Method and processing apparatus for settling purchase and providing information about subsequent act to be performed

• US 7,562,023 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2002
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sovereign Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Vig, Naresh
• Application Number:
  US10/234,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20030046119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,505 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/9, 705/26, 705/40
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems

Abstract

A method for providing a user of a mobile terminal device with information using the mobile terminal device and a processing apparatus, wherein an action schedule representing an order of a plurality acts to be performed by the user is predetermined, includes the steps of the processing apparatus receiving execution information which specifies one of the plurality of acts from the mobile terminal device; the processing apparatus specifying an act, scheduled to be performed by the user after the act specified by the execution information, as a subsequent act; the processing apparatus acquiring related information relevant to the subsequent act; and the processing apparatus transmitting the related information to the mobile terminal device.

Claims

1. A method for providing a user of a mobile terminal device with information using the mobile terminal device and a processing apparatus, wherein an action schedule representing an order of a plurality acts to be performed by the user is predetermined and stored in the processing apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

the mobile terminal device generating, and transmitting to the processing apparatus, execution information which specifies one of the plurality of acts performed by the user, wherein the execution information is information regarding a settlement of a purchase and sale transaction accompanied by the act specified by the execution information;

the processing apparatus specifying a subsequent act which is scheduled to be performed by the user after the act specified by the execution information;

the processing apparatus acquiring related information relevant to the subsequent act; and

the processing apparatus transmitting the related information to the mobile terminal device such that the user is provided with the related information relevant to the subsequent act

wherein the mobile terminal device includes a settlement function of communicating with a settlement apparatus in a commercial establishment so as to cashlessly perform the settlement of the purchase and sale transaction done by the user of the mobile terminal device, and the mobile terminal uses the communicating results to generate the execution information.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the related information includes at least one of information regarding a map of an area including a location where the user is scheduled to perform the subsequent act, information representing a crowdedness of the location, information regarding a list of services available to the user in a commercial establishment where the user is scheduled to perform the subsequent act, and information regarding business hours of the commercial establishment.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of acts include at least one of moving by train, seeing a movie, having dinner at a restaurant, entering an amusement park, and entering an attraction in the amusement park.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the processing apparatus includes a storage section for storing the action schedule.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of the processing apparatus creating an action record of the user based on the execution information.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of the processing apparatus creating a payment record accompanying the acts of the user based on the information regarding the settlement of the purchase and sale transaction.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of the processing apparatus creating an action record including a payment record accompanying the acts of the user based on the information regarding the settlement of the purchase and sale transaction.

8. An action schedule support service system comprising a processing apparatus and a mobile terminal device, the processing apparatus connected to the mobile terminal device via a network, the processing apparatus further comprising:

a storage section for storing an action schedule representing an order of a plurality acts to be performed by a user of the mobile terminal device;

a network communication section for communicating with the mobile terminal device via the network; and

a processing section,

wherein the mobile terminal device includes a settlement function of communicating with a settlement apparatus in a commercial establishment so as to cashlessly perform a settlement of a purchase and sale transaction done by the user of the mobile terminal device;

the mobile terminal device uses the communicating results to generate and transmit to the network communication section, execution information which specifies one of the plurality of acts performed by the user, wherein the execution information is information regarding the settlement of the purchase and sale transaction accompanied by the act specified by the execution information;

the processing section specifies, a subsequent act which is scheduled to be performed by the user after the act specified by the execution information, and acquires related information relevant to the subsequent act, and

the network communication section transmits the related information to the mobile terminal device.