Abstract:
A communication system and method is provided for use when a device conducts a near field communication (NFC) with a store apparatus. A method includes receiving usage information concerning the NFC at a server in response to the NFC, and storing the usage information in the server, the usage information being associated with the NFC, and the usage information also being stored in the device in response to the NFC; comparing the usage information stored in the device to the usage information stored in the server when a user of the device attempts to upload to the server a review related to the NFC; and receiving the review at the server when the usage information stored in the device corresponds to the usage information stored in the server.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2010-079187 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Mar. 30, 2010, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to a communication device, a communication method, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and an information processing system, and specifically, to a communication device, a communication method, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and an information processing system adapted to realize new business models using Integrated Circuit (IC) cards represented by FeliCa (registered trademark), cellular phones containing IC chips equivalent thereto, or the like. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In the past, noncontact communication IC cards represented by FeliCa (hereinafter, simply referred to as “IC cards”) have been in wide-spread use. Specifically, the IC cards are widely used as commuter passes for trains or the like, electronic money, membership cards, etc. The IC cards can make communication of data only by touching on a reader/writer as the other end of the communication for a moment (the word “touching” being used here and throughout this specification to mean both being brought into contact and being held at a predetermined close range, e.g. within 10 cm). Thus, the IC cards and the reader/writer may be said to conduct near field communication (NFC) with each other. That is, the IC cards and the reader/writer may conduct communication by being in contact or by being within a predetermined close range. 
         [0006]    Further, there have been cellular phones containing IC chips equivalent to the above described IC cards. In addition, there have been cellular phones also including communication means that realize P2P communication of Bluetooth (registered trademark) or the like, and handover from noncontact communication using the IC chip to P2P communication using the communication means has been disclosed (For example, see JP-A-2009-44374). 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    As described above, IC cards and cellular phones containing IC chips equivalent thereto have been in widespread use, and, in the future, their utilization for various business models is expected. 
         [0008]    In view of the above, it has been recognized that it is desirable to propose new business models using IC cards and cellular phones containing IC chips equivalent thereto or the like. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, the present embodiments are provided. In one of the embodiments, a communication system and method is provided. The system and method are for use when a device conducts near field communication (NFC) with a store apparatus. The method includes receiving usage information concerning the NFC at a server in response to the NFC, and storing the usage information in the server, the usage information being associated with the NFC, and the usage information also being stored in the device in response to the NFC; comparing the usage information stored in the device to the usage information stored in the server when a user of the device attempts to upload to the server a review related to the NFC; and receiving the review at the server when the usage information stored in the device corresponds to the usage information stored in the server. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an IC card utilization system to which an embodiment of the invention is applied; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an IC card; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an information processing apparatus; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart for explanation of operations of the IC card utilization system; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 5A to 5C  show display examples of a screen at review writing; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 6A to 6C  display examples of the screen at review viewing; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a portable terminal utilization system to which an embodiment of the invention is applied; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a portable terminal; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart for explanation of operations of the portable terminal utilization system; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an IC card utilization system to which an embodiment of the invention is applied; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart for explanation of operations of the IC card utilization system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    As below, the best modes for implementing the invention (hereinafter, referred to as embodiment) will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings. The explanation will be made in the following order. 
         [0022]    1. First Embodiment 
         [0023]    2. Second Embodiment 
         [0024]    3. Third Embodiment 
       1. First Embodiment 
     Configuration Example of IC Card Utilization System  10   
       [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a configuration example of an IC card utilization system  10  as the first embodiment of the invention. The IC card utilization system  10  includes an IC card  21  and an information processing apparatus  22  used by a user, a certificate issuing institution apparatus  11 , a store apparatus  12 , a transaction service provider apparatus  13 , and a review management server  14 . 
         [0026]    The IC card  21  is an IC card that can make noncontact communication represented by FeliCa, and used as electronic money in the first embodiment. The IC card  21  makes communication of various kinds of data with the information processing apparatus  22  or the store apparatus  12  via a communication port provided in the information processing apparatus  22  or the store apparatus  12 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  shows a basic configuration example of the IC card  21 . The IC card  21  includes an antenna  24 , a power generation unit  25 , a noncontact communication unit  26 , and a memory  27 . 
         [0028]    The power generation unit  25  acquires drive power of the IC card  21  based on induced electromotive force generated when electromagnetic wave transmitted from the communication port of the information processing apparatus  22  or the like passes through the inner circumference of the antenna  24 , and supplies the power to the noncontact communication unit  26  and the memory  27 . The noncontact communication unit  26  receives the data transmitted from the communication port of the information processing apparatus  22  or the like via the antenna  24  and records the data in the memory  27 . Further, the noncontact communication unit  26  reads out the data recorded in the memory  27  and transmits the data to the communication port of the information processing apparatus  22  or the like via the antenna  24 . 
         [0029]    Returning to  FIG. 1 , the information processing apparatus  22  has the communication port for communication of data with the IC card  21  (an IC card communication unit  36  in  FIG. 3 ). Further, the information processing apparatus  22  can access an arbitrary server (for example, the review management server  14 ) via the Internet. Therefore, the information processing apparatus  22  may be realized not only by a personal computer but also by a television receiver having a communication port compatible with the IC card and having a function accessible to the arbitrary server via the Internet or the like. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  shows a configuration example of the information processing apparatus  22 . In the information processing apparatus  22 , a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  31 , a ROM (Read Only Memory)  32 , and a RAM (Random Access Memory)  33  are connected to one another by a bus  34 . 
         [0031]    To the bus  34 , an input/output interface  35  is further connected. To the input/output interface  35 , the IC card communication unit  36  that makes communication of data with the IC card  21 , an input unit  37  including a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, or the like, an output unit  38  including a display, a speaker, or the like, a memory unit  39  including a hard disc, a nonvolatile memory, or the like, a communication unit  40  including a network interface or the like, and a drive  41  that drives removable media  42  are connected. As the removable media  42 , for example, a magnetic disc, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc, a semiconductor memory, or the like may be used. 
         [0032]    In the information processing apparatus  22  having the above described configuration, the CPU  31  loads a program stored in the memory unit  39  in the RAM  33  via the input/output interface  35  and the bus  34  and executes it, and thereby, a series of processing, which will be described later, is performed. 
         [0033]    Returning to  FIG. 1 , the certificate issuing institution apparatus  11  is provided in an authorized certificate authority and issues electronic certificates respectively to the store apparatus  12 , the transaction service provider apparatus  13 , and the review management server  14 . The issued certificates are attached to various kinds of information to be transmitted by the store apparatus  12  or the like. 
         [0034]    The store apparatus  12  is set in a store that sales products (including a restaurant that provides meals as products or the like), and provided with a communication port (not shown) for noncontact data communication with the IC card  21 . When a user who purchases a product touches the communication port with the IC card  21  for payment, the data on transaction (the remaining amount of electronic money, the price of the product, etc.) is communicated between the IC card  21  and the store apparatus  12 . Furthermore, concurrently, purchase information is transmitted from the store apparatus  12  to the IC card  21  and recorded in the IC card  21 . 
         [0035]    The purchase information is used for certification of the actual purchase in the store and an electronic certificate is added thereto. The purchase information includes the date of transaction, the amount of money of transaction, product identification information for identification of the purchased product, store identification information for identification of the respective stores (or the respective POS), and IC card identification information for identification of the used IC card  21 . 
         [0036]    Further, the store apparatus  12  notifies the transaction service provider apparatus  13  of transaction information corresponding to the payment using the IC card  21 . The transaction information includes the date of transaction, the amount of money of transaction, the product identification information, the store identification information, and the IC card identification information. 
         [0037]    The transaction service provider apparatus  13  performs transaction processing (for example, processing of subtracting the product price from the prepaid amount of money or processing of charging the product price on the user via a credit company) for the user of the IC card  21  based on the transaction information provided from the store apparatus  12 . Further, the transaction service provider apparatus  13  supplies the transaction information also to be a certificate of actual purchase of the product at the store by the user of the IC card  21  to the review management server  14 . 
         [0038]    The review management server  14  is a server for collecting and disclosing at least one of a review for the store and the product and a visit record by the purchaser who has purchased the product (the user of the IC card  21 ). Further, the visit record includes the number of visits, the number of purchased items, the numbers of the respective purchased items, etc. Note that the visit record may not be input by the user, but may be extracted from the purchase information or the transaction information and registered. The reviews etc. are uploaded and disclosed using homepages and blogs posted on the Internet. Specifically, the reviews may be displayed in association with the purchased products, or otherwise, marks corresponding to the visit records in association with the reviews (for example, showing the grade of the visit records by the number of stars) may be displayed. In this manner, by disclosing the visit records with the reviews, reliability and credibility of the disclosed reviews may be improved and the reviews uploaded by people who have not actually visit the stores or purchased the products may be removed. 
         [0039]    The review management server  14  transmits the disclosed data of the homepages or the like to the information processing apparatus  22  accessed for viewing the disclosed reviews, and also transmits the view information. The view information includes information that proves the user has viewed the review and is recorded in the IC card  21  in the information processing apparatus  22 . 
       [Operation Explanation of IC Card Utilization System  10 ] 
       [0040]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart for explanation of operations of the IC card utilization system  10 . 
         [0041]    In the operation explanation, a user A and a user B appear and the user A uses an IC card  21 A and an information processing apparatus  22 A and the user B uses an IC card  21 B and an information processing apparatus  22 B. 
         [0042]    When the user A purchases a product at a store X, if the user touches the communication port of the store apparatus  12  set in the store X with the IC card  21 A that functions as electronic money, at step S 1 , communication for transaction is made between the IC card  21 A and the store apparatus  12 . 
         [0043]    Subsequently, the store apparatus  12  transmits usage information to the IC card  21 A at step S 11 . The usage information is recorded in the memory  27  of the IC card  21 A, and may include at least a user ID, a store ID and a date of use. At step S 12 , the store apparatus  12  notifies the transaction service provider apparatus  13  of usage information corresponding to the product purchase of the user A (purchase information), information indicating that the user A has visited the store (visit information), a combination of purchase information and visit information, or some other kind of information. The usage information is also provided to the review management server  14  by the transaction service provider apparatus  13 . 
         [0044]    The user A who has finished the product purchase returns home or the like, at step S 2 , the user uploads reviews of the store X and the purchased product to the review management server  14  using the information processing apparatus  22 A. 
         [0045]    Specifically, when the information processing apparatus  22 A accesses the review management server  14  in response to the operation of the user A, for example, a top page of a review site on which the reviews of the store X are disclosed as shown in  FIG. 5A  is displayed on the screen of the information processing apparatus  22 A. Note that the URL for access to the review management server  14  has been known by the user A using an arbitrary search engine or the like or at the store X. 
         [0046]    Then, the screen of the information processing apparatus  22 A transits to a page prompting the user to touch the communication port with the IC card  21 A as shown in  FIG. 5B . If the user A in response to the prompt touches the communication port (the IC card communication unit  36 ) of the information processing apparatus  22 A with the IC card  21 A, the usage information supplied from the store X and recorded in the memory  27  of the IC card  21 A is read out into the information processing apparatus  22 A. The information processing apparatus  22 A notifies the review management server  14  of the usage information read out from the IC card  21 A. 
         [0047]    In the review management server  14 , whether the user A has actually purchased the product at the store X or not is confirmed based on the provided usage information and the transaction information supplied via the transaction service provider apparatus  13 . If the product purchase by the user A has been confirmed, a review input page as shown in  FIG. 5C  is displayed on the information processing apparatus  22 A. 
         [0048]    If the user A finishes writing of the review on the review input page and performs a predetermined operation, the review by the user A is transmitted from the information processing apparatus  22 A to the review management server  14 . 
         [0049]    Note that, on the basis of the usage information read out from the IC card  21 A, the information processing apparatus  22 A or the review management server  14  may automatically write predetermined items (for example, the date of transaction, the amount of purchase, the name of product, etc.) on the review input page for the user A. 
         [0050]    At step S 21 , the review management server  14  registers the reviews by the user A transmitted from the information processing apparatus  22 A in the review site. In some embodiments, the review management server may register the reviews by the user A based on certificate information provided by a certificate apparatus. That is, the reviews of the user A are uploaded to the review management server when the appropriate certificate information is provided by the certificate issuing apparatus. Thereby, the reviews of the store X and the purchased product by the user A are disclosed on the review management server  14 . 
         [0051]    On the other hand, at step S 31 , if the user B uses the information processing apparatus  22 B to access the review management server  14 , for example, a top page of a review site on which the reviews of the store X are disclosed as shown in  FIG. 6A  is displayed on the screen of the information processing apparatus  22 B. Note that the URL for access to the review site has been known by the user B using an arbitrary search engine or the like. 
         [0052]    Then, if the user B performs move operation to the page on which the reviews of the store X are disclosed, data for displaying the page (HTML data or the like) is transmitted from the review management server  14  to the information processing apparatus  22 B. The screen of the information processing apparatus  22 B that has received the data transits to a page showing the reviews by the user A as shown in  FIG. 6B . 
         [0053]    If the user B performs a predetermined operation for the screen, at step S 22 , view information that proves the user B has viewed the review of the user A for the store X is provided from the review management server  14  to the information processing apparatus  22 B. Alternatively, the view information may be provided from the review management server to the information processing apparatus  22 B without the need for user B to perform a predetermined operation for the screen. The view information may include a coupon (for discount, free gift, or the like) available at the store X. 
         [0054]    At step S 32 , the information processing apparatus  22 B that has received the view information displays a page prompting the user to touch the communication port with the IC card  21 B as shown in  FIG. 6C  on the screen. If the user B in response to the prompt touches the communication port of the information processing apparatus  22 B with the IC card  21 B, the view information transmitted from the review management server  14  is recorded in the memory  27  of the IC card  21 B. 
         [0055]    Then, when the user B purchases a product at the store X, if the user touches the communication port of the store apparatus  12  set in the store X with the IC card  21 B in which the view information has been recorded, at step S 33 , transaction is performed between the IC card  21 B and the store apparatus  12 . 
         [0056]    Subsequently, the store apparatus  12  reads out the view information from the IC card  21 B and transmits purchase information to the IC card  21 B at step S 13 . The purchase information is recorded in the memory  27  of the IC card  21 B. 
         [0057]    Thereby, the user B as well as the user A can upload the reviews of the store X and the purchased product to the review management server  14  for disclosure. 
         [0058]    At step S 14 , the store apparatus  12  notifies the transaction service provider apparatus  13  of the transaction information corresponding to the product purchase by the user B and the view information read out from the IC card  21 B. 
         [0059]    At step S 41 , the transaction service provider apparatus  13  confirms that the user B has purchased the product at the store X after viewing the review by the user A for the store X based on the transaction information and the view information provided from the store apparatus  12 . If the apparatus has confirmed that, the apparatus performs predetermined incentive processing for the user A. As the incentive processing, for example, a coupon (for discount, free gift, or the like) available at the store X or the like is issued to the user A, remuneration is paid, or a point showing the reliability of the page itself in which the review of the store X by the user A is disclosed is raised. This is the end of the operations of the IC card utilization system  10 . 
         [0060]    As explained above, according to the IC card utilization system  10 , the user A may be subjected to the incentive processing if the user B uses the store X according to the review of the store X of his or her own. The user B may know the review of another person (user A) regarding the store X in advance. Further, if the view information includes a coupon or the like, the user B may advantageously purchase the product compared to the case where the user B uses the store X without viewing. 
         [0061]    The store X can disclose the reviews provided from customers without establishing a homepage or the like by itself, and thereby, may expect increase of customers. 
         [0062]    Note that, in the above described explanation, the users A, B have used the IC cards  21  and the information processing apparatus  22 , however, the same operations may be executed using cellular phones including the IC chips equivalent to the IC cards  21 . 
       2. Second Embodiment 
     Configuration Example of Portable Terminal Utilization System  50   
       [0063]    Next,  FIG. 7  shows a configuration example of a portable terminal utilization system  50  as the second embodiment of the invention. The portable terminal utilization system  50  includes a certificate issuing institution apparatus  11 , a transaction service provider apparatus  13 , a review management server  14 , a portable terminal  51  used by a user, and store apparatus  52 . 
         [0064]    Of them, the certificate issuing institution apparatus  11 , the transaction service provider apparatus  13 , and the review management server  14  are the same as those of the IC card utilization system  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , and their explanation will be omitted. 
         [0065]    The portable terminal  51  is portable electronic apparatus at least having an IC card function that operates in the same manner as the above described IC card  21 , a wireless communication function different from the IC card function (for example, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or the like), and a function of being accessible to an arbitrary server (for example, the review management server  14 ) via the Internet, and specifically, may be a cellular phone, a smart phone, a netbook computer, or the like. 
         [0066]      FIG. 8  shows a configuration example of a functional block of the portable terminal  51 . The portable terminal  51  includes a telephone line communication unit  61 , an IC card function unit  62 , a wireless communication unit  65 , an operation input unit  66 , a control unit  67 , and a display unit  68 . 
         [0067]    The telephone line communication unit  61  makes communication of sounds and various kinds of data via cellular phone lines. The IC card function unit  62  is realized by an IC chip equivalent to the IC card  21  and includes a noncontact communication unit  63  and a memory  64  inside. The wireless communication unit  65  makes wireless communication of data according to predetermined wireless communication standards of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or the like. 
         [0068]    The operation input unit  66  accepts operation input from the user. The control unit  67  controls the respective units of the portable terminal  51 . The display unit  68  displays a screen based on store information transmitted from the store apparatus  52 . 
         [0069]    Returning to  FIG. 7 , the store apparatus  52  is set in a store such as a restaurant that provides meals or the like, and provided with a communication port for noncontact data communication with the IC card function unit  62  of the portable terminal  51 . Further, in the store apparatus  52 , a wireless communication unit (not shown) for wireless data communication with the wireless communication unit  65  of the portable terminal  51  is provided. 
         [0070]    The communication port of the store apparatus  52  is used when the user of the portable terminal  51  visits and at transaction (at touching with the portable terminal  51  used). The wireless communication unit of the store apparatus  52  is used while the user of the portable terminal  51  is present within the store. 
         [0071]    For example, the store apparatus  52  performs noncontact communication with the portable terminal  51  in response to the touch to the communication port by the visitor (user) with the portable terminal  51 , and then, promptly switches to wireless communication (handover). Then, the apparatus transmits the store information to the portable terminal  51  via wireless communication. The store information includes data for displaying a menu in the store, a questionnaire of reviews of the store and products, etc. on the portable terminal  51 . 
         [0072]    The user of the portable terminal  51  may place an order by selecting the menu displayed based on the store information (the data showing orders is transmitted to the store apparatus  52  by the wireless communication unit  65 ). Further, the user of the portable terminal  51  may answer the questionnaire displayed based on the store information (the data showing answers is transmitted to the store apparatus  52  by the wireless communication unit  65 ). 
         [0073]    The store apparatus  52  issues a coupon (for discount, free gift, or the like) in response to the answering to the questionnaire by the user of the portable terminal  51  and transmits it to the portable terminal  51 . The user of the portable terminal  51  may perform transaction using the issued coupon by touching the communication port of the store apparatus  52  with the portable terminal  51  at payment when leaving. 
         [0074]    Furthermore, the store apparatus  52  is adapted to upload the answer to the questionnaire (the review by the user) transmitted from the portable terminal  51  to the review management server  14 . 
       [Operation Explanation of Portable Terminal Utilization System  50 ] 
       [0075]    Next,  FIG. 9  is a flowchart for explanation of operations of the portable terminal utilization system  50 . 
         [0076]    In the operation explanation, a user A and a user B appear and the user A uses a portable terminal  51 A and the user B uses a portable terminal  51 B. 
         [0077]    When the user A visits a store X (for example, a restaurant) and touches the communication port of the store apparatus  52  set at the entrance or the like with the portable terminal  51 A, at step S 61 , noncontact communication is performed between the IC card function unit  62  of the portable terminal  51 A and the communication port of the store apparatus  52 . Further, by handover, a connection via wireless communication is established between the wireless communication unit  65  of the portable terminal  51 A and the wireless communication unit of the store apparatus  52 . Therefore, even when the user A moves into the store, the connection between the portable terminal  51 A and the store apparatus  52  is maintained. 
         [0078]    At step S 71 , the store apparatus  52  transmits store information (a menu, a questionnaire, etc.) to the portable terminal  51 A. 
         [0079]    The portable terminal  51 A that has received the store information presents a menu to the user A (displays it on the screen) based on the store information. When the user 
         [0080]    A selects a product (meal) from the menu, the data indicating the order is transmitted to the store apparatus  52  by the wireless communication unit  65 . Further, the portable terminal  51 A presents a questionnaire to the user A (displays it on the screen) based on the store information. When the user A inputs answers to the questionnaire (reviews of the store and the product (meal)) before leaving, the data indicating the answers is transmitted to the store apparatus  52  by the wireless communication unit  65 . 
         [0081]    In response to the transmission of the answer to the questionnaire from the portable terminal  51 A, at step S 72 , the store apparatus  52  issues and transmits a coupon to the portable terminal  51 A. The coupon is recorded in the memory  64  of the portable terminal  51 A. 
         [0082]    Then, If the user A touches the communication port of the store apparatus  52  with the portable terminal  51 A at payment when leaving, at step S 63 , transaction using the issued coupon is performed by the IC card function unit  62  of the portable terminal  51 A. 
         [0083]    If the transaction of the user A is completed, at step S 73 , the store apparatus  52  uploads the answer to the questionnaire (the review by the user A) transmitted from the portable terminal  51 A to the review management server  14 . Further, the store apparatus  52  notifies the transaction service provider apparatus  13  of transaction information corresponding to the product purchase by the user A. 
         [0084]    At step S 81 , the review management server  14  registers the reviews by the user A transmitted from the store apparatus  52  in a review site. Thereby, the reviews of the store X and the product by the user A are disclosed on the review management server  14 . 
         [0085]    On the other hand, at step S 91 , if the user B uses the portable terminal  51 B to access the review management server  14 , and views the review site on which the reviews of the store X are disclosed. In response to this, at step S 82 , the review management server  14  notifies the portable terminal  51 B of view information that proves the user B has viewed the review site for the store X. The view information includes a coupon (for discount, free gift, or the like) available at the store by the user B. 
         [0086]    At step S 92 , the portable terminal  51 B that has received it records the view information transmitted from the review management server  14  in the memory  64  within. 
         [0087]    Then, if the user B visits the store X and touches the communication port of the store apparatus  52  with the portable terminal  51 B, at step S 93 , the same processing as that at the above described steps subsequent to the step  61  is performed. This is the end of the operations of the portable terminal utilization system  50 . 
         [0088]    Note that the portable terminal  51 B of the user B is different from the portable terminal  51 A of the user A in that the coupon available at the store X is recorded therein. Therefore, if the user B has answered to the questionnaire of the store X, the user B has the coupon obtained by viewing the review site of the store X and the coupon obtained by answering the questionnaire at payment. Whether both of these coupons are available or not may be determined by the store X. 
         [0089]    As explained above, according to the portable terminal utilization system  50 , the user A selects a menu (order) and answers a questionnaire using only the portable terminal  51 A of his or her own. Further, the user A may obtain a coupon by answering the questionnaire. 
         [0090]    The user B may not only know the review of another person (user A) regarding the store X in advance but also obtain a coupon available at the store X before visiting the store. 
         [0091]    The store X can disclose the reviews provided from customers on a homepage or the like by itself without summation of questionnaires using manpower or uploading the result, and thereby, may expect increase of customers. 
       3. Third Embodiment 
     Configuration Example of IC Card Utilization System  80   
       [0092]    Next,  FIG. 10  shows a configuration example of an IC card utilization system  80  as the third embodiment of the invention. The IC card utilization system  80  includes a certificate issuing institution apparatus  11 , an IC card  21  and an information processing apparatus  22  used by a user, venue apparatus  81 , and a customer management server  82 . 
         [0093]    Of them, the certificate issuing institution apparatus  11 , the IC card  21 , and the information processing apparatus  22  are the same as those in the IC card utilization system  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , and their explanation will be omitted. 
         [0094]    The venue apparatus  81  is set in a venue where many visitors are expected such as an event venue for a concert or the like, an amusement park, a zoo, or the like, and provided with a communication port (not shown) for noncontact data communication with the IC card  21 . When a person touches the communication port with the IC card  21 , visit information with an electronic certificate attached is supplied from the venue apparatus  81  to the IC card  21 . The visit information is recorded in the memory  27  of the IC card  21 . 
         [0095]    The visit information includes not only information indicating visiting but also the date of visit, venue information for identification of the venue, the number of visits, a URL of a server that discloses information relating to the venue (in this case, the customer management server  82 ). Regarding the number of visits, the value currently recorded in the IC card  21  may be incremented. 
         [0096]    The customer management server  82  transmits visitors-only information to the information processing apparatus  22  that has accessed according to the URL contained in the visit information read out from the IC card  21 . Here, the visitors-only information may include an URL of a site at which articles and services (tickets for the next concert etc.) relevant to the venue, an artist who holds the event, or the like are limitedly sold or the like. 
       [Operation Explanation of IC Card Utilization System  80 ] 
       [0097]    Next,  FIG. 11  is a flowchart for explanation of operations of the IC card utilization system  80 . 
         [0098]    In the operation explanation, a user A uses an IC card  21 A and an information processing apparatus  22 A. 
         [0099]    If the user A visits a concert venue or the like and touches the communication port of the venue apparatus  81  set there with the IC card  21 A, at step S 111 , a connection via noncontact communication is made between the IC card  21 A and the venue apparatus  81 . Subsequently, at step S 121  the venue apparatus  81  transmits visit information to the IC card  21 A. The visit information is recorded in the memory  27  of the IC card  21 A. 
         [0100]    In order that the user A naturally performs an operation to touch the communication port of the venue apparatus  81 , for example, the IC card  21 A may be sold as an admission ticket of the concert. 
         [0101]    If the user A who has left the concert venue returns home or the like and, at step S 112 , touches the communication port (the IC card communication unit  36 ) of the information processing apparatus  22 A with the IC card  21 , the information processing apparatus  22 A reads out the visit information recorded in the memory  27  of the IC card  21 . Further, the information processing apparatus  22 A accesses the customer management server  82  according to the URL contained in the read out visit information and notifies the customer management server  82  of the visit information. 
         [0102]    At step S 131 , the customer management server  82  confirms whether the user of the information processing apparatus  22 A who has accessed has really visited the event venue or not based on the provided visit information. Then, if it is confirmed that the user has really visited the event venue, the server transmits the visitors-only information to the information processing apparatus  22 A. 
         [0103]    The information processing apparatus  22 A that has received the visitors-only information presents information (a site where limited sales are conducted etc.) based on the visitors-only information to the user A at step S 113 . This is the end of the operation of the IC card utilization system  80 . 
         [0104]    As explained above, according to the IC card utilization system  80 , the user A may acquire visitors-only information relevant to the concert that the user A attended or the like. A host of the concert may effectively sell related products, tickets of the next concert, etc. Therefore, increase of customers may be expected at less cost. 
         [0105]    In the above explanation, the user A has used the IC card  21 A and the information processing apparatus  22 A, however, the same operation may be executed using a cellular phone containing an IC chip equivalent to the IC card  21 . 
         [0106]    In this specification, the system refers to an entire system including plural apparatuses. 
         [0107]    The embodiments of the invention are not limited to the above described embodiments, but various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.