GB2346245A

GB2346245A - Electronic wallet with a plurality of card slots

Info

Publication number: GB2346245A
Application number: GB9929071A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Takeshi Minemoto; Koji Suso; Takashi Matsubara; Yuhei Abe; Kazuhiro Kawashima; Kenji Abiko; Takuya Obara
Original assignee: Hitachi Ltd; Hitachi Media Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hitachi Ltd; Hitachi Media Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 1998-12-09
Filing date: 1999-12-08
Publication date: 2000-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2019-12-08
Also published as: GB2346245B; JP2000172796A; GB9929071D0

Abstract

An electronic wallet has at least two card slots 3151, 3161 for receiving IC cards, the slots having inlets that open in the same surface of the wallet, such that in use, one card can be wholly accommodated within the wallet and another card can be partly accommodated in the wallet. In other embodiments, the wallet may have a card ejecting hole (357, fig 4e), an optical data interface 325, or interchangeable battery sections (3543, fig 11a). The wallet is used to transfer value between IC cards, and may have means to display and/or select the transfer amount, the currency in use, or the transaction history of a card.

Description

ELECTRONIC WALLET AND METHOD OF OPERATION THEREOF The present invention relates to an electronic wallet accommodating an IC card used in an electronic money system and more specifically to an electronic wallet and a method of operation thereof, which are suitably applied for small payment using an IC card containing electronic money.

An electronic money system has been proposed in recent years in which electronic money is exchanged through communications among IC cards containing electronic money.

The IC card used in this system comprises a microprocessor having a communication function and a memory such as EEPROM for storing a program and an electronic money balance. The IC card is capable of exchanging electronic money with other IC cards by using terminals installed at banks, stores and homes that can be connected via communication lines to the electronic money system or by using dedicated terminals.

The electronic money system described above is currently under development, with devices making up the system yet to be determined in terms of function and configuration.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic wallet to be carried around which contains electronic money used in the electronic money system and more particularly to provide an electronic wallet and a method of operation thereof, which enable payment of electronic money between individuals, between individuals and banks and between individuals and distributors by transferring signals between the IC cards with or without the use of telephone lines.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic wallet that is formed thin so as to be carried easily, has an easily recognizable display and can easily be connected to a communication system, and also to provide a method of manipulating such an electronic wallet.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic wallet which comprises: a plurality of card slots into and from which an IC card can be inserted and removed, electronic money information being able to be stored into or drawn out of the IC card; wherein the plurality of card slots are at least two card slots to receive the IC card, the slots have a card insertion inlet each, and the card insertion inlets open in the same surface of a case forming the electronic wallet.

According to another aspect of the invention, one of the card slots is arranged to accommodate the inserted IC card wholly in the electronic wallet and another card slot is arranged to accommodate the inserted IC card partly in the electronic wallet, and the at least two card slots are arranged so that one IC card and anothe IC card, both inserted into the corresponding card slots, partly overlap each other in the direction of card thickness.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic wallet which comprises: a plurality of card slots into and from which an IC card can be inserted and removed, electronic money information being able to be stored into or drawn out of the IC card; and a card eject hole for removing the IC card inserted in the card slot; wherein the plurality of card slots each accommodate at least one IC card and the card eject hole is formed at such a position that when the IC card is inserted in the correct direction, a signature area of the IC card is not exposed from the card eject hole; wherein the card eject hole is provided at the back of the electronic wallet and, when viewed with the card insertion inlet facing up, is located at a position to the left of the center of the card slot.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic wallet which comprises: a plurality of card slots into and from which an IC card can be inserted and removed, electronic money information being able to be stored into or drawn out of the IC card; an external power supply connector for receiving an external power supply; an optical data interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from other devices, the optical data interface being provided at an upper side surface of a case forming the electronic wallet ; and a power supply section using a coin battery and a power supply section using an AAA battery, the two power supply sections being able to be exchanged.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of operating the electronic wallet, wherein the electronic wallet has a plurality of card slots into and from which an IC card can be inserted and removed, electronic money information being able to be stored into or drawn out of the IC card, the electronic wallet operating method comprising: a step of specifying a money transfer source and a money transfer destination; a step of specifying the amount of money to be transferred; a step of executing the money transfer; a step of displaying a state of the money transfer processing during execution; a step of displaying currencies stored in the electronic wallet; a step of selecting from among the currencies displayed a currency to be transacted, the currencies being displayed in a horizontal arrangement on a display of the electronic wallet, the selection of a desired currency being done by horizontally scrolling the displayed currencies; a step of specifying the displaying of transaction logs of the IC card; and a step of displaying the transaction logs of the IC card, each of the transaction logs comprising a transaction site, an amount transacted and date and time of the transaction, these being successively displayed on a display from the top.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a configura tion of an electronic money system to which an IC card reader/writer according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an electronic wallet according to the embodiment.

Figures 3a and 3b are perspective views showing an outline of an electronic wallet according to the embodiment.

Figures 4a-4e are five views showing an outline of an electronic wallet according to the embodiment.

Figures 5a and 5b are explanatory views showing the IC card being inserted into the electronic wallet.

Figure 6 is an overall longitudinal cross section of the electronic wallet.

Figure 7 is an overall exploded perspective view of the electronic wallet.

Figures 8a and 8b are views showing how a card eject hole provided at the back of the electronic wallet is used and showing a construction of the card eject hole.

Figures 9a and 9b are explanatory views showing a positional relation of the card eject hole with respect to the IC card structure.

Figures 10a and 10b are explanatory views showing how electronic money is transferred to and from other terminal through an optical data interface using an optical signal and also an optical signal range of the optical data interface.

Figures lla and llb are perspective views showing the outline of the electronic wallet according to another embodiment of this invention that can use both a coin battery and an AAA battery.

Figures 12a and 12b are perspective views showing the outline of the electronic wallet according to the embodiment that uses only an AAA battery as a built-in power supply 320.

Figures 13a and 13b are external views of the electronic wallet according to the embodiment, with a display and operation keys on the front of the electronic wallet arranged in a laterally elongate configuration.

Figure 14 is a view showing the detail of a liquid crystal display and function buttons.

Figure 15 is a diagram showing a transition of an image displayed when the power of the electronic wallet is turned on.

Figure 16 is a diagram showing examples of initial images displayed when various functions are selected.

Figure 17 is a diagram showing how electronic money is transferred between IC cards.

Figure 18 is a diagram showing how the kind of electronic money is changed in the IC card.

Figures 19a and 19b are diagrams showing how a history of use of the IC card is displayed.

One embodiment of the electronic wallet used in the electronic money system according to the present invention will be described by referring to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic money system to which the electronic wallet of this invention is applied. First, by referring to Figure 1, the configuration of the electronic money system will be explained. In Figure 1, reference number 1 represents a bank office system, 2 a distribution system, 3 an end user system, 4 a vending machine system, 5 a bank computer center, 6 an electronic money issuing organization, 7 a public communication network, 10 an IC card, 11 an external IC card reader/writer, 12 a terminal at bank counter, 13 an internal communication line, 14 an automatic teller machine, 15 an electronic safe, 16 an electronic money transaction control terminal, 17 a relay computer, 21 a POS terminal for electronic money, 22 a POS terminal, 23 a store controller, 24 a center equipment, 25 an information control system, 26 a workstation, 31 an electronic wallet, 32 a personal computer, 33 a PC card type card reader/writer, 34 an IC card telephone, 41 a built-in IC card reader/writer, 42 a vending machine, 51 an account system host, 52 an external communication system, and 53 an external communication control terminal 53.

The electronic money system shown in Figure 1 comprises the bank office system 1, the distribution system 2 installed in large stores such as department stores and supermarkets, and the end user system 3 including personal computer 32 and IC card telephone 34, all these systems connected to the public communication network 7. The electronic money system also includes the vending machine system 4 as a system not connected to the public communication network 7. While the illustrated example shows only one set of each of the representative systems, two or more of the same system can be connected to the public communication network 7. The bank office system 1 is connected through leased lines to the bank computer center 5 which in turn is connected to the electronic money issuing organization 7.

The IC card 10 incorporates a microprocessor with a communication function and a memory such as EEPROM storing a program and an electronic money balance. It is owned by individuals as end users and also by banks, stores and vending machines participating in the electronic money system.

The bank office system 1, as is known, has the terminal at bank counter 12 and the automatic teller machine 14 interconnected through the internal communication line 13, and further communicates with the bank computer center 5 via the relay computer 17. For electronic money transaction, the IC card reader/writer 11 is externally provided to the terminal at bank counter 12 and also incorporated into the automatic teller machine 14.

The terminal and the automatic teller machine are further connected to the electronic safe 15 through the electronic money transaction control terminal 17.

The bank computer center 5 comprises an account system host 51 and an external communication system 52.

The external communication system 52 includes an external communication control terminal 53, a relay computer 17 and an electronic safe 15.

The distribution system 2 normally has the POS terminals connected to the center equipment 24 through the internal communication line 13 and the store controller 23.

For electronic money transaction, an external IC card reader/writer 11 is provided to the normal POS terminal 22 or the electronic money POS terminal 21 is used. The center equipment 24 includes the information control system 25, the workstation 26, and the electronic safe 15.

The end user system 3 is mainly an individual user system and, in a simple configuration, may comprise only an electronic wallet 31 that can display the electronic money balance in the IC card. The electronic wallet 31 may also have an additional function of a calculator. The personal computer 32 owned by an individual user is provided with a PC card type card reader/writer 33 for the electronic money transaction and can be connected to the public communication network 7.

Alternatively, an IC card telephone 34, an ordinary telephone with a function to read or write the IC card 10 containing electronic money, may be used.

The personal computer 32 and the IC card telephone 34 in the end user system 3 may incorporate two sets of card reader/writer for two IC cards in order to perform electronic money transactions between the two IC cards. This, for example, allows electronic money to be transferred from a husband's IC card to a wife's IC card in a manner similar to ordinary cash transactions.

The vending machine system 4 comprises a vending machine 42 with a built-in IC card reader/writer 41.

Now, the method of using the electronic money system, to which the present invention with the above configuration is applied, will be explained.

The banks, stores, vending machines and individuals participating in the system are supplied IC cards 10 from the electronic money issuing organization 6.

The banks receive electronic money in exchange for cash in circulation and store it in the electronic safe 15 in the external communication system 52. The electronic safe 15 accommodates a number of IC cards 10, into which the electronic money received from the electronic money issuing organization 6 is allocated. The electronic money contained in the IC cards in the electronic safe 15 of the external communication system 52 is distributed into the IC cards 10 in the electronic safe 15 in the bank office system 1 installed in each bank office.

An individual as an end user taking part in the electronic money system carries an IC card 10 thus issued, exchanges a deposit in his or her bank account for the electronic money, withdraws and stores the electronic money into his or her IC card 10. Alternatively, the end user can connect the personal computer 32, or IC card telephone 34, having the PC card type card reader/writer 33 to the bank office system 1 through the public communication network 7 and, as described above, exchange a deposit in his bank account for electronic money, withdraw and store the electronic money into his own IC card 10.

When withdrawing the electronic money, the IC card owned by an individual is connected, by the communication function of the card, to the IC card accommodated in the electronic safe 15 in the bank office system 1 through the reader/writer attached to the terminal at bank counter 12, automatic teller machine 14, personal computer 32 or IC card telephone 34. Then, under the control of the electronic money transaction control terminal 16, the electronic money contained in the IC card 10 in the electronic safe 15 of the bank office system 1 is transferred to the IC card 10 owned by the individual. At this time, the balance of electronic money remaining in the IC card 10 in the electronic safe 15 of the bank office system 1 is reduced by an amount that was transferred to the IC card 10 owned by the individual. Withdrawing the deposit from the individual's bank account is performed in the conventional manner.

While in the above explanation an individual has been described to withdraw a deposit from his bank account and store it into his own card, he or she may bring cash to the counter of the bank or the electronic money issuing organization and have the corresponding electronic money stored in the IC card.

Conversely, the electronic money in the IC card may be returned to the IC card in the electronic safe 15 of the bank office system 1 through the terminal at bank counter 12, the automatic teller machine 14 or the personal computer 32, and at the same time to deposit the corresponding amount of money in the user's bank account.

A user, after having the electronic money stored in his IC card 10, can use the IC card in the same way as he would the actual cash for shopping or services.

Suppose a customer with an IC card 10 containing electronic money has chosen articles in a store and brought them to the POS terminal counter for payment. A salesclerk, as in ordinary transactions, has barcodes of the articles representing their prices read into the POS terminal 21 or 22 and then charges the customer the total amount.

When the customer pays by the IC card containing electronic money instead of cash, he or she inserts the IC card into the card insertion hole of the electronic money POS terminal 21 or the IC card reader/writer 11 attached to the ordinary POS terminal 22. Then, the IC card of the customer is connected to one of the IC cards in the electronic safe 15 installed in the center equipment 24 of the store through the internal communication line 13 and the workstation 26; the electronic money in the customer's IC card is transferred to the IC card in the electronic safe 15 in the center equipment 24; and a receipt is output from the POS terminal, thus completing the payment for the purchase. In this case, an amount used for the purchase is subtracted from the electronic money in the customer's IC card and is added to the electronic money in the IC card owned by the store.

In the above explanation a payment for the purchased goods is made in a distribution system comprising a number of POS terminals and a center equipment 24 having an electronic safe accommodating a large number of IC cards. In a system having only one cash register, as in family-operated retailers, the payment of electronic money can be made by providing an IC card reader/writer to the cash register and incorporating an IC card of the store in the cash register to connect the IC card of the customer to the IC card owned by the store. The electronic money in the store's IC card can be deposited into the bank account or cashed at the bank counter.

Such a distribution system having the POS terminals may be built by providing the POS terminals with an IC card so that money transactions are temporarily performed between the IC card in the POS terminal and the IC card of a customer and then transferred, as required, from the POS terminal to the IC card in the electronic safe 15 of the center equipment 24.

When a vending machine 42 participates in the electronic money system, the vending machine 42 is provided with a built-in IC card reader/writer 41 and also with an IC card to perform money transactions with an IC card that a customer inserts into the built-in IC card reader/writer 41.

Next, an embodiment of the electronic wallet of the present invention used in the electronic money system described above will be explained by referring to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the electronic wallet according to one embodiment of the invention. In Figure 2, reference number 312 represents a liquid crystal display, 313 an electronic money control microprocessor, 314 a controller, 315 and 316 IC card readers/writers, 317 an operation button, 318 a power switch, 319 an external power supply, 320 a built-in power supply (battery), 321 ten-keys, 322 function buttons, 323 a clear/cancel key, 324 and 327 communication data interfaces, 325 and 328 optical data interfaces, 326 another terminal, and other reference numerals represent components that are identical with those having like reference numbers in Figure 1.

The electronic wallet according to one embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figure 2 and in Figures 3a and 3b described later, comprises: an IC card reader/writer 315 for an IC card 10 containing electronic money and carried around in an ordinary state; an IC card reader/ writer 316 for an IC card 10'used to transfer electronic money to and from the IC card 10; ten-keys 321; function keys 322; a clear/cancel key 323; an operation button 317 for transferring inputs from various keys to the controller ; a liquid crystal display 312 for displaying various information; a power switch 318 ; an external power supply 319; an electronic money control microprocessor 313 for controlling the electronic money contained in the IC cards 10,101 ; and a controller 314 for performing an overall control of the electronic wallet 31 according to one embodiment of the invention. For electronic money transfer to and from IC cards stored in other wallets, POS terminals and PCs, the electronic wallet shown further includes a communication data interface 324 and an optical data interface 325 that are coupled to a communication data interface 327 and an optical data interface 328, both installed in another terminal 326.

Although the functional operation of the electronic wallet configured as described above according to one embodiment of the invention will be detailed later, a brief explanation on the functional operation will be provided below.

The electronic wallet 31 shown is carried by the user, with the power switch 318 turned off and with the IC card 10 containing the user's electronic money set in the IC card reader/writer 316. When the user wishes to shop by using this IC card 10, he or she pulls the electronic wallet 31 out as from the pocket, presses one of the function keys to check the electronic money balance in the IC card 10 displayed on the liquid crystal display 312 and then presses another function key and enters his or her personal identification number to unlock the card to permit transactions of the electronic money contained in the IC card 10. Then, the user makes electronic payment, as described in Figure 1, from his own IC card 10 to a terminal 326 for IC card installed at the store through the communication data interface 324 or optical data interface 325.

If the terminal at the store has no corresponding communication data interface 327 or the optical data interface 328, the user draws his IC card 10 out of the electronic wallet 31 and inserts it into the card slot of the terminal 326 to make electronic payment.

In the above description, when the external power supply 319 is to be used, the insertion of a connector of the external power supply 319 into the electronic wallet 31 causes an automatic switching from the built-in power' supply 320 to the external power supply 319. An arrangement may be made such that when the IC card 10 is inserted into the electronic wallet 31, the contact point of the IC card 10 contacts the contact point of the controller 314 to turn on the power for a predetermined time to display the electronic money balance on the liquid crystal display 312.

The personal identification number may be replaced with personal identification character information.

Next, a brief explanation will be given to a case where the electronic money is transferred between the user's own IC card 10 and another IC card 10'of, for example, his child by inserting it into the electronic wallet.

In this case, the user sets the second IC card 10'in one of the two IC card reader/writers 315, turns on the power switch 318 and, according to the directions shown on the liquid crystal display 312, operates the ten-keys 321 and the function keys 322 to transfer the electronic money between the IC cards 10 and 10'. It is also possible to first insert the IC card in the IC card reader/writer 315 and then insert another IC card in the second IC card reader/writer 316.

Further, by using the communication function of the terminal 326, for example PC, via telephone line, the electronic transaction can be performed between the user's IC card and other IC cards. In this case, the electronic wallet 31 is coupled to the PC through the communication data interface 324 or optical data interface 325 and further connected through the PC to an apparatus at the other end of the communication line, after which key operation is done according to the directions indicated on the liquid crystal display 312, as in the above-described case, to transfer electronic money between the user's IC card 10 and an IC card of an individual or bank at a remote location.

Figures 3a and 3b are perspective views showing the outline of the electronic wallet 31 according to one embodiment of the invention, and Figures 4a-4e are views as seen from five directions, showing the outline of the electronic wallet 31 of the embodiment. By referring to these figures, the electronic wallet 31 of this embodiment will be described. In Figures 3a and 3b and Figures 4a-4e, reference 351 denotes an upper case, 352 a lower case, 353 a DC jack, 354 a battery cover, 355 a cover catch, 356 a communications cover, 357 a card eject hole, 358 a separator, 3151 and 3161 card slots, and other reference numbers represent components which are identical with those of like reference numbers in Figure 2.

The electronic wallet 31 of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 3a and 3b, has the upper case 351 and the lower case 352. On the front side of the upper case 351 are provided, as shown in Figures 3a and 4c, a liquid crystal display 312, a power switch 318 as an operation key, a clear/cancel key 323, ten-keys 321, function keys 322, and an optical data interface 325. The optical signal is transmitted and received by the optical data interface 325 through the upper front side of the case in which the IC cards 10,10'are inserted. When the IC card used has a standard size of 54 mm X 85.5 mm, the electronic wallet can be formed in a size of 55 mm X 97.5 mm X 9.8 mm as shown in the figure.

On the back side of the lower case 352 of the electronic wallet 31 are provided, as shown in Figures 3b and 4e, a card eject hole 357 for ejecting the IC card. At the near side of the lower case 352 when the electronic wallet 31 is held on hand, there is provided a battery cover 354 for replacing a battery as the built-in power supply 320. The surface of the battery cover 354 is formed with the cover catch 355 to facilitate the opening and closing of the cover with finger.

The electronic wallet 31 has, on its left and right sides, a DC jack 353 for connecting the external power supply 319 and a communications cover 356 for exposing the connector of the communication data interface 324, as shown in Figures 3a, 3b, 4b, 4d.

In the upper half of the electronic wallet 31 there are provided two card slots 3151,3161 separated by the separator 358 as shown in Figures 3a, 4a. The card slot 3161 provided on the upper side of the electronic wallet 31 is formed between a surface plate of the upper case 351 and the separator 358. The surface plate of the upper case 351 is notched almost in a shape of letter V beginning with a position slightly recessed from the upper end of the plate. The upper end of the separator 358 is set to align with the position slightly recessed from the upper end of the surface plate so that it is exposed from the V-shaped notch of the surface plate of the upper case 351. The V-notch is provided to facilitate the insertion of IC card between the separator 358 and the surface plate of the upper case 351. Th ease with which the back plate can be distinguished and with which the IC card can be slid during insertion.

Figures 5a and 5b show how the IC card is inserted into the electronic wallet, Figure 6 is a vertical cross section of the whole electronic wallet, and Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the entire electronic wallet. In Figures 5a, 5b, 6 and 7, denoted 3200 is a key panel, 1001 and 1002 card contacts, 3121 a liquid crystal display cover, 3162 a card holder, 3201 an upper substrate, 3202 a lower substrate, 3203 and 3204 card contact connectors, 3251 an optical data interface cover, 3252 an optical data interface lens, and 3561 a communication connector.

As shown in Figure 5a, the electronic wallet 31 of this embodiment can accommodate two IC cards 10,10'.

The IC card 10 inserted into the card slot 3151 on the lower side of the electronic wallet is mainly the wallet owner's card and entirely accommodated in the electronic wallet as shown in the cross section of Figure 6. The IC card 10'inserted into the card slot 3161 on the upper side of the electronic wallet is mainly another IC card of the wallet owner's or an IC card of other person, with which the electronic money of the IC card 10 of the wallet owner is to be transacted. The IC card in the upper slot is, as shown in Figure 5b, inserted almost half lengthwise into the electronic wallet.

Next, the internal structure of the electronic wallet will be explained with reference to the cross sectional view and the exploded perspective view of Figures 6 and 7.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the electronic wallet according to one embodiment of this invention incorporates as major constitutional elements, from top to bottom, a sheet key panel 3200, a liquid crystal display cover 3121, an upper substrate 3201 as a key substrate, a liquid crystal display 312, card contact connectors 3204, 3203 contacting the card contacts 1001,1002 of the IC cards 10,10', and a lower substrate 3202 mounting an IC that forms a memory, a proces$or, a controller, etc. On the inner side of the communications cover 356 is installed a communications connector 3561 such as RS232C. An optical data interface 325 comprises an optical data interface cover 3251 and an optical data interface lens 3252. In the example shown, four coin batteries are used as a built-in power supply 320.

Figures 8a and 8b show how the card eject hole formed in the back of the electronic wallet is used and the structure of the card eject hole. Figures 9a and 9b show a positional relation of the card eject hole with respect to the IC card structure.

The card eject hole 357 formed in the back of the electronic wallet is located at a slightly upper part on the left side of the lower case 352, as shown in Figure 8a when viewed from the back. With this structure, the IC card 10 of the wallet owner inserted into the card slot 3151 on the lower side of the electronic wallet can easily be ejected upward by the left hand thumb and then pulled out by the right hand. As described later, the card eject hole 357 is located such that a signature field on the card will not be smeared as it is ejected. The card eject hole 357 has an oval shape measuring 17 mm X 30 mm with its surrounding inclined and merging with the surface of the lower case 352. In this embodiment, the outer circumference of the surrounding strip measures 20.6 mm X 38.6 mm. By sliding the thumb from the surface of the lower case 352 of the wallet into the card eject hole 357, the IC card can be easily ejected out.

The current standard shape of the IC card is shown in Figure 9a, in which, when the card is inserted into the card reader/writer in the downward direction, the front surface of the card has an embossed area showing a card number and an owner's name on the right and a card name printed to the left and the back of the card has a signature area to the immediate right of the front embossed area and also a magnetic stripe to the right of the signature area.

Generally, the embossed area has a card number and an owner's name embossed so that they protrude convexedly to the front with their back recessed.

When the IC card described above is inserted into the lower card slot 3151 of the electronic wallet, it is disposed during insertion so that, when viewed from the front side of the wallet, the front surface of the IC card shows, in other words, when viewed from the side of the wallet where there is the card eject hole 357, the back side of the IC card shows. Once the IC card is inserted into the electronic wallet, the part of the IC card exposed from the card eject hole 357 is the embossed area of the back of the card, so the user can put his finger on the recessed part of the embossed area and push out the card without slipping.

Because the part of the IC card exposed from the card eject hole 357 is the embossed area of the back of the card, the finger does not touch the signature area, thus preventing the signature from being smeared.

Figures lOa and lOb show how electronic money is transferred to and from other terminal through an optical data interface 325 using an optical signal and also show an optical signal range of the optical data interface.

When the electronic money is transferred between the electronic wallet and other terminal such as POS terminal and PC by using the optical data interface, the optical data interface 328 provided to the other terminal 326 as an adapter or as part of the body of the terminal 326 is opposed to the side of the electronic wallet where the optical data interface 325 is mounted, as shown in Figure 10a. As shown in Figure lOb, which representatively illustrates the optical data interface 325 provided in the wallet, the optical signal range of the optical data interfaces 325,328 has a fan-like shape expanding at an angle of about 60 degrees in all directions.

Hence, the optical signal can be transmitted and received reliably without requiring a high positional precision when the optical data interface 328 of the other terminal 326 and the optical data interface 325 of the electronic wallet are opposed to each other. The lateral optical signal range of the optical data interface 325 of the electronic wallet can be directed toward the center line, rather than the front. This arrangement allows the optical signal to be transmitted and received reliably between two electronic wallets through the optical data interfaces for electronic money transfer even when the two electronic wallets are directly opposed to each other in a close range. Figure 10 illustrates an example size of the optical data interface cover 3251, which measures 1.5 mm in thickness, 12.6 mm in lengthwise dimension (perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the card into the wallet), and 8 mm and 6 mm in two side dimensions in the card insertion direction.

Figures lla, llb, 12a, 12b, 13a and 13b show external views of an example construction of the electronic wallet according to another embodiment of the present invention. By referring to these figures, the second embodiment of the invention will be described.

Figure lla and llb are perspective views of an electronic wallet that can use both a coin battery and an AAA battery. In Figures lla and llb, reference number 3541 denotes a lower case AAA battery cover, 3542 an upper case AAA battery cover, and 3543 a battery case.

While the electronic wallet of the preceding embodiment uses a coin battery as the built-in power supply 320, the example shown in Figures lla and llb is arranged so as to be able to use an AAA battery when the coin battery is dead. In this example, two AAA batteries are put in the battery case 3543 as the built-in power supply 320 which, in the event of a coin battery failure, can be inserted where the coin battery is taken out.

Figure lla shows an external view of the electronic wallet as seen from the back, with the battery case 3543 attached to the wallet. The battery case 3543 has the upper case battery cover 3542. Because it contains two AAA batteries, the battery case has an increased thickness of 13 mm, larger than the wallet body thickness of 9.8 mm, and thus the additional thickness is formed as a bulge on the back side of the electronic wallet. Because the AAA battery case 3543 is connected to the coin battery accommodating portion and because of the length of the AAA battery, the battery cover 354 shown in Figure 3 cannot be used as is. Thus, as shown in Figure lla, the lower case AAA battery cover 3541 is connected to the lower case 352 and extends along the sides of the battery accommodating portion. The upper case 351 is cut away at the battery accommodating portion.

In the construction described above, when AAA batteries are used, the electronic wallet is elongated because of the battery case 3543 attached, as shown in Figure llb. In the example shown, the total length of the wallet is 25 mm longer than the example of Figure 3.

Although the shape of a wallet using the coin battery is not shown, the use of a substantially U-shaped battery cover, for example, will make the wallet look, in overall view, like the one shown in Figure 3.

Figures 12a and 12b show external views of an electronic wallet according to another embodiment of the invention which uses only an AAA battery as the built-in power supply 320.

In the embodiment shown, to accommodate two AAA batteries the total length of the wallet is increased, the thickness of the battery accommodating portion is set equal to that shown in Figures lla and llb, and an additional thickness of the battery accommodating portion with respect to the thickness of the wallet body is arranged as a bulge on the back side of the wallet, as shown in Figures 12a and 12b. Except for these points, the overall external construction is basically the same as that shown in Figures 3a and 3b. It is noted however that, compared with the wallet of Figures lla and llb, the lengthwise dimension of the wallet of Figures 12a, 12b is shorter (by 2.5 mm) because of the integral structure of the battery accommodating portion and the overall undulations are smaller.

Figures 13a and 13b show external views of an electronic wallet according to a further embodiment of the invention which has a lateral arrangement of the display and operation keys on the front surface of the wallet, with Figure 13a representing a front view and Figure 13b a perspective view. This example is basically the same as that shown in Figures 3 and 4, except that the liquid crystal display and operation buttons and keys are arranged in a lateral configuration. This arrangement requires no further explanation for understanding and thus only the drawings are provided.

Figure 14 shows the detail of the liquid crystal display and the function buttons.

The liquid crystal display has a character display area capable of displaying alphanumerics in 4 lines of 16 characters each. It can also display vertical double-size characters occupying two lines. Icons representing the contents shown in the display area are indicated to the left of the display. These icons include "Lock"representing a lock/unlock selection mode,"Balance" representing a balance check mode, Log representing a transaction log mode,"Currency"representing a currency selection mode,"Card"representing a card function selection mode, and"Transfer representing a value transfer mode.

The function buttons other than ten-keys include a power button"I", a menu button"Menu", a calculator function button"Calculator", a balance display button "Balance", a clear/cancel button"C", a log display button "Log", a lock/unlock button"Lock/Unlock", a currency selection button"Currency", a card selection button "Card", a scroll up button @, a scroll down button"", a money transfer function button"Transfer", and a finalizing button"Enter".

Although Figure 14 shows the icon and button descriptions in Japanese, these may be written in a language of the country where the electronic wallet is used, or may be represented by icons that can indicate their functions.

Figure 15 is a diagram showing a transition of an image displayed when the power of the electronic wallet is turned on. Figure 16 is a diagram showing examples of initial images displayed when various functions are selected. Basic examples of displayed image will be explained by referring to Figures 15 and 16.

Figure 15 shows how the displayed image automatically changes after the power of the electronic wallet is turned on. When the power button is pressed to turn on the electronic wallet, the display reads"PLEASE WAIT"as shown at 1501, indicating that the initial processing is being carried out. The initial processing performs a battery check and others and, when the battery is close to dead and the processing cannot be continued, displays an error warning message.

When various function circuits in the electronic wallet are normally started, the card slot number of the IC card accommodated in the electronic wallet, the kind of currency, and the balance are displayed. Further, icons, such as"Balancetw representing a balance check mode and a "Card"representingthecardfunctionselectionmode,are displayed. In the example shown,"CARD2"is indicated at the upper right of the display. This indicates that the IC card of the wallet owner is inserted in a slot on the back side of the wallet. In this example, the kind of currency is"$"indicating that there is a balance of 100 dollars.

When, with the image 1502 displayed, the wallet is left not operated or a button other than the function keys is pressed, and the personal identification number (lock code) is not set, a display 1503 reading"CODE NOT SET"appears informing the user that the lock code is not set. In this display, the present time and date are shown at the bottom line. This display does not appear when the lock code is set.

When one of the function buttons is pressed while the images 1502,1503 are shown, an initial image corresponding to the selected function is displayed as an image 1504. When the clear/cancel key is pressed while the initial image corresponding to the function is displayed or the processing using the function image is under way, the display returns to the image 1503 or, when the image 1503 is not yet displayed, to the image 1502. If the button operation is not performed for a predetermined duration, for example 15-30 seconds, the power is automatically turned off. It is of course possible to turn off the power by pressing the power button.

Next, by referring to Figure 16, the initial image for a selected function will be explained. This diagram assumes that a function is selected by the function button when the image 1503 of Figure 15 is displayed.

When the Balance button is pressed, the balance in the card is displayed as shown at the image 1601. This display is the same as the image 1502 of Figure 15, except that the currency is pound sterling (GBP).

When the"Log"button is pressed, the history of purchases made by using the IC card is displayed. This display shows a log number and a store name in the first line; indicates in the second and third lines that the IC card was used as a credit card (CR), that the currency is GBP and that the amount used is 100 pound; and displays the time and date of the card use in the fourth line. This display can be changed to the next or preceding log information image by pressing the scroll key.

When the"lock/unlock"button is pressed, if the lock code is not set in the IC card accommodated in the electronic wallet, a display"SET CODE ?" appears as shown at the image 1603, asking if the user wishes to set an IC card number of the inserted card as well as a lock code.

When the user enters a lock code using ten-keys and presses the"enter"button, the lock code is set. If the lock code is already set, a display"CHANGE CODE ?" appears as shown at the image 1604, asking whether the user wishes to change the IC card number of the inserted card and the lock code.

When the user enters a new lock code using ten-keys and presses the"enter"button, the new lock code is set.

When the currency button is pressed, the balance is displayed as shown at the image 1605 in the same way as in the image 1601. This initial image shows that the currency is GBP and the amount used is 100 pounds. The kind of currency to be displayed on the initial image may be predetermined or the one in which the IC card was last used. On this display the kind of currency can be changed, which will be described later.

When, with the IC card of the user accommodated in the electronic wallet, an IC card of other person is inserted into the card slot on the front side of the wallet and then the"transfer"button is pressed, an arrow appears between CARD1 and CARD2 as shown at the image 1606, indicating that money will be transferred from the user's IC card (CARD2) to other person's IC card (CARD1). In this state, the user can enter the amount and have it transferred. This remittance process will be described later.

When the calculatort'button is pressed,"CALC" appears as shown at the image 1607, indicating a calculator function can be used to perform calculations on inputs from ten-keys and display the result. Calculation command keys used when a calculator function is invoked may be function buttons assigned with calculation functions. These buttons may have their original functions and additional calculation functions indicated thereon, and a selection is made between these two functions for each of the buttons by pressing the"calculator"button.

When the"menu,'button is pressed,"MENU"appears as shown in the image 1608 allowing selection among "TIME/DATA"for setting time,"BRIGHTNESS"for setting the brightness of displayed image, and"AUTO-OFF"for automatically turning the electronic wallet off when the operation is not performed for a predetermined period of time.

Figure 17 shows how the electronic money is moved between IC cards. The money transfer will be explained by referring to this figure.

As explained earlier, when, with the IC cards of the user and of other person accommodated in the electronic wallet, the"transfert button is pressed while the image 1503 of Figure 15 or other function image is displayed, the remittance image as shown at the image 1606 of Figure 16 appears. This state is shown at the image 1701 of Figure 17. When in this state the user presses the"card switch" button, the arrow representing the direction of money transfer is directed from CARD1 to CARD2, i. e., from other person's IC card to the user's IC card, as shown at the image 1702, indicating that the electronic money will be transferred from the other person's IC card to the user's IC card. These images 1701 and 1702 are alternated each time the"card switch"button is pressed.

While the image 1701,1702 is displayed, pressing the"C"button returns the display to the image 1503 and pressing other function key causes the corresponding image for executing the selected function to appear, stopping the remittance processing.

After determining the direction of electronic money transfer, the user enters the amount to be transferred by using ten-keys. Alternately, the user may calculate the transference amount by use of a MRC key for the calculation function and store it in a memory for the calculation function, so that the user may read out the stored transference amount. The MRC key is a key having a dual function of storage in a memory (MR) and clearing of the memory (MC). A single press of the key makes it a MR key and a double press of the key makes it a MC key. Then the image such as shown at 1703 appears. When the user wishes to correct the amount or stop the remittance procedure, he presses the"C"button, which causes the display to return to the image 1701 or 1702 where the user can enter a new amount. when the user confirms the amount and presses the "enter"button,theelectronicmoneystartstobetrans- ferred between the two IC cards. In this example, the amount of 200 pounds is shown to be transferred from CARD2 to CARD1. When the electronic money transfer processing starts, a progress bar appears on the money transfer direction arrow as shown in the images 1704-1707, indicating that the processing is under way. Upon completion of the processing, the display shows that the remittance procedure is finished as shown at the image 1708.

When the user checks the image 1708 and presses the"enter"button, the results of remittance for the respective IC cards are displayed, as shown in the images 1709, 1710. The remittance results for these IC cards are displayed alternately each time the"card switch"button is pressed.

In the above process, when a button other than the remaining function buttons and enter button is pressed while the image 1708 is displayed, the display returns to the image 1503. When other function button is pressed, the corresponding image for executing the selected function appears. In this case, the result of remittance for each IC card is not displayed. When, with the image 1709,1710 displayed, a button other than the remaining function buttons and card switch button is pressed, the display returns to the image 1503. When other function button is pressed, the corresponding image for executing the selected function appears.

Figure 18 shows how the kind of currency of electronic money in the IC card is changed. The process of switching the currency kind will be explained by referring to this figure.

The IC card normally can store a plurality of kinds of electronic currency independently of each other (exchange between different currencies is not possible).

Hence, when electronic money is transferred between IC cards as shown in Figure 17 or payment is made at stores, it is necessary to select the kind of electronic currency to be used in advance. Figure 18 explains the currency changing process to select a desired kind of electronic currency.

When, with the IC cards of the user and of other person inserted in the electronic wallet, the"currency" button is pressed while the image 1503 of Figure 15 or other function image is displayed, a currency selection image of one of the two IC cards appears, as shown in the image 1801 or 1802. In this state, pressing the"card switch"button causes the images 1801 and 1802 corresponding to the two IC cards to alternate. At the bottom line of these images a plurality of currencies are displayed, with the selected currency shown at the leftmost position and attached with an asterisk mark (*). With the image 1801 or 1802 displayed, pressing the"C"button returns the display to the image 1503 and pressing other function key causes the corresponding image for executing the selected function to appear, stopping the current selection processing. The balance corresponding to the selected currency is also displayed.

After determining which of the IC card is to be used in the currency selection, the user presses the currency button or scroll button w or";"to choose a desired currency as shown in the image 1803. In the example shown, the currencies available include English pound GBP, French franc FRF, German mark DEM, US dollar USD and Japanese yen JPY, which are scrolled horizontally on the display for selection each time the button is pressed.

After the currency is selected, pressing the"enter"button causes the display to indicate that one of the currencies has been selected as shown in the image 1804, and ends the processing.

In the above process, when, with the image 1803 displayed, pressing the"C"button causes the display to return to the image 1503 and pressing other function key causes the corresponding image for executing the selected function to appear, stopping the currency selection procedure. with the image 1804 displayed, pressing a button other than the remaining function buttons causes the display to return to the image 1503 and pressing other function key causes the corresponding image for executing the selected function to appear.

Figures 19a and 19b show the history of use of the IC card. The process of displaying the history of use will be explained by referring to this figure.

When the"log"button is pressed while the image 1503 of Figure 15 or other function image is displayed, a first item of the log information on, for example, shopping retained in the IC card appears as shown in the images 1901,1902 of Figure 19a. The log information displayed has, as already explained, a log number and a store name in the first line; indicates in the second and third lines that the IC card was used as a credit card (CR), that the currency is GBP and that the amount used is 100 pound ; and displays the time and date of the card use in the fourth line. The display can be switched to the next or preceding log information item by pressing the"log"button or scroll button, as shown in the image 1903.

In the above process, the difference between the images 1901 and 1902 is whether the name of the store used is indicated as a store category or as a particular name of the store. Which of these shall be used is determined by the store. In the example image 1902, only part of the store name, which is long, is displayed. with the image 1901-1903 displayed, pressing the C"button returns the display to the image 1503 and pressing other function key causes the corresponding image for executing the selected function to appear. when the name of the store used is long and fails to fit in a single image being displayed as in the case of the image 1902, the remaining part of the store name can be displayed by pressing the"enter"button, as shown in Figure 19b.

With the embodiments of the present invention described above, the electronic money transaction can be performed between individuals, between an individual and a bank, and between an individual and a distributor by using an electronic wallet accommodating an IC card containing electronic money and by transmitting and receiving signals between IC cards directly or through commonly used telephone lines.

Further, with this invention, it is possible to provide an electronic wallet which can make the content on the display easily recognizable and understandable, which facilitates connection to a communication system and which is formed thin for easy carrying.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An electronic wallet comprising: a plurality of card slots into and from which an IC card can be inserted and removed, electronic money information being allowed to be stored into or drawn out of the IC card; wherein the plurality of card slots are at least two card slots to receive the IC card, the slots have a card insertion inlet each, and the card insertion inlets open in the same surface of a case forming the electronic wallet; and wherein one of the card slots is arranged to accommodate the inserted IC card wholly in the electronic wallet and another card slot is arranged to accommodate the inserted IC card partly in the electronic wallet.
2. An electronic wallet according to claim 1, wherein the at least two card slots are arranged so that one IC card and another IC card, both inserted into the corresponding card slots, partly overlap each other in the direction of card thickness.
3. An electronic wallet comprising: a plurality of card slots into and from which an IC card can be inserted and removed, electronic money information being allowed to be stored into or drawn out of the IC card; and a card eject hole for removing the IC card inserted in the card slot; wherein the plurality of card slots each accommodate at least one IC card and the card eject hole is formed at such a position that when the IC card is inserted in the correct direction, a signature area of the IC card is not exposed from the card eject hole.
4. An electronic wallet according to claim 3, wherein the card eject hole is provided at the back of the electronic wallet and, when viewed with the card insertion inlet facing up, is located at a position to the left of the center of the card slot.
5. An electronic wallet comprising: a plurality of card slots into and from which an IC card can be inserted and removed, electronic money information being allowed to be stored into or drawn out of the IC card; and an external power supply connector for receiving an external power supply.
6. An electronic wallet comprising: a plurality of card slots into and from which an IC card can be inserted and removed, electronic money information being allowed to be stored into or drawn out of the IC card; and an optical data interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from other device; wherein the optical data interface is provided at an upper side surface of a case forming the electronic wallet.
7. An electronic wallet comprising: a plurality of card slots into and from which an IC card can be inserted and removed, electronic money information being allowed to be stored into or drawn out of the IC card; and a power supply section using a coin battery and a power supply section using an AAA battery, the two power supply sections being able to be exchanged.
8. A method of operating the electronic wallet, wherein the electronic wallet has a plurality of card slots into and from which an IC card can be inserted and removed, electronic money information being allowed to be stored into or drawn out of the IC card, the electronic wallet operating method comprising: a step of specifying a money transfer source and a money transfer destination; a step of specifying an amount of money to be transferred; a step of executing money transfer; and a step of displaying a state of the money transfer processing during execution.
9. A method of operating the electronic wallet, wherein the electronic wallet has a plurality of card slots into and from which an IC card can be inserted and removed, electronic money information being allowed to be stored into or drawn out of the IC card, the electronic wallet operating method comprising: a step of displaying currencies stored in the electronic wallet; and a step of selecting from among the currencies displayed a currency to be transacted; wherein the currencies are displayed in a horizontal arrangement on a display of the electronic wallet and the selection of a desired currency is done by horizontally scrolling the displayed currencies.
10. A method of operating the electronic wallet, wherein the electronic wallet has a plurality of card slots into and from which an IC card can be inserted and removed, electronic money information being allowed to be stored into or drawn out of the IC card, the electronic wallet operating method comprising: a step of specifying the displaying of transaction logs of the IC card; and a step of displaying the transaction logs of the IC card; wherein each of the transaction logs includes a transaction site, an amount transacted and date and time of the transaction and these are successively displayed on a display from the top.