Apparatus and system for managing a card number
First Claim
1. A system for managing a card number provided with a card number managing apparatus, a card issuing device, and a relay device for connecting said card number managing apparatus with said card issuing device wherein:
- said card number managing apparatus comprises a managing apparatus side interface means for handling the signals between said relay device, a managing apparatus side processing means for internal processing and controlling based on the signals input to the interface means in said managing apparatus, a managing apparatus side unused card number storage means for storing card numbers not yet used for issued cards, a managing apparatus side drawn unused card number storage means for storing unused card numbers when such numbers are retrieved from said managing apparatus side unused card number storage means by said card issuing device through said relay device, a managing apparatus side currently used card number storage means for storing card numbers issued and currently being used, and a managing apparatus side invalid card number storage means for storing numbers of cards that have no remaining balance;
said relay device comprises a relay device side interface means for handling the signals between said card number managing apparatus and said card issuing device, a relay device side processing means for internal processing and controlling based on the signals input to the interface means in said relay device, a relay device side drawn unused card number storage means for storing unused card numbers when such numbers are retrieved from said managing apparatus side unused card number storage means by said card issuing device through said relay device, and a relay device side currently used card number storage means for storing card numbers issued by said card issuing device and currently being used; and
said card issuing device being comprised of a card issuing device side interface means for handling the signals between said relay device, a card issuing device side processing means for internal processing and controlling based on the signals input to said card issuing device side interface means, a card issuing device side drawn unused card number storage means for storing unused card numbers when such numbers are retrieved from said managing apparatus side unused card number storage means, a card issuing means for issuing a card using an unused card number stored in said card issuing device side drawn unused card number storage means, and a card issuing device side currently used card number storage means for storing card numbers currently being used for issued cards.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The apparatus of the present invention is directed to an apparatus and a system for managing a card number for so-called electronic money cards and comprises an interface means for handling the signals between the head and branch offices of an issuing authority such a bank or credit card company, both domestic and overseas, a processing means for internal processing and controlling based on the signals received from by this interface means, unused card number storage means for storing card numbers not yet used for issued cards, drawn unused card number storage means for storing unused card numbers when retrieving such numbers from each head office and branch, currently used card number storage means for storing card numbers issued and currently being used, and invalid card number storage means for storing numbers of cards that have no remaining balance. By utilizing this invention, card numbers can be efficiently and rationally managed so that large numbers of cards can be directly issued to customers by each domestic and overseas branch of a bank or credit card company in a timely and rapid fashion.
160 Citations
6 Claims
-
1. A system for managing a card number provided with a card number managing apparatus, a card issuing device, and a relay device for connecting said card number managing apparatus with said card issuing device wherein:
-
said card number managing apparatus comprises a managing apparatus side interface means for handling the signals between said relay device, a managing apparatus side processing means for internal processing and controlling based on the signals input to the interface means in said managing apparatus, a managing apparatus side unused card number storage means for storing card numbers not yet used for issued cards, a managing apparatus side drawn unused card number storage means for storing unused card numbers when such numbers are retrieved from said managing apparatus side unused card number storage means by said card issuing device through said relay device, a managing apparatus side currently used card number storage means for storing card numbers issued and currently being used, and a managing apparatus side invalid card number storage means for storing numbers of cards that have no remaining balance; said relay device comprises a relay device side interface means for handling the signals between said card number managing apparatus and said card issuing device, a relay device side processing means for internal processing and controlling based on the signals input to the interface means in said relay device, a relay device side drawn unused card number storage means for storing unused card numbers when such numbers are retrieved from said managing apparatus side unused card number storage means by said card issuing device through said relay device, and a relay device side currently used card number storage means for storing card numbers issued by said card issuing device and currently being used; and said card issuing device being comprised of a card issuing device side interface means for handling the signals between said relay device, a card issuing device side processing means for internal processing and controlling based on the signals input to said card issuing device side interface means, a card issuing device side drawn unused card number storage means for storing unused card numbers when such numbers are retrieved from said managing apparatus side unused card number storage means, a card issuing means for issuing a card using an unused card number stored in said card issuing device side drawn unused card number storage means, and a card issuing device side currently used card number storage means for storing card numbers currently being used for issued cards. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
Specification