History information recording apparatus and product equipment provided with the same

• US 6,094,639 A
• Filed: 08/11/1998
• Issued: 07/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kubota, Michitaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel Todd
• Assistant Examiner(s): GROUTT, PHILLIP J
• Application Number:
  US09/132,546
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A history information recording apparatus for recording history information about product equipment integrally therewith and the product equipment having this history information recording apparatus are provided. The history information recording apparatus comprises a first storage means for storing primary history information, a second storage means for storing secondary history information, an input module in which the primary history information and/or the second history information is inputted to be stored in the first storage means and/or the second storage means respectively, and a read module for reading the primary history information from the first storage means and the secondary history information from the second storage means. The first and second storage means, the input module, and the read module are arranged in the product information.

Claims

1. A history information recording apparatus comprising:

a first storage means for storing primary history information;

a second storage means for storing secondary history information;

an input module in which said primary history information and/or said second history information is inputted to be stored in said first storage means and/or said second storage means respectively; and

a read module for reading said primary history information from said first storage means and said secondary history information from said second storage means;

wherein said first storage means, said second storage means, said input module, and said read module are arranged on product equipment.

2. The history information recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said primary history information and/or said secondary history information is inputted from outside into said input module in a non-contact manner.

3. The history information recording apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said input module is a coil and said primary history information and/or secondary history information is inputted in said input module by use of an electromagnetic wave signal.

4. The history information recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said primary history information to be stored in said first storage means is associated with said product equipment.

5. The history information recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said secondary history information to be stored in said second storage means is associated with sale of said product equipment.

6. The history information recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said secondary history information to be stored in said second storage means is associated with service of said product equipment.

7. The history information recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said primary history information and/or said secondary history information is inputted in said input module by use of an electrical signal.

8. The history information recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said primary history information and/or said secondary history information is inputted from outside into said input module by use of a voice signal.

9. The history information recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said primary history information and/or said secondary history information is inputted from outside into said input module by use of an image signal.

10. The history information recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said primary history information and/or said secondary history information is read in a non-contact manner.

11. Product equipment having a history information recording apparatus comprising:

a first storage means for storing primary history information;

a second storage means for storing secondary history information;

an input module in which said primary history information and/or said second history information is inputted to be stored in said first storage means and/or said second storage means respectively; and

a read module for reading said primary history information from said first storage means and said secondary history information from said second storage means.

12. The product equipment as claimed in claim 11, wherein said product equipment has a controller for controlling an operation of said product equipment,

said controller preventing said product equipment from operating if said secondary history information does not come from said second storage means of said history information recording apparatus.

13. The product equipment as claimed in claim 11, wherein said product equipment has a controller for controlling an operation of said product equipment,

said controller writing to said second storage means information about a date on which said product equipment has started operating for the first time after shipment from factory.

14. A history information recording apparatus comprising:

a first storage means for storing primary history information;

a second storage means for storing secondary history information;

an encrypting means for encrypting at least one part of said primary history information and/or said secondary history information inputted from outside;

an input module in which said primary history information and/or said second history information is inputted to be stored in said first storage means and/or said second storage means respectively;

a read module for reading said primary history information from said first storage means and said secondary history information from said second storage means; and

a decrypting means for decrypting the encrypted information outputted from said read module.

15. The history information recording apparatus of claim 14, wherein a main module incorporating said first storage means, said second storage means, said input module, and said read module is separated from an external operating module incorporating said encrypting means and said decrypting means.

16. A history information recording apparatus comprising:

a first storage means for storing primary history information;

a second storage means for storing secondary history information;

a password imparting means for imparting a password to at least one part of said primary history information and/or said secondary history information inputted outside;

an input module in which said primary history information and/or said second history information is inputted to be stored in said first storage means and/or said second storage means respectively;

a read module for reading said primary history information from said first storage means and said secondary history information from said second storage means;

a password matching means for performing a password matching operation on said password imparted to the history information outputted from said read module; and

a password input means for inputting a password into said password matching means.

17. The history information recording apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein a main module incorporating said first storage means, said second storage means, said input module, and said read module is separated from an external operating module incorporating said password imparting means, said password matching means, and said password input means.

18. A history information recording apparatus comprising:

a first storage means for storing primary history information;

a second storage means for storing secondary history information;

a password imparting means for imparting a password to at least one part of said primary history information and/or said secondary history information inputted outside;

an encrypting means for encrypting at least one part of said primary history information and/or said secondary history information;

an input module in which said primary history information and/or said second history information is inputted to be stored in said first storage means and/or said second storage means respectively;

a read module for reading said primary history information from said first storage means and said secondary history information from said second storage means;

a password matching means for performing a password matching operation on said password imparted to the history information outputted from said read module;

a password input means for inputting a password into said password matching means; and

a decrypting means for decrypting the encrypted history information outputted from said read module.

19. The history information recording apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein a main module incorporating said first storage means, said second storage means, said input module, and said read module is separated from an external operating module incorporating said password imparting means, said encrypting means, said password matching means, said password input means, and said password decrypting means.

20. Product equipment having a history information recording apparatus comprising:

a first storage means for storing primary history information;

a second storage means for storing secondary history information;

an encrypting means for encrypting at least one part of said primary history information and/or said secondary history information;

an input module in which said primary history information and/or said second history information is inputted to be stored in said first storage means and/or said second storage means respectively;

a read module for reading said primary history information from said first storage means and said secondary history information from said second storage means; and

a decrypting means for decrypting the encrypted history information outputted from said read module.

21. The product equipment as claimed in claim 20, wherein said product equipment has a controller for controlling an operation of said product equipment,

said controller preventing said product equipment from operating if said secondary history information does not come from said second storage means of said history information recording apparatus.

22. Product equipment having a history information recording apparatus comprising:

a first storage means for storing primary history information;

a second storage means for storing secondary history information;

a password imparting means for imparting a password to at least one part of said primary history information and/or said secondary history information inputted outside;

an input module in which said primary history information and/or said second history information is inputted to be stored in said first storage means and/or said second storage means respectively;

a read module for reading said primary history information from said first storage means and said secondary history information from said second storage means;

a password matching means for performing a password matching operation on said password imparted to the history information outputted from said read module; and

a password input means for inputting a password into said password matching means.

23. The product equipment as claimed in claim 22, wherein said product equipment has a controller for controlling an operation of said product equipment,

said controller preventing said product equipment from operating if said secondary history information does not come from said second storage means of said history information recording apparatus.

24. Product equipment having a history information recording apparatus comprising:

a first storage means for storing primary history information;

a second storage means for storing secondary history information;

a password imparting means for imparting a password to at least one part of said primary history information and/or said secondary history information inputted outside;

an encrypting means for encrypting at least one part of said primary history information and/or said secondary history information;

an input module in which said primary history information and/or said second history information is inputted to be stored in said first storage means and/or said second storage means respectively;

a read module for reading said primary history information from said first storage means and said secondary history information from said second storage means;

a password matching means for performing a password matching operation on said password imparted to the history information outputted from said read module;

a password input means for inputting a password into said password matching means; and

a decrypting means for decrypting the encrypted history information outputted from said read module.

25. The product equipment as claimed in claim 24, wherein said product equipment has a controller for controlling an operation of said product equipment,

said controller preventing said product equipment from operating if said secondary history information does not come from said second storage means of said history information recording apparatus.