Electronic money system

An information processing apparatus connected to another information processing apparatus through the intermediary of a network, comprising:

• managing means for managing the electronic money of a user purchasing a predetermined commodity through the intermediary of the network;
• and adding means for carrying out credit processing and adding a credit amount based on the result of the credit processing to the balance of the user if the electronic money balance of the user that is managed by the managing means is below a purchase amount of the commodity.

An information processing method for an information processing apparatus connected with another information processing apparatus through the intermediary of a network, comprising:

• a management step for managing electronic money of a user purchasing a predetermined commodity through the intermediary of the network;
• and an adding step for carrying out credit processing and adding a credit amount based on the result of the credit processing to the balance of the user if the electronic money balance of the user that is managed by the processing of the management step is below a purchase amount of the commodity.

A program for an information processing apparatus connected with another information processing apparatus through the intermediary of a network, the program causing a computer to carry out:

• a management step for managing electronic money of a user purchasing a predetermined commodity through the intermediary of the network;
• and an adding step for carrying out credit processing and adding a credit amount based on the result of the credit processing to the balance of the user if the electronic money balance of the user that is managed by the processing of the management step is below a purchase amount of the commodity.

A recording medium having a computer-readable program recorded therein, the program being for an information processing apparatus connected with another information processing apparatus through the intermediary of a network, the program comprising:

• a management step for managing electronic money of a user purchasing a predetermined commodity through the intermediary of the network;
• and an adding step for carrying out credit processing and adding a credit amount based on the result of the credit processing to the balance of the user if the electronic money balance of the user that is managed by the processing of the management step is below a purchase amount of the commodity.

An electronic money crediting system comprising:

• a POS terminal for performing settlement by electronic money that has a determiner for determining an electronic money balance received from an IC card and the level of the selling price of a commodity and a settlement means for carrying out settlement processing by adding a predetermined amount to the balance after carrying out predetermined credit processing if the electronic money balance is smaller than the selling price, and an IC card having an electronic money card function and another settlement function, a storage device that stores card information, including electronic money balance data, and permits reading and writing, and a controller that updates the electronic money balance by electronic money received from the POS terminal after predetermined credit processing is carried out if the electronic money balance at the time of purchasing a commodity is smaller than the selling price of the commodity desired to be purchased.

A POS terminal for carrying out settlement by electronic money, comprising a determiner for determining an electronic money balance received from an IC card and the level of the selling price of a commodity and a settlement means for carrying out settlement processing by adding a predetermined amount to the balance after carrying out predetermined credit processing if the electronic money balance is smaller than the selling price.

An IC card that has an electronic money card function and another settlement function, comprising:

• a storage device that stores card information including the data on electronic money balance and permits read/write;
• and a controller that updates the electronic money balance by the electronic money deposited through a POS terminal at a store after predetermined credit processing if the electronic money balance at the time of purchasing a commodity is smaller than the selling price of the commodity desired to be purchased.

A settlement program for performing settlement by electronic money, comprising:

• determining means for determining the electronic money balance received from an IC card and the level of a selling price of a commodity;
• and settlement means for adding a predetermined amount to a balance to perform settlement processing after carrying out predetermined credit processing if the electronic money balance is smaller than the selling price.

A settlement method for carrying out settlement by electronic money, whereby the electronic money balance received from an IC card and the level of a selling price of a commodity are determined, and if the electronic money balance is smaller than the selling price, then a predetermined amount is added to the balance after predetermined credit processing is carried out so as to implement the settlement processing.