Server, data output system, data output method, and output terminal

• US 20060289626A1
• Filed: 06/14/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gallio IP LLC (Endpoint IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Aruze Corp., SETA Corporation (Universal Entertainment Corporation)
• Inventors: Nonaka, Nobuyuki, Koyama, Toshimi
• Granted Patent: US 10,176,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect

Abstract

A server comprises an electronic data item receiving unit, an identification code receiving unit, an identification code storing unit, and an electronic data item transmitting unit. The electronic data item receiving unit receives an electronic data item. When a person exists within a predetermined range from an output terminal, the identification code receiving unit receives a first identification code concerning any one of the person and a device used by the person and a second identification code for identifying the output terminal. The identification code storing unit stores therein the first and second identification codes received by the identification code receiving unit, in association with each other. The electronic data item transmitting unit transmits the electronic data item received by the electronic data item receiving unit to a corresponding output terminal based on the first and second identification codes stored in the identification code storing unit.

Claims

1. A server comprising:

an electronic data item receiving unit that receives an electronic data item;

an identification code receiving unit that, when a person exists within a predetermined range from an output terminal, receives a first identification code concerning any one of the person and a device used by the person and a second identification code for identifying the output terminal;

an identification code storing unit that stores therein, the first and second identification codes received by the identification code receiving unit, in association with each other; and

an electronic data item transmitting unit that transmits the electronic data item received by the electronic data item receiving unit to a corresponding output terminal based on the first and second identification codes stored in the identification code storing unit.

2. The server according to claim 1, wherein:

the server further comprises a retrieval unit that retrieves from the identification code storing unit first and second identification codes corresponding to a specific code that specifies a destination of the electronic data item received by the electronic data item receiving unit; and

the electronic data item transmitting unit transmits the electronic data item to an output terminal that is assigned the second identification code retrieved by the retrieval unit.

3. The server according to claim 1, wherein the electronic data item transmitting unit transmits the electronic data item to an output terminal that is assigned a second identification code associated with, among the first identification codes stored in the identification code storing unit, an authentic first identification code.

4. The server according to claim 1, wherein the identification code receiving unit receives a first identification code and a second identification code that are outputted from each of a plurality of the output terminals.

5. The server according to claim 1, wherein the server further comprises a notification signal transmitting unit that, after the electronic data item transmitting unit transmits the electronic data item to a corresponding output terminal, transmits a notification signal for notifying that the data item has been outputted, to a terminal that is placed near the corresponding output terminal and used by a person to which the electronic data item is addressed.

6. The server according to claim 1, wherein the first identification code is for identifying the person, and stored in a medium capable of being carried around by the person.

7. A data output system comprising a plurality of output terminals and a server that is data-communicably connected to the output terminals, wherein:

each of the output terminals includes

a reading unit that, when a person exists within a predetermined range from the output terminal, reads a first identification code concerning any one of the person and a device used by the person,

an output unit that outputs an electronic data item, and

an identification code transmitting unit that transmits to the server the first identification code read by the reading unit and a second identification code for identifying the output terminal; and

the server includes

an electronic data item receiving unit that receives the electronic data item,

an identification code receiving unit that receives the first and second identification codes transmitted by the identification code transmitting unit of any one of the output terminals,

an identification code storing unit that stores therein the first and second identification codes received by the identification code receiving unit, in association with each other,

a retrieval unit that retrieves from the identification code storing unit first and second identification codes corresponding to a specific code that specifies a destination of the electronic data item received by the electronic data item receiving unit, and

an electronic data item transmitting unit that transmits the electronic data item received by the electronic data item receiving unit to an output terminal that is assigned the second identification code retrieved by the retrieval unit.

8. A data output method comprising the steps of:

receiving an electronic data item;

receiving from each of a plurality of output terminals, when a person exists within a predetermined range from the output terminal, a first identification code concerning any one of the person and a device used by the person and a second identification code for identifying the output terminal;

storing the first and second identification codes received in the step of receiving identification codes, in association with each other;

retrieving, from what has been stored in the step of storing identification codes, first and second identification codes corresponding to a specific code that specifies a destination of the electronic data item received in the step of receiving an electronic data item; and

transmitting the electronic data item received in the step of receiving an electronic data item, to an output terminal that is assigned the second identification code retrieved in the step of retrieving.

9. An output terminal comprising:

an electronic data item storing unit that stores therein a received electronic data item;

a specific code acquiring unit that, based on the electronic data item stored in the electronic data item storing unit, acquires a specific code for specifying a destination of the electronic data item;

a reading unit that, when a person exists within a predetermined range from the output terminal, reads a first identification code concerning any one of the person and a device used by the person;

a determination unit that determines whether the first identification code read by the reading unit corresponds to the specific code acquired by the specific code acquiring unit or not; and

an output unit that, when the determination unit determines that the first identification code corresponds to the specific code, outputs the electronic data item stored in the electronic data item storing unit.

10. The output terminal according to claim 9, wherein the output terminal further comprises a notification signal transmitting unit that, after the output unit outputs the electronic data item, transmits a notification signal for notifying that the data item has been outputted, to a terminal that is placed nearby and used by a person to which the electronic data item is addressed.