Client terminal device, storage medium product, bank server apparatus, information transmitting method, information transmitting program, and information transmitting/receiving program

• US 20020188565A1
• Filed: 05/08/2002
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Yoshiyuki, Anno, Tetsuya
• Granted Patent: US 7,660,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

The invention provides an Internet banking system which can present services more familiar to daily life of individual users, and a bank server apparatus, etc. which can limit available banking services depending on user attributes. From the viewpoint of security, the invention reduces risks of information leak from a client terminal device to third persons and unauthorized accesses from third persons. Banking software for connection to the bank server apparatus is installed in the client terminal device. The banking software can display a screen transfer, etc. in the off-line condition. The banking software prepares transaction instruction data from information entered by the user on the displayed screen and temporarily holds it in the client terminal device. When the client terminal device is connected to the bank server apparatus, the held data is uploaded to the bank server apparatus. In the client terminal device, application software can be utilized in linkage with the banking software so as to display the contents of an electronic bankbook. As examples of the application software, household account-book software, petty cashbook software, etc. can be provided to users.

Claims

1. A client terminal device connected to a bank server apparatus, said client terminal device comprising:

means for creating information transmitted to said bank server apparatus when said client terminal device is not connected to said bank server apparatus;

means for holding information created by said creating means; and

means for transmitting a part of the information held by said holding means, which is not yet transmitted to said bank server apparatus, to said bank server apparatus when said client terminal device is connected to said bank server apparatus.

2. A client terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the information transmitted by said transmitting means is at least one of information for instructing a transaction made on at least one account, information created with software operating in linkage with a transaction made on said account, and information created with software operating not in linkage with a transaction made on said account.

3. A client terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising means for receiving information transmitted from said bank server apparatus,

said receiving means receiving information held in said bank server apparatus when said client terminal device is connected to said bank server apparatus.

4. A client terminal device according to claim 3, wherein the information received by said receiving means is at least one of information regarding a transaction made on at least one account, information created with software operating in linkage with a transaction made on said account, and information created with software operating not in linkage with a transaction made on said account.

5. A client terminal device according to claim 2, wherein said account is given as a plurality of virtual accounts set for one account.

6. A client terminal device according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of virtual accounts correspond in a one-to-one relation to users.

7. A client terminal device according to claim 5, wherein each of the users corresponding in a one-to-one relation to said plurality of virtual accounts is able to create, using said creating means, information for instructing a transaction made on the virtual account corresponding to the relevant user.

8. A client terminal device according to claim 5, wherein said holding means holds information created on arbitrary one or more of said plurality of virtual accounts when said client terminal device is not connected to said bank server apparatus;

and

wherein said transmitting means transmits all of the information held by said holding means to said bank server apparatus when said client terminal device is connected to said bank server apparatus.

9. A client terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said client terminal device comprises:

a base unit connected to said bank server apparatus via a network;

a portable unit wirelessly communicating with said base unit to receive entry of information from a user and to present information to the user, said portable unit being freely carried with the user; and

a storage medium disposed in said base unit or said portable unit;

said storage medium storing a program that operates said client terminal device to execute a function of creating information transmitted to said bank server apparatus when said client terminal device is not connected to said bank server apparatus;

a function of storing and holding the information created by said creating function in said base unit or said portable unit; and

a function of transmitting a part of the information held by said holding function, which is not yet transmitted, to said bank server apparatus when said base unit is connected to said bank server apparatus.

10. A client terminal device according to claim 9, wherein the information transmitted by said transmitting function is at least one of information for instructing a transaction made on at least one account, information created with software operating in linkage with a transaction made on said account, and information created with software operating not in linkage with a transaction made on said account.

11. A client terminal device according to claim 10, wherein said storage medium further stores a program for operating said client terminal device to execute a function of receiving information transmitted from said bank server apparatus.

12. A client terminal device according to claim 11, wherein the information received by said receiving function is at least one of information regarding a transaction made on said account, information created with software operating in linkage with a transaction made on said account, and information created with software operating not in linkage with a transaction made on said account.

13. A client terminal device according to claim 9, wherein said storage medium is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory detachably attached to said portable unit.

14. A bank server apparatus connected to a client terminal device according to claim 3, said bank server apparatus comprising:

means for creating information transmitted to said client terminal device;

means for holding the information created by said creating means; and

means for transmitting a part of the information held by said holding means, which is not yet transmitted, to said client terminal device and receiving information transmitted from said client terminal device when said client terminal device is connected to said bank server apparatus.

15. A bank server apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the information transmitted by said transmitting means is at least one of information regarding a transaction made on an account to which said client terminal device accesses, information created with software operating in linkage with a transaction made on said account, and information created with software operating not in linkage with a transaction made on said account;

and

wherein the information received by said receiving means is at least one of information for instructing a transaction made on said account, information created with software operating in linkage with a transaction made on said account, and information created with software operating not in linkage with a transaction made on said account.

16. A bank server apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said account to which said client terminal device accesses is given as a plurality of virtual accounts set for one account.

17. A method for transmitting information to a bank server apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

a first step of creating information transmitted to said bank server apparatus when connection to said bank server apparatus is not established;

a second step of holding the information created in said first step; and

a third step of transmitting a part of the information held in said second step, which is not yet transmitted to said bank server apparatus, to said bank server apparatus when the connection to said bank server apparatus is established.

18. A method comprising the steps of:

a first step of creating information transmitted to a client terminal device;

a second step of holding the information created in said first step;

a third step of establishing connection to said client terminal device; and

a fourth step of transmitting the information held in said second step to said client terminal device and receiving information transmitted from said client terminal device when the connection to said client terminal device is established in said third step.

19. A program for operating a computer to execute a function of transmitting information to a bank server apparatus, the program rendering said computer to execute the functions of:

a function of creating information transmitted to said bank server apparatus when connection to said client terminal device is not established;

a function of holding the information created by said creating function; and

a function of transmitting a part of the information held by said holding function, which is not yet transmitted to said bank server apparatus, to said bank server apparatus when the connection to said bank server apparatus is established.

20. A program for operating a computer to execute the functions of:

a function of creating information transmitted to a client terminal device;

a function of holding the information created by said creating function;

a function of establishing connection to said client terminal device; and

a function of transmitting the information held by said holding function to said client terminal device and receiving information transmitted from said client terminal device when the connection to said client terminal device is established by said connecting function.

21. A computer-readable storage medium product storing an information transmitting program for operating a computer to execute a function of transmitting information to a bank server apparatus, the program rendering said computer to execute the functions of:

a function of creating information transmitted to said bank server apparatus when connection to said client terminal device is not established;

a function of holding the information created by said creating function; and

a function of transmitting a part of the information held by said holding function, which is not yet transmitted to said bank server apparatus, to said bank server apparatus when the connection to said bank server apparatus is established.

22. A computer-readable storage medium product storing an information transmitting/receiving program for operating a computer to execute the functions of:

a function of creating information transmitted to a client terminal device;

a function of holding the information created by said creating function;

a function of establishing connection to said client terminal device; and

a function of transmitting the information held by said holding function to said client terminal device and receiving information transmitted from said client terminal device when the connection to said client terminal device is established by said connecting function.

24. A client terminal device according to claim 23, wherein said limiting means limits the contents of the banking services depending on an attribute of the user.

25. A client terminal device according to claim 24, wherein said attribute is a user'"'"'s age.

26. A client terminal device according to claim 24, further comprising means for setting the contents limited by said limiting means.

28. A storage medium product readable by a client terminal device, said storage medium storing a program according to claim 27.

29. A storage medium product according to claim 28, wherein said storage medium product is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory detachably attached to said client terminal device.

23. A client terminal device comprising:

means for communicating with a bank server apparatus;

means for providing banking services from said bank server apparatus to a user with said communicating means; and

means for limiting contents of the banking services, which are provided to the user by said providing means, depending on the user.

27. A program for operating a client terminal device to execute the functions of:

a function of communicating with a bank server apparatus;

a function of providing banking services from said bank server apparatus to a user with said communicating function; and

a function of limiting contents of the banking services, which are provided to the user by said providing function, depending on the user.

30. A method comprising the steps of:

a first step of communicating with a bank server apparatus; and

a second step of providing banking services from said bank server apparatus to a user via communication in said first step;

wherein contents of the banking services, which are provided to the user in said second step, are limited depending on the user.

31. A bank server apparatus comprising:

means for accepting a log-in from a user;

means for limiting contents of banking services, which are provided to the user, depending on the user who has logged in and has been accepted by said log-in accepting means; and

means for providing banking services to the user, the banking services having contents limited by said limiting means.

32. A bank server apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising means for acquiring an attribute of the user who has logged in and has been accepted by said log-in accepting means,

wherein said limiting means limits contents of the banking services depending on the attribute of the user acquired by said attribute acquiring means.

33. A bank server apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the attribute of the user acquired by said attribute acquiring means is user'"'"'s age.

38. A server apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the information transmitted by said display information transmitting means includes the ID information acquired by said ID information acquiring means.

39. A server apparatus according to claim 37, further comprising:

means for, when accepting a log-in from said client terminal device to said one account by said accepting means, receiving the ID information for identifying said client terminal device from said client terminal device; and

means for holding the ID information received by said ID information receiving means;

wherein said ID information acquiring means acquires, from said ID information holding means, the ID information for identifying the client terminal device that previously logged in to said one account.

40. A server apparatus according to claim 37, further comprising:

means for, when accepting a log-in from said client terminal device to said one account by said accepting means, acquiring confirmation information for confirming whether said client terminal device holds the ID information for identifying said client terminal device;

means for acquiring information for writing, in said client terminal device, the ID information for identifying said client terminal device; and

means for transmitting the write information acquired by said write information acquiring means to said client terminal device;

wherein the write information acquired by said write information acquiring means is transmitted to said client terminal device by said write information transmitting means when it is confirmed from the confirmation information acquired by said confirmation information acquiring means that said client terminal device does not hold the ID information for identifying said client terminal device.

41. A server apparatus according to claim 37, further comprising:

means for acquiring a date or a date and time at which a previous log-in to said one account was accepted,

wherein said transmitting means transmits the date or the date and time acquired by said previous log-in date/time acquiring means to the client terminal device that has logged in and has been accepted at this time.

42. A server apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the ID information is made up of signs other than signs entered by a user at the time of logging-in, and contains account ID information for identifying said one account.

43. A server apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the number of said client terminal devices, which are allowed to have the same account ID information, is limited to a predetermined number or below.

44. A server apparatus according to claim 37, further comprising:

means for holding a name arbitrarily set by a user for said client terminal device,

wherein the display information contains the name of said client terminal device held by said name holding means.

34. A method comprising the steps of:

a first step of accepting a log-in from a user;

a second step of limiting contents of banking services, which are provided to the user, depending on the user who has logged in and has been accepted in said first step; and

a third step of providing the banking services to the user, the banking services having contents limited in said second step.

35. A program for operating a bank server apparatus to execute the functions of:

a function of accepting a log-in from a user;

a function of limiting contents of banking services, which are provided to the user, depending on the user who has logged in and has been accepted by said log-in accepting function; and

a function of providing the banking services to the user, the banking services having contents limited by said limiting function.

36. A computer-readable storage medium product storing a banking service providing program for operating a bank server apparatus to execute the functions of:

a function of accepting a log-in from a user;

a function of limiting contents of banking services, which are provided to the user, depending on the user who has logged in and has been accepted by said log-in accepting function; and

a function of providing the banking services to the user, the banking services having contents limited by said limiting function.

37. A server apparatus comprising:

means for accepting a log-in from one or more client terminal devices corresponding to one account;

means for acquiring ID information for identifying the client terminal device that previously logged in to said one account when said accepting means accepts a log-in from one of said client terminal devices;

means for acquiring display information regarding the client terminal device, which previously logged in to said one account, using the ID information acquired by said ID information acquiring means, said display information being displayed on the client terminal device that has logged in at this time and has been accepted by said accepting means; and

means for transmitting the display information acquired by said display information acquiring means to said client terminal device.

45. A method comprising the steps of:

a first step of accepting a log-in from one or more client terminal devices corresponding to one account;

a second step of acquiring ID information for identifying the client terminal device that previously logged in to said one account when a log-in from one of said client terminal devices is accepted in said first step;

a third step of acquiring display information regarding the client terminal device, which previously logged in to said one account, using the ID information acquired in said second step, said display information being displayed on the client terminal device that has logged in at this time and has been accepted in said first step; and

a fourth step of transmitting the display information acquired in said third step to said client terminal device.

46. A program for operating a computer to execute the functions of:

a function of accepting a log-in from one or more client terminal devices corresponding to one account;

a function of acquiring ID information for identifying the client terminal device that previously logged in to said one account, when a log-in from one of said client terminal devices is accepted by said accepting function;

a function of acquiring display information regarding the client terminal device, which previously logged in to said one account, using the ID information acquired by said ID information acquiring function, said display information being displayed on the client terminal device that has logged in at this time and has been accepted by said accepting function; and

a function of transmitting the display information acquired by said display information acquiring function to said client terminal device.

47. A program for logging in to one account set in a server apparatus, the program operating a client terminal device to execute the functions of:

a function of logging in to said one account set in said server apparatus;

a function of holding ID information for identifying and determining, among from other client terminal devices, a client terminal device that has logged in to said one account;

a function of transmitting the ID information held by said holding function to said server apparatus;

a function of receiving, from said server apparatus, display information for displaying information identifying the client terminal device that previously logged in to said one account; and

a function of displaying said display information received by said display information receiving function.

48. A computer-readable storage medium product storing a program for operating a computer to execute the functions of:

a function of accepting a log-in from one or more client terminal devices corresponding to one account;

a function of acquiring ID information for identifying the client terminal device that previously logged in to said one account, when a log-in from one of said client terminal devices is accepted by said accepting function;

a function of acquiring display information regarding the client terminal device, which previously logged in to said one account, using the ID information acquired by said ID information acquiring function, said display information being displayed on the client terminal device that has logged in at this time and has been accepted by said accepting function; and

a function of transmitting the display information acquired by said display information acquiring function to said client terminal device.

49. A computer-readable storage medium product storing a program for logging in to one account set in a server apparatus, the program operating a client terminal device to execute the functions of:

a function of logging in to said one account set in said server apparatus;

a function of holding ID information for identifying and determining, among from other client terminal devices, a client terminal device that has logged in to said one account set in said server apparatus;

a function of transmitting the ID information held by said holding function to said server apparatus;

a function of receiving, from said server apparatus, display information for displaying information identifying the client terminal device that previously logged in to said one account; and

a function of displaying said display information received by said display information receiving function.

50. A server apparatus including means for transmitting, to a client terminal device, screen data for displaying a screen on a display of said client terminal device, said screen data having a program built therein to operate said client terminal device to execute the functions of:

a function of determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied; and

a function of changing at least a part of said screen into an indiscernible state when said predetermined condition is satisfied by said condition determining function.

51. A server apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said condition determining function determines that said predetermined condition is satisfied, if a predetermined time lapses from reception of said screen data by said client terminal device.

52. A server apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said condition determining function determines that said predetermined condition is satisfied, if the number of times of reentry made on an entry column set in said screen reaches a predetermined number.

53. A server apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the information changed by said screen changing function contains input information entered from said client terminal device and displayed on said display.

54. A server apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said screen changing function erases the screen displayed on said display.

55. A server apparatus according to claim 51, wherein the predetermined time is set for each set of said screen data.

56. A server apparatus according to claim 51, further comprising:

means for acquiring at least one of the number of entry columns set in said screen and an attribute of said screen;

means for calculating the predetermined time based on at least one of the number of entry columns and the attribute acquired by said number-of-columns/attribute acquiring means;

means for creating said program using the predetermined time calculated by said calculating means; and

means for adding said program created by said creating means to said screen data.

57. A server apparatus according to claim 51, wherein said screen data further contains a program for operating said client terminal device to execute an alarm displaying function of displaying, on said display, alarm information indicating that the end of the predetermined time is coming closer, before the lapse of the predetermined time.

58. A server apparatus according to claim 53, wherein said screen data further contains a program for operating said client terminal device to execute the functions of:

a function of acquiring, from a user, ex tension information indicating extension of the predetermined time in said client terminal device; and

a function of extending the predetermined time when the extension information is acquired by said extension information acquiring function.

59. A server apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said screen data transmitted by said screen data transmitting means further contains a program for operating said client terminal device to execute a function of transmitting, from said client terminal device to said server apparatus according to claim 50, a signal indicating that said predetermined condition is satisfied, when said condition determining function determines that said predetermined condition is satisfied;

and

wherein said server apparatus further comprises;

means for receiving information transmitted from said client terminal device by said transmitting function and indicating that said predetermined condition is satisfied; and

means for cutting off line connection between said client terminal device and said server apparatus when said information receiving means receives the information indicating that said predetermined condition is satisfied.

60. A server apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising:

means for acquiring a connection time set for each set of said screen data;

means for counting time lapsed from transmission of said screen data by said screen data transmitting means; and

means for cutting off line connection between said client terminal device and said server apparatus when the time counted by said time counting means reaches the connection time acquired by said connection time acquiring means.

61. A server apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting, to a client terminal device, screen data for displaying a screen on a display of said client terminal device;

means for acquiring a connection time set for each set of said screen data;

means for counting time lapsed from transmission of said screen data to said client terminal device; and

means for cutting off line connection between said client terminal device and said server apparatus when the time counted by said time counting means reaches the connection time acquired by said connection time acquiring means.

62. A method comprising the steps of:

a first step of incorporating, in screen data transmitted to a client terminal device, a condition determining program for executing a condition determining function of determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied in said client terminal device;

a second step of incorporating, in said screen data, a screen changing program for executing a screen changing function of changing at least a part of said screen displayed on said client terminal device into an indiscernible state when said condition determining function determines that said predetermined condition is satisfied in said client terminal device; and

a third step of transmitting, to said client terminal device, said screen data in which said condition determining program is incorporated in said first step and said screen changing program is incorporated in said second step.

63. A method comprising the steps of:

a first step of acquiring, from a server apparatus, screen data in which a program is incorporated;

a second step of displaying said screen data on a display;

a third step of executing, based on said program acquired in said first step, a condition determining function of determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied; and

a fourth step of executing, based on said program acquired in said first step, a screen changing function of changing at least a part of a screen displayed using said screen data into an indiscernible state when said condition determining function determines that said predetermined condition is satisfied.

64. A program including screen data displayed on a client terminal device and operating said client terminal device to execute the functions of:

a function of determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied; and

a function of changing at least a part of a screen displayed on said client terminal device into an indiscernible state when said condition determining function determines that said predetermined condition is satisfied.

65. A program for operating a server apparatus to execute a function of distributing a screen displaying program to a client terminal device, the program including screen data displayed on said client terminal device and operating said client terminal device to execute the functions of:

a function of determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied; and

a function of changing at least a part of a screen displayed on said client terminal device into an indiscernible state when said condition determining function determines that said predetermined condition is satisfied.

66. A computer-readable storage medium product storing a program for including screen data displayed on a client terminal device and operating said client terminal device to execute the functions of:

a function of determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied; and

a function of changing at least a part of a screen displayed on said client terminal device into an indiscernible state when said condition determining function determines that said predetermined condition is satisfied.

67. A computer-readable storage medium product storing a program for operating a server apparatus to execute a function of distributing a screen displaying program to a client terminal device, the program including screen data displayed on said client terminal device and operating said client terminal device to execute the functions of:

a function of determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied; and

a function of changing at least a part of a screen displayed on said client terminal device into an indiscernible state when said condition determining function determines that said predetermined condition is satisfied.