Transaction-oriented electronic accommodation system

• US 6,230,971 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2000
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakano, Misuzu, Matsumoto, Kenji, Kanehira, Akira, Itoh, Shigeyuki, Hiroya, Masaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): TREMBLAY, MARK STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US09/593,952
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/381, 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/492
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• 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 17/13 the containers being a postal pick-up locker
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/24 for parking meters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence

Abstract

A transaction-oriented electronic accommodation system includes an IC card storing electronic monetary information and an identification number, an IC card read/write unit for reading and/or writing information in/from the IC card, a key control unit for controlling locking and unlocking of a door of the article receiving/housing unit, an identification number storing unit for storing identification number of the IC card, an amount-of-money information storing unit for storing amount-of-money information, a collating unit for collating the identification number stored in the identification number storing unit with the identification number read out from the IC card, and a line control unit for transferring the electronic monetary information via transmission line. For utilizing the article receiving/housing unit, the IC card is inserted, whereby the article receiving/housing unit is locked. For taking out article from the article receiving/housing unit, the IC card is inserted, whereby the article receiving/housing unit is unlocked with the accounting being settled. Cashless transaction can be realized.

Claims

1. A key control apparatus using an IC card having stored information including electronic money and an identification number, comprising:

an IC card reader/writer which reads and writes the information of the IC card;

an electronic money processor which processes the electronic money of the information stored in the IC card;

an identification number storing unit which stores an identification number of the information stored in the IC card read by said IC card reader/writer;

a key controller which controls locking and unlocking of a key;

a collating unit which collates the identification number being stored in said identification number storing unit with an identification number read out from the IC card, wherein

when locking the key, said IC card reader/writer reads the identification number of the information stored in the IC card;

said identification number storing unit stores the identification number;

said key controller locks the key, and

when unlocking the key, said IC card reader/writer reads out the information of the identification number and electronic money in the IC card;

said collating unit compares the identification number of the IC card entered into said IC card reader/writer with the identification number stored in said identification number storing unit;

said electronic money processor subtracts the information of electronic money of the IC card when coinciding with the identification numbers; and

said key controller unlocks the key after subtracting the information of electronic money.

2. A key control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification number stored in said identification number storing unit is deleted after subtracting the electronic money information.

3. A key control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising, a time measuring unit which measures a time after locking the key by said key controller, terminates the time measurement when coinciding the identification numbers, and causes said electronic money processor to calculate a charge in accordance with the measured time.

4. A key control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a transaction is suspended at a time when a monetary deficiency is indicated by the electronic money information of the IC card in unlocking the key, and said key controller controls the make the key locked.

5. A key control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said key control apparatus includes an electronic locker having an accommodation unit for accommodating an article.

6. A key control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said electronic locker includes a plurality of accommodation units and a locating information output unit outputting locating information of the accommodation unit.

7. A key control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said key control apparatus includes a parking meter installed in a parking lot.

8. A key control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said electronic money processor calculates a parking charge in accordance with parking charge discount information stored in the IC card.

9. A key control apparatus using an IC card being stored information of electronic money and identification number, comprising:

an IC card reader/writer which reads and writes the information of the IC card;

an electronic money processor which processes the electronic money of the information stored in the IC card;

an identification number storing unit which stores an identification number of the information stored in the IC card read by said IC card reader/writer;

a key controller which controls locking and unlocking of a key,

a collating unit which collates the identification number being stored in said identification number storing unit with an identification number read out from the IC card, wherein

when locking the key, said IC card reader/writer reads out the information of identification number and electronic money in the IC card;

said electronic money processor subtracts the electronic money information corresponding to a predetermined charge from the information in the IC card;

said identification number storing unit stores the identification number after subtracting the electronic money information from that of the IC card;

said key controller locks the key;

when unlocking the key, said IC card reader/writer reads out the identification number of the IC card;

said collating unit compares the identification number of the IC card entered into said IC card reader/writer with the identification number stored in said identification number storing unit; and

said key controller unlocks the key when coinciding the identification numbers.

10. A key control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the identification number stored in said identification number storing unit is deleted after unlocking the key of an accommodation unit.

11. A key control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said key control apparatus includes an electronic locker having said accommodation unit.

12. A key control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said electronic locker includes a plurality of accommodation units and a locating information output unit outputting locating information of the accommodation unit.

13. A key control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said key control apparatus includes a parking meter installed in a parking lot.

14. A key control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said electronic money processor calculates a parking charge in accordance with parking charge discount information stored in the IC card.

15. A key control apparatus using an IC card being stored information of electronic money and identification number, comprising:

an IC card reader/writer which reads and writes the information of the IC card;

an electronic money processor which processes the electronic money of the information stored in the IC card;

an identification number storing unit which stores an identification number of the information stored in the IC card read by said IC card reader/writer;

a key controller which controls locking and unlocking of a key;

a collating unit which collates the identification number being stored in said identification number storing unit with an identification number read out from the IC card, wherein

when locking the key, said IC card reader/writer reads out the information of identification number and electronic money in the IC card;

said electronic money processor subtracts the electronic money information corresponding to a predetermined charge from the information in the IC card;

said identification number storing unit stores the identification number after subtracting the electronic money information from the IC card, said key controller locks the key;

when unlocking the key, said IC card reader/writer reads out the information of the identification number and the electronic money in the IC card;

said collating unit compares the identification number of the IC card entered into said IC card reader/writer with the identification number stored in said identification number storing unit;

said electronic money processor subtracts the electronic money information of the IC card when coinciding the identification numbers; and

said key controller unlocks the key after subtracting the electronic money information.

16. A key control apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising, a time measuring unit which measures a time after locking the key by said key controller, terminates the time measurement when coinciding the identification numbers, and causes said electronic money processor to calculate a charge in accordance with the measured time.

17. A key control apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a transaction is suspended at a time when a monetary deficiency is indicated by the electronic money information of the inserted IC card calculated by said electronic money processor in unlocking the key, and said key controller controls to make the key locked.

18. A key control apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said key control apparatus includes an electronic locker having an accommodation unit.

19. A key control apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said electronic locker includes a plurality of accommodation units and a locating information output unit outputting locating information of the accommodation unit.

20. A key control apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said key control apparatus includes a parking meter installed in a parking lot.

21. A key control apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said electronic money processor calculates a parking charge in accordance with parking charge discount information stored in the IC card.