JP2003196557A - Charge collecting system, mail system, and automating system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charge collecting system, a mail system, and an automating system capable of increasing the flexibility of a mobile communication terminal. <P>SOLUTION: This charge collecting system is provided with a mobile communication terminal 21 having a bar code scanner 26 capable of reading bar codes and allowing an identification and a commodity menu identifiably displaying commodity names with bar codes. For charge collection, a commodity is selected by reading the bar code by the bar code scanner 26 after the identification is performed. The system is characterized in that it is provide with a bar code book capable of performing a commodity order and accounting and identifiably displaying a plurality of words with bar codes, and by making the bar code scanner read the bar codes and select the words, the selected words can be displayed by a communication partner through a mail, and also dialing, voice response, and transmission of ID codes can be automated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a billing system, a mail system and an automation system using a mobile communication terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when playing with a game machine or the like in a game hall or the like, a player inserts a coin such as a 100-yen coin so that the player can play the game. To play multiple times on such a game machine, etc.,
A 00-yen coin or the like is required, and it is troublesome for the player to always carry it, and it is also troublesome to play a game while exchanging money with a money changer.

On the other hand, in recent years, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-1465.
It is also possible to use a prepaid card, a membership card, or even a credit card to play the game without holding coins, such as those described in JP-A No. 5, JP-A-7-171240.

[0004]

By the way, in recent years, the development of mobile communication terminals such as mobile phones and the development of the Internet have been remarkable, and it is desired to further increase their versatility.

An object of the present invention is to provide a billing system, a mail system and an automation system for further increasing the versatility of a mobile communication terminal.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a mobile communication terminal equipped with a bar code scanner capable of reading a bar code and capable of individual recognition, and a product menu in which a product name is identified by a bar code are displayed. According to the personal recognition, the bar code is read by the bar code scanner to select a product, and the fee is charged.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bar code scanner capable of reading a bar code, a mobile communication terminal capable of individual recognition, and a merchandise menu in which merchandise names are identified and displayed by the bar code. Under the recognition, the bar code is read by the bar code scanner to select the product, thereby ordering and charging the product.

A third aspect of the present invention is a mobile communication terminal equipped with a bar code scanner capable of reading a bar code,
A bar code book in which a plurality of words are identified and displayed by a bar code, wherein the bar code is read by the bar code scanner and a word is selected, and the selected word is displayed by mail to a communication partner. To do.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a mobile communication terminal having a bar code scanner capable of reading a bar code is provided, and dialing, voice response, transmission of an ID number, etc. is automated by reading the bar code by the bar code scanner. It is characterized by doing.

[0010]

According to the invention of claim 1, a mobile communication terminal equipped with a bar code scanner capable of reading a bar code and capable of individual recognition, and a product menu in which a product name is identified by a bar code are provided. Under the personal recognition, the bar code can be read by the bar code scanner to select a product, so that charging can be performed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile communication terminal equipped with a bar code scanner capable of reading a bar code and capable of individual recognition, and a merchandise menu in which a merchandise name is identified by a bar code. By recognizing, the bar code is read by the bar code scanner to select the product, so that the product can be ordered and charged.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile communication terminal equipped with a bar code scanner capable of reading a bar code, and a bar code book in which a plurality of words are identified and displayed by the bar code. By selecting a word by scanning it with a bar code scanner, the selected word can be displayed by mail to the communication partner.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a mobile communication terminal equipped with a bar code scanner capable of reading a bar code is provided, and dialing, voice response, transmission of an ID number, etc. are automated by reading the bar code by the bar code scanner. can do.

[0014]

1 shows a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a product menu.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, the mobile communication terminal 21
Is equipped with an attachment 22 in which a wireless unit and a reading unit are integrated in the lower connection port. Note that the attachment 22 can be replaced with a configuration integrated with the mobile communication terminal 21.

The wireless unit of the attachment 22 is capable of wirelessly outputting signals such as personal information and is a weak SS (split spread spectrum) wireless system, and is widely used as Bluetooth (BlueTooth (registered trademark)). It's starting. The attachment 2
The second reading unit makes the bar code 24 readable as an externally readable identification symbol, and is composed of a bar code scanner. Reading with this bar code scanner is performed in the optical reading range 26 by, for example, lens diffusion. However, if the entire length of the barcode is within the size of the barcode scanner, the tip of the attachment 22 can be directly applied to the barcode to read it.

The bar code 24 may be of any type such as a one-dimensional bar code or a two-dimensional bar code, and an RF tag may be used as an identification symbol, and the reading unit may be composed of an RF scanner.

In the product menu of FIG. 2, the product name is identified and displayed by each bar code 24a, 24b ....
The mobile communication terminal 21 includes, for example, a fingerprint collation unit,
Individuals can be recognized by fingerprint collation.
Therefore, the bar code 24a, 24b ...
· Any of the attachments 22 of the mobile communication terminal 21
The product order authentication can be centrally performed by scanning the barcode scanner to select a product and touching the fingerprint matching unit with a finger to perform fingerprint matching. The charging system can be configured to directly charge in the store, to use the information service center 28 described later, or to use the following Internet provider.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a bar code book according to another embodiment of the present invention. The barcode book in Figure 3
A plurality of words are identified and displayed by each barcode 24c, 24d, .... Each barcode 24c, 24d ...
· Any of the attachments 22 of the mobile communication terminal 21
If you select a word by scanning it with the bar code scanner of, you can display the selected word by e-mail to the communication partner.

In addition, it is possible to perform automatic dialing by reading a bar code, automate DTMF voice response, and automatically transmit ID numbers and the like (Web, digital).

Therefore, by using the mobile communication terminal 21, the key input operation can be greatly simplified and the versatility of the mobile communication terminal 21 can be significantly improved.

FIG. 4 is a reference example for understanding the embodiment of the present invention, and the management device using the mobile communication terminal 21 includes a game section 1, an input section 3, and a control section 5. ing. The amusement section 1 is an operation target, and a plurality of the same type are provided in a game hall. A game board 9 is provided in the housing 7 of the play section 1, and the game is stored as play information. Further, the housing 7 is provided with a screen 11 for outputting the stored game, and the player can enjoy the game while watching the screen 11 by operating the operation knob 13 or the like. Note that the operation target is not limited to the game section 1, but can be applied to drinks, vending machines for merchandise, and the like.

The housing 7 of the play section 1 is provided with coin inlets 15 and 17. The coin slot 15 is
For example, it is an insertion slot for one 100-yen coin, and it is possible to play the game once, for example, once by inserting the coin. The coin slot 17 is, for example, a 500-yen coin slot, and is capable of playing a game five times, for example. The start of this game is performed by controlling a game credit switch described later.

Further, the housing 7 of the play section 1 has
A numeric keypad 20 is provided as a personal identification number input section.
The personal identification number entered using the ten-key pad 20 is used by the control unit 5
It is designed to be input to. The input of the personal identification number may be performed by the mobile communication terminal 21. In this case, the ten-key pad 20 is unnecessary, and the mobile communication terminal 21 serves as a personal identification number input section.

The input unit 3 is used for the mobile communication terminal 21.
The personal information is input as a wireless signal from the wireless terminal device and is configured by a wireless terminal device 19 fixed to the housing 7. A bar code 24, which is a unique identification symbol of the play section 1, is provided on the front upper portion of the wireless terminal device 19. The bar code 24 is different for each of the plurality of play units 1, and when the plurality of play units 1 are provided side by side, each play unit 1 can be identified.

In the front middle part of the wireless terminal device 19,
A status display section 23 is provided, and game start consent buttons 25 and 27 are provided below the status display section 23. One game start agreement button 25 corresponds to the coin slot 15 and agrees to one game. The other game start agreement button 27 corresponds to the coin slot 17 and agrees to, for example, five games. When it is desired to play the game twice, for example, the game can be played by pressing the game start agreement button 25 again after the game is completed once. The same is true for games played three or four times. When the player wants to play the game 6 times, the game start consent button 27 is used to finish the game 5 times, and then the game start consent button 25 is pressed again, so that the game can be played 6 times in total. 7
The same applies when playing the game more than once. Other types and combinations of buttons can be adopted. The game start consent buttons 25 and 27 may be replaced with the display of the identification symbol such as a bar code, and may be read by the scanner of the mobile communication terminal 21 to recognize the number of games.

The control unit 5 is composed of an MPU board, reads the subscription number by the radio signal from the mobile communication terminal 21 input to the input unit 3, calls the information service center 28, and plays the game. This allows the unit 1 to play at least once. The reading of the subscription number will be described later.

The information service center 28 is adapted to receive an incoming call to at least a number corresponding to the unit times via a mobile telephone network 29 as a mobile communication network and a telephone line network 31 as a fixed communication network.

In the present reference example, for example, a number corresponding to one game and a number corresponding to five games are provided, and when the number corresponding to one game arrives, the number is set to one. A fee is charged, and when a call arrives at a number corresponding to five games, the fee for five times is charged. Therefore, the information service center constitutes a billing center in this reference example.

FIG. 5 shows the game credit switches 33, 3
5 shows a circuit configuration of No. 5. The game credit switch 33 is a mechanical switch, for example, the coin slot 15
If a 100-yen coin is thrown in, it will be turned on once,
When a 500-yen coin is inserted from the coin slot 17, the game is turned on again after one game is finished, the second game is started, and the game is sequentially turned on five times in total.

The game credit switch 35 is composed of a transistor, and its gate is connected to the MPU board 5. Therefore, when the game start agreement button 25 is pressed, the MPU board 5 sends a signal to the game credit switch 35 once,
One game can be played by energizing the game credit switch 35. By pressing the game start agreement button 27, signals can be sent from the MPU board 5 five times in sequence, and five games can be played.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of reading the subscriber number of the control unit 5. The control unit 5 is the telephone number input unit 3
7, a search unit 39, an output unit 41, information data 43, and an updating unit 45.

The information data 43 stores the subscriber number, address, name, etc. of the subscriber of the mobile communication terminal 21. The information data 43 can be updated from the database 47 by the updating unit 45. The database 47 is owned by the connection operator of the mobile phone network 29, and the information is always stored in the database 47 when there is a new subscriber or the subscription contract is stopped. Therefore, the information data 43 can always hold the latest information data.

First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, when a player sends a wireless signal from the wireless unit of the attachment 22 to the wireless terminal device 19 by operating the mobile communication terminal 21, the wireless terminal device is operated. 19 and control unit 5
Serial communication is carried out with and the subscription number and the like are read. That is, the personal information is input to the input unit 3.

To explain further, as shown in FIG. 6, the telephone number input unit 37 acquires a subscription number from the wireless terminal device 19 side (mobile phone), and the acquired number is input to the search unit 39. The search unit 39 searches the information of the information data 43 by the acquired subscription number, and if there is data corresponding to the subscription number, outputs it to the output unit 41.

The output section 41 outputs to the status display section 23 of the wireless terminal device 19, and the status display section 23 displays the subscription number, subscriber address, name and the like. The player confirms the status display section 23.

Here, under the control of the control unit 5, there is a message such as "Please input the personal identification number" from the voice generating unit, and the player inputs the personal identification number by the ten keys 20. The entered personal identification number is confirmed by the control unit 5 in the same manner as above based on the information in the information data 43. If the personal identification number is not that of the owner of the mobile communication terminal 21, a message such as "The personal identification number is incorrect" is output from the voice generating unit. Therefore, the player
You can enter the correct PIN.

Next, the barcode 24 of the attachment 22 is read by the barcode scanner. The reading result is stored in the mobile communication terminal 21. When the game start agreement button 25 or 27 is pressed, if the password is correct, the control section 5 transmits the agreement button 25 or 27 and a plurality of amusement sections 1 selected from among the plurality of side by side via the mobile communication terminal 21. And a call is made. That is, when the amusement unit 1 to be operated by the bar code 24 is specified from the plurality of amusement units 1, it is stored in the mobile communication terminal 21, and the control unit 5 of the specified amusement unit 1 to the mobile communication terminal 21. Calls are permitted through the wireless unit, and the operation by the wireless unit can be reliably performed. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the game credit switch 35 is turned on, and the screen 11
The game is output to, and the game can be played by the operation knob 13.

The information service center 28 charges a fee according to the number of games played by arriving at the number corresponding to the calling. The fee is collected by the operator of the telephone line network 31, and the information service center 28 is deducted from the call fee and the agency fee. Then, the manager of the game section 1 can receive the amount obtained by subtracting the fee from the information service center 28. In this way, the player can easily enjoy the game and the like without using coins, prepaid cards, credit cards, or the like.

The information service center 28 stores game information, for example, new arrival information of the game, and sends the new arrival information in response to the call. The MPU board of the control unit 5 receives, for example, new information and displays the screen 11 before playing.
Output to. Therefore, the player can immediately know the new information of the game. This new arrival information can be displayed on the screen 11 either before or after the game start agreement button 25 or 27 is pressed.

The numeric keypad 20, which is the personal identification number input section, may be omitted and the personal identification number may not be input. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the fee for one game is set and the fee is charged according to the number of games. However, the fee may be charged by adding the time when the game part 1 is used. That is, the degree of freedom in charging setting can be increased.

FIG. 7 shows another reference example. In addition,
The components corresponding to those in the above reference example will be described with the same reference numerals.

In this reference example, the information service center 28 is used in the reference example of FIG. 4, whereas the Internet provider 61 is used as shown in FIG. 7.

That is, the telephone line network 31 is connected to the Internet provider 61, and the Internet provider 61 is connected to the integrated user Web server 63. The user Web server 63 is connected to the user machine management server 65. The user machine management server 65 includes a database 67. The database 67 stores a charge setting table according to the machine number of each of the plurality of game machines which are the play section 1. This fee setting table is always stored in the database 67 as the number of game machines increases or decreases. Therefore, the database 67
Can always have the latest information data. Further, the control section 5 stores a machine number for each game machine as the play section 1. Further, the mobile form terminal 21 used in the present embodiment is of a type capable of connecting to the Internet.

When the player plays the game, he / she makes a contract with the Internet provider 61 in advance. This contract is made, for example, by notifying the Internet provider 61 of the credit number of the credit card or the like by operating the mobile communication terminal 21. As a result, the Internet provider 61 issues the provider ID and password. This provider ID and password will be displayed on the display unit of the mobile communication terminal 21 or the status display unit 23. When entering a contract with the Internet provider 61, the input of a personal identification number or the like can be performed using the numeric keypad 20 or the mobile communication terminal 21.

At the game hall, the player plays the wireless terminal device 1
9 to the attachment 2 by operating the mobile communication terminal 21
When a wireless signal is transmitted from the second wireless unit, serial communication is performed between the wireless terminal device 19 and the control unit 5, and the subscription number and the like are read. Next, the barcode 24 of the attachment 22 is read by the barcode scanner, and the issued password is input by the mobile communication terminal 21. A call is made by inputting this password, and a machine number is read from the control unit 5 corresponding to the amusement unit 1 specified by reading the bar code, and is transferred to the mobile phone network 29 via the mobile communication terminal 21. Sent.

The transmitted machine number is the telephone line network 31,
It is transmitted to the Internet provider 61, the user Web server 63, and the user machine management server 65. The user machine management server 65 reads out the charge setting table corresponding to the machine number by the database 67. The fee setting table read by the user machine management server 65 is transmitted to the internet provider 61 via the user Web server 63 as billing information.

When this transmission is made, the Internet provider 61 transmits an approval signal to the mobile communication terminal 21 via the telephone line network 31 and the mobile telephone network 29. This approval signal is input to the control unit 5 via the wireless terminal device 19.
When the player presses the game start agreement button 25 or 27, a signal corresponding to the number of games played by the agreement button 25, 27 is transmitted to the internet provider 61, and the ticket is issued on the charge setting table. Further, similar to FIG. 3, the game credit switch 35
Is turned on, the game is output on the screen 11, and the operation knob 13
You can play the game. In the present embodiment as well, the consent buttons 25 and 27 may be replaced with identification symbols such as bar codes and the like, and the scanner may read them to recognize the number of games and the like.

The Internet provider 61 is
It functions as a billing center and bills according to the ticket issued on the fee setting table. The fee is collected by the internet provider 61, for example, by sending a bill to the player, and the amount obtained by deducting the agency fee and the like is paid to the machine management user of the game section 1. Therefore, the player can easily enjoy the game without using coins, and the versatility of the mobile communication terminal 21 can be significantly improved. It

In this reference example as well, the fee for one game is set and the fee is charged according to the number of times of the game. However, the fee may be charged according to the usage time of the game section 1. is there. Also in this reference example, it is also possible to transmit new arrival information in response to the input of the password.

8 and 9 show still another reference example. It should be noted that the same reference numerals are given to the components corresponding to those in the above reference example for description. In the present embodiment, when operating the game information, word processing software, or spreadsheet software, which is the Internet information, using any of a plurality of personal computers installed in a playground or the like, a fee is charged according to the operation time. Thus, the versatility of the mobile communication terminal is improved.

That is, FIG. 8 is applied to a disc top type personal computer (disc top PC) 69 as an information terminal. Desktop computer
A serial communication port 71 is provided at 69, and the wireless terminal device 19 is connected to the serial communication port 71.

Further, FIG. 9 is applied to a notebook personal computer (notebook PC) 77 as an information terminal, and a PCMCIA card 79 is attached to the notebook PC 77.
And the wireless terminal device 19 is connected to the PCMCIA card 79.

In the case of FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the game stored in the game machine is not played as in the above-mentioned respective reference examples, but the Internet information such as game software, word processing software and spreadsheet software is used. Disk top PC6
9. It is operated by the notebook PC 77. In the case of a game, the game can be played on the Internet. The usage time at that time, for example, by setting a fee of 100 yen or the like in one hour, the fee is charged and collected.

When the user operates the desktop PC 69 and the notebook PC 77, a contract with an internet provider is made in advance as in the above embodiment. This contract is made by notifying the credit card credit number and the like as described above.

Then, when the player transmits a wireless signal from the wireless unit of the attachment 22 to the wireless terminal device 19 by operating the mobile communication terminal 21, the wireless terminal device 19 is operated.
And the control unit perform serial communication to read the subscription number and the like. Next, the barcode 24 of the attachment 22 is read by the barcode scanner, and the password is entered using the keyboard of the mobile communication terminal 21 or the desktop PC 69 or the notebook PC 77, and the subscription read from the mobile communication terminal 21 is entered. Desktop PC 69 and notebook PC 7 specified by person number
Calling according to No. 7 is performed. This call connects to the billing center of the internet provider and sends the approval signal and the target program on the internet. As a result, the user of the desktop PC 69 or the notebook PC 77 can play games, word processors, spreadsheets, etc. by the operation.

This desktop PC 69, notebook PC
When operating 77, the call of the mobile communication terminal 21 is once disconnected. When the program operation of the desktop PC 69 and the notebook PC 77 is completed, the call is made again, the time is calculated at the charge center of the Internet provider, and the predetermined charge is made. As for the fee collection, the internet provider sends a bill to the users of the desktop PC 69 and the notebook PC 77 as described above, and the amount after deducting the agency fee is the desktop P
It will be paid to the administrator of C69 and the notebook PC 77. Therefore, also in this reference example, the mobile communication terminal 2
You can easily enjoy Internet games, etc. by using 1, and also have a desktop PC 69 and a notebook P.
Even if multiple C77s are installed side by side, it is possible to collect charges accurately and easily.

In the above-mentioned reference example, the fee is charged by adding the usage time of the information terminal, but the fee is set for each of the game software, the word processing software, and the spreadsheet software, and the number of times the information is used is determined. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which charging is performed by.

In the above embodiment, the password and the personal identification number are input as the authentication method for the person.
For example, the mobile communication terminal 21 may be provided with a fingerprint collation unit, and personal identification may be performed by fingerprint authentication.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a product menu according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a barcode book according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram according to a reference example of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit configuration diagram of a game start consent switch according to a reference example.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control unit according to a reference example.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram according to another reference example of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a desktop PC according to still another reference example of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a notebook PC according to still another reference example of the present invention.
FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

21 Mobile Phone (Mobile Communication Terminal) 22 Attachment (Reading Unit) 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d Bar Code (Identification Symbol) 28 Information Service Center (Billing Center) 29 Mobile Phone Network (Mobile Communication Network) 31 Telephone Network (Fixed communication network)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04M 1/00 H04M 1/00 V 1/27 1/27 1/67 1/67 11/00 302 11 / 00 302 15/00 15/00 ZF term (reference) 3E044 AA01 AA05 AA06 BA05 BA10 CA02 CA04 CA10 DA03 DA06 DA10 DB02 DE01 5K025 AA09 BB10 EE13 5K027 AA12 BB02 HH23 HH26 5K036 AA07 BB01 DD04L12K12KK02 KK

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A mobile communication terminal equipped with a bar code scanner capable of reading a bar code and capable of individual recognition, and a product menu in which a product name is identified by a bar code are provided. A billing system characterized by charging a barcode by scanning the barcode with the barcode scanner and selecting a product. 2. A mobile communication terminal equipped with a bar code scanner capable of reading a bar code and capable of individual recognition, and a product menu in which a product name is identified by a bar code are provided. A charging system, wherein a bar code is read by the bar code scanner to select a product, thereby ordering and charging a product. 3. A mobile communication terminal equipped with a bar code scanner capable of reading a bar code, and a bar code book in which a plurality of words are identified and displayed by the bar code, and the bar code is read by the bar code scanner. The mail system is characterized by displaying the selected word to the communication partner by mail by selecting the word. 4. A mobile communication terminal equipped with a bar code scanner capable of reading a bar code, wherein dialing, voice response, transmission of an ID number, etc. are automated by bar code reading by the bar code scanner. Automated system to do.