26-01-2009, 12:41 AM
1. An electronic wallet management system which manages an electronic wallet devices holding monetary data, comprising: backup condition testing means for testing predefined backup conditions to determine whether to make a backup, when the electronic wallet device communicates with any other device to transfer monetary data; backup data sending means for sending out a predetermined set of backup data collected from the electronic wallet device, when said backup condition testing means has determined to make a backup; backup data management means for receiving the backup data from said backup data sending means and saving the received backup data into a backup database; receiving means for receiving an accident report concerning an electronic wallet device; and temporary electronic wallet issuing means, responsive to the accident report received by said receiving means, for calculating elapsed time between the last backup operation and the reception of the accident report, and issuing a temporary electronic wallet device with a limited valid period and a credit limit that is determined according to the elapsed time.
2. The electronic wallet management system according to claim 1, wherein: the predefined backup conditions include a condition about the number of monetary data transfers; and said backup condition testing means determines to make a backup if the number of monetary data transfers has reached the number specified in the condition.
3. The electronic wallet management system according to claim 1, wherein: the predetermined backup conditions include a condition about a time interval of backup operations; and said backup condition testing means determines to make a backup if the elapsed time since the last backup operation exceeds the time interval.
4. The electronic wallet management system according to claim 1, wherein: the predetermined backup conditions include a condition about an account to/from which the monetary data may be transferred; and said backup condition testing means determines to make a backup if the monetary data is to be transferred to/from the account specified in the condition.
5. The electronic wallet management system according to claim 1, wherein: the predetermined backup conditions include a condition about the amount of money to be transferred; and said backup condition testing means determines to make a backup if the monetary data to be transferred exceeds the amount specified in the condition.
6. An electronic wallet management system which manages an electronic wallet devices holding monetary data, comprising: receiving means for receiving an accident report concerning an electronic wallet device; and temporary electronic wallet issuing means, responsive to the accident report received by said receiving means, for calculating elapsed time between the last backup operation and the reception of the accident report, and issuing a temporary electronic wallet device that can be used within a limited valid period and a credit limit determined according to the elapsed time.
7. The electronic wallet management system according to claim 6, further comprising reclaiming means for reclaiming the electronic wallet device when the accident report received by said receiving means describes the electronic wallet device was broken down.
8. An electronic wallet management unit which manages an electronic wallet device, comprising: temporary electronic wallet data producing means, responsive to an accident report received from a terminal station, for calculating elapsed time between the last backup operation for an issued electronic wallet device and the reception of the accident report, compiling temporary electronic wallet data having a limited valid period and a credit limit that is determined according to the elapsed time, and sending the temporary electronic wallet data back to the terminal station.
9. A method for managing an electronic wallet device, comprising the steps of: receiving an accident report concerning an electronic wallet device; calculating, in response to the accident report received, elapsed time between a last backup operation and the reception of the accident report; and issuing a temporary electronic wallet device that can be used within a limited valid period and a credit limit determined according to the elapsed time.
10. A computer-readable medium storing an electronic wallet management program which controls an electronic wallet management unit, the program causing a computer to perform the steps of: calculating, in response to an accident report about an electronic wallet device, elapsed time between a last backup operation for the electronic wallet device and the reception of the accident report; compiling temporary electronic wallet data having a limited valid period and a credit limit that is determined according to the elapsed time; and sending the temporary electronic wallet data for use in issuance of a temporary electronic wallet device.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic wallet management system which controls electronic wallet devices for monetary data transfer, an electronic wallet device itself, an electronic wallet management unit, a terminal station therefor, as well as to a storage medium containing an electronic wallet managing program. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electronic wallet management system which deals with the loss or failure of electronic wallet devices, as well as to an electronic wallet device, an electronic wallet management unit, and a terminal station designed therefor. The present invention also relates to a storage medium containing an electronic wallet managing program for realizing the system.
2) Description of the Related Art
Electronic wallet devices carry electronic money. People use them to make payment electronically, without using real money. Electronic wallet provides various advantages over cash, one of which is that payment can be made more promptly because there is no need to give or receive the change.
People may, however, lose their electronic wallet devices at times. The loss of electronic wallet devices may be handled variously, depending on their device type. For example, in the case of prepaid type devices, which can be used without user authentication, there is no way for the loser to have his/her electronic wallet reissued. This means that the loser would not be able to recover the electronic money at all, unless he/she discovers the very device that is missing. In contrast to this, such electronic wallet devices that require user authentication can be reissued at their respective issuing financial institutions when they are lost. In this case, the monetary data remaining in the lost electronic wallet will eventually be carried over to the reissued device, thus allowing the owner to use it without problems.
Reissuing of such an electronic wallet, however, consumes a long time. Specifically, those that require later settlement, like securities, may take a few months to be reissued. Another such example is banking cards, which manage monetary data not directly, but only through the customers' bank accounts. It takes a couple of weeks for the loser to get such a banking card reissued. What is worse is that the customer cannot spend his/her own money during the time he/she waits for the delivery of a reissued electronic wallet. Those problems in connection with the loss of electronic wallets are also true in another situation where the customer's electronic wallet device is broken down.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Taking the above into consideration, an object of the present invention to provide an electronic wallet management system which eliminates the inconvenience that one may encounter when his/her electronic wallet is lost or broken down.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic wallet device which minimizes the inconvenience that one may encounter when it is lost or broken down.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an electronic wallet management unit which minimizes the inconvenience that one may encounter when his/her electronic wallet device is lost or broken down.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a terminal station which minimizes the inconvenience that one may encounter when it is lost or broken down.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a storage medium containing an electronic wallet management program which minimizes the inconvenience that one may encounter when his/her electronic wallet device is lost or broken down.
To accomplish the above objects, according to the present invention, there is provided an electronic wallet management system which manages an electronic wallet devices holding monetary data. This system comprises the following elements: backup condition testing means for testing predefined backup conditions to determine whether to make a backup, when the electronic wallet device communicates with any other device to transfer monetary data; backup data sending means for sending out a predetermined set of backup data collected from the electronic wallet device, when the backup condition testing means has determined to make a backup; and backup data management means for receiving the backup data from the backup data sending means and saving the received backup data into a backup database.
The proposed electronic wallet management system operates as follows. Each time an electronic wallet device is used, the backup condition testing means tests whether any of the predefined backup conditions is met. If any condition is met, the backup data sending means sends a predetermined set of backup data. By the backup data management means, this backup data is saved into a backup database. In this way, the proposed system automatically saves backup information when a relevant backup condition is met, thus making it possible to promptly reissue an alternative electronic wallet device when the customer lost his/her own device.
The present invention also provides an electronic wallet device which transfers monetary data. This electronic wallet device comprises the following elements: backup condition testing means for testing predefined backup conditions to determine whether to make a backup, when the electronic wallet device communicates with any other device to transfer monetary data; and backup data sending means for sending out a predetermined set of backup data collected from the electronic wallet device, when the backup condition testing means has determined to make a backup.
The proposed electronic wallet device operates as follows. Each time a transfer of funds occurs, the backup condition testing means tests whether any of the predefined backup conditions is met. If any condition is met, the backup data sending means sends a predetermined set of backup data. By storing such backup data, an electronic wallet management unit can promptly reissue an alternative electronic wallet device when a customer lost his/her own electronic wallet device.
Further, the present invention provides an electronic wallet management unit which manages an electronic wallet device, comprising temporary electronic wallet data producing means, responsive to an accident report received from a terminal station, for calculating elapsed time between the last backup operation for an issued electronic wallet device and the reception of the accident report, compiling temporary electronic wallet data having a limited valid period and a credit limit that is determined according to the elapsed time, and sending the temporary electronic wallet data back to the terminal station.
The proposed electronic wallet management unit operates as follows. When an accident report is received from a terminal station, the temporary electronic wallet data producing means outputs temporary electronic wallet data having a limited valid period and a credit limit that is determined according to the elapsed time since the last backup operation. A temporary electronic wallet device containing such temporary electronic wallet data can be issued to the customer for the sake of his/her convenience, with a minimum risk at the issuer side.
In addition, the present invention provides a terminal station coupled to an electronic wallet management unit. This terminal station comprises the following elements: medium storage means for storing a plurality of temporary electronic wallet devices in stock for future issuance; receiving means for receiving the accident report concerning an electronic wallet device; transmission means for forwarding the received accident report to the electronic wallet management unit; temporary electronic wallet data writing means for writing the temporary electronic wallet data to a memory of one of the temporary electronic wallet devices stored in the medium storage means, the temporary electronic wallet data being supplied from the electronic wallet management unit in response to the forwarded accident report; and temporary electronic wallet device releasing means for releasing the temporary electronic wallet device containing the temporary electronic wallet data.
The proposed terminal station operates as follows. When an accident report concerning an electronic wallet device arrives at the receiving means, the transmission means forwards it to the electronic wallet management unit. The electronic wallet management unit then supplies temporary electronic wallet data. The temporary electronic wallet data writing means writes this temporary electronic wallet data to a memory of one of the temporary electronic wallet devices stored in the medium storage means. Then the temporary electronic wallet device releasing means releases the temporary electronic wallet device containing the temporary electronic wallet data. In this way, the customer can receive a temporary electronic wallet device by entering an accident report to the station, which eliminates his/her inconvenience for the time being.
Moreover, the present invention provides a computer-readable medium storing an electronic wallet management program which manages an electronic wallet device holding monetary data. This program causes a computer to function as: backup condition testing means for testing predefined backup conditions to determine whether to make a backup, when the electronic wallet device communicates with any other device to transfer monetary data; backup data sending means for sending out a predetermined set of backup data collected from the electronic wallet device, when said backup condition testing means has determined to make a backup; and backup data management means for receiving the backup data from said backup data sending means and saving the received backup data into a backup database.
When the stored electronic wallet management program is executed on a computer, the computer will function as: backup condition testing means for testing predefined backup conditions to determine whether to make a backup, when the electronic wallet device communicates with any other device to transfer monetary data; backup data sending means for sending out a predetermined set of backup data collected from the electronic wallet device, when said backup condition testing means has determined to make a backup; and backup data management means for receiving the backup data from said backup data sending means and saving the received backup data into a backup database.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiment of the present invention by way of example.
2. The electronic wallet management system according to claim 1, wherein: the predefined backup conditions include a condition about the number of monetary data transfers; and said backup condition testing means determines to make a backup if the number of monetary data transfers has reached the number specified in the condition.
3. The electronic wallet management system according to claim 1, wherein: the predetermined backup conditions include a condition about a time interval of backup operations; and said backup condition testing means determines to make a backup if the elapsed time since the last backup operation exceeds the time interval.
4. The electronic wallet management system according to claim 1, wherein: the predetermined backup conditions include a condition about an account to/from which the monetary data may be transferred; and said backup condition testing means determines to make a backup if the monetary data is to be transferred to/from the account specified in the condition.
5. The electronic wallet management system according to claim 1, wherein: the predetermined backup conditions include a condition about the amount of money to be transferred; and said backup condition testing means determines to make a backup if the monetary data to be transferred exceeds the amount specified in the condition.
6. An electronic wallet management system which manages an electronic wallet devices holding monetary data, comprising: receiving means for receiving an accident report concerning an electronic wallet device; and temporary electronic wallet issuing means, responsive to the accident report received by said receiving means, for calculating elapsed time between the last backup operation and the reception of the accident report, and issuing a temporary electronic wallet device that can be used within a limited valid period and a credit limit determined according to the elapsed time.
7. The electronic wallet management system according to claim 6, further comprising reclaiming means for reclaiming the electronic wallet device when the accident report received by said receiving means describes the electronic wallet device was broken down.
8. An electronic wallet management unit which manages an electronic wallet device, comprising: temporary electronic wallet data producing means, responsive to an accident report received from a terminal station, for calculating elapsed time between the last backup operation for an issued electronic wallet device and the reception of the accident report, compiling temporary electronic wallet data having a limited valid period and a credit limit that is determined according to the elapsed time, and sending the temporary electronic wallet data back to the terminal station.
9. A method for managing an electronic wallet device, comprising the steps of: receiving an accident report concerning an electronic wallet device; calculating, in response to the accident report received, elapsed time between a last backup operation and the reception of the accident report; and issuing a temporary electronic wallet device that can be used within a limited valid period and a credit limit determined according to the elapsed time.
10. A computer-readable medium storing an electronic wallet management program which controls an electronic wallet management unit, the program causing a computer to perform the steps of: calculating, in response to an accident report about an electronic wallet device, elapsed time between a last backup operation for the electronic wallet device and the reception of the accident report; compiling temporary electronic wallet data having a limited valid period and a credit limit that is determined according to the elapsed time; and sending the temporary electronic wallet data for use in issuance of a temporary electronic wallet device.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic wallet management system which controls electronic wallet devices for monetary data transfer, an electronic wallet device itself, an electronic wallet management unit, a terminal station therefor, as well as to a storage medium containing an electronic wallet managing program. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electronic wallet management system which deals with the loss or failure of electronic wallet devices, as well as to an electronic wallet device, an electronic wallet management unit, and a terminal station designed therefor. The present invention also relates to a storage medium containing an electronic wallet managing program for realizing the system.
2) Description of the Related Art
Electronic wallet devices carry electronic money. People use them to make payment electronically, without using real money. Electronic wallet provides various advantages over cash, one of which is that payment can be made more promptly because there is no need to give or receive the change.
People may, however, lose their electronic wallet devices at times. The loss of electronic wallet devices may be handled variously, depending on their device type. For example, in the case of prepaid type devices, which can be used without user authentication, there is no way for the loser to have his/her electronic wallet reissued. This means that the loser would not be able to recover the electronic money at all, unless he/she discovers the very device that is missing. In contrast to this, such electronic wallet devices that require user authentication can be reissued at their respective issuing financial institutions when they are lost. In this case, the monetary data remaining in the lost electronic wallet will eventually be carried over to the reissued device, thus allowing the owner to use it without problems.
Reissuing of such an electronic wallet, however, consumes a long time. Specifically, those that require later settlement, like securities, may take a few months to be reissued. Another such example is banking cards, which manage monetary data not directly, but only through the customers' bank accounts. It takes a couple of weeks for the loser to get such a banking card reissued. What is worse is that the customer cannot spend his/her own money during the time he/she waits for the delivery of a reissued electronic wallet. Those problems in connection with the loss of electronic wallets are also true in another situation where the customer's electronic wallet device is broken down.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Taking the above into consideration, an object of the present invention to provide an electronic wallet management system which eliminates the inconvenience that one may encounter when his/her electronic wallet is lost or broken down.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic wallet device which minimizes the inconvenience that one may encounter when it is lost or broken down.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an electronic wallet management unit which minimizes the inconvenience that one may encounter when his/her electronic wallet device is lost or broken down.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a terminal station which minimizes the inconvenience that one may encounter when it is lost or broken down.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a storage medium containing an electronic wallet management program which minimizes the inconvenience that one may encounter when his/her electronic wallet device is lost or broken down.
To accomplish the above objects, according to the present invention, there is provided an electronic wallet management system which manages an electronic wallet devices holding monetary data. This system comprises the following elements: backup condition testing means for testing predefined backup conditions to determine whether to make a backup, when the electronic wallet device communicates with any other device to transfer monetary data; backup data sending means for sending out a predetermined set of backup data collected from the electronic wallet device, when the backup condition testing means has determined to make a backup; and backup data management means for receiving the backup data from the backup data sending means and saving the received backup data into a backup database.
The proposed electronic wallet management system operates as follows. Each time an electronic wallet device is used, the backup condition testing means tests whether any of the predefined backup conditions is met. If any condition is met, the backup data sending means sends a predetermined set of backup data. By the backup data management means, this backup data is saved into a backup database. In this way, the proposed system automatically saves backup information when a relevant backup condition is met, thus making it possible to promptly reissue an alternative electronic wallet device when the customer lost his/her own device.
The present invention also provides an electronic wallet device which transfers monetary data. This electronic wallet device comprises the following elements: backup condition testing means for testing predefined backup conditions to determine whether to make a backup, when the electronic wallet device communicates with any other device to transfer monetary data; and backup data sending means for sending out a predetermined set of backup data collected from the electronic wallet device, when the backup condition testing means has determined to make a backup.
The proposed electronic wallet device operates as follows. Each time a transfer of funds occurs, the backup condition testing means tests whether any of the predefined backup conditions is met. If any condition is met, the backup data sending means sends a predetermined set of backup data. By storing such backup data, an electronic wallet management unit can promptly reissue an alternative electronic wallet device when a customer lost his/her own electronic wallet device.
Further, the present invention provides an electronic wallet management unit which manages an electronic wallet device, comprising temporary electronic wallet data producing means, responsive to an accident report received from a terminal station, for calculating elapsed time between the last backup operation for an issued electronic wallet device and the reception of the accident report, compiling temporary electronic wallet data having a limited valid period and a credit limit that is determined according to the elapsed time, and sending the temporary electronic wallet data back to the terminal station.
The proposed electronic wallet management unit operates as follows. When an accident report is received from a terminal station, the temporary electronic wallet data producing means outputs temporary electronic wallet data having a limited valid period and a credit limit that is determined according to the elapsed time since the last backup operation. A temporary electronic wallet device containing such temporary electronic wallet data can be issued to the customer for the sake of his/her convenience, with a minimum risk at the issuer side.
In addition, the present invention provides a terminal station coupled to an electronic wallet management unit. This terminal station comprises the following elements: medium storage means for storing a plurality of temporary electronic wallet devices in stock for future issuance; receiving means for receiving the accident report concerning an electronic wallet device; transmission means for forwarding the received accident report to the electronic wallet management unit; temporary electronic wallet data writing means for writing the temporary electronic wallet data to a memory of one of the temporary electronic wallet devices stored in the medium storage means, the temporary electronic wallet data being supplied from the electronic wallet management unit in response to the forwarded accident report; and temporary electronic wallet device releasing means for releasing the temporary electronic wallet device containing the temporary electronic wallet data.
The proposed terminal station operates as follows. When an accident report concerning an electronic wallet device arrives at the receiving means, the transmission means forwards it to the electronic wallet management unit. The electronic wallet management unit then supplies temporary electronic wallet data. The temporary electronic wallet data writing means writes this temporary electronic wallet data to a memory of one of the temporary electronic wallet devices stored in the medium storage means. Then the temporary electronic wallet device releasing means releases the temporary electronic wallet device containing the temporary electronic wallet data. In this way, the customer can receive a temporary electronic wallet device by entering an accident report to the station, which eliminates his/her inconvenience for the time being.
Moreover, the present invention provides a computer-readable medium storing an electronic wallet management program which manages an electronic wallet device holding monetary data. This program causes a computer to function as: backup condition testing means for testing predefined backup conditions to determine whether to make a backup, when the electronic wallet device communicates with any other device to transfer monetary data; backup data sending means for sending out a predetermined set of backup data collected from the electronic wallet device, when said backup condition testing means has determined to make a backup; and backup data management means for receiving the backup data from said backup data sending means and saving the received backup data into a backup database.
When the stored electronic wallet management program is executed on a computer, the computer will function as: backup condition testing means for testing predefined backup conditions to determine whether to make a backup, when the electronic wallet device communicates with any other device to transfer monetary data; backup data sending means for sending out a predetermined set of backup data collected from the electronic wallet device, when said backup condition testing means has determined to make a backup; and backup data management means for receiving the backup data from said backup data sending means and saving the received backup data into a backup database.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiment of the present invention by way of example.
