Electronic money system and electronic money transaction method

• US 8,346,668 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2008
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Fujita, Naotake
• Primary Examiner(s): Reagan, James A
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEUNG, CALVIN K
• Application Number:
  US12/594,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20100217710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,733 Days
• Field of Search: 705/67
• US Class Current: 705/67
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/06 Private payment circuits, e.g. involving electronic currency used among participants of a common payment scheme
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/38215 Use of certificates or encrypted proofs of transaction rights
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3823 combining multiple encryption tools for a transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3825 Use of electronic signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3255 using group based signatures, e.g. ring or threshold signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3263 involving certificates, e.g. public key certificate [PKC] or attribute certificate [AC]; Public key infrastructure [PKI] arrangements network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using certificates in a packet data network H04L63/0823

Abstract

An electronic money system is directed to avoid unauthorized use of certificate-type electronic money. The electronic money system is provided with a management server, a verification sever, a remittance terminal, and a receptor terminal. In response to a request from the remittance terminal, the management server issues an inactive electronic certificate including a certificate ID and notifies the verification server of the certificate ID. The remittance terminal gives a group signature to the inactive electronic certificate to generate an active electronic certificate. The reception terminal verifies the active electronic certificate obtained from the remittance terminal on the basis of the group signature. The verification server matches the certificate ID notified from the management server with the certificate ID included in the active electronic certificate verified by the reception terminal to verify availability of the active electronic certificate.

Claims

1. An electronic money transaction system, comprising:

a management server;

a verification server;

a remittance terminal; and

a reception terminal,

wherein, in response to a request from said remittance terminal, said management server issues an inactive electronic certificate to which a use limit amount is set and notifies said verification server of a certificate ID included in said inactive electronic certificate,

wherein said remittance terminal obtains said inactive electronic certificate from said management server and generates an active electronic certificate usable for settlement through allocating a money amount equal to or less than said use limit amount to said inactive electronic certificate and activating said inactive electronic certificate by giving a group signature,

wherein said reception terminal verifies said active electronic certificate obtained from said remittance terminal based on said group signature,

wherein said verification server matches the certificate ID notified from said management server with the certificate ID included in the active electronic certificate verified by said reception terminal to verify availability of said active electronic certificate,

wherein the remittance terminal is preliminarily registered in a group, obtains a member key unique to the remittance terminal and carries out said group signature by using the member key,

wherein the reception terminal verifies said group signature by using a group public key preliminarily obtained from the management server, and

wherein at least one of the management server, the verification server, the remittance terminal, and the reception terminal is implemented using a computer.

2. The electronic money system according to claim 1, wherein said management server records a balance of an electronic money account of said reception terminal onto an electronic money account database, and updates the balance of the electronic money account of said reception terminal based on a money amount indicated in the active electronic certificate.

3. An electronic money transaction system, comprising:

a management server;

a verification server;

a remittance terminal; and

a reception terminal,

wherein, in response to a request from said remittance terminal, said management server issues an inactive electronic certificate to which a use limit amount is set and notifies said verification server of a certificate ID included in said inactive electronic certificate,

wherein said remittance terminal obtains said inactive electronic certificate from said management server and generates an active electronic certificate usable for settlement through allocating a money amount equal to or less than said use limit amount to said inactive electronic certificate and activating said inactive electronic certificate by giving a group signature,

wherein said reception terminal verifies said active electronic certificate obtained from said remittance terminal based on said group signature,

wherein said verification server matches the certificate ID notified from said management server with the certificate ID included in the active electronic certificate verified by said reception terminal to verify availability of said active electronic certificate,

wherein said management server records a balance of an electronic money account of said reception terminal onto an electronic money account database, and updates the balance of the electronic money account of said reception terminal based on a money amount indicated in the active electronic certificate,

wherein said verification server records the certificate ID notified from said management server in a certificate ID database, and limits use of said active electronic certificate, when the certificate ID included in the active electronic certificate for which verification is requested is not recorded in said certificate ID database, and

wherein at least one of the management server, the verification server, the remittance terminal, and the reception terminal is implemented using a computer.

4. The electronic money system according to claim 3, wherein said verification server deletes the certificate ID recorded in said certificate ID database in response to update of said account database.

5. An electronic money transaction system, comprising:

a management server;

a verification server;

a remittance terminal; and

a reception terminal,

wherein, in response to a request from said remittance terminal, said management server issues an inactive electronic certificate to which a use limit at is set and notifies said verification server of a certificate ID included in said inactive electronic certificate,

wherein said remittance terminal obtains said inactive electronic certificate from said management server and generates an active electronic certificate usable for settlement through allocating a money amount equal to or less than said use limit amount to said inactive electronic certificate and activating said inactive electronic certificate by giving a group signature,

wherein said reception terminal verifies said active electronic certificate obtained from said remittance terminal based on said group signature,

wherein said verification server matches the certificate ID notified from said management server with the certificate ID included in the active electronic certificate verified by said reception terminal to verify availability of said active electronic certificate,

wherein said reception terminal issues a lock request for the active electronic certificate retained therein,

wherein said verification server limits use of said active electronic certificate in response to said lock request, and

wherein at least one of the management server, the verification server, the remittance terminal, and the reception terminal is implemented using a computer.

6. An electronic money transaction system, comprising:

a management server;

a verification server;

a remittance terminal; and

a reception terminal,

wherein, in response to a request from said remittance terminal, said management server issues an inactive electronic certificate to which a use limit amount is set and notifies said verification server of a certificate ID included in said inactive electronic certificate,

wherein said remittance terminal obtains said inactive electronic certificate from said management server a generates an active electronic certificate usable for settlement through allocating a money amount equal to or less than said use limit amount to said inactive electronic certificate and activating said inactive electronic certificate by giving a group signature,

wherein said reception terminal verifies said active electronic certificate obtained from said remittance terminal based on said group signature,

wherein said verification server matches the certificate ID notified from said management server with the certificate ID included in the active electronic certificate verified by said reception terminal to verify availability of said active electronic certificate,

wherein said reception terminal issues a refresh request for the active electronic certificate retained therein,

wherein, in response to the refresh request, said management server changes the certificate ID of said active electronic certificate and notifies said verification server of the changed certificate ID, and

wherein at least one of the management server, the verification server, the remittance terminal, and the reception terminal is implemented using a computer.

7. An electronic money transaction system, comprising:

a management server;

a verification server;

a remittance terminal; and

a reception terminal,

wherein, in response to a request from said remittance terminal, said management server issues an inactive electronic certificate to which a use limit amount is set and notifies said verification server of a certificate ID included in said inactive electronic certificate,

wherein said remittance terminal obtains said inactive electronic certificate from said management server and generates an active electronic certificate usable for settlement through allocating a money amount equal to or less than said use limit amount to said inactive electronic certificate and activating said inactive electronic certificate by giving a group signature,

wherein said reception terminal verifies said active electronic certificate obtained from said remittance terminal based on said group signature,

wherein said verification server matches the certificate ID notified from said management server with the certificate ID included in the active electronic certificate verified by said reception terminal to verify availability of said active electronic certificate,

wherein said management server records the certificate ID of said inactive electronic certificate into said certificate ID database with the certificate ID of the inactive electronic certificate correlated to said remittance terminal which is an issue destination of said inactive electronic certificate, and

wherein at least one of the management server, the verification server, the remittance terminal, and the reception terminal is implemented using a computer.

8. An electronic money transaction system, comprising:

a management server;

a verification server;

a remittance terminal; and

a reception terminal,

wherein, in response to a request from said remittance terminal, said management server issues an active electronic certificate to which a use limit amount is set and notifies said verification server of a certificate ID included in said inactive electronic certificate,

wherein said remittance terminal obtains said inactive electronic certificate from said management server and generates an active electronic certificate usable for settlement through allocating a money amount equal to or less than said use limit amount to said inactive electronic certificate and activating said inactive electronic certificate by giving a group signature,

wherein said reception terminal verifies said active electronic certificate obtained from said remittance terminal based on said group signature,

wherein said verification server matches the certificate ID notified from said management server with the certificate ID included in the active electronic certificate verified by said reception terminal to verify availability of said active electronic certificate,

wherein said management server generates said inactive electronic certificate by giving a management signature to certificate information including said certificate ID by using the management secret key, and

wherein said remittance terminal verifies said management signature by using a management public key obtained from said management server, and

wherein at least one of the management server, the verification server, the remittance terminal, and the reception terminal is implemented using a computer.

9. An electronic money transaction system, comprising:

a management server;

a verification server;

a remittance terminal; and

a reception terminal,

wherein, in response to a request from said remittance terminal, said management server issues an inactive electronic certificate to which a use limit amount is set and notifies said verification server of a certificate included in said inactive electronic certificate,

wherein said remittance terminal obtains said inactive electronic certificate from said management server and generates an active electronic certificate usable for settlement through allocating a money amount equal to or less than said use limit amount to said inactive electronic certificate and activating said inactive electronic certificate by giving a group signature,

wherein said reception terminal verifies said active electronic certificate obtained from said remittance terminal based on said group signature,

wherein said verification server matches the certificate ID notified from said management server with the certificate ID included in the active electronic certificate verified by said reception terminal to verify availability of said active electronic certificate,

wherein said remittance terminal sets a use condition of said active electronic certificate, and

wherein said verification server verifies availability of said active electronic certificate based on said use condition, and

wherein at least one of the management server, the verification server, the remittance terminal, and the reception terminal is implemented using a computer.

10. The electronic money system according to claim 9, wherein said use condition is an expiration date until when said active electronic certificate is available.

11. An electronic money transaction system, comprising:

a management server;

a verification server;

a remittance terminal; and

a reception terminal,

wherein, in response to a request from said remittance terminal, said management server issues an inactive electronic certificate to which a use limit amount is set and notifies said verification server of a certificate included in said inactive electronic certificate,

wherein said remittance terminal obtains said inactive electronic certificate from said management server and generates an active electronic certificate usable for settlement through allocating a money amount equal to or less than said use limit amount to said inactive electronic certificate and activating said inactive electronic certificate by giving a group signature,

wherein said reception terminal verifies said active electronic certificate obtained from said remittance terminal based on said group signature,

wherein said verification server matches the certificate ID notified from said management server with the certificate ID included in the active electronic certificate verified by said reception terminal to verify availability of said active electronic certificate,

wherein said management server records a credit balance of said remittance terminal in a credit balance database,

wherein said remittance terminal issues an electronic money request designating said use limit amount to said management server,

wherein said management server sets said use limit amount to said inactive electronic certificate, and updates the credit balance of said remittance based on said use limit amount, and

wherein at least one of the management server, the verification server, the remittance terminal, and the reception terminal is implemented using a computer.

12. An electronic money transaction system, comprising:

a management server;

a verification server;

a remittance terminal; and

a reception terminal,

wherein, in response to a request from said remittance terminal, said management server issues an inactive electronic certificate to which a use limit amount is set and notifies said verification server of a certificate ID included in said inactive electronic certificate,

wherein said remittance terminal obtains said inactive electronic certificate from said management server and generates an active electronic certificate usable for settlement through allocating a money amount equal to or less than said use limit amount to said inactive electronic certificate and activating said inactive electronic certificate by giving a group signature,

wherein said reception terminal verifies said active electronic certificate obtained from said remittance terminal based on said group signature,

wherein said verification server matches the certificate ID notified from said management server with the certificate ID included iii the active electronic certificate verified by said reception terminal to verify availability of said active electronic certificate,

wherein said management server records a remaining point amount indicative of an available number of points of said remittance terminal,

wherein said remittance terminal designates a number of points for determining a value of said inactive electronic certificate,

wherein said management server sets said number of points to said inactive electronic certificate and updates the remaining point amount of said remittance terminal based on said number of points, and

wherein at least one of the management server, the verification server, the remittance terminal, and the reception terminal is implemented using a computer.

13. An electronic money transaction system, comprising:

a management server;

a verification server;

a remittance terminal; and

,

a reception terminal,

wherein, in response to a request from said remittance terminal, said management server issues an inactive electronic certificate to which a use limit amount is set and notifies said verification server of a certificate ID included in said inactive electronic certificate,

wherein said remittance terminal obtains said inactive electronic certificate from said management server and generates an active electronic certificate usable for settlement through allocating a money amount equal to or less than said use limit amount to said inactive electronic certificate and activating said inactive electronic certificate by giving a group signature,

wherein said reception terminal verifies said active electronic certificate obtained from said remittance terminal based on said group signature,

wherein said verification server matches the certificate ID notified from said management server with the certificate ID included in the active electronic certificate verified by said reception terminal to verify availability of said active electronic certificate,

wherein said remittance terminal and said reception terminal are connected through a near field communication link,

wherein said remittance terminal sends said active electronic certificate to said reception terminal through said near field communication link, and

wherein at least one of the management server the verification server, the remittance terminal, and the reception terminal is implemented using a computer.

14. An electronic money transaction method, comprising:

a management server issuing an inactive electronic certificate to which a use limit amount is set in response to a request of a remittance terminal, and notifying a verification server of a certificate ID included in said inactive electronic certificate;

said remittance terminal obtaining said inactive electronic certificate from said management server and generating an active electronic certificate usable for settlement through allocating a money amount equal to or less than said use limit amount and activating said inactive electronic certificate by giving a group signature;

a reception terminal obtaining said active electronic certificate from said remittance terminal and verifying said group signature; and

said verification server matching the certificate ID informed from said management server with the certificate ID included in said active electronic certificate to verify availability of said active electronic certificate,

wherein the remittance terminal is preliminarily registered in a group, obtains a member key unique to the remittance terminal and carries out said group signature by using the member key,

wherein the reception terminal verifies said group signature by using a group public key preliminarily obtained from the management server, and

wherein at least one of the management server, the verification server, the remittance terminal, and the reception terminal is implemented using a computer.

15. The electronic money transaction method according to claim 14, further comprising:

updating a balance of an account of a reception side based on a money amount indicated by said active electronic certificate, when said active electronic certificate is determined as being available.

16. An electronic money transaction method, comprising:

a management server issuing an inactive electronic certificate to which a use limit amount is set in response to a request of a remittance terminal, and notifying a verification server of a certificate ID included in said inactive electronic certificate;

said remittance terminal obtaining said inactive electronic certificate from said management server and generating an active electronic certificate usable for settlement through allocating a money amount equal nor less than said use limit amount and activating said inactive electronic certificate by riving a group signature;

a reception terminal obtaining said active electronic certificate from said remittance terminal and verifying said group signature;

said verification server matching the certificate ID informed from said management server with the certificate ID included in said active electronic certificate to verify availability of said active electronic certificate;

recording the certificate ID included in said inactive electronic certificate in a certificate ID database; and

limiting use of said active electronic certificate when the certificate ID included in said active electronic certificate is not recorded in said certificate ID database,

wherein at least one of the management server, the verification server, the remittance terminal, and the reception terminal is implemented using a computer.

17. The electronic money transaction method according to claim 16, further comprising:

deleting the certificate ID recorded in the certificate ID database in response to update of the account.

18. An electronic money transaction method, comprising:

a management server issuing an inactive electronic certificate to which a use limit amount is set in response to a request of a remittance terminal, and notifying a verification server of a certificate ID included in said inactive electronic certificate;

said remittance terminal obtaining said inactive electronic certificate from said management server and generating an active electronic certificate usable for settlement through allocating a money amount equal to or less than said use limit amount and activating said inactive electronic certificate by giving a group signature;

a reception terminal obtaining said active electronic certificate from said remittance terminal and verifying said group signature;

said verification server matching the certificate ID informed from said management server with the certificate ID included in said active electronic certificate to verify availability of said active electronic certificate;

issuing a lock request for said active electronic certificate; and

limiting the use of the active electronic certificate in accordance with the lock request,

wherein at least one of the management server, the verification server, the remittance terminal, and the reception terminal is implemented using a computer.

19. An electronic money transaction method, comprising:

a management server issuing an inactive electronic certificate to which a use limit amount is set in response to a request of a remittance terminal, and notifying a verification server of a certificate ID included in said inactive electronic certificate;

said remittance terminal obtaining said inactive electronic certificate from said management server and generating an active electronic certificate usable for settlement through allocating a money amount equal to or less than said use limit amount and activating said inactive electronic certificate by giving a group signature;

a reception terminal obtaining said active electronic certificate from said remittance terminal and verifying said group signature;

said verification server matching the certificate ID informed from said management server with the certificate ID included in said active electronic certificate to verify availability of said active electronic certificate;

issuing a refresh request for said active electronic certificate; and

changing the certificate ID of said active electronic certificate in response to said refresh request,

wherein at least one of the management server, the verification server, the remittance terminal, and the reception terminal is implemented using a computer.

20. An electronic money transaction method, comprising:

a management server issuing an inactive electronic certificate to which a use limit amount is set in response to a request of a remittance terminal, and notifying a verification server of a certificate ID included in said inactive electronic certificate;

said remittance terminal obtaining said inactive electronic certificate from said management server and genera an active electronic certificate usable for settlement through allocating a money amount equal to or less than said use limit amount and activating said inactive electronic certificate by giving a group signature;

a reception terminal obtaining said active electronic certificate from said remittance terminal and verifying said group signature;

said verification server matching the certificate ID informed from said management server with the certificate ID included in said active electronic certificate to verify availability of said active electronic certificate;

recording the certificate ID of said inactive electronic certificate with the certificate ID of said inactive electronic certificate correlated to an issue destination of said inactive electronic certificate,

wherein at least one of the management server, the verification server, the remittance terminal, and the reception terminal is implemented using a computer.

21. An electronic money transaction method, comprising:

a management server issuing an inactive electronic certificate to which a use limit amount is set in response to a request of a remittance terminal; and

notifying a verification server of a certificate ID included in said inactive electronic certificate;

said remittance terminal obtaining said inactive electronic certificate from said management server and generating an active electronic certificate usable for settlement through allocating a money amount equal to or less than said use limit amount and activating said inactive electronic certificate by giving a group signature;

a reception terminal obtaining said active electronic certificate from said remittance terminal and verifying said group signature;

said verification server matching the certificate ID informed from said management server with the certificate ID included in said active electronic certificate to verify availability of said active electronic certificate;

giving a management signature to certificate information including the certificate ID by using a management secret key; and

verifying said management signature by using a management public key,

wherein at least one of the management server, the verification server, the remittance terminal, and the reception terminal is implemented using a computer.

22. An electronic money transaction method, comprising:

a management server issuing an inactive electronic certificate to which a use limit amount is set in response to a request of a remittance terminal, and notifying a verification server of a certificate ID included in said inactive electronic certificate;

said remittance terminal obtaining said inactive electronic certificate from said management server and generating an active electronic certificate usable for settlement through allocating a money amount equal to or less than said use limit amount and activating said inactive electronic certificate by giving a group signature;

a reception terminal obtaining said active electronic certificate from said remittance terminal and verifying said group signature;

said verification server matching the certificate ID informed from said management server with the certificate ID included in said active electronic certificate to verify availability of said active electronic certificate;

setting a use condition of said active electronic certificate; and

verifying the availability of said active electronic certificate based on said use condition,

wherein at least one of the management server, the verification server, the remittance terminal, and the reception terminal is implemented using a computer.

23. The electronic money transaction method according to claim 22, wherein said use condition is an expiration date until when said active electronic certificate is available.

24. An electronic money transaction method, comprising:

a management server issuing an inactive electronic certificate to which a use limit amount is set in response to a request of a remittance terminal, and notifying a verification server of a certificate ID included in said inactive electronic certificate;

said remittance terminal obtaining said inactive electronic certificate from said management server and generating an active electronic certificate usable for settlement through allocating a money amount equal to or less than said use limit amount and activating said inactive electronic certificate by giving a group signature;

a reception terminal obtaining said active electronic certificate from said remittance terminal and verifying said group signature;

said verification server matching the certificate ID informed from said management server with the certificate ID included in said active electronic certificate to verify availability of said active electronic certificate;

said remittance terminal issuing an electronic money request designating said use limit amount to said management means;

said management server setting said use limit amount to said inactive electronic certificate; and

said management server updating a credit balance of a remitter based on said use limit amount,

wherein at least one of the management server, the verification server, the remittance terminal, and the reception terminal is implemented using a computer.

25. An electronic money transaction method, comprising:

a management server issuing an inactive electronic certificate to which a use limit amount is set in response to a request of a remittance terminal, and notifying a verification server of a certificate ID included in said inactive electronic certificate;

said remittance terminal obtaining said inactive electronic certificate from said management server and generating an active electronic certificate usable for settlement through allocating a money amount equal to or less than said use limit amount and activating said inactive electronic certificate by giving a group signature;

a reception terminal obtaining said active electronic certificate from said remittance terminal and verifying said group signature;

said verification server matching the certificate ID informed from said management server with the certificate ID included in said active electronic certificate to verify availability of said active electronic certificate;

designating a number of points for determining a value of said inactive electronic certificate;

setting said number of points to said inactive electronic certificate; and

updating a remaining amount of points of a remitter based on said number of points,

wherein at least one of the management server, the verification server, the remittance terminal, and the reception terminal is implemented using a computer.