Patent Publication Number: US-2002010678-A1

Title: Service presenting apparatus, service presenting method, storing medium, network system, charging apparatus, charging method and computer program

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a service presenting apparatus, a service presenting method, a storing medium, a network system, a charging apparatus, a charging method and computer program and permits payment and collection of charge by utilizing portable terminals such as a cellular phone.  
       [0003] 2. Related Background Art  
       [0004] In recent years, service in which various information data can be picked up from information terminals installed at convenience stores has been provided. Heretofore, in many cases, when the information is displayed on a display of the information terminal or is printed out as output, by displaying and printing-out advertisement together, the company presenting such advertisement was burdened with charge for user&#39;s utility (charge such as charge for utility of information terminal or information charge) and the user was not requested for such charge.  
       [0005] Recently, many information have had high added value and information charges has been increased accordingly. Thus, only the advertisement fee is insufficient to compensate for the information charge, and the charge for utility is often requested to the user.  
       [0006] However, when the charge for utility is paid, although it is considered that the user pays cash, in such a case, the user must introduce the cash into a machine or must pay the cash at the convenience store, which makes the payment of the charge troublesome under certain conditions.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to permit the user to pay his charge by utilizing a portable terminal such as a cellular phone which has been widely popularized.  
       [0008] A service presenting apparatus according to the present invention for presenting predetermined service in accordance with an operation of the user comprises input means for inputting access information of a portable terminal, access means for effecting access to the portable terminal in accordance with the access information inputted by the input means, receiving means for receiving predetermined information from the portable terminal by effecting the access to the user&#39;s portable terminal via the access means, and processing means for effecting predetermined processing in accordance with the predetermined information.  
       [0009] Further, a service presenting method according to the present invention for presenting predetermined service in accordance with an operation of the user comprises an input step for inputting access information of a portable terminal, an access step for effecting access to the portable terminal in accordance with the access information inputted by the input step, a receiving step for receiving predetermined information from the portable terminal by effecting the access to the user&#39;s portable terminal via the access step, and a processing step for effecting predetermined processing in accordance with the predetermined information.  
       [0010] Further, a storing medium according to the present invention for storing a computer program capable of carrying out a service presenting method for presenting predetermined service in accordance with an operation of the user comprises a program code for an input step for inputting access information of a portable terminal, a program code for an access step for effecting access to the portable terminal in accordance with the access information inputted by the input step, a program code for a receiving step for receiving predetermined information from the portable terminal by effecting the access to the user&#39;s portable terminal via the access step, and a program code for a processing step for effecting predetermined processing in accordance with the predetermined information.  
       [0011] Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a computer program capable of carrying out a service presenting method for presenting predetermined service in accordance with an operation of the user comprises a program code for an input step for inputting access information of a portable terminal, a program code for an access step for effecting access to the portable terminal in accordance with the access information inputted by the input step, a program code for a receiving step for receiving predetermined information from the portable terminal by effecting the access to the user&#39;s portable terminal via the access step, and a program code for a processing step for effecting predetermined processing in accordance with the predetermined information.  
       [0012] Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a network system in which a server computer and a terminal is interconnected via a network and which is designed to present predetermined service in accordance with an operation of the user, comprising charge processing means for effecting processing for deducting the charge from his account of a banking organ to which he contracts regarding his portable terminal.  
       [0013] Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a service presenting apparatus for presenting predetermined service in accordance with request of the user, comprising charge processing means for effecting processing for deducting the charge from his account of a banking organ to which he contracts regarding his portable terminal.  
       [0014] Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a charging apparatus for collecting the charge when predetermined service is presented in accordance with request of the user, comprising charge processing means for effecting processing for deducting the charge from his account of a banking organ to which he contracts regarding his portable terminal.  
       [0015] Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a charging method for collecting the charge when predetermined service is presented in accordance with request of the user, comprising a procedure for deducting the charge from his account of a banking organ to which he contracts regarding his portable terminal.  
       [0016] Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a storing medium readable by a computer and adapted to store a program for executing processing for collecting the charge when predetermined service is presented in accordance with request of the user, wherein processing for deducting the charge from his account of a banking organ to which he contracts regarding his portable terminal is carried out.  
       [0017] Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a computer program which is stored in a storing medium readable by a computer and adapted to store a program for executing processing for collecting the charge when predetermined service is presented in accordance with request of the user, wherein processing for deducting the charge from his account of a banking organ to which he contracts regarding his portable terminal is carried out.  
       [0018] In the above-mentioned present invention, when the predetermined service is received by the user, payment can be performed by utilizing the portable terminal.  
       [0019] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0020] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in an constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
     [0021]FIG. 1 is a view showing an entire construction of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0022]FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a processing operation of the network system;  
     [0023]FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a displayed picture plane on a display of an operating portion  108  of a multi-function machine;  
     [0024]FIG. 4 is a view showing another example of a displayed picture plane on the display of the operating portion  108  of the multi-function machine;  
     [0025]FIG. 5 is a view showing a further example of a displayed picture plane on the display of the operating portion  108  of the multi-function machine; and  
     [0026]FIG. 6 is a view for explaining authentication processing. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0027] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail in accordance with the accompanying drawings.  
     [0028]FIG. 1 is a view showing an entire construction of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system includes a network  100  such as a internet, a server computer  101  connected to the network  100  and adapted to present specific service to the user for pay, and a terminal  103  of a contract company to which the user contracts regarding his portable terminal.  
     [0029] The system further includes a fire wall  104  which serves to connect interior of LAN network shown below the fire wall and to perform security management, a device management server  105  which serves to perform management of devices  106  to  115  connected via the LAN network, user management and data management such as charge information, and a file server  106  which serves to perform advertisement data management and to output the advertisement data to a multi-function machine  107  or a printer  115 .  
     [0030] The multi-function machine  107  has functions such as user interface for extracting information and input/output of an image. In the illustrated embodiment, the multi-function machine  107  corresponds to a terminal, a service presenting apparatus and the like defined in the present invention.  
     [0031] The multi-function machine  107  includes an operating portion  108 , a device controller  109 , an image scanner  110 , a printer  111 , a memory  112 , a hard disk  113 , and a modem  114  for connection to a public telephone circuit. The operation portion  108  is manipulated by the user and is constituted by a display and a touch panel, for example. The device controller  109  serves to perform control of input/output of image data between the scanner  110 , printer  111 , memory  112  and hard disk  113  on the basis of instruction from the operating portion  108 . Incidentally, in the illustrated embodiment, a function of charge processing means defined in the present invention is realized by the device controller and the like.  
     [0032] The image scanner  110  serves to input an image in accordance with instruction from the operating portion  108  or a personal computer (not shown). The printer  111  serves to print data from the file server  106  or a personal computer (not shown).  
     [0033] The printer  115  serves to print image data from the file server  106  or a personal computer (not shown) on a recording medium.  
     [0034] The reference numeral  116  denotes a cellular phone possessed by the user and utilizing the multi-function machine  107 .  
     [0035] Next, a processing operation of the network system according to the illustrated embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS.  2  to  6 .  
     [0036]FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the multi-function machine  107  in the network system according to the illustrated embodiment.  
     [0037] When the user retracts fee-charging information from the server computer  101  via the multi-function machine  107 , the multi-function machine  107  requests for selection of payment way of charge for utility (use charge and information charge) via the display of the operating portion  108  (step S 201 ). FIG. 3 shows an example of a displayed picture plane displayed on the display of the operating portion  108  of the multi-function machine  107 . The user selects either one of payment ways (“ 1 . payment by utilizing his portable terminal”, “ 2 . payment via credit card” or “ 3 . payment with cash at check-out counter”) by manipulating an OK button or a cancel button.  
     [0038] If the user has the cellular phone  116  and “ 1 . payment by utilizing his portable terminal” is selected, as shown in FIG. 4, input of a telephone number of the cellular phone  116  is requested via the display of the operating portion  108  (step S 202 ). The user inputs his telephone number of the cellular phone  116  by manipulating numeral-key. The telephone number of the cellular phone  116  corresponds to access information defined in the present invention.  
     [0039] When the telephone number is inputted, the device controller  109  calls the inputted telephone number by using the modem  114  (step S 203 ). In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the message “connecting to your phone” is displayed on the display of the operating portion  108 .  
     [0040] When the user&#39;s cellular phone  116  is connected, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, authentication processing regarding deduction of charge for utility from user&#39;s account of a banking organ to which he contracts regarding his portable terminal is effected via voice message (step S 204 ). If affirmative, the user depresses a button “1” of his cellular phone, and, if negative, a button “9” is depressed.  
     [0041] When the device controller  109  receives the user&#39;s agreement from his cellular phone via the modem  114 , the connection to the cellular phone  116  is interrupted, and access to the terminal at the cellular phone contract company is effected via the network  100 . Then, the agreement between the user and the contract company regarding the deduction of charge for utility from user&#39;s account of the banking organ to which he contracts regarding his portable terminal is notified (step S 205 ).  
     [0042] On the other hand, if “ 2 . payment via credit card” is selected by the user via the operating portion of the multi-function machine, ID number of the user&#39;s credit card and card company are inputted via the operating portion of the multi-function machine, and the multi-function machine  107  performs access to the authentication server of the card company inputted by the user via the network  100 , thereby effecting similar authentication between the credit company and the multi-function machine  107 .  
     [0043] Thereafter, in accordance with the user&#39;s manipulation of the operating portion  108 , the multi-function machine  107  effects access to desired database (step S 206 ), and, count-up of the charge for utility and information charge is effected whenever access to database for pay is performed (step S 207 ).  
     [0044] If the user&#39;s operation is finished (step S 208 ), the multi-function machine  107  effects access to the terminal  102  at the cellular phone ( 116 ) contract company via the network  100  (step S 209 ) and requests the counted-up charge (step S 210 ).  
     [0045] When the charge transactions between the cellular phone ( 116 ) contract company and the multi-function machine  107  is completed, the device controller  109  calls the user&#39;s cellular phone  116  again via the modem  114  to notify the charge for utility (step S 211 ). In this way, the processing is ended.  
     Other Embodiments  
     [0046] Other than the authentication processing explained in connection with the step S 204  in FIG. 2, the phone company may have an authentication center function for effecting authentication. In this case, since the steps S 201  to S 203  are the same as the aforementioned steps, explanation thereof will be omitted. When the multi-function machine  107  is connected to the user&#39;s phone, the multi-function machine  107  sends to the user&#39;s cellular phone data such as the name of the authentication center of the cellular phone company from which the charge for utility can be deducted, and such data is displayed on the display of the cellular phone.  
     [0047] The user selects the authentication center of the cellular phone company to which he contracts among the plurality of authentication centers of the cellular phone companies displayed on the display via the operating portion of the phone and disconnects from the multi-function machine  107 .  
     [0048] When the multi-function machine  107  receives the authentication center selected by the user, the multi-function machine  107  effects access to the authentication center via the network.  
     [0049] In this case, the multi-function machine  107  sends the user&#39;s phone number and unique address of the multi-function machine  107  to the authentication center.  
     [0050] When the data is received from the multi-function machine  107 , the authentication center of the cellular phone company calls the user&#39;s phone number included in the received information, thereby effecting the authentication processing regarding deduction of charge for utility from user&#39;s account of a banking organ to which he contracts regarding his portable terminal via voice message, for example, as shown in FIG. 6. If affirmative, the user depresses a button “1” of his cellular phone, and, if negative, a button “9” is depressed.  
     [0051] If the user&#39;s agreement is obtained, access to the multi-function machine  107  is effected via the network  100 . The device controller of the multi-function machine  107  receives, via the modem  114  from the authentication center of the cellular phone company, notice of authentication between the user and the phone company regarding the deduction of charge for utility from user&#39;s account of the banking organ to which he contracts regarding his cellular phone. Thereafter, since steps are the same as the steps S 206  and so on in FIG. 2, explanation thereof will be omitted.  
     [0052] Other than the above, other organ such as a bank may perform authentication.  
     [0053] Further, in the illustrated embodiment, while an example that the flow chart shown in FIG. 2 is executed by the multi-function machine  107  was explained, such flow chart may be executed by an combination of the multi-function machine and other device such as the device management server  105 .  
     [0054] A technique in which a software program code for realizing the function according to the illustrated embodiment is supplied to a computer (CPU or MPU) of an apparatus or a system to which various devices according to the illustrated embodiment and such various devices are operated in accordance with the program stored in the computer of the apparatus or the system in order to realize the function according to the illustrated embodiment is also included in the present invention.  
     [0055] In this case, since the function according to the illustrated embodiment is realized by the software program code itself, the software program code itself and means for supplying the software program code to the computer (for example, storing medium for storing the program code) constitute the present invention. The storing medium for storing the program code may be, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a photomagnetic disk, CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, ROM or the like.  
     [0056] Further, also when not only the function according to the illustrated embodiment is realized by executing the program code supplied to the computer, but also the function according to the illustrated embodiment is realized by cooperating the program code with OS (operating system) running on the computer or other application, such program code is included in an embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0057] Further, a technique, in which, after the supplied program code is stored in a memory of a function expansion board of the computer or of a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the actual processing is performed partially or totally by a CPU of the function expansion board or the function expansion unit, thereby realizing the function according to the illustrated embodiment is also included in the present invention.  
     [0058] Incidentally, it should be noted that configurations and constructions of various elements shown in the illustrated embodiment are merely example and do not limit the technical range of the present invention. That is to say, the present invention can be embodied in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention.  
     [0059] As mentioned above, according to the present invention, when the user acquires predetermined service, the charge can be paid by utilizing the user&#39;s portable terminal such as the cellular phone. Nowadays, the portable terminals such as the cellular phones have widely been popularized, and, in almost all cases, since the user has the cellular phone by himself, for example, so long as the payment using the portable terminal according to the present invention is permitted without cash payment at the convenience store, the user can acquire any service easily and conveniently.