Patent ID: 7715818

Claim:
An additional function control system for controlling an additional function of a terminal having a communications function which requires a connection to a network and for controlling an additional function which does not require a connection to a network, said system comprising: a communications terminal including an additional function unit for providing the additional function, for limiting the operation of said additional function unit based on additional function control information for controlling the operation of the additional function; a communications network connected to said communications terminal when using the communications function of said communications terminal which is subscribed to a communication service; and an additional function controller connected to said communications network for managing the additional function of said communications terminal and for supplying the additional function control information to said communications terminal, wherein said additional function control information defines a permission time during which the additional function is made available, and said communications terminal makes the additional function available for a time corresponding to the permission time; wherein said additional function is provided by said additional function unit at a plurality of levels, said additional function control information defines a level selected from the plurality of levels, and said communications terminal makes the additional function available at the selected level; wherein said communications terminal has a removable subscriber identifier which stores subscriber information, said additional function controller manages the additional function corresponding to said subscriber identifier, and said communications terminal acquires the additional function control information from said additional function controller before utilizing the additional function, when said subscriber identifier is attached to said communications terminal, to make said additional function unit operable based on the additional function control information, and stops the operation of said additional function unit when said subscriber identifier is removed therefrom; and wherein said additional function controller holds a remaining time during which the additional function is available in said subscriber identifier when said subscriber identifier is not attached to said communications terminal, and said communications terminal acquires the additional function control information including the remaining time from said additional function controller when said subscriber identifier is attached thereto, manages the remaining time while said subscriber identifier remains attached thereto, and sends the remaining time to said additional function controller before said subscriber identifier is removed therefrom.