(19)
`
`(12)
`
`Europaisches Patentamt
`
`European Patent Office
`
`Office europeen des brevets
`
`111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`EP 1 503 352 A1
`
`(11)
`
`EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
`
`(43) Date of publication :
`02.02.2005 Bulletin 2005/05
`
`(21) Application number: 04017240.5
`
`(22) Date of filing : 21.07.2004
`
`(51) Int Cl.7: G07F 7/08, GO?F 7/10
`
`(84) Designated Contracting States :
`AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES Fl FR GB GR
`HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
`Designated Extension States :
`AL HR LT LV MK
`
`(72) Inventors:
`• Furuyama, Junko
`Tokyo 154-0017 (JP)
`• Nakanishi, Yoshiaki
`Tokyo 144-0052 (JP)
`
`(30) Priority: 31.07.2003 JP 2003283931
`31.07.2003 JP 2003283983
`
`(71) Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL
`CO., LTD.
`Kadoma-shi, Osaka 571-8501 (JP)
`
`(74) Representative: Grunecker, Kinkeldey,
`Stockmair & Schwanhausser Anwaltssozietat
`Maximilianstrasse 58
`80538 Munchen (DE)
`
`(54)
`
`Portable device, IC module, IC card, and method for using services
`
`(57)
`An IC module (secure element with an IC card
`function) mounted on a portable device executes a proc(cid:173)
`ess relating to a service, via contactless communication
`with a service terminal located at a certain place. At least
`one of the IC module and the portable device judges
`
`whether a change, made in state data related to the
`service and made by the process with a user's check
`eliminated, satisfies a condition set as requiring an at(cid:173)
`traction of a user's attention. According to the result of
`the judgment, a user interface function of the portable
`device notifies a user.
`
`144
`
`148
`
`COMMUNICATION
`SECTION
`
`PORTABLE DEVICE
`
`140
`
`150
`
`152
`
`146
`
`104
`
`MEMORY
`
`CONTROL SECTION
`110
`
`100
`
`SE
`FIG. 1
`
`Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)
`
`,....
`<C
`C\I
`Lt)
`C")
`
`C")
`0
`Lt)
`,....
`a.
`w
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`SERVICE TERMINAL
`
`120
`
`126
`
`122
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`CONTROL
`SECTION
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`EP 1 503 352 A1
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`Description
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`[0001] The present invention relates to an art which
`provides various services using a portable device (cell
`phone, PDA, or the like) by attaching an IC card includ(cid:173)
`ing an IC module to the portable device or by allowing
`the portable device to incorporate an IC module that re(cid:173)
`alizes an IC card function. Here, an IC module is a mod(cid:173)
`ule that is composed of one or a plurality of IC chips.
`The IC module comprises a processor and a memory
`and realizes a certain function by the processor execut(cid:173)
`ing a program stored in the memory, but is not limited to
`any specific structure.
`
`Background
`
`[0002] Recently, an art that allows providing various
`services via contactless communication using an IC
`card is under study. In such an art, a service terminal
`comprising an IC card reader/writer is located at acer(cid:173)
`tain place like vending machines, check-out counters at
`stores or the like, entrances and exits of transportation
`facilities such as ticket gates at stations, entrances and
`exits of event venues such as concerts, gates of offices
`and factories, or the like. And then, the service terminal
`does contactless communication with the IC card put
`over by a user so as to provide a service such as e(cid:173)
`money transactions, bonus point services accompany(cid:173)
`ing purchase of products or the like, fare adjustment at
`transportation facilities, entry processes by e-ticket,
`management of entry/exit or attendance record, or var(cid:173)
`ious other services.
`[0003] An IC module mounted on an IC card compris(cid:173)
`es a processor such as CPU or MPU that executes log(cid:173)
`ical operation and arithmetic operation and a memory
`such as ROM, RAM, or EE PROM that stores programs
`and data. And an IC card for contactless communication
`further comprises a contactless communication inter(cid:173)
`face that enables contactless communication with a
`reader/writer. The IC module for the IC card is config(cid:173)
`ured such that programs and important data are con(cid:173)
`cealed in an IC chip and important information as well
`as a key or logic to access that information cannot be
`seen by an unauthorized device. Therefore, the IC mod(cid:173)
`ule can store important information and can process
`cryptography inside the module.
`[0004] And recently, a memory mounted on an IC card
`is becoming larger in capacity and can store a plurality
`of applications at the same time, so that a user can use
`a plurality of services with just one IC card. In this way,
`for example, if two or more applications such as a pre(cid:173)
`paid train ticket to get on and off a certain train and an
`e-ticket to enter a certain concert venue are stored in
`one IC card, a user can use various services with that
`
`5
`
`one IC card without bothering to pull out different IC
`cards for each service.
`[0005] Furthermore, by including a contact communi(cid:173)
`cation interface to connect with an external device in ad-
`dition to a contactless communication interface with a
`reader/writer, an IC card mounted with an IC module can
`be used connected with a portable device such as a cell
`phone, PDA, or the like. Such a portable device con(cid:173)
`nected with an IC card becomes a portable device
`10 mounted with an IC module. Alternatively, by incorpo(cid:173)
`rating an IC module itself into a portable device (In this
`case, too, an IC module and other parts of the portable
`device can be regarded as being connected with each
`other via a contact communication interface), a portable
`15 device mounted with an IC module can be realized.
`[0006] Japanese published patent application No.
`2003-125043 discloses an art to use various e-com(cid:173)
`merce services using a cell phone mounted with an e(cid:173)
`commerce module. Particularly, it describes as follows
`20 about a request for a user to input a password with a
`keypad of the cell phone during the dealing. In the art,
`a user is allowed to change the setting of whether an
`input of a password is required or not so that an input of
`a password is required when the cell phone mounted
`25 with the e-commerce module is used as an e-money
`during shopping, but an input of a password is not re-
`quired when it is used as a commuter pass to go to office
`(or school) at a ticket gate of a station. In addition, when
`it is set not to require an input of a password, lighting an
`indicating lamp of the cell phone allows a user to recog(cid:173)
`nize the setting status.
`[0007] Here, one of the great advantages of a con(cid:173)
`tactless type IC card is that it allows an execution of a
`process by simply touching and going ("touch and go")
`through the service terminal. Therefore, it is highly likely
`that many password-free applications will also be used
`for a portable device mounted with a contactless type
`IC module.
`[0008] However, in the above-mentioned art of Japa-
`40 nese published patent application No. 2003-125043, a
`user can know by an indication lamp lighting that the
`setting is set as password-free, but he/she can never
`know what kind of process was actually executed when
`he/she used a password-free service. There is a possi-
`45 bility that a service terminal display would show the de(cid:173)
`tails and result of the process. However, when a speed
`of the "touch and go" process is required, a user will
`have difficulty in reading information on the display ac(cid:173)
`curately as he/she passes by the service terminal by
`50 putting an IC-module-mounted portable device over the
`reader/writer.
`
`30
`
`35
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`55
`
`[0009] Methods and systems consistent with the in(cid:173)
`vention provides a system that gives an appropriate no(cid:173)
`tice to a user regarding a process executed by an IC
`module mounted on a portable device, via contactless
`
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`executing processes in a portable device mounted with
`an IC module. A process relating to a service provided
`by a service terminal via contactless communication be(cid:173)
`tween the IC module and the service terminal is execut-
`ed , where the service terminal is located at a certain
`place. When a state data managed by the IC module
`related to the service is modified, it is judged whether a
`change in the state data satisfies a condition set as re(cid:173)
`quiring an attraction of a user's attention , the change
`10 having been made by the process with a user's check
`eliminated. Responsive to a judgment that the condition
`is satisfied by the judgment unit, a user is notified of the
`change, through a user interface unit of the portable de-
`vice.
`[0014] As described hereafter, other aspects of the in-
`vention exist. Thus, this summary of the invention is in(cid:173)
`tended to provide a few aspects of the invention and is
`not intended to limit the scope of the invention described
`and claimed herein.
`
`15
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`25
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`30
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`35
`
`communication with a service terminal , using a user in(cid:173)
`terface function such as a display of the portable device
`which is connected with the IC module via a contact
`communication interface.
`In such situation , if details and results of all the pass(cid:173)
`word-free processes are displayed in detail,
`it would be annoying and is highly likely that a user would
`be inattentive and would overlook an unintended proc-
`ess , an error, or the like. Thus , methods and systems
`consistent with the invention give a notice to a user se(cid:173)
`lectively.
`[001 0] A portable device consistent with the invention
`comprises a connecting interface, a judgment unit, and
`a user interface unit. The connecting interface connects
`the portable device with an IC module which executes
`a process relating to a service provided by a service ter(cid:173)
`minal via contactless communication with the service
`terminal, the service terminal being located at a certain
`place. The judgment unit judges whether a change in a
`state data managed by the IC module related to the 20
`service satisfies a condition set as requiring an attrac-
`tion of a user's attention, the change having been made
`by the process with a user's check eliminated. The user
`interface unit, responsive to a judgment that the condi-
`tion is satisfied by the judgment unit, notifies a user of
`the change.
`[0011] An IC module consistent with the invention for
`being used with a portable device comprises a process-
`ing unit, a memory, and a judgment unit. The processing
`unit executes a process relating to a service provided
`by a service terminal via contactless communication
`with the service terminal , the service terminal being lo(cid:173)
`cated at a certain place. The memory is capable of stor-
`ing a state data related to the service. The judgment unit
`judges whether a change in the state data stored in the
`memory satisfies a condition set as requiring an attrac(cid:173)
`tion of a user's attention , the change having been made
`by the process with a user's check eliminated. The judg(cid:173)
`ment unit further instructs, responsive to ajudgmentthat
`the condition is satisfied , a user interface unit of the port(cid:173)
`able device to notify a user of the change.
`[0012] An IC card consistent with the invention for be(cid:173)
`ing attached to a portable device removably and re-at(cid:173)
`tachably comprises a processing unit, a memory, and a
`judgment unit. The processing unit executes a process
`relating to a service provided by a service terminal via
`contactless communication with the service terminal,
`the service terminal being located at a certain place. The
`memory is capable of storing a state data related to the
`service. The judgment unit judges whether a change in
`the state data stored in the memory satisfies a condition
`set as requiring an attraction of a user's attention , the
`change having been made by the process with a user's
`check eliminated. The judgment unit further instructs,
`responsive to a judgment that the condition is satisfied ,
`a user interface unit of the portable device to notify a
`user of the change.
`[0013] A method consistent with the invention is for
`
`[0015] The accompanying drawings are incorporated
`in and constitute a part of this specification. The draw(cid:173)
`ings exemplify certain aspects of the invention and , to(cid:173)
`gether with the description, serve to explain some prin-
`ciples of the invention.
`[0016] FIG. 1 is a configuration example of a secure
`element (SE) , a service terminal , and a portable device
`related to a first embodiment.
`[0017] FIG. 2 is another configuration example of an
`SE , a service terminal , and a portable device related to
`the first embodiment.
`[0018] FIG. 3A shows a state of cooperative commu(cid:173)
`nication among an SE, a service terminal, and a portable
`device in the case of a process-A (a process without no-
`tice) in the first embodiment.
`[0019] FIG. 3B shows a state of cooperative commu(cid:173)
`nication among an SE, a service terminal, and a portable
`40 device in the case of a process-B (a process with notice)
`in the first embodiment.
`[0020] FIG. 4A shows a state of cooperative commu(cid:173)
`nication when a new application is added to an SE which
`uses a common process judgment section.
`[0021] FIG . 4B shows a state of cooperative commu(cid:173)
`nication when a new application is added to an SE which
`uses a different process judgment section for each ap(cid:173)
`plication.
`[0022] FIG . 5 is an example of operation of an SE's
`50 control section when a user is notified according to value
`consumption.
`[0023] FIG. 6 is an example of operation of an SE's
`control section when a user is notified according to the
`value balance.
`[0024] FIG. 7A is an example of a table managing in(cid:173)
`formation of a threshold which is compared with the val(cid:173)
`ue balance.
`[0025] FIG. 7B is another example of a table manag-
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`ing information of a threshold which is compared with
`the value balance.
`[0026] FIG. 8 is an example of operation of an SE's
`control section when a user is notified according to a
`change of a place or content.
`[0027] FIG . 9 is an example of operation of an SE's
`control section when a user is notified according to a
`change of a time.
`[0028] FIG. 1 O is a configuration example of a secure
`element (SE) , a service terminal , and a portable device
`related to a second embodiment.
`[0029] FIG. 11 is another configuration example of an
`SE , a service terminal , and a portable device related to
`the second embodiment.
`[0030] FIG. 12A shows a state of cooperative com(cid:173)
`munication among an SE, a service terminal, and a port(cid:173)
`able device in the case of a process-A (a process with(cid:173)
`out notice) in the second embodiment.
`[0031] FIG. 12B shows a state of cooperative com(cid:173)
`munication among an SE , a service terminal , and a port(cid:173)
`able device in the case of a process-B (a process with
`notice) in the second embodiment.
`[0032] FIG. 13 is an example of operation of an SE's
`control section and a portable device's control section
`when a user is notified according to value consumption .
`[0033] FIG. 14 is an example of operation of an SE's
`control section and a portable device's control section
`when a user is notified according to the value balance.
`[0034] FIG . 15 is an example of operation of an SE's
`control section and a portable device's control section
`when a user is notified according to a change of a place
`or detail.
`[0035] FIG . 16 is an example of operation of an SE's
`control section and a portable device's control section
`when a user is notified according to a change of a time.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`[0036] The following detailed description refers to the
`accompanying drawings. Although the description in(cid:173)
`cludes exemplary implementations, other implementa(cid:173)
`tions are possible and changes may be made to the im(cid:173)
`plementations described without departing from the
`spirit and scope of the invention. The following detailed
`description and the accompanying drawings do not limit
`the invention. Instead, the scope of the invention is de(cid:173)
`fined by the appended claims.
`
`General Description
`
`[0037] First, an outline of a case will be described
`where an IC module has a function to judge whether to
`notify a user regarding a process executed via contact(cid:173)
`less communication between itself and a service termi(cid:173)
`nal. This case may be called the first embodiment.
`[0038] An IC module related to the first embodiment
`mounted on and used with a portable device comprises:
`a unit to execute a process relating to a service provided
`
`5
`
`10
`
`20
`
`by a service terminal via contactless communication
`with the service terminal , the service terminal being lo(cid:173)
`cated at a certain place; a unit to hold state data relating
`to the service; and a unit to judge whether a change in
`the state data made by the process with a user's check
`eliminated satisfies a condition set as requiring an at(cid:173)
`traction of a user's attention, and to instruct a user in(cid:173)
`terface function of the portable device to notify a user of
`the change in response to a judgment that the condition
`is satisfied .
`[0039] Due to this configuration, when a user put an
`IC-module-mounted portable device over a service ter(cid:173)
`minal as he/she passes a certain place to use a service,
`a process is executed via contactless communication
`15 between the service terminal and the IC module and the
`state data related to the service may be changed due to
`the process. This change is made without requiring a
`user, for example, to input a password or PIN (a secret
`number called 'Personal ID Number') before starting
`the process or to approve the change before finalizing
`the process. However, if the IC module judges that the
`change satisfies a condition set as requiring an attrac(cid:173)
`tion of a user's attention, a user will be notified by the
`use of the user interface function of the portable device.
`25 For example, user's attention will be attracted by lighting
`up a display, making a sound, or using a vibration func(cid:173)
`tion of the portable device.
`[0040] The IC module related to the first embodiment
`may further comprise a unit to control so as to prevent
`30 an access to certain data of all data related to the proc(cid:173)
`ess and an access to a program for executing the proc(cid:173)
`ess from an unauthorized device for the service.
`[0041] Due to this configuration , a device other than
`authorized devices for the service (e.g., service termi-
`35 nals which conduct the service) cannot access pro(cid:173)
`grams or highly confidential data in the IC module, and
`therefore a service requiring security such as e-com(cid:173)
`merce can be supported. It is possible to show a part of
`the data stored in the IC module (e.g., result of a proc-
`40 ess) on the display of an unauthorized portable device
`for the service, but in this case, only (less confidential)
`data permitted by an IC module's program is outputted
`to the portable device via a contact communication in(cid:173)
`terface.
`[0042] An IC card related to the first embodiment com(cid:173)
`prises the above-mentioned IC module related to the
`first embodiment and is attached to the portable device
`removably and re-attachably.
`[0043] By connecting the IC card having such config-
`50 uration to the portable device, a user of the portable de(cid:173)
`vice becomes able to use a service, and becomes able
`to receive notice selectively, via the user interface func(cid:173)
`tion of the portable device, regarding a change that re(cid:173)
`quires attention among all the changes made by the
`55 process executed between the service terminal and the
`IC card .
`[0044] The IC card related to the first embodiment
`may further comprise an interface that enables the con-
`
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`tactless communication.
`[0045]
`In this way, on one hand , the IC card can com(cid:173)
`municate with the service terminal via the contactless
`communication interface, and on the other hand, it can
`input and output data from/to the portable device via the
`contact communication interface.
`[0046] The portable device related to the first embod(cid:173)
`iment comprises the above-mentioned IC module relat(cid:173)
`ed to the first embodiment and the user interface func(cid:173)
`tion .
`[0047]
`In this way, a user of a portable device incor(cid:173)
`porating an IC module or a portable device connected
`with an IC card type IC module can receive notice se(cid:173)
`lectively via its user interface function regarding a
`change that requires attention among all the changes
`made by the process executed between the IC module
`mounted on the portable device and the service termi-
`nal.
`[0048] The portable device related to the first embod(cid:173)
`iment may further comprise an interface that enables the 20
`contactless communication between the IC module and
`the service terminal.
`[0049] Due to this configuration, even when the IC
`module only has a contact communication interface with
`the portable device as an interface to externals , the IC
`module can do contactless communication with the
`service terminal by using the contactless communica(cid:173)
`tion interface included in the portable device via the con(cid:173)
`tact communication interface.
`[0050] The above-mentioned IC module related to the
`first embodiment may further comprise a unit to memo(cid:173)
`rize a plurality of application programs , wherein the
`process relating to the service is executed by one of the
`plurality of application programs , and judgment and in(cid:173)
`struction to notify a user regarding a change made to
`the state data by the process is executed by another
`program which is separate from the plurality of applica(cid:173)
`tion programs and is made to be capable of detecting
`changes made by either process of the plurality of ap(cid:173)
`plication programs.
`[0051]
`In this way, the IC module can prevent incon(cid:173)
`sistency in that a user is notified of a change made by
`the process of one application program but is not notified
`of a change made by the process of another application
`program . Consistency of notice can thus be maintained .
`In addition, an investment in development can be cut
`down because there is no need to add new functions to
`judge a change and instruct to notify a user every time
`a new application program is developed.
`[0052] An example of the state data in the above(cid:173)
`mentioned IC module related to the first embodiment is
`data of a monetary value currently possessed by a user.
`Whether the condition set is satisfied or not may be
`judged depending on whether a process which decreas(cid:173)
`es the monetary value has been executed or not.
`[0053]
`In this way, in a service, such as a prepaid train
`ticket with a commuter pass, that allows a user to pass
`through a ticket gate by "touch and go," that is, without
`
`inputting a password , the user is not notified when the
`monetary value does not change (e.g., getting on and
`off within the section of the commuter pass, getting off
`within the section of minimum fare), and the user can
`be notified selectively when a process that consumes
`the monetary value has been executed (e.g., getting on
`and off out of the section of the commuter pass). Also,
`in a "bonus points service", for example, a user is not
`notified when the monetary value increases (complete
`the transaction accumulating bonus points) , and the us-
`er can be notified selectively when a process that con(cid:173)
`sumes the monetary value has been executed (com(cid:173)
`plete the transaction using bonus points). In addition to
`this , whether to notify a user may be judged based on
`15 a degree of reduction in the monetary value (e.g., an
`amount reduced exceeds a threshold; a percentage of
`an amount reduced to the balance exceeds a th reshold).
`User's attention can thus be attracted appropriately re-
`garding a result of a process executed for a service.
`[0054]
`In the example where the state data of the
`above-mentioned IC module related to the first embod-
`iment is data of a monetary value currently possessed
`by a user, whether the condition set is satisfied or not
`may be judged depending on whether the monetary val-
`25 ue has become a threshold or less as a result of the
`process.
`[0055]
`In this way, for example, if a minimum fee re(cid:173)
`quired to use a service (e.g. , a minimum price of a prod(cid:173)
`uct in a vending machine, a minimum fare of transpor-
`tation) is set as a threshold, by being notified when the
`balance becomes the threshold or less, a user can con(cid:173)
`duct in advance a charge process which increases the
`balance in the IC module before using the service the
`next time. Thus, it is possible to avoid a situation where
`35 a service terminal informs a user of insufficient funds
`and the "touch and go" flow of many other users is ob(cid:173)
`structed.
`[0056] The above-mentioned threshold may be deter(cid:173)
`mined such that the IC module related to the first em-
`40 bodiment further comprises a unit to receive information
`about a fee for using the service via contactless com(cid:173)
`munication with the service terminal, and that the
`threshold is determined based on the fee information re(cid:173)
`ceived.
`[0057]
`lnthisway,forexample , inacasewhereamin(cid:173)
`imum fee required to use the service is updated, infor(cid:173)
`mation about a new product price, a fare, or the like is
`sent to the IC module from the service terminal , and the
`threshold can be set based on the updated fee . Thus,
`the function to notify a user in advance regarding a like(cid:173)
`lihood of insufficient funds can be made to work efficient(cid:173)
`ly.
`[0058]
`In an example where the state data of the
`above-mentioned IC module related to the first embod-
`iment is data of a monetary value currently possessed
`by a user and the certain place is a place passed by the
`user when he/she gets on or off a means of transporta(cid:173)
`tion (e.g., a train, an airplane, a toll road, etc.), an
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`
`amount of money that will be required for using the
`means of transportation after the user passes the cer(cid:173)
`tain place may be predicted so as to set, based on the
`amount of money predicted, a threshold to judge wheth(cid:173)
`er or not the monetary value has been reduced to the
`level that requires an attraction of the user's attention.
`[0059]
`In this way, when a user passes (at the time of
`getting on or off) a place where a service terminal of the
`means of transportation is located (e.g. , ticket gate) , it
`is possible to predict how much the monetary value in
`the IC module will be reduced when the user passes a
`place where another service terminal of the means of
`transportation is located (e.g. , at the time of getting off
`at the destination or getting on at a place where he/she
`has got off immediately before). Thus, by dynamically
`setting a threshold based on the predicted result, the
`user can be notified precisely regarding a likelihood that
`the balance will be insufficient.
`[0060] The above-mentioned amount of money re(cid:173)
`quired may be predicted based on at least one of the
`following: a type of the means of transportation; a place
`where a user got on the means of transportation; a place
`where a user got off the means of transportation; a day
`of the week that a user used the means of transporta(cid:173)
`tion; time that a user used the means of transportation;
`a monetary value that a user consumed when he/she
`used the means of transportation; and information of a
`commuter pass that a user has for the means of trans(cid:173)
`portation .
`[0061]
`In this way, for example, even in a case where
`the same IC module is used to get on and off a plurality
`of trains , an amount of money required can be predicted
`based on a minimum fare which differs depending on
`which train a user is going to use. Alternatively or addi(cid:173)
`tionally, a user's consumption pattern of a monetary val(cid:173)
`ue (e.g. , when and which station does the user frequent(cid:173)
`ly use, an amount of money consumed at the time) may
`be memorized, and an amount of money required can
`be predicted with reference to this information. An
`amount of money required may also be predicted by
`comparing a user's consumption pattern with
`the
`present date and time, the location of the service termi-
`nal that the user passed immediately before, or the like.
`[0062] The above-mentioned amount of money re(cid:173)
`quired may also be predicted as follows : The fee data
`of the transportation is acquired, and in a case where
`the certain place passed by the user is out of the section
`of the commuter pass that the user owns , the amount
`of money required is predicted based on the fee data by
`calculating a fee from the certain place passed by the
`user to a place within a section of the commuter pass.
`[0063]
`In this way, for example, in a case where a user
`uses a train at a place out of the section of the commuter
`pass where he/she does not usually go to, and can not
`estimate how much money will be required , an amount
`of money required to go to the section within the com(cid:173)
`muter pass will be predicted and whether the balance
`in the IC module is sufficient or not will be notified to a
`
`5
`
`30
`
`35
`
`user. For this purpose, the fee data which is stored in
`the IC module or collected by the portable device from
`the outside sources may be acquired.
`[0064] The above-mentioned amount of money re(cid:173)
`quired may also be predicted as follows : The fee data
`of the transportation and place data indicating where the
`user is going after passing the certain place are ac(cid:173)
`quired, and then the amount of money required is pre(cid:173)
`dicted by calculating , based on the fee data of the trans-
`10 portation from the certain place, a fee to a place where
`the user is expected to get off the means of the trans(cid:173)
`portation as indicated by the place data.
`[0065]
`In this way, for example, by predicting a place
`where a user is expected to get off from information of
`15 an e-ticket (including date, time, and place of an event)
`stored in the IC module or information of a user's sched(cid:173)
`ule (including date, time, and place in a schedule) held
`by the portable device, an amount of money required to
`get there is predicted and whether the balance in the IC
`20 module is sufficient or not will be notified to the user. The
`place where the user is expected to get off may also be
`predicted by comparing information of the ticket and the
`schedule with the present date and time, a location of
`the service terminal that the user passed immediately
`25 before, or the like.
`[0066] Another example of the state data in the
`above-mentioned IC module related to the first embed-
`iment is data of a place to go after a user passes the
`certain place. Whether the condition set is satisfied or
`not may be judged depending on whether or not the
`place to go is newly determined or changed as a result
`of the process.
`[0067]
`In this way, for example, in a case of a concert
`ticket or a plane ticket, where a confirmed seat (a place
`to go) at the concert venue or on the plane is written into
`the IC module by the service terminal located there as
`the user passes an entrance of the concert venue or a
`check-in counter of the airlines, the user is not notified
`if the confirmed seat is the same as seat information
`temporarily held in the IC module or the portable device
`at the time of purchase, but the user can be notified if
`the seat information was not given at the time of pur(cid:173)
`chase or if the confirmed seat is different from the tem(cid:173)
`porary seat. Also , in another example where a user
`passes a gate of a building and the service terminal lo(cid:173)
`cated there writes into the IC module a place of a meet-
`ing in the building that the user is to attend, the user can
`be notified selectively as well.
`[0068] Still another example of the state data in the
`50 above-mentioned IC module related to the first embed-
`iment is data of a schedule after a user passes the cer(cid:173)
`tain place. Whether the condition set is satisfied or not
`may be judged depending on whether or not a time in
`the schedule is newly determined or changed as a result
`55 of the process.
`[