Electronic cash system

Abstract

An electronic cash system processes a payment for an amount due, the payment being carried out using previously deposited funds. An account management device stores information identifying a user and information of an amount of money available to be utilized by the user based on the previously deposited funds. A settlement processing device instructs a payment institution to settle. A control device manages the information identifying the user and an account number in the payment institution of the user, the account number being encrypted with a public key of the settlement processing device, instructs the account management device to change a balance of the stored previously deposited funds of the user based on the information identifying the user, and instructs the settlement processing device to execute a settlement transaction based on the account number in the payment institution.

1 . An electronic cash system for processing a payment for an amount due, the payment being carried out using previously deposited funds, said system comprising: 
 an account management device, including: 
 storage means for storing information identifying a user and information of an amount of money available to be utilized by the user based on the previously deposited funds;  
   a settlement processing device, including: 
 settlement instructing means for instructing a payment institution to settle; and  
   a control device, including: 
 management means for managing the information identifying the user and for managing an account number in the payment institution of the user, the account number being encrypted with a public key of said settlement processing device,  
 balance change instructing means for instructing said account management device to change a balance of the stored previously deposited funds of the user based on the information identifying the user, and  
 settlement execution instructing means for instructing said settlement instructing means of said settlement processing device to execute a settlement transaction based on the account number in the payment institution.  
   
   
   
       2 . An electronic cash system according to  claim 1 , wherein each one of said account management device, said settlement processing device, and said control device includes an associated mutual authentication means for performing predetermined mutual authentication processing with said associated mutual authentication means of another one of said account management device, said settlement processing device, and said control device before communication with the another one of said account management device, said settlement processing device, and said control device is initiated.  
   
   
       3 . An electronic cash system according to  claim 1 , wherein each one of said account management device, said settlement processing device, and said control device includes an associated encryption means for encrypting data transmitted to another one of said account management device, said settlement processing device, and said control device, and includes an associated decryption means for encrypting data received from the another one of said account management device, said settlement processing device, and said control device.  
   
   
       4 . An electronic cash system for processing a payment for an amount due, the payment being carried out using previously deposited funds, said system comprising: 
 a virtual bank, including: 
 an account management unit operable to store information identifying a user and information of an amount of money available to be utilized by the user based on the previously deposited funds;  
   a clearinghouse, including: 
 a clearing unit operable to instruct a payment institution to settle; and  
   a control center, including: 
 a user management unit operable to manage the information identifying the user and to manage an account number in the payment institution of the user, the account number being encrypted with a public key of said clearinghouse, and  
 a communication unit operable to instruct said virtual bank to change a balance of the stored previously deposited funds of the user based on the information identifying the user, and to instruct said clearing unit of said clearing house to execute a settlement transaction based on the account number in the payment institution.  
   
   
   
       5 . An electronic cash system according to  claim 4 , wherein each one of said virtual bank, said clearinghouse, and said control center includes an associated mutual authentication unit operable to perform predetermined mutual authentication processing with said associated mutual authentication unit of another one of said virtual bank, said clearinghouse, and said control center before communication with the another one of said virtual bank, said clearinghouse, and said control center is initiated.  
   
   
       6 . An electronic cash system according to  claim 4 , wherein each one of said virtual bank, said clearinghouse, and said control center includes an associated encryption unit operable to encrypt data transmitted to another one of said virtual bank, said clearinghouse, and said control center, and includes an associated decryption unit operable to encrypt data received from the another one of said virtual bank, said clearing house, and said control center.