WO2007139302A1

WO2007139302A1 - System and method for complex transaction card

Info

Publication number: WO2007139302A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/002478
Authority: WO
Inventors: Woo Jin Sim
Original assignee: Credift Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-05-26
Filing date: 2007-05-22
Publication date: 2007-12-06
Also published as: KR20070065192A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a payment system and method for a complex transaction card, capable of being used as either any one of a prepaid card and a credit card, or as both the prepaid card and the credit card, using single card identification information, and more particularly, to a payment system and method which provides a complex transaction card including single card identification information with an approval limit with respect to each of the prepaid card and the credit card, approves a payment by activating at least one transaction account among the prepaid card and the credit card, also first considers an approval limit of any one of the prepaid card and the credit card, and when a charge amount of the payment is greater than the approval limit, additionally considers an approval limit of another card, and thereby may approve the payment using the complex transaction card.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPLEX TRANSACTION CARD

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a payment system and method for a complex transaction card, capable of being used as either any one of a prepaid card and a credit card, or as both the prepaid card and the credit card, using single card identification information. More particularly, the present invention relates to a payment system and method which provides a complex transaction card including single card identification information with an approval limit with respect to each of the prepaid card and the credit card, approves a payment by activating at least one transaction account from among the prepaid card and the credit card, also first considers an approval limit of any one of the prepaid card and the credit card, and when a charge amount of the payment is greater than the approval limit, additionally considers an approval limit of another card, and thereby may approve the payment using the complex transaction card.

Background Art

Currently, the number of users using credit cards increase due to the convenience of not having to carry cash to purchase goods or services. Generally, when using credit cards, charge amounts settled for a predetermined period are summed and demanded of users after the predetermined period. Accordingly, although not having cash at the time of purchase, users may purchase goods or services by credit card as long as users pay the cost by due dates.

However, when purchasing goods or services using credit cards, users may make purchases up to predetermined approval limits provided for each credit card based on credit of users. Accordingly, when charge amounts are greater than approval limits, payment transactions may not be performed. Specifically, when expenditures temporarily increase due to school expenses, special occasions such as weddings or funerals, and the like, credit cards are of limited use. Therefore, the number of users making purchases by additionally using other credit cards issued from a variety of card companies, when the users may not make purchases using a single credit card, increases.

However, it is inconvenient for users to carry a plurality of credit cards so that payments are made by a plurality of credit cards. Also, from a viewpoint of a card company, users' uses of credit cards of other card companies cause a decrease in revenue of the card company.

Also, it is difficult for users to be issued with credit cards due to strict credit checks. Specifically, users not having regular incomes, e.g. minors, the elderly, housewives, and the like, may have difficulty in being issued credit cards.

Accordingly, a large number of people who may not use credit cards exist despite the above-described conveniences of credit cards.

Thus, the number of users using prepaid cards or debit cards for supplementing credit cards increase. Debit cards are issued by banks and operated through separately established networks. Debit cards also include check cards operated through credit card networks. Both debit cards and check cards may be used within balances of related accounts.

Also, in Korea, prepaid cards are classified into general prepaid cards where users are not designated, and registered prepaid cards where users are designated. General prepaid cards are referred to as gift certificates, and may be used within the limit of an amount charged (deposited) when the general prepaid cards are issued.

Registered prepaid cards may be used within the limit of amount previously deposited in virtual accounts by users.

Since debit cards or prepaid cards may be used within the limit of an amount which users have charged, debit cards and prepaid cards may be issued regardless of credit ratings. Also, when users have a great amount of money, users may make purchases without any limit. However, as opposed to credit cards, cash is withdrawn during transactions, and only payments within currently deposited amounts may be possible. As described above, since credit cards, debit cards, and prepaid cards respectively have advantages and disadvantages, the number of users using a combination of credit cards, debit cards, and prepaid cards increases to compensate for each disadvantage. Accordingly, using a combination of credit cards, debit cards, and prepaid cards causes serious inconvenience to card users, card providers, and stores affiliated with card companies in terms of card issuing processes, card use processes, payment limits, systems' management, and the like.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an operation of processing a payment using a plurality of transaction cards in a payment system in a conventional art.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a user requires to complete an issuing process, respectively, to use a plurality of transaction cards, e.g. a credit card 101, a debit card 102, and a prepaid card 103. Specifically, the user requires to complete a member entry procedure according to a requirement of a card issuer. Also, each card issuer individually issues a card after a member screening process considering a credit of member.

The card issuer provides a different card number for each card. A payment is made in a corresponding payment system from among a credit card payment system 105, a debit card payment system 106, and a prepaid card payment system 107, according to a card type at the time of payment. Accordingly, a card company is required to maintain each payment system depending on each type of card. Also, a store affiliated with the card company 104 is connected to a portion of the payment systems 105, 106, and 107 described above, and thus a store implementing transactions with only card, which is possible in the portion of the payment systems 105, 106, and 107, exists.

When a type of card which may be used in each store affiliated with the card company varies, the user is required to be issued with and carry the credit card 101, the debit card 102, and the prepaid card 103 all together, and selectively use a card from the credit card 101, the debit card 102, and the prepaid card 103 depending on each store affiliated with the card company, which causes inconvenience. Since an amount of money greater than an approval limit of the credit card 101 may not be paid in a store where the debit card 102 and the prepaid card 103 are not used, the user requires to additionally pay cash. Specifically, in a conventional art, when an amount to be paid is greater than the approval limit while using a card, the payment is not approved. Accordingly, the user is required to separately check a balance of the approval limit of the rejected card, use the card within the approval limit, and pay a remaining amount of money through another payment method such as cash, another card, and the like.

Also, only the credit card payment system 105 may be used in foreign countries, and the debit card payment system 106 and the prepaid card payment system 107 may not be generally used in foreign countries. The debit card 102 and the prepaid card 103 excluding the credit card 101 may not be generally used in foreign countries. Accordingly, when a great amount of money is temporarily needed while staying abroad, cash is to be received from a home country.

Also, when a single card company issues a plurality of transaction cards such as a credit card, a debit card, a prepaid card, and the like, a payment system and a database with respect to each of the plurality of the transaction cards are required to be established. Accordingly, a waste of system resources and an increase in unnecessary costs are caused. Particularly, as an issuance of an integrated circuit (IC) card instead of a magnetic card currently increases due to security issues, a card issuance cost of the card company increases. As the plurality of the transaction cards is issued, an increase in the cost of card issuance may be caused. As described above, in the conventional art, the credit card and the prepaid card are independently operated in a separate card system, which causes an inconvenience and inefficiency to the user, the store affiliated with the card company, and the card company.

Accordingly, when a single transaction card is issued, and the issued transaction card may be used as the credit card and the prepaid card through a single payment system, an effect that various cards are used may be generated without carrying various cards and using a different card depending on each store affiliated with the card company. Thus, in the present specification, a payment system and method associates single card identification information with an approval limit of each of the credit card and the prepaid card, when paying by a complex transaction card having the card identification information, first considers an approval limit of any one of the credit card and the prepaid card, and approves the payment by additionally considering an approval limit of another card when a charge amount with respect to the payment is greater than the approval limit.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Goals

The present invention provides a payment system and method which uses a complex transaction card as both a prepaid card and a credit card simultaneously according to a user's selection.

The present invention also provides a payment system and method which, when a payment transaction is performed using a complex transaction card and a charge amount is greater than any one of approval limits of a credit card and a prepaid card, additionally considers an approval limit of another card, and thereby may conveniently increase the approval limits without a separate operation.

The present invention also provides a payment system and method where a user may designate a priority with respect to approval limits of a credit card and a prepaid card, and thus the approval limit of a card designated by the user is first considered.

The present invention also provides a payment system and method where a user may activate or deactivate at least one of a credit card and a prepaid card, and thus a complex transaction card may be used when necessary depending on a user's selection. The present invention also provides a payment system and method which may integratedly manage points with respect to a use of a credit card and a prepaid card.

The present invention also provides a payment system and method which may increase an approval limit of a complex transaction card by simply depositing cash in a valid account of a bank associated with a prepaid card by a user.

The present invention also provides a payment system and method which may use a complex transaction card without differentiating a store affiliated with a prepaid card from a store affiliated with a credit card, by adding an approval limit of the prepaid card to the complex transaction card when a payment transaction is performed in the same way as the credit card.

The present invention also provides a payment system and method which may simplify an issuing process with respect to a plurality of transaction cards, and reduce resources and costs of a system for a transaction card payment.

Technical solutions

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a payment system for a complex transaction card capable of being used as a prepaid card and a credit card using single card identification information, the payment system including: a transaction account database storing a first transaction account with respect to the prepaid card and a second transaction account with respect to the credit card corresponding to a plurality of card identification numbers, the transaction account database comprising an activation status and an approval limit with respect to the first transaction account and the second transaction account; a payment request receiving unit receiving payment request information including user card identification information and a charge amount from a store affiliated with a card company; a transaction account identification unit identifying the first transaction account and the second transaction account corresponding to the user card identification information by referring to the transaction account database; and a payment approval unit determining whether to approve a payment of the charge amount based on the activation status of the identified first transaction account and second transaction account and an approval limit of an activated transaction account. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a payment method for a complex transaction card capable of being used as a prepaid card and a credit card using single card identification information, the payment method including: maintaining a transaction account database storing a first transaction account with respect to the prepaid card and a second transaction account with respect to the credit card corresponding to a plurality of card identification numbers, the transaction account database comprising an activation status and an approval limit with respect to the first transaction account and the second transaction account; receiving payment request information including user card identification information and a charge amount from a store affiliated with a card company; identifying the first transaction account and the second transaction account corresponding to the user card identification information by referring to the transaction account database; and determining whether to approve a payment of the charge amount based on the activation status of the identified first transaction account and second transaction account and an approval limit of an activated transaction account.

Brief Description of Drawings FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an operation of processing a payment using a plurality of transaction cards in a payment system in a conventional art;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation of processing a payment in a payment system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a payment system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a transaction account database when storing single card identification information by associating the single card identification information with two transaction accounts in a payment system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a transaction account database when a single transaction account corresponding to single card identification information includes two approval limits in a payment system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a charge slip and a transaction statement with respect to a payment processed by a payment system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen when a payment transaction is performed on-line in a payment system according to the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a payment method according to the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Hereinafter, a payment system and method according to the present invention is described in detail by referring to the figures.

In the present invention, a 'credit card' is issued by a credit card provider as a certificate enabling a user to repeatedly purchase a good, be provided with a service, and pay for an item, specified in the law governing the Ministry of Finance and Economy, in a store, affiliated with a card company, by presenting the credit card. The credit card indicates a transaction card enabling the user to pay a charge amount to the credit card provider after a payment transaction. Also, in the present invention, a 'prepaid card' indicates a transaction card enabling a charge amount to be paid from a predetermined account where the charge amount is previously stored prior to a payment, when the user pays with respect to a purchase of goods or services provided by the store affiliated with the card company. The prepaid card includes a debit card, a charge card, and a gift certificate. In the present invention, the 'debit card' indicates a certificate enabling the user to simultaneously be provided with the goods or services and pay a charge amount with respect to the providing, by transferring the charge amount to a financial transaction account using an electronic or magnetic method between a debit card member and the store affiliated with the card company. The debit card is issued by the credit card provider. Generally, in Korea, the debit card is classified into a bank debit card and a check card. The bank debit card is directly connected to a valid account of a bank, and is issued by the bank. The check card is connected to a valid account of a bank via a credit card company, and is issued by the credit card company. Also, the charge card indicates a card in which a payment may be made within a limit of an amount previously paid to the credit card provider. The gift certificate is issued by the credit card provider, and a predetermined amount of money is previously stored in the gift certificate. In the gift certificate, a payment may be made within a limit of the predetermined amount of money.

Also, in the present invention, a 'transaction account' indicates data stored in a predetermined storage device managed by the card company. The data includes information to manage a card user and information to manage a card in a card issuer (a card company issuing the card), with respect to all types of transaction cards such as the credit card or the prepaid card. The information to manage the card includes an approval limit with respect to the card, a payment statement about using the card, and the like. The information to manage the card user may include credit information of the card user. Any information to manage the card user or the card may be included in the transaction account. Particularly, in the present invention, a single complex transaction card may be used as both the credit card and the prepaid card, and thus a plurality of transaction accounts, which includes information about the credit card and prepaid card, respectively, may be associated with the complex transaction card.

Also, in the present invention, the transaction account may be activated or deactivated. An activation of the transaction account indicates a payment may be made using the transaction account. In a payment system in a conventional art, since a single transaction account is connected to a single transaction card, the transaction account connected to the transaction card maintains an activation status while using the transaction card. However, in the present invention, a single complex transaction card is connected to two transaction accounts. Accordingly, as long as at least one of the two transaction accounts is activated, a payment transaction may be performed using the complex transaction card. Thus, the user may activate or deactivate the transaction account connected to the complex transaction card depending on a selection of the user.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation of processing a payment in a payment system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, when a user performs a payment transaction with respect to goods or services in a store affiliated with a card company 202 using a complex transaction card 201, a card terminal receives card identification information from the complex transaction card 201. Also, the card terminal transmits payment request information to a payment system 203. The payment request information includes the card identification information and a charge amount with respect to the payment. The payment system 203 determines whether to approve the payment of the charge amount based on the card identification information included in the payment request information. The payment system 203 stores an approval limit with respect to a credit card and a prepaid card in association with the complex transaction card 201. Accordingly, the payment system 203 identifies the approval limit with respect to the credit card and the prepaid card, associated with the complex transaction card 201, based on the card identification information included in the payment request information, and determines whether to approve the payment with respect to the charge amount included in the payment request information, based on the approval limit.

The complex transaction card 201 may be produced and released as a new card, and an existing transaction card may be used as the complex transaction card 201. Specifically, when a member of the existing transaction card separately requests the complex transaction card 201 and a new account is additionally assigned to an account with respect to the existing transaction card, the payment transaction may be embodied according to the present invention. The store affiliated with the card company 202 indicates an affiliate store implementing transactions with at least one of the credit card and the prepaid card. The store affiliated with the card company 202 has a terminal capable of processing the payment using the credit card or the prepaid card. The terminal may be connected to the payment system 203 via a communication network. As an example of the communication network, at least one of an Internet protocol (IP)-based Internet network, a fiber to the home optic communication (FTTH-O/C), an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network (B-ISDN), a cable television network (CATV) network, a Local Area Network (LAN), an Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), an Ethernet Firewall & Virtual Private Network (VPN), and a Loadbalancer & Content Delivery Network (CDN) may be used.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a payment system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the payment system 301 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a transaction account database 310, a payment request receiving unit 320, a transaction account identification unit 330, a payment approval unit 340, and a point management unit 350. Hereinafter, a function of each unit is described in detail. The transaction account database 310 stores a first transaction account with respect to a prepaid card and a second transaction account with respect to a credit card corresponding to a plurality of card identification numbers. The transaction account database 310 may include a database management system (DBMS), all kinds of recording media which may store data, and a program which may run in a computer to maintain and manage the data stored in the recording media. The DBMS includes Oracle, Microsoft Structured Query Language (MS-SQL), MySQL, DB2, and the like.

Also, the first transaction account and the second transaction account stored in the transaction account database 310 include an approval limit of each of the prepaid card and the credit card. The approval limit indicates a limit for a payment which may be made when a payment transaction is performed by a transaction account corresponding to the approval limit. The approval limit of a transaction account corresponding to the prepaid card is determined to correspond to a balance of an account of a predetermined bank associated with the transaction account. The approval limit of a transaction account corresponding to the credit card is determined according to a credit of a user, i.e. a charge amount (total amount) which may be used for a predetermined period of time. Also, the approval limit of the transaction account corresponding to the credit card may indicate information about an amount which may be paid for in a remaining period of the predetermined period of time. In this case, when the charge amount with respect to the payment is not greater than the approval limit, the payment is approved. Also, the approval limit of the transaction account corresponding to the credit card may indicate information about a total amount which may be used for the predetermined period of time. When an amount where a total amount, which was already paid for the predetermined period of time, is added to a charge amount of a present time is not greater than the approval limit, the payment is approved. In the present invention, although the approval limit indicates information about an amount which may be paid in the remaining period, the present invention is not limited to the described exemplary embodiments.

Also, the transaction account database 310 may include information about an activation status of each of the first transaction account and the second transaction account. According to the present invention, a plurality of transaction accounts is assigned to a single complex transaction card, and the user may selectively perform the payment transaction with respect to only an activated transaction account of the plurality of transaction accounts. The user may change a desired transaction account to the activation status or a deactivated status. Activating or deactivating the transaction status may be determined depending on a content of activation status information with respect to the transaction account included in the transaction account database 310. Accordingly, the first transaction account or the second transaction account may be activated or deactivated, depending on a selection of the user, by simply changing the activation status information of the transaction account database 310. Also, any method for setting whether to activate the transaction account may be used when a method sets a payment with respect to each transaction account available or unavailable. Also, the activation status and the deactivation status of the transaction account may be selected when issuing a card. Otherwise, after issuing the card, the user may simply change the activation status and the deactivation status by visiting the card company or a website, using a telephone, using an automated response system (ARS), and the like.

As an example, although each of the first transaction account and the second transaction account may be activated or deactivated, in the transaction account database 310, the payment transaction is performed using the activated transaction account from among the first transaction account and the second transaction account. Also, the transaction account database 310 may receive transaction account selection information from the user, and activate or deactivate at least one of the first transaction account and the second transaction account of the user. Accordingly, while the payment transaction is performed using the complex transaction card, the payment may be set to be performed by a desired payment method using any one of the credit card and the prepaid card.

Generally, a payment of the credit card is made on a set due date after using the credit card. Accordingly, a credit card user may use the credit card without a financial burden during a grace period (25 days to 50 days). However, a number of social issues due to mindless credit card use beyond a user's financial ability to repay are generated. Conversely, when using a debit (prepaid) card, an expenditure may be controlled by the user himself/herself within a balance of a bank account or a charged amount, and thus flagrant consumption may be prevented. Accordingly, the credit card user desires to use the prepaid card, or a prepaid card user desires to use the credit card depending on a user's determination.

In a conventional art, when a card user desires to use another type of card, the card user is required to go to the bank (card company) with the user's identification (ID) card and apply for an issuance of the other type of card, which causes an inconvenience.

In addition, a great amount of time, generally 15 days, is spent for sending a newly issued card to the card user after checking a credit of the card user.

According to the present invention, the card user may request the card company for a change of an existing transaction card to a credit card or a debit (prepaid) card by the telephone, on the Internet, and the like. Also, the card user may freely convert a currently used card to the credit card or the debit (prepaid) card in real time.

Also, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the transaction account database 310 may determine whether to activate the second transaction account based on credit information with respect to the first transaction account. Specifically, the second transaction account with respect to the credit card may be set to be activated only when a credit of the first transaction account with respect to the prepaid card satisfies a condition. Accordingly, when the credit card may not be issued due to a low credit rating of the user, the user may first activate only the prepaid card transaction account, and then when the credit rating is improved, the user may additionally activate the credit card transaction account. Accordingly, a membership reduction may be prevented.

Also, the transaction account database 310 may include priority information with respect to each of the first transaction account and the second transaction account.

The priority information designates a transaction account, which will be first used, from among the first transaction account and the second transaction account when the payment is made. The transaction account database 310 may store the priority information by receiving the priority information from the user.

Also, according to still another embodiment of the present invention, the transaction account database 310 may store a single transaction account by corresponding to single card identification information. The transaction account may include an approval limit with respect to each of the first transaction account and the second transaction account. In this case, the transaction account database 310 may include priority information with respect to each of the credit card and the prepaid card. The priority information may be received from the user or may be determined by the payment system 301. Also, the payment system 301 may determine the priority information based on a credit rating of the user, or based on a predetermined policy determined by a company operating the payment system 301. When the transaction account database 310 includes an approval limit with respect to each of the credit card and the prepaid card corresponding to the card identification information, and the approval limit with respect to each of the credit card and the prepaid card may be identified based on card identification information, another application with respect to the transaction account database 310 may be applied to the present invention.

The payment request receiving unit 320 receives payment request information including user card identification information and a charge amount from a store affiliated with the card company 302. The store affiliated with the card company 302 includes all types of stores where the payment transaction may be performed using the credit card. Also, the store affiliated with the card company 302 may include all websites where the payment transaction may be performed using the credit card on the web, e.g. an Internet shopping mall. In a brick-and-mortar store affiliated with the card company, card identification information, which is stored in a magnetic strip or an integrated circuit (IC) of the complex transaction card, may be identified using a credit card terminal. In an on-line store affiliated with the card company, a card number, an expiration date, and the like are received from the user, and the card identification information may be identified based on the received information. Also, the store affiliated with the card company 302 may use all methods which may identify the card identification information from the complex transaction card. Also, the payment request receiving unit 320 may receive the payment request information via a communication network connected to the store affiliated with the card company 302. The payment request receiving unit 320 may include a network interface which is connected to the communication network and capable of receiving/transmitting data. The transaction account identification unit 330 identifies the first transaction account and the second transaction account corresponding to a user card identification number by referring to the transaction account database 310. The user card identification number is included in the payment request information received from the payment request receiving unit 320. The transaction account identification unit 330 may identify only the activated transaction account of the first transaction account and the second transaction account corresponding to the user card identification number. Also, the transaction account identification unit 330 may identify both first transaction account and the second transaction account regardless of activation/deactivation.

Also, when the transaction account database 310 stores a single transaction account corresponding to a card identification number, the transaction account identification unit 330 may identify a single transaction account corresponding to the user card identification information. In this instance, the transaction account includes the approval limit with respect to each of the credit card and the prepaid card. When information about each of the credit card and the prepaid card including the approval limit may be identified based on the user card identification information, various applications depending on a configuration of the transaction account database 310 may be available.

The payment approval unit 340 determines whether to approve the payment of the charge amount based on an approval limit of an activated transaction account from among the transaction accounts identified by the transaction account identification unit 330. When a single transaction account is activated from among the identified transaction accounts, the payment is approved only when the charge amount is not greater than the approval limit of the activated transaction account.

Also, when both the first transaction account and the second transaction account are activated, the payment approval unit 340 first considers an approval limit of any one of the first transaction account and the second transaction account, and determines whether to approve the payment with respect to the charge amount. When the transaction account database 310 includes the priority information about the transaction accounts, a transaction account to be first considered is determined based on the priority information. Also, any one of the transaction accounts with respect to the prepaid card and the credit card may be first considered in every case. Also, when both the first transaction account and the second transaction account are activated, the payment approval unit 340 may additionally consider an approval limit of another transaction account when the charge amount is greater than the approval limit of the transaction account to be first considered. As an example, when the first transaction account with respect to the prepaid card is first considered, and the charge amount is greater than a balance of an account corresponding to the first transaction account, the payment within a range of the balance of the account is approved. With respect to the excessive amount, the payment may be approved by considering the approval limit of the second transaction account with respect to the credit card.

The point management unit 350 provides points corresponding to the charge amount, approved by the payment approval unit 340, by corresponding to the card identification information. Specifically, the point management unit 350 sums the points corresponding to the charge amount of each of the first transaction account and the second transaction account and provides the summed points with respect to the card identification information. In a conventional art, when using the prepaid card and the credit card, respectively, a point of each of the prepaid card and the credit card is managed separately. Accordingly, the user may not be provided with a desired service. However, according to the present invention, the points corresponding to the card identification information which covers both the prepaid card and the credit card are provided. Accordingly, the points may be completely managed from the viewpoint of both the user and a credit card company. Specifically, as opposed to the conventional art, although an approval limit of a transaction card is unavailable, a change to another transaction card may be freely made or the transaction card may be used with the other card. Thus, a credit rating with respect to a single card may be improved and a point accumulation may be efficiently managed.

Although it is described that a single complex transaction card includes the prepaid card and the credit card, a variety of transaction cards may be used in association with the complex transaction card depending on a service of the card company. Also, those skilled in the related arts may easily apply a transaction card, provided by the card company, excluding the prepaid card and the credit card, to the present invention. Further, a number of transaction accounts corresponding to a number of provided transaction cards may additionally increase.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a transaction account database when storing single card identification information by associating the single card identification information with two transaction accounts in a payment system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a transaction account database 310 may store an account classification field, an activation field, a priority field, and an approval limit field corresponding to card identification information. The account classification field indicates which one of a prepaid card and a credit card is associated with an account. The activation field indicates whether each account is activated. The priority field includes priority information of each account. The approval limit field includes approval limit information with respect to each account. As an example, in association with a complex transaction card having card identification information of "B412", a first transaction account with respect to the prepaid card and a second transaction account with respect to the credit card-omit may be stored. An approval limit of the first transaction account is 300,000 won, and an approval limit of the second transaction account is 200,000 won. The first transaction account may be activated and the second transaction account may be deactivated. Accordingly, when a payment transaction is performed using the complex transaction card having the card identification information of "B412", a payment up to 300,000 won is made via the first transaction account with respect to the prepaid card, and a payment with respect to an amount more than 300,000 won is not approved. To process the payment with respect to the amount more than 300,000 won, the user is required to input transaction account selection information which requests an activation of the second transaction account, and activate the second transaction account.

Also, in association with a complex transaction card having card identification information of "B493", a first transaction account with respect to the prepaid card and a second transaction account with respect to the credit card may be stored. An approval limit of the first transaction account is 1 ,000,000 won, and an approval limit of the second transaction account is 1,000,000 won. Also, priority of the second transaction account may be stored to be higher than priority of the first transaction account. Accordingly, when a payment transaction is performed using the complex transaction card having the card identification information of "B493", a payment up to 1,000,000 won is made via the second transaction account, and a payment with respect to more than 1 ,000,000 won is processed using the first transaction account. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a transaction account database when a single transaction account corresponding to single card identification information includes two approval limits in a payment system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a transaction account database 310 may store a prepaid card approval limit field storing an approval limit of a prepaid card, a prepaid card priority field storing a priority of the prepaid card, a credit card approval limit field storing an approval limit of a credit card, and a credit card priority field storing a priority of the credit card, corresponding to card identification information. As an example, in association with a complex transaction card having card identification information of "BlOl", 500,000 won is stored as the approval limit of the prepaid card, and 100,000 won is stored as the approval limit of the credit card. Also, the credit card has higher priority than the prepaid card. Accordingly, when a payment transaction is performed using the complex transaction card having the card identification information of "BlOl", a payment up to 100,000 won is made according to the approval limit of the credit card, and a payment with respect to more than 100,000 won is made according to the approval limit of the prepaid card. When a charge amount is greater than 500,000 won which is the approval limit of the prepaid card, the payment is not approved. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a charge slip and a transaction statement with respect to a payment processed by a payment system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 6, a charge slip 601 when 77,000 won is paid at a "OO gas station" using a complex transaction card having card identification information of "B493", described in FIG. 5, is illustrated. As illustrated in a total 610 of FIG. 6, a payment with respect to 77,000 won is completed the same as a payment using a credit card.

A first transaction account transaction statement 602 and a second transaction account transaction statement 603 illustrates a transaction statement of a first transaction account and a transaction statement of a second transaction account, respectively, with respect to the complex transaction card having the card identification information of "B493".

As illustrated in FIG. 6, a total of six payments are made using the complex transaction card before April 10^th, 2006, illustrated in the charge slip 601, and a priority of the second transaction account with respect to the credit card is higher than a priority of the first transaction account with respect to the prepaid card in the complex transaction card. Accordingly, the total six payments are made using the second transaction account. Since an initial approval limit of the second transaction account is 1,000,000 won, the approval limit of the second transaction account on 10^th April 2006 after the total six payments corresponding to 980,000 won in total are made becomes 20,000 won.

However, as illustrated in the charge slip 601 of FIG. 6, a charge amount of 77,000 won is paid at the "oo gas station" on April 10^th, 2006, and thus the charge amount is greater than the approval limit of the second transaction account. Accordingly, as illustrated in records 620 and 630 of FIG. 6, the payment with respect to the approval limit, i.e. 20,000 won, is made through the second transaction account, and a payment with respect to a remaining amount of 57,000 won is made through the first transaction account. Since the approval limit of the first transaction account is 1,000,000 won, the payment with respect to 57,000 won may be made.

As described above, when the charge amount is greater than an approval limit of a transaction account with a higher priority, the payment system according to the present invention may process the payment through another transaction account. Accordingly, a user using the payment system according to the present invention by the complex transaction card may pay even when the charge amount is greater than an approval limit of one transaction account. Thus, an approval limit where approval limits of a plurality of cards are summed may be used while using a single card, and thereby may cause an extension of an approval limit. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen when a payment transaction is performed on-line in a payment system according to the present invention. In FIG. 7, a screen, displayed on a display device of a user terminal while the payment transaction is performed when a payment with respect to 150,000 won is processed using a complex transaction card in an Internet shopping mall, is illustrated. A screen 710 illustrates a screen to process the payment with respect to 150,000 won by inputting a card number and an expiration date of the complex transaction card. As illustrated, when processing the payment in the Internet shopping mall on the web, the payment is processed by inputting the card number and the expiration date of the complex transaction card, similarly to a credit card. When a user inputs the card number and the expiration date of the complex transaction card, an Internet server receiving information about the card number and the expiration date transmits the information to the payment system. The payment system identifies card identification information based on the information, and processes the payment based on the card identification information.

When processing the payment based on the identified card identification information, a screen 720 illustrates a screen displayed when the payment is not made since a charge amount is greater than an approval limit of an activated transaction account. When the user activates a second transaction account with respect to a credit card and deactivates a first transaction account with respect to a prepaid card in association with the complex transaction card, and the charge amount of 150,000 won is greater than an approval limit of the second transaction account, the payment may not be approved regardless of an approval limit of the first transaction account.

A screen 730 illustrates a screen to inquire whether the user desires to activate the deactivated first transaction account. As illustrated, when the charge amount is greater than an approval limit of the activated transaction account and a deactivated transaction account exists, the payment system may inquire whether the user desires to activate the deactivated transaction account. When the user makes a selection to activate the deactivated transaction account, the payment system activates the deactivated first transaction account. When the charge amount is greater than the approval limit of the activated transaction account, whether to activate the deactivated transaction account may be instantly asked to the user on-line. Accordingly, the deactivated transaction account may be simply activated and used without a separate account activation operation.

A screen 740 illustrates a screen indicating the charge amount is successfully paid through the activated first transaction account. As illustrated, the complex transaction card may additionally process a payment up to the approval limit of the first transaction account by activating the deactivated first transaction account. Accordingly, the payment with respect to 150,000 won, which may not be approved since the charge amount is greater than the approval limit of the second transaction account, is approved by additionally considering the approval limit of the first transaction account.

As described above, according to the present invention, the user may determine whether to activate or deactivate a transaction account associated with the complex transaction card of the user. Accordingly, the user may usually use the complex transaction card as a general credit card having a single account, and when an extension of an approval limit is suddenly required, the user may use the complex transaction card by activating another account.

In operation S801, a transaction account database is maintained. The transaction account database stores a first transaction account with respect to a prepaid card and a second transaction account with respect to a credit card corresponding to a plurality of card identification numbers. The first transaction account and the second transaction account include an approval limit of each of the prepaid card and the credit card. The approval limit indicates a limit for a payment which may be made when a payment transaction is performed by a transaction account corresponding to the approval limit.

Also, the transaction account database maintained in operation S801 may include an activation status with respect to each of the first transaction account and the second transaction account. Each of the first transaction account and the second transaction account may be activated or deactivated. In a payment system 301, the payment is processed using an activated transaction account from among the first transaction account and the second transaction account. Also, in operation S801, transaction account selection information is received from a user, and at least one of the first transaction account and the second transaction account of the user may be activated or deactivated based on the transaction account selection information.

Also, the transaction account database maintained in operation S801 may include priority information with respect to each of the first transaction account and the second transaction account. The priority information designates a transaction account which will be first used, from among the first transaction account and the second transaction account when the payment transaction is performed. In operation S 801, the priority information may be received from the user and stored.

Also, according to another embodiment of the present invention, in operation S 801, a transaction account database may store a single transaction account corresponding to single card identification information. The transaction account may include an approval limit with respect to each of the credit card and the prepaid card. In this case, the transaction account database may include priority information with respect to each of the credit card and the prepaid card, and the priority information may be received from a user. A variety of applications may be made to maintain the transaction account database. In operation S802, payment request information is received from a store affiliated with a card company. The payment request information includes user card identification information and a charge amount. The store affiliated with the card company includes all types of stores where the payment transaction may be performed using the credit card. Also, the store affiliated with the card company may include all websites where the payment transaction may be performed using the credit card on the web, e.g. an Internet shopping mall. In a brick-and-mortar store affiliated with the card company, card identification information, which is stored in a magnetic strip or an IC of the complex transaction card, may be identified using a credit card terminal. In an on-line store affiliated with the card company, a card number, an expiration date, and the like, are received from the user, and the card identification information may be identified based on the received information. Also, the store affiliated with the card company may use all methods which may identify the card identification information from the complex transaction card. Also, in operation S802, the payment request information may be received using a predetermined network interface via a communication network connected to the store affiliated with the card company.

In operation S 803, the first transaction account and the second transaction account corresponding to card identification information, received in operation S802, are identified by referring to the transaction account database. In operation S803, only activated transaction accounts may be identified from among the first transaction account and the second transaction account corresponding to the user card identification number. Also, both the first transaction account and the second transaction account may be identified regardless of the activation status. Also, in operation S803, when the transaction account database stores and maintains the single transaction account including the approval limit with respect to each of the credit card and the prepaid card corresponding to the user card identification number in operation S 801, the single transaction account corresponding to the user card identification information may be identified.

In operation S804, whether to approve a payment of the charge amount, received in operation S802, is determined based on an approval limit of an activated transaction account from among the transaction accounts identified in operation S803. When only a single transaction account is activated from among the identified transaction accounts, the payment is approved when the charge amount is not greater than the approval limit of the activated transaction account.

Also, in operation S 804, when both the first transaction account and the second transaction account are activated, whether to approve the payment of the charge amount is determined by first considering any one of the first transaction account and the second transaction account. When the transaction account database includes the priority information about a transaction account, a transaction account to be first considered is determined based on the priority information. Also, any one of the transaction accounts with respect to the prepaid card and the credit card may be first considered all the time. Also, in operation S804, when both the first transaction account and the second transaction account are activated, an approval limit of another transaction account may be additionally considered when the charge amount is greater than an approval limit of the transaction account to be first considered.

The above-described embodiment of the present invention may be recorded in computer-readable media including program instructions to implement various operations embodied by a computer. The media may also include, alone or in combination with the program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like. The media and program instructions may be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or they may be of the kind well-known and available to those having skill in the computer software arts. Examples of computer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD ROM disks and DVD; magneto-optical media such as optical disks; and hardware devices that are specially configured to store and perform program instructions, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, and the like. The media may also be a transmission medium such as optical or metallic lines, wave guides, etc. including a carrier wave transmitting signals specifying the program instructions, data structures, etc. Examples of program instructions include both machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containing higher level code that may be executed by the computer using an interpreter. The described hardware devices may be configured to act as one or more software modules in order to perform the operations of the above-described embodiments of the present invention.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Industrial Applicability

According to the present invention, a payment system and method may use a complex transaction card as both a prepaid card and a credit card according to a user's selection.

According to the present invention, a payment system and method, when a payment transaction is performed using a complex transaction card and a charge amount is greater than any one of approval limits of a credit card and a prepaid card, additionally considers an approval limit of another card, and thereby may conveniently increase the approval limits without a separate operation. When the charge amount is greater than an approval limit of a single transaction card, the payment system and method may additionally and automatically use an approval limit of another transaction card without an approval rejection or a separate account verification.

According to the present invention, in a payment system and method, a user may designate a priority with respect to approval limits of a credit card and a prepaid card, and thus the approval limit of a card designated by the user is first considered.

According to the present invention, in a payment system and method, a user may activate or deactivate at least one of a credit card and a prepaid card, and thus a complex transaction card may be used when necessary.

According to the present invention, a payment system and method may integratedly manage points with respect to a use of a credit card and a prepaid card. According to the present invention, a payment system and method may increase an approval limit of a complex transaction card by simply depositing cash in a valid account of a bank associated with a prepaid card by a user.

According to the present invention, a payment system and method may use a prepaid card in a store where the prepaid card may not be used, by adding an approval limit of the prepaid card to a complex transaction card when a payment transaction is performed in the same way as a credit card.

According to the present invention, a payment system and method simplifies an issuing and a payment process through a single complex transaction card, and thereby may reduce resources and costs of a system due to an issuance and payment with respect to a plurality of transaction cards.

Claims

1. A payment system for a complex transaction card capable of being used as a prepaid card and a credit card using single card identification information, the payment system comprising: a transaction account database storing a first transaction account with respect to the prepaid card and a second transaction account with respect to the credit card corresponding to a plurality of card identification numbers, the transaction account database comprising an activation status and an approval limit with respect to the first transaction account and the second transaction account; a payment request receiving unit receiving payment request information including user card identification information and a charge amount from a store affiliated with a card company; a transaction account identification unit identifying the first transaction account and the second transaction account corresponding to the user card identification information by referring to the transaction account database; and a payment approval unit determining whether to approve a payment of the charge amount based on the activation status of the identified first transaction account and second transaction account and an approval limit of an activated transaction account.

2. The payment system of claim 1, wherein: the transaction account database includes priority information with respect to the first transaction account and the second transaction account; and the payment approval unit first considers an approval limit of a transaction account with a higher priority when both the first transaction account and the second transaction account are activated, and determines whether to approve the payment by additionally considering an approval limit of another transaction account when the charge amount is greater than the approval limit.

3. The payment system of claim 2, wherein the transaction account database receives the priority information from a user.

4. The payment system of claim 1, wherein the transaction account database receives transaction account selection information from a user, and activates or deactivates at least one of the first transaction account and the second transaction account of the user based on the transaction account selection information.

5. The payment system of claim 1, wherein the transaction account database determines whether to activate the second transaction account based on credit information with respect to the first transaction account.

6. The payment system of claim 1, wherein the approval limit of the first transaction account is determined according to a balance of a valid account of a predetermined bank.

7. The payment system of claim 1, wherein the prepaid card is any one of a debit card and a check card.

8. The payment system of claim 1 , further comprising: a point management unit summing points corresponding to a charge amount of each of the first transaction account and the second transaction account, and providing the summed points with respect to the user card identification information.

9. The payment system of claim 1, wherein the store affiliated with the card company is an affiliate store implementing transactions with at least one of the credit card and the prepaid card.

10. A payment system for a complex transaction card capable of being used as a prepaid card and a credit card using single card identification information, the payment system comprising: a transaction account database storing a transaction account including an approval limit with respect to each of the credit card and the prepaid card corresponding to a plurality of card identification numbers; a payment request receiving unit receiving payment request information including user card identification information and a charge amount from a store affiliated with a card company; a transaction account identification unit identifying a transaction account corresponding to the user card identification information by referring to the transaction account database; and a payment approval unit determining whether to approve a payment of the charge amount based on an approval limit included in the identified transaction account.

11. The payment system of claim 10, wherein, when the charge amount is greater than any one of the approval limits with respect to the credit card and the prepaid card, the payment approval unit determines whether to approve the payment by additionally considering an approval limit of another card.

12. The payment system of claim 10, wherein: the transaction account further includes priority information with respect to the credit card and the prepaid card; and the payment approval unit, when the charge amount is greater than an approval limit of a card with a higher priority from among the credit card and the prepaid card, determines whether to approve the payment by additionally considering an approval limit of another card.

13. A payment method for a complex transaction card capable of being used as a prepaid card and a credit card using single card identification information, the payment method comprising: maintaining a transaction account database storing a first transaction account with respect to the prepaid card and a second transaction account with respect to the credit card corresponding to a plurality of card identification numbers, the transaction account database comprising an activation status and an approval limit with respect to the first transaction account and the second transaction account; receiving payment request information including user card identification information and a charge amount from a store affiliated with a card company; identifying the first transaction account and the second transaction account corresponding to the user card identification information by referring to the transaction account database; and determining whether to approve a payment of the charge amount based on the activation status of the identified first transaction account and second transaction account and an approval limit of an activated transaction account.

14. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for implementing the method according to claim 13.