Electronic commerce system and electronic commerce method

• US 20020128929A1
• Filed: 03/12/2002
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Urabe, Akio
• Granted Patent: US 7,308,424 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

A message, including ordering data regarding a price of a product that a purchaser wants to purchase and personal information including a credit card number of the purchaser, is given to a settlement agency computer from a purchaser computer used by the purchaser. The settlement agency computer determines whether to pay for the product for the purchaser, based on the ordering data and the personal information. In a case where it is determined to pay for the product for the purchaser, the settlement agency computer sends settlement permission information representing that payment can be made for the purchaser, to a seller computer used by a seller, while keeping the credit card number to be confidential. Hence, before delivering the product to the purchaser, the settlement is completed, and the credit card number of the purchaser is kept secret from the seller.

Claims

1. An electronic commerce system for dealing at least one product, said system comprising a purchaser system, a seller system and a settlement system, and

wherein said seller system creates ordering data including purchaser information specifying at least one purchaser and information specifying the at least one product to be purchased, and sends the created ordering data to said purchaser system through an electronic medium,

said purchaser system attaches, to the ordering data, purchaser ID (identification) information which has been provided from a settlement agency to said at least one purchaser in advance, and sends the ordering data with the purchaser ID information attached thereto to said settlement system through an electronic medium, and

said settlement system determines whether to pay a predetermined amount of money for the at least one product to a seller for said at least one purchaser, based on the ordering data and purchaser ID information sent from said purchaser system, and sends information specifying the at least one purchaser and the product to be purchased and also settlement permission information representing to said seller system through an electronic medium.

55. A computer program, computer program product, data signal embodied in a carrier wave, or program signal embodied in a carrier wave which controls a computer as at least one of said purchaser system, said seller system and said settlement system defined in claim 1.

2. An electronic commerce device comprising:

a communications unit which sends and receives data to and from another electronic commerce device;

a payment determiner which receives ordering data including price information representing a price of at least one product to be purchased and personal information including purchaser ID (identification) information which has been given in advance to at least one purchaser, from a purchaser terminal used by said at least one purchaser of the at least one product through said communications unit, and determines whether to pay for the at least one product to a seller for the at least one purchaser based on the received ordering data and personal information; and

a settlement-information creator which creates settlement permission information, in a case where said payment determiner determines to pay for the at least one product to said seller for the at least one purchaser, and sends the settlement permission information to a seller terminal used by the seller through said communications unit while the personal information of the at least one purchaser is kept secret from the seller.

3. The electronic commerce device according to claim 2, wherein

said settlement-information creator encrypts the settlement permission information and sends the encrypted settlement permission information to the seller terminal through said communications unit.

4. The electronic commerce device according to claim 3, wherein

said settlement-information creator sends the ordering data together with the settlement permission information, to the seller terminal through said communications unit.

5. The electronic commerce device according to claim 2, wherein

said settlement-information creator creates a digest of target data to be sent to the seller terminal, attaches the created digest to the target data, and sends the target data with the digest attached thereto, to the seller terminal.

7. The electronic commerce device according to claim 5, wherein said payment determiner:

receives the ordering data from the seller terminal through said communications unit in advance; and

compares, in a case where said payment determiner receives the ordering data and the purchaser ID information from the purchaser terminal through said communications unit, the ordering data received in advance and the ordering data received at this time, determines whether the ordering data received at this time has been altered, and determines whether to pay for the product to the seller for the purchaser based on the price information representing the price of the at least one product and the purchaser ID information, in a case where it is determined that the ordering received at this time has not been altered.

6. The electronic commerce device according to claim S, further comprising a determiner which:

creates a digest of the ordering data and a digest of the personal information, in a case where said determiner receives the ordering data, the personal information, a digest of the ordering data and a digest of the personal information, compares the received digests with the generated digests, respectively, and determines validity of the received ordering data and personal information, based on a result of the comparison.

8. An electronic commerce device comprising:

an ordering-data creator which creates ordering data including price information of at least one product that at least one purchaser wants to purchase, in a case where information representing the at least one product has been input;

a recorder which writes the ordering data onto a recording medium, to provide a purchaser terminal used by at least one purchaser with the ordering data; and

a receiver which receives settlement permission information and provides a seller to be providing the at least one product with the received settlement permission information, in a case where it is determined that the settlement agency is to pay for the at least one product and in a case where an agency terminal used by a settlement agency outputs the settlement permission information, based on data communications performed between the purchaser terminal which reads the ordering data written onto the recording medium and the agency terminal used by the settlement agency which may pay for the at least one product for the purchaser.

9. The electronic commerce device according to claim 8, wherein:

said ordering-data creator creates a digest of the ordering data; and

said recorder writes the ordering data and the digest of the ordering data onto said recording medium.

10. An electronic commerce device comprising:

an ordering-data creator which creates ordering data including price information of at least one product that at least one purchaser desires to purchase, in a case where product information representing the at least one product is input;

a sender which sends the ordering data to a purchaser terminal used by the at least one purchaser; and

a receiver which receives settlement permission information and provides a seller to be providing the at least one product with the received settlement permission information, in a case where it is determined that a settlement agency is to pay for the at least one product and a settlement terminal used by the settlement agency outputs the settlement permission information, based on data communications performed between a purchaser terminal used by the at least one purchaser and the settlement terminal used by the settlement agency to be paying for the at least one product.

11. The electronic commerce device according to claim 10, wherein:

said ordering-data creator creates the ordering data and a digest of the ordering data; and

said sender sends the ordering data and the message digest to said purchaser terminal.

13. The electronic commerce device according to claim 12, wherein

said settlement-request-message sender creates a digest of the personal information and a digest of the ordering data, affixes created digests respectively to the personal information and ordering data, and sends the personal information and ordering data with the digests affixed thereto to the settlement terminal.

15. The electronic commerce device according to claim 14, wherein:

said ordering-data creator creates a digest of the ordering data; and

said ordering-data provider affixes the created digest to the ordering data, and provides the ordering data with the digest affixed thereto to the purchaser terminal.

16. The electronic commerce device according to claim 14, wherein

said ordering-data provider provides the settlement terminal with the ordering data.

18. The electronic commerce system according to claim 17, wherein:

said payment agency system sends the used one-time ID information to said ID information issuing system; and

said payment agency system and said one-time ID information issuing system discards corresponding information, in a case where the one-time ID information is used.

19. The electronic commerce system according to claim 17, wherein

said payment agency system and said ID-information issuing system are included in a same system.

12. An electronic commerce device comprising:

an input unit which inputs ordering data, which is created by a seller terminal used by a seller to be providing at least one product and which includes price information of the at least one product that at least one purchaser desires to purchase, and personal information including purchaser ID (identification) information which has been given in advance to the at least one purchaser; and

a settlement-request-message sender which creates a settlement request message including the personal information and the ordering data, sends the created settlement request message to a settlement terminal used by a settlement agency which may pay the at least one product to a seller for the purchaser, instructs said settlement terminal to determine whether to pay for the at least one product for the purchaser, and instructs said settlement terminal to send settlement permission information to said seller terminal while the personal information is kept secret from the seller, in a case where it is determined to pay for the at least one product for the purchaser.

14. An electronic commerce device comprising:

an ordering-data creator which creates ordering data including price information of at least one product that at least one purchaser desires to purchase, in a case where the at least one purchaser inputs product information of the at least one product;

an ordering-data provider which sends the ordering data to a purchaser terminal, which is used by the at least one purchaser and affixes personal information including purchaser ID (identification) information provided to the at least one purchaser in advance; and

a reception processor which receives data items including settlement permission information representing that the at least one product is to be paid for the purchaser, and provides the settlement permission information a seller of the at least one product, in a case where the data items are sent form a settlement terminal used by a settlement agency to be paying for the at least one product for the purchaser, as a result that the ordering data is provided to the purchaser terminal.

17. An electronic commerce system, said system comprising a purchaser system, a seller system, a payment agency system and an ID (identification) information issuing system, and

wherein a payment agency provides at least one purchaser of at least one product with credit information and ID information corresponding to the at least one purchaser;

said purchaser system sends ID information to said ID information issuing system, and requests said ID information issuing system for one-time ID information, and sends the one-time ID information provided from the ID information issuing system to the seller system;

said ID information issuing system issues one-time identification information, in response to a request from said purchaser system, provides corresponding information representing the one-time ID information and the ID information in association with each other to said payment agency system;

said seller system sends the one-time ID information sent from said purchaser system to said payment agency system, so as to request said payment agency system to pay for the at least one product for the at least one purchaser; and

said payment agency system determines ID information of the at least one purchaser based on the one-time ID information sent from the seller system, determines whether to pay for the at least one product based on the determined ID information, and sends a result of the determination to the seller system.

20. A one-time ID (identification) information issuing system to be used in a transaction wherein:

a one-time ID information is issued to a person who is assigned ID information for payment previously from a payment agency;

the issued one-time ID information is sent to the parson and the payment agency;

the person sends the issued one-time ID information to a seller in a business transaction;

the seller sends the one-time ID information of the person to a payment agency;

the payment agency obtains original ID information for payment of the person based on the sent one-time ID information and determines whether to pay to the seller for the business transaction based on the obtained original ID information for payment, and pays to the seller for the business transaction, in a case where it is determined to pay for the business transaction,

said one-time ID information issuing system comprising;

storage means for storing ID information for payment previously assigned to a user, and

one-time ID information providing means for issuing the one-time ID information toward the user in response to a request, having ID information attached thereto and being sent from a terminal of the user, providing the one-time ID information to the user, and providing a payment agency system with corresponding information representing the one-time ID information and the ID information in association with each other.

21. The one-time ID information issuing system according to claim 20, further comprising:

one-time ID-information storage means for storing the issued one-time ID information;

one-time storage means for storing the ID information of the contractor;

prohibition means for prohibiting to assign the user the one-time ID information stored in said one-time storage means; and

means for deleting the one-time ID information stored in said one-time storage means, in a case where the one-time ID information is used by the payment agency system and said payment agency system informs that the one-time ID information has been used.

22. A purchaser system to be used by a purchaser and to be used in a transaction wherein:

a one-time ID information is issued to a person who is assigned ID information for payment previously from a payment agency;

the issued one-time ID information is sent to the person and the payment agency;

the person sends the issued one-time ID information to a seller in a business transaction;

the seller sends the one-time ID information of the person to a payment agency;

the payment agency obtains original ID information for payment of the person based on the sent one-time ID information and determines whether to pay to the seller for the business transaction based on the obtained original ID information for payment, and pays to the seller for the business transaction, in a case where it is determined to pay for the business transaction,

and said purchaser system comprising;

means for providing ID information for payment, previously assigned to a user, and for requesting one-time ID information issuing means for issuing one-time ID information to issue one-time ID information; and

means for providing the issued one-time ID information, and request a system to be used by a seller to provide at least one product to be sold.

27. The electronic commerce method according to claim 26, wherein

the ordering data is generated by a seller terminal used by the seller, transmitted to a purchaser terminal used by the at least one purchaser via an electronic medium, and the personal information is added to the ordering data by the purchaser terminal.

28. The electronic commerce method according to claim 26, further comprising the process of

downloading, into the purchaser terminal, a program for adding the personal information to the ordering data provided from the seller terminal, every time the at least one purchaser makes an order for the at least one product, and

wherein said ordering-data receiving process receives data items including the personal information which has been added to the ordering data in accordance with the program downloaded into the purchaser terminal.

29. The electronic commerce method according to claim 26, wherein

a first message digest is formed from the ordering data in a shorter form than the ordering data, using the seller terminal, the created first message digest is added to the ordering data, and the ordering data with the first message digest added thereto is sent to the purchaser terminal, and

said receiving process receives data items, including the ordering data sent by the seller and the first message digest, to which the personal information is added, from the purchaser terminal, and

said settlement information sending process sends data items, including the settlement permission information, the ordering data and the first message digest, to the seller terminal, in a case where to send the settlement permission information to the seller terminal.

30. The electronic commerce method according to claim 29, further comprising a determination process of:

acquiring a first forming technique employed for forming the first message digest in a shorter form than the ordering data, before performing at least said payment determination process;

comparing the ordering data received from the purchaser terminal with the first message digest, using the acquired first generation technique; and

determining validity of the ordering data.

31. The electronic commerce method according to claim 29, wherein:

a second message digest is formed from data items including the ordering data, the personal information and the first message digest, by the purchaser terminal; and

said receiving process receives the data items, including the first message digest, the ordering data and the personal information, to which the second message digest is added.

32. The electronic commerce method according to claim 31, further comprising a determination process of:

acquiring a second forming technique employed for forming the second message digest in a shorter form than the data items by the purchaser terminal, before performing at least the payment determination process;

comparing, using the acquired second forming technique, the ordering data received form the purchaser terminal, the personal information, the first message digest, and the second message digest; and

determining validity of the ordering data.

33. The electronic commerce method according to claim 26. wherein said settlement-information sending process:

generates a third message digest from data items including the settlement permission information and the ordering data, in a shorter form than the data items; and

sending the data items including the third message digest, the settlement permission information and the ordering data to the seller terminal.

34. The electronic commerce method according to claim 33, further comprising a sharing process of controlling the seller terminal to use the third forming technique used for forming the third message digest, in order to control the seller terminal to compare the third message digest with the data items including the settlement permission information and the ordering data.

35. The electronic commerce method according to claim 31, wherein said settlement-information sending process:

forms a third message digest from data items including the settlement permission information, the ordering data and the first message digest in a shorter form than the data items; and

sending data items including the third message digest, the settlement permission information, the ordering data and the first message digest to the seller terminal.

36. The electronic commerce method according to claim 35, further comprising a sharing process of controlling the seller terminal to use the third forming technique employed for generating the third message digest, in order to control the seller terminal to compare the third message digest with the data items including the settlement permission information, the ordering data and the first message digest.

37. The electronic commerce method according to claim 36, further comprising a sending process of sending the ordering data and order-reception information representing that an order for the at least one product has been received, to the purchaser terminal from the seller terminal, in a case where it is determined to pay at said payment determination process and the ordering data and the settlement permission information are sent to the seller terminal.

38. The electronic commerce method according to claim 37, wherein:

a fourth message digest is formed from data items including the order-reception information and the ordering data, in a shorter form than the data items, by the seller terminal; and

data items including the fourth message digest, the order-reception information and the ordering data are sent to the purchaser terminal from the seller terminal.

39. The electronic commerce method according to claim 38, wherein

a fourth forming technique, employed by the seller terminal for forming the fourth message digest, is shared between the seller terminal and the purchaser terminal.

23. A seller system to be used by a seller and to be used in a transaction wherein;

a one-time ID information is issued to a person who is assigned ID information for payment previously from a payment agency;

the issued one-time ID information is sent to the parson and the payment agency;

the person sends the issued one-time ID information to a seller in a business transaction;

the seller sends the one-time ID information of the person to a payment agency;

the payment agency obtains original ID information for payment of the person based on the sent one-time ID information and determines whether to pay to the seller for the business transaction based on the obtained original ID information for payment, and pays to the seller for the business transaction, in a case where it is determined to pay for the business transaction,

said seller system comprising;

means for receiving one-time ID information sent from a purchaser who desires to purchase at least one product in the business transaction, and providing the received one-time ID information to payment agency means; and

means for issuing a payment permit, upon reception of information representing that payment can be made for the purchaser from the payment agency.

24. A purchaser system to be used by a seller and to be used in a transaction wherein:

a one-time ID information is issued to a person who is assigned ID information for payment previously from a payment agency;

the issued one-time ID information is sent to the person and the payment agency;

the person sends the issued one-time ID information to a seller in a business transaction;

the seller sends the one-time ID information of the person to a payment agency;

the payment agency obtains original ID information for payment of the person based on the sent one-time ID information and determines whether to pay to the seller for the business transaction based on the obtained original ID information for payment, and pays to the seller for the business transaction, in a case where it is determined to pay for the business transaction,

said seller system comprising

requesting means for requesting the payment agency to send ID information which is provided in advance together with credit for payment to be made, and to affix the one-time ID information to the ID information;

means for receiving the one-time ID information provided from said payment agency; and

means for providing the one-time ID information and making an order for at least one product in the business transaction.

25. A payment agency system to be used by a payment agency and to be used in a transaction wherein:

a one-time ID information is issued to a person who is assigned ID information for payment previously from a payment agency;

the issued one-time ID information is sent to the person and the payment agency;

the person sends the issued one-time ID information to a seller in a business transaction;

the seller sends the one-time ID information of the person to a payment agency;

the payment agency obtains original ID information for payment of the person based on the sent one-time ID information and determines whether to pay to the seller for the business transaction based on the obtained original ID information for payment, and pays to the seller for the business transaction, in a case where it is determined to pay for the business transaction,

said payment agency system comprising;

storage means for storing the ID information and given-credit information of a user in association with each other;

means for receiving and storing information associating the ID information and the one time ID information with each other; and

determination means for receiving the one-time ID information and price information regarding a price of at least one product in the business transaction, from a seller system, discriminating ID information from the received one-time ID information, and determining whether currently-requested payment can be made based on given-credit information corresponding to the discriminated ID Information; and

means for sending a result of the determination performed by said determination means to said seller system.

26. An electronic commerce method comprising:

an ordering-data receiving process of receiving ordering data including price information representing a price of a target product to be purchased and personal information including ID information which has previously been given to at least one purchaser for sales, via a network;

a payment determination process of determining whether to pay the price of the target product to a seller, based on the price information included in the received ordering data and purchaser ID Information included in the received personal information; and

a settlement-permission information sending process of sending, in a case where it is determined at said determining step to pay the price of the target product for the at least one purchaser, settlement permission information representing that it is determined to pay the price for the purchaser to the seller through a network, while the ID information is secret from the seller.

40. An electronic commerce method comprising:

an ordering-data acquiring process of acquiring, from a seller terminal used by a seller, ordering data including price information, which represents a price of a product, and is generated and stored by the seller terminal;

a receiving process of receiving, as a settlement-request message, the ordering data and personal information including purchaser ID information which has previously been given for sales, from a purchaser terminal used by at least one purchaser;

a determination process of comparing the ordering data received at said receiving process and the ordering data received at said ordering-data acquiring process, and determining whether the ordering data received at said receiving process has been altered, before the product is provided to the at least one purchaser;

a payment determination process of determining whether to pay for the product to the seller for the at least one purchaser, based on the price information included in the ordering data and the purchaser ID information included in the personal information, in a case where it is determined that the ordering data received at said receiving process has not been altered at said determination process; and

a settlement-information sending process of sending the settlement permission information representing that the payment can be made for the at least one purchaser and the ordering data to the seller terminal, while the personal information is kept secret from the seller, in a case where it is determined to pay the price of the product for the purchaser at said payment determination process.

41. The electronic commerce method according to claim 40, wherein, at said payment determination process, it is determined to pay the price of the product to the seller for the at least one purchaser, based on the price information included in the ordering data and the purchaser ID information included in the personal information, in a case where it is determined that the ordering data received at said receiving process has not been altered at said determination process.

42. The electronic commerce method according to claim 41, wherein, at said payment determination process, it is determined not to pay for the product to the seller for the at least one purchaser, in a case where it is determined that the ordering data has been altered at said determination process.

43. The electronic commerce method according to claim 40, wherein:

said ordering-data acquiring process generates specification information uniquely specifying a combination of the ordering data and the seller in association with each other, and sends the generated specification information to the seller terminal; and

said receiving process receives the specification information.

44. An electronic commerce method using a deferred payment method for making payment for at least one product, and said electronic commerce method comprising the steps of:

requesting a seller system to pay for a product to be purchased, using one-time deferred-payment information issued by a settlement agency system or a deferred-payment information issuer system;

requesting said settlement agency system to pay for the product based on the one-time deferred-payment information; and

paying for the product for a purchaser of the product based on deferred-payment information of the purchaser which corresponds to the one-time deferred payment information.

45. The electronic commerce method according to claim 44, further comprising the steps of:

requesting the settlement agency system or deferred-payment information issuer system to provide the one-time deferred-payment information, using a message including specification information specifying the purchaser;

issuing the one-time deferred-payment information to a purchaser terminal of the purchaser in accordance with the message.

46. The electronic commerce method according to claim 44, further comprising the steps of:

informing said deferred-payment information issuer system that the one-time deferred-payment information has been used; and

issuing new deferred-payment information toward said purchaser terminal.

47. The electronic commerce method according to claim 44, further comprising the step of

setting the deferred-payment information and the one-time deferred-payment information in association with each other, in a case where said deferred-payment information issuer system issues the one-time deferred-payment information.

48. The electronic commerce method according to claim 44, further comprising the steps of:

generating new deferred-payment information and sending the generated new deferred-payment information to the purchaser, in a case where the one-time deferred-payment information is used; and

setting the one-time deferred-payment information which is generated at said generating and the deferred-payment information in association with each other.

49. The electronic commerce method according to claim 44, further comprising the step of

deleting the one-time deferred-payment information which has been used and corresponding to the deferred-payment information in association with each other.

50. The electronic commerce method according to claim 44, wherein the deferred-payment information or the one-time deferred-payment information is encrypted and transmitted among said purchaser terminal, said seller system, said settlement agency system and said deferred-payment information issuer system.

51. The electronic commerce method according to claim 44, wherein

said settlement agency system and said deferred-payment information issuer system are included in a same system.

52. A method for realizing a settlement agency system in an electronic commerce method employing a deferred payment technique, for paying a price of at least one product to be purchased by at least one purchaser, and said method comprising the steps of:

receiving, from a seller system, a request for paying for the at least one product based on one-time deferred-payment information issued to the at least one purchaser; and

paying for the at least one product for the at least one purchaser, based on the deferred-payment information of the at least one purchaser corresponding to the one-time deferred-payment information.

53. A method of issuing one-time deferred-payment information, and used by a deferred-payment information issuer system in an electronic commerce, employing a deferred-payment technique for paying for at least one product, and said method comprising the steps of:

issuing new one-time deferred-payment information to a purchaser terminal at least one purchaser, in a case where the one-time deferred-payment information is requested using a message including specification information specifying the at least one purchaser from the purchaser terminal, or in a case where a settlement agency system informs that the one-time deferred-payment information has been used; and

sending, to said settlement agency system, the one-time deferred-payment information issued at said issuing step and the deferred-payment information in association with each other.

54. A settlement-request method used by a seller system in an electronic commerce method employing a deferred-payment technique for paying for at least one product for at least one purchaser, and said settlement-request method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request, from a purchaser terminal used by at least one purchaser, for paying for the at least one product for the at least one purchaser, based on one-time deferred-payment information issued to the at least one purchaser; and

requesting a settlement agency system to pay for the at least one product for the at least one purchaser, based on the one-time deferred-payment information.