JPH06121075A - Prepaid system using mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the user to pay the charge without the need for other pre- paid card or the like by devising the system such that a prepaid amount is stored in a radio portable terminal equipment used for a general telephone set. CONSTITUTION:Subscribers use portable terminal equipments 111, 112 to connect them to a pre-paid center 103 or a bank deposit system and implement 1st communication by using a prescribed verification method thereby transferring a prescribed monetary amount from the bank account of the subscribers to the pre-paid center 103 and allowing the portable terminal equipments 111, 112 to store the monetary amount. Then the portable terminal equipments 111, 112 make 2nd communication to radio base stations 109, 110 in zones 115, 116 of a radio base station having pre-paid controllers 107, 108 by using a verification method different from the verification method in the 1st communication for the payment processing, the monetary amount is subtracted from the monetary amount stored in the portable terminal equipments 111, 112 and the result is stored in the portable terminal equipments 111, 112, then the pre-paid center 103 is accessed for account of each subscriber at each prescribed time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system capable of purchasing a prepaid card and paying with the prepaid card using a portable terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as a method of payment for purchase of goods, purchase of tickets, etc., a method of purchasing a card in which a certain amount of money is magnetically recorded in advance and making payment by it has been established. There is. Cards of this type include, for example, those used in public telephones (telephone cards), those used for purchasing train tickets (orange cards, metro cards), and those used at gas stations when refueling automobiles.

[0003]

The conventional prepaid card as described above is used when the user purchases the card by going to a store or a vending machine where the user handles the card in advance. Is used by inserting the card into a vending machine or the like. At this time, in the public telephone, the corresponding frequency (money) is withdrawn from the card according to the call time, the callee, etc., the frequency (money) is updated, and the remaining frequency is displayed on the public phone.

In order to use such a conventional system, in order to purchase a card in advance, it is necessary to go to a place where the card is sold. Also, since each service has a different card, it was necessary to purchase different cards and to use them properly. In addition, in using the card, it was necessary to insert the card into the card device one by one. An object of the present invention is to provide a system capable of eliminating the inconvenience that a user does not have to go to a specific place to purchase a card and has different cards for different services.

[0005]

According to the invention, the above objects are achieved by the means recited in the claims. That is, the invention of claim 1 connects a prepaid center connected to a bank deposit system and a radio base station having a prepaid control device to a communication network to configure a mobile communication system including the radio base station. Then, the subscriber connects to the prepaid center or the bank deposit system from the mobile terminal and performs the first communication using a certain authentication method, thereby transmitting a certain amount of money from the subscriber's bank account to the prepaid center. At the same time, in the zone of the wireless base station having the means for storing the amount of money in the mobile terminal and the mobile terminal having the prepaid control device, the wireless base station and the second wireless base station are authenticated using an authentication method different from the authentication method in the first communication. Means for performing payment processing by performing communication with the device, and a means for subtracting the amount from the amount stored in the mobile terminal and storing the amount, and prepaid control Is a prepaid system using a mobile terminal location is made and means for performing settlement of such amounts prepaid for each subscriber to access a prepaid center at regular time intervals.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a prepaid center connected to a bank deposit system and a radio base station having a prepaid control device are connected to a communication network, and a mobile communication system including the radio base station is connected. The subscriber connects to the prepaid center from the mobile terminal and performs the first communication by using a certain authentication method, thereby transmitting a certain amount of money from the bank account of the subscriber to the prepaid center. The means for storing the amount of money in the mobile terminal and the second communication using the authentication method different from the authentication method in the first communication in the zone of the radio base station in which the mobile terminal has the prepaid control device perform the specific information. In the zone of the wireless base station in which the portable terminal has a prepaid control device, and the first communication. A third communication is performed by using an authentication method different from the authentication method in 1), payment processing is performed, and means for subtracting the amount from the amount stored in the mobile terminal, and the prepaid control device is provided at predetermined intervals. Is a prepaid system using a mobile terminal, which is provided with means for accessing and paying the prepaid amount for each subscriber.

[0007]

In the system of the present invention, the prepaid center, the bank deposit system, and the radio base station having the control device for the prepaid card are connected to the general telephone network, and the portable terminal is used in the same manner as the prepaid card. That is, a mobile terminal accesses a prepaid center or a bank via a general telephone network, transfers money from the bank to the prepaid center, and stores the information in the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal wirelessly communicates with the control device for the prepaid service to allow the mobile terminal to perform the same function as the prepaid card.

As described above, according to the present invention, the mobile terminal is used instead of the prepaid card, so that the service subscriber can receive the service without having to carry the card or insert the card into a dedicated device. Even when the prepaid amount is used up, it is possible to easily achieve the same purpose as when purchasing a new card by using the communication network to which the mobile terminal subscribes. Hereinafter, the operation and the like of the present invention will be described in detail based on Examples.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 100 is a home station that manages data of mobile terminals, 101 and 102 are exchanges, 103 is a prepaid center, 104 is a bank database, and 10 is a bank database.
5, 106 are wireless base stations for mobile phones, 107, 108 are prepaid control devices, 109, 110 are wireless base stations connected to the control devices, 111, 112 are mobile terminals, 11
3, 114 is a wireless zone of a wireless base station of a mobile phone, 11
Reference numerals 5 and 116 denote prepaid radio base stations 109 and 110.
Represents the wireless zone.

The control devices 107 and 108 are connected to the exchanges 101 and 102 by wired lines, but the radio base station 10
Within the zones 115 and 116 of 5 and 106, it is possible to connect to the exchange through this radio base station. In addition, the prepaid center and the database of the bank are directly connected, but it is connected via a network,
Each may be connected to a switch.

Table 1 shows an example of the contents of the storage data section of the portable terminal 111, which includes a storage section used for general communication and a storage section for prepaid. The content of the general communication storage unit shows only the portion that is used in the present invention.

[0012]

[Table 1]

First, the service subscriber selects the mobile terminal 111.
First, the operation of the first communication for prepaid will be described. When the mobile terminal 111 dials the number of the prepaid center 103 from the wireless base station 105, the exchange 101 first accesses the home station 100. The home station 100 authenticates the mobile terminal 111 whether this terminal is a correct terminal. Although there are various authentication methods, for example, a random number is sent from the home station 100 to the mobile terminal 11
1 and the mobile terminal 111 uses the random number to
It carries out certain calculations that are predetermined for each terminal and sends the results back to the home station.

At the home station as well, the calculation assigned to the mobile terminal is performed based on the sent random number and compared with the returned result to confirm that they are the same, and the terminal is authenticated. The authentication result is also sent to the exchange 101, and when the authentication is confirmed, the exchange 101 accepts the call from the mobile terminal 111 and extends the line to the prepaid center 103.
At this time, the number of the mobile terminal 111 is also sent to the prepaid center.

The service subscriber dials the predetermined prepaid subscriber number, the bank account number of the service subscriber, the amount to be prepaid, and the personal identification number if necessary from the mobile terminal according to the guidance of the prepaid center 103. It is desirable that the prepaid subscriber number and the bank account number are set in advance in the mobile terminal and automatically transmitted by pressing a dedicated button on the mobile terminal or by a speed dial.

The prepaid center, the number of the mobile terminal 111, the prepaid subscriber number, sent from the exchange,
When the bank account number and the personal identification number are checked and it is confirmed that they match these numbers stored for each prepaid subscriber number, the bank database 104 is accessed and the requested amount of money is requested from the account of the service subscriber. Pull out. When the withdrawal is completed, the prepaid center 103
Notifies the portable terminal 111 that the prepaid was normally performed, and writes the prepaid amount in the prepaid storage unit.

The prepaid center 103 is a mobile terminal 111.
Even when writing to the prepaid storage unit, the prepaid storage unit has a different key (prepaid storage unit access key in Table 1) corresponding to the mobile terminal in order to prevent malicious writing. A method of writing with a key is useful. This key is set in the mobile terminal in advance and stored in the prepaid center when the mobile terminal subscribes to the prepaid service. When there is no more than the amount of money to be prepaid in the bank account, the prepaid center notifies the portable terminal 111 that the prepaid is impossible.

In the above description, the mobile terminal first dials the number of the prepaid center to execute the prepaid, but it is not preferable to send the bank account number and personal identification number of the service subscriber to the prepaid center. Can also be considered. In that case, the mobile terminal first dials the number in the bank database 104 to extend the line to 104, and then enters the bank account number, personal identification number, prepaid amount, and prepaid subscriber number of the service subscriber in the bank database. After sending out and confirming that the database 104 of the bank is prepaid, the prepaid center is accessed, the mobile terminal number, the prepaid subscriber number, and the prepaid amount sent from the exchange are sent, and then withdrawn from the prepaid center or the bank database. It is also possible to send a completion signal and rewrite the prepaid storage unit of the mobile terminal.
In addition, the prepaid center 103 and the bank database 10
4 shows a direct connection, but it is conceivable to connect by a packet communication network.

Next, the second communication of the mobile terminal 111 which has already prepaid will be described. In FIG. 1, the prepaid wireless base station 109 is installed at an entrance of a building where a charge is required, for example, an entrance of a movie theater. The wireless channel transmitted from the wireless base station 109 is a special channel for prepaid, and the mobile terminal 111
Is scanning a channel for general communication and a channel for prepaid.

When the mobile terminal 111 receives a signal from the channel transmitted by the radio base station 109, it sends out a prepaid request signal. This signal is sent to the prepaid control device 107 via the wireless base station 109. This signal contains information on the mobile terminal number, the prepaid service subscriber number, and the current prepaid amount.

The control device 107 authenticates the subscriber based on the mobile terminal number and the prepaid subscriber number. This authentication method is independently determined in the prepaid method, in addition to the authentication of the general communication network previously performed with the home station 100, and a simple one is desirable. For example, similar to the case of the authentication in the general communication network, the method that uses the random number and the arithmetic expression can make the arithmetic expression simple and capable of high-speed arithmetic operation, or change the arithmetic expression for each prepaid subscriber number. Instead of prepaid subscriber numbers 1 to 100
This can be simplified by setting the arithmetic expression 1 up to 0 and the arithmetic expression 2 up to 1001 to 2000. If the authentication is normally performed, the control device 107 confirms that the amount to be paid is less than or equal to the amount prepaid from the mobile terminal, and sends the payment amount to the mobile terminal 111. Subtract payment amount from prepaid storage.

Further, the control device 107 opens the entrance of the building so that the prepaid service subscriber can pass through. If the prepaid amount is less than or equal to the payment amount, the control device 107 notifies the mobile terminal 111 that the amount is insufficient. On the mobile terminal 111,
The display informs the prepaid service subscriber of the shortage of money. The prepaid service subscriber performs the above-described prepaid operation to the prepaid center 103 via the wireless base station 105 to increase the prepaid amount, and then
The controller 107 will be accessed again. The control flow of the mobile terminal is shown in FIG.

Next, a case where the portable terminal 111 makes a prepaid payment over a plurality of radio base stations and control devices will be described. This is equivalent to taking a train. That is, in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the wireless zone 115 is at the ticket gate of the boarding station and the wireless zone 116 is at the ticket gate of the exit station. When the service subscriber carries the portable terminal 111 into the wireless zone 115 and the portable terminal 111 receives a signal from the channel transmitted by the wireless base station 109, it sends out a prepaid request signal. This signal is transmitted via the radio base station 109 to the prepaid control device 107.
Sent to.

This signal includes information on the mobile terminal number, the prepaid service subscriber number, and the current prepaid amount. The control device 107 authenticates the subscriber based on the mobile terminal number and the prepaid subscriber number. When it is confirmed that the authentication is normally performed and the prepaid amount is equal to or more than a certain amount, the control device 107
Sends the code of the station in the wireless zone 115 to the mobile terminal 111 to store it, and opens the ticket gate.

When the service subscriber gets on the train and gets off at the station to enter the wireless zone 116, the service subscriber receives the wireless channel transmitted from the wireless base station 110. A signal indicating that it is for an alighting station is transmitted to this wireless channel. The mobile terminal 111 sends a prepaid request signal to the prepaid control device 108. This signal includes the code of the station of the wireless zone 115, in addition to the information of the mobile terminal number, the prepaid service subscriber number, the current prepaid amount, which was previously transmitted when boarding. The prepaid controller 108, after authenticating the mobile terminal 111, calculates the boarding charge from the code of the station of the wireless zone 115 and the code of the station of the wireless zone 116. If the charge is less than the prepaid amount, the charge is calculated. The amount is sent to the mobile terminal 111, and the mobile terminal 111 subtracts the amount from the prepaid storage unit. On the other hand, the control device 107 opens the ticket gate at the exit station so that the prepaid service subscriber can pass through.

Next, the control by the control devices 106 and 107 to send out the amount paid by the service subscriber to the prepaid center will be described. The control devices 106 and 107 store a mobile terminal number, a prepaid subscriber number, a charge amount, a prepaid balance, a control date and time, a control device number, a boarding / alighting station code in the case of a station, and the like. The prepaid center is accessed collectively, such as once a time, and these data are sent.

In the prepaid center, the database of the service subscriber is accessed and the charge amount is deducted from the stored prepaid amount and stored. At this time, it is checked whether the mobile terminal number is correct, or whether the prepaid balance is the same as the sent value and the calculated value. If they are different, there is a possibility that an unauthorized terminal exists. That is, a different mobile terminal number indicates that the mobile terminal is an unauthorized terminal, and a small balance calculated by the prepaid center indicates that there is an unauthorized mobile terminal and an unauthorized use is made. It shows that.

If there is a possibility of an unauthorized mobile terminal,
It is possible to send all of the mobile terminal number and the subscriber number to the control device to stop the subsequent use of the mobile terminal and to detect illegal mobile terminals. Further, in the prepaid center, if various information sent from the control device is stored for a certain period, it becomes possible to provide a service for providing the list to service subscribers. Also, each time a service subscriber accesses the control device and pays a fee, a control number is assigned, the number is stored in the mobile terminal and the prepaid center, and checked every time the usage fee is sent from the control device. Thus, fraud can be prevented or the presence of fraud can be detected.

In the above description, an entrance of a movie theater or a train station is taken as an example of the control device, but the application of the present system is not limited to this, and the clerk controls even when shopping at an ordinary store. It is easy for the control device to pay the charge from the terminal connected to the device and make the payment to the mobile terminal of the customer in the same manner as in the above-mentioned procedure in the movie theater. Also, in the above description, the terminal is managed and authenticated based on the mobile terminal number, but the number is assigned to the individual like the personal communication in which the service is currently considered and the telephone number is given to the individual. If so, it is desirable to manage and authenticate based on this personal number. In the special personal communication, a method of rigorously authenticating the subscriber is considered, so that the use of the prepaid method is effective.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, the prepaid amount is stored in the wireless mobile terminal used for a general telephone, which is considered to be owned by each person in the future. Besides, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to have a prepaid card or the like, and the charge can be paid only by having one terminal. Since it is a wireless mobile terminal, the control device is wirelessly accessed to make a payment, and therefore it is not necessary to insert the device into a prepaid device and thus has excellent serviceability. Since the prepaid center and the database of the bank are connected to the general communication network, they can be easily accessed from the wireless mobile terminal and the prepaid operation can be easily performed.

Since the terminal authentication is strictly performed in the wireless mobile terminal, especially in the personal communication service which is considered to be provided in the future, the authentication on the general communication network is used at the time of the prepaid so that the authentication on the prepaid side is performed. Has the advantage of being simple and capable of high speed operation. Even if the prepaid amount of money is short, it is possible to repay immediately on the spot from the general communication network.
And so on.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of control of a prepaid mobile terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 home station 101, 102 exchange 103 prepaid center 104 bank database 105, 106 radio base station 107, 108 prepaid control device 109, 110 radio base station connected to the prepaid control device 111, 112 mobile terminal 113, 114 radio base Wireless zones of stations 105 and 106 Wireless zones of 116 and 116 wireless base stations 109 and 110

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A prepaid center connected to a bank deposit system and a radio base station having a prepaid control device are connected to a communication network to form a mobile communication system including the radio base station. Connects from a mobile terminal to a prepaid center or a bank deposit system and performs a first communication using a certain authentication method, thereby transmitting a certain amount of money from the subscriber's bank account to the prepaid center. In the zone of the wireless base station having the means for storing the amount of money in the mobile terminal and the mobile terminal having the prepaid controller, the wireless base station and the second communication using the authentication method different from the authentication method in the first communication. The prepaid control device and the means for storing the amount of money by subtracting the amount from the amount of money stored in the mobile terminal and performing the payment process. A prepaid system using a mobile terminal, comprising means for accessing a prepaid center at regular intervals to settle the amount of prepaid money for each subscriber. 2. A prepaid center connected to a bank deposit system and a radio base station having a prepaid control device are connected to a communication network to form a mobile communication system including the radio base station. Connects from a mobile terminal to a prepaid center or a bank deposit system and performs a first communication using a certain authentication method, thereby transmitting a certain amount of money from the subscriber's bank account to the prepaid center, and For storing specific information in a zone of a wireless base station having a prepaid control device, and transmitting and receiving specific information by performing second communication using an authentication method different from the authentication method in the first communication. Means for storing the result in a mobile terminal and a zone of another radio base station in which the mobile terminal has a prepaid controller, Means for performing payment processing by performing third communication with the base station by using an authentication method different from the authentication method in the first communication, and subtracting and storing the amount from the amount stored in the mobile terminal; A prepaid system using a mobile terminal, characterized in that the prepaid control device comprises means for accessing a prepaid center at regular intervals to settle a prepaid amount for each subscriber.