JP2000050331A - Message receiving device and message communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a message receiving device and a message communication method which enable efficient message reception and appropriate fee collection according to a service. When the received message is an encrypted message as a result of the determination in step SB3, the paging receiver determines whether or not decryption information has been received in step SB7. That is, if the user makes a decryption request to the central office on the premise that a fee is added, decryption information for decrypting the encrypted message is transmitted from the central office. Therefore, in step SB7, it is determined whether or not the decryption information transmitted from the central office 3 has been received in response to the user's decryption request. When the decryption information is received, the encryption of the encrypted message is decrypted based on the received decryption information (step SB8), and the decrypted message is displayed (step SB9).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a message receiving apparatus and a message communication method for receiving a message applied to a communication device such as a paging receiver.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art One of conventional message communication systems is a paging system. When a paging receiver of this paging system receives a message from the other party, it performs a paging operation and displays the received message. Also, today, paging receivers capable of receiving free and paid service messages have appeared, and these received service messages can also be displayed. At this time, by paying a fee in advance for the paid service message, it becomes possible to receive and visually recognize the paid service message.

[0003]

However, in the prior art, if a fee is paid in advance to receive a paid service message, all paid service messages can be received. Therefore, the user receives the service message having no unnecessary value and pays the service message, and cannot receive the message efficiently. In addition, in the case of a service message transmitting business, the fee setting must be reduced in consideration of receiving even messages that the user does not necessarily need, and an appropriate fee according to the service must be set. Cannot be collected.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and provides a message receiving apparatus and a message communication method which enable efficient message reception and appropriate fee collection according to a service. The purpose is to provide.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a message receiving apparatus for receiving an encrypted message, and a message receiving unit for receiving the encrypted message. Decryption information receiving means for receiving decryption information for decrypting a message, storage means for storing the message received by the message receiving means, and receiving the message stored in the storage means for receiving the decryption information. And decryption means for decrypting the message based on the decryption information received by the decryption means, and display means for displaying a message decrypted by the decryption means. That is, since the encrypted message is decrypted based on the decryption information, if the decryption information is transmitted at the request of the user using the message receiving device, Only the information valuable to the user is decrypted and displayed on the display means. Therefore, if this encrypted message is paid information, it is up to the user to decide whether to pay the fee to decrypt the message and see it, and the user pays only for the necessary messages. Can be seen. In addition, in the case of a company that sends an encrypted message, since the user sees the encrypted data on his / her own initiative, an appropriate fee according to the information should be paid according to the principle of the beneficiary's burden. Can be collected.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a message receiving apparatus, comprising: a use condition receiving unit for receiving a use condition of the decryption information; and a use condition received by the use condition receiving unit. Decryption information use control means for controlling use of the decryption information.
Therefore, since the use condition of the decryption information is transmitted on condition of payment of the fee, the company transmitting the encrypted message requires the user who uses the message receiving device to use the decryption information use condition. Can be managed.

Further, in the message receiving apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the use condition is a frequency at which the decryption is possible, a storage means for storing the frequency, and a decryption operation of the decryption means. Along with, further comprising subtraction means for subtracting the frequency stored in the storage means,
The decryption means decrypts the encryption within the frequency stored in the storage means. Therefore, the user using the message receiving device can visually recognize the encrypted message within the frequency, and the business operator transmitting the encrypted message determines the user using the receiving device according to the frequency. It becomes possible to manage.

Further, in the message receiving apparatus according to the present invention, the message receiving means includes:
Further receiving information indicating the title of the message which is not encrypted, and the display means displays the title based on the information. Therefore, the user using the receiving device can determine whether or not to decrypt the encrypted message after viewing the title.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the message communication method for a message communication system including a transmitting device for transmitting a message and a receiving device for receiving the message, the transmitting device includes: The message of the category is transmitted by encrypting the message with different encryption information for each category, and decryption information for decrypting the encrypted message is transmitted in response to a request from the subscriber. Receiving the encrypted message and the decryption information, and decrypting the encrypted message based on the received decryption information. Therefore, by transmitting the decryption information from the transmission device on condition that the fee is paid, it is possible to provide the information while reliably collecting the fee for decrypting the encrypted message for each category.

In the message communication method according to the invention of claim 6, the transmitting device further transmits information indicating a period during which the decryption information can be decrypted, and the receiving device transmits The information indicating the period is received, and the encryption is decrypted within the period indicated by the information. Therefore, since the information indicating the period during which the decryption information can be decrypted is transmitted on condition that the fee is paid, the business operator transmitting the encrypted message from the transmitting device uses the receiving device. The user can be managed by a period based on the information indicating the period during which the user can be decrypted, and the user is prompted to pay a fee for each period.

Further, in the invention according to claim 7, the information indicating the period during which the decryption can be performed is information indicating the frequency at which the decryption can be performed, and the receiving apparatus performs the decryption operation based on the decryption operation. Leverage frequency is subtracted, and the decryption operation is limited within this frequency. Therefore,
The company that sends the encrypted message with the transmitting device collects the fee in advance and transmits the information indicating the frequency, and provides the encrypted message while reliably collecting the fee according to the amount of information Service to perform.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a paging system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
Each telephone 1 of a general subscriber is connected to a central office (Hyun pager service company: service provider) 3 via a network 2. The central office 3 operates based on a mobile integrated operation system 4 and includes a radio paging device 5 and an encoding device 6. A plurality of radio paging base stations 7 are connected to the encoding device 6. Have been. Each radio paging base station 7 includes a synchronizer 8, a transmitting device 9, an antenna duplexer 10, a transmitting antenna 11, and the like. Radio waves transmitted from the transmitting antenna 11 are transmitted by a paging receiver 12 possessed by each user U. It is configured to be received.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the paging receiver 12. In this block diagram, the antenna 13
Receives a paging signal wirelessly transmitted from the central station 3 via the paging base station 7 and outputs the signal to the receiving unit 14. The receiving unit 14 is controlled by the intermittent signal input from the decoder unit 15, detects and amplifies the calling signal input from the antenna 13, converts the signal into digital data, and outputs the digital data to the decoder unit 15.

The decoder 15 compares the digital data output from the receiver 14 with its own address stored in an ID-ROM 16 to be described later to extract a call message addressed to its own terminal, Output to the control unit 17. The ID-ROM 16 is composed of an electrically rewritable EEPROM or the like, stores data such as a frame and an address individually assigned to the pager, and under the control of the decoder unit 15 at the time of initial setting. Data such as a frame and an address are output to the decoder unit 15 via the control unit 17. Also, the ID-ROM 16
Since it is composed of an EEPROM or the like, it is possible to update the contents of data such as frames and addresses, or the number of uses and the expiration date, which will be described later, under the control of the control unit 17 by wireless signals.

The key input section 18 is composed of operation key sections including character and numeric keys, function keys, and the like, and various switch sections. Control instructions to the control section 17 are input to the key input section 18. The control unit 17 includes a CPU and the like, and has a ROM
19 based on various control programs stored in
The received message data input from the decoder unit 15 is stored in the RAM 20 or each unit is controlled based on the message data, and each circuit unit in the pager is controlled according to a control signal input from the key input unit 18. I do.

The ROM 19 stores various control programs executed by the control unit 17 and data. RAM 20
Is a storage unit for storing message memory data and the like for storing received message information in the past. In the present embodiment, a memory area A for storing an encrypted message (A) described later and a normal message (B) And a memory area B for storing. The display unit 22 includes a circuit unit driven by a control signal input from the control unit 17, a liquid crystal display panel, and the like, and displays a received message, a decrypted message, and the like.
The notification unit 21 includes a notification driver and a device such as a speaker LED, and is driven by a control signal input from the control unit 17 at the time of receiving a call signal, and performs a call notification.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a transmission format of a message data portion of a paging message transmitted by radio from the central office 3 via the radio calling base station 7 in the present embodiment. In this embodiment, an encrypted message (A) (paid message:
For example, an information message) and a normal message (B) are transmitted.

The encrypted message (A) is composed of a title T, folder information F indicating a storage location and an identification category of the message, and encryption information such as an encryption code indicating that the message is encrypted and indicating an encryption format. And a message MX (at least a part of the message) encrypted according to the predetermined encryption format and encryption information (encryption key and the like: the encryption information differs for each category (folder)). Is normally encrypted), and the normal message (B) is composed of a message M etc. composed of character code data normally transmitted by a pager.

First Embodiment of the Present Invention In this first embodiment, when a service provider is notified that only a necessary message (folder) among the encrypted messages is to be subscribed, the service business Decryption information (which includes at least the encryption key and may also include the encryption format) from the party, decrypts the encrypted message based on the decryption information, and displays it. A paging receiver will be described.

In the first embodiment, the central office 3
Operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, and determines whether a predetermined period (for example, one week, one month, or the like) has elapsed (step SA1). Then, when the predetermined period has elapsed, the name of the changed folder (including addition of a folder, deletion of a folder, change of a folder name, etc.) is transmitted to a good registrant (step SA2). Here, a good registrant is a person who has properly paid the usage fee for each predetermined period and registered in advance in order to receive the encrypted message (A) in the predetermined folder (category). is there.
In other words, the name of the changed folder is sent to this good registrant every time the predetermined period elapses. Defective registrants who do not properly pay are not sent the name of the changed folder.

If the predetermined period has not elapsed, a message (encrypted message (A) or normal message (B)) transmission processing is executed (step SA).
3). Next, it is determined whether or not the user has made a descrambling request specifying the name of the folder by an appropriate communication means such as a telephone (step SA4). If the user requests this decryption, the decryption information for decrypting the encrypted message (A) stored in the folder is transmitted to the corresponding user's own address of the paging receiver 12. It is transmitted together with the ID (step SA5). Thereby, the decryption information of the predetermined folder is transmitted only to the user having the predetermined address.

Thereafter, the charge of the user who has requested the decryption is added to the charge memory provided in the mobile integrated operation system 4 (step S).
A6) At a later date, the bill added with this fee will be sent to the user.

On the other hand, the paging receiver 12 operates according to the flow chart shown in FIG. 5, and when the address received together with the message matches the own address stored in the ID-ROM 16, a good user It is determined whether or not only the folder name transmitted every predetermined period has been received (step SB1), and if received, the folder name in the A memory area of the RAM 20 is changed (step SB2). Thereby, the folder structure in the A memory area is changed. If the folder name is not changed, the decryption information once received can be used as long as the decryption information for the folder is not changed.

On the other hand, if the folder name has not been received, it is determined whether or not the decryption information has been received (step SB3). If the decryption information has been received, the decryption information is stored in association with a predetermined folder (step SB3). Step SB4).

Otherwise, since the message is a message, the message is fetched (stored) (step SB5), and a calling process for operating the notification unit 21 is performed to indicate that the message has been fetched (stored). (Step SB6), and it is determined whether the encryption identification information is added to the next received message (step SB6).
7). As a result of this determination, if the received message does not include the encryption identification information and is a normal message (B), the message is stored in the B memory area of the RAM 20 (step SB8), and the key A message is displayed on the display unit 22 in response to a key operation on the input unit 18 (step SB14).

However, as a result of the determination in step SB7,
If the message is provided with encryption identification information and the message is an encrypted message (A), a folder having a name corresponding to the folder name F of the received encrypted message (A) in the A memory area. It is determined whether or not there is (step SB9). If there is no folder with the folder name F of the received encrypted message (A) in the memory area A, that is, the user is not a registrant, or has delinquently paid for the previous period. If the user is not a registrant and has not received the name of the folder changed every predetermined period, the process proceeds to step S
The processing shifts to another processing without performing the processing of B10 to SB14.

If the folder exists in the A memory area, the encrypted message (A) is stored in the folder (step SB10), and the display unit 22 is driven to display the folder name and the title (step SB10). Step SB1
1).

Therefore, the user who sees the title displayed on the display unit 22 determines that the received encrypted message is valuable to him, and makes a decryption request specifying the name of the folder by telephone or the like. As described above, the process proceeds from step SA4 to step SA5 in FIG. 4, and the decryption information for decrypting the encrypted message (A) stored in the folder has its own decryption information for the corresponding paging receiver 12. Sent together with the address ID.

Then, in step SB12 of FIG. 5, it is determined that the decryption information is stored, and
In B13, the encrypted message (A) stored in the folder based on the stored decryption information
Is decrypted, and the message is displayed in a readable state (step SB14).

Here, as the encryption method used for the encrypted message (A), for example, the correspondence between the first-level characters shown in FIG. 6A and the second-level characters shown in FIG. To create a message before encryption with the first level characters, and replace the characters that make up this message with the corresponding characters of the second level to create an encrypted message. When decrypting the encrypted message, the decryption information indicates that each character of the encrypted message composed of the second level characters corresponds to the first level characters. . Accordingly, the paging receiver 12 receiving the decryption information can replace the second-level characters constituting the encrypted message with the first-level characters again, so that the message can be read in the process of step SB13. Can be displayed in an appropriate state. Of course, the encryption method used for encrypted messages is
The method is not limited to this, and another method may be used.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step SB12,
If the decryption information is not stored, the process proceeds to another process without executing the processes of steps SB13 and SB14 described above. Therefore, the user can pay the fee only for the encrypted message (A) considered to be valuable to him from the title and display the message, and the message can be efficiently received. Further, in the pager service company (central office 3), the folder name is changed every predetermined period, and the changed folder name is transmitted only to good users who have properly paid the fee until then. In addition, the fee can be collected in a short period without delay.

Although the normal message and the encrypted message are stored in different memory areas in the above embodiment, they may be stored in the same memory area. In this case, naturally, the encrypted message is a random message even if it is displayed.

Second Embodiment of the Present Invention In the second embodiment, the decryption information is made unusable under predetermined conditions (time, number of times, etc.).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the central office 3 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. That is, it is determined whether or not a fee has been paid for each user (step SC1). If the fee has been paid, the number of uses (for example, the number of receptions) according to the paid fee is transmitted to the user (step SC1). SC2). Therefore, when the user prepaid the fee to the central office 3 by an appropriate remittance method such as transfer, the usage frequency corresponding to this is transmitted to the paging receiver 12 together with the address of the user. Thereby, the frequency of use is transmitted to the predetermined user. If the fee has not been paid, the same processing as steps SA3 to SA5 in the above-described first embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is performed in steps SC3 to SC5.

On the other hand, the paging receiver 12 operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, and determines whether or not the use frequency transmitted in accordance with the advance payment of the fee as described above has been received (step SD1). When this usage frequency is received, the usage frequency data received this time is added to the usage frequency data stored in the ID-ROM 16, and
This is updated (step SF2). When the usage frequency is not received, the same processing as steps SA3 to SA8 and SA14 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is performed in steps SD3 to SD8 and step SD15.

Step SD7 following step SD7
In step 9, it is determined whether or not there is a remaining usage frequency stored in the ID-ROM 16 (step SD9). If there is a remaining usage frequency, the received encrypted message (A) is determined.
After storing the encrypted message (A) in the folder having the name corresponding to the folder name F (step SD10), step SA11 in the first embodiment shown in FIG.
To SA13 in steps SD11 to SD1.
Perform in step 3. Then, step S following step SD13
In D <b> 14, the usage frequency (for example, usage frequency “1” or usage frequency different depending on the title or folder) according to the current decryption is subtracted from the usage frequency stored in the ID-ROM 16.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the user can visually recognize the encrypted message (A) he or she needs within the usage frequency corresponding to the prepaid fee. Also, the pager service company (Central Bureau 3) makes it possible to view the encrypted message (A) only for users who have paid the fee and obtained the number of times of use, thereby making fee collection extremely reliable. can do.

In the second embodiment, the number of usages is added or subtracted by the processing of the paging receiver 12, but the paging receiver 12 is controlled by the central office 3 by controlling the transmission. Add the stored frequency of use,
You may make it subtract. Further, in the second embodiment, the use of the decryption information is controlled by the use frequency, but the use of the decryption information may be controlled by the time (time limit). In this case, when the expiration date comes, the decryption information is deleted or the use is prohibited. Furthermore,
In each of the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to the paging system. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to any system that receives a message (information).

[0039]

As described above, the receiving apparatus according to the present invention receives an encrypted message and decryption information for decrypting the encrypted message. Since the encrypted message is decrypted and displayed based on the decryption information, the decryption information is transmitted at the request of the user to decrypt and encrypt the message. Whether or not to view the received message can be left to the user's will. Thus, if the encrypted message is paid information, the user can pay only for the information that is valuable to him and decrypt and view it, thereby obtaining information efficiently. Can be. In addition, since the user visually checks the encrypted message based on his / her own intention, when the carrier transmits the encrypted message, it is necessary to consider that even the message that the user does not necessarily receive is received. Thus, it is not necessary to set the fee low, and it is possible to collect an appropriate fee according to the message according to the principle of the beneficiary's burden.

Further, since the use condition of the decryption information is further received and the use of the decryption information is controlled based on the received use condition, the case where the carrier transmits the encrypted message The business operator manages the users who use the receiving device according to the period based on the usage conditions, and can collect the fee for each period.

Further, since the frequency at which the encrypted message can be decrypted is stored and the frequency stored in the storage means is subtracted with the decryption, the user can Within the stored frequencies,
The encrypted message can be visually recognized, and the company that transmits the encrypted message can manage the users who use the receiving device by the frequency and collect the fee according to the amount of information.

Further, since the information indicating the unencrypted title of the encrypted message is further received and displayed, the user recognizes the title and then encrypts the encrypted message. It is possible to determine whether or not to cancel, so that only the information that is valuable to the user can be surely visually recognized.

Further, the message communication method of the present invention comprises a transmitting device and a receiving device, and transmits a message of each category from the transmitting device after encrypting the message with encryption information different for each category. Transmitting decryption information for decrypting the encrypted message in response to the request, receiving the encrypted message and the decryption information, and receiving the decrypted information based on the received decryption information. By transmitting the decryption information from the transmission device on condition that the fee is paid, the collection of the fee for the decryption of the encrypted message can be reliably performed for each category by decrypting the encrypted message. It is possible to establish a system that can provide information while performing the above.

Further, information indicating a period in which the encrypted message can be decrypted is also transmitted from the transmitting device,
Since the receiving device is enabled to decrypt the encrypted message within the period indicated by this information, the user who uses the receiving device is managed by the period based on the third information, and the user is provided with each period. A system that can prompt payment of the fee can be established.

Further, information indicating the number of times that the encrypted message can be decrypted is further transmitted from the transmitting device,
In the receiving device, the frequency indicated by this information is stored, and in accordance with decryption, the frequency stored in the storage unit is subtracted to limit the decryption operation within this frequency, so that the transmission is performed. By transmitting information indicating the frequency by collecting a fee in advance, a company that transmits an encrypted message by the device provides a system that provides an encrypted message while collecting a fee according to the amount of information. Can be established.

[0046]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a paging receiver according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a transmission signal format according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the central office in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the paging receiver according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an encryption method used for an encrypted message.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the central office in the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation of the paging receiver according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Central Office (Ken Pager Service Company) 12 Paging Receiver 14 Receiving Unit 16 ID-ROM 17 Control Unit 20 RAM 22 Display Unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5J104 BA03 CA01 LA04 PA03 5K067 AA29 AA34 BB22 CC12 DD15 DD17 DD51 FF04 FF23 GG11 HH22 HH23 HH36

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. Message receiving means for receiving an encrypted message; decryption information receiving means for receiving decryption information for decrypting the encrypted message; and receiving by the message receiving means. Storage means for storing the decrypted message; decryption means for decrypting the message stored in the storage means based on the decryption information received by the decryption information receiving means; and decryption by the decryption means. A message receiving device, comprising: display means for displaying a message. 2. A use condition receiving means for receiving a use condition of the decryption information, and a decryption information use control means for controlling use of the decryption information based on the use condition received by the use condition receiving means. The message receiving device according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The use condition is a frequency that can be decrypted. A storage unit that stores the frequency, and the frequency stored in the storage unit is subtracted with the decryption operation of the decryption unit. 3. The message receiving device according to claim 2, further comprising a subtraction unit, wherein the decryption unit decrypts the decryption within a frequency stored in the storage unit. 4. The message receiving means according to claim 1, wherein said message receiving means further receives information indicating a title of said message which is not encrypted, and said display means displays said title based on said information. 4. The message receiving device according to 2, 3 or 4. 5. A message communication method for a message communication system comprising a transmitting device for transmitting a message and a receiving device for receiving the message, wherein the transmitting device converts a message of each category into encryption information different for each category. And transmits decryption information for decrypting the encrypted message in response to a request from the subscriber. The receiving device receives the encrypted message and the decryption information. And a method of decrypting the encrypted message based on the received decryption information. 6. The transmitting device further transmits information indicating a period during which the decryption information can be decrypted, and the receiving device receives the information indicating the period, and within the period indicated by the information, 6. The message communication method according to claim 5, wherein the decryption is performed. 7. The information indicating the period in which the decryption is possible,
7. The information indicating a frequency at which decryption is possible, wherein the receiving device subtracts the frequency based on a decryption operation, and limits the decryption operation within the frequency. Message communication method.