Radio software acquisition system, radio software acquisition method and radio software acquisition program

• US 20040242236A1
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Inagaki, Fumiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,110,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/452.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A system, method and program for downloading radio software necessary for a user to a cellular phone or a radio terminal in advance so that the radio software is readily available. With the use of a service terminal, an in-service area management server, a radio software management server, a terminal management server, an accounting management server, a ticket information management server, an available service management server, a personal information management server, and an other provider management server, necessary radio software is downloaded from the radio software management server to a radio terminal or a cellular phone via a network according to location information and time information included in ticket information or personal information stored in the radio terminal or the cellular phone.

Claims

1. A radio software acquisition system comprising a portable radio terminal, an in-service area management server, an available service management server, and a radio software management server, wherein:

the portable radio terminal stores terminal information and ticket information including location information and time information in a storage, sends the ticket information and terminal information read out of the storage to the in-service area management server so as to be informed of available services, informs the in-service area management server of a service to be used selected from the available services by a user, receives radio software and stores the radio software in the storage;

the in-service area management server forwards the ticket information and terminal information received from the portable radio terminal to the available service management server so as to be informed of available services, informs the portable radio terminal of the available services, forwards information as to the selected service received from the portable radio terminal to the radio software management server, and forwards radio software received from the radio software management server to the portable radio terminal;

the available service management server determines available services based on the terminal information and the location information and time information included in the ticket information received from the in-service area management server, and informs the in-service area management server of the available services; and

the radio software management server receives the information as to the selected service from the in-service area management server, and sends radio software corresponding to the selected service to the in-service area management server.

2. The radio software acquisition system claimed in claim 1, further comprising a ticket information management server and a terminal management server, wherein:

the portable radio terminal stores terminal link information indicating the location of the terminal information and ticket link information indicating the location of the location information and time information in a storage, sends the ticket link information and terminal link information read out of the storage to the in-service area management server so as to be informed of available services, informs the in-service area management server of a service to be used selected from the available services by a user, receives radio software and stores the radio software in the storage; and

the in-service area management server receives the ticket link information and terminal link information from the portable radio terminal, fetches the ticket information from the ticket information management server based on the ticket link information, fetches the terminal information from the terminal management server based on the terminal link information, sends the ticket information and terminal information to the available service management server so as to be informed of available services, informs the portable radio terminal of the available services, forwards information as to the selected service received from the portable radio terminal to the radio software management server, and forwards radio software received from the radio software management server to the portable radio terminal.

5. The radio software acquisition system claimed in claim 1, further comprising an accounting management server, wherein:

the in-service area management server requests the accounting management server to make a charge for the service selected by the portable radio terminal; and

the accounting management server makes a charge for the selected service in response to the request from the in-service area management server.

6. The radio software acquisition system claimed in claim 2, further comprising an accounting management server, wherein:

the in-service area management server requests the accounting management server to make a charge for the service selected by the portable radio terminal; and

the accounting management server makes a charge for the selected service in response to the request from the in-service area management server.

9. The radio software acquisition system claimed in claim 1, further comprising an other provider management server, wherein:

the other provider management server receives the information as to the selected service from the available service management server, carries out a procedure for making the selected service available to the portable radio terminal, and informs the available service management server that the necessary procedure has been completed;

the available service management server informs the other provider management server of the selected service, and forwards information as to the completion of the necessary procedure received from the other provider management server to the in-service area management server; and

the in-service area management server receives the information as to the completion of the necessary procedure from the available service management server, and sends the information as to the selected service to the radio software management server.

10. The radio software acquisition system claimed in claim 2, further comprising an other provider management server, wherein:

the other provider management server receives the information as to the selected service from the available service management server, carries out a procedure for making the selected service available to the portable radio terminal, and informs the available service management server that the necessary procedure has been completed;

the available service management server informs the other provider management server of the selected service, and forwards information as to the completion of the necessary procedure received from the other provider management server to the in-service area management server; and

the in-service area management server receives the information as to the completion of the necessary procedure from the available service management server, and sends the information as to the selected service to the radio software management server.

13. The radio software acquisition system claimed in claim 2, wherein:

having received the radio software, the portable radio terminal updates radio system information included in the terminal information stored in the storage, and sends information as to the update of the terminal information to the in-service area management server; and

having received the information as to the update of the terminal information, the in-service area management server forwards the information to the terminal management server.

15. The radio software acquisition system claimed in claim 1, wherein the portable radio terminal selects a service to be used from among available services according to preestablished rules.

16. The radio software acquisition system claimed in claim 2, wherein the portable radio terminal selects a service to be used from among available services according to preestablished rules.

3. A radio software acquisition system comprising a portable radio terminal, an in-service area management server, an available service management server, and a radio software management server, wherein:

the portable radio terminal stores terminal information and personal information including location information and time information in a storage, sends the personal information and terminal information read out of the storage to the in-service area management server so as to be informed of available services, informs the in-service area management server of a service to be used selected from the available services by a user, receives radio software and stores the radio software in the storage;

the in-service area management server forwards the personal information and terminal information received from the portable radio terminal to the available service management server so as to be informed of available services, informs the portable radio terminal of the available services, forwards information as to the selected service received from the portable radio terminal to the radio software management server, and forwards radio software received from the radio software management server to the portable radio terminal;

the available service management server determines available services based on the terminal information and the location information and time information included in the personal information received from the in-service area management server, and informs the in-service area management server of the available services; and

the radio software management server receives the information as to the selected service from the in-service area management server, and sends radio software corresponding to the selected service to the in-service area management server.

4. The radio software acquisition system claimed in claim 3, further comprising a personal information management server and a terminal management server, wherein:

the portable radio terminal stores terminal link information indicating the location of the terminal information and personal link information indicating the location of the location information and time information in a storage, sends the personal link information and terminal link information read out of the storage to the in-service area management server so as to be informed of available services, informs the in-service area management server of a service to be used selected from the available services by a user, receives radio software and stores the radio software in the storage; and

the in-service area management server receives the personal link information and terminal link information from the portable radio terminal, fetches the personal information from the personal information management server based on the personal link information, fetches the terminal information from the terminal management server based on the terminal link information, sends the personal information and terminal information to the available service management server so as to be informed of available services, informs the portable radio terminal of the available services, forwards information as to the selected service received from the portable radio terminal to the radio software management server, and forwards radio software received from the radio software management server to the portable radio terminal.

7. The radio software acquisition system claimed in claim 3, further comprising an accounting management server, wherein:

the in-service area management server requests the accounting management server to make a charge for the service selected by the portable radio terminal; and

the accounting management server makes a charge for the selected service in response to the request from the in-service area management server.

8. The radio software acquisition system claimed in claim 4, further comprising an accounting management server, wherein:

the in-service area management server requests the accounting management server to make a charge for the service selected by the portable radio terminal; and

the accounting management server makes a charge for the selected service in response to the request from the in-service area management server.

11. The radio software acquisition system claimed in claim 3, further comprising an other provider management server, wherein:

the other provider management server receives the information as to the selected service from the available service management server, carries out a procedure for making the selected service available to the portable radio terminal, and informs the available service management server that the necessary procedure has been completed;

the available service management server informs the other provider management server of the selected service, and forwards information as to the completion of the necessary procedure received from the other provider management server to the in-service area management server; and

the in-service area management server receives the information as to the completion of the necessary procedure from the available service management server, and sends the information as to the selected service to the radio software management server.

12. The radio software acquisition system claimed in claim 4, further comprising an other provider management server, wherein:

the other provider management server receives the information as to the selected service from the available service management server, carries out a procedure for making the selected service available to the portable radio terminal, and informs the available service management server that the necessary procedure has been completed;

the available service management server informs the other provider management server of the selected service, and forwards information as to the completion of the necessary procedure received from the other provider management server to the in-service area management server; and

the in-service area management server receives the information as to the completion of the necessary procedure from the available service management server, and sends the information as to the selected service to the radio software management server.

14. The radio software acquisition system claimed in claim 4, wherein:

having received the radio software, the portable radio terminal updates radio system information included in the terminal information stored in the storage, and sends information as to the update of the terminal information to the in-service area management server; and

having received the information as to the update of the terminal information, the in-service area management server forwards the information to the terminal management server.

17. The radio software acquisition system claimed in claim 3, wherein the portable radio terminal selects a service to be used from among available services according to preestablished rules.

18. The radio software acquisition system claimed in claim 4, wherein the portable radio terminal selects a service to be used from among available services according to preestablished rules.

19. A radio software acquisition method for a radio software acquisition system comprising a portable radio terminal, an in-service area management server, an available service management server, and a radio software management server, the radio software acquisition method comprising:

a portable radio step at which the portable radio terminal stores terminal information and ticket information including location information and time information in a storage, sends the ticket information and terminal information read out of the storage to the in-service area management server so as to be informed of available services, informs the in-service area management server of a service to be used selected from the available services by a user, receives radio software and stores the radio software in the storage;

an in-service area management step at which the in-service area management server forwards the ticket information and terminal information received from the portable radio terminal to the available service management server so as to be informed of available services, informs the portable radio terminal of the available services, forwards information as to the selected service received from the portable radio terminal to the radio software management server, and forwards radio software received from the radio software management server to the portable radio terminal;

an available service management step at which the available service management server determines available services based on the terminal information and the location information and time information included in the ticket information received from the in-service area management server, and informs the in-service area management server of the available services; and

a radio software management step at which the radio software management server receives the information as to the selected service from the in-service area management server, and sends radio software corresponding to the selected service to the in-service area management server.

20. The radio software acquisition method claimed in claim 19, for the radio software acquisition system further comprising a ticket information management server and a terminal management server, wherein:

at the portable radio step, the portable radio terminal stores terminal link information indicating the location of the terminal information and ticket link information indicating the location of the location information and time information in a storage, sends the ticket link information and terminal link information read out of the storage to the in-service area management server so as to be informed of available services, informs the in-service area management server of a service to be used selected from the available services by a user, receives radio software and stores the radio software in the storage; and

at the in-service area management step, the in-service area management server receives the ticket link information and terminal link information from the portable radio terminal, fetches the ticket information from the ticket information management server based on the ticket link information, fetches the terminal information from the terminal management server based on the terminal link information, sends the ticket information and terminal information to the available service management server so as to be informed of available services, informs the portable radio terminal of the available services, forwards information as to the selected service received from the portable radio terminal to the radio software management server, and forwards radio software received from the radio software management server to the portable radio terminal.

23. The radio software acquisition method claimed in claim 19, further comprising an accounting management step, wherein:

at the in-service area management step, the in-service area management server requests an accounting management server to make a charge for the service selected by the portable radio terminal; and

at the accounting management step, the accounting management server makes a charge for the selected service in response to the request from the in-service area management server.

24. The radio software acquisition method claimed in claim 20, further comprising an accounting management step, wherein:

at the in-service area management step, the in-service area management server requests an accounting management server to make a charge for the service selected by the portable radio terminal; and

at the accounting management step, the accounting management server makes a charge for the selected service in response to the request from the in-service area management server.

27. The radio software acquisition method claimed in claim 19, further comprising an other provider management step, wherein:

at the other provider management step, an other provider management server receives the information as to the selected service from the available service management server, carries out a procedure for making the selected service available to the portable radio terminal, and informs the available service management server that the necessary procedure has been completed;

at the available service management step, the available service management server informs the other provider management server of the selected service, and forwards information as to the completion of the necessary procedure received from the other provider management server to the in-service area management server; and

at the in-service area management step, the in-service area management server receives the information as to the completion of the necessary procedure from the available service management server, and sends the information as to the selected service to the radio software management server.

28. The radio software acquisition method claimed in claim 20, further comprising an other provider management step, wherein:

at the other provider management step, an other provider management server receives the information as to the selected service from the available service management server, carries out a procedure for making the selected service available to the portable radio terminal, and informs the available service management server that the necessary procedure has been completed;

at the available service management step, the available service management server informs the other provider management server of the selected service, and forwards information as to the completion of the necessary procedure received from the other provider management server to the in-service area management server; and

at the in-service area management step, the in-service area management server receives the information as to the completion of the necessary procedure from the available service management server, and sends the information as to the selected service to the radio software management server.

31. The radio software acquisition method claimed in claim 20, wherein:

at the portable radio step, having received the radio software, the portable radio terminal updates radio system information included in the terminal information stored in the storage, and sends information as to the update of the terminal information to the in-service area management server; and

at the in-service area management step, having received the information as to the update of the terminal information, the in-service area management server forwards the information to the terminal management server.

33. The radio software acquisition method claimed in claim 19, wherein, at the portable radio step, the portable radio selects a service to be used from among available services according to preestablished rules.

34. The radio software acquisition method claimed in claim 20, wherein, at the portable radio step, the portable radio selects a service to be used from among available services according to preestablished rules.

37. A radio software acquisition program for implementing the respective steps involved in the radio software acquisition method claimed in one of the claims 19 to 36 on a computer.

21. A radio software acquisition method for a radio software acquisition system comprising a portable radio terminal, an in-service area management server, an available service management server, and a radio software management server, the radio software acquisition method comprising:

a portable radio step at which the portable radio terminal stores terminal information and personal information including location information and time information in a storage, sends the personal information and terminal information read out of the storage to the in-service area management server so as to be informed of available services, informs the in-service area management server of a service to be used selected from the available services by a user, receives radio software and stores the radio software in the storage;

an in-service area management step at which the in-service area management server forwards the personal information and terminal information received from the portable radio terminal to the available service management server so as to be informed of available services, informs the portable radio terminal of the available services, forwards information as to the selected service received from the portable radio terminal to the radio software management server, and forwards radio software received from the radio software management server to the portable radio terminal;

an available service management step at which the available service management server determines available services based on the terminal information and the location information and time information included in the personal information received from the in-service area management server, and informs the in-service area management server of the available services; and

a radio software management step at which the radio software management server receives the information as to the selected service from the in-service area management server, and sends radio software corresponding to the selected service to the in-service area management server.

22. The radio software acquisition method claimed in claim 21, for the radio software acquisition system further comprising a personal information management server and a terminal management server, wherein:

at the portable radio step, the portable radio terminal stores terminal link information indicating the location of the terminal information and personal link information indicating the location of the location information and time information in a storage, sends the personal link information and terminal link information read out of the storage to the in-service area management server so as to be informed of available services, informs the in-service area management server of a service to be used selected from the available services by a user, receives radio software and stores the radio software in the storage; and

at the in-service area management step, the in-service area management server receives the personal link information and terminal link information from the portable radio terminal, fetches the personal information from the personal information management server based on the personal link information, fetches the terminal information from the terminal management server based on the terminal link information, sends the personal information and terminal information to the available service management server so as to be informed of available services, informs the portable radio terminal of the available services, forwards information as to the selected service received from the portable radio terminal to the radio software management server, and forwards radio software received from the radio software management server to the portable radio terminal.

25. The radio software acquisition method claimed in claim 21, further comprising an accounting management step, wherein:

at the in-service area management step, the in-service area management server requests an accounting management server to make a charge for the service selected by the portable radio terminal; and

at the accounting management step, the accounting management server makes a charge for the selected service in response to the request from the in-service area management server.

26. The radio software acquisition method claimed in claim 22, further comprising an accounting management step, wherein:

at the in-service area management step, the in-service area management server requests an accounting management server to make a charge for the service selected by the portable radio terminal; and

at the accounting management step, the accounting management server makes a charge for the selected service in response to the request from the in-service area management server.

29. The radio software acquisition method claimed in claim 21, further comprising an other provider management step, wherein:

at the other provider management step, an other provider management server receives the information as to the selected service from the available service management server, carries out a procedure for making the selected service available to the portable radio terminal, and informs the available service management server that the necessary procedure has been completed;

at the available service management step, the available service management server informs the other provider management server of the selected service, and forwards information as to the completion of the necessary procedure received from the other provider management server to the in-service area management server; and

at the in-service area management step, the in-service area management server receives the information as to the completion of the necessary procedure from the available service management server, and sends the information as to the selected service to the radio software management server.

30. The radio software acquisition method claimed in claim 22, further comprising an other provider management step, wherein:

at the other provider management step, an other provider management server receives the information as to the selected service from the available service management server, carries out a procedure for making the selected service available to the portable radio terminal, and informs the available service management server that the necessary procedure has been completed;

at the available service management step, the available service management server informs the other provider management server of the selected service, and forwards information as to the completion of the necessary procedure received from the other provider management server to the in-service area management server; and

at the in-service area management step, the in-service area management server receives the information as to the completion of the necessary procedure from the available service management server, and sends the information as to the selected service to the radio software management server.

32. The radio software acquisition method claimed in claim 22, wherein:

at the portable radio step, having received the radio software, the portable radio terminal updates radio system information included in the terminal information stored in the storage, and sends information as to the update of the terminal information to the in-service area management server; and

at the in-service area management step, having received the information as to the update of the terminal information, the in-service area management server forwards the information to the terminal management server.

35. The radio software acquisition method claimed in claim 21, wherein, at the portable radio step, the portable radio selects a service to be used from among available services according to preestablished rules.

36. The radio software acquisition method claimed in claim 22, wherein, at the portable radio step, the portable radio selects a service to be used from among available services according to preestablished rules.