Patent ID: 6829467
Filing Date: 2004-12-07
Classification: G06Q,G07G,H04M,H04W

Abstract:
An apparatus for settling accounts, comprising:short-range communications means for communicating with portable device by a short-range radio; antenna for radiating and catching short-range radio waves; first range-set means for setting area of a short-range radio communication to a first communication range lying near the antenna; second range-set means for setting the area of the short-range radio communication to a second communication range broader than the first communication range; address-acquirement means for acquiring a radio communication address from said portable device within the area of the short-range radio communication by the short-range radio; area-change means for changing area of the short-range radio communication to the second communication range, when said address-acquirement means has acquired the radio communication address from said portable device within said first communication range; data-receive means for receiving data necessary for settling accounts from said portable device within the second communication range by virtue of the short-range radio communication; and account-settlement means for settling accounts of transaction on the basis of the data received by said data-receive means.