Portable terminal device, portable terminal oriented method, currency information issuance server apparatus, currency information issuance method, and computer program product

• US 9,497,796 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Fujita, Norihiko, Ito, Koji, Arai, Hisanori, Nagai, Masaji
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peaches, Randy
• Application Number:
  US10/548,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20060258337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,757 Days
• Field of Search: 705/39, 455/403, 455/405, 455/406, 455/550, 455/556, 455/407
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• 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 20/065 using e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3226 Use of secure elements separate from M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3227 using secure elements embedded in M-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 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3678 e-cash details, e.g. blinded, divisible or detecting double spending
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A portable terminal has a currency information storage device for storing therein currency information representing a currency value amount as an electronic data. An information processing device uses operational processing information to thereby operationally process a monetary amount of the stored currency information. A request information transmission device transmits, to a server apparatus, request information for requesting the server apparatus to rewrite the electronic data so as to increase the stored currency value amount by credit using the operational processing information. An operational processing information receipt device receives the operational processing information transmitted by the server apparatus in response to the transmitted request information. An input device inputs the received operational processing information into the information processing device.

Claims

1. A portable terminal device comprising:

an electronic money unit including;

(a) a first processor,

(b) a first memory device storing a currency value, and

(c) a terminal communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with a network via an electronic money terminal;

a phone unit, separate from the electronic money unit, including;

(a) a second processor,

(b) a second memory device, and

(c) a base station communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with the network via a base station; and

an interface connecting the electronic money unit and the phone unit,

wherein at least one of the first processor and the second processor cause the portable terminal device to;

(a) connect to a server apparatus via the network by way of at least one of the terminal communication unit and the base station communication unit;

(b) request operational processing information from the server apparatus; and

(c) receive the operational processing information from the server apparatus,

wherein the interface is configured to encrypt data transmitted from the electronic money unit to the phone unit, and

wherein the electronic unit is connected to a terminal antenna and the phone unit is connected to a phone antenna, and wherein the terminal antenna is separate from the phone antenna.

2. The portable terminal device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first processor and the second processor cause the portable terminal device to:

(a) set a monetary amount to be added in accordance with the operational processing information;

(b) transmit, to the server apparatus, monetary amount specifying information which specifies the set monetary amount; and

(c) receive the operational processing information from the server apparatus, the operational processing information being configured to add the specified monetary amount to the stored currency value.

3. The portable terminal device of claim 1, wherein the first memory device is configured to store historical data information for recording details of a currency value amount handling including entrance, subtraction and remaining amount reference of value.

4. The portable terminal device of claim 3, further comprising:

a display device,

wherein the display device is configured to display the historical data information.

5. The portable terminal device of claim 3, wherein the interface is configured to relay communications between the phone unit and the electronic money unit.

6. The portable terminal device of claim 1, wherein the electronic money unit is provided on a single IC chip.

7. The portable terminal device of claim 6, wherein the IC chip is detachable.

8. The portable terminal device of claim 7, further comprising a connector connecting the IC chip to the portable terminal device.

9. The portable terminal device of claim 1, wherein the terminal communication unit included in the electronic money unit is configured to drive an antenna to communicate with the electronic money terminal.

10. The portable terminal device of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to decrypt date transmitted from the phone unit to the electronic money unit.

11. A method of operating a portable terminal including a terminal communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with a network via an electronic money terminal, and a base station communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with the network via a phone antenna to a base station, the method comprising:

(a) storing a currency value amount;

(b) connecting to a server apparatus via the network by way of the terminal communication unit via a terminal antenna;

(c) requesting operational processing information from the server apparatus; and

(d) receiving the operational processing information from the server apparatus, wherein the terminal antenna is separate from the phone antenna and is configure to emit radio waves within a short range.

12. The method of operating a portable terminal of claim 11, wherein connecting to the server apparatus via the terminal communication unit is independent of a base station.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program for operating a portable terminal including a memory device, a terminal communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with a network via an electronic money terminal, and a base station communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with the network via a phone antenna to a base station, the program causing the portable terminal to:

(a) store a currency value amount;

(b) connect to a server apparatus via the network by way of the terminal communication unit via a terminal antenna;

(c) request operational processing information from the server apparatus; and

(d) receive the operational processing information from the server apparatus,

wherein the terminal antenna is separate from the phone antenna and is configure to emit radio waves within a short range.