Information input-output device, information input-output system, mobile communication terminal, and input-output control unit

• US 7,721,327 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2004
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Mizuguchi, Takahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron, Jr.; Gilberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nobahar; Abdulhakim
• Application Number:
  US10/970,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20050071683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,031 Days
• Field of Search: 713/155, 713/169, 713/170, 713/185, 713/156, 709/203, 709/219, 709/224, 709/225, 726/2, 726/5, 726/10, 726/11, 726/12
• US Class Current: 726/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/85 interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234

Abstract

An information input-output system comprises a mobile communication terminal, and a host computer that performs communications with the terminal over a radio transmission line and has a database relating to services that can be provided to the user of the terminal. This system also comprises an input-output gateway server that verifies whether the user is a subscriber who can be provided with a variety of services, and an input-output control unit that receives data from the database over an established line and then outputs the data.

Claims

1. An information input/output system, comprising:

a host computer having a data storage unit configured to store data;

a server connected to the host computer and configured to store a plurality of authentication codes related to a plurality of users;

a mobile communication terminal; and

a plurality of input-output control units connected to the server, wherein

the plurality of input-output control units are configured to receive from the mobile communication terminal an authentication code related to a user and an output job code corresponding to a process requested by the user, to transmit the authentication code to the server and to perform money charging and an output of data both corresponding to the output job code, and the input-output control units are installed in a plurality of locations in order to support the mobile communication terminal, whereby desired data is output to any of the input-output control units located around a destination where the user goes according to changes of the destination, and

the server is configured to allow the plurality of input-output control units to access the data in the data storage unit, and output the accessed data, when the received authentication code coincides with one of the plurality of authentication codes stored in the server, and wherein the accessed data relates to services that can be provided to the user, and wherein the plurality of input- output control units comprises;

a control section that controls operation of the plurality of input-output control units;

a communication interface that performs data transaction with the server;

a portable interface that performs communications with the mobile communication terminal; and

a printer interface adapted to be connected to a printer.

2. The information input/output system according to claim 1, wherein the data stored in the data storage unit is data that has been fetched by a scanner.

3. The information input/output system according to claim 1, wherein the authentication code is received by the plurality of input-output control units via a magnetic card or an IC card.

4. The information input/output system according to claim 1, wherein the accessed data is output by being printed out by an external device connected to the plurality of input-output control units.

5. The information input/output system according to claim 1, wherein the accessed data is at least one of data related to newspaper or publication, sound source data, static image data, and moving picture data.

6. The information input/output system according to claim 1, wherein the money charging is performed using a cash collection device, into which a specified amount of money has been deposited, or electronic money.

7. The information input/output system according to claim 1, wherein

the data is output by being printed out by an external device connected to the plurality of input-output control units, and the mobile communication terminal is configured to display a route to a location of the external device.

14. The information input/output system according to claim 1 further comprising a verification unit that verifies whether the user of the plurality of input-output control units is a subscriber who is allowed to handle communications between the plurality of input-output control units.

8. An information input/output system, comprising:

a data storage unit configured to store data;

a server configured to store a plurality of authentication codes related to a plurality of users;

a plurality of input-output control units connected to the server; and

a mobile communication terminal configured to transmit an authentication code to the input-output control unit, wherein

the data storage unit is configured to transmit the data to the mobile communication terminal, and wherein the transmitted data relates to services that can be provided to a user of the mobile communication terminal,

the plurality of input-output control units being configured to receive the authentication code and an output job code corresponding to a process requested by the user from the mobile communication terminal, the input-output control units are installed in a plurality of locations in order to support the mobile communication terminal, whereby desired data is output to any of the input-output control units located around a destination where the user goes according to changes of the destination, and to transmit the authentication code received to the server, and

the server is configured to allow the input-output control unit to output the data received by the mobile communication terminal, and perform money charging both corresponding to the output job code, when the authentication code received coincides with one of the plurality of authentication codes stored in the server, wherein the plurality of input-output control units comprises;

a control section that controls operation of the plurality of input-output control units;

a communication interface that performs data transaction with the server;

a portable interface that performs communications with the mobile communication terminal; and

a printer interface adapted to be connected to a printer.

9. The information input/output system according to claim 8, wherein the authentication code is received by the plurality of input-output control units via a magnetic card or an IC card.

10. The information input/output system according to claim 8, wherein the data is output by being printed out by an external device connected to the input-output control units.

11. The information input/output system according to claim 8, wherein the data is at least one of data related to newspaper or publication, sound source data, static image data, and moving picture data.

12. The information input/output system according to claim 8, wherein the money charging is performed using a cash collection device, into which a specified amount of money has been deposited, or electronic money.

13. The information input/output system according to claim 8, wherein the data is output by being printed out by an external device connected to the plurality of input-output control units, and the mobile communication terminal is configured to display a route to a location of the external device.

15. The information input/output system according to claim 8 further comprising a verification unit that verifies whether the user of the plurality of input-output control units is a subscriber who is allowed to handle communications between the plurality of input-output control units.