Control apparatus and control method using mobile communication terminal

• US 7,167,724 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2002
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unirec Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Unirec Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamagishi, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang; Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hashem; Lisa
• Application Number:
  US10/074,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20030153305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,806 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/414.3, 455/414.1, 705/65, 700/94, 463/41, 463/43
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00

Abstract

This invention enables a play without using coins and easy collection of fee. An control apparatus of this invention comprises a play portion which stores play information and enables a play by inputting personal information, an input portion to which a mobile communication terminal is connected detachably in order to input personal information and a control portion which reads a subscriber number as the personal information from the mobile communication terminal connected to the input portion, makes a call to the information service center and enables a play by the play portion. The information service center bill corresponding to the play through mobile communication network or stationary communication network.

Claims

1. A control apparatus, using a mobile communication terminal, comprising:

an accounting center storing a list of subscribers;

a game play portion being separate from the mobile communication terminal wherein a game is played exclusively on said game play portion and not on the mobile communication terminal, said game play portion having at least a game start approval button, which enables a game play according to personal information;

an input portion, for reading as input personal information exclusively provided by the mobile communication terminal, the personal information identifying a user intending to operate the game play portion; and

a control portion disposed on said game play portion, said control portion identifying the user on the basis of the input of personal information, said control portion thereafter making a call via said mobile communication terminal to the accounting center; and

responsive to the user being on the lists of subscribers and said game start approval button being operated, said control portion actuates a game credit switch to enable the game play by said game play portion,

wherein said accounting center bills at a predetermined subsequent time corresponding to said call made by operating said game start approval button.

2. A control apparatus using the mobile communication terminal according to claim 1 wherein said mobile communication terminal makes said input by radio.

3. The control apparatus using the mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein said input portion, having a connection port for inserting said mobile communication terminal, reads personal information from said mobile communication terminal inserted into said connection port.

4. A control apparatus, using a mobile communication terminal, comprising:

an information service center storing a list of subscribers;

a game play portion being separate from the mobile communication terminal wherein a game is played exclusively on said game play portion and not on the mobile communication terminal, said game play portion having at least a game start approval button, which stores game play information and enables a game play according to personal information;

an input portion, for reading as input personal information exclusively provided by the mobile communication terminal, the personal information identifying a user intending to operate the game play portion; and

a control portion disposed on said game play portion, said control portion identifying the user on the basis of the input of personal information, said control portion thereafter making call via said mobile communication terminal to the information service center; and

responsive to the user being on the lists of subscribers and said game start approval button being operated, said control portion actuates a game credit switch to enable the game play by said game play portion;

wherein said information service center bills at a predetermined subsequent time corresponding to said call made by operating said game start approval button.

5. The control apparatus using the mobile communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein said information service center stores game play information and dispatches said stored game play information corresponding to said call;

and

said control portion receives said dispatched game play information and outputs said received game play information prior to said game play.

6. A control apparatus using the mobile communication terminal according to claim 5 further comprising:

an identification number input portion for inputting an identification number, wherein said control portion makes said call to the information service center if said input personal information and said input identification number coincides with personal information stored therein in advance and if said game stan approval button is operated.

7. A control apparatus using the mobile communication terminal according to claim 5 wherein said mobile communication terminal makes said input by radio.

8. The control apparatus using the mobile communication terminal according to claim 4, further comprising:

an identification number input portion for inputting an identification number, wherein said control portion makes said call to the information service center if said input personal information and said input identification number coincides with personal information stored therein in advance and when said game start approval button is operated.

9. A control apparatus using the mobile communication terminal according to claim 4 wherein said mobile communication terminal makes said input by radio.

10. The control apparatus using the mobile communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein said input portion, having a connection port for inserting said mobile communication terminal, reads personal information from said mobile communication terminal inserted into said connection port.

11. A control method using a mobile communication terminal comprising:

an information service center storing a list of subscribers;

a game play portion being separate from rho mobile communication terminal wherein a game is played exclusively on said game play portion and not on the mobile communication terminal, said game play portion having at least a game start approval button, which enables a game play according to personal information;

an input portion, for reading as input personal information exclusively provided by the mobile communication terminal, the personal information identifying a user intending to operate the game play portion; and

a control portion disposed on said game play portion, said control portion identifying the user on the basis of the input of personal information, said control portion thereafter making a call via said mobile communication terminal to the information service center; and

responsive to the user being on the lists of subscribers and said game start approval button being operated, said control portion actuates a game credit switch to enable the game play by said game play portion;

wherein said information service center bills at a predetermined subsequent time corresponding to said call made by operating said game start approval button.

12. The control method using the mobile communication terminal according to claim 11, wherein said input portion, having a connection port for inserting said mobile communication terminal, reads personal information from said mobile communication terminal inserted into said connection pen.

13. A control method, using a mobile communication terminal comprising:

an Internet service provider storing a list of subscribers;

a game play portion being separate from the mobile communication terminal wherein a game is played exclusively on said game play portion and not on the mobile communication terminal, said game play portion having at least a game start approval button, which enables a game play according to personal information;

an input portion, for reading as input personal information exclusively provided by the mobile communication terminal, the personal information identifying a user intending to operate the game play portion;

said mobile communication terminal capable of being connected to the Internet; and

a control portion disposed on said game play portion, said control portion the user on the basis of the input of personal information, said control portion thereafter making call via said mobile communication terminal to the Internet service provider; and

responsive to the user being on the lists of subscribers and said game start approval button being operated, said control portion actuates a game credit switch to enable the game play by said game play portion;

wherein said Internet service provider bills at a predetermined subsequent time corresponding to said call made by operating said game start approval button.

14. The control method using the mobile communication terminal according to claim 13, wherein said input portion, having a connection port for inserting said mobile communication terminal, reads personal information from said mobile communication terminal inserted into said connection port.

15. A control apparatus, using a mobile communication terminal, comprising:

an accounting center storing a list of subscribers;

a coin operable game play portion being separate from the mobile communication terminal wherein a game is played exclusively on said game play portion and not on the mobile communication terminal, said game play portion having at least a game start approval button, which enables a game play according to personal information;

an input portion, for inputting personal information exclusively through the mobile communication terminal; and

a control portion disposed on said game play portion,said control portion identifying the user on the basis of the input of personal information by said mobile communication terminal, said control portion thereafter making makes a call via said mobile communication terminal to the accounting center; and

responsive to the user being on the lists of subscribers and said game staff approval button being operated, said control portion actuates a game credit switch disposed within said game play portion to enable the game play by said game play portion so that said game play portion is operable without the use of coins;

wherein said accounting center bills at a predetermined subsequent time corresponding to said call made by operating said game start approval button.

16. A control apparatus, using a mobile communication terminal, comprising;

an information service center storing a list of subscribers;

a coin operable game play portion being separate from the mobile communication terminal wherein a game is played exclusively on said game play portion and not on the mobile communication terminal, said game play portion having at least a game start approval button, which stores game play information and enables a game play according to personal information;

an input portion, for inputting personal exclusively through the mobile communication terminal; and

a control portion disposed on said game play portion, said control portion identifying the user on the basis of the input of personal information by said mobile communication terminal, said control portion thereafter making a call via said mobile communication terminal to the information service center; and

responsive to the user being on the lists of subscribers and said game start approval button being operated, said control portion actuating a game credit switch disposed within said game play portion to enable the game play by said game play portion so that said game play portion is operable without the use of coins;

wherein said information service center bills at a predetermined subsequent time corresponding to said call made by operating said game start approval button.

17. A control method using a mobile communication terminal comprising:

an information service center storing a list of subscribers;

a coin operable game play portion being separate from the mobile communication terminal wherein a game is played exclusively on said game play portion and not on the mobile communication terminal, said game play pardon having at least a game start approval button, which enables a game play according to personal information;

an input portion, for inputting personal information exclusively through the mobile communication terminal; and

a control portion disposed on said game play portion, said control portion identifying the user on the basis of the input of personal information by said mobile communication terminal, said control portion thereafter making a call via said mobile communication terminal to the information service center; and

responsive to the user being on the lists of subscribers and said game start approval button being operated, said control portion actuating a game credit switch disposed within said game play portion to enable the game play by said game play portion so that said game play portion is operable without the use of coins;

wherein said information service center bills at a predetermined subsequent time corresponding to said call made by operating said game start approval button.

18. A control method, using a mobile communication terminal comprising:

an Internet service provider staring a list of subscribers;

a coin operable game play portion being separate from the mobile communication terminal wherein a game is played exclusively on said game play portion and not on the mobile communication terminal, said game play portion having at least a game start approval button, which enables a game play according to personal information;

an input portion for inputting personal information exclusively through the mobile communication terminal, said mobile communication terminal capable of being connected to the Internet; and

a control portion disposed on said game play portion said control portion identifying the user on the basis of the input of personal information by said mobile communication terminal, said control portion thereafter making which a call to the Internet service provider; and

responsive to the user being on the lists of subscribers and said game start approval button being operated, said control portion actuating a game credit switch disposed within said game play portion to enable the game play by said game play portion so that said game play portion is operable without the use of coins;

wherein said Internet service provider bills at a predetermined subsequent time corresponding to said call made by operating said game start approval button.