Information providing system, information providing method, storage medium and program

• US 20030172001A1
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yasuda, Masataka, Yamasaki, Shozo, Kato, Shinichi, Misawa, Reiji, Yamagata, Shigeo
• Application Number:
  US10/376,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20030172001A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/313 using a call-back technique via a telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

An information providing system capable of sending and receiving electronic data from a server in which the electronic data is registered includes a delivering unit for delivering electronic data registered in the server, a connecting unit for connecting a portable device possessed by an individual to a communication network for communicating electronic information, a sending unit for sending information for identifying an individual stored in the portable device, an authenticating unit for receiving the information for identifying an individual sent from the sending unit, and determining whether or not the delivering unit is available to a user, and a registering unit for receiving a password or ID information required when a user acquires electronic data by the delivering unit, and registering the password or ID information in the portable device possessed by. the individual.

Claims

1. An information providing system capable of sending and receiving electronic data from a server in which the electronic data is registered, comprising:

delivering means for delivering electronic data registered in the server;

connecting means for connecting a portable device possessed by an individual to a communication network for communicating electronic information;

sending means for sending information for identifying an individual stored in the portable device;

authenticating means for receiving the information for identifying an individual sent from the sending means, and determining whether or not the delivering means is available to a user; and

registering means for receiving a password or ID information required when a user acquires electronic data by the delivering means, and registering the password or ID information in the portable device possessed by the individual.

2. An information providing system according to claim 1, wherein a password or ID information registered, by the registering means, in the portable device possessed by the individual is sent to the delivering means by the sending means, and the system comprises delivery permission determining means for permitting a user to acquire delivery data from the delivering means.

3. An information providing system according to claim 1, comprising electronic data acquiring means to which a user connects the portable device and which is used for. acquiring electronic data from the delivering means.

4. An information providing system according to claim 1, comprising a readable/writable memory into which information for identifying an individual is stored and new information can be written in the portable device possessed by the individual.

5. An information providing system according to claim 4, comprising inquiring means for managing information for identifying an individual stored in the memory present in the portable device per portable device, and for, when an inquiry occurs via the communication network, inquiring the information for identifying an individual according to the inquiry.

6. An information providing system according to claim 1, comprising searching means for searching the delivering means in which electronic data desired by a user is recorded over the communication network.

7. An information providing system according to claim 6, wherein the searching means comprises inputting means for inputting information regarding to electronic data which is used for searching electronic data desired by a user, and outputting means for outputting information sent from the delivering means and the searching means to a user, and displaying information stored in the portable device possessed by the individual.

9. A computer readable storage medium having a program for realizing each means in the information providing system according to claims 1 to 7 and each step of the information providing method according to claim 8 stored therein.

14. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein a program for performing a function of each means in the information providing system according to claims 1 to 7 and 10 to 12, and each step of the information providing method according to claims 8 and 13.

15. A program for performing a function of each means in the information providing system according to claims 1 to 7 and 10 to 12, and each step of the information providing method according to claims 8 and 13 in a computer.

8. An information providing method for sending and receiving electronic data from a server in which the electronic data is registered, comprising:

a delivering step of delivering electronic data registered in the server;

a connecting step of connecting a portable device possessed by an individual to a communication network for communicating electronic information;

a sending step of sending information for identifying an individual stored in the portable device;

an authenticating step of receiving the sent information for identifying an individual, and determining whether or not the information is available to a user; and

a registering step of receiving a password or ID information required when a user acquires electronic data, and registering the password or ID information in the portable device possessed by the individual.

10. An information providing system capable of sending and receiving electronic data via a communication network for communicating electronic information, comprising:

switching means for connecting a portable device connectable to the communication network to information outputting means capable of outputting information;

deciding means for deciding whether or not the information outputting means is directly connectable to the communication network; and

changing means for, when the deciding means decides that the information outputting means is directly connected to the communication network, acquiring electronic data from the communication network, and for, when the deciding means decides that the information outputting means is not directly connected to the communication network, switching a mode to acquire electronic data from the communication network via the portable device.

11. An information providing system according to claim 10, wherein the searching means comprises inputting means for inputting information regarding to electronic data which is used for searching electronic data desired by a user, and

outputting means for outputting information sent from the delivering means and the searching means to a user, and displaying information stored in the portable device possessed by the individual.

12. An information providing system according to claim 11, comprising local communicating means for connecting the connecting means, and the inputting means and the outputting means with each other.

13. An information providing method for sending and receiving electronic data via a communication network for communicating electronic information, comprising:

a connecting step of connecting a portable device to information outputting means;

a deciding step of deciding whether or not the information outputting means is directly connectable to the communication network; and

,

a switching step of, when it is decided that the information outputting means is directly connected to the communication network, acquiring electronic data from the communication network, and for, when it is determined that the information outputting means is not directly connected to the communication network, switching a mode to acquire electronic data from the communication network via the portable device.