Networked business system

• US 7,165,714 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2001
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Robertson, Philip Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US10/362,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20040099723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,971 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 235/383, 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• 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 7/0886 the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A method of procuring goods and/or services using a merchant server coupled to a computer network is disclosed. The network (100) comprises at least one smart card (120) having a memory device (122) programmed with access information corresponding to and associated with one more icons (124) formed on a surface of the smart card (120). The smart card (120) is locatable with a reader device (160) coupled to the network (100) to permit a reading of the memory device (122) to associate the access information with one of the icons (124) selected by a user depressing a touch panel (162) of the reader (160) device overlying the icons (124). The method transmits the access information from the reader (160) to the merchant server (200) in response to selection of the one icon (124). The method utilises the merchant server (200) to provide the goods and/or services for retrieval by the user according to the access information. The method monitors the transmission of the access information to the merchant server (200) and invoices at least one user of the network (100) for costs associated with provision of the goods and/or services.

Claims

1. A networked printing system comprising:

at least one smart card having a memory device programmed with access information corresponding to and associated with one or more icons formed on a surface of said smart card;

a reader device coupled to a computer network, said smart card being locatable with said reader device to permit a reading of said memory device to associate said access information with one of said icons selected by a user pointing a touch panel of said reader device overlaying said icons;

a printer device coupled to said network;

a merchant server coupled to said network and configured to receive said access information from said reader in response to selection of said one icon, and in response thereto forward an electronic document for printing on said printer for retrieval by said user; and

a transaction monitory server coupled to said network and configured to monitor the forwarding of said electronic document to said printer and to invoice at least one user of said network for costs associated with said printing.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said memory device further comprises identification information related to said user, said identification information being transmitted with said access information to said merchant server to enable cost associated with said printing to be invoiced to said user.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said reader device further transmits a network address of said printer to said merchant server thereby enabling said merchant server to use said network address to forward said electronic document to said printer.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said reader device and said printer are unitarily formed.

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein said one user is selected from the group consisting of said merchant server, said user, and a local server to which said printer and reader device are associated.

6. A method of producing a document sourced from a computer network, based on a smart card smart card having a memory device programmed with access information corresponding to and associated wit one or more icons formed on a surface of said smart card, said smart card being locatable with a reader device coupled to said network to permit a reading of said memory device to associate said access information with one of said icons selected by a user pointing a touch panel of said reader device overlaying said icons, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting said access information from said reader to a merchant server coupled to said network in response to selection of said one icon; and

forwarding an electronic document from said merchant server to a printer coupled to said network for printing said electronic document on said printer and for retrieval by said user.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said memory device further comprises identification information related to said user, said identification information being transmitted with said access information to said merchant server to enable cost associated with said printing to be invoiced to said user.

8. A method according to claim 6 wherein said reader device further transmits a network address of said printer to said merchant server thereby enabling said merchant server to use said network address to forward said electronic document to said printer.

9. A method according to claim 6 wherein said reader device and said printer are unitarily formed.

10. A method according to claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the forwarding of said electronic document to said printer;

and invoicing at least one user of said network for costs associated with said printing.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said monitoring and invoicing is performed by a transaction monitory server coupled to said network.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said one user is selected from the group consisting of said merchant server, said user, and a local sewer to which said printer and reader device are associated.

13. A method of procuring goods and/or services, using a merchant sewer coupled to a computer network, based on a smart card having a memory device programmed with access information corresponding to and associated with one or more icons formed on a surface of said smart card, said smart card being locatable with a reader device coupled to said network to permit a reading of said memory device to associate said access information with one of said icons selected by a user pointing a touch panel of said reader device overlaying said icons, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting said access information from said reader device to said merchant server in response to selection of said one icon;

utilising said merchant sewer to provide said goods and/or services for retrieval by said user according to said access information;

monitoring said transmission of said access information to said merchant server; and

invoicing at least one user of said network for costs associated with provision of said goods and/or services.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said memory device further comprises identification information related to said user, said identification information being transmitted with said access information to said merchant server to enable cost associated with provision of said goods and/or services to be invoiced to said user.

15. A method according to claim 13 wherein said reader device further transmits a network address of said reader device to said merchant server thereby enabling said merchant server to use said network address to forward said goods and/or services to said user.

16. A method according to claim 13 wherein said reader device and said printer are unitarily formed.

17. A method according to claim 13, wherein said monitoring and invoicing is performed by a transaction monitory server coupled to said network.

18. A method according to claim 13 wherein said one user is selected from the group consisting of said merchant server, said user, and a local server to which said reader device are associated.

19. A method according to claim 13, where said goods and/or services are selected from the group of consisting of a pizza service, a massage service and a printing service.

20. A network system for providing goods and/or services, said network system comprising:

at least one smart card having a memory device programmed with access information corresponding to and associated with one or more icons formed on a surface of said smart card;

a reader device coupled to a computer network, said smart card being locatable with said reader device to permit a reading of said memory device to associate said access information with one of said icons selected by said user pointing a touch panel of said reader device overlaying said icons;

a merchant server coupled to said network and configured to receive said access information from said reader device in response to selection of said one icon, and in response thereto enable provision of said goods and/or services for retrieval by said user; and

a transaction monitoring server coupled to said network and configured to monitor the forwarding of said access information to said merchant server and to invoice at least one user of said network for costs associated with said goods and/or services.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein said memory device further comprises identification information related to said user, said identification information being transmitted with said access information to said merchant server to enable cost associated with said printing to be invoiced to said user.

22. A system according to claim 20 wherein said reader device further transmits a network address of said reader device to said merchant server thereby enabling said merchant server to use said network address to forward said goods and/ar services to said user.

23. A system according to claim 20 wherein said reader device and said printer are unitarily formed.

24. A system according to claim 20 wherein said one user is selected from the group consisting of said merchant server, said user, and a local server to which said reader device is associated.

25. A merchant server for sourcing goods and/or services based on a smart card having a memory device programmed with access information corresponding to and associated with one or more icons formed on a surface of said smart card, said smart card being locatable with a reader device, said reader device being coupled to a computer network to permit a reading of said memory device to associate said access information with one of said icons selected by a user pointing a touch panel of said reader device overlying said icons, said merchant server comprising:

a connecting means for connecting to said network;

a receiving means for receiving said access information transmitted from said reader device in response to selection of said one icon; and

a forwarding means for forwarding said goods and/or services for retrieval by said user.

26. A merchant server according to claim 25, wherein said merchant server is further configured to forward further information to a transaction monitory sewer coupled to said network, said transaction monitory server being configured to monitor the forwarding of said access information to said merchant server and to invoice at least one user of said network for costs associated with said goods and/or services.

27. A transaction monitoring server for monitoring transactions on a computer network based on a smart card, said smart card having a memory device programmed with access information corresponding to and associated with one or more icons formed on a surface of said smart card, said smart card being locatable with a reader device coupled to said network to permit a reading of said memory device to associated said access information with one of said icons selected by a user pointing a touch panel of said reader device overlaying said icons, said transaction monitoring server comprising:

a network connecting means for connecting to said network;

a monitoring means for monitoring the forwarding of said access information transmitted from said reader device in response to selection of said one icons; and

an invoicing means for invoicing at least one user of said network for costs associated with said forwarding of said access information.

28. A program for producing a document, sourced from a computer network, based on a smart card having a memory device programmed with access information corresponding to and associated with one or more icons formed on a surface of said smart card, said smart card being locatable with a reader device coupled to said network to permit a reading of said memory device to associate said access information with one of said icons selected by a user pointing a touch panel of said reader device overlaying said icons, said program comprising:

code for transmitting said access information from said reader to said merchant server in response to selection of said one icon; and

code for forwarding an electronic document from said merchant server to a printer coupled to said network for printing said electronic document on said printer and for retrieval by said user.

29. A program according to claim 28, wherein said program is stored in a memory medium and is executed by a processor configured within an apparatus.

30. A program for procuring goods and/or services based on a smart card having a memory device programmed with access information corresponding to and associated with one or more icons formed on a surface of said smart card, said smart card being locatable with a reader device coupled to a computer network to permit a reading of said memory device to associate said access information with one of said icons selected by a user pointing a touch panel of said reader device overlaying said icons, said program comprising:

code for transmitting said access information from said reader to a merchant server coupled to said network in response to selection of said one icon;

code for utilising said merchant server to provide said goods and/or services for retrieval by said user according to said access information;

code for monitoring said transmission of said access information to said merchant server; and

code for invoicing at least one user of said network for costs associated with provision of said goods and/or services.

31. A program according to claim 30, wherein said program is stored in a memory medium and is executed by a processor configured within an apparatus.

32. A computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is configured to make a computer execute a procedure to produce a document, sourced from a computer network, based on a smart card having a memeory device programmed wit access information corresponding to and associated with one or more icons formed on a surface of said smart card, said smart card being locatable with a reader device coupled to said network to permit a reading of said memory device to associate said access information with one of said icons selected by a user pointing a touch panel of said reader device overlaying said icons, said program comprising:

code for transmitting said access information from said reader device to a merchant server coupled to said network in response to selection of said one icon; and

code for forwarding an electronic document from said merchant server to a printer coupled to said network for printing said electronic document on said printer and for retrieval by said user.

33. A computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is configured to make a computer execute a procedure to procure goods and/or services based on a smart card having a memory device programmed with access information corresponding to and associated with one or more icons formed on a surface of said smart card, said smart card being locatable with a reader device coupled to said network to permit a reading of said memory device to associate said access information with one of said icons selected by a user pointing a touch panel of said reader device overlaying said icons, said program comprising:

code for transmitting said access information from said reader to a merchant server coupled to said network in response to said one icon;

code for utilising said merchant server to provide said goods and/or services for retrieval by said user according to said access information;

code for monitoring said transmission of said access information to said merchant server; and

code for invoicing at least one user of said network for costs associated with provision of said goods and/or services.