Patent Publication Number: US-2005137952-A1

Title: Overseas remittance system and overseas remittance service server

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to an overseas remittance system and overseas remittance method, and more particularly to an overseas remittance system and overseas remittance service server for carrying out procedures for overseas remittance via the Internet.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Overseas residents conventionally perform overseas remittance for sending money that they have earned to families or relatives that are living in the home country. This type of overseas remittance constitutes an important source of income for financial institutions for developed nations and developing nations.  
      The rapid globalization of the economy in the last few decades has been accompanied by large-scale movements of populations across borders. Most developed nations that require manpower admit several million immigrants. The number of residents from foreign countries is therefore currently increasing rapidly, and the convenience of facilities for these foreign residents must be improved.  
      Conventional financial institutions have investigated entry into the overseas remittance market, but the presence or lack of a global network has formed a formidable barrier to entry. Even more important, a limited number of global enterprises, a group of niche traders, and a small number of underground remittance networks have dominated the overseas remittance market. However, informal remittance networks that lack any auditing capabilities have been a cause for concern in recent years as a result of government pressure and policies for countering terrorism, and overseas remittance by way of formal channels such as financial institutions and independent remittance businesspeople has therefore become necessary.  
      An overseas remittance system for carrying out overseas remittance procedures by way of a network is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-197278. The technology disclosed in this publication is an overseas remittance system for implementing remittance from a country that is the remitting side to a country that is the receiving side, and includes a remitting-side data processor that is established in the country from which funds are sent and a receiving-side data processor that is established in the country in which funds are received. In this overseas remittance system, the receiving-side data processor issues cards in advance in which two associated card numbers are assigned respectively to the remittee and remitter, and the remitting-side data processor uses an international settlement processing network to transmit remittance data, which includes the amount of the remittance that the remitter has deposited and the card number of the remitter, to the receiving-side data processor. When the remittee both demands receipt of the remittance and presents the remittee&#39;s card number, the receiving-side data processor checks the association of the remittee&#39;s card number that has been presented by the remittee and the remitter&#39;s card number that is included in the remittance data, and approves receipt within the range of the remitted amount to the remittee if the association of the two card numbers is confirmed.  
      A system in which a user uses a communication terminal that belongs to the user to perform a remittance process is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-41791. The art disclosed in this document is a remittance control system for controlling a remittance request from a remittance source user to a remittance destination user, and is provided with: account information storage means for storing at least information relating to the account held by remittance source user; first reception means for receiving remittance request signal that indicates information relating the communication terminal of the remittance destination user and information relating to the content of the remittance that has been sent from the communication terminal of the remittance source user; transmission means for transmitting to the communication terminal of the remittance destination user a remittance report signal for both indicating the notification of information specifying the remittance source user and information relating to the remittance content and for prompting transmission of information relating to the account desired for remittance; second reception means for receiving a remittance desired signal that includes information relating to the remittance desired account that is sent from the communication terminal of the remittance destination user; and remittance control means for executing remittance processing from the account held by the remittance source user to the remittance desired account based on the account information of the remittance source user, information relating to the remittance content, and information relating to the remittance desired account.  
      A combination of these different techniques of the prior art allows overseas remittance that features improved convenience over the prior art.  
      However, in the overseas remittance system that is disclosed in the above-described Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-197278, remittance cannot be realized if the request for remittance from the remittee and the card number of the remittee are not presented. Furthermore, in the remittance control system that is disclosed in the above-described Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-41791, the remittance destination user must select whether the remittance destination account is an already existing account or a new account. The problem therefore arises that, when the two systems are combined to realize overseas remittance, the remittance cannot be realized unless instructions are presented from the remittance destination.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide an overseas remittance system and an overseas remittance service server that allow overseas remittance to a desired account without causing undue inconvenience to the remitter.  
      In the present invention, when a terminal that can be connected to a network directs an overseas remittance means to remit funds from an account of a financial institution to an account of an overseas financial institution; the overseas remittance means first, based on this remittance instruction, requests a funds withdrawal means to withdraw funds from an account of a financial institution. The funds withdrawal means withdraws the funds from the account of the financial institution in accordance with the request from the overseas remittance means, and then notifies the overseas remittance means that the withdrawal of funds has been completed. The overseas remittance means submits a request to a funds transfer means to remit the funds that have been withdrawn by the funds withdrawal means to the account of the overseas financial institution. The funds transfer means remits the funds that have been withdrawn by the funds withdrawal means to the account of the overseas financial institution in accordance with the request from the overseas remittance means.  
      The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate examples of the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the overseas remittance system of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a flow chart for explaining processing when applying to an overseas remittance service server for an overseas remittance by means of the user terminals that are shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart for explaining processing when an overseas remittance is performed using the remittance application information and the customer information that has been registered in the overseas remittance service server that is shown in  FIG. 1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , the present embodiment is composed of: movable user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n  that are configured to allow connection to Internet  70  and that may be portable telephones or mobile terminals; overseas remittance service server  20  that is configured to allow connection to Internet  70 ; funds withdrawal facility  40 ; and funds transfer facility  50 . Although only one each of financial institution  30  and overseas financial institution  60  are shown for the sake of simplifying the explanation, a plurality of financial institutions  30  and a plurality of overseas financial institutions  60  may also be present.  
      Overseas remittance service server  20  is an entity for performing remittance processing from accounts  31 - 1 - 31 -N of financial institution  30  to accounts  64 - 1 - 64 -N of overseas financial institution  60  in accordance with operations at user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n ; and is made up of: information screen controller  21 , customer information controller  22 , remittance application information controller  23 , collection request data generator  24 , remittance request unit  25 , account transaction information controller  26 , collection advisability information controller  27 , remittance advisability information controller  28 , and remittance application detail data generator  29 .  
      Information screen controller  21  compiles information screens that are provided to user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n  by way of Internet  70  and offers these information screens in accordance with access from user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n . Customer information controller  22  registers and manages the log-in passwords, the numbers of the accounts that are the remittance sources, and the numbers of the accounts that are the remittance destinations, which have been designated by users that have registered to use the overseas remittance system, in customer information database  80   a , maintaining the association between these items of information. When an application for overseas remittance has been received in an information screen that has been provided from information screen controller  21 , remittance application information controller  23  registers and manages the amount of this remittance and the log-in password of the user that has submitted the application as remittance application information in remittance application information database  80   b , while maintaining the association between the amount and the password. Collection request data generator  24  generates collection request data based on the customer information that is managed by customer information controller  22  and the remittance application information that is managed by remittance application information controller  23  and issues a funds withdrawal request to funds withdrawal facility  40 . Upon receiving notification from funds withdrawal facility  40  of the completion of the withdrawal of funds from accounts  31 - 1 - 31 -N of financial institution  30 , remittance request unit  25  submits an overseas remittance request to funds transfer facility  50  for remitting the funds that have been withdrawn by funds withdrawal facility  40  to overseas financial institution  60 . Account transaction information controller  26  registers the transaction information of accounts  64 - 1 - 64 -N of overseas financial institution  60  to account transaction information database  80   c  and manages the information. Collection advisability information controller  27 , based on the collection results that are reported from funds withdrawal facility  40 , determines the advisability of collecting the users funds, registers the result of this determination as collection advisability information in collection advisability information database  80   d , and manages this information. Remittance advisability information controller  28  determines the advisability of remitting the user&#39;s funds based on the remittance result that has been notified from overseas financial institution  60 , registers the result of this determination as remittance advisability information in remittance advisability information database  80   e , and manages this information. Remittance application detail data generator  29  generates remittance application detail information based on the customer information that is managed by customer information controller  22  and remittance application information that is managed by remittance application information controller  23  and reports this information to overseas financial institution  60 .  
      Funds withdrawal facility  40  is a facility for withdrawing remittance funds in accordance with a collection request from overseas remittance service server  20  by transferring funds from accounts  31 - 1 - 31 -N of financial institution  30  to collection account  44 ; and is composed of: account transfer unit  41 , collection request data reception unit  42 , process completion notification unit  43 , and collection account  44 . Collection request data reception unit  42  accepts funds withdrawal requests from collection request data generator  24  of overseas remittance service server  20 . When a funds withdrawal request has been received by collection request data reception unit  42 , account transfer unit  41  transfers funds from accounts  31 - 1 - 31 -N financial institution  30  to collection account  44 . Process completion notification unit  43  notifies overseas remittance service server  20  that the transfer of funds from accounts  31 - 1 - 31 -N of financial institution  30  to collection account  44  has been completed.  
      Funds transfer facility  50  is a facility for remitting funds from collection account  44  of funds withdrawal facility  40  to system account  65 , which is a designated account of overseas financial institution  60 , in accordance with a remittance request from overseas remittance service server  20 ; and is composed of remittance request acceptance unit  51  and remittance processing unit  52 . Remittance request acceptance unit  51  accepts overseas remittance requests from remittance request unit  25  of overseas remittance service server  20 . When an overseas remittance request is accepted by remittance request acceptance unit  51 , remittance processing unit  52  remits funds from collection account  44  of funds withdrawal facility  40  to system account  65  of overseas financial institution  60 .  
      Overseas financial institution  60 , which is the remittance destination, is further provided with account transfer unit  61 , process completion notification unit  62 , and account transaction information notification unit  63 . Based on remittance application detail data that have been notified from overseas remittance service server  20 , account transfer unit  61  transfers funds that have been remitted from funds transfer facility  50  to system account  65  into accounts  64 - 1 - 64 -N. Process completion notification unit  62  notifies overseas remittance service server  20  that the account transfer into accounts  64 - 1 - 64 -N of the funds that have been remitted to system account  65  has been completed. Account transaction information notification unit  63  reports the transaction information of accounts  64 - 1 - 64 -N to overseas remittance service server  20 .  
      Explanation next regards the overseas remittance method in the overseas remittance system that is configured as described above.  
      A user who is to remit funds overseas using the overseas remittance system shown in  FIG. 1  must first register as a user in overseas remittance service server  20 . For this purpose, it is considered typical for the user to fill in items that include a password for logging in when using this overseas remittance system, the number of the account that is the remittance source, and the number of the account that is the remittance destination in a prescribed contract and provide this to the facility that operates overseas remittance service server  20 . In the present embodiment, this user registration is realized using user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n  by way of Internet  70 . In this case, users use user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n  to access the registration site of overseas remittance service server  20 , whereupon an information screen for user registration is transmitted from information screen controller  21  of overseas remittance service server  20  and displayed on user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n . The information screen that is displayed on user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n  is provided with areas for filling in items that include the log-in password for using this overseas remittance system, the account number of the remittance source, and the account number of the remittance destination. The users enter into these areas items that include the log-in passwords for using the overseas remittance system, the account numbers of the remittance sources, and the account numbers of the remittance destinations and transmit this information to overseas remittance service server  20 , whereupon customer information controller  22  of overseas remittance service server  20  registers in customer information database  80   a  the items that include the log-in passwords, account numbers of the remittance sources, and the account numbers of the remittance destinations that have been transmitted in from user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n , and manages this information. In addition, users must separately conclude an account contract with overseas financial institution  60  in advance.  
      Explanation next regards the processing when a user that has carried out user registration as described above uses the overseas remittance system to send funds overseas.  
      Explanation first regards the procedures when submitting an application for overseas remittance to overseas remittance service server  20  from user terminal  10 - 1  with reference to  FIG. 2 .  
      First, when the user uses user terminal  10 - 1  to access the remittance application page of overseas remittance service server  20  in Step S 1 , a log-in screen for logging into the remittance application page is transmitted from information screen controller  21  of overseas remittance service server  20  in Step S 2 . Then, in Step S 3 , this log-in screen is received and displayed by user terminal  10 - 1 .  
      An area for entering the log-in password is provided in the log-in screen that has been transmitted from information screen controller  21  of overseas remittance service server  20  and received and displayed by user terminal  10 - 1 . In Step S 4 , the user enters into this area the log-in password that was designated when performing user registration and transmits the password, whereupon this log-in password is received by overseas remittance service server  20  and transferred to customer information controller  22  in Step S 5 .  
      In customer information controller  22  of overseas remittance service server  20 , a check is performed in Step S 6  to determine whether the log-in password that has been transmitted in from user terminal  10 - 1  is registered in customer information database  80   a . In this case, the log-in password that was designated when the user submitted the application is registered in customer information database  80   a , and thus, when the log-in password that is transmitted in from user terminal  10 - 1  is registered in customer information database  80   a , the user that is accessing the remittance application page is determined to be someone who has performed a user application. A remittance amount setting screen for setting the remittance amount is next transmitted from information screen controller  21  in Step S 7 . The remittance amount setting screen that is transmitted from information screen controller  21  is received and displayed by user terminal  10 - 1  in Step S 8 .  
      An area for selecting or entering the remittance amount is provided in the remittance amount setting screen that has been transmitted from information screen controller  21  and then received and displayed by user terminal  10 - 1 . The remittance amount is then set in the area that is provided in this remittance amount setting screen and transmitted in Step S 9 , and the remittance amount that has been transmitted from user terminal  10 - 1  is next received by overseas remittance service server  20  in Step S 10 . In remittance application information controller  23  of overseas remittance service server  20 , the remittance amount that has been received is registered in remittance application information database  80   b  as remittance application information that is placed in association with the log-in password that was entered in log-in screen in Step S 4 .  
      On the other hand, if the log-in password that is transmitted in from user terminal  10 - 1  is not registered in customer information database  80   a , this determination is reported from overseas remittance service server  20  to user terminal  10 - 1  in Steps S 11  and S 12 .  
      Explanation next uses  FIG. 3  to describe the procedures when remitting funds overseas using the remittance application information and customer information that are registered in overseas remittance service server  20  by the above-described series of processes.  
      First, based on the customer information that is registered in customer information database  80   a  and managed by customer information controller  22  and the remittance application information that is registered in remittance application information database  80   b  and managed by remittance application information controller  23 , collection request data generator  24  of overseas remittance service server  20  generates collection request data and transmits these data in Step S 21 . Here, the log-in password, the number of the account that is the remittance source, and the number of the account that is the remittance destination that have been designated by a user that has registered to use the overseas remittance system are registered in association with each other in customer information database  80   a , and the amount of remittance that the user has set is registered in association with the log-in password in remittance application information database  80   b . As a result, collection request data generator  24  generates collection request data indicating that the remittance amount that has been registered in remittance application information database  80   b  is to be withdrawn from the account number of the remittance source that has been associated by customer information database  80   a  with the log-in password that is in turn associated with this remittance amount by remittance application information database  80   b.    
      Collection request data that have been transmitted from collection request data generator  24  are received by collection request data reception unit  42  of funds withdrawal facility  40  in Step S 22 . Based on collection request data that have been received by collection request data reception unit  42 , account transfer unit  41  of funds withdrawal facility  40  then transfers to collection account  44  the remittance amount that is contained in the collection request data from, of the accounts of financial institution  30 , the account that corresponds with the account number of the remittance source that is contained in the collection request data.  
      When the account transfer to collection account  44  has been completed, process completion notification unit  43  of funds withdrawal facility  40  notifies overseas remittance service server  20  in Step S 24  that the account transfer to collection account  44  has been completed. At this time, the collection result is notified from funds withdrawal facility  40  to overseas remittance service server  20 . This collection result indicates whether, based on the collection request data, the remittance amount that is contained in the collection request data has been successfully collected from the account that corresponds to the account number of the remittance source that is contained in the collection request data, and is composed of information indicating whether collection was successful and the account number of the remittance source.  
      The notification from process completion notification unit  43  of funds withdrawal facility  40  is received by overseas remittance service server  20  in Step S 25 , whereupon collection advisability information controller  27  of overseas remittance service server  20  determines in Step S 26  whether the collection from the user is advisable based on the collection result that was notified from funds withdrawal facility  40 , and registers this determination result in collection advisability information database  80   d  as collection advisability information in Step S 27 . At this time, collection advisability information controller  27  refers to customer information database  80   a , and registers the log-in password that is associated by customer information database  80   a  with the account number of the remittance source that is contained in the collection result in collection advisability information database  80   d  in association with the collection advisability information.  
      In overseas remittance service server  20 , remittance request unit  25  transmits to funds transfer facility  50  in Step S 28  an overseas remittance request for remitting to overseas financial institution  60  the funds that have been transferred to collection account  44  of funds withdrawal facility  40 .  
      The overseas remittance request that has been transmitted from remittance request unit  25  of overseas remittance service server  20  is received by remittance request acceptance unit  51  of funds transfer facility  50  in Step S 29 , whereupon remittance processing unit  52  of funds transfer facility  50  remits the funds that have been transferred to collection account  44  of funds withdrawal facility  40  to system account  65  of overseas financial institution  60  in Step S 30 . Further, at this time, remittance application detail data generator  29  of overseas remittance service server  20  generates in Step S 31  remittance application detail data that include the account number of the remittance destination based on customer information that has been registered in customer information database  80   a  and remittance application information that has been registered in remittance application information database  80   b , and notifies overseas financial institution  60 . In this case, a log-in password, the account number of the remittance source, and the account number of the remittance destination that have been designated by a user that has registered to use the overseas remittance system are registered in association with each other in customer information database  80   a , and further, the log-in password and remittance amount that has been set by the user are registered in association with each other in remittance application information database  80   b . As a result, remittance application detail data generator  29  generates remittance application detail data that indicate that the remittance amount that has been registered in remittance application information database  80   b  is to be remitted to the account number of the remittance destination that is associated by customer information database  80   a  with the log-in password that is in turn associated with this remittance amount by remittance application information database  80   b.    
      In overseas financial institution  60 , funds that have been remitted from funds transfer facility  50  to system account  65  are received in Step S 32 . When the remittance application detail data that have been transmitted from remittance application detail data generator  29  of overseas remittance service server  20  are received in Step S 33 , account transfer unit  61  of overseas financial institution  60  in Step S 34  transfers the funds that have been remitted to system account  65  to the account of accounts  64 - 1 - 64 -N of overseas financial institution  60  that is contained in the remittance application detail data based on the remittance application detail data that have been reported from overseas remittance service server  20 .  
      When the account transfer to the remittance destination account has been carried out by overseas financial institution  60 , process completion notification that indicates that the account transfer to the remittance destination account has been carried out is transmitted to overseas remittance service server  20  from process completion notification unit  62  of overseas financial institution  60  in Step S 35 . At this time, the remittance result is also reported to overseas remittance service server  20  from overseas financial institution  60 . This remittance result, based on the remittance application detail data, indicates that funds have been successfully remitted to the account that corresponds to the account number of the remittance destination that is included in the remittance application detail data and is composed of information that indicates whether remittance was accomplished and the account number of the remittance destination.  
      The notification from process completion notification unit  62  of overseas financial institution  60  is received by overseas remittance service server  20  in Step S 36 , whereupon remittance advisability information controller  28  determines in Step S 37  whether remittance by the user is advisable based on the remittance result that was reported from overseas financial institution  60  and registers this determination result in remittance application information database  80   e  as remittance advisability information in Step S 38 . At this time, remittance advisability information controller  28  refers to customer information database  80   a  and registers the log-in password, which is associated by customer information database  80   a  with the account number of the remittance destination that is contained in the remittance result, in remittance advisability information database  80   e  in association with the remittance advisability information.  
      Explanation next regards the procedures when user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n  refer to account transaction information in accounts  64 - 1 - 64 -N of overseas financial institution  60 .  
      Account transaction information notification unit  63  of overseas financial institution  60  manages the account transaction information of accounts  64 - 1 - 64 -N and periodically transmits this account transaction information to overseas remittance service server  20 .  
      In overseas remittance service server  20 , account transaction information controller  26  registers the account transaction information that has been reported from account transaction information notification unit  63  of overseas financial institution  60  in account transaction information database  80   c . At this time, account transaction information controller  26  refers to customer information database  80   a  and registers the log-in password, which is associated by customer information database  80   a  with the account number of the remittance destination that is contained in the account transaction information, into account transaction information database  80   c  in association with the account transaction information. Account transaction information controller  26  subsequently uses the account transaction information that is periodically reported from account transaction information notification unit  63  of overseas financial institution  60  to update account transaction information database  80   c.    
      Thus, when the account transaction information that is registered in account transaction information database  80   c  is referred to by user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n , user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n  first access the account transaction information reference page of overseas remittance service server  20  and enter the log-in password. Account transaction information controller  26  then searches for the account transaction information of the account transaction information that is registered in account transaction information database  80   c  that has been placed in correspondence with the log-in password, and information screen controller  21  compiles an information screen that presents this account transaction information and transmits this screen to user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n . In this way, information such as the deposit history, the withdrawal history, and the balance in accounts  64 - 1 - 64 -N of overseas financial institution  60  can be displayed on user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n , and this information can be consulted.  
      Explanation next regards procedures when user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n  refer to collection advisability information that is registered in collection advisability information database  80   d  and remittance advisability information that is registered in remittance advisability information database  80   e.    
      When user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n  refer to collection advisability information that is registered in collection advisability information database  80   d , user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n  first access a collection advisability information reference page of overseas remittance service server  20  and enter the log-in password. Collection advisability information controller  27  then searches for the collection advisability information of the collection advisability information that is registered in collection advisability information database  80   d  that has been associated with the log-in password, and information screen controller  21  compiles an information screen that presents this collection advisability information and transmits this screen to user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n . In this way, the collection advisability information of users can be displayed on user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n , and users can refer to the collection advisability information.  
      When user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n  refer to remittance advisability information that has been registered in remittance advisability information database  80   e , user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n  first access the remittance advisability information reference page of overseas remittance service server  20  and enter the log-in password. Remittance advisability information controller  28  then searches for the remittance advisability information of the remittance advisability information that has been registered in remittance advisability information database  80   e  that has been associated with the log-in password, and information screen controller  21  compiles an information screen that presents this remittance advisability information and transmits the screen to user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n . In this way, the remittance advisability information of users can be displayed on user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n  and users are able to refer to the remittance advisability information.  
      Explanation next regards the procedures for cancellation of a remittance application.  
      When users wish to cancel a remittance application after having submitted a remittance application by the procedures that are shown in  FIG. 2 , they first use user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n  to access the remittance cancellation page of overseas remittance service server  20  and enter the log-in password. If the account transfer to the collection account of Step S 23  has still not been carried out, the remittance can be cancelled.  
      Explanation next regards the procedures when referring to the remittance acceptance state in overseas remittance service server  20 .  
      When the remittance acceptance state in overseas remittance service server  20  is to be consulted by user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n , user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n  first access the remittance acceptance state reference page of overseas remittance service server  20  and enter the log-in password. Information screen controller  21  then compiles an information screen that presents the users&#39; remittance acceptance states and transmits this screen to user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n . In this way, the remittance acceptance state in overseas remittance service server  20  can be displayed on user terminals  10 - 1 - 10 - n , and users can check their own remittance acceptance states in overseas remittance service server  20  at any time.  
      The present invention, having the configuration described in the foregoing explanation, provides the following effects:  
      Users are able to implement “cashless” overseas remittance of funds without having to convert to cash.  
      The arrangement of a financial institution in the flow of funds and the interposition of a remittance system allows more effective auditing of overseas remittances.  
      The realization of financial teller business operations by electronic means allows a reduction of office work.  
      The use of movable devices such as portable telephones and mobile terminals as the terminals allows an improvement of convenience.  
      While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.