Communication system and information processing method

Abstract

A network transaction server apparatus manages virtual world privilege information that is issued for a transaction that a user has conducted in a virtual world by manipulating a personal computer. A settlement server apparatus manages real world privilege information that is issued for a transaction that the user has conducted in a real world. In response to a request from the personal computer, the settlement server apparatus converts virtual world privilege information that is managed by the network transaction server apparatus into real world privilege information using a prescribed conversion factor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A management apparatus comprising:
 a processing unit configured to convert a first type of privilege information generated in accordance with a first transaction type that is conducted via a network into a second type of privilege information, the second type of privilege information being associated with a second transaction type that is conducted in a real world environment.   
     
     
         2 . The management apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second transaction type is a transaction based on a non-contact communication between an information storage device and an other device in the real world environment. 
     
     
         3 . The management apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the information storage device and the other device perform an authentication processing via the non-contact communication. 
     
     
         4 . The management apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the other device reads identification information from the information storage device via the non-contact communication, wherein the second type of privilege information is managed in relation to the identification information. 
     
     
         5 . The management apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the information storage device is an IC card. 
     
     
         6 . The management apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the other device is an IC card reader/writer. 
     
     
         7 . The management apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first privilege information and the second privilege information is an addable point. 
     
     
         8 . The management apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first privilege information and the second privilege information is an amount of money corresponding to an upper limit service that a user can receive. 
     
     
         9 . The management apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit converts the first type of privilege information into the second type of privilege information in response to a request from a user. 
     
     
         10 . The management apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first type of privilege information is managed in relation to second identification information. 
     
     
         11 . A management apparatus comprising:
 a processing unit configured to convert a first type of privilege information generated in accordance with a first transaction type that is conducted via a network into a second type of privilege information, the second type of privilege information being associated with a second transaction type based on a communication between an information storage device and an other device in a non-contact manner.   
     
     
         12 . The management apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the second transaction type is a transaction based on a non-contact communication between the information storage device and the other device in a real world environment. 
     
     
         13 . The management apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the information storage device and the other device perform an authentication processing via the non-contact communication. 
     
     
         14 . The management apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the other device reads identification information from the information storage device via the non-contact communication, wherein the second type of privilege information is managed in relation to the identification information. 
     
     
         15 . The management apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the information storage device is an IC card. 
     
     
         16 . The management apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the other device is an IC card reader/writer. 
     
     
         17 . The management apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first privilege information and the second privilege information is an addable point. 
     
     
         18 . The management apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first privilege information and the second privilege information is an amount of money corresponding to an upper limit service that a user can receive. 
     
     
         19 . The management apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the processing unit converts the first type of privilege information into the second type of privilege information in response to a request from a user. 
     
     
         20 . The management apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the first type of privilege information is managed in relation to second identification information. 
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing program code executable by a computer to perform operations comprising:
 converting a first type of privilege information generated in accordance with a first transaction type that is conducted via a network into a second type of privilege information, the second type of privilege information being associated with a second transaction type that is conducted in a real world environment.   
     
     
         22 . An information processing method comprising:
 converting a first type of privilege information generated in accordance with a first transaction type that is conducted via a network into a second type of privilege information, the second type of privilege information being associated with a second transaction type based on a communication between an information storage device and an other device in a non-contact manner.   
     
     
         23 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing program code executable by a computer to perform operations comprising:
 converting a first type of privilege information generated in accordance with a first transaction type that is conducted via a network into a second type of privilege information, the second type of privilege information being associated with a second transaction type based on a communication between an information storage device and an other device in a non-contact manner.