Electronic wallet management system, electronic wallet device, electronic wallet management unit, and terminal station

• US 7,024,390 B1
• Filed: 09/07/2000
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Takayuki, Mori, Nobuyuki, Miyasaka, Michihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, Vincent
• Assistant Examiner(s): FELTEN, DANIEL S
• Application Number:
  US09/657,355
• Time in Patent Office: 2,035 Days
• Field of Search: 703/41, 235/379, 235/380
• US Class Current: 705/41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3552 Downloading or loading of personalisation data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention solves the inconvenience that a customer would experience when his/her electronic wallet was lost or broken down. A backup condition testing means tests predefined backup conditions to determine whether to make a backup, when an electronic wallet device communicates with any other device to transfer monetary data. When the backup condition testing means has determined to make a backup, a backup data sending means sends a predetermined set of backup data collected from the electronic wallet device. A backup data management means receives the backup data from the backup data sending means and saves the received data into its backup database. In this way, the proposed system automatically saves backup data of the electronic wallet device when any backup condition is met. This mechanism permits the customer to have an alternative electronic wallet device to be promptly issued when his/her electronic wallet device is lost.

Claims

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.