Abstract: A system for issuing, redeeming and monitoring incentive offers generated in response to qualifying on-line and off-line non-purchase activities. For example, an electronic data card is used to store electronic coupons issued by web sites (i.e., on-line) and/or off-line locations. In one embodiment activity registration is performed by programming integrated with, or coupled to, a web browser. Off-line activity is registered by a kiosk at a merchant location that generates an incentive offer, or a token which is later converted to an incentive offer, in response to conditions determined at the kiosk (e.g., entered by the user, clerk, and so forth). A loyalty server operates to aggregate information about the offers for reporting purposes, and can be optionally required for determining qualification for an incentive offer, providing security codes for participating incentive issuers, providing qualification of offers prior to issuance, and validating stored offers prior to redemption.

Abstract: An affiliated store terminal obtains a security code and a card holder's attribution information of a credit card, such as a card holder's attribution information consists of a date of birth, lower four figures of a home telephone number, a last name and a first name of a card holder. An authorization request transmitted from the affiliated terminal is transmitted to a card company apparatus, and further transmitted to a card issuing company apparatus through an intermediary center apparatus. The card company apparatus executes an authorization process and return a result of the authorization process to the affiliated store terminal through the intermediary center apparatus and the previous card company apparatus.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for utilizing one-time, or temporary, “credit” card information for executing purchase transactions with a smart card or similar electronic data card device. The card is activated in an activation process with the issuer prior to receiving and utilizing temporary card information (numbers). Retrieval and submission of temporary card information is performed in an automatic process executed by application programming, such as within a web browser. By way of example, a user surfing the web commences a purchase transaction wherein their smart card communicates with the issuer of the smart card to retrieve one-time or temporary use card data which is submitted through the network for processing within the transaction. In one embodiment the programming is executed within a web browser which marks card data fields within transaction forms and automatically fills these fields with temporary card information received from the issuer.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for utilizing one-time, or temporary, “credit” card information for executing purchase transactions with a smart card or similar electronic data card device. The card is activated in an activation process with the issuer prior to receiving and utilizing temporary card information (numbers). Retrieval and submission of temporary card information is performed in an automatic process executed by application programming, such as within a web browser. By way of example, a user surfing the web commences a purchase transaction wherein their smart card communicates with the issuer of the smart card to retrieve one-time or temporary use card data which is submitted through the network for processing within the transaction. In one embodiment the programming is executed within a web browser which marks card data fields within transaction forms and automatically fills these fields with temporary card information received from the issuer.

Abstract: A system for issuing, redeeming and monitoring incentive offers generated in response to qualifying on-line and off-line non-purchase activities. For example, an electronic data card is used to store electronic coupons issued by web sites (i.e., on-line) and/or off-line locations. In one embodiment activity registration is performed by programming integrated with, or coupled to, a web browser. Off-line activity is registered by a kiosk at a merchant location that generates an incentive offer, or a token which is later converted to an incentive offer, in response to conditions determined at the kiosk (e.g., entered by the user, clerk, and so forth). A loyalty server operates to aggregate information about the offers for reporting purposes, and can be optionally required for determining qualification for an incentive offer, providing security codes for participating incentive issuers, providing qualification of offers prior to issuance, and validating stored offers prior to redemption.

Abstract: Using a preset, temporary ID, a user accesses an on-line shop where he is not registered. When the user buys a commodity, the on-line shop sends order data to a money gate. In response to a request from the money gate, a mall-operating company where the user is registered sends the money gate information necessary for settlement such as a credit number. The money gate generates final order data by combining the order data and the information necessary for settlement. Settlement processing with a card company is performed by using the final order data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for storing and accessing a copy of digital content. The digital content, which is initially located on a physical medium in possession of a user, may be stored on a server for subsequent access thereon by the user. The method begins by establishing a communication link with the server. A request is provided to the server over the communication link to store a copy of the digital content on the server. A user ID is provided to the server over the communication link. The digital content from the physical medium is then uploaded to the server over the communication link. Subsequent to the step of uploading the digital content, a request is provided to the server to receive the digital content from the server. Subsequent to or simultaneous with the step of providing the request to receive the digital content, the user ID is provided to the server. The digital content from the server is received only after the user ID is provided.

Abstract: An affiliated store terminal obtains a security code and a card holder's attribution information of a credit card, such as a card holder's attribution information consists of a date of birth, lower four figures of a home telephone number, a last name and a first name of a card holder. An authorization request transmitted from the affiliated terminal is transmitted to a card company apparatus, and further transmitted to a card issuing company apparatus through an intermediary center apparatus. The card company apparatus executes an authorization process and return a result of the authorization process to the affiliated store terminal through the intermediary center apparatus and the previous card company apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with an electronic commerce supporting method for reducing a charge-back risk on cyber shops in credit sales in electronic commerce and an electronic commerce method using such an electronic commerce supporting method.

Abstract: An electronic money system related to network type and IC card type electronic money for preventing an affiliated store from failure to collect purchase amount and for permitting shopping to be securely accomplished through the intermediary of a network. A user terminal (2-1) accesses an affiliated store terminal (4-1) through the intermediary of the Internet (1) to purchase a commodity. The affiliated store terminal (4-1) refers to a settlement apparatus (7) through the intermediary of the Internet (1) for the balance of electronic money stored in a database (25) of an e-Wallet (24) of the user of the user terminal (2-1). If the balance is larger than a purchase amount, then the settlement apparatus (7) subtracts the purchase amount from the balance to update the balance. If the balance is smaller than the purchase amount, then an overdraft amount based on a credit level of the user is added to the balance, and if the resulting total amount is larger than the purchase, the settlement is carried out.

Abstract: Using a preset, temporary ID, a user accesses an on-line shop where he is not registered. When the user buys a commodity, the on-line shop sends order data to a money gate. In response to a request from the money gate, a mall-operating company where the user is registered sends the money gate information necessary for settlement such as a credit number. The money gate generates final order data by combining the order data and the information necessary for settlement. Settlement processing with a card company is performed by using the final order data.

Abstract: In a method for forming a capacitor, after preparing a substrate having at least one device area thereon, an amorphous silicon film containing one type of dopant is formed on the device area. A mask layer comprising mask islands is formed and distributed on a surface of the amorphous silicon film. The surface of the amorphous silicon is dry-etched by using the mask layer as a selective etching mask to produce a jagged surface having a lot of protrusions. After forming the jagged surface, the amorphous silicon film is changed into a polycrystalline silicon film serving as a storage electrode. Finally, a dielectric film and then another storage electrode are formed sequentially on the jagged surface of the storage electrode.

Abstract: First, a metal layer is deposited on a silicon film surface to form a silicide layer in an interface between the silicon film and the metal layer. Subsequently, the metal layer is all removed by etching such that silicide islands are left on the surface of the silicon film, and then the exposed silicon film surface is dry-etched by using the silicide islands as a selective mask.