Communication terminal and information communication system

• US 7,377,428 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Katagishi, Makoto, Takaki, Taku, Hasegawa, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Paik; Steven S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, APRIL ALICIA
• Application Number:
  US11/185,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20050252964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 235380-382, 235/384, 235/492, 705/13, 705/41, 705/44
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G

Abstract

A communication terminal for connecting or mounting an IC card or the like to examine a ticket through a non-contact communication. The communication terminal includes a function for receiving information stored in the IC card or the like in the ticket examination process and controlling itself automatically. The communication terminal can automatically display the validity of a pass and/or the balance of a prepaid sum in a ticket. Also, the communication terminal can register a specific station so that an email in a pre-registered format is created or sent automatically in the ticket examination process at the registered station.

Claims

1. A communication terminal, comprising:

a first communication unit configured to transmit and receive data through a network;

a second communication unit configured to communicate with a communication device to receive data identifying an installation location of the communication device;

a storage device configured to store transmission location information denoting a transmission location where the first communication unit transmits information, and destination information for denoting a destination, corresponding to the transmission location, to which the information transmitted from the first communication unit is to be sent; and

a controller configured to control the first communication unit so as to transmit information to the destination when the installation location information included in the data transmitted from the communication device corresponds to the transmission location information stored by the storage device, wherein the information transmitted from the first communication unit includes at least part of the data received from the communication device.

2. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein information to be sent through the first communication unit is an e-mail.

3. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is an automatic ticket examination machine, the installation location information is information for denoting a station where the communication device is installed.

4. The communication terminal according to claim 3, wherein the data includes a name of the station or a time on which the communication terminal passes the station.

5. The communication terminal according to claim 3, wherein information to be sent through the first communication unit is an e-mail.

6. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the installation location is a station, a shop, an amusement park or a tollbooth.

7. The communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein information to be sent through the first communication unit is an e-mail.

8. An information communication system, comprising:

a communication device configured to communicate with a communication terminal, wherein the communication terminal includes a first communication unit configured to communicate with an object through a network, a second communication unit configured to receive data from the communication device, and a storage device for storing communication device information related to the communication device and destination information for denoting a destination of an e-mail so that both communication device information and destination information correspond to each other,

wherein responsive to a communication between the communication device and the second communication unit, the communication terminal creates an e-mail that includes at least part of data received from the communication device and sends the e-mail to an object through the first communication unit.

9. The information communication system according to claim 8, wherein the communication device is an automatic ticket examination machine, the installation location information is information for denoting a station where the communication device is installed.

10. The information communication system according to claim 9, wherein the data includes a name of the station or a time on which the communication terminal passes the station.