Service system and service method employing portable terminal

Abstract

This service system includes a portable terminal for acquiring a game character to be distributed, and then, executing a game in collaboration with a processor main body, an external station for making communication with the portable terminal via a short distance wireless equipment, and a service server for distributing the game character to the external station. The portable terminal transmits to the external station the contents of a history information storage section for storing history information concerning a game and a game character depending on a user that possesses the portable terminal. The external station receives the history information transmitted from the portable terminal, and then transmits to the portable terminal the game character information transmitted by referring to the history.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A service system comprising: 
 a portable terminal device configured to execute predetermined processing solely or in collaboration with an external device,    portable terminal device including: 
 a communication section configured to make communication with an external station;  
 a storage section configured to store personal history information of a user that possesses the portable terminal device; and  
 an information management section configured to read the personal history information stored in said storage section, transmit the personal history information to said external station, and receive predetermined service information;  
 said external station including: 
 a communication section configured to, when said portable terminal device is close, make communication with the portable terminal device; and  
 a distribution control section configured to receive the personal history information transmitted from said portable terminal device via said communication section, and distribute predetermined service information to said portable terminal device according to the received history information.  
 
   
     
     
         2 . A service system comprising: 
 a portable terminal device configured to execute a game solely or in collaboration with a game machine mainframe,    said portable terminal device including: 
 a storage section configured to store history information concerning a game and a game character depending on a user that possesses the portable terminal device;  
 a communication section configured to make communication with an external station; and  
 an information management section configured to read the history information concerning a game and a game character stored in said storage section, transmit the history information to said external station, and receive information on said game character from said external device;  
 said external station including: 
 a communication section configured to, when said portable terminal device is close, make communication with the portable terminal device; and  
 a distribution control section configured to receive history information concerning a game and a game character transmitted from said portable terminal device via said communication section, and distribute information on said game character to said portable terminal device according to the received history information.  
 
   
     
     
         3 . A service system comprising: 
 a portable terminal device configured to acquire coupon device to be distributed,    said portable terminal device including: 
 a storage section configured to store history information concerning coupon information acquisition and application for coupon depending on a user that possesses the portable terminal device;  
 a communication section configured to make communication with an external station; and  
 an information management section configured to read the history information concerning coupon acquisition and application for coupon stored in said storage section, transmit the history information to said external station, and receive coupon information from said external station;  
 the external station including: 
 a communication section configured to, when said portable terminal device is close, make communication with the portable terminal device; and  
 a distribution control section configured to receive the history information concerning coupon acquisition and application for coupon transmitted from said portable terminal device via said communication section, and distribute said coupon information to said portable terminal device according to the received history information.  
 
   
     
     
         4 . A service system comprising: 
 a broadcasting station configured to broadcast a broadcasting wave with service information; and    a portable terminal device configured to acquire predetermined service information to be distributed, and then, execute predetermined processing solely or in collaboration with an external device,    said portable terminal device including: 
 a broadcasting receiving section configured to receive the broadcasting wave from said broadcasting station;  
 a storage section configured to store service information included in said received broadcasting wave, and store history information depending on a user;  
 a communication section configured to make communication with an external station;  
 an information management section configured to read the history information depending on a user that was stored in said storage section, transmit the history information to said external station, and receive coupon information from said external station;  
 the external station including: 
 a communication section configured to, when said portable terminal device is close, make communication with the portable terminal device; and  
 a distribution control section configured to receive the history information transmitted from said portable terminal device via said communication section, and distribute said coupon information to said portable terminal device according to the received history information.  
 
   
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said portable terminal device or external device includes a section configured to, when a predetermined condition is met, instruct a user to acquire said service information, said game character information, or coupon information.  
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said portable terminal device or game machine mainframe includes a section configured to, when a predetermined condition is met, instruct a user to acquire said service information, said game character information, or coupon information.  
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein said portable terminal device includes a section configured to, when a predetermined condition is met, instruct user to acquire said service information, said game character information, or coupon information.  
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein said portable terminal device or external device includes a section configured to, when a predetermined condition is met, instruct a user to acquire said service information, said game character information, or coupon information.  
     
     
         9 . The service system according to  claim 3 , wherein said portable terminal device or external device includes a section configured to indicate a user said external station at which said portable terminal device acquires said service information, said game character information, or said coupon information.  
     
     
         10 . The service system according to  claim 2 , wherein said portable terminal device or game machine mainframe includes a section configured to indicate a user said external station at which said portable terminal device acquires said service information, said game character information, or said coupon information.  
     
     
         11 . The service system according to  claim 3 , wherein said portable terminal device includes a section configured to indicate a user said external station at which said portable terminal device acquires said service information, said game character information, or said coupon information.  
     
     
         12 . The service system according to  claim 4 , wherein said portable terminal device or external device includes a section configured to indicate a user said external station at which said portable terminal device acquires said service information, said game character information, or said coupon information.  
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said external station includes a section configured to transmit to said portable terminal device, guidance information for indicating another external station at which said portable terminal acquires said service information, said game character information, or said coupon information.  
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said external station includes a section configured to transmit to said portable terminal device, guidance information for indicating another external station at which said portable terminal acquires said service information, said game character information, or said coupon information.  
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein said external station includes a section configured to transmit to said portable terminal device, guidance information for indicating another external station at which said portable terminal can acquire said service information, said game character information, or said coupon information.  
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a service server configured to distribute said service information to said external station, the service server adaptively distributing said service information based on at least one of connection information on a portable terminal device accessed from said external station to the external station and history information transmitted from the portable terminal device to the external station.  
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said external station includes a section configured to transmit to said portable terminal device, guidance information for indicating another external station at which said portable terminal acquires said service information, said game character information, or said coupon information.  
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein said external station includes a section configured to transmit to said portable terminal device, guidance information for indicating another external station at which said portable terminal acquires said service information, said game character information, or said coupon information.  
     
     
         19 . A portable terminal device comprising: 
 a history information memory configured to store personal history information of a user that possesses said portable terminal device;    a transmitter configured to transmit the personal history information stored in said history information memory to the outside;    a receiver configured to receive predetermined service information transmitted from the outside in response to the transmission of said personal history information to the outside; and    a section configured to perform predetermined processing solely or in collaboration with an external device based on said received predetermined service information.    
     
     
         20 . A service information distributing apparatus comprising: 
 a receiver configured to receive personal history information transmitted from a portable terminal device for acquiring predetermined service information to be distributed, and then, execute predetermined processing solely or in collaboration with an external device;    a transmitter configured to transmit said service information to said portable terminal device according to the history information received by said receiver.    
     
     
         21 . A service method in a service system comprising: a portable terminal device for acquiring predetermined service information to be distributed, and then executing predetermined processing solely or in collaboration with an external device; and an external station for, when the portable terminal device is close, making communication with the portable terminal device, said service method comprising the steps of: 
 storing personal history information of a user that possesses said portable terminal device by means of said portable terminal device;    transmitting said stored personal history information to said external station by means of said portable terminal device;    receiving the personal history information transmitted from said portable terminal device by means of said external station; and    transmitting and distributing said service information to said portable terminal device according to said history information by means of said external station.    
     
     
         22 . A service method in a service system comprising: a portable terminal device for acquiring game character information to be distributed, and then executing a game solely or in collaboration with a game machine mainframe; and an external station for, when the portable terminal is close, making communication with the portable terminal, said service method comprising the steps of: 
 storing history information depending on a user that possesses said portable terminal device by means of said portable terminal device;    transmitting said stored history information to said external station by means of said portable terminal;    receiving the history information transmitted from said portable terminal device by means of said external station; and    transmitting and distributing said service information to said portable terminal device according to said history information by means of said external station.    
     
     
         23 . A service method in a service system comprising: a portable terminal device for acquiring coupon information to be distributed; and an external station for, when the portable terminal device is close, making communication with the portable terminal, said service method comprising the steps of: 
 storing history information concerning coupon information acquisition and application for coupon depending on a user that possesses the portable terminal device, by means of said portable terminal device;    transmitting said stored history information to said external station, by means of said portable terminal; and    transmitting and distributing coupon information to said portable terminal by means of said external station as a result of referring to said history information.    
     
     
         24 . A service method in a service system comprising: a portable terminal device for acquiring predetermined service information to be distributed, and then executing predetermined processing solely or in collaboration with said external device; an external station for, when the portable terminal device is close, making communication with the portable terminal device; and a broadcasting station for broadcasting said service information and distributing the information to said portable terminal device, said service method comprising the steps of: 
 storing history information depending on a user that possesses the portable terminal device by means of said portable terminal device;    transmitting said stored history information to said external station by means of said portable terminal device;    receiving the history information transmitted from said portable terminal device by means of said external station; and    executing predetermined service according to said received history information.