Billing system, mobile terminal, and billing method

Abstract

To provide a billing system capable of simplifying user's operation and quickly performing a billing process even in the case where there exist a plurality of terminals for billing. A billing system 1 according to the present invention is a billing system for implementing billing by transmitting billing information transmitted from a billing information transmitting terminal 30 to a cellular phone 10, to a billing server 60 on a mobile communication network, in which a service code of a service for which a billing process is allowed is preliminarily stored in the cellular phone 10 and in which, when the billing information is transmitted from the billing information transmitting terminal 30, whether a service code included in the billing information is a service code for which the cellular phone 10 is allowed to perform the process is determined on the basis of whether it agrees with any service code preliminarily stored. When it is then determined that the cellular phone 10 is allowed to perform the billing process, the cellular phone transmits the billing information to the billing server 60 and performs the billing process.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A billing system making use of a mobile communication network, which comprises: 
 a billing server provided on the mobile communication network;    a billing information transmitting terminal for transmitting billing information including a service code specifying a service of a billing object, to a mobile terminal by short-range wireless; and    the mobile terminal for receiving the billing information transmitted from the billing information transmitting terminal and for transmitting the received billing information through the mobile communication network to the billing server,    wherein the mobile terminal comprises: 
 service code storing means storing a service code of a service for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform a billing process;  
 billing information receiving means for receiving the billing information transmitted from the billing information transmitting terminal;  
 service code determining means for determining whether the service specified by the service code in the billing information received by the billing information receiving means is a service for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process, on the basis of the service code stored in the service code storing means; and  
 billing information transmitting means for transmitting the billing information to the billing server when the service code determining means determines that the service is one for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process.  
   
     
     
         2 . The billing system according to  claim 1 , wherein said billing information includes information on a bill.  
     
     
         3 . The billing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the mobile terminal further comprises billing information request transmitting means for transmitting a billing information request to request the billing information, to the billing information transmitting terminal by short-range wireless, and 
 wherein said billing information transmitting terminal transmits the billing information when receiving the billing information request transmitted from the mobile terminal.    
     
     
         4 . The billing system according to  claim 3 , wherein the billing information transmitting terminal further comprises billing point notification information transmitting means for transmitting billing point notification information indicating a billing point where the billing information transmitting terminal is located, to an interior of a wireless-communicable area, and 
 wherein, when receiving the billing point notification information transmitted from the billing point notification information transmitting means, the mobile terminal lets the billing information request transmitting means transmit the billing information request to the billing information transmitting terminal.    
     
     
         5 . A mobile terminal applied to a billing system in a configuration in which a billing process is performed so that the mobile terminal receives billing information transmitted from a billing information transmitting terminal located at a point of billing and transmits the received billing information to a billing server provided on a mobile communication network, said mobile terminal comprising: 
 service code storing means storing a service code of a service for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process;    billing information receiving means for receiving the billing information including a service code, transmitted from the billing information transmitting terminal by short-range wireless;    service code determining means for determining whether a service specified by the service code in the billing information received by the billing information receiving means is a service for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process, on the basis of the service code stored in the service code storing means; and    billing information transmitting means for transmitting the billing information to the billing server when the service code determining means determines that the service is one for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process.    
     
     
         6 . A billing system applied to a billing scheme of determining a bill on the basis of entry into and exit from a billing zone, and comprising a billing server provided on a mobile communication network, a mobile terminal for transmitting billing information through the mobile communication network to the billing server, an entry point terminal located at an entry point into the billing zone and configured to communicate with the mobile terminal by short-range wireless, and an exit point terminal located at an exit point out of the billing zone and configured to communicate with the mobile terminal by short-range wireless, 
 wherein said entry point terminal comprises: 
 entry point information transmitting means for transmitting entry point information about the entry point along with a service code specifying a service of a billing object, to the mobile terminal,  
   wherein said exit point terminal comprises: 
 entry point information request transmitting means for transmitting an entry point information request to request entry point information, along with a service code specifying a service of a billing object to the mobile terminal;  
 bill determining means for determining a bill on the basis of the entry point information transmitted according to the entry point information request from the mobile terminal; and  
 billing information transmitting means for transmitting billing information including the bill determined by the bill determining means, to the mobile terminal, and  
   wherein said mobile terminal comprises: 
 service code storing means storing a service code of a service for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform a billing process;  
 service code determining means for determining whether the service specified by the service code transmitted from the entry point terminal or from the exit point terminal is a service for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process, on the basis of the service code stored in the service code storing means;  
 entry point information storing means for storing the entry point information about the entry point into the billing zone;  
 entry point information receiving means for receiving the entry point information transmitted from the entry point terminal and for, when the service code determining means determines that the service code transmitted along with the entry point information is a service code for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process, storing the entry point information received, in the entry point information storing means;  
 entry point information request receiving means for receiving the entry point information request and the service code transmitted from the exit point terminal;  
 entry point information transmitting means for, when the service code determining means determines that the service code received by the entry point information request receiving means is a service code for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process, retrieving the entry point information stored in the entry point information storing means and transmitting the entry point information to the exit point terminal;  
 billing information receiving means for receiving the billing information transmitted from the exit point terminal; and  
 billing information transmitting means for transmitting the billing information received by the billing information receiving means, through the mobile communication network to the billing server.  
   
     
     
         7 . The billing system according to  claim 6 , wherein the entry point information receiving means stores the entry point information in association with the service code received with the entry point information, in the entry point information storing means, and 
 wherein the entry point information transmitting means of the mobile terminal retrieves the entry point information stored in association with the service code received by the entry point information request receiving means, from the entry point information storing means and transmits the entry point information to the exit point terminal.    
     
     
         8 . The billing system according to  claim 6 , wherein the mobile terminal further comprises: 
 determination result transmitting means for transmitting a result of the determination by the service code determining means on whether the service code is a service code for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process, to the entry point terminal or to the exit point terminal, and    wherein said entry point terminal and said exit point terminal further comprise a gate controlled to open and close on the basis of the result of the determination on the service code transmitted by the determination result transmitting means from the mobile terminal.    
     
     
         9 . A billing system applied to a billing scheme of determining a bill on the basis of an entry into and exit from a billing zone, and comprising a billing server provided on a mobile communication network, a mobile terminal for transmitting billing information through the mobile communication network to the billing server, an entry point terminal located at an entry point into the billing zone and configured to communicate with the mobile terminal by short-range wireless, and an exit point terminal located at an exit point out of the billing zone and configured to communicate with the mobile terminal by short-range wireless, 
 wherein said entry point terminal comprises: 
 service code transmitting means for transmitting a service code specifying a service of a billing object, to the mobile terminal; and  
 bill information transmitting means for, when receiving from the mobile terminal a result of determination that the service code transmitted by the service code transmitting means is one for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform a billing process, transmitting bill information for determining a bill on the basis of the exit point,  
   wherein said exit point terminal comprises: 
 exit point information transmitting means for transmitting exit point information along with a service code specifying a service of a billing object, to the mobile terminal, and  
   wherein said mobile terminal comprises: 
 service code storing means storing a service code of a service for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process;  
 service code determining means for determining whether the service specified by the service code transmitted from the entry point terminal or from the exit point terminal is a service for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process, on the basis of the service code stored in the service code storing means;  
 determination result transmitting means for transmitting a result of the determination by the service code determining means on whether the service code is one for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process, to the entry point terminal or to the exit point terminal;  
 bill information receiving means for receiving the bill information transmitted from the entry point terminal;  
 bill information storing means for storing the bill information received by the bill information receiving means;  
 exit point information receiving means for receiving the exit point information and the service code transmitted from the exit point terminal;  
 bill calculating means for, when the service code determining means determines that the service code received by the exit point information receiving means is a service code for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process, calculating a bill on the basis of the bill information stored in the bill information storing means and the exit point information received by the exit point information receiving means; and  
 billing information transmitting means for transmitting billing information including the bill calculated by the bill calculating means, through the mobile communication network to the billing server.  
   
     
     
         10 . The billing system according to  claim 9 , wherein the entry point terminal and the exit point terminal further comprise a gate controlled to open and close on the basis of the result of the determination on the service code transmitted by the determination result transmitting means from the mobile terminal.  
     
     
         11 . A billing method of performing billing by a billing server provided on a mobile communication network, a billing information transmitting terminal for transmitting billing information to a mobile terminal, and a mobile terminal for receiving the billing information transmitted from the billing information transmitting terminal and for transmitting the received billing information to the billing server, said billing method comprising: 
 a first billing information transmitting step of transmitting billing information including a service code specifying a service of a billing object, from the billing information transmitting terminal to the mobile terminal by short-range wireless;    a service code determining step of determining whether the service specified by the service code in the billing information transmitted in the first billing information transmitting step is a service for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform a billing process, with reference to service code storing means preliminarily storing a service code for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process; and    a second billing information transmitting step of, when it is determined in the service code determining step that the service code transmitted in the first billing information transmitting step is a service code for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process, transmitting the billing information from the mobile terminal through the mobile communication network to the billing server.    
     
     
         12 . The billing method according to  claim 11 , wherein said billing information includes information on a bill.  
     
     
         13 . The billing method according to  claim 11 , further comprising a billing information request transmitting step of transmitting a billing information request to request the billing information, from the mobile terminal to the billing information transmitting terminal by short-range wireless, 
 wherein, when the billing information request is transmitted in the billing information request transmitting step, a transition is made into the first billing information transmitting step.    
     
     
         14 . The billing method according to  claim 13 , further comprising a billing point notification information transmitting step of transmitting billing point notification information indicating a billing point where the billing information transmitting terminal is located, from the billing information transmitting terminal to an interior of a wireless-communicable area, 
 wherein, when the mobile terminal receives the billing point notification information transmitted in the billing point notification information transmitting step, a transition is made into the billing information request transmitting step.    
     
     
         15 . A billing method applied to a billing scheme of determining a bill on the basis of entry into and exit from a billing zone, and adapted to perform billing by a billing server provided on a mobile communication network, a mobile terminal for transmitting billing information through the mobile communication network to the billing server, an entry point terminal located at an entry point into the billing zone and configured to communicate with the mobile terminal by short-range wireless, and an exit point terminal located at an exit point out of the billing zone and configured to communicate with the mobile terminal by short-range wireless, said billing method comprising: 
 a first entry point information transmitting step of transmitting entry point information about the entry point along with a service code specifying a service of a billing object, from the entry point terminal to the mobile terminal;    a first service code determining step of determining whether the service specified by the service code transmitted in the first entry point information transmitting step is a service for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform a billing process, with reference to service code storing means preliminarily storing a service code for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process;    an entry point information storing step of, when it is determined in the first service code determining step that the service code transmitted in the first entry point information transmitting step is a service code for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the process, storing the entry point information transmitted to the mobile terminal in the first entry point information transmitting step, in entry point information storing means;    an entry point information request transmitting step of transmitting an entry point information request to request entry point information, along with a service code specifying a service of a billing object from the exit point terminal to the mobile terminal;    a second service code determining step of determining whether the service specified by the service code transmitted in the entry point information request transmitting step is a service code for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process, with reference to the service code storing means preliminarily storing the service code for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process;    a second entry point information transmitting step of, when it is determined in the second service code determining step that the service code transmitted in the entry point information request transmitting step is a service code for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the process, retrieving the entry point information stored in the entry point information storing means and transmitting the entry point information from the mobile terminal to the exit point terminal;    a bill determining step of letting the exit point terminal determine a bill on the basis of the entry point information transmitted in the entry point information transmitting step;    a first billing information transmitting step of transmitting billing information including the bill determined in the bill determining step, from the exit point terminal to the mobile terminal; and    a second billing information transmitting step of transmitting the billing information transmitted in the first billing information transmitting step, from the mobile terminal through the mobile communication network to the billing server.    
     
     
         16 . The billing method according to  claim 15 , wherein said entry point information storing step is to store the entry point information in association with the service code received in the first entry point information transmitting step, in the entry point information storing means, and 
 wherein said second entry point information transmitting step is to retrieve the entry point information stored in association with the service code received in the entry point information request transmitting step, from the entry point information storing means and transmit the entry point information to the exit point terminal.    
     
     
         17 . The billing method according to  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a first determination result transmitting step of transmitting a result of the determination in the first service code determining step from the mobile terminal to the entry point terminal;    an entry gate opening and closing step of opening and closing a gate provided at the entry point terminal, on the basis of the result of the determination transmitted in the first determination result transmitting step;    a second determination result transmitting step of transmitting a result of the determination in the second service code determining step from the mobile terminal to the exit point terminal; and    an exit gate opening and closing step of opening and closing a gate provided at the exit point terminal, on the basis of the result of the determination transmitted in the second determination result transmitting step.    
     
     
         18 . A billing method applied to a billing scheme of determining a bill on the basis of entry into and exit from a billing zone, and adapted to perform billing by a billing server provided on a mobile communication network, a mobile terminal for transmitting billing information through the mobile communication network to the billing server, an entry point terminal located at an entry point into the billing zone and configured to communicate with the mobile terminal by short-range wireless, and an exit point terminal located at an exit point out of the billing zone and configured to communicate with the mobile terminal by short-range wireless, said billing method comprising: 
 a service code transmitting step of transmitting s service code specifying a service of a billing object, from the entry point terminal to the mobile terminal;    a first service code determining step of determining whether the service specified by the service code transmitted in the service code transmitting step is a service for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform a billing process, with reference to service code storing means preliminarily storing a service code for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process;    a first determination result transmitting step of transmitting a result of the determination on the service code made in the first service code determining step, from the mobile terminal to the entry point terminal;    a bill information transmitting step of, when a result of the determination that the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process is transmitted in the first determination result transmitting step, transmitting bill information for determining a bill on the basis of the exit point, from the entry point terminal to the mobile terminal;    a bill information storing step of storing the bill information transmitted from the entry point terminal in the bill information transmitting step, in bill information storing means;    an exit point information transmitting step of transmitting exit point information along with a service code specifying a service of a billing object, from the exit point terminal to the mobile terminal;    a second service code determining step of determining whether the service specified by the service code transmitted in the exit point information transmitting step is a service code for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process, with reference to the service code storing means preliminarily storing the service code for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the billing process;    a bill calculating step of, when it is determined in the second service code determining step that the service code transmitted in the exit point information transmitting step is a service code for which the mobile terminal is allowed to perform the process, calculating a bill on the basis of the bill information stored in the bill information storing means and the exit point information transmitted in the exit point information transmitting step; and    a billing information transmitting step of transmitting billing information including the bill calculated in the bill calculating step, through the mobile communication network to the billing server.    
     
     
         19 . The billing method according to  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 an entry gate opening and closing step of opening and closing a gate provided at the entry point terminal, on the basis of the result of the determination transmitted in the first determination result transmitting step;    a second determination result transmitting step of transmitting a result of the determination in the second service code determining step from the mobile terminal to the exit point terminal; and    an exit gate opening and closing step of opening and closing a gate provided at the exit point terminal, on the basis of the result of the determination transmitted in the second determination result transmitting step.