WO2002005165A1

WO2002005165A1 - Method and system for providing temporary credit card number on internet

Info

Publication number: WO2002005165A1
Application number: PCT/KR2001/001171
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dong-Shin Suh
Original assignee: Suh Dong Shin
Priority date: 2000-07-08
Filing date: 2001-07-09
Publication date: 2002-01-17
Also published as: AU2001271090A1

Abstract

A method and system for providing a temporary credit card number on the internet wherein a temporary credit card number is given so as to protect a user of a credit card from an exposure of a credit card number. In the method, a server for providing a temporary credit card number issues a temporary credit card number to a buyer possessing a credit card. The internet cite or the store gets a confirmation as to whether or not the temporary credit card number is authorized, from the temporary credit card number providing server. The temporary credit card number providing server gets a confirmation as to whether or not a credit card corresponding to the temporary credit card number is authorized, from a credit card agency for the buyer.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING TEMPORARY CREDIT CARD

NUMBER ON INTERNET

Technical Field

This invention relates to a technique of providing a temporary credit card number on the internet, and more particularly to a method and system for providing a temporary credit card number on the internet wherein a temporary credit card number is given for the purpose of protecting a user of a credit card from a damage caused by an exposure of a credit card number.

Background Art

Nowadays, a convenience of a credit card has been led to a dramatic increase in the number of users of the credit card. The credit card is used for buying goods at a daily life as well as at various internet sites.

A purchase using the credit card on the internet requires a non-exposure of a credit card number to a malicious person. To this end, a network security technique has recently been applied for a purchase using the credit card on the internet. However, such an existent network security technique fails to provide a complete protection against an exposure of the credit card number.

If the credit card number is exposed to a malicious user, then a credit card owner is badly damaged by the malicious user. For instance, the malicious user may buy goods or be loaned out from a financial agency on the internet through the exposed card number. For this reason, a credit card owner hesitates to use his credit card on the internet. This causes an obstacle to a reliable society.

However, when a credit card owner uses his credit card at a daily life (e.g., a department store or a restaurant, etc.), he cannot avoid an exposure of his credit card number to a seller or an employee. Moreover, a conventional credit card cannot be transferred to another person like cash nor electronic cash.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a method and system for providing a temporary credit card number on the internet wherein a temporary credit card number is given for the purpose of protecting a user of a credit card from a damage caused by an exposure of a credit card number.

In order to achieve these and other objectives of the invention, a method of providing a temporary credit card number on the internet according to one aspect of the present invention includes the steps of allowing a temporary credit card number providing server to issue a temporary credit card number to a buyer possessing a credit card; allowing the buyer to purchase goods from at least one of an internet site and a store using the temporary credit card number; allowing the temporary credit card providing server to confirm an acknowledgement of the temporary credit card number requested by the internet site or the store; allowing a credit card agency for the buyer to confirm ^■ an approval of the credit card corresponding to the temporary credit card number requested by the temporary credit card number providing server; allowing the internet site or the store having sold the goods to demand payment of a price of the goods from the temporary credit card number providing server and to be paid by the temporary credit card number providing server; allowing the temporary credit card number providing server to demand payment of the money paid by himself from the credit card agency and to be paid by the credit card agency; and allowing the credit card agency to demand payment of the money paid by himself from the buyer and to be paid by the buyer.

In the method, the temporary credit card providing server is installed at the credit card agency.

The buyer gets the temporary credit card number from the temporary credit card number providing server using any one of his terminal, computer and cellular phone. _

The temporary credit card number providing server forbids the buyer to use the temporary credit card number after once use of the temporary credit card number was made.

The buyer can set an available money limit of the temporary credit card number upon issuing of the temporary credit card number.

The temporary credit card number in which said available money limit has been set can be transferred.

Said method of providing a temporary credit card number on the internet further includes the step of allowing a financial agency to approve a credit card number corresponding to the temporary credit card number.

In the method, a temporary card number issuing program is stored in the temporary credit card number providing server, and the buyer downloads the temporary card number issuing program and installs it into his terminal so as to get the temporary r credit card number.

When an icon of the temporary card number issuing program is moved into the internet selling site by the buyer on a drag & drop basis, the temporary card number issuing program allows the temporary credit card number providing server to issue the temporary credit card number and transfers it to the internet selling site.

Said method of providing a temporary credit card number on the internet further includes the step of registering the buyer in the temporary credit card- number providing server as a subscriber so that the buyer can get the temporary credit card number .

In the method, said subscriber registration step includes allowing the buyer to input his personal information and password; confirming a financial credit status of the buyer using the input personal information; if said financial credit status of the buyer is good, storing said personal information and password in a subscriber database; and issuing an identifier to the buyer having said personal information and password stored in the subscriber database.

Said step of issuing the temporary credit card number includes allowing the buyer to input said identifier and password to the temporary credit card number providing server; confirming whether or not the input identifier and password has been used; and if the input, identifier and password is available, creating the temporary credit card number and then transferring it to the buyer and storing it in a temporary credit card database.

Said step of confirming an acknowledgement of the temporary credit card number includes receiving the temporary credit card number; and comparing the input temporary credit card number with the temporary credit card number stored in the temporary credit card database to confirm an acknowledgement of the temporary credit card number.

A system for providing a temporary credit card number on the internet according to another aspect of the present invention includes a membership registration server for making a subscriber registration requested by a buyer; a subscriber database for storing said subscriber registration information; a temporary credit card number issuing server for issuing a temporary credit card number to the buyer at a request of the buyer or a temporary card number issuing program supplied to the buyer by the membership registration server upon registration of the subscriber; a temporary credit card number approval server for confirming an acknowledgement of the temporary credit card number; and a money server for paying the price of goods which the buyer has purchased using the temporary credit card number and for receiving the paid money from the buyer.

The system for providing a temporary credit card number on the internet further includes a credit database, being installed at the temporary credit card number approval server, for storing financial credit information of the buyer.

The system for providing a temporary credit card number on the internet further includes a temporary credit card database, being connected to the temporary credit card number issuing server, the temporary credit card number approval, server and the money server, . for storing the issued temporary credit card number.

In the system, the temporary credit card- number stored in the temporary credit card database becomes invalid by the temporary credit card number approval server after it was used once .

Brief Description of Drawings

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a system for providing a temporary credit card number on the internet according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2A and 2B is a flow chart representing an operation procedure of the temporary credit card number providing system shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a system for providing a temporary credit card number on the internet according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4A and 4B is a flow chart representing an operation procedure of the temporary credit card number providing system shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a system for providing a temporary credit card number on the internet according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6A and 6B is a flow chart representing an operation procedure of the temporary credit card number providing system shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7A and 7B is a flow chart representing a method of providing a temporary credit card number according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 8A and 8B is a flow chart representing a method of providing a temporary credit card ^' umber according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

-Fig. 9 is a detailed view of the temporary credit card number providing server shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a flow chart representing an operation procedure of the membership registration server shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a flow chart representing an operation procedure of the temporary credit card number issuing server shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 12 is a flow chart representing an operation procedure of the temporary credit card number acknowledgment server shown in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 13 is a flow chart representing an operation procedure of the money server shown in Fig. 9.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a system for providing a temporary credit card number on the internet according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, the temporary credit card number providing system according to the first embodiment includes a buyer 2, a temporary credit card number providing server 8 for providing a temporary credit card number, an internet selling site 6, a credit card agency 10 issuing a credit card to the buyer 2, and a financial agency 12. The buyer 2, the temporary credit card number providing server 8 and the internet selling site β are mutually connected to each other over an internet 4. The financial agency 12, the credit card agency 10, the internet selling site 6 and the temporary credit card number providing server 8 are mutually connected to each other over a financial network 14. The buyer 2 is connected to the internet 4 by means of a computer, a PDA (personal data association) terminal or a cellular phone, etc.

Hereinafter, an operation procedure of the temporary credit card number providing system based on the internet according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 2A and 2B.

Referring to Fig. 2A and 2B, first, the buyer 2 requests the credit card agency 10 to issue a credit card at the internet or the off line at step S2. At step S4, the credit card agency 10 having been requested to issue a credit card by the buyer 2 issues a credit card to the buyer 2 after examining a necessary card-issuing condition for the buyer 2. At step Sβ, the card- issued buyer 2 gains access to the temporary credit card number providing server 8. At step S8, the buyer 2 having accessed to the temporary credit card number providing server 8 is registered as a subscriber to the. temporary credit card number providing server 8.

At step S10, the buyer 2 having registered as a subscriber to the temporary credit card number providing server 8 gains access to the internet selling site 6. At- step S12, the internet selling site 6 displays his goods on a terminal (or cellular phone) of the buyer 2. At step S14, the buyer 2 determines a purchase of goods necessary for himself in the goods supplied at the internet selling site 6. Then, the buyer 2 gains access to the temporary credit card number providing server 8 to request an issue of temporary • credit card number at step S16.

At step S18, the temporary credit card number providing server 8 having requested to issue a temporary credit card number assigns a temporary credit card number to the buyer 2. At step S20, the buyer 2 to whom a temporary credit card number has been assigned purchases goods necessary for himself using the temporary credit card number. -At this time, the internet selling site 6 requests an approval of the temporary credit card number to the financial agency 12 at step S22. At step S24, the financial agency 12 requests an acknowledgment of the temporary credit card number applied from the internet selling site 6 to the temporary credit card number providing server 8.

At step S26, the temporary credit card number providing server 8 requests an acknowledgment of a credit card number corresponding to the temporary credit card number (i.e., a real credit card number of the buyer 2) to the financial agency 12. At step S26, the financial agency 12 requests an acknowledgment of the credit card number applied from the temporary credit card number providing server 8 to the credit card agency 10. At step 30, the credit -card agency 10 confirms a use of the credit card transmitted from the financial agency 12 to acknowledge the credit card number. At step S32, the financial agency 12 informs the temporary credit card number providing server 8 of an acknowledgment of the credit card number from the credit card agency 10.

At step S34, the temporary credit card number providing server 8 informed an acknowledgment of ^• the real credit card of the buyer 2 from the financial agency 12 approves the temporary credit card number of the buyer 2. At step 35, the temporary credit card number approved at the step S34 becomes invalid. At step S36, the financial agency 12 obtaining an approval of the temporary credit card number from the temporary credit card number providing server 8 at the step 34 approves a use of the temporary credit card number. Then, at steps S38 and S40, the internet selling site 6 obtaining an approval of the temporary credit card number of the buyer 2 from the financial agency 12 delivers the purchased goods to the buyer 2 and the buyer 2 receives the goods delivered from the internet selling site 6.

Thereafter, the internet selling site 6 demands payment of an amount of money corresponding to a price of. the goods purchased by the buyer 2 from the temporary credit card number providing server 8 and the temporary credit card number providing server 8 pays the demanded money to the internet sell site 6 at steps S42, S44 and S46. Then, the temporary credit card number providing server 8 demands payment of an amount of money paid by himself from the credit card agency 10 and the credit card agency 10 pays the demanded money to the temporary credit card number providing server 8 at steps S48, S50 and S52.

Meanwhile, the credit card agency 10 demands payment of an amount of money paid by himself from the buyer 2 and the buyer 2 pays the demanded money to the credit card agency 10 at steps S54, S56 and S58.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the buyer 2 can purchase goods from the internet selling site 6 using the temporary credit card number. Such a temporary credit card number can be used only once, so that it becomes possible to prevent a damage of the buyer 2 caused by an exposure of the credit card number. Fig. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a system for providing a temporary credit card number on the internet according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 3, the temporary credit card number providing system according to the second embodiment includes a buyer 2, a credit card agency 16 issuing a credit card to the buyer 2, an internet selling site 6 and a financial agency 12. In the second embodiment, the credit card agency 16 is provided with the temporary credit card number providing server 8 shown in Fig. 1.

The buyer 2, the internet selling site 6 and the credit card agency 16 are mutually connected to each other over an internet 4. The financial agency 12, the credit card agency 16 and the internet selling site 6 are mutually connected to each other over a financial network 14. The buyer 2 is connected to the internet 4 by means of a computer, a PDA (personal data association) terminal or a cellular phone, etc.

Hereinafter, an operation procedure of the temporary credit card number providing system based on the internet according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 4A and 4B.

Referring to Fig. 4A and 4B, first, the buyer 2 requests the credit card agency 16 to issue a credit card at the internet or the off line at step S60. At step S62, the credit card agency 16 having been requested to issue a credit card by the buyer 2 issues a credit card to the buyer 2 after examining a necessary card-issuing condition for the buyer 2. At step S64, the card- issued buyer 2 gains access to the credit card agency to request a temporary credit card number -service subscription. At step S66, the credit card agency 16 registers the buyer 2 having requested a temporary credit card number service subscription as a subscriber.

At step S68, the buyer 2 having registered as a subscriber gains access to the internet selling site 6. At step S70, the internet selling site 6 displays his goods on a terminal (or cellular phone) of the buyer 2. At step S72, the buyer 2 determines a purchase of goods necessary for himself in the goods supplied by the internet selling site 6. Then, the buyer 2 gains access to the credit card agency 16 to request an issue of temporary credit card number at step S74.

At step S76, the credit card agency 16 having requested to issue a temporary credit card number assigns a temporary credit card number to the buyer 2. At step S78, the buyer 2 to whom a temporary credit card number has been assigned purchases goods necessary to himself using the temporary credit card number. At this time, the internet selling site -6 requests an approval of the temporary credit card number to the financial agency 12 at step S80. At step S82-, the financial agency 12 requests an acknowledgment of the temporary credit card number to the credit card agency 16.

At step S84, the credit card agency 16 examines an availability of a credit card number corresponding to the temporary credit card number (i.e., a real credit card number of the buyer 2) . At step S85, if the credit card number corresponding to the temporary credit card number is available at the step S84, then the credit card agency 16 approves a use of the temporary credit card number. The temporary credit card number approved at the step S84 becomes invalid. At step S86, the financial agency 12 obtaining an approval of the temporary credit card number from the credit card agency 16 informs the internet selling site 6 of an approval of the temporary credit card number. Then, at steps S88 and S90, the internet selling site 6 obtaining an approval of the temporary credit card number of the buyer 2 from the financial agency 12 delivers the purchased goods to the buyer 2 and the buyer 2 receives the goods delivered from the internet selling site 6.

Thereafter, the internet selling site 6 demands payment of an amount of money corresponding to a price of the goods purchased by the buyer 2 from the credit card agency 16 and the credit card agency 16 pays the demanded money to the internet sell site 6 at steps S92, S94 and S98. Meanwhile, the credit card agency 16 demands payment of an amount of money paid by himself from the buyer 2 and the buyer 2 pays the demanded money to the credit card agency 16 at steps S96, S100 and S102.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the buyer 2 can purchase goods from the internet selling site 6 using the temporary credit card number. Such a temporary credit card number can be used only once, so that it becomes possible to prevent a damage of the buyer 2 caused by an exposure of the credit card number. Furthermore, the second embodiment of the present invention can provide the buyer 2 with the temporary credit card number more simply than the first embodiment because it allows the credit card agency 16 to provide the temporary credit card number.

In the mean time, according to the present invention, the temporary credit card number becomes available for the internet selling site 6 as well as for a daily life as shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a system for providing a temporary credit card number on the internet according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 5, the temporary credit card number providing system according to the third embodiment includes a buyer 2, a credit card agency 16 issuing a credit card to the buyer 2, a store 18 selling a desired goods and a financial agency 12. In the third embodiment, the credit card agency 16 is provided with the temporary cred.it card number providing server 8 shown in Fig. 1.

The buyer 2 and the credit card agency 16 are mutually connected to each other over an internet 4. The financial agency 12 and the credit card agency 16 are mutually connected to each other over a financial network 14.

Hereinafter, an operation procedure of the temporary credit card number providing system based on the internet according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 6A and 6B.

Referring to Fig. 6A and 6B, first, the buyer 2 requests the credit card agency 16 to issue a credit card at the internet or the off line at step S104. At step S106, the credit card agency 16 having been requested to issue a credit card by the buyer 2 issues a credit card to the buyer 2 after examining a necessary card-issuing condition for the buyer 2. At step S108, the card- issued buyer 2 gains access to the credit card agency 16 to apply for a temporary credit card number service subscription. At step S110, the credit card agency 16 registers the buyer 2 having applying for a temporary credit card number service subscription as a subscriber.

The buyer 2 having registered as a subscriber to the credit card agency 16 visits the store 18 to select goods required for himself in the goods supplied by the store 18 at steps S112, S114 and S116. Then, the buyer 2 gains access to the credit card agency 16 by means of a cellular phone and the like (i.e., portable and internet-available equipment). At step 118, the buyer 2 having access to the credit card agency 16 requests the credit card agency 16 to issue a temporary credit card number to himself.

At step S120, the credit card agency 16 having requested to issue a temporary credit card number assigns a temporary credit card number to the buyer 2. At step S122, the buyer 2 to whom a temporary credit card number has been assigned purchases goods required for himself using the temporary credit card number. At this time, the store 18 requests an approval of the temporary credit card number to the financial agency 12 at step S124.

At step S126, the financial agency 12 requests an acknowledgment of the temporary credit card number to the credit card agency 16. At step S128, the credit card agency 16 examines an availability of a credit card number corresponding to the temporary credit card number (i.e., a real credit card number of the buyer 2) . At step S129, if the credit card number corresponding to the temporary credit card number is available at the step S84, then the credit card agency 16 approves a use ^' of the temporary credit card number. The temporary credit card number approved at the step S128 becomes invalid. At step S130, the financial agency 12 obtaining an approval of the temporary credit card number from the credit card agency 16 informs the store 18 of an approval of the temporary credit card number.

Then, at steps S132 and S134, the store 18 obtaining an approval of the temporary credit card number of the buyer 2_. from the financial agency 12 conveys the purchased goods to^' the buyer 2 and the buyer 2 receives the goods from the store 18.

Thereafter, the store 18 demands payment of an amount of money corresponding to a price of the^' goods purchased by the buyer 2 from the credit card agency 16 and the credit card agency 16 pays the demanded money to the store 18 at steps S136, S138 and S140. Meanwhile, the credit card agency 16 demands payment of an amount of money paid by himself from the buyer 2 and the buyer 2 pays the demanded money to the credit card agency 16 at steps S142, S144 and S146.

As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the buyer 2 can purchase goods from the store 18 using the temporary credit card number. Such a temporary credit card number can be used only once, so that it becomes possible to prevent a damage of the buyer 2 caused by an exposure of the credit card number.

Fig. 7A and 7B is a flow chart representing a method of providing a temporary credit card number according to a fourth e^'mbodiment of the present invention.

An operation procedure in Fig. 7A and 7B will be described in conjunction with Fig. 3 below.

Referring to Fig. 7A and 7B, first, the buyer 2 requests the credit card agency 16 to issue a credit card at the internet or the off line at step S150. At step S152, the credit card agency 16 having been, requested to issue a credit card by the buyer 2 issues a credit card - to the buyer 2 after examining a necessary card-issuing condition for the buyer 2. At step S154, the card- issued buyer 2 gains access to the credit card agency 16 to 5 apply for a temporary credit card number service subscription. At step S156, the credit card agency 16 registers the buyer 2 having applied for a temporary credit card number service subscription as a subscriber.

l'O At step S158, the buyer 2 having been registered as a subscriber to the credit card agency 16 at the step S156 downloads a temporary card number issuing program supplied by the credit card agency 16 and installs it to his terminal. At step 160, the buyer 2 to whom the temporary card number issuing

15 program has been downloaded gains access to the internet selling site 6. At step S162, the internet selling site 6 displays his goods on a terminal of the buyer 2. At step S164, the buyer 2 determines a purchase of goods required for himself in the goods supplied by the internet selling site 6.

20

Then, the buyer 2 moves an icon of the temporary card number issuing program installed at his terminal into the internet selling site 6 on a drag & drop basis at step 166. If the icon of the temporary card number issuing program is moved into the

25 internet selling site 6 on a drag & drop basis at the step S166, then the temporary card number issuing program requests the credit card agency 16 to. issue a temporary credit card number at step S168. The credit card agency 16 having been requested to issue a temporary credit card number from the temporary card

30 number issuing program assigns a temporary credit card number to the buyer 2.

At step S170, the temporary card number issuing program automatically inputs the temporary credit card number issued from the credit card agency 16 to the internet selling site 6. At this time, the internet selling site 6 requests an approval of the temporary credit card number to the financial agency 12 5 at step S172. At step S174, the financial agency 12 requests an acknowledgment of the temporary credit card number to the credit card agency 16.

At step S176, the credit card agency 16 examines an

10 availability of a credit card number corresponding to the temporary credit card number (i.e., a real credit card of the buyer 2). At step S177, if the credit card number corresponding to the temporary credit card number is available at the step S176, then the credit card agency 16 approves a use of the

15. temporary credit card number. The temporary credit card number approved at the step S84 becomes invalid. At step S178, the financial agency 12 obtaining an approval of the temporary credit card number from the credit card agency 16 informs the internet selling site 6 of an approval of the temporary credit

20 card number. Then, at steps S180 and S182, the internet selling site 6 obtaining an approval of the temporary credit card number of the buyer 2 from the financial agency 12 delivers the purchased goods to the buyer 2 and the buyer 2 receives the goods delivered from the internet selling site 6.

25

Thereafter, the internet selling site 6 demands payment of an amount of money corresponding to a price of the goods purchased by the buyer 2 from the credit card agency 16 and the credit card agency 16 pays the demanded money to the internet sell site

30 6 at steps S184, S186 and S188. Meanwhile, the credit card agency 16 demands payment of an amount of money paid by himself from the buyer 2 and the buyer 2 pays the demanded money to the credit card agency 16 at steps S190, S192 and S194. Fig. 8A and- 8B is a flow chart representing a method of providing a temporary credit card number according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment is applicable to a nation or state where a credit card approval and issue institute such as the above-mentioned financial agency does not exist. A temporary card number issuing program has been installed in the fifth embodiment, but it may not be installed as shown in Fig. 6.

An operation procedure in Fig. 8A and 8B will be described in conjunction with Fig. 3 below.

Referring to Fig. 8A and 8B, first, the buyer 2 requests the credit card agency 16 to issue a credit card at the internet or the off line at step S200. At step S202, the credit card agency 16 having been requested to issue a credit card by the buyer 2 issues a credit card to the buyer 2 after examining a necessary card-issuing condition for the buyer 2. At step S204, the card- issued buyer 2 gains access to the credit card agency 16 to apply for a temporary credit card number service subscription. At step S206, the credit card agency 16 registers the buyer 2 having applied for a temporary credit card number service subscription as a subscriber.

At step S206, the buyer 2 having been registered as a subscriber to the credit card agency 16 at the step S156 downloads a temporary card number issuing program supplied by the credit card agency 16 and installs it to his terminal. At step 210, the buyer 2 to whom.the temporary card number issuing program has been downloaded gains access to the internet- selling site 6. At step S212, the internet selling site 6 displays his goods on a terminal of the buyer 2. At step S214, the buyer 2 determines a purchase of goods required for himself in the goods supplied by the internet selling site 6.

Then, the buyer 2 moves an icon of the temporary card number issuing program, installed at his terminal into the internet selling site 6 on a drag & drop basis at step 216. If the icon of the temporary card number issuing program has been moved into the internet selling site 6 on a drag & drop basis at the step, S166, then the temporary card number issuing program requests the credit card agency- 16 to issue a temporary credit card number at step S218. The credit card agency 16 having been requested to issue a temporary credit card ^'number from the temporary card number issuing program assigns a temporary credit card number to the buyer 2.

At step S220, the temporary card number issuing program automatically inputs the temporary credit card number issued from the credit card agency 16 to the internet selling site 6. At this time, the internet selling site 6 requests an approval of the temporary credit card number to the financial ^' agency 12 at step S222.

At step S224, the credit card agency 16 examines an availability of a credit card number corresponding to the temporary credit card number (i.e., a real credit card of the buyer 2) . At step S225, if the credit card number corresponding to the temporary credit card number is available at the step S224, then the credit card agency 16 approves a use of the temporary credit card number. The temporary credit card number approved at the step S224 becomes invalid. At steps S226 and S228, the internet selling site 6 obtaining an approval of the temporary credit card number of the buyer 2 from the credit card agency 16 delivers the purchased goods to the buyer 2 and the buyer 2 receives the goods delivered from the internet selling site 6.

Thereafter, the internet selling site 6 demands payment of an amount of money corresponding to a price of the goods purchased by the buyer 2 from the credit card agency 16 and the credit card agency 16 pays the demanded money to the internet sell site 6 at steps S230, S232 and S234. Meanwhile, the credit card agency 16 demands payment of an amount of money paid by himself from the buyer 2 and the buyer 2 pays the demanded money to the credit card agency 16 at steps S236, S238 and S240.

Fig. 9 is a detailed view representing the temporary credit card number providing server shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 9, the temporary credit card number providing server 8 includes a membership registration server 20, a temporary credit card number issuing server 22, a temporary credit card number approval_, server 24 and a money server 26. Such a temporary credit card number providing -server 8 consists of four servers, but it may substantially consist of a single server.

The membership registration server 20 registers the buyer 2 applying for a temporary credit card number service as a subscriber. The temporary credit card number issuing server 22 issues _,a temporary credit card number to the buyer 2. The temporary credit card approval server 24 examines whether or not the temporary credit card number undergoing an approval request from the exterior has^~ been used. The money server 26 demands payment of the purchased price from the buyer 2 having used the temporary credit card number. An operation procedure of the membership registration server 20 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 10 below.

Referring to Fig. 10, first, the membership registration server 20 receives personal information (i.e., credit card number, passport number and address, etc.) and a password from the buyer 2 having applied for a temporary credit card number service at step S250. The membership registration server 20 having received personal information and a password from the buyer 2 at the step 250 examines a financial credit status of the buyer 2 at steps S252 and S254. If a financial credit status of the buyer 2 is bad, then the membership registration server 20 rejects a subscriber registration of the buyer 2 at step 256. On the other hand, if a financial credit status of the buyer 2 is good, then the membership registration server 20 compares contents stored in a subscriber database (DB) 28 with personal information inputted from the buyer 2 to check whether or not the former overlaps with the latter at step S258.

If personal information of the buyer 2 overlaps with contents stored in the subscriber DB 28 at the step S258, then the membership registration server 20 requests the buyer 2 to change a registered data at step S260. On the other hand, if personal information of the buyer 2 does not overlap with contents stored in the subscriber DB 28 at the step S258, then the membership registration server 20 stores personal information and a password of the buyer 2 into the subscriber DB 28 at step S262. Then, the membership registration server 20 issues a registration identifier (ID) to the buyer 2 to register the buyer 2 as a temporary credit card number service subscriber at step S264.

An operation procedure of the temporary credit card number issuing server 22 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 11 below. ^•

Referring to Fig. 11, first, the buyer 2 having been registered as a temporary credit card number service subscriber inputs his ID and password in order to get a temporary credit card number at step S266. The temporary credit card number issuing server 22 examines whether or not the ID and the. password inputted from the buyer 2 are effective at steps S268 and S270. In other words, the temporary credit card number issuing server 22 retrieves the ID and the password stored in the subscriber DB 28 to examine whether they are identical to the ID and the password inputted from the buyer 2 or not.

If ID information of the buyer 2 is not effective at the step S270, then the temporary credit card number issuing server 22 requests the buyer 2 to re-input his ID at step S272. On the other hand, if ID information of the buyer 2 is effective at the step ,S270, then the temporary credit card number issuing server 22 determines whether or not the passwords are identical to each other at step S274. If the password information is not effective at the step S274, then the temporary credit card number issuing server 22 requests the buyer 2 to re-input his password at step S276. On the other hand, If the password information is effective at the step S274, then the temporary credit card number issuing server 22 creates a temporary credit card number at step S278. At this time, the temporary credit card number issuing server 2 creates a temporary credit card number that is not identical to a temporary credit card number stored in a temporary credit card DB 32.

The temporary credit card number created at step S278 is stored in the temporary credit card DB 32. Then, the temporary credit card number issuing server 22 conveys the created temporary credit card number into the buyer 2.

An operation procedure of the temporary credit card number approval server 24 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 12 below.

Referring to Fig. 12, first, a temporary credit card number is inputted from the internet selling site 6 or the financial agency at step S290. The temporary credit card number approval server 24 compares a temporary credit card number stored in the temporary credit card DB 32 with the temporary credit card number inputted at the step S290 to ^' determine whether the temporary credit card number is effective or not at steps S292 and S294.

If the temporary credit card number inputted from the internet selling site 6 or the financial agency 12 at the step S294 is not effective, then the temporary credit card number approval server 24 determines whether or not a credit card of the buyer 2 is right at step S298. In other words, if the temporary credit card number providing server 8 has been installed at a separate company rather than the credit card agency 10 as shown in Fig. 1 at the step S298, the temporary credit card number approval server 24 is moved into step S300. On the other hand, if the temporary credit card number providing server 8 has been installed at the credit card agency 16 as shown in Fig. 3 at the step S298, then the temporary credit card number approval server 24 is moved into step S304.

At step S300, the temporary credit card number approval server 24 requests an acknowledgment of the temporary credit card number to the credit card agency 10. If the temporary credit card number is approved at the step S300, then the temporary credit card number approval server 24 stores the approved temporary credit card number information into the temporary credit card DB 32 at step S302. If approval information of the temporary credit card number is stored in the temporary credit card DB 32 at the step S302, then a validity of the temporary credit card expires at step S310. Then, the approval information of the temporary credit card number is transmitted to the internet selling site 6 or the financial agency 12 at step S312.

At step S304, the temporary credit card number approval server 24 refers to ^' a credit database (DB) 30 to determine an approval of - the temporary credit card number. If the temporary credit card number is approved at the step S304, then the temporary credit card number approval server 24 stores the approved temporary credit card number information into the temporary credit card DB 32 at step S306. If approval information of the temporary credit card number is stored in the temporary credit card DB 32 at the step S306, then a validity of the temporary credit card number expires at step 310. Then, the approval information of the temporary credit card number is transmitted to the internet selling site 6 or the financial agency 12 at step S312.

An operation procedure of the money server 26 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 13 below.

Referring to Fig. 13, first, the internet selling site 6 demands payment of the money corresponding to a price purchased by the buyer 2 from the money server 26 at step S314. At this time, the internet selling site 6 submits a temporary credit card number and approval information of the temporary credit card number to the money server 26. The money server 26 confirms validities of the temporary credit card number and the approval information inputted at the step S314 with the aid of the temporary credit card DB 32 at steps S316 and S318.

If the temporary credit card number and the approval information applied from the internet selling site 6 is not effective at the step S318, then the money server 26 rejects payment of the demanded money at step S320. On the other hand, if the temporary credit card number and the approval information applied from the internet selling site 6 is effective at the step S318, then the money server 26, then the money server 26 pays the demanded money to the internet selling site 6.

At step S324, the money server 26 having paid a certain money to the internet selling site 6 at the step S322 determines whether or not the temporary credit card number is right. If the credit card number is wrong at the step S324, then the money server 26 demands payment of the certain money from the credit card agency 10 at step S330. Subsequently, the money server 26 adds contents concerning the money demand to the temporary credit card DB 32 at step S332. On the other hand, if the temporary credit card number for which payment of the money has been made at the step S324 is right, then the money server 26 demands payment of the certain money from the corresponding buyer 2 at step S326. Subsequently, the money server 26 adds contents concerning the money demand to the temporary credit card DB 32 at step S328. After performing the steps S322 and S328, if the demanded money is received from the buyer 2 or the credit card agency 10, then the money server 26 adds information concerning the money payment to the temporary credit card DB 32 at step S334.

Meanwhile, according to the present invention, it is possible to limit^' available money for the temporary credit card number. For instance, the limit of available money can be set when the temporary credit card number is issued to the buyer 2.

Such an issued temporary credit card number can be transferred to other user like the existent electronic money or cash. For instance, when the buyer 2 has to pay some money to a receiver, the buyer 2 can get a temporary credit card number having a desired money limit to transfer it to the receiver. The receiver can draw (or account-transfer) the . desired money using the transferred temporary credit card number. Accordingly, both the buyer 2 and the receiver can transfer the desired money to each other with no exposure of their personal information, etc. In other words, the receiver does not need to expose his account number to the buyer 2.

As describe above, according to the present invention, a buyer purchases goods using the temporary credit card number, so that it is possible to prevent a damage caused by an exposure of the credit card number. Accordingly, it becomes possible to facilitate a use of the credit card upon purchasing of goods on the internet.

Although the present invention has been explained by the embodiments shown in the drawings described above, it should be^' understood to the ordinary skilled person in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments, but rather that various changes or modifications thereof are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention shall be determined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method of providing a temporary credit card number on the internet, comprising the steps of:

(A) allowing a temporary credit card number providing server to issue a temporary credit card number to a buyer possessing a credit card;

(B) allowing the buyer to purchase goods from at least one of an internet site and a store using the temporary credit card number; (C) allowing the temporary credit card providing server to confirm an acknowledgement of the temporary credit card number requested by the internet site or the store;

(D) allowing a credit card agency for the buyer to confirm an approval of the credit card corresponding to the temporary credit card number requested by the temporary credit card number, providing server;

(E) allowing the internet site or the store having sold the goods to demand payment of a price of the goods from the temporary credit card number providing server and to be paid by the temporary credit card number providing server;

(F) allowing the temporary credit card number providing server to demand payment of the money paid by himself from the credit card agency and to be paid by the credit card agency; and

(G) allowing the credit card agency to demand payment of the money paid by himself from the buyer and to be paid by the buyer.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the temporary credit card providing server -is installed at the credit card agency.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buyer gets the temporary credit card number from the temporary credit card number providing server using any one of his terminal, computer and cellular phone.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the temporary credit card number providing server forbids the buyer to use the temporary credit card number after once use of the temporary credit card number was made.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buyer sets an available money limit of the temporary credit card number upon issuing of the temporary credit card number.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the temporary credit card number in which said available money limit has been set can be transferred.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(H) allowing a financial agency to approve a credit card number corresponding to the temporary credit card number.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a temporary card number issuing program is stored in the temporary credit card number providing server, and the buyer downloads the temporary card number issuing program and installs it into his terminal so as to get the temporary credit card number.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein when an icon of the temporary card number issuing program is moved into the • internet selling site by the buyer on a drag & drop basis, the temporary card number issuing program allows the temporary credit card number providing server to issue the temporary credit card number and transfers it to the internet selling site.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising the step of:

(I) registering the buyer in the temporary credit card number providing server as a subscriber so that the buyer can get the temporary credit card number.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said subscriber registration step (I) includes: allowing the buyer to input his personal information and password; confirming a financial credit status of the buyer using the input personal information; if said financial credit status of the buyer is good, storing said personal information and password in a subscriber database; and issuing an identifier to the buyer having said personal information and password stored in the subscriber database.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said step (A) of issuing the temporary credit card number includes: allowing the buyer to input said identifier and password to the temporary credit card number providing server; confirming whether or not the input identifier and password has been used; and if the input identifier and password is available, creating the temporary credit card number and then transferring it to the buyer and storing it in a temporary credit card database.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said step (C) of confirming an acknowledgement of the temporary credit card number includes: receiving the temporary credit card number; and comparing the input temporary credit card number with the temporary credit ca.rd number stored in the temporary credit card database to confirm an acknowledgement of the .temporary credit card number.

14. A system for providing a temporary credit card number on the internet, comprising: a membership registration server for making a subscriber registration requested by a buyer; a subscriber database for storing said ^' subscriber registration information; a temporary ^' credit card number issuing server for issuing a temporary credit card number to the buyer at a request of the buyer or a temporary card number issuing program supplied to the buyer by the membership registration server upon registration of the subscriber; a temporary credit card number approval server for confirming an acknowledgement of the temporary credit card number; and a money server for paying the price of goods which the buyer has purchased using the temporary credit card number and for receiving the paid money from the buyer.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, further comprising: a credit database, being installed at the temporary credit card number approval server, for storing a financial credit information of the buyer.

16. The system as claimed -in claim 14, further comprising: a temporary credit card database, being connected to the temporary credit card number issuing server, the temporary credit card number approval server and the money server, for storing the issued temporary credit card number.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the temporary credit card number stored in the temporary credit card database becomes invalid by the temporary credit card number approval server after it was used once.