JP4121837B2 - IC card and billing method using IC card - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an IC card, and more particularly to an application that performs billing processing using an IC card.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an IC card is used to input a payment for goods purchased from a store or cash register terminal, a payment amount for services, etc., and to perform payment processing from the balance of electronic money charged in advance to the IC card. Used in the settlement system.
[0003]
In addition, the arithmetic function and memory provided in the IC card are used to manage the number of trials of PIN (Personal Identification Number) input, add points in the IC card according to the amount of shopping, and insert the IC card into the terminal device. It is also used in point applications that use points by issuing instructions to terminal devices.
[0004]
Also, a certificate issuance system that limits the number of issued cards by providing a counting area for the number of issued certificates in an IC card and updating the information in the counting area according to the number of issued certificates. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
[0005]
However, the method of counting in the IC card and storing and using the result in the IC card cannot be used without a terminal device equipped with an IC card reader, which is inconvenient. is there.
[0006]
In addition, it is convenient that the counting result can be transmitted from the IC card to, for example, a server or the like when counting is performed in the IC card and the counting result reaches a preset value. Since the lower layer of the standard (ISO7816-3) is a half-duplex communication protocol, it is not assumed that transmission starts from the IC card side, and the IC card always receives a command from the terminal device side. Then, the processing result in the IC card is returned to the terminal device.
[0007]
When sending from the IC card to the network, first, the terminal device periodically inquires the IC card whether to send (whether to communicate with the network) (polling), and the IC card responds accordingly. A method for starting communication has been proposed for IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).
[0008]
Conventionally, mobile phones and the like have stored IDs and telephone numbers in the terminals themselves, but in recent years, subscriber IDs and telephone numbers, which are called UIM (User Identity Module), are registered and detachable. A kind of IC card that can be connected has appeared.
[0009]
By registering the subscriber's ID and telephone number in the UIM, it is possible to use any terminal without changing the telephone number or usage environment simply by inserting this UIM into another terminal. Research on the use of information terminals and information appliances is advancing and is expected to spread in the future.
[0010]
Further, if the memory capacity of the UIM is increased, it is possible to store information such as electronic money and usage in addition to the ID and telephone number. It is also assumed that it is used as a payment system that adds the usage amount in the UIM and makes a payment according to the usage amount.
[0011]
In order to use a UIM or a device equipped with a UIM for payment, a virtual coin management means is provided in a mobile phone or an IC card that is detachably connected while connected to a mobile network, and virtual coin addition / subtraction is performed. In addition, there is a settlement method and a settlement system that enable settlement between mobile phones by transfer (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
[0012]
The payment method and the payment system provided with the virtual coin described above are connected to the mobile network, and the payment by the virtual coin is performed in the same manner as a general billing method in which the telephone company server grasps the call time and packet communication volume of the mobile phone. To do this, you must be connected to a mobile network.
[0013]
Further, when the settlement amount is small, there is a problem that the communication cost is excessive with respect to the settlement amount if the connection is made to the mobile network every settlement.
[0014]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-282336 [Patent Document 2]
JP 2002-197388 A [Non-Patent Document 1]
Mobile-Mind, “IP and ARP over ISO 7816”, [online], January 2001, [October 12, 2002 search], Internet <URL: http: // www. scdk. com / draft-guitary-ip7816-01. txt>
[0015]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems. Counting is performed with a single IC card, and notification is made to a server on the network and charged as necessary when a certain value is reached. An IC card and a billing method for the IC card are provided.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention provides a routing function for connecting to the Internet by wireless communication and transferring communication from an IC card to a notification destination on the Internet, and a function for proximity wireless communication. An IC card that can be attached to and detached from a portable information terminal equipped with an area for storing a count value of a count object related to a usage status of close proximity wireless communication provided in the portable information terminal, and an area for storing a set value And storage means provided with an area for storing notification destination information indicating the notification destination of the count value, and the value to be counted transmitted from the portable information terminal is stored in the storage means. A command to be added to or subtracted from the count value, and when the count value added by the command reaches the set value, transfer to the notification destination on the network specified by the notification destination information The request to the portable information terminal, in which has been the count value stored in said storage means is provided and transmission means for transmitting to said notification destination.
[0017]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the IC card according to the first aspect described above, the count value, the set value, and the notification destination information corresponding to the counting target are set as a set of information, and a plurality of sets of information are set. When the transmission means compares the count value added by the command with the set value of the set including the count value, and the count value reaches the set value In addition, the count value is transmitted to the notification destination specified by the same set of notification destination information .
[0018]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the IC card according to the first or second aspect described above, when the transmission unit transmits the count value to the notification destination specified by the notification destination information, the third aspect is stored in advance. The count value is encrypted using the encryption key that is used.
[0019]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable information terminal having a routing function of connecting to the Internet by wireless communication and transferring communication from an IC card to a notification destination on the Internet, and a function of proximity wireless communication; A billing method using an IC card that can be attached to the portable information terminal, wherein the portable information terminal counts the usage status of the proximity wireless communication when the proximity wireless communication of the portable information terminal is used. Transmitting the quantity of the counting object to the IC card, the IC card adding the quantity of the counting object transmitted from the portable information terminal to the count value provided for each counting object, and the IC card, Determining whether the count value obtained by adding the count target values transmitted from the portable information terminal has reached a preset setting value; and And a step of transmitting the count value using the portable information terminal to a notification destination set for each set value when the count value reaches the set value. This is a billing method using a card.
[0020]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the billing method using the IC card according to the fourth aspect described above, the count value, the set value, and the notification destination information corresponding to the counting target are set as a set of information. The IC card includes a management table storing a plurality of sets of information, and the IC card uses the set value of the set including the count value obtained by adding the quantity to be counted transmitted from the portable information terminal. Then, it is determined whether or not the count value has reached the set value. When the count value has reached the set value, the count value is transmitted to the same set of notification destination information. It is a thing.
[0021]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the charging method using the IC card according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the IC card transmits the count value to a notification destination specified by the notification destination information. At this time, the count value is encrypted using an encryption key stored in advance.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a charging system using a mobile phone 1 to which an IC card of the present invention can be attached and detached.
[0023]
The charging system includes a mobile phone 1, the Internet 2, and a charging server 3. In FIG. 1, the description including the mobile phone 4 and the information home appliance 5 is further given.
[0024]
The mobile phone 1 has a data communication function 6, an IC card 7, and a near field wireless communication function 8. Descriptions and drawings are omitted for the mechanisms and functions of a general mobile phone not related to the present invention.
[0025]
The data communication function 6 is a communication function for the mobile phone 1 to connect to the Internet, and has a routing function for transferring communication from the IC card 7 to the Internet.
[0026]
The IC card 7 is actually a JavaCard (registered trademark) capable of mounting a plurality of applications, and has a network communication function using a routing function provided in the mobile phone 1 .
[0027]
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the inside of the IC card 7. The IC card 7 includes an I / O control unit 9, a CPU 10, a storage unit 11, a program storage unit 12, and a work memory 13.
[0028]
The I / O control unit 9 is an interface for the IC card 7 to communicate with the IC card reader / writer 14.
[0029]
The CPU 10 executes various applications recorded in the program storage unit 12. When executing the application, the storage unit 11 and the working memory 13 are used as necessary.
[0030]
The storage means 11 is actually an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) which is a nonvolatile memory, and is used to store and hold various data. The storage means 11 has an area for storing the management table 15 in a part thereof.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 3, the management table 15 includes a count value storage area 16, a set value storage area 17, and a notification destination storage area 18.
[0032]
The count value storage area 16 is an area for managing the count value of the count target related to the usage status of the close proximity wireless function 8, such as the time and communication amount of using the close proximity wireless function 8 , and is based on a command provided in the IC card 7 As will be described later, an application for adding / subtracting the count value stored in the count value storage area 16 is mounted on the IC card 7 as an object to be added / subtracted.
[0033]
Thus, by storing the count value for managing the usage status of the proximity wireless communication function 8 of the mobile phone 1 in the IC card 7, the mobile phone 1 is not connected to the mobile communication network. However, the usage status of the close proximity wireless communication function 8 of the mobile phone 1 can be managed, and a small number of count values can be sequentially added and transmitted to the server in a batch, so that the number of communications can be reduced. Thus, communication costs can be reduced.
[0034]
The set value storage area 17 is an area for setting a value for determining whether or not the count value stored in the count value storage area 16 has reached a certain value. In the present embodiment, setting values are the upper limit value of the count value.
[0035]
When the count value reaches the set value, the notification destination storage area 18 stores notification destination information for the accounting server 3 on the network that transmits the count value. The notification destination information is arbitrary as long as it can uniquely identify the charging server 3 in the network protocol, such as an IP address assigned to the charging server 3, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator), or an E-Mail address.
[0036]
As shown in FIG. 3, if the management table 15 is used, it is also possible to store a plurality of setting values and notification destination information for one counting target . Thus, for example, when the count value of the count target is “1000”, a warning is given to the user, and when the count value of the count target is “3000”, notification timing such as notification to the billing server 3 is given. The notification destination can be used properly.
[0037]
Of course, when there is only one set value and notification destination information for the count target , each of the count value storage area 16, the set value storage area 17, and the notification destination storage area 18 is not a table format shown in FIG. It is also possible to memorize as
[0038]
The program storage unit 12 stores the OS and the application main body. There is a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which an OS and an application are recorded in advance at the time of card manufacture, or an EEPROM in which an application can be loaded and used.
[0039]
The program storage unit 12 stores, for example, a transmission unit 19 in addition to a plurality of applications such as a mobile phone management application and a management application for the proximity wireless communication function 8.
[0040]
The transmission unit 19 transmits the count value to the notification destination indicated by the notification destination information when the count value reaches the set value.
[0041]
The near field wireless communication function 8 performs communication in a near distance such as BlueTooth (registered trademark), and performs communication with a device including the near field wireless communication function 8 such as the mobile phone 4 and the information home appliance 5 in the near distance. is there.
[0042]
The accounting server 3 is a computer system that is connected to the Internet 2 and can communicate with the mobile phone 1, and charges the user based on the count value transmitted by the mobile phone 1.
[0043]
Since the mobile phone 4 has only the same function as the mobile phone 1, the description thereof is omitted.
[0044]
The information home appliance 5 is a home appliance capable of communicating data with an external device such as the mobile phone 1 provided with a proximity wireless communication function 8 in a refrigerator or the like, for example.
[0045]
The IC card of the present invention and the charging method using the IC card will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0046]
The power switch of the mobile phone 1 is turned on. At this time, the IC card 7 is supplied with power from the mobile phone 1, starts the OS unit, and enters a command reception waiting state.
[0047]
At this time, for example, the communication amount by the nearby wireless communication function 8 is counted, the count value “100” is stored in the count value storage area 16, and the set value “2000” is stored in the set value storage area 17. It is assumed that the URL of the accounting server 3 is stored in the notification destination storage area 18 as notification destination information.
[0048]
In the following description, since the process of the command reaching the IC card 7 is a communication procedure of the I / O control unit 9 and the IC card reader / writer 14, the description thereof is omitted.
[0049]
The user A selects a management application (hereinafter referred to as “nearby wireless communication management”) of the nearby wireless communication function 8 in order to exchange data (data communication) with the mobile phone 4 carried by the user B.
[0050]
For example, the user A exchanges data corresponding to the communication amount “1000” by using the proximity wireless communication function 8 of the mobile phone 1 and notifies the proximity wireless communication management of the communication amount “1000”.
[0051]
The near field communication management by using a command provided in the IC card 7 is added to the traffic "1000" count stored in the count memory area 16 to "100", the count value of the addition result " 1100 ”is stored in the count value storage area 16.
[0052]
The transmission means 19 compares the set value “2000” with the count value “1100”, and returns to the command waiting state without notifying the accounting server 3 because the count value has not reached the set value.
[0053]
Next, it is assumed that the user A makes a call using the mobile phone 1 with the user B carrying the mobile phone 4. Since the cellular phone call does not use the proximity wireless communication function 8, the processing is terminated when the call is completed without selecting the proximity wireless communication management of the IC card 7.
[0054]
For example, when the information home appliance 5 is a refrigerator and the user A checks the stock in the refrigerator, the user A selects the proximity wireless communication management.
[0055]
For example, the user A notifies the nearby wireless communication management of the communication amount (here, “1500”) spent for checking the inventory of the refrigerator.
[0056]
The near field communication management by using a command provided in the IC card 7 is added to the traffic count value stored in the count memory area 16 to "1500", "1100", the count value of the addition result " 2600 "is stored in the count value storage area 16.
[0057]
The transmission means 19 compares the set value “2000” with the count value “2600”, and notifies the billing server 3 because the count value has reached the set value.
[0058]
Transmission means 19 takes out the URL of the charge server 3 from the notification destination storage area 18, requesting a connection to the billing server 3 intends accordance with a communication protocol and address written in the URL to the portable telephone 1, IC card 7 is unique The count value “2600” is transmitted to the accounting server 3 together with the user ID and telephone number provided in the above, and the count value storage area 16 is reset (returned to the initial value “0”).
[0059]
The billing server 3 performs an operation such as multiplying the received count value “2600” by a preset unit price, and the mobile phone 1, that is, the user A is assigned to the mobile phone 1 based on the user ID and telephone number. Charge for it.
[0060]
As described above, the present invention has been described in detail based on the embodiment. However, the IC card and the charging method using the IC card according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiment. Naturally, various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
[0061]
For example, as in the management table shown in FIG. 3, by storing a plurality of setting values and notification destination information corresponding to the setting values for one counting target , when one setting value is reached, E-Mail In this case, the user is notified of the usage status, and when another setting value is reached, the user can connect to the accounting server to actually perform the accounting processing.
[0062]
In addition, for example, when a plurality of count values such as the use of the proximity wireless communication function and the usage time of a specific application are stored in the management table, a notification destination can be set for each function used. Billing is also possible when the servers and service providers are different.
[0063]
In addition, the amount of money itself does not pass over the general-purpose network called the Internet, but since it is data related to money, the key data used for encryption is stored in the storage means of the UIM and connected to the network. It is preferable to encrypt the count value before communicating with the server.
[0064]
Whether the count value has reached the set value is determined by the OS of the IC card at the time of startup or when the application accesses the count value storage area even if each of the plurality of applications uses the transmission means. Also good.
[0065]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the IC card and the billing method using the IC card according to the present invention, it is possible to manage the count value such as the usage amount by the IC card even in a state where it is not connected to the mobile communication network. It is.
[0066]
Since the count value is managed in the IC card, a small number of count values can be sequentially added and transmitted to the server at a time, so that the number of communications can be reduced and the communication cost can be reduced. be able to.
[0067]
In addition, since the IC card that stores the count value, setting value, and notification destination information can be attached to and detached from the mobile phone or the portable information terminal, the count value of a plurality of different devices is counted each time and transmitted in a batch. It is efficient and has a wide range of applications.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a charging system using a mobile phone to which an IC card of the present invention can be attached and detached.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram inside an IC card (UIM) of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an example of a management table of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a charging method of the present invention.
1, 4 Cellular phone 2 Internet 3 Billing server 5 Information appliance 6 Data communication function 7 IC card 8 Near field communication function 9 I / O control unit 10 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Storage means 12 Program storage part 13 Work memory 14 IC card reader / writer 15 Management table 16 Count value storage area 17 Setting value storage area 18 Notification destination storage area 19 Transmission means

Claims (6)

An IC card that can be attached to and detached from a portable information terminal that is connected to the Internet by wireless communication and has a routing function for transferring communication from the IC card to a notification destination on the Internet and a function for proximity wireless communication. ,
An area for storing a count value of a count target related to the usage status of close proximity wireless communication provided in the portable information terminal , an area for storing a setting value, and notification destination information indicating the notification destination of the count value are stored Storage means provided with an area ;
A command for adding or subtracting the count target value transmitted from the portable information terminal to or from the count value stored in the storage means;
When the count value which the command is added has reached the set value, the transfer to the notification destination on the network identified by the notification destination information request to the portable information terminal, stored in said storage means and transmitting means for transmitting the count value with respect to the notification destination,
An IC card comprising: The IC card according to claim 1,
The counting value corresponding to the counting target , the setting value, and the notification destination information are set as a set of information, and a management table storing a plurality of sets of information is provided, and the transmission means includes the counting value added by the command And the set value including the count value is compared, and when the count value reaches the set value, the calculated value is compared with the notification destination specified by the notification destination information of the same set. An IC card characterized by transmitting numerical values. The IC card according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein
IC said transmitting means, when transmitting the count value to a notification destination specified in the notification destination information, using an encryption key stored in advance, characterized by encrypting the count value card. A portable information terminal that is connected to the Internet by wireless communication and has a routing function for transferring communication from an IC card to a notification destination on the Internet and a function of proximity wireless communication, and an IC that can be attached to the portable information terminal A billing method using a card,
When the proximity wireless communication of the portable information terminal is used, the portable information terminal transmits the number of counting objects related to the usage status of the proximity wireless communication to the IC card, and the IC card Adding the quantity to be counted transmitted from the portable information terminal to the count value provided in
A step of determining whether or not the count value obtained by adding the count target value transmitted from the mobile information terminal to the IC card has reached a preset set value;
When the count value reaches the set value , the IC card transmits the count value to a notification destination set for each set value by using a routing function provided in the portable information terminal. And the stage of
A billing method using an IC card, characterized in that A billing method using the IC card according to claim 4,
The IC card includes a management table storing a plurality of sets of information, the count value corresponding to the counting target, the set value, and the notification destination information as a set of information, and the IC card includes the portable information terminal It is determined whether or not the count value has reached the set value by using the set value of the set including the count value obtained by adding the quantity to be counted transmitted from the count value. A charging method using an IC card, wherein the count value is transmitted for the same set of notification destination information when the value has been reached. A billing method using the IC card according to claim 4 or 5,
The IC card encrypts the count value using an encryption key stored in advance when the count value is transmitted to a notification destination specified by the notification destination information. Billing method using a card.

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