Mobile settlement system and device

• US 20050144142A1
• Filed: 03/19/2003
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Takayama, Hisashi
• Application Number:
  US10/508,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20050144142A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile settlement system for performing settlement by a mobile terminal, which improves efficiency and convenience of self-service service apparatuses. A mobile communication device performs, via a network, settlement for the service received from a service providing apparatus having no network communication function. The mobile communication device receives, via the network, control information of a management server causing the service providing apparatus to execute the service and transmit the same to the service providing apparatus. Therefore, there is no need to insert money into the service providing apparatus nor need to collect such money. The service providing apparatus need not have a bill or coin detector, thereby reducing its manufacturing cost. The management server can control the service providing apparatus and keep up on with the use conditions of service providing apparatuses in real time without establishing a network between the management server and the service providing apparatuses.

Claims

1. A mobile settlement system, which comprises a mobile communication device performing via a network a settlement process for a service received from a service providing apparatus, wherein said mobile communication device receives control information of a management server via a network, which causes said service providing apparatus to perform said service, and transfer said control information to said service providing apparatus.

2. The mobile settlement system according to claim 1, wherein said mobile communication device receives contract information of said service from said service providing apparatus via local wireless communication, and transmits said control information to said service providing apparatus via said local wireless communication.

3. The mobile settlement system according to claim 2, wherein said mobile communication device transmits to said management server via a network said contract information, to which a digital signature is given by using a device private key of an electronic value card, and a certificate for certifying a device public key corresponding to said device private key;

and said management server verifies said digital signature by using said device public key of said certificate, transmits said control information to said mobile communication device if the result of said verification is in the affirmative, and performs a settlement process with a settlement system.

4. The mobile settlement system according to claim 2, wherein said mobile communication device transmits said contract information to a charging server via a network;

said charging server performs a settlement process between a settlement system after authenticating an user by using PIN information received from said mobile communication device; and

said management server transmits said control information to said mobile communication device according to the authentication result of said charging server.

5. The mobile settlement system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said service providing apparatus is a parking meter, which displays a paid-in-full status only for a period specified by said control information received via said mobile communication device.

6. The mobile settlement system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said service providing apparatus is a parking lot apparatus, which restricts an automobile from existing from the parking lot detecting said automobile, and releases said restriction when said control information is received via said mobile communication device.

7. The mobile settlement system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said service providing apparatus is an automatic vending machine, which dispenses a selected product upon receiving said control information via said mobile communication device after said product is selected by a product selection switch.

8. The mobile settlement system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said service providing apparatus is a locker, which locks a lock upon receiving said control information from said mobile communication device if the lock is in an unlocked state at activation, and which unlocks the lock upon receiving said control information from said mobile communication device if the lock is in a locked state at activation.

9. The mobile settlement system according to claim 8, wherein said management server issues a digital key as said control information, to which a digital signature from said management server is attached;

said mobile communication device attaches a digital signature of a device private key of an electronic value card to said digital key received from said management server and transmits said digital key to said locker; and

said locker authorizes said digital key and said mobile communication device according to said digital signature.

10. A mobile communication device comprising:

a storage means for storing an electronic value card;

a first communication means for performing wireless communication via a network;

a second communication means for performing wireless communication via local wireless communication, which receives contract information of a service provided by a service providing apparatus via said second communication means;

performs a settlement process for receiving said service via said first communication means;

receives control information for causing said service providing apparatus to perform said service; and

transmits said control information to said service providing apparatus via said second communication means.

11. The mobile communication device according to claim 10, which executes a digital signature to said contract information by using said device private key of said electronic value card;

and transmits, to an address included in said contract information, contract information with said executed digital signature, and a credit card certificate including a device public key as a public key corresponding to said device private key.

12. The mobile communication device according to claim 10, which transmits said contract information, and PIN information for personal identification to an address of a charging server included in said contract information via said first communication means.

13. The mobile communication device according to any one of claims 10 to 12, which stores said control information received via said first communication means into said electronic value card, and transmits said control information to said service providing apparatus via said second communication means in response to a request of said service providing apparatus.

14. An electronic value card, which stores a device private key and a corresponding device public key in a tamper-resistant memory area;

stores identification information for identifying a credit card, and a credit card certificate for certifying said device public key in a non-tamper-resistant area;

executes a digital signature to the received contract information by using said device private key; and

outputs the contract information with said credit card certificate.

15. An electronic value card, which stores a device private key, and a corresponding device public key into a tamper-resistant memory area;

stores the received control information into a non-tamper-resistant area; and

executes a digital signature by using said device private key.

16. A management server for managing a service providing apparatus, which transmits, via network, control information for causing said service providing apparatus to execute said service to a mobile communication device receiving a service provided by said service providing apparatus.

17. The management server according to claim 16, which verifies a digital signature attached to said contract information upon receiving, from said mobile communication device via network, contract information of a service provided by said service providing apparatus;

transmits said control information to said mobile communication device if the result of verification is in the affirmative; and

executes a settlement process with a settlement system.

18. The management server according to claim 16, which transmits said control information to said mobile communication device authenticated by a charging server.

19. A service providing apparatus managed by a management server, which comprises a local wireless communication means, a mechanism means for executing a service, and a control means for controlling operation of said service providing apparatus, wherein said control means controls said mechanism means according to said control information upon receiving the control information of said management server from a mobile communication device making a request for said service via said local wireless communication means.

20. The service providing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said control means verifies a digital signature attached to said control information, and controls said mechanism means if the result of verification is in the affirmative.

21. The service providing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said control means transmits service information via said local wireless communication means, and said service information includes contract information of said service and a network address of said management server.

22. The service providing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said control means transmits service information via said local wireless communication means, and said service information includes contract information of said service, and a network address of a charging server for carrying out a charging process for the service.

23. The service providing apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 22, which is a parking meter comprising, as said mechanism means, an automobile sensor for detecting an automobile, and a display means, wherein said control means causes said display means to display a paid-in-full status only for the time period designated by said control information upon receiving the control information of said management server from said mobile communication device via said local wireless communication means.

24. The service providing apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 22, which is a parking lot apparatus comprising, as said mechanism means, an automobile sensor for detecting an automobile, a restriction means for restricting the automobile from existing from the parking lot, and a payment switch which is pressed for payment, wherein said control means releases the restriction of said restriction means upon receiving the control information of said management server from said mobile communication device via said local wireless communication means.

25. The service providing apparatus according to any one of claim 23 or 24, which continuously transmits said service information for a certain period of time by using said local wireless communication means upon detecting an automobile by said automobile sensor.

26. The service providing apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 22, which is an automatic vending machine comprising, as said mechanism means, a product selection switch, and a mechanism means of an automatic vending machine for dispensing a product, wherein said control means causes dispensing of the product selected by said product selection switch from said mechanism means of the automatic vending machine upon receiving the control information of said management server from said mobile communication device via said local wireless communication means.

27. The service providing apparatus according to claim 26, which continuously transmits said service information for a certain period of time by using said local wireless communication means upon pressing said product selection switch.

28. The service providing apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 22, which is a locker comprising, as said mechanism means, a lock mechanism means for locking or unlocking a lock, and an activation switch activated by a touch on the door of the locker, wherein said control means causes said lock mechanism means to lock if the lock is in the unlocked state when said activation switch is turned on, or causes said lock mechanism means to unlock if the lock is in the locked state when said activation switch is turned on, upon receiving the control information of said management server from said mobile communication device via said local wireless communication means.

29. The service providing apparatus according to claim 28, which continuously transmits service information for a certain period of time using said local wireless communication means when said activation switch is turned on.

30. The service providing apparatus according to claim 28, which verifies identification information of said received control information with identification information of said control information received upon locking the lock, and causes said lock mechanism means to lock if said identification information are identical.

31. The service providing apparatus according to claim 30, which continuously transmits said service information for a certain period of time by using said local wireless communication means if the verification of the valid time period of said control information only is in error on account of its expiration during the process for verifying validity of said received control information.