Method and apparatus for managing electronic money and storage medium for storing an electronic money management program

Abstract

According to the present invention, when electronic money is sent from a given network to another network, a money change apparatus performs a money change process to change electronic money current on the given network into electronic money current on another network, and therefore when a user of the given network uses a settling process, by managing this money change process, it is possible to manage the interchange of electronic money between each of the users of the given network and each of the users of another network without affecting the working environment of electronic commerce. Electronic money current on LAN 20 is referred to as local electronic money current only on the network. When a terminal NLU 4 connected to LAN 20 sends money to a terminal NWU 2 connected to WAN 10, GW 1 for controlling the flow of data between LAN 20 and WAN 10 receives local electronic money sent from the terminal NLU 4, changes the local electronic money into electronic money current on WAN 10, then sends the electronic money to the terminal NWU 2, and when a terminal NWU 2 sends money to a terminal NLU 4, GW 1 receives electronic money sent from the terminal NWU 2, changes the electronic money into local electronic money and sends the local electronic money to the terminal NLU 4.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of managing electronic money in a network apparatus installed between a first network and a second network, wherein electronic money circulating only within said first network is designated as electronic money current on said first network (this electronic money is hereafter referred to as electronic money A), said method comprising the steps of: 
 when a first terminal connected to said first network sends money to a second terminal connected to said second network, receiving electronic money A sent from said first terminal, changing said electronic money A into electronic money current on said second network (the latter electronic money is hereafter referred to as electronic money B), and sending electronic money B to said second terminal; and    when the second terminal sends money to said first terminal, receiving electronic money B sent from said second terminal, changing the electronic money B into electronic money A, and sending electronic money A to said first terminal.    
     
     
         2 . A method of managing electronic money according to  claim 1 , wherein historical information is recorded with regard to a money change process from electronic money B to electronic money A and also about another money change process from electronic money A to electronic money B, both money change processes being performed in said network apparatus.  
     
     
         3 . A method of managing electronic money according to  claim 1 , wherein when money is remitted from said first terminal to said second terminal, if the nominal value of electronic money A is larger than a sum of money previously allotted to the user at said first terminal, electronic money A is returned to said first terminal without being changed into electronic money B.  
     
     
         4 . A method of managing electronic money according to  claim 3 , wherein even if the nominal value of electronic money A is larger than the sum of money allotted to the user at said first terminal, when said electronic money is added with a message indicating that the user at said first terminal is permitted to send more than said allotted sum of money, said electronic money A is changed to electronic money B current on said second network, and sent to said second terminal.  
     
     
         5 . A method of managing electronic money according to  claim 1 , wherein said network changes electronic money A sent from said first terminal into electronic money in a desired nominal value unit in response to a command from said first terminal.  
     
     
         6 . Apparatus which is installed between a first network and a second network for managing electronic money, said apparatus comprising: 
 means for receiving electronic money A current only within said first network from a first terminal connected to said first network, changing the electronic money A into electronic money B current on said second network, and sending the electronic money B current on said second network to said second terminal, when said first terminal sends money to a second terminal connected to said second network; and    means for receiving the electronic money B sent from said second terminal, changing the electronic money B into the electronic money A, and sending the electronic money A to said first terminal, when said second terminal sends money to said first terminal.    
     
     
         7 . Apparatus for managing electronic money according to  claim 6 , further comprising historical information recording means for recording historical information about the money change process from electronic money B to electronic money A and the money change process from electronic money A to electronic money B, both money change processes being performed in said apparatus.  
     
     
         8 . Apparatus for managing electronic money according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 remittance upper limit value storage means having recorded therein upper limits of remittance allotted to respective users at respective terminals connected to said first network; and    means for returning electronic money A to said first terminal without being converted into electronic money B, when said first terminal sends money to said second terminal, if a nominal value of the electronic money A sent by said first terminal is larger than a sum of money allotted to a user at said first terminal recorded in said remittance upper limit writing means.    
     
     
         9 . A recording medium having recorded thereon an electronic money management program for managing electronic money current on networks, wherein said electronic money management program causes an information processing apparatus connected to a first network and a second network to perform a function to receive electronic money A current on said first network, sent from a first terminal connected to said first network, change the electronic money A into electronic money B current on said second network, and send the electronic money B to a second terminal connected to said second network when said first terminal sends money to said second terminal, and wherein said electronic money management program causes said information processing apparatus to perform a function to receive electronic money B sent from said second terminal, and change electronic money B into electronic money A, and send said electronic money A to said first terminal when said second terminal sends money to said first terminal.