these units is omitted. 
     The encryption key  811  is used by the electronic settlement company to generate an electronic signature or to decrypt encrypted information transmitted by the mobile communication terminal  20 . The encryption key  811  is, for example, a secrete key for a public key scheme or a common encryption key for a common key scheme. 
     The settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  and the encryption key  811  may be pre-acquired from the authentication server  90 , that is, the certification authority (CA), for storage. 
     The decryption processing unit  804  has the function of decrypting the user&#39;s electronic signature transmitted by the mobile communication terminal  20 . 
     The determination unit  805  has the function of verifying the user&#39;s electronic certificate and electronic signature transmitted by the mobile communication terminal  20  together with the computerized contract document. 
     Upon receiving the computerized contract document storage original  714 , corresponding to the computerized contract document with the time stamp and the electronic signature, the control unit  801  allows the storage unit  803  to store the computerized contract document storage original  714 . The control unit  801  further transmits the computerized contract document storage original destined for the bank in which the user&#39;s account is present. 
     I.1.4 Communication Network 
       FIG. 1  is referred to again, and the description of the components of the electronic settlement system  1  according to the present embodiment will be restarted. 
     Whether the communication network  50  is a wired or wireless network and uses a leased or switched circuit, the communication network  50  operates to enable information transmission between apparatuses connected to the communication network  50  when each of the apparatuses establishes a session with the target apparatus. The communication network  50  may be implemented by combining a plurality of networks via gateways as in the Internet. Furthermore, the connections may be temporary ones like PPP connections instead of direct connections to what is called a backbone provided that information can be transmitted between the apparatuses when each of the apparatuses establishes a session with the other. The “communication network” may be a communication network not using path switching means such as switching equipment, a switch, or a router which has fixedly distributed leased circuits. 
     I.1.5 Mobile Communication Network, Gateway, and Base Station 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , it is assumed that a cellular phone is used as the mobile communication terminal  20 . Thus, in the figure, the cellular phone serving as the mobile communication terminal  20  connects first to the base station  60  through a radio circuit and then via the mobile communication network  70  and the gateway  80  to the communication network  50 , to which the electronic settlement server  10  is connected. However, provided that the mobile communication terminal  20  can be connected directly to the communication network  50 , the mobile communication terminal  20  may be connected to the electronic settlement server  10  without passing through the mobile communication network  70  or the gateway  80 . For example, if the mobile communication terminal  20  has a radio LAN connection function, communication via the mobile communication network  70  and the gateway  80  is not required. 
     I.1.6. Financial Institution System 
     In response to an inquiry about the user&#39;s credit status from the electronic settlement server  1 , the financial institution system  40  replies to the electronic settlement server  1  with the credit status. In response to a transfer request from the electronic settlement server  10 , the financial institution system  40  can execute a transfer process (a transfer of money from one account to another) or request a certain apparatus to execute the transfer process. The financial institution system  40  may be an accommodation system such as a multi-payment network (see, for example, http://www.jampa.gr.jp/pub/) which is not run directly by a financial institution. The system replying to the electronic settlement server  10  with the credit status need not necessarily be the same as that executing the transfer process. Furthermore, in the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the electronic settlement server  10  is connected to the financial institution system  40  via a leased circuit. However, the present embodiment can be implemented even when the electronic settlement server  10  and the financial institution system  40  are connected together via the communication network  50 . If for example, the financial institution system  40  is a system prepared by what is called an Internet bank, the electronic settlement server  10  and the financial institution system  40  may be connected together via the communication network  50 . 
     Furthermore, the financial institution system  40  may have the function of receiving and storing the computerized contract document original  714  transmitted, by the electronic settlement server  10 , to the financial institution having the user&#39;s account. Based on the computerized contract document original  714 , the financial institution can determine that the both the user and the settlement company agree that the settlement company withdraws the specified amount from the user&#39;s account. It is assumed that after the reception of the computerized contract document original  714 , the settlement company receives a request message requesting that the settlement company withdraw the specified amount from the user&#39;s account. Then, the computerized contract document original  714  serves as a legal ground for the transfer, by the financial institution system  40 , of the specified amount from the user&#39;s account in response to the request message even without any special instruction from the user. 
     I.1.7. Authentication Server 
     The authentication server  90  is an apparatus including a central processing unit (CPU), a main memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an I/O device (I/O), and an external storage device such as a hard disk device as required. The authentication server  90  is, for example, an information processing apparatus such as a computer or a workstation. 
     The authentication server  90  may further have the function of issuing the user-side electronic certificate  711  and/or the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  and managing a CRL (Certificate Revocation List) that is a list of the validity of the user-side electronic certificate  711  and/or the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  and replying to an inquiry about the validity. 
     I.1.8. Time Stamp Service 
     The time stamp server  95  is an apparatus including a central processing unit (CPU), a main memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an I/O device (I/O), and an external storage device such as a hard disk device as required. The time stamp server  95  is, for example, an information processing apparatus such as a computer or a workstation. 
     The time stamp server  95  has the function of, in response to a time stamp issuance request from the mobile communication terminal  90 , generating and transmitting a time stamp token to the mobile communication terminal. The time stamp server  95  is an apparatus operating as a time stamp station (TSA: Time Stamping Authority) described in RFC 3161. 
     I.2. Example of Operation of the Electronic Settlement System 
     Now, the operation of the electronic settlement system  1  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 9, 10, 11, and 12 .  FIGS. 9 and 10  are sequence diagrams showing an example of an operation performed by the electronic settlement system  1  during user registration.  FIG. 11  shows an example of an operation performed when the user acquires a negotiable value through the electronic settlement system  1  after the user registration.  FIG. 12  is a sequence diagram continued from  FIG. 11 . 
     First, the operation performed by the electronic settlement system  1  until the user is successfully registered will be described with reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10  and the subsequent figures.  FIGS. 9 and 10  are sequence diagrams showing an example of an operation performed by the electronic settlement system  1  when the user is registered in the electronic settlement system  1  using the mobile communication terminal  20 . 
     First, the user connects the mobile communication terminal  20  to the electronic settlement server  10  and requests, from the electronic settlement server  10 , software for the mobile communication terminal  20  (an application the function of which can be added to the mobile communication terminal  20  by downloading the application into the mobile communication terminal  20 , for example, the i appli) which is required to receive services from the electronic settlement system  1  (S 101 ). In response to the request, the electronic settlement server  10  allows the data of an application such as the i appli and the computerized contract document  713  to be downloaded into the mobile communication terminal  20  (S 102 ). Upon receiving the i appli and the computerized contract document  713 , the mobile communication terminal  20  allows the data of the i appli and the like to be stored in a storage device such as a memory, while allowing the computerized contract document  713  to be stored in the storage unit  703  (S 103 ). The i appli is executed by the CPU in the mobile communication terminal  20  or the like to function as the above-described payment request generating unit  202 , transfer request generating unit  207 , electronic contract applying unit  206 , or the like. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the electronic settlement server  10  is also used as a server for downloading of the application such as the i appli and a server for downloading of the computerized contract document  713 . However, of course, the server for downloading of the application such as the i appli and/or the server for downloading of the computerized contract document  713  may be an apparatus or a system that is separate from the electronic settlement server  10 . 
     The downloaded i appli is started by the user&#39;s predetermined operation via the mobile communication terminal  20  (S 104 ). Upon being started for the first time after downloading, the electronic contract applying unit  206 , that is, the i appli, allows the output unit  205  to display the computerized contract document  713  (S 104 ). The electronic contract applying unit  206  thus urges the user to check the contents of the computerized contract document. 
     Then, the mobile communication terminal  20 , more specifically the electronic contract applying unit  206 , accepts an input indicating whether or not the user is to sign the electronic contract (S 105 ). For example, the liquid crystal display, that is, the output unit  205 , displays the message “Contents of contract are displayed. Will you sign contract? YES/NO” or the like to urge the user to input an answer. If the user opts to sign the contract according to the contents of the computerized contract document  713 , the electronic contact applying unit  206 , more specifically the encryption processing unit  702 , uses the encryption key  715  to generate an electronic signature (S 106 ). In the present embodiment, the electronic signature corresponds to a hash value for the computerized contract document  713  in which the user&#39;s address, name, and the like are filled, the hash value being encrypted according to an RSA encryption scheme using the encryption key  715 . However, the present invention is not limited to this aspect. For example, information may be used which allows the user to be uniquely identified and which is obtained by encrypting data that cannot be easily known by the third party. However, in this case, the electronic certificate  711  is not utilized. 
     Then, the mobile communication terminal  20 , more specifically the electronic contract applying unit  206 , transmits the computerized contract document  713  (in which the user&#39;s address and name are additionally filled), the electronic signature generated in S 106 , and the user-side electronic certificate  711  to the electronic settlement server  10  (S 107 ). 
     Upon receiving the computerized contract document  713  and others transmitted in the above-described S 107 , the electronic settlement server  10  inquires of the authentication server  90 , that is, an institution issuing the user-side electronic certificate, about the validity of the user-side electronic certificate  711  (S 108 ). The authentication server  90  references the CRL (Certified Revocation List) to determine the validity of the user-side electronic certificate  711 . The authentication server  90  then transmits the result of the determination to the electronic settlement server  10  (S 109 ). 
     If the result of the determination indicates that the user-side electronic certificate  711  is valid, the electronic settlement server  10  executes a process of verifying the user-side electronic certificate  711  (S 110 ). That is, the electronic settlement server  10  uses the public key of the certification authority (CA) to decrypt the electronic signature on the user-side electronic certificate  711  to determine whether the electronic signature has been written by the certification authority (CA). The electronic settlement server  10  further determines whether or not the user-side electronic certificate  711  has been altered. If the verifications in S 109  to S 111  are all successful, the user-side electronic certificate  711  is determined to be credible, that is, the encryption key (for example, the public key according to the public encryption key scheme) described in the user-side electronic certificate  711  is determined to belong to the user. 
     If the verification of the user-side electronic certificate  711  is successful, the electronic settlement server  10  verifies the electronic signature attached to the computerized contract document  713  (S 111 ). That is, the electronic settlement server  10  uses the encryption key described in the user-side electronic certificate  711  to decrypt the electronic signature attached to the computerized contract document  713 . The electronic settlement server  10  thus verifies the electronic signature and determines the validity of the computerized contract document  713  (the computerized contract document  713  has not been altered). 
     If the verification of the electronic signature in S 111  is successful, the electronic settlement server  10  determines that the computerized contract document  711  has been validly signed by the user. The electronic settlement server  10  further attaches the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature to the computerized contract document  713  (to which the user&#39;s electronic signature is already attached) received from the mobile communication terminal  20 . The electronic settlement server  10  also attaches the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  to the computerized contract document  713 . The electronic settlement server  10  transmits the computerized contract document  713 , the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature, and the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  to the mobile communication terminal  20  (S 112 ). 
     Upon receiving the computerized contract document  713  and others transmitted in step S 112 , the mobile communication terminal  20  inquires of the authentication server  90 , that is, an institution issuing the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712 , about the validity of the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  (S 113 ). The authentication server  90  references the CRL (Certified Revocation List) to determine the validity of the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712 . The authentication server  90  then transmits the result of the determination to the mobile communication terminal  20  (S 114 ). 
     If the result of the determination indicates that the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  is valid, the mobile communication terminal  20  executes a process of verifying the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  (S 115 ). That is, the mobile communication terminal  20  uses the public key of the certification authority (CA) to decrypt the electronic signature on the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  to determine whether the electronic signature has been written by the certification authority (CA). The mobile communication terminal  20  further determines whether or not the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  has been altered. If the verifications in S 113  to S 115  are all successful, the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  is determined to be credible, that is, the encryption key (for example, the public key according to the public encryption key scheme) described in the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  is determined to belong to the settlement company. 
     If the verification of the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  is successful, the mobile communication terminal  20  verifies the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature attached to the computerized contract document  713  (S 116 ). That is, the mobile communication terminal  20  uses the encryption key described in the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  to decrypt the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature attached to the computerized contract document  713 . The mobile communication terminal  20  thus verifies the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature and determines the validity of the computerized contract document  713  (the computerized contract document  713  has not been altered). 
     If the verification of the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature in S 116  is successful, the mobile communication terminal  20  determines that the computerized contract document  713  has been validly signed by the settlement company. 
     Then, the mobile communication terminal  20  transmits the computerized contract document  713  (or a hash value therefor) with the user&#39;s electronic signature and the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature, to the time stamp server  95 . The mobile communication terminal  20  thus requests the time stamp server  95  to issue a time stamp (S 117 ). Upon receiving the time stamp request, the time stamp server  95  applies a date and time to the hash value for the computerized contract document  713  with the user&#39;s electronic signature and the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature to generate a digitally signed time stamp token. The time stamp server  95  then transmits the time stamp token to the mobile communication terminal  20  (S 118 ). 
     The mobile communication terminal  20  acquires the time stamp token (S 119 ). Then, the mobile communication terminal  20  adds the time stamp token to the computerized contract document  713  with the user&#39;s electronic signature and the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature to obtain a computerized contract document storage original  714 . The mobile communication terminal  20  stores the computerized contract document storage original  714  in the storage unit  703 , and transmits the computerized contract document storage original  714  to the electronic settlement server  10  (S 120 ). 
     Upon receiving the computerized contract document storage original  714 , the electronic settlement server  10  stores the computerized contract document storage original  714  in the storage unit  803  (S 121 ). 
     Thus, a contract for withdrawal substitution is signed between the user and the settlement company. Under the condition that the computerized contract document storage original  714  is stored in the electronic settlement server  10 , the electronic settlement server  10  accepts the user registration. That is, if the computerized contract document storage original  714  is not stored in the electronic settlement server  10 , the user is not registered and cannot start utilizing the electronic settlement system  1 . In other words, storing the computerized contract document storage original  714  in the electronic settlement server  10  is essential for the user registration. 
     Now, the operation of the electronic settlement system  1  after step S 121  will be described with reference to  FIG. 11 . In the sequence diagrams following  FIG. 11 , the illustration of the authentication server  90  and the time stamp server  95  is omitted. 
     Using the completion of step S 121  as a trigger, the electronic settlement server  10  transmits a user registration start message to the mobile communication terminal  20  (S 122 ). 
     Upon receiving the user registration start message, the mobile communication terminal  20  starts the i appli (S 123 ). When started for the first time after downloading, the i appli allows the output unit  205  to display an initial input screen via which the user inputs initial information, thus urging the user to input the initial information (S 124 ). Here, the requested initial information includes a user ID  602 , a password  603 , a mail address  604 , a bank number  605 , a branch office number  606 , a account type  607 , an account number  608 , an account holder&#39;s name  609 , and a personal identification number  610 . The user ID  602  and the password  603  may be preset by the electronic settlement server  10  without the need for the user&#39;s input. 
     The user completes inputting the initial information using the input unit  204  of the mobile communication terminal  20 . Then, the mobile communication terminal  20  connects to the electronic settlement server  10  via the communication network  50  and transmits the input initial information and the like to the electronic settlement server  10  (S 125 ). 
     Upon receiving the initial information, the electronic settlement server  20  transmits, to the financial institution system  40 , an account check request message inquiring of the financial institution system  40  whether or not the initial information is correct and whether or not the input user account is available (S 126 ). Upon receiving the account check request message, the financial institution system  40  searches an account database or the like for the presence and validity of the user account indicated as a check target in the account check request message. The financial institution system  40  transmits the result of the determination to the electronic settlement server  10  as an account check result message (S 127 ). If the account check result message indicates that the input account information is incorrect or the account is unavailable, the electronic settlement server  10  having received the account check result message transmits a message urging the initial information to be input again, to the mobile communication terminal  20  (not shown in  FIG. 11 ). On the other hand, if the account check result message indicates that the input account information is correct and that the input account is available, the electronic settlement server  10  having received the account check result message registers the user based on the input initial information (S 128 ). That is, the electronic settlement server  20  adds new records  601  and  701  to a user table  600  and a user retained amount data  700 , respectively, both of which are located in the database unit  403 . The electronic settlement server  20  thus writes the user ID  602 , password  603 , mail address  604 , bank number  605 , branch office number  606 , account type  607 , account number  608 , account holder&#39;s name  609 , personal identification number  610  and the like, into the records  601  and  701 . 
     Once the above-described user registration (S 128 ) is completed, the electronic settlement server  10  transmits the computerized contract document original  714  to the financial institution system  40  ( 129 ). The financial institution system  40  receives and stores the computerized contract document original  714  ( 130 ). In the present example, the financial institution system  40  receives the computerized contract document original  714 . However, any apparatus can receive the computerized contract document original  714  provided that the apparatus enables the financial institution having the user account to confirm the signing of the contact based on the computerized contract document original  714 . 
     Furthermore, in the above-described example, the transmission of the computerized contract document original  714  to the financial institution system  40  follows the user registration (S 128 ). However, the present invention can be implemented regardless of the timing when the computerized contract document storage original  714  is transmitted to the financial institution system  40 , provided that the transmission follows the generation of the computerized contract document original  714  (the transmission follows S 119 ). 
     After the user registration (S 128 ) is completed, the user can utilize the electronic settlement system  1 . An example of the operation of the electronic settlement system  1  following the user registration will be described below with reference to  FIG. 12 . 
     It is assumed that the user first utilizes the present electronic settlement system to attempt to allow the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  to provide a negotiable value. 
     In this case, the user allows the mobile communication terminal  20  and the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  to carry out short-distance communication so that the mobile communication terminal  20  can acquire the equipment ID of the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 . For example, it is assumed that the terminal-side short-distance communication unit  201  is an IC chip for non-contact IC cards and that the providing apparatus-side short-distance communication unit  303  is a reader/writer. Then, upon sensing that the chip for non-contact IC cards is nearby, the reader/writer serving as the providing apparatus-side short-distance communication unit  303  transmits the equipment ID and the application number corresponding to the payment request generating unit  202  to the chip for non-contact IC cards serving as the terminal-side short-distance communication unit  201  (S 701 ). 
     Upon receiving the equipment ID and the application number, the terminal-side short-distance communication unit  201  starts the application such as the i appli which corresponds to the application number, that is, the payment request generating unit  202  (S 702 ). At this time, the equipment ID is passed to the payment request generating unit  202 . 
     The started payment request generating unit  202  allows the liquid crystal display serving as the input unit  205  to display an input screen accepting user&#39;s inputs (S 703 ).  FIG. 14  is a diagram showing an example of the input screen displayed on the liquid crystal display serving as the input unit  205 . The example of the input screen includes an amount input box  901  and an OK button  902 . The user inputs the price of the negotiable value to be provided by the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 , to the amount input box  901 . If any amount has already been input to the amount input box  901 , the payment request generating unit  202  may store and automatically display the amount in the amount input box  901 . The payment request generating unit  202  may thus generate a settlement request message with this amount unless the user changes the input. After the amount input to the amount input box  901  is confirmed, the user operates the input unit  204  to activate the OK button  902  to complete the user input (S 704 ). Then, the payment request generating unit  202  generates and transmits a settlement request message to the electronic settlement server  10  (S 705 ). 
     Here, the OK button  902  has the function of executing, in response to one operation, a process of determining a transfer amount specified as consideration for the negotiable value by the mobile communication terminal  20  and a process of executing a settlement request for provision of the negotiable value corresponding to the transfer amount. 
       FIG. 15  shows an example of the data configuration of a settlement request message generated by the payment request generating unit  202 . The settlement request message  1000  shown in  FIG. 15  is data composed of a header  1001 , a user ID  1002 , a password  1003 , a bank number  1004 , a branch office number  1005 , an account number  1006 , a personal identification number  1007 , an equipment ID  1008 , and a transfer amount  1009 . The header  1001  is data indicating that the data generated by the payment request generating unit  202  is a settlement request message. The user ID  1002 , password  1003 , bank number  1004 , branch office number  1005 , account number  1006 , and personal identification number  1007  store the user ID  101 , the password  102 , used by the electronic settlement server  10  to authenticate the user, the bank number  103 , branch office number  104 , and account number  105 , identifying the account from which the user withdraws the charge to be paid, and the personal identification number  106 , set for the account ( FIG. 3 ); all the pieces of information are pre-stored in the payment request generating unit  202  described above. Furthermore, the equipment ID  1008  has been transmitted by the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  in S 701 . The transfer amount  1009  is information input to the amount input box  901  on the input screen. 
       FIG. 12  is referred to again, and the operation of the electronic settlement system  1  will be continuously described. 
     Upon receiving the settlement request message  1000 , the electronic settlement server  10 , more specifically the payment request processing unit  402  starts the credit check unit  404 . The payment request processing unit  402  then allows the credit check unit  404  to transmit a credit check request to the financial institution system  40  (S 706 ). The credit check request inquires of the financial institution system  40  about the paying capacity of the user corresponding to the user ID contained in the settlement request message  1000 . 
     The financial institution system  40  examines the user&#39;s credit information to determine whether or not the user can pay the requested amount, by checking the account balance and the like. The financial institution system  40  then transmits the result of the determination to the electronic settlement server  10  as a check result notification (S 707 ). 
     Upon receiving the check result notification from the financial institution system  40 , the electronic settlement server  10 , more specifically the payment request processing unit  402  starts a result notifying unit  407  to generate a processing result notification based on the check result notification received from the financial institution system  40 . The payment request processing unit  402  then transmits the processing result notification to the mobile communication terminal  20  (S 708 ). 
     Upon receiving the processing result notification, the mobile communication terminal  20  displays the contents of the processing result notification on the output unit  205  (S 709 ). The displayed contents are, for example, “Settlement request has been processed. Thank you for allowing us to serve you.” or “Short balance. Settlement has failed.” 
     Now, the example of the operation of the electronic settlement system  1  will be continuously described with reference to  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 13  is a sequence diagram continued from  FIG. 12  and showing the example of the operation of the electronic settlement system  1 . If the result of the determination of the credit status by the financial institution system  40  indicates that the user can pay the charge, the electronic settlement server  10 , more specifically the provision instructing unit  406  transmits a payment procedure end message to the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  (S 710 ). The payment procedure end message corresponds to a telegram indicating that a payment procedure corresponding to the user specified amount is finished. 
     Destination information (for example, an IP address) on the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 , corresponding to the destination of the payment procedure end message, may be acquired from the negotiable-value providing apparatus table  600  stored in the database unit  403 . The payment procedure end message contains amount information corresponding to a transfer amount  1009 . However, the amount information may indicate the original amount from which an amount such as a transfer fee has been subtracted. 
     Upon receiving the payment procedure end message, the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  provides the user with a negotiable value of a quantity corresponding to the amount information contained in the payment procedure end message (S 711 ). 
     On the other hand, the electronic settlement server  10  transmits, to the financial institution system  40 , a transfer request message requesting the financial institution system  40  to transfer the user specified amount from the user&#39;s account to the account of the administrator, operator, or the like of the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  who is qualified to acquire sales of the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  (hereinafter simply referred to as the “administrator”) (S 712 ).  FIG. 16  is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the transfer request message. A transfer request message  1100  contains a bank account  1101 , a branch office number  1102 , and an account number  1103  which are pieces of information identifying the user&#39;s debit account, and a personal identification number  1104  indicating that the user approves the withdrawal. The transfer request message  1100  further contains a transfer amount  1105 , and a (destination) bank number  1106 , a (destination) branch office number  1107 , and a (destination) account number  1108  which are pieces of information indicating the administrator&#39; account corresponding to the destination account. 
     The bank account  1101 , branch office number  1102 , account number  1103 , and personal identification number  1104  are generated based on the bank account  1004 , branch office number  1005 , account number  1006 , personal identification number  1007 , and transfer amount  1009  contained in the settlement request message  1000 . The (destination) bank number  1106 , (destination) branch office number  1107 , and (destination) account number  1108  are generated based on the equipment ID  1008  and data acquired from the negotiable-value providing apparatus table  600 . 
     Upon receiving the above-described transfer request message, the financial institution system  40  executes a transfer process of transferring the specified transfer amount from the user&#39;s account to the administrator&#39;s account (S 713 ). Thus, the payment of the consideration for the negotiable value the user has received from the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  is completed. 
     The operator, administrator, or the like of the electronic settlement server  10  (hereinafter referred to as the settlement company) qualified to acquire profits through the operation of the electronic settlement server  10  may receive the charge from the user or the administrator. In this case, the electronic settlement server  10  transmits, to the financial institution system  40 , a transfer request message requesting the financial institution system  40  to transfer the amount corresponding to the charge from the user&#39;s or administrator&#39;s account to the settlement company&#39;s account (S 714 ). Upon receiving the transfer request message, the financial institution system  40  executes a transfer process of transferring the specified transfer amount from the user&#39;s or administrator&#39;s account to the settlement company&#39;s account (S 715 ). Thus, the settlement company can gain profits through the operation of the present electronic settlement system. 
     I.3. Advantages of the Present Electronic Settlement System 
     (1) Advantages for the User 
     The present settlement method is different from cash payment and can be used in game halls. Thus, even when running short of cash in hand in a game hall, the user can buy rental balls, rental medals, any product, or the like by an easy settlement action (the process of performing an easy input operation such as the activation of the OK button  902  on the mobile communication terminal  20 ). The user can feel secure to utilize the method through the function of, for example, requesting the user to input the personal identification number when a pre-settable usage accumulated amount for one month and/or the maximum usage amount per day is reached, in order to cope with the loss of the card and to inform the user of overspending of which the user knows nothing. 
     Furthermore, the user can feel secure to carry out the settlement action because the user&#39;s mobile communication terminal is used for the settlement action. The user can further feel secure to settle the account because of the non-need to input the card number or the personal identification number, preventing the record of the card number or the personal identification number from remaining in the shop or being unfairly acquired by a malicious person as is the case with ordinary credit and debit cards. 
     Furthermore, information distribution is available which is based on usage information acquired by the electronic settlement server  10 . Thus, more various services are expected to be available. 
     (2) Advantages for the Shop (Administrator) 
     Even when running short of cash in hand as a result of playing games, the user can further buy a negotiable value via the present electronic settlement system. This increases the operation rate of the game machines and the possibility that such users make a purchase in the shop. Thus, the sales of the game hall are expected to increase. Furthermore, information is available which indicates the game machines on which the user has played and the amount of money for which the user has played. Consequently, based on the information, the operation status of the game machines can be determined in detail, and the user&#39;s preferences can also be known. Therefore, the information can be utilized for marketing. 
     The use of the present electronic settlement system avoids increasing cash used in the shop. This facilitates credit management and improves security management. 
     (3) Advantages for the Electronic Settlement Company 
     The operation of the present electronic settlement system enables the electronic settlement company to determine the playing statuses of players who are users. The electronic settlement company can thus accumulate data to be referenced for the development, sale, marketing, or the like of game machines. 
     I.4. Variations and Others 
     (1) QR codes or the like may be displayed on the liquid crystal display provided in the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 . Furthermore, a bar code reader utilizing a CCD camera may be provided in the mobile communication terminal  20  to read bar codes. These arrangements may replace the providing apparatus-side short-distance communication unit  303  and the terminal-side short-distance communication unit  201 . In this case, information indicated by the bar code may directly be the equipment ID. 
     (2) In the above-described embodiment, the user&#39;s credit check is carried out by the electronic settlement server  10  inquiring of the financial institution system  40 . However, the present invention can also be implemented when the electronic settlement server  10  has a credit amount table in the database unit  403  to carry out credit checks by itself. A creditable amount and a credit balance are stored in the credit amount table for each user. If the credit balance is equal to or more than a transfer request amount, the amount is permitted to be paid. 
     (3) In the above-described embodiment, the transfer amount is transferred directly from the user&#39;s account to the shop&#39;s (administrator&#39;s) account. However, the present invention can also be implemented by transferring the transfer amount from the user&#39;s account to the electronic settlement company&#39;s account and then transferring the transfer amount from which the transfer fee is subtracted from the electronic settlement company&#39;s account to the shop&#39;s (administrator&#39;s) account. 
     (4) The present invention can be implemented regardless of whether the authentication server  90 , serving as the certification agency (CA), is another company&#39;s server commonly used or a server constructed by the settlement company. 
     II. Second Embodiment 
     Now, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
     I.1. Example of the Configuration of the Electronic Settlement System 
     An electronic settlement system  1 A according to the second embodiment is configured almost similarly to the electronic settlement system  1  according to the first embodiment. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described in detail. 
       FIG. 17  is a network diagram showing an example of an electronic settlement system according to the second embodiment. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 17 , the electronic settlement system  1 A has an electronic settlement server  10 A, a mobile communication terminal  20 A, and a negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A. Furthermore, a charge accommodating network  40 A, an authentication server  90 , and a time stamp server  95  are connected to the electronic settlement system  1 A so as to be able to communicate with the electronic settlement system  1 A. 
     The electronic settlement server  10 A is connected to the charge accommodating network  40 A. The charge accommodating network  40 A executes a process of transferring a specified amount from the user&#39;s account to a specified destination account based on an instruction from the electronic settlement server  10 A. The charge accommodating network  40 A is, for example, the “Multi-Payment Network” (see, for example, http://www.jampa.gr.jp/pub/) operated in Japan. 
       FIG. 18  is a block diagram showing the general configuration of the charge accommodating network  40 A. A financial institution system  44  of a financial institution such as a bank (including a form such as a sharing center) is connected to the charge accommodating network  40 A via a communication network  45  so that the financial institution system  44  and the charge accommodating network  40 A can communicate with each other. The financial institution system  44  can electronically transfer money to and from the following accounts. The financial institution system  40  utilized by the present electronic settlement system  1 A has an account (hereinafter referred to as a user account  41 ) of a party playing games on game machines (hereinafter referred to as a user) paying a charge using the present electronic settlement system, an account (hereinafter referred to as a settlement company account  42 ) of a party (hereinafter referred to as a settlement company) directly or indirectly operating and managing the present electronic settlement system  1 A to receive consideration, a price, or a charge, or the like for the operation of the electronic settlement system  1 A, and an account (hereinafter referred to as a game hall company account  43 ) of a party (hereinafter referred to as a game hall company) providing the user with games played on game machines and receiving the user&#39;s payment using the present electronic settlement system  1 A. The accounts  41 ,  42 , and  43  may be provided in the same financial institution system  44  or in separate financial institution systems  44 .  FIG. 18  shows that the accounts  41 ,  42 , and  43  are provided in the different financial institution systems  44 . However, the present embodiment is not limited to this aspect. 
     A terminal apparatus is connected to the communication network  45  so that a client can transmit a payment request to the charge accommodating network  40 A. A personal computer (PC)  46 , a cellular phone  47 , an ATM (Automated Teller Machine)  48 , or the like is used as the terminal apparatus. In the electronic settlement system  1 A according to the present embodiment, the mobile communication terminal  20 A or the electronic settlement server  10 A operates as a terminal apparatus for the charge accommodating network  40 A. 
       FIG. 17  is referred to again, and the configuration of the electronic settlement system  1 A will be continuously described. 
     The electronic settlement server  10 A is connected to a communication network  50  and can communicate with the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A via the communication network  50 . The mobile communication terminal  20 A can communicate with the electronic settlement server  10 A and the charge accommodating network  40 A via a base station  60 , a mobile communication network  70 , and a gateway  80  connecting the mobile communication network  70  and the communication network  50  together. The mobile communication terminal  20 A can also communicate with the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A via short-distance communication means. The authentication server  90  can be connected to the electronic settlement server  10 A and the mobile communication terminal  20 A via the communication network  50  and the mobile communication network  70 . The time stamp server  95  can be connected to the mobile communication terminal  20 A via the communication network  50  and the mobile communication network  70 . The components of the electronic settlement system  1 A will be described below. 
     II.1.1. Negotiable-Value Providing Apparatus 
     The negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A provides a certain negotiable value (a tangible object or an intangible object that can be bought in exchange for money) to the user as consideration for electronic settlement carried out by the user using the mobile communication terminal  20 A. The negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A in the present embodiment need not necessarily provide a negotiable value directly to a user. The negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A may be an apparatus such as a CAT terminal for debit cards which provides a negotiable value indirectly to a user by notifying a game hall (shop) of the possibility of electronic settlement to allow the game hall to deliver an article or the like to the user. 
     Furthermore, the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A may output, transmit, or write electronic data to another apparatus or a storage medium as a negotiable value similarly to the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  according to the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 19  is a function block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A and the mobile communication terminal  20 A. The configuration of the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A will be described below with reference to  FIG. 19 . The same components as those of the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. 
     The negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A has a network communication processing unit  301 , a provision control unit  302 , a providing apparatus-side short-distance communication unit  303 , a negotiable-value supply unit  304 , and a game history processing unit  305 . The network communication processing unit  301 , provision control unit  302 , providing apparatus-side short-distance communication unit  303 , and negotiable-value supply unit  304  are the same as those of the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  according to the first embodiment, and will thus not be described in detail. 
     The game history processing unit  305  has the function of generating game history data on the game history of a player based on the player&#39;s use of the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A and transmitting the data to the server via the network communication processing unit  301 . 
     It is assumed that the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A is, for example, a ball renting machine provided in a particular game machine. To play games in the game machine in which ball renting machines are provided, the player obtains rental balls through settlement carried out by the present electronic settlement system  1 A using the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A, corresponding to the ball renting machine, and the player&#39;s cellular phone, corresponding to the mobile communication terminal  20 A. The game history processing unit  305  generates game history data indicating which player played games, on which game machine the player played the games, when the player played the games, and how much the player spent in the games, based on the operational status of the provision control unit  302  and the operational status of the game machine. The game history processing unit  305  then transmits the game history data to the server managing the game history data. The game history data is transmitted to the server for storage every time each of all the negotiable-value providing apparatuses  30 A is used. By analyzing the game history data and carrying out another analysis or the like according to a data mining technique or the like, the tendency of the player&#39;s action, the tendency of the popularity of the game machine, and an hourly use trend are clarified. As a result, useful information can be acquired which serves as a material for management of the shop and development of game machines. 
     In the configuration described in the present embodiment, the electronic settlement server  10 A is used as the server managing the game history data. However, of course, the server managing the game history data may be incorporated into the present electronic settlement system  1 A as a server apparatus different from the electronic settlement server. 
     II.1.2. Mobile Communication Terminal 
     Now, the mobile communication terminal  20 A will be described with reference to  FIG. 19 . 
     The mobile communication terminal  20 A is a terminal apparatus that can communicate with the electronic settlement server  10 A, the authentication server  90 , the time stamp server  95 , and/or the charge accommodating network  40 A via the communication network  50  and also with the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A using the short-distance communication means. The mobile communication terminal  20 A is, for example, a cellular phone having a non-contact IC card (for example, FeliCa: Sony Corporation&#39;s registered trademark) function, a cellular phone including short-distance communication means and radio communication means, PDA (Personal Data Assistant), a portable game machine, or an IP telephone including a radio LAN communication apparatus. 
     The mobile communication terminal  20  has a terminal-side short-distance communication unit  201  allowing communication with the above-described providing apparatus-side short-distance communication unit  303 , a payment request generating unit  202 , a radio communication unit  203 , an input unit  204 , an output unit  205 , and a user information storage unit  207 , a transfer request generating unit  208 , and an electronic contract applying unit  206 . The same components of the mobile communication terminal  20  as those of the mobile communication terminal  30  according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and will thus not be described in detail. 
     The user information storage unit  207  has the function of storing information required for the user&#39;s payment and settlement. The information stored in the user information storage unit  207  is similar to that shown in the first embodiment (see  FIG. 19 ), and the description of the individual pieces of information is omitted. 
     The mobile communication terminal  20 A has been described. 
     II.1.3 Electronic Settlement Server 
       FIG. 17  is referred to again, and the components of the electronic settlement system  1 A will be continuously described. 
     The electronic settlement system  1 A has the electronic settlement server  10 A as a core component. The electronic settlement server  10 A is an apparatus including a central processing unit (CPU), a main memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an I/O device (I/O), and an external storage device such as a hard disk device as required. The electronic settlement server  10 A is, for example, an information processing apparatus such as a computer or a workstation. The ROM or the hard disk device or the like stores a program allowing the information processing apparatus to function as the electronic settlement server  10 A or a program allowing an electronic settlement method to be executed by a computer. The program is placed on the main memory and executed by the CPU to implement the electronic settlement server  10 A or the electronic settlement method. Furthermore, the program need not necessarily be stored in the storage device in the information processing apparatus. The program may be provided by an external apparatus (for example, a server such as an ASP (Application Service Provider)) and placed on the main memory. Moreover, the electronic settlement server  10 A may be composed of a single apparatus or a plurality of apparatuses coupled together via a network. The electronic settlement server  10 A may be configured as a center into which all functions are integrated or as distributed servers obtained by division according to functions so as to enable a distributed process. 
     The electronic settlement server  10 A will be described below with reference to  FIG. 20 .  FIG. 20  is a function block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the electronic settlement server  10 A. 
     The electronic settlement server  10 A shown in  FIG. 20  has a network communication processing unit  401 A, a payment request processing unit  402 A, a database unit  403 A, a transfer request processing unit  404 A, a clearing processing unit  405 A, provision instructing unit  406 A, a result notifying unit  407 A, a game information update unit  408 A, and an electronic contract processing unit  409 A. Each of these units is a component composed of, for example, a storage device in which a program is stored and a CPU executing the program. 
     The network communication processing unit  401 A has the function of communicating with the mobile communication terminal  20 A, the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A, and the charge accommodating network  40 A via the communication network  50 . The network communication processing unit  401 A is, for example, a communication board allowing the protocol stack to be carried out. Upon receiving a request message from the mobile communication terminal  20 A, the network communication processing unit  401 A passes the request message to the payment request processing unit  402 A or the transfer request processing unit  404 A. Furthermore, upon receiving a provision instruction message destined for the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A from the provision instructing unit  406 A, the network communication processing unit  401 A transmits the provision instruction message to the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A. Additionally, upon receiving a transfer request message destined for the charge accommodating network  40 A from the clearing processing unit  405 A, the network communication processing unit  401 A transmits the transfer request message to the charge accommodating network  40 A. 
     The payment request processing unit  402 A has the function of processing a payment request message received from the mobile communication terminal  20 A. The payment request processing unit  402 A receives the payment request message from the mobile communication terminal  20 A via the network communication processing unit  401 A. Then, the payment request processing unit  402 A checks the user&#39;s retained amount data stored in the database unit  403 A described below. The payment request processing unit  402 A compares the user&#39;s retained amount data with the payment request message, and if the user can pay the charge, starts the provision instructing unit  406 A. The started provision instructing unit  406 A generates and transmits a provision instruction message to the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A via the network communication processing unit  401 A. 
     Furthermore, if the user can pay the charge according to the payment request message, the payment request processing unit  402 A updates (rewrites) user retained amount data  700 A on the user and retained amount data  900 A on the game hall company corresponding to the company providing the negotiable value through the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A; both data  700 A and  900 A are stored in the database unit  403 A. 
     The database unit  403 A stores the retained amount data  700 A on each of the users registered in the present electronic settlement system  1 A, and the retained amount data  900 A on the game hall company. The database unit  403 A also stores a user table  600 A, the user retained amount data  700 A, a game hall company table  800 A, the game hall company retained amount data  900 A, a negotiable-value providing apparatus table  1000 A, and game history information  1100 A; all the data  600 A to  1100 A are required for transfers from and to the charge accommodating network  40 A. 
       FIG. 21  shows an example of the configuration of the user table  600 A stored in the database unit  403 A. The user table  600 A is data storing information about users (players). The user table  600 A is data having one record  601  for each user. Each record  601 A stores a user ID  602 A, a password  603 A, and a mail address  604 A. The record  601 A further stores a bank number  605 A, a branch office number  606 A, an account type  607 A, an account number  608 A, an account holder&#39;s name  609 A, and a personal identification information  610 A; all of these pieces of information are required to identify the user&#39;s account corresponding to the debit account. The user ID  602 A is information uniquely identifying the user. The password  603 A is information required to prevent a third party from pretending to be the user to unfairly utilize the present electronic settlement system  1 A. The mail address  604 A is used as the destination address to which an electronic mail is transmitted when the processing result notifying unit  407 A notifies the user of the processing result of a payment process. The bank number  605 A, branch office number  606 A, account type  607 A, account number  608 A, account holder&#39;s name  609 A, and personal identification information  610 A are information required to indicate a debit account to the charge accommodating network  40 A. 
     The information stored in the user table  600 A is input to the electronic settlement server  10 A when the user is registered in the electronic settlement server  10 A. 
       FIG. 22  shows an example of the configuration of the user retained amount data  700 A stored in the database unit  403 A. The user retained amount data  700 A is data having one record  1001 A for each user. Each record  1001 A has a user ID field  1002 A in which the user ID is stored, and a retained amount field  1003 A in which a retained amount corresponding to an amount deposited in the electronic settlement system  1 A by the user is stored. The value stored in the retained amount field  1003 A is rewritten so as to increase by a deposited amount when the user deposits money in the electronic settlement system  1 A and to decrease by a payment amount when the user carries out payment utilizing the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A. 
       FIG. 23  shows an example of the configuration of the game hall company table  800 A stored in the database unit  403 A. The game hall company table  800 A is data storing information on game hall companies. The game hall company table  800 A is data having one record  801 A for each of the game hall companies having signed up with the electronic settlement system  1 A. Each record  801 A stores a game hall company ID  802 A in which a game hall company ID is stored. The record  801 A further stores a bank number  803 A, a branch office number  804 A, an account type  805 A, an account number  806 A, and an account holder&#39;s name  807 A; all of these pieces of information are required to identify the game hall company&#39;s account, to which an amount paid to the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A is transferred. The game hall company ID  802 A is information uniquely identifying the game hall company. The bank number  803 A, branch office number  804 A, account type  805 A, account number  806 A, and account holder&#39;s name  807 A are information required to indicate a destination account to the charge accommodating network  40 A. 
     The information stored in the game hall company table  800 A is input to the electronic settlement server  10 A when the game hall company signs up with and is registered in the electronic settlement system  1 A. 
       FIG. 24  shows an example of the configuration of the game hall company retained amount data  900 A stored in the database unit  403 A. The game hall company retained amount data  900 A is data having one record  901 A for each of the game hall companies registered in the electronic settlement system  1 A. Each record  901 A has a game hall company ID  902 A, and a retained amount  903 A in which a retained amount corresponding to an amount transferred to game hall company by the electronic settlement system  1 A is stored. The value stored in the retained amount  903 A is rewritten so as to increase by an amount paid by the user for the use of the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A and to decrease by an amount transferred to the game hall company account  43  utilizing the charge accommodating network  40 A. 
       FIG. 25  shows an example of the configuration of the negotiable-value providing apparatus table  1000 A stored in the database unit  403 A. The negotiable-value providing apparatus table  1000 A is data having one record  1301 A for each negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A. Each record  1301 A stores an equipment ID  1302 A, an equipment IP address  1303 A, and a game hall company ID  1304 A. 
     The equipment ID  1302 A is information uniquely identifying the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A. The equipment IP address  1303 A is information utilized, in response to a payment request message received by the electronic settlement server  10 A and containing a certain equipment ID  1302 A, as a destination address required to transmit a provision instruction message to the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A having the equipment ID  1302 A. The game hall company ID  1304 A is information identifying the game hall company qualified to receive the user&#39;s money paid to the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A having the equipment ID  1302 A. The game hall company ID  1304 A is the same as the game hall company ID  802  in the game hall company table  800 A. 
     The game history information  1100 A includes the history of games indicating when and where the player played games, on which game machine the player played the games, and how much the player spent in the games. The game history information  1100 A is generated by accumulating and storing game history data generated and transmitted by a history information processing unit  305  of each negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A. Various pieces of useful information can be obtained by analyzing the game history information  1100 A by well-known marketing analysis or the well-known data mining technique. 
       FIG. 20  is referred to again, and the example of configuration of the electronic settlement server  10 A will be continuously described. 
     The provision instructing unit  406 A allows a provision instruction message destined for the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A to be generated. The provision instructing unit  406 A transmits the provision instruction message to the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A via the network communication processing unit  401 A. The address of the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A, corresponding to the destination of the provision instruction message, is acquired with reference to the above-described negotiable-value providing apparatus table  1000 A. 
     Furthermore, the result notifying unit  407 A has the function of notifying the user whether or not a payment request message has been properly processed. By way of example, the result notifying unit  407 A generates an electronic mail destined for the mobile communication terminal  20 A and transmits the electronic mail. Alternatively, the result notifying unit  407 A may describe information indicating the processing result on a web page that can be browsed via the mobile communication terminal  20 A and wait for browsing via the mobile communication terminal  20 A. The contents of the notification from the result notifying unit  407 A are, for example, the message “Settlement request has been processed. Thank you for allowing us to serve you” or “Short balance. Settlement has failed.” 
     Now, the transfer request processing unit  404 A will be described. The transfer request processing unit  404 A has the function of processing a transfer request message received from the mobile communication terminal  20 A. The transfer request processing unit  404 A receives the transfer request message from the mobile communication terminal  20 A via the network communication processing unit  401 A. The contents of the transfer request message correspond to a request that a specified amount be withdrawn from the user account  41  so that the electronic settlement system  1 A can use the specified amount. Upon receiving the transfer request message, the transfer request processing unit  404 A checks the user table  600 A stored in the database unit  403 A. The transfer request processing unit  404 A acquires, from the user table  600 A, the bank number  605 A, branch office number  606 A, account type  607 A, account number  608 A, account holder&#39;s name  609 A, and personal identification information  610 A, which are the information identifying the user&#39;s account, corresponding to the source account. The transfer request processing unit  404 A transmits these pieces of information as well as information identifying the settlement company account  43 , corresponding to the destination account, to the charge accommodating network  40 A via the network communication processing unit  401 A as a transfer request message. Upon receiving the transfer request message, the charge accommodating network  40 A transfers a specified amount of money from the user account  41  to the settlement company account  42 . The transferred money (except for the charge) can be used by the user utilizing the present electronic settlement system  1 A. 
     Now, the clearing processing unit  405 A will be described. The clearing processing unit  405 A request the charge accommodating network  40 A to transfer an amount indicated by the game hall company retained amount data  900 A, from the settlement company account  42  to the game hall company account  43  of each game hall company. The amount of money transferred corresponds to the amount of the user&#39;s money kept by the electronic settlement system  1 A and which is to be paid to the game hall company, that is, the game hall company retained amount  903 A in the game hall company retained amount data  900 A. In the present embodiment, the clearing processing unit  405 A executes autonomous processing. For example, the clearing processing unit  405 A is automatically started at a predetermined timing (for example, at the end of every month or week). The started clearing processing unit  405 A checks all the game hall company retained amount data  900 A stored in the database unit  403 A. The clearing processing unit  405 A then transmits, to the charge accommodating network  40 A, a transfer request requesting the charge accommodating network  40 A to carry out a transfer of money not yet transferred from the settlement company account  42  to the corresponding game hall company account  43 . 
     The game information update unit  408 A has the function of accumulating and storing, from moment to moment, game history data received from the history information processing unit  305  of the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A, to update the game history information  1100 A. 
     The electronic contract processing unit  409 A cooperates with the mobile communication terminal  20 A, more specifically the electronic contract applying unit  206  in allowing the user and the operator, administrator, or the like of the electronic settlement system  1 A (hereinafter referred to as the settlement company) to electronically sign a contract specifying that the settlement company withdraws the specified amount from the user account, before the use of the electronic settlement system  1 A can be started. 
     Furthermore, the electronic contract processing unit  409 A has the function of transmitting data from a computerized contract document original certifying the contract signed between the user and the settlement company, to the financial institution having the user account. 
     Specifically, the electronic contract processing unit  409 A has the function of allowing a computerized contract document  713  to be downloaded into the mobile communication terminal  20 A, the function of receiving a computerized contract document  711  with an electronic signature and a user-side electronic certificate  711  both transmitted by the mobile communication terminal  20 A, the function of verifying the received electronic signature and user-side electronic certificate  711 , and if the electronic signature and the user-side electronic certificate  711  are determined to be valid, transmitting the computerized contract document  713  with the user&#39;s electronic signature and the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature and a settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  to the mobile communication terminal  20 A, the function of receiving a computerized contract document original  714  transmitted by the mobile communication terminal  20 A for storage, and the function of transmitting the computerized contract document original  714  to an apparatus specified by the financial institution (for example, the charge accommodating network  40 A or a network terminal apparatus (for example, a PC) specified by the financial institution). 
     The electronic contract processing unit  409 A is configured similarly to the electronic contract processing unit  408  of the electronic settlement server  10  according to the first embodiment (see  FIG. 8 ). Thus, the detailed description of the individual arrangements is omitted. 
     II.1.3.1. Distributed Server Configuration of the Electronic Settlement Server 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 20 , the electronic settlement server  10 A is implemented by one server apparatus. However, of course, the electronic settlement server  10 A is not limited to the configuration of such a server apparatus. 
       FIG. 26  is a function block diagram showing an example of configuration in which the electronic settlement server  10 A has a distributed server configuration. The same components of the electronic settlement server  10 A as those shown in  FIG. 20  are denoted by the same reference numerals, and will thus not be described in detail. 
     The electronic settlement server  10 A of the distributed server configuration serves to reduce the possibility that information on the user or the game hall company leaks or is stolen. The electronic settlement server  10 A configured as distributed servers also enables the reliability of security of the present electronic settlement system  1 A to be improved. 
     The electronic settlement server  10 A of the distributed server configuration is composed of an application server  501  and a plurality of database servers  502 A to  502 D. The application server  501  has the network communication processing unit  401 A, the payment request processing unit  402 A, the transfer request processing unit  404 A, the clearing processing unit  405 A, the provision instructing unit  406 A, the result notifying unit  407 A, the game information update unit  408 A, and the electronic contract processing unit  409 A. 
     It is possible to optionally specify how to divide the database unit  403 A, how many database servers  502  are provided, and how to assign stored contents (tables and data) to the respective database servers. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the configuration shown in  FIG. 26 . 
     II.1.4. Others 
       FIG. 17  is referred to again, and the description of the components of the electronic settlement system  1 A according to the present embodiment will be resumed. The communication network  50 , the base station  60 , the mobile communication network  70 , the gateway  80 , the authentication server  90 , and the time stamp server  95  are similar to those in the first embodiment. The detailed description of these components is omitted. 
     II.1.5. Charge Accommodating Network 
     The charge accommodating network  40 A is a system having the function of transferring the specified amount from the user account  41  to the settlement company account  42  and from the settlement company account  42  to the game hall company account  43  according to a transfer request from the electronic settlement server  10 A. In the example shown in  FIG. 17 , the electronic settlement server  10 A is connected to the charge accommodating network  40 A via the communication network  50 . However, the present embodiment can be implemented even when the electronic settlement server  10 A and the charge accommodating network  40 A are connected together via a leased circuit (not shown in the drawings) without passing through the communication network  50 . 
     Furthermore, the charge accommodating network  40 A may have the function of receiving and storing the computerized contract document original  714  transmitted, by the electronic settlement server  10 A, to the financial institution having the user&#39;s account. Based on the computerized contract document original  714 , the financial institution can determine that the both the user and the settlement company agree that the settlement company withdraws the specified amount from the user&#39;s account. It is assumed that after the reception of the computerized contract document original  714 , the settlement company receives a request message requesting that the settlement company withdraw the specified amount from the user&#39;s account. Then, the computerized contract document original  714  serves as a legal ground for the transfer, by the charge accommodating network  40 A, of the specified amount from the user&#39;s account in response to the request message even without any special instruction from the user. 
     II.2. Example of Operation of the Electronic Settlement System 
     Now, the operation of the electronic settlement system  1 A will be described with reference to  FIGS. 27, 28, 29, 30, 34, and 36 .  FIGS. 27, 28, 29, and 30  are sequence diagrams showing an example of an operation performed by the electronic settlement system  1 A during user registration.  FIGS. 34 and 36  show an example of an operation performed when the user acquires a negotiable value through the present electronic settlement system  1 A after the user registration. 
     First, the operation performed by the electronic settlement system  1 A until the user is registered will be described with reference to  FIGS. 27, 28, 29, and 30 . 
     First, the unregistered user uses the mobile communication terminal  20 A to connect to the electronic settlement server  10 . The user then requests, from the electronic settlement server  10 A, software for the mobile communication terminal  20 A (an application such as an i appli) which is required to receive services from the electronic settlement system  1 A ( FIG. 27 ; S 1101 ). In response to the request, the electronic settlement server  10 A allows the data of the i appli and the computerized contract document  713  to be downloaded into the mobile communication terminal  20 A (S 1102 ). Upon receiving the i appli and the computerized contract document  713 , the mobile communication terminal  20 A allows the data of the i appli and the like to be stored in a storage device such as a memory, while allowing the computerized contract document  713  to be stored in a storage unit  703  (S 1103 ). The i appli is executed by the CPU in the mobile communication terminal  20 A or the like to function as the above-described payment request generating unit  202 , transfer request generating unit  208 , electronic contract applying unit  206 , or the like. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the electronic settlement server  10 A is also used as a server for downloading of the application such as the i appli and a server for downloading of the computerized contract document  713 . However, of course, the server for downloading of the application such as the i appli and/or the server for downloading of the computerized contract document  713  may be an apparatus or a system that is separate from the electronic settlement server  10 A. 
     The downloaded i appli is started by the user&#39;s predetermined operation via the mobile communication terminal  20 A (S 1104 ). Upon being started for the first time after downloading, the electronic contract applying unit  206 , that is, the i appli, allows the output unit  205  to display the computerized contract document  713  (S 1104 ). The electronic contract applying unit  206  thus urges the user to check the contents of the computerized contract document  713 . 
     Then, the mobile communication terminal  20 A, more specifically the electronic contract applying unit  206 , accepts an input indicating whether or not the user is to sign the electronic contract (S 105 ). For example, the liquid crystal display, that is, the output unit  205 , displays the message “Contents of contract are displayed. Will you sign contract? YES/NO” or the like to urge the user to input an answer. If the user opts to sign the contract according to the contents of the computerized contract document  713 , the electronic contact applying unit  206 , more specifically an encryption processing unit  702 , uses an encryption key  715  to generate an electronic signature (S 1106 ). In the present embodiment, the electronic signature corresponds to a hash value for the computerized contract document  713  in which the user&#39;s address, name, and the like are filled, the hash value being encrypted using the encryption key  715  according to an RSA encryption scheme. However, the present invention is not limited to this aspect. For example, information may be used which allows the user to be uniquely identified and which is obtained by encrypting data that cannot be easily known by the third party. However, in this case, the electronic certificate  711  is not utilized. 
     Then, the mobile communication terminal  20 A, more specifically the electronic contract applying unit  206 , transmits the computerized contract document  713  (in which the user&#39;s address and name are additionally filled), the electronic signature generated in S 1106 , and the user-side electronic certificate  711  to the electronic settlement server  10 A (S 1107 ). 
     Upon receiving the computerized contract document  713  and others transmitted in the above-described S 1107 , the electronic settlement server  10 A, more specifically the electronic contract processing unit  409 A, inquires of the authentication server  90 , that is, an institution issuing the user-side electronic certificate  711 , about the validity of the user-side electronic certificate  711  (S 108 ). The authentication server  90  references a CRL (Certified Revocation List) to determine the validity of the user-side electronic certificate  711 . The authentication server  90  then transmits the result of the determination to the electronic settlement server  10 A (S 1109 ). 
     The description will be continued with reference to  FIG. 28 . 
     If the result of the determination indicates that the user-side electronic certificate  711  is valid, the electronic settlement server  10 A, more specifically the electronic contract processing unit  409 A, executes a process of verifying the user-side electronic certificate  711  (S 1110 ). That is, the electronic settlement server  10 A uses the public key of a certification authority (CA) to decrypt the electronic signature on the user-side electronic certificate  711  to determine whether the electronic signature has been written by the certification authority (CA). The electronic settlement server  10 A further determines whether or not the user-side electronic certificate  711  has been altered. If the verifications in S 1109  to S 1111  are all successful, the user-side electronic certificate  711  is determined to be credible, that is, the encryption key (for example, the public key according to the public encryption key scheme) described in the user-side electronic certificate  711  is determined to belong to the user. 
     If the verification of the user-side electronic certificate  711  is successful, the electronic settlement server  10 A, more specifically the electronic contract processing unit  409 A, verifies the electronic signature attached to the computerized contract document  713  (S 1111 ). That is, the electronic settlement server  10 A uses the encryption key described in the user-side electronic certificate  711  to decrypt the electronic signature attached to the computerized contract document  713 . The electronic settlement server  10 A thus verifies the electronic signature and determines the validity of the computerized contract document  713  (that the computerized contract document  713  has not been altered). 
     If the verification of the electronic signature in S 1111  is successful, the electronic settlement server  10 A, more specifically the electronic contract processing unit  409 A, determines that the computerized contract document  711  has been validly signed by the user. The electronic settlement server  10 A, more specifically the electronic contract processing unit  409 A, further attaches the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature to the computerized contract document  713  (to which the user&#39;s electronic signature is already attached) received from the mobile communication terminal  20 A. The electronic settlement server  10 A also attaches the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  to the computerized contract document  713 . The electronic settlement server  10 A then transmits the computerized contract document  713 , the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature, and the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  to the mobile communication terminal  20 A (S 1112 ). 
     Upon receiving the computerized contract document  713  and others transmitted in step S 1112 , the mobile communication terminal  20 A, more specifically the electronic contract applying unit  206 , inquires of the authentication server  90 , that is, an institution issuing the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712 , about the validity of the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  (S 1113 ). The authentication server  90  references the CRL (Certified Revocation List) to determine the validity of the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712 . The authentication server  90  then transmits the result of the determination to the electronic settlement server  10 A (S 1114 ). 
     If the result of the determination indicates that the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  is valid, the mobile communication terminal  20 A, more specifically the electronic contract applying unit  206 , executes a process of verifying the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  (S 1115 ). That is, the mobile communication terminal  20 A, more specifically the electronic contract applying unit  206 , uses the public key of the certification authority (CA) to decrypt the electronic signature on the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  to determine whether the electronic signature has been written by the certification authority (CA). The mobile communication terminal  20 A further determines whether or not the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  has been altered. If the verifications in S 1113  to S 1115  are all successful, the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  is determined to be credible, that is, the encryption key (for example, the public key according to the public encryption key scheme) described in the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  is determined to belong to the settlement company. 
     If the verification of the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  is successful, the mobile communication terminal  20 A, more specifically the electronic contract applying unit  206 , verifies the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature attached to the computerized contract document  713  (S 1116 ). That is, the mobile communication terminal  20 A uses the encryption key described in the settlement company-side electronic certificate  712  to decrypt the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature attached to the computerized contract document  713 . The mobile communication terminal  20  thus verifies the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature and determines the validity of the computerized contract document  713  (that the computerized contract document  713  has not been altered). 
     If the verification of the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature in S 1116  is successful, the mobile communication terminal  20 A, more specifically the electronic contract applying unit  206 , determines that the computerized contract document  713  has been validly signed by the settlement company. 
     Then, the mobile communication terminal  20 A, more specifically the electronic contract applying unit  206 , transmits the computerized contract document  713  (or a hash value therefore) with the user&#39;s electronic signature and the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature, to the time stamp server  95 . The mobile communication terminal  20  thus requests the time stamp server  92  to issue a time stamp (S 1117 ). Upon receiving the time stamp request, the time stamp server  95  applies a date and time to the hash value for the computerized contract document  713  with the user&#39;s electronic signature and the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature to generate a digitally signed time stamp token. The time stamp server  95  then transmits the time stamp token to the mobile communication terminal  20 A (S 1118 ). 
     The mobile communication terminal  20 A, more specifically the electronic contract applying unit  206 , acquires the time stamp token (S 1119 ). Then, the mobile communication terminal  20 A adds the time stamp token to the computerized contract document  713  with the user&#39;s electronic signature and the settlement company&#39;s electronic signature to obtain a computerized contract document storage original  714 . The mobile communication terminal  20 A stores the computerized contract document storage original  714  in the storage unit  703 , and also transmits the computerized contract document storage original  714  to the electronic settlement server  10 A (S 1120 ). 
     Upon receiving the computerized contract document storage original  714 , the electronic settlement server  10 A, more specifically the electronic contract processing unit  409 A, stores the computerized contract document storage original  714  in a storage unit  803  (S 1121 ). 
     Thus, a contract for withdrawal substitution is signed between the user and the settlement company. Under the condition that the computerized contract document storage original  714  is stored in the electronic settlement server  10 A, the electronic settlement server  10  accepts the user registration. That is, if the computerized contract document storage original  714  is not stored in the electronic settlement server  10 A, the user is not registered and cannot start utilizing the electronic settlement system  1 A. In other words, storing the computerized contract document storage original  714  in the electronic settlement server  10 A is essential for the user registration. 
     Now, the operation of the electronic settlement system  1 A after step S 1121  will be described with reference to  FIG. 29 . In the sequence diagrams following  FIG. 29 , the illustration of the authentication server  90  and the time stamp server  95  is omitted. 
     Using the completion of step S 1121  as a trigger, the electronic settlement server  10 A transmits a user registration start message to the mobile communication terminal  20 A (S 1122 ). 
     Upon receiving the user registration start message, the mobile communication terminal  20 A starts the i appli (S 1123 ). When started for the first time after downloading, the i appli allows the output unit  205  to display an initial input screen via which the user inputs initial information, thus urging the user to input the initial information (S 1124 ). Here, the requested initial information includes the user ID  602 A, password  603 A, mail address  604 A, bank number  605 A, branch office number  606 A, account type  607 A, account number  608 A, account holder&#39;s name  609 A, and personal identification number  610 A (see  FIG. 21 ). The user ID  602 A and the password  603 A may be preset by the electronic settlement server  10 A without the need for the user&#39;s input. 
     The user completes inputting the initial information using the input unit  204  of the mobile communication terminal  20 A. Then, the mobile communication terminal  20 A connects to the electronic settlement server  10 A via the communication network  50  and transmits the input initial information and the like to the electronic settlement server  10 A (S 1125 ). 
     Upon receiving the initial information, the electronic settlement server  20  transmits, to the charge accommodating network  40 A, an account check request message inquiring of the charge accommodating network  40 A whether or not the initial information is correct and whether or not the input user account is available (S 1126 ). Upon receiving the account check request message, the charge accommodating network  40 A searches an account database or the like for the presence and validity of the user account indicated to be a check target in the account check request message. The charge accommodating network  40 A then transmits the result of the determination to the electronic settlement server  10 A as an account check result message (S 1127 ). If the account check result message indicates that the input account information is incorrect or the account is unavailable, the electronic settlement server  10 A having received the account check result message transmits a message urging the initial information to be input again, to the mobile communication terminal  20 A (not shown in  FIG. 29 ). On the other hand, if the account check result message indicates that the input account information is correct and that the input account is available, the electronic settlement server  10 A having received the account check result message registers the user based on the input initial information (S 1128 ). That is, the electronic settlement server  20  adds new records  601 A and  1001 A to the user table  600 A and the user retained amount data  700 A, respectively, both of which are located in the database unit  403 A. The electronic settlement server  20  thus writes the user ID  602 A, password  603 A, mail address  604 A, bank number  605 A, branch office number  606 A, account type  607 A, account number  608 A, account holder&#39;s name  609 A, personal identification number  610 A, user ID  1002 A, retained amount  1003 A, and the like into the records  601 A and  1001 A. 
     Once the above-described user registration (S 1128 ) is completed, the electronic settlement server  10 A transmits the computerized contract document original  714  to the charge accommodating network  40 A (S 1129 ). The charge accommodating network  40 A receives and stores the computerized contract document original  714  (S 1130 ). In the present example, the charge accommodating network  40 A receives the computerized contract document original  714 . However, any apparatus can receive the computerized contract document original  714  provided that the apparatus enables the financial institution having the user account to confirm the signing of the contract based on the computerized contract document original  714 . 
     Furthermore, in the above-described example, the transmission of the computerized contract document original  714  to the charge accommodating network  40 A follows the user registration (S 1128 ). However, the present invention can be implemented regardless of the timing when the computerized contract document original  714  is transmitted to the charge accommodating network  40 A, provided that the transmission follows the generation of the computerized contract document original  714  (the transmission follows S 1119 ). 
     After the user registration (S 1128 ) is completed, the user can utilize the electronic settlement system  1 A. An example of the operation of the electronic settlement system  1 A following the user registration will be described below with reference to  FIG. 30 . 
     Simply finishing the above-described user registration does not allow the user to utilize the electronic settlement system  1 A to make a purchase (receive a negotiable value) via the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A. The user needs to use the mobile communication terminal  20 A to request the electronic settlement system  1 A, more specifically the electronic settlement server  10 A, to transfer an appropriate amount of the deposit in the user account  41  to the settlement company account  42 . The amount consumed by the user as a result of the provision of the negotiable value by the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A is subtracted from the deposit. The amount resulting from the subtraction is equal to that paid to the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A, and is transferred later to the game hall company&#39;s account, corresponding to the recipient of the payment, as a result of processing by the charge accommodating network  40 A. Now, with reference to  FIG. 30 , description will be given of an example of an operation performed by the electronic settlement system  1 A when the user requests the electronic settlement server  10 A to carry out a transfer from the user account  41 , that is, the user&#39;s own account, to the settlement company account  42 .  FIG. 30  is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation performed by the electronic settlement system  1 A when the user requests a transfer from the user account  41  to the settlement company account  42 . 
     First, the user uses the mobile communication terminal  20 A to start the i appli, more specifically the transfer request generating unit  208  (S 1201 ). The started i appli, more specifically the transfer request generating unit  208 , allows the output unit  205  of the mobile communication terminal  20 A to display an input interface screen or the like. The i appli thus urges the user to input information required for a transfer request message, for example, the transfer amount and the personal account identification number. 
     Upon receiving the input (S 1202 ), the mobile communication terminal  20 A, more specifically the transfer request generating unit  208 , generates and transmits a transfer request message to the electronic settlement server  10 A via the communication network  50  and the like (S 1203 ). The transfer request message stores the user ID  206 , the password  207 , the personal account identification number  211 , the input transfer amount, and the like. 
     Upon receiving the transfer request message, the electronic settlement server  10 A, more specifically the transfer request processing unit  404 A, searches the user table  600 A using the user ID  206  contained in the transfer request message as a key. The electronic settlement server  10 A thus acquires the bank number  605 A, branch office number  606 A, account type  607 A, account number  608 A, and account holder&#39;s name  609 A, which are the information specifying the user account  41 , from the record  601 A matching the user ID  206 . Moreover, the electronic settlement server  10 A reads another stored information (not shown in the drawings) identifying the settlement company account, that is, the bank number, branch office number, account type, and account number of the settlement company account. Then, based on these pieces of information, the electronic settlement server  10 A generates and transmits a transfer request to the charge accommodating network  40 A (S 1204 ). A data configuration, a communication procedure, and the like for the transmission of the transfer request may comply with a scheme adopted for the charge accommodating network  40 A. 
     Upon receiving the transfer request, the charge accommodating network  40 A executes a transfer process according to the contents of the transfer request so as to transfer a specified amount (hereinafter referred to as a “user transfer amount”) from the user account  41  to the settlement company account  42  (S 1205 ). If the transfer process (S 1205 ) is executed normally, the charge accommodating network  40 A transmits a transfer result notification to the electronic settlement server  10 A to notify the electronic settlement server  10 A that the transfer process has been executed normally (S 1206 ). If the transfer process fails to be properly executed because of insufficient balance in the user account  41  or the like, the charge accommodating network  40 A transmits a transfer result notification indicating the failure in the transfer to the electronic settlement server  10 A. 
     Upon receiving the transfer result notification indicating the transfer process has been executed normally, the electronic settlement server  10 A executes a retained amount data process of reflecting the user transfer amount in the corresponding record  1001 A in the user retained amount data  700 A (S 1207 ). The retained amount data process allows the user to use the amount corresponding to the user transfer amount, via the electronic settlement system  1 A. 
       FIGS. 31 and 32  are diagrams illustrating an example of an operation performed between the electronic settlement server  10 A and the charge accommodating network  40 A to process the user transfer amount. 
       FIG. 31  shows an example of a state observed before the user transmits a transfer request message to the electronic settlement server  10 A ( FIG. 30 , S 1203 ). In the example, the charge accommodating network  40 A has the user account  41 , the settlement company account  42 , and the game hall company account  43 . 
     By way of example, it is assumed that the balance of the user account  41  is 100,000 yen and that the balance of both the settlement company account  42  and the game hall company account  43  is 0 yen. In actuality, a plurality of users and a plurality of game hall companies have accounts in the charge accommodating network  40 A. However,  FIGS. 31 and 32  show one user account  41  and one game hall company account  43  as typical examples. 
     As described above, the electronic settlement server  10 A stores the user retained amount data  700 A and the game hall company retained amount data  900 A. The user retained amount data  700 A has the record  1001 A for each user. The game hall company retained amount data  900 A has the record  901 A for each game hall company. In the figures, the record  1001 A is data corresponding to the user having the user account  41 . The record  901 A is data corresponding to the game hall company having the game hall company account  43 . The retained amounts stored in the records  1001 A and  901 A are both assumed to be currently 0 yen. 
     Here, it is assumed that the user desires to use 10,000 yen from the user account  41  via the electronic settlement system  1 A.  FIG. 32  shows a state observed after the user has transmitted a transfer request message for a transfer of a user transfer amount of 10,000 yen, from the mobile communication terminal  20 A to the electronic settlement server  10 A; the transmission follows the state shown in  FIG. 31 . In response to the transfer request message, the electronic settlement server  10 A transmits the following transfer request to the charge accommodating network  40 A. The transfer request is transmitted to the charge accommodating network  40 A, requesting that the user transfer amount of 10,000 yen and the charge to be paid to the settlement company (for example, 100 yen) be transferred from the user account  41  to the settlement company account  42 . 
     Upon receiving the transfer request, the charge accommodating network  40 A executes a process of transferring 10,000 yen from the user account  41  to the settlement company account  42 . As a result, as shown in  FIG. 32 , the balance of the user account  41  is 100,000 yen-10,100 yen=89,900 yen. The balance of the settlement company account  42  is 0 yen+10,100 yen=10,100 yen. The charge accommodating network  40 A changes the balances of the accounts  41  and  42  as described above according to the transfer request. 
       FIG. 33  shows a state observed after the electronic settlement server  10 A has executed a retained amount data process ( FIG. 30 , S 1207 ); the execution follows the state shown in  FIG. 32 . As shown in  FIG. 32  described above, after executing the transfer process, the charge accommodating network  40 A transmits a transfer result notification indicating that 10,100 yen has been transferred normally, to the electronic settlement server  10 A ( FIG. 30 , S 1206 ). In response to the transfer result notification, the electronic settlement server  10 A, more specifically the transfer request processing unit  404 A, adds the transferred amount to the value of the user retained amount  1003 A stored in the record  1001 A corresponding to the user account  41  subjected to the transfer. However, 100 yen, corresponding to the charge, is not added. As a result of the retained amount data process (S 1207 ) based on the addition, 0 yen+10,000 yen=10,000 yen is recorded in the record  1001 A. The 10,000 yen is the amount that the user can use via the electronic settlement system  1 A. 
     Now, with reference to  FIG. 34 , description will be given of an example of an operation performed by the electronic settlement system  1 A when the user attempts to obtain a negotiable value from the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A.  FIG. 34  is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation performed by the electronic settlement system  1 A when the user allows the mobile communication terminal  20 A and the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A to communicate via the short-distance communication means  201303 A in order to obtain a negotiable value from the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A. 
     It is assumed that the user first attempts to obtain a negotiable value from the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A utilizing the present electronic settlement system  1 A. 
     In this case, the user allows the mobile communication terminal  20 A and the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A to carry out short-distance communication so that the mobile communication terminal  20 A can acquire the equipment ID and the like of the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A. For example, it is assumed that the terminal-side short-distance communication unit  201  is an IC chip for non-contact IC cards and that the providing apparatus-side short-distance communication unit  303  is a reader/writer. Then, upon sensing that the chip for non-contact IC cards is nearby, the reader/writer, serving as the providing apparatus-side short-distance communication unit  303 , transmits the equipment ID, an application number specifying an application such as the i appli, and a user payment amount, which are all stored in the reader/writer, to the chip for non-contact IC cards, serving as the terminal-side short-distance communication unit  201  (S 1301 ). Here, the equipment ID is identification information allowing the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A to be uniquely identified. The application number is identification information uniquely identifying the application such as the i appli which operates in the mobile communication terminal  20 A. The user payment amount is information indicative of the value of consideration for the negotiable value provided to the user by the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A. When the purchase of a negotiable value is requested via the mobile communication terminal  20 A, the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A considers the request to be a purchase request for a negotiable value for a pre-specified payment amount. For example, if the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A is a ball renting machine, the user moves the mobile communication terminal  30  closer to the ball renting machine, corresponding to the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A, to allow the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A to read data from the chip for non-contact IC cards. Then, the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A considers the request to be a purchase request for rental balls for a payment amount (for example, 1,000 yen) specified for the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A. The user payment amount may vary with the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A. For example, the payment amount may be set to 1,000 yen for a ball renting machine A installed in the game hall and to 5,000 yen for another ball renting machine B installed in the same game hall. Alternatively, the user payment amount may be selectively determined by the user. For example, if the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A is a prepaid card issuing apparatus, the prepaid card issuing apparatus can issue prepaid cards for a plurality of different amounts (for example, 1,000 yen, 3,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 10,000 yen), and has a plurality of amount determination buttons used to specify the respective amounts. The user depresses the amount determination button for the desired amount to buy the prepaid card for the desired amount. In this case, the amount selected by the user via the amount determination button may be considered by the electronic settlement system  1 A to be the user payment amount. 
     The above-described user payment amount need not necessarily be transmitted from the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A to the mobile communication terminal  20 A in step S 1301 . The payment amount may be determined by the electronic settlement server  10 A based on the equipment ID using a prepared table. 
     Upon receiving the equipment ID, the application number, and the user payment amount, the terminal-side short-distance communication unit  201  starts the application such as the i appli which corresponds to the application number, that is, the payment request generating unit  202  (S 1302 ). At this time, the equipment ID and the user payment amount are passed from the terminal-side short-distance communication unit  201  to the payment request generating unit  202 . 
     The started payment request generating unit  202  generates a payment request message containing the equipment ID and user payment amount received from the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A and the user ID  206  and password  207  stored in the user information storage unit  207 . The payment request generating unit  202  then transmits the payment request message to the electronic settlement server  10 A (S 1303 ). 
     Upon receiving the payment request message, the electronic settlement server  10 A, more specifically the payment request processing unit  402 A first searches for the user retained amount data  700 A using the user ID  206  as a search key. The electronic settlement server  10 A thus acquires the retained amount  1003 A from the record  1001 A corresponding to the user ID  206 . The payment request processing unit  402 A compares the user payment amount with the retained amount  1003 A to determine whether or not the user payment amount can be withdrawn from the retained amount  1003 A (S 1304 ). 
     In step S 1304 , upon determining that the user payment amount cannot be withdrawn, the payment request processing unit  402 A starts the result notifying unit  407 A. The result notifying unit  407 A generates and transmits a processing result notification based on the determination to the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A and/or the mobile communication terminal  20 A. Upon receiving the processing result notification, the mobile communication terminal  20 A displays the contents of the processing result notification on the output unit  205  thereof. The contents of the processing result notification are, for example, “Settlement request has been processed. Thank you for allowing us to serve you” or “Short balance. Settlement has failed.” 
     On the other hand, upon determining in step S 1304  that the user payment amount can be withdrawn, the payment request processing unit  402 A starts the provision instructing unit  406 A. The started provision instructing unit  406 A transmits a provision instruction message to the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A (S 1305 ). The negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A provides the user with a negotiable value corresponding to the user payment amount (S 1306 ). The destination address of the provision instruction message is determined based on the equipment IP address  1303 A in the corresponding record  1301 A obtained by searching the negotiable-value providing apparatus table  1000 A using the equipment ID as a key. 
     Furthermore, upon determining in step S 1304  that the user payment amount can be withdrawn, the payment request processing unit  402 A rewrites the user retained amount data  700 A, more specifically the retained amount  1003 A in the record  1001 A with the corresponding user ID, and the game hall company retained amount data  900 A, more specifically the retained amount  903 A in the record  901 A with the corresponding game hall company ID, so as to allow the user payment amount to be transferred. 
     Furthermore, upon determining in step S 1304  that the user payment amount can be withdrawn, the electronic settlement server  10 A, more specifically the payment request processing unit  402 A, starts the result notifying unit  407 A. The started result notifying unit  407 A transmits an execution completion message notifying the mobile communication terminal  20 A that the specified payment amount has been paid (S 1308 ). The execution completion message indicates that a payment procedure corresponding to the user&#39;s specified payment amount has ended. The destination address of the execution completion message is determined based on the mail address  604 A in the corresponding record  601 A obtained by searching the user table  600 A using the user ID as a key. 
     Upon receiving the execution completion message, the mobile communication terminal  20 A allows the output unit  205  to provide a result display showing the contents of the execution completion message (S 1309 ). For example, as the result display, the output unit  205  of the mobile communication terminal  20 A shows the message “1,000 yen has been paid from XX&#39;s retained amount”. Alternatively, during the result display, the value of the retained amount  1003 A resulting from the withdrawal of the payment amount, that is, the balance in the electronic settlement server  10 A, may be displayed. However, the retained amount  1003  is not stored in the mobile communication terminal  20 A. The electronic settlement server  10 A stores the retained amount  1003 A. 
       FIG. 35  is a diagram showing the storage state of the electronic settlement server  10 A and the charge accommodating network  40 A resulting from the processing from step S 1301  to step S 1307  following the state shown in  FIG. 33 . In the state shown in  FIG. 33  and in which the user payment amount has not been transferred yet, the retained amount  1003 A in the corresponding record  1001 A in the user retained amount data  700 A is 10,000 yen. The retained amount  903 A in the corresponding record  901 A in the game hall company retained amount data  900 A is 0 yen. 
       FIG. 35  shows a state observed after the transfer process (S 1307 ) has been executed if the user payment amount is 1,000 yen. In the transfer process (S 1307 ), the payment request processing unit  402  of the electronic settlement server  10 A subtracts the user payment amount of 1,000 yen from 10,000 yen, that is, the value of the retained amount  1003 A, corresponding to the user&#39;s retained amount, to rewrite the value of the retained amount  1003  to 9,000 yen. Furthermore, the payment request processing unit  402  adds the user payment amount of 1,000 yen to 0 yen, that is, the value of the retained amount  903 A, corresponding to the game hall company&#39;s retained amount, to rewrite the value of the retained amount  903 A to 1,000 yen. 
     The rewriting of the retained amounts  1003 A and  903 A based on the transfer process (S 1307 ) allows the electronic settlement server  10 A to pay consideration for the provision of a negotiable value by the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A, that is, allows the user to pay to the game hall company. 
     The processing from step S 1301  to step S 1309  described above is executed every time each user buys a negotiable value utilizing the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A. Each user payment amount is added and recorded as the retained amount of the corresponding game hall company. That is, every time the user buys a negotiable value utilizing the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A, the value of the retained amount  903 A of the game hall company owning or operating the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A increases. 
     The game hall company&#39;s retained amount  903 A needs to be transferred to the game hall company account  43  on the charge accommodating network  40 A. The transfer to the game hall company account  43  in the electronic settlement system  1 A will be described below with reference to  FIG. 36 .  FIG. 36  is a sequence diagram showing an example of the process of a transfer to the game hall company account  43  in the electronic settlement system  1 A. 
     The electronic settlement server  10 A, more specifically the clearing processing unit  405 A, is automatically started at a predetermined timing to execute a transfer request generating process (S 1401 ). The resulting transfer request is a message requesting the charge accommodating network  40 A to transfer the amount corresponding to the retained amount  903 A from the settlement company account  42  to the game hall company account  43 . The details of the message are set so as to meet the specifications of the charge accommodating network  40 A. 
     In the transfer request generating process (S 1401 ), one transfer request is generated for each record  901 A in the game hall company retained amount table  900 A. The transfer request stores information identifying the game hall company account  43 , corresponding to a destination account, that is, the bank number  803 A, branch office number  804 A, account type  805 A, account number  806 A, and account holder&#39;s name  807 A. The transfer request also stores the bank number, branch office number, account type, account number, and account holder&#39;s name of the settlement company account  42 , as information identifying the settlement company account  42 , corresponding to a source account. The transfer request further stores the value of an amount based on the retained amount  903 A as a transfer amount. The amount based on the retained amount  903 A need not necessarily be the same as the retained amount but is, for example, the retained amount minus the charge for the settlement company. 
     The clearing processing unit  405 A may be automatically started at any predetermined timing provided that the CPU can determine the timing. For example, the timing may be based on a temporal condition (the thirtieth day of every month, the fourth Monday of every month, the fifth, tenth, fifteenth, twentieth, twenty-fifth, and thirtieth of every month, or the like) or on the amount condition; the clearing processing unit  405 A may be started when the retained amount reaches a predetermined value. The clearing processing unit  405 A need not necessarily be automatically started. The present invention can be implemented even when the clearing processing unit  405 A is manually operated by the administrator or operator of the electronic settlement server  10 A. 
     The clearing processing unit  405 A generates transfer requests for the respective records  901 A and transmits the generated transfer request to the charge accommodating network  40 A (S 1402 ). Upon receiving the transfer requests, the charge accommodating network  40 A executes the process of a transfer from the settlement company account  42  to the game hall company account  43  according to the contents of each of the transfer requests (S 1403 ). The processing from step S 1401  to step S 1403  allows the total amount paid by each user as consideration for the use of the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A to be transferred to the corresponding game hall company account  43 . 
     Upon receiving a transfer result notification indicating the transfer process has been executed normally, the electronic settlement server  10 A executes a retained amount data process of reflecting the transfer amount in the corresponding record  901 A in the game hall company retained amount data  900 A (S 1405 ). The retained amount data process sets the value of the game hall company&#39;s retained amount  903 A back to “zero”. 
       FIG. 37  is a diagram showing the storage state of the electronic settlement server  10 A and the charge accommodating network  40 A resulting from the processing from step S 1401  to step S 1405  following the state shown in  FIG. 35 . In the state shown in  FIG. 35 , the retained amount  903 A in the record  901 A is 1,000 yen. The clearing processing unit  405 A generates a transfer request requesting that the value of the retained amount  903   A minus  the charge for the settlement company (for example, 10 yen), that is, 990 yen, be transferred from the settlement company account  42  to the game hall company account  43 . The clearing processing unit  405 A transmits the transfer request to the charge accommodating network  40 A (S 1402 ). 
     Upon receiving the transfer request, the charge accommodating network  40 A executes a transfer process of transferring 990 yen from the settlement company account  42  to the game hall company account  43  (S 1403 ). As a result, 10,100 yen minus 990 yen, that is, 9,110 yen, is stored in the settlement company account  42  as the balance. On the other hand, 0 yen plus 990 yen, that is, 990 yen, is stored in the game hall company account  43  as the balance. In the balance of the settlement company account  42 , that is, 9,110 yen, 9,000 yen is deposited by the user, and the remaining 110 yen is the settlement company&#39;s profit. Thus, the electronic settlement company can gain a profit from the operation of the present electronic settlement system  1 A. 
     III. Third Embodiment 
     Now, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
     III.1. Example of Configuration of the Electronic Settlement System 
     The electronic settlement system  1 A according to the second embodiment differs from an electronic settlement system  1 A according to the second embodiment in that the former deals with payment to a plurality of different game hall companies, whereas the latter copes with payment to a single game hall company. Thus, according to the second embodiment, one electronic settlement system  1 A is provided for each game hall company. However, a plurality of game halls operated by the same game hall company can be dealt with by the same electronic settlement system  1 A. 
     Furthermore, an electronic settlement server  10 A according to the third embodiment differs from the electronic settlement server according to the first embodiment in that the former eliminates the need for the clearing processing unit  405 A. 
     Example of Configuration of the Electronic Settlement System According to the Third Embodiment 
     The configuration of the electronic settlement system according to the third embodiment is basically similar to that according to the second embodiment, and will thus not be described below in detail. Since the electronic settlement server  10 A according to the third embodiment deals with a single game hall company, a database unit  403 A of the electronic settlement server  10 A need not have a game hall company table  800 A or a game hall company retained amount table  900 A. 
     III.2. Example of Operation of the Electronic Settlement System According to the Third Embodiment 
     Now, an example of the operation of the electronic settlement system according to the second embodiment will be described. 
     Also in the electronic settlement system  1 A according to the second embodiment, the user first needs to download an application such as the i appli and be registered in the electronic settlement system  1 A, more specifically the electronic settlement server  10 A. This processing is similar to that in the example of the operation according to the second embodiment shown in  FIG. 27  to  FIG. 29 . Thus, the processing according to the third embodiment will not be described below in detail. 
     As in the case of the second embodiment, in the third embodiment, simply finishing the above-described user registration does not allow the user to make a purchase (receive a negotiable value) utilizing the electronic settlement system  1 A from a negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A. The user needs to use a mobile communication terminal  20 A to request the electronic settlement system  1 A, more specifically the electronic settlement server  10 A, to transfer an appropriate amount of the deposit in a user account  41  to a settlement company account  42 . The amount consumed by the user for the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A is subtracted from the deposit. The amount resulting from the subtraction is equal to that paid to the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A, and is transferred to the game hall company account  43 , corresponding to the recipient of the payment, as a result of processing by a charge accommodating network  40 A. Now, with reference to  FIG. 38 , description will be given of an example of an operation performed by the electronic settlement system  1 A according to the second embodiment when the user requests the electronic settlement server  10 A to carry out a transfer from the user account  41 , that is, the user&#39;s own account, to the settlement company account  42 .  FIG. 38  is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation performed by the electronic settlement system  1 A when the user requests a transfer from the user account  41  to the settlement company account  42 . 
     First, the user uses the mobile communication terminal  20 A to start an i appli, more specifically a transfer request generating unit  208  (S 1501 ). The started i appli, more specifically the transfer request generating unit  208 , allows an output unit  205  of the mobile communication terminal  20 A to display an input interface screen or the like. The i appli thus urges the user to input information required for a transfer request message, for example, a transfer amount and a personal account identification number. 
     Upon receiving the input (S 1502 ), the mobile communication terminal  20 A, more specifically the transfer request generating unit  208 , generates and transmits a transfer request message to the electronic settlement server  10 A via a communication network  50  and the like (S 1503 ). The transfer request message stores a user ID  206 , a password  207 , the input transfer amount and personal account identification number, and the like. 
     Upon receiving the transfer request message, the electronic settlement server  10 A, more specifically a transfer request processing unit  404 A, searches a user table  600 A using the user ID  206  contained in the transfer request message as a key. The electronic settlement server  10 A thus acquires a bank number  605 A, a branch office number  606 A, an account type  607 A, an account number  608 A, and an account holder&#39;s name  609 A, which are the information specifying the user account  41 , from a record  601 A matching the user ID  206 . Moreover, the electronic settlement server  10 A reads another stored information (not shown in the drawings) identifying the settlement company account, that is, the bank number, branch office number, account type, and account number of the settlement company account  42 . Then, based on these pieces of information, the electronic settlement server  10 A generates and transmits a transfer request to the charge accommodating network  40 A (S 1504 ). A data configuration, a communication procedure, and the like for the transmission of the transfer request may comply with a scheme adopted for the charge accommodating network  40 A. 
     Upon receiving the transfer request, the charge accommodating network  40 A executes a transfer process according to the contents of the transfer request so as to transfer a specified amount (hereinafter referred to as a “user transfer amount”) from the user account  41  to the settlement company account  42  (S 1505 ). If the transfer process (S 1505 ) is executed normally, the charge accommodating network  40 A transmits a transfer result notification to the electronic settlement server  10 A to notify the electronic settlement server  10 A that the transfer process has been executed normally (S 1506 ). If the transfer process fails to be properly executed because of insufficient balance in the user account  41  or the like, the charge accommodating network  40 A transmits a transfer result notification indicating the failure in the transfer to the electronic settlement server  10 A. 
     The processing from S 1501  to S 1506  is similar to that from S 1201  to S 1206  according to the first embodiment. 
     After S 1506 , the electronic settlement server  10 A, more specifically the transfer request processing unit  404 A, generates and transmits a transfer request requesting a transfer of an amount corresponding to the user transfer amount from the settlement company account  42  to a game hall company account  43 , to the charge accommodating network  40 A (S 1507 ). 
     The electronic settlement server  10 A, more specifically the transfer request processing unit  404 A, reads pre-stored information identifying the settlement company account  42 , that is, the bank number, branch office number, account type, and account number of the settlement company account  42 , and information identifying the game hall company account  43 , that is, the bank number, branch office number, account type, account number, and account holder&#39;s name of the game hall company account  43 . The electronic settlement server  10 A generates a transfer request from the above-described pieces of information and an amount based on a user payment amount. The electronic settlement server  10 A then transmits the transfer request to the charge accommodating network  40 A (S 1507 ). In the present embodiment, the “amount based on the user payment amount” refers to the amount (hereinafter referred to as the “game hall company transfer amount”) obtained by subtracting a charge to be paid to the settlement company from the user payment amount. A data configuration, a communication procedure, and the like for the transmission of the transfer request may comply with the scheme adopted for the charge accommodating network  40 A. 
     Upon receiving the transfer request, the charge accommodating network  40 A executes a transfer process according to the contents of the transfer request so as to transfer the game hall company transfer amount from the settlement company account  42  to the game hall company account  43  (S 1508 ). If the transfer process (S 1508 ) is executed normally, the charge accommodating network  40 A transmits a transfer result notification to the electronic settlement server  10 A to notify the electronic settlement server  10 A that the transfer process has been executed normally (S 1509 ). 
     Upon receiving the transfer result notification indicating the transfer process has been executed normally, the electronic settlement server  10 A executes a retained amount data process of reflecting the user transfer amount in a corresponding record  1001 A in a user retained amount data  700 A (S 1510 ). The retained amount data process allows the user to use the amount corresponding to the user transfer amount, via the electronic settlement system  1 A. 
       FIG. 39  to  FIG. 42  are diagrams illustrating the storage state of the electronic settlement server  10 A and charge accommodating network  40 A according to the second embodiment observed when processing of the user transfer amount is executed between the electronic settlement server  10 A and the charge accommodating network  40 A. 
       FIG. 39  shows an example of a state observed before the user transmits a transfer request message to the electronic settlement server  10 A ( FIG. 38 , S 1503 ). In the example, the charge accommodating network  40 A has the user account  41 , the settlement company account  42 , and the game hall company account  43 . 
     It is assumed that the balance of the user account  41  is 100,000 yen and that balance of both the settlement company account  42  and the game hall company account  43  is 0 yen. In actuality, a plurality of users and a plurality of game hall companies have accounts in the charge accommodating network  40 A. However,  FIG. 39  to  FIG. 42  show one user account  41  and one game hall company account  43  as typical examples. 
     As described above, the electronic settlement server  10 A stores the user retained amount data  700 A. However, unlike in the case of the second embodiment, in the third embodiment, the electronic settlement server  10 A need not store game hall company retained amount data  900 A. 
       FIG. 40  shows a state observed after the user has transmitted a transfer request message from the mobile communication terminal  20 A to the electronic settlement server  10 A, requesting a transfer of a user transfer amount of 10,000 yen; the transmission follows the state shown in  FIG. 39 . In response to the transfer request message, the electronic settlement server  10 A transmits the following transfer request to the charge accommodating network  40 A (see S 1504 ). The transfer request is transmitted to the charge accommodating network  40 A, requesting that the user transfer amount of 10,000 yen and a charge to be paid to the settlement company (for example, 100 yen) be transferred from the user account  41  to the settlement company account  42 . 
     Upon receiving the transfer request, the charge accommodating network  40 A executes a process of transferring 10,100 yen from the user account  41  to the settlement company account  42  (see S 1505 ). As a result, as shown in  FIG. 40 , the balance of the user account  41  is 100,000 yen-10,100 yen=89,900 yen. The balance of the settlement company account  42  is 0 yen+10,100 yen=10,100 yen. The charge accommodating network  40 A changes the balances of the accounts  41  and  42  as described above according to the transfer request. 
       FIG. 41  shows a state observed after the electronic settlement server  10 A has transmitted a transfer request for a transfer of the transfer amount to the game hall company account  43 , to the charge accommodating network  40 A (S 1507 ) and the charge accommodating network  40 A has executed a transfer process (S 1508 ) corresponding to the transfer request; the transmission and execution follow the state shown in  FIG. 40 . 
     The electronic settlement server  10 A transmits the following transfer request requesting a transfer of the transfer amount to the game hall company account  43  to the charge accommodating network  40 A (see S 1507 ). The transfer request is transmitted to the charge accommodating network  40 A, requesting that a game hall company transfer amount (10,000 yen-100 yen=9,900 yen) corresponding to the user transfer amount of 10,000 yen minus the charge to be paid to the settlement company (for example, 100 yen) be transferred from the settlement company account  42  to the game hall company account  43 . 
     Upon receiving the transfer request, the charge accommodating network  40 A executes a process of transferring 9,900 yen from the settlement company account  41  to the game hall company account  43  (see S 1508 ). As a result, as shown in  FIG. 41 , the balance of the settlement company account  42  is 10,100 yen-9,900 yen=200 yen. The balance of the game hall company account  43  is 0 yen+9,900 yen=9,900 yen. The balance of the user account  41  remains to be 89,900 yen. The charge accommodating network  40 A changes the balances of the accounts  41  and  42  according to the transfer request as described above. 
       FIG. 42  is a diagram showing the storage state of the electronic settlement server  10 A and the charge accommodating network  40 A resulting from execution of a retained amount data process (S 1510 ) by the electronic settlement server  10 A following the state shown in  FIG. 41 . As shown in  FIG. 38 , after executing the transfer process (S 1508 ), the charge accommodating network  40 A transmits a transfer result notification indicating that the game hall company transfer amount has been transferred normally, to the electronic settlement server  10 A (S 1509 ). 
     In response to the transfer result notification, the electronic settlement server  10 A, more specifically the transfer request processing unit  404 A, executes a retained amount data process (S 1510 ) of adding the user transfer amount to the user retained amount stored in the record  1001 A corresponding to the user account  41  subjected to the transfer. However, 100 yen, corresponding to the charge, is not added. As a result of the retained amount data process (S 1510 ) based on the addition, 0 yen+10,000 yen=10,000 yen is recorded in the record  1001 A. The 10,000 yen is the amount that the user can use via the electronic settlement system  1 A. 
     Now, with reference to  FIG. 43 , description will be given of an example of an operation performed by the electronic settlement system  1 A when the user attempts to obtain a negotiable value from the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30  in the electronic settlement system  1 A according to the third embodiment.  FIG. 43  is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation performed by the electronic settlement system  1 A when the user allows the mobile communication terminal  20 A and the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A to communicate via short-distance communication means in order to obtain a negotiable value from the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A. 
     It is assumed that the user first attempts to obtain a negotiable value from the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A utilizing the present electronic settlement system  1 A. 
     In this case, the user allows the mobile communication terminal  20 A and the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A to carry out short-distance communication so that the mobile communication terminal  20 A can acquire the equipment ID and the like of the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A. For example, it is assumed that a terminal-side short-distance communication unit  201  is an IC chip for non-contact IC cards and that a providing apparatus-side short-distance communication unit  303  is a reader/writer. Then, upon sensing that the chip for non-contact IC cards is nearby, the reader/writer, serving as the providing apparatus-side short-distance communication unit  303 , transmits the equipment ID, an application number, and a user payment amount, which are all stored in the reader/writer, to the chip for non-contact IC cards, serving as the terminal-side short-distance communication unit  201  (S 1601 ). Here, the equipment ID is identification information allowing the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A to be uniquely identified. The application number is identification information uniquely identifying the application such as the i appli which operates in the mobile communication terminal  20 A. The user payment amount is information indicative of the value of consideration for the negotiable value provided to the user by the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A. When the purchase of a negotiable value is requested via the mobile communication terminal  20 A, the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A considers the request to be a purchase request for a negotiable value for a pre-specified payment amount. For example, if the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A is a ball renting machine, the user moves the mobile communication terminal  30  closer to the ball renting machine to allow the ball renting machine to read data from the chip for non-contact IC cards. Then, the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A considers the request to be a purchase request for rental balls for a payment amount (for example, 1,000 yen) specified for the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A. The user payment amount may vary with the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A. For example, the payment amount may be set to 1,000 yen for a ball renting machine A installed in the game hall and to 2,000 yen for another ball renting machine B installed in the same game hall. Alternatively, the user payment amount may be selectively determined by the user. For example, if the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A is a prepaid card issuing apparatus, the prepaid card issuing apparatus can issue prepaid cards for a plurality of different amounts (for example, 1,000 yen, 3,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 10,000 yen), and has a plurality of amount determination buttons used to specify the respective amounts. The user depresses the amount determination button for the desired amount to buy the prepaid card for the desired amount. In this case, the amount selected by the user via the amount determination button may be considered by the electronic settlement system  1 A to be the user payment amount. 
     The above-described user payment amount need not necessarily be transmitted from the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A to the mobile communication terminal  20 A in step S 1601 . The payment amount may be determined by the electronic settlement server  10 A based on the equipment ID using a prepared table. 
     Upon receiving the equipment ID, the application number, and the payment amount, the terminal-side short-distance communication unit  201  starts the application such as the i appli which corresponds to the application number, that is, a payment request generating unit  202  (S 1602 ). At this time, the equipment ID and the user payment amount are passed from the terminal-side short-distance communication unit  201  to the payment request generating unit  202 . 
     The started payment request generating unit  202  generates a payment request message containing the equipment ID and user payment amount received from the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A and a user ID  206  and a password  207  stored in a user information storage unit  207 . The payment request generating unit  202  then transmits the payment request message to the electronic settlement server  10 A (S 1603 ). 
     In step S 1604 , upon determining that the user payment amount cannot be withdrawn, a payment request processing unit  402 A starts a result notifying unit  407 A. The result notifying unit  407 A generates and transmits a processing result notification based on the determination to the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A and/or the mobile communication terminal  20 A. Upon receiving the processing result notification, the mobile communication terminal  20 A displays the contents of the processing result notification on the output unit  205  thereof. The contents of the processing result notification are, for example, “Short balance. Settlement has failed.” 
     On the other hand, upon determining in step S 1604  that the user payment amount can be withdrawn, the payment request processing unit  402 A starts a provision instructing unit  406 A. The started provision instructing unit  406 A transmits a provision instruction message to the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A (S 1605 ). The provision instruction message contains the payment amount. The negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A provides the user with a negotiable value corresponding to the payment amount (S 1606 ). The destination address of the provision instruction message is determined based on an equipment IP address  1003  in a corresponding record  1001  obtained by searching a negotiable-value providing apparatus table  1000 A using the equipment ID as a key. 
     Furthermore, upon determining in step S 1604  that the user payment amount can be withdrawn, the payment request processing unit  402 A rewrites the user retained amount data  700 A, more specifically the retained amount  1003  in the record  1001  with the corresponding user ID so as to reduce the retained amount  1003  by the payment amount (S 1607 ). 
     Furthermore, upon determining in step S 1604  that the user payment amount can be withdrawn, the electronic settlement server  10 A, more specifically the payment request processing unit  402 A, starts a result notifying unit  407 A. The started result notifying unit  407 A transmits an execution completion message notifying the mobile communication terminal  20 A that the specified payment amount has been paid (S 1608 ). The execution completion message indicates that a payment procedure corresponding to the user&#39;s specified payment amount has ended. The destination address of the execution completion message is determined based on a mail address  604 A in a corresponding record  601 A obtained by searching a user table  600 A using the user ID as a key. 
     Upon receiving the execution completion message, the mobile communication terminal  20 A allows the output unit  205  to provide a result display corresponding to the contents of the execution completion message (S 1609 ). For example, as the result display, the output unit  205  of the mobile communication terminal  20 A shows the message “1,000 yen has been paid from XX&#39;s retained amount”. Alternatively, during the result display, the value of the retained amount  1003 A resulting from the withdrawal of the payment amount, that is, the balance in the electronic settlement server  10 A, may be displayed. However, the retained amount  1003 A is not stored in the mobile communication terminal  20 A. The electronic settlement server  10 A stores the retained amount  1003 A. 
       FIG. 44  is a diagram showing the storage state of the electronic settlement server  10 A and the charge accommodating network  40 A resulting from execution of the processing from step S 1601  to step S 1607  following the state shown in  FIG. 42 . In the state shown in  FIG. 42  and in which the transfer of the payment amount has not been carried out yet, the retained amount  1003 A in the corresponding record  1001 A in the user retained amount data  700 A is 10,000 yen. 
       FIG. 44  shows a state observed after the transfer process (S 1607 ) has been executed if the payment amount is 1,000 yen. In the transfer process (S 1607 ), the payment request processing unit  402  of the electronic settlement server  10 A subtracts the payment amount of 1,000 yen from 10,000 yen, that is, the value of the retained amount  1003 A, corresponding to the user&#39;s retained amount, to rewrite the value of the retained amount  1003 A to 9,000 yen. 
     The rewriting of the retained amount  1003 A based on the transfer process (S 1607 ) allows the electronic settlement server  10 A to pay consideration for the provision of a negotiable value by the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A, that is, allows the user to pay to the game hall company. 
     The processing from step S 1601  to step S 1609  described above is executed every time each user buys a negotiable value utilizing the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A. However, unlike in the case of the second embodiment, each user&#39;s payment amount is not added or recorded as the retained amount of the corresponding game hall company. Furthermore, unlike the second embodiment, the third embodiment eliminates the need to transfer the retained amount  903 A of the game hall company to the game hall company account  43  on the charge accommodating network  40 A according to a transfer request from the electronic settlement server  10 A. That is, the third embodiment eliminates the need for a transfer to the game hall company account  43  in the electronic settlement system  1 A as shown in  FIG. 36  (see S 1401  to S 1405 ). 
     IV. Variations and Others 
     Variations of the second and third embodiments will be described below. 
     (1) QR codes or the like may be displayed on a liquid crystal display provided in the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A. Furthermore, a bar code reader utilizing a CCD camera may be provided in the mobile communication terminal  20 A to read bar codes. These arrangements replace the providing apparatus-side short-distance communication unit  303  and the terminal-side short-distance communication unit  201 . In this case, information indicated by the bar code may directly be the equipment ID. 
     (2) In the above-described first and second embodiments, for a transfer from the user account  41  to the settlement company account, a transfer request is transmitted from the mobile communication terminal  20 A to the charge accommodating network  40 A via the electronic settlement server  10 A. However, the present invention can be implemented even when the transfer request is transmitted from the mobile communication terminal  20 A directly to the charge accommodating network  40 A. 
     V. Advantages of the Present Electronic Settlement System 
     (1) Advantages for the User 
     The present settlement method is different from cash payment and can be used in game halls. Thus, even when running short of cash in hand in a game hall, the user can buy rental balls, rental medals, any product, or the like by an easy settlement action (a process of performing such an easy input operation as holds the mobile communication terminal  20 A over the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A). 
     While playing games, the user may hit a bull&#39;s eye with no or little cash in hand but be likely to run short of balls or medals in hand. In this case, the user can additionally buy rental balls or the like by an easy operation. The user can thus feel secure to continue games without worrying about the cash balance. 
     Furthermore, the user can feel secure to carry out the settlement action because the user&#39;s mobile communication terminal is used for the settlement action. The user can further feel secure to settle the account because of the non-need to input the card number or the personal identification number, preventing the record of the card number or the personal identification number from remaining in the shop or being unfairly acquired by a malicious person as is the case with ordinary credit and debit cards. 
     Furthermore, information distribution is available which is based on usage information acquired by the electronic settlement server  10 A. Thus, more various services are expected to be available. 
     (2) Advantages for the Shop (Administrator) 
     Even when running short of cash in hand as a result of playing games, the user can further buy rental balls or rental medals via the present electronic settlement system. This increases the operation rate of the game machines and the possibility that such users make a purchase in the shop. Thus, the sales of the game hall are expected to increase. Furthermore, information is available which indicates the game machines on which the user has played and the amount of money for which the user has played. Consequently, based on the information, the operation status of the game machines can be determined in detail, and the user&#39;s preferences can also be known. Therefore, the information can be utilized for marketing. 
     The use of the present electronic settlement system avoids increasing cash used in the shop. This facilitates credit management and improves security management. 
     (3) Advantages for the Settlement Company 
     The operation of the present electronic settlement system enables the settlement company to determine the playing statuses of players who are users. The settlement company can thus accumulate data to be referenced for the development, sale, marketing, or the like of game machines. 
     (4) The present invention can be implemented regardless of whether the authentication server  90 , serving as the certification agency (CA), is another company&#39;s server commonly used or a server constructed by the settlement company. 
     VI. Fourth Embodiment 
     Now, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The fourth embodiment has a configuration and functions basically similar to those of the second or third embodiment. The fourth embodiment is further characterized by having the function of adding casino chips in hand or the amount, level, or cash stored in a prepaid card, an IC card, or the like to a user retained amount  1003 A stored in an electronic settlement server  10 A. This addition is carried out using a terminal apparatus that can communicate with the electronic settlement server. The terminal apparatus is the user&#39;s mobile communication terminal or a computer installed at an appropriate location such as a casino reception desk. 
     In the fourth embodiment, the above-described function allows the present electronic settlement system to hold remaining casino chips or the remaining amount, level, or the like in the prepaid card instead of the user if the user ends or suspends the game. The user&#39;s convenience is thus improved. 
       FIG. 45  shows an example of the configuration of the electronic settlement system according to the fourth embodiment. An electronic settlement system  1 B according to the fourth embodiment is different from the electronic settlement system  1 A (see  FIG. 17 ) according to the second and third embodiments in that the electronic settlement system  1 B further has a computer  98  configured to request an electronic settlement server  10 B to carry out addition (credit). Furthermore, the configurations of the electronic settlement server  10 B and a mobile communication terminal  10 B are different from those of the electronic settlement servers  10 A and mobile communication terminals  10 A according to the second and third embodiments. The mobile communication terminal  10 B has functions similar to those of the mobile communication terminal  10 A and the function of serving as a terminal apparatus configured to request the electronic settlement server  10 B to carry out an addition (credit). 
     The computer  98  is an apparatus having the function of communicating with the electronic settlement server  10 B. The computer  98  includes a central processing unit (CPU), a main memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an I/O device (I/O), and an external storage device such as a hard disk device as required. 
     Upon receiving a request for an addition (credit) from a user (player), the operator of the computer  98  checks the amount, level, or the like to be added (credited). For example, for a request for an addition (credit) of casino chips, the operator performs, for example, an operation of counting casino chips. Furthermore, for a request for an addition (credit) with a prepaid card, the operator reads the remaining amount using a separately prepared prepaid card reading apparatus. Additionally, if the remaining amount in the prepaid card is managed by a managing apparatus such as a hall computer, the operator reads the ID number of the card instead of the remaining amount. 
     Then, the operator inputs information (for example, a user ID) identifying the user and information indicating the amount, level, or the like to be added, to the computer  98 . The computer  98  executes an addition (credit) process to generate a message requesting an addition of a value corresponding to information indicative of the amount, level, or the like to be added to the value of the user retained amount  1003 A in a user record  1001 A corresponding to the information identifying the user. The computer  98  then transmits the message to the electronic settlement server  10 B via a communication network  50 . 
     Upon receiving the message, the electronic settlement server  10 B executes a process of adding the value corresponding to the information indicative of the amount, level, or the like to be added to the value of the user retained amount  1003 A in the user record  1001 A corresponding to the information identifying the user. 
     Now, the mobile communication terminal  20 B according to the fourth embodiment will be described. As described above, the mobile communication terminal  20 B functions as the mobile communication terminals  20 A according to the second and third embodiments. The mobile communication terminal  20 B further has the function of generating a message requesting an addition of the value corresponding to information indicative of the amount, level, or the like to be added to the value of the user retained amount  1003 A in the user record  1001 A and transmitting the message to the electronic settlement server  10 B via the communication network  50 , similarly to the above-described computer  98 . The information indicative of the amount, level, or the like to be added need not directly indicate the amount, level, or the like but may be information that can be used as a search key to acquire information directly indicating the amount, level, or the like. For example, the IC number of the prepaid card may be the “information indicating the amount, level, or the like” as used herein. In this case, upon receiving the ID number of the prepaid card or the like, the electronic settlement server  10 B may inquire of the managing apparatus (for example, a casino hall computer) managing the remaining amount in the prepaid card, about the remaining amount corresponding to the ID number of the prepaid card. The electronic settlement server  10 B may then execute an addition (credit) process using the remaining amount transmitted in response to the inquiry as the amount or level. 
       FIG. 46  shows an example of the configuration of the mobile communication terminal  20 B according to the fourth embodiment. The configuration of the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A is the same as those according to the second and third embodiments. Furthermore, the same components as those of the mobile communication terminal  20 A (see  FIG. 19 ) are denoted by the same reference numerals and will thus not be described below in detail. 
     The mobile communication terminal  20 B has a terminal-side short-distance communication unit  201 , a payment request generating unit  202 , a radio communication unit  203 , an input unit  204 , an output unit  205 , a user information storage unit  207 , a transfer request generating unit  208 , an electronic contract applying unit  206 , and a credit request generating unit  209 . 
     Based on information input via an output unit  204  and identifying the user and information also input via the input unit  204  and indicating an amount, a level, or the like to be added, the credit request generating unit  209  generates a message requesting an addition of a value corresponding to the information indicative of the amount, level, or the like to be added to the value of the user retained amount  1003 A in the user record  1001 A corresponding to the information identifying the user. The generated request message is passed to the radio communication unit  203 , which then transmits a radio signal modulated based on the request message. 
     Now, the electronic settlement server  10 B according to the fourth embodiment will be described.  FIG. 47  is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the electronic settlement server  10 B in the fourth embodiment. The electronic settlement server  10 B includes the components of the electronic settlement servers  10 A according to the second and third embodiments and further includes a credit request processing unit  410 B. The same components as those of the electronic settlement server  10 A according to the second and third embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and will thus not be described below in detail. 
     The addition request processing unit  410 B acquires a message requesting an addition from the computer  98  or the mobile communication terminal  20 B via a network communication processing unit  401 A. Upon receiving the message, the addition request processing unit  410 B searches user retained amount data  700 A and adds a value corresponding to information indicative of an amount, a level, or the like to be added, to the value of the user retained amount  1003 A in the user record  1001 A corresponding to information contained in the message and identifying the user. The addition request processing unit  410 B then allows the result of the addition to be stored. 
     Now, a specific example of an addition process in the electronic settlement system  10 B according to the fourth embodiment based on the second embodiment will be described.  FIGS. 48 and 49  are diagrams showing an example of an addition process in the electronic settlement system  1 B according to the fourth embodiment based on the second embodiment. 
       FIG. 48  shows that “10,000 yen” is stored in the electronic settlement server  10 B as the user retained amount  1003 A. The other conditions are similar to those described with reference to  FIG. 33 . 
     It is assumed that in this state, the user is provided with 2,000 yen of prepaid card by the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A.  FIG. 49  shows an example of the stored contents of the electronic settlement server  20 B and a charge accommodating network  40 A obtained after the user has acquired 2,000 yen of prepaid card. The user retained amount  1003 A has been rewritten from “10,000 yen” to “8,000 yen”, obtained by subtracting 2,000 yen from the 10,000 yen. Furthermore, a game hall company retained amount  903 A has been rewritten from “0 yen” to “2,000 yen”. 
     It is assumed that the user having acquired the 2,000 yen of prepaid card then spends 1,000 yen, ends playing games, and then in order to return the remaining amount of 1,000 yen to the electronic settlement system  1 B, requests the electronic settlement server  10 B to add 1,000 yen, via the computer  98  or the mobile communication terminal  20 B. 
     Upon receiving the message transmitted by the computer  98  or the mobile communication terminal  20 B and requesting an addition of 1,000 yen, the electronic settlement server  10 B, more specifically the addition request processing unit  410 B, rewrites the user retained amount  1003 A and the game hall company retained amount  903 A according to the contents of the request message.  FIG. 50  shows an example in which the user retained amount  1003 A and the game hall company retained amount  903 A have been rewritten according to the contents of the request message. The user retained amount  1003 A has been rewritten to “9,000 yen”, obtained by adding 1,000 yen to “8,000 yen”. Furthermore, the game hall company retained amount  903 A has been rewritten from 2,000 yen to 1,000 yen. 
     The above-described processing enables the user to reuse the negotiable value the user has not spent, later via the electronic settlement system  1 B. 
     Now, a specific example of an addition process in the electronic settlement system  1 B according to the fourth embodiment based on the third embodiment will be described.  FIG. 51  to  FIG. 53  are diagrams showing an example of an addition process in the electronic settlement system  1 B according to the fourth embodiment based on the third embodiment. 
       FIG. 51  shows that “10,000 yen” is stored in the electronic settlement server  10 B as the user retained amount  1003 A. The other conditions are similar to those described with reference to  FIG. 42 . 
     It is assumed that in this state, the user is provided with 1,000 yen of prepaid card by the negotiable-value providing apparatus  30 A.  FIG. 52  shows an example of the stored contents of the electronic settlement server  20 B and the charge accommodating network  40 A obtained after the user has acquired 1,000 yen of prepaid card. The user retained amount  1003 A has been rewritten from “10,000 yen” to “9,000 yen”, obtained by subtracting 1,000 yen from the 10,000 yen. 
     It is assumed that the user having acquired the 1,000 yen of prepaid card then spends 500 yen, ends playing games, and then in order to return the remaining amount of 500 yen to the electronic settlement system  1 B, requests the electronic settlement server  10 B to add 500 yen, via the computer  98  or the mobile communication terminal  20 B. 
     Upon receiving the message transmitted by the computer  98  or the mobile communication terminal  20 B and requesting an addition of 500 yen, the electronic settlement server  10 B, more specifically the addition request processing unit  410 B, rewrites the user retained amount  1003 A according to the contents of the request message.  FIG. 53  shows an example in which the user retained amount  1003 A has been rewritten according to the contents of the request message. The user retained amount  1003 A has been rewritten to “9,500 yen”, obtained by adding 500 yen to “9,000 yen”. 
     The above-described processing enables the user to reuse the negotiable value the user has not spent yet, later via the electronic settlement system  1 B. 
     The fourth embodiment may be varied similarly to the first to third embodiments.