Patent ID: 7246739

Claim:
A settlement transaction system, comprising an IC card, a terminal, a settlement server, and a plurality of settlement transaction servers, wherein: the IC card includes a storage unit for storing card identifier information to be used in settlement; the terminal includes: a reading unit for reading the card identifier information from the storage unit; and a transmitting unit for transmitting to the settlement server amount information of items to be purchased using the card identifier information and the IC card; and the settlement server includes: a receiving unit for receiving the card identifier information and the amount information; a settlement information creating unit for creating settlement information, including information on a settlement entity which should perform a settlement transaction, according to the card identifier information and the amount information; and a settlement information communicating unit for issuing a settlement request to a settlement transaction server according to the settlement information; and each of the plurality of settlement transaction servers is provided for a respective one of a plurality of settlement entities, is arranged to perform a settlement transaction, and includes: a settlement information communicating unit for receiving a settlement request; and a settlement transaction unit for executing settlement transaction according to the received settlement request.