Information rental system including processor equipped IC card having data erasing means

• US 5,162,989 A
• Filed: 12/27/1989
• Issued: 11/10/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OKI Electric Industry Company Limited
• Original Assignee: OKI Electric Industry Company Limited
• Inventors: Matsuda, Tohoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Gail O.
• Application Number:
  US07/455,904
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 364/479, 364/401, 364/408, 235/379-380
• US Class Current: 705/307
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/215 the system having a variable access-code, e.g. varied as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence

Abstract

An information renting system comprising an information renting apparatus and an IC card, said information renting apparatus including: source information memory means for previously storing therein rental source informations; input operating means for permitting a customer to execute a number of input operations for renting said information which he requires; IC card reader and writer means for checking a customer identification number for his genuineness by inserting said IC card into said information renting apparatus and for writing in the IC card said information required and selected by the customer through said input operating means; information reading and transferring means for reading said information required and selected by the customer and for transferring it to said IC card; means for informing said IC card of information renting time limit information and setting the same to said IC card, said IC card including: memory means for storing said rental information required by the customer and transferred to said IC card through said information reading and transferring means of said information renting apparatus; setting means for setting thereto said information time limit information; prohibition means for prohibiting the rental information stored in said memory means from being read when the renting period expires.

Claims

1. An information renting system for renting programs and other types of information, said information renting system comprising:

an information renting apparatus for storing and renting the programs and other types of information to be rented; and

an IC card for storing therein selected information copied from said information renting apparatus when said IC card has been inserted into said information renting apparatus;

wherein said information renting apparatus comprises;

a source information memory having stored therein said programs and other types of information;

an input operating means for inputting operating instructions, said operating instructions including a selection of said selected information to be copied from said information renting apparatus;

an IC card read/write means for reading an identification number stored in said IC card and for writing said selected information into said IC card;

an information reading and transferring means for reading said selected information from said source information memory and for transferring the thus read selected information to said IC card read/write means;

a comparing means for comparing an identification number inputted by said input operating means with an identification number stored in said IC card, wherein said selection of said selected information is enabled when the inputted identification number and the stored identification number are the same; and

a deposited cash treating means for enabling said selection of said selected information and for determining said rental term expiration period according to an amount of cash deposited;

wherein said IC card comprises;

a memory means for storing said selected information and said identification number;

an electronic calendar;

a processor means for controlling said memory means;

an interface means for receiving said selected information from said IC card read/write means and connected to said memory means, said electronic calendar, and said processor means;

wherein said electronic calendar includes means for setting a rental term expiration period, and for sending an expiration signal to said processor at the termination of said rental term expiration period, and wherein said processor means includes means for erasing said selected information stored in said IC card upon receiving said expiration signal.

2. An information renting system as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor means further includes means for reading said selected information stored in said memory means until the termination of said rental term expiration period, and wherein said processor means erases only said selected information stored in said memory means at the termination of said rental term expiration period.