Information processing device, information providing device, information processing method and information providing method

• US 7,735,724 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2004
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ogata, Motoaki, Fujita, Norihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haupt; Kristy A
• Application Number:
  US10/582,202
• Publication Number:
  US 20070080209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,013 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/492, 235/493, 713/172, 705/14, 705/39
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/06 Private payment circuits, e.g. involving electronic currency used among participants of a common payment scheme
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3226 Use of secure elements separate from M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• 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 20/3552 Downloading or loading of personalisation data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/357 Cards having a plurality of specified features
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0232 Frequent usage rewards other than merchandise, cash or travel
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A function for processing electronic money is installed in a mobile phone 7 provided with a contactless IC chip. At this time, an electronic money member number is written to the contactless IC chip.

The user accesses a point site on a point server 10 through a user terminal, and logs in thereto. The user enters the electronic money member number in the point site. The point server 10 transmits a combination of the electronic money member number and the user'"'"'s point member number to an electronic money server 2. The electronic money server 2 receives the electronic money member number and the point member number from the point server 10, and memorizes them after establishing a linkage therebetween.

Claims

1. An information processing device for use in an information processing system having a function of communicating with a point managing device for managing accumulation and use of a point usable as an exchange value exchangeable with a predetermined product for each point ID information set for a user, which is an object to which the point is given, and a mobile terminal memorizing electronic money, which is electronic information representing an amount of currency value and transferring the currency value by increasing/decreasing the amount, having an electronic money processing function for executing a predetermined command to add/subtract the memorized amount of electronic money and being identifiable with electronic money function ID information set in association with the electronic money processing function,

the information processing system having memorized therein an association between the point ID information and the electronic money function ID information and performing redeeming of a point managed with the memorized point ID information and electronic money memorized in a mobile terminal identified by electronic money function ID information, the information processing device comprising:

program transmitting means for transmitting a predetermined program for forming the electronic money processing function to the mobile terminal before forming the electronic money processing function;

electronic money function ID information retrieving means for retrieving electronic money function ID information set in association with the electronic money processing function formed by executing the transmitted predetermined program in the mobile terminal;

point ID information retrieving means for retrieving point ID information set for a user of the mobile terminal;

associating means for associating the retrieved electronic money function ID information with the retrieved point ID information;

point information receiving means for receiving the number of points and the point ID information from the point managing device;

command generating means for generating a command to redeem the received number of points for electronic money at a predetermined redeeming rate and add the electronic money obtained by redeeming; and

command transmitting means for transmitting the generated command to a mobile terminal identified with the electronic money function ID information associated with the received point ID information by the associating means.

2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein,

the associating means is capable of associating a single piece of point ID information with a plurality of pieces of electronic money function ID information, and

a mobile terminal to which electronic money obtained by redeeming a point managed with the single piece of point ID information is added is selectable from mobile terminals identified with the plurality of pieces of electronic money function ID information associated with the single piece of point ID information.

3. The information processing device according to claim 2, comprising point issuing means for issuing a point in response to a use of electronic money, wherein,

the point managing device manages, with the single piece of point ID information, points issued by using electronic money with the mobile terminals identified with the plurality of pieces of electronic money function ID information, and

the points issued by the point issuing means by using electronic money with the mobile terminals identified with the plurality of pieces of electronic money function ID information are provided to the point managing device together with point ID information associated with the electronic money function ID information for the mobile terminals.

4. An information providing device for providing point ID information and electronic money function ID information to an information processing device as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

point ID information retrieving means for retrieving point ID information;

reading program transmitting means for transmitting, to a mobile terminal having an electronic money processing function, a reading program for reading electronic money function ID information set in association with the electronic money processing function and transmitting the electronic money function ID information to a predetermined recipient; and

electronic money function ID information receiving means for receiving electronic money function ID information transmitted by the mobile terminal by executing the transmitted reading program at the mobile terminal,

wherein the retrieved point ID information is provided to the point ID information retrieving means of the information processing device, and the received electronic money function ID information is provided to the electronic money function ID information retrieving means of the information processing device.

5. An information providing method, which is a process carried out by an information providing device composed of a computer for providing point ID information and electronic money function ID information to an information processing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein,

the computer includes point ID information retrieving means, reading program transmitting means, electronic money function ID information receiving means and providing means, the method comprising:

a point ID information retrieving step by the point ID information retrieving means for retrieving point ID information;

a reading program transmitting step by the reading program transmitting means for transmitting, to a mobile terminal having an electronic money processing function, a reading program for reading electronic money function ID information set in association with the electronic money processing function and transmitting the electronic money function ID information to a predetermined recipient;

an electronic money function ID information receiving step by the electronic money function ID information receiving means for receiving electronic money function ID information transmitted by the mobile terminal by executing the transmitted reading program at the mobile terminal; and

a providing step by the providing means for providing the retrieved point ID information to the point ID information retrieving means of the information processing device and providing the received electronic money function ID information to the electronic money function ID information retrieving means of the information processing device.

6. An information processing method, which is a process carried out by a computer for use in an information processing system having a function of communicating with a point managing device for managing accumulation and use of a point usable as an exchange value exchangeable with a predetermined product for each point ID information set for a user, which is an object to which the point is given, and a mobile terminal memorizing electronic money, which is electronic information representing an amount of currency value and transferring the currency value by increasing/decreasing the amount, having an electronic money processing function for executing a predetermined command to add/subtract the memorized amount of electronic money and being identifiable with electronic money function ID information set in association with the electronic money processing function,

the information processing system having memorized therein an association between the point ID information and the electronic money function ID information and performing redeeming of a point managed with the memorized point ID information and electronic money memorized in a mobile terminal identified by electronic money function ID information, wherein,

the computer includes program transmitting means, electronic money function ID information retrieving means, point ID information retrieving means, associating means, point information receiving means, command generating means and command transmitting means, the method comprising:

a program transmitting step by the program transmitting means for transmitting a predetermined program for forming the electronic money processing function to the mobile terminal before forming the electronic money processing function;

an electronic money function ID information retrieving step by the electronic money function ID information retrieving means for retrieving electronic money function ID information set in association with the electronic money processing function formed by executing the transmitted predetermined program in the mobile terminal;

a point ID information retrieving step by the point ID information retrieving means for retrieving point ID information set for a user of the mobile terminal;

an associating step by the associating means for associating the retrieved electronic money function ID information with the retrieved point ID information;

a point information receiving step by the point information receiving means for receiving the number of points and the point ID information from the point managing device;

a command generating step by the command generating means for generating a command to redeem the received number of points for electronic money at a predetermined redeeming rate and add the electronic money obtained by redeeming; and

a command transmitting step by the command transmitting means for transmitting the generated command to a mobile terminal identified with the electronic money function ID information associated with the received point ID information by the associating means.