ELECTRONIC SETTLEMENT SYSTEM, METHOD THEREFOR, SETTLEMENT SERVER USED THEREIN, COMMUNICATION TERMINAL, AND PROGRAM

摘要

To provide a safe, low-cost, highly convenient settlement system wherein the usage of existing communication terminals is permitted, while no expensive settlement terminals are required; no local communication is required, while both a seller and a buyer can use the settlement system even if they are remote from each other; and a closed-loop type of electronic money can be used for later payments. There are provided, as equipments of a communication provider, an account database (6) that manages the accounts of sellers and buyers (users); and a settlement server (5) that performs electronic settlement processings between the sellers and the buyers. The settlement server (5) comprises a primary settlement server (3) and a secondary settlement server (4). When receiving a settlement request from a user via a communication network (10), the primary settlement server (3) refers to the account database (6) to perform, by use of electronic money, a real-time settlement processing as a primary settlement between the accounts of the users, that is, the seller and the buyer. A secondary settlement is made between a financial agency (13) and the secondary settlement server (4) at a predetermined later time.