HK1106840B

HK1106840B - Management system

Info

Publication number: HK1106840B
Application number: HK08100531.8A
Authority: HK
Inventors: Hisashi Nakagawa; Takehiko Anegawa; Yoshihiro Yano; Takayuki Chikada
Original assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-11-02
Filing date: 2005-11-01
Publication date: 2013-06-28

Description

This invention relates to a management system and method which uses an information storage medium to manage use of a management object in a facility.

As a security technique for preventing illegal use of a computer by a third person having no use right, it is known to use an information storage medium such as an IC card. As an example, when a computer is used, ID information is read from an information storage medium such as an IC card on which the ID information for identity certification is stored, and the identity certification is executed by a collation process on the basis of the read ID information. When the identity certification is approved, the computer can be used as described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications Nos. 2003-30155 and 2004-70542 .

In this security technique, based on the ID information stored on the information storage medium such as the IC card at the time of using of the computer, the certification process of checking the person's identity is executed. However, when the information storage medium is forged, the third person can illegally steal into the room in which the electronics such as the computer are provided via a position such as a window and a backdoor, other than an official entrance with managed entry. Then, he or she can illegally use the computer by using the forged information storage media. In this case, the third person can dangerously do illegal action, e.g., stealing confidential data stored in the computer, breaking storage data and making the falsification of the storage data.

Namely, when the identity certification is approved, the identified person can normally use the electronics such as the computer. Since there are recently a lot of forged card problems, a new technique for enhancing the security of the electronics becomes necessary.

Recently, for the purpose of the security management, there is known such a system that the third person other than the person with entry right cannot enter the room by executing the identity certification based on the ID information stored on the ID card at the time of entering of the room. However, when the person with the entry right opens the door, the third person, pretending to be the person with the entry right, can dangerously enter the room and use the forged information storage medium to illegally use the computer.

Namely, even when the entrance management is executed from the entrance of the room provided with the electronics such as the computer, or even when the electronics such as the computer provided in the room execute the collation process of the ID information by the information storage medium such as the IC card in order to systematically restrict the user, there is still such a danger that the third person skillfully sneaks through the security technique and illegally uses the electronics to illegally operate and steal the data and make the falsification of the data.

In addition, a personal computer (PC) provided in a company is normally connected to a network such as the Internet, and the PC user can freely access the network. Hence, when the user uses the PC for the purpose of simple paperwork and word-processing process, he or she does not have to access the network. However, in this case, the PC user can freely access the network and browse the information which is not related to his or her original work to execute processing during working. Therefore, it is problematic that the access management to the network cannot be sufficiently executed.

US-B-6747564 describes a security system wherein, when a staff enters a building, a smart card carried by the staff is verified, and staff information inclusive of a staff number and fingerprint information is read from the smart card and is stored temporarily in a temporary storage file. When the staff logs on to a terminal, the fingerprint of the staff is read by a fingerprint input device (LS) and verified with the fingerprint information of the temporary storage file for verification. When the staff leaves the building, the staff number is read from the smart card the staff carries, and the corresponding staff information is erased from the temporary storage file. Security of a security object inside a security zone can be improved.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2002-197500 discloses the use of an IC card, on which entrance history and log-on history are recorded in addition to a registration number and fingerprint information. An IC card reader/writer authenticates the person, according to the registration number and fingerprint information of the IC card, allows a person to enter a security room, when the person is authenticated to be the person in question, and records the entrance information on the IC card. When logging on, an IC card reader/writer allows log-on to an information terminal, when the entrance information is recorded on the IC card, records the log-on information on the IC card when log-on is made, and eliminates the log-on information, when log-off is made. When the person leaves the room, the IC card reader allows a person to leave the room, when the IC card does not have the log-on information, and deletes the entrance information.

It is an object of this invention to provide a management system for preventing a management object, such as electronics and equipment provided in facilities with managed entry, from being illegally used by a third person having no proper use right without conforming to predetermined proper process, route or a using place of the management object.

According to the invention there is provided a management system which uses an information storage medium of a user to manage use of a management object provided in a facility, comprising: an entrance management apparatus, provided in a vicinity of an entrance of the facility, which stores use permission information for permitting the use of the management object onto the information storage medium when the user enters the facility; a use management apparatus, provided in each management object, which controls availability or unavailability of the management object based on the use permission information stored on the information storage medium, and which stores, on the information storage medium, use information showing that the management object is used; and a leaving management apparatus, provided in a vicinity of an exit of the facility, which manages leaving of the user based on the use information stored on the information storage medium when the user leaves the facility, wherein the facility includes plural independent spaces, and the entrance management apparatus and the leaving management apparatus are provided in each of the plural spaces, wherein the entrance management apparatus stores use permission information corresponding to the space to be entered on the information storage medium when the user enters the space corresponding to the entrance management apparatus, wherein the leaving management apparatus rewrites the use permission information stored on the information storage medium to the use permission information corresponding to a space to be left to, out of the space to be left when the user leaves the space corresponding to the leaving management apparatus, wherein the management object and the use management apparatus corresponding to the management object are provided in the space, and wherein the use management apparatus stores room entrance information identifying the space in which the corresponding management object is provided, and wherein the use management apparatus includes a control unit which makes the management object available only when the use permission information corresponding to the space to be entered on the information storage medium coincides with the room entrance information stored by the use management apparatus.

The above management system manages the use of the electronics and equipment provided in the facility and prevents the illegal use. The facility is a building, a floor thereof or a room thereof, for example. In addition, the management object is electronics such as a PC and a printer, a time recorder having an electronics control function, equipments such as a cabinet and a locker, and the room inside the building. In this system, the user has the information storage medium and reads and writes necessary information by using the information storage medium. Thereby, the use of the management object is managed. As the information storage medium, a medium capable of reading and writing the information, e.g., the IC card, is used.

The entrance management apparatus is provided in the vicinity of the entrance of the facility, and the leaving management apparatus is provided in the vicinity of the exit thereof. The exit may be same as the entrance. The entrance management apparatus stores the use permission information on the information storage medium of the user when the user enters the facilities. The use permission information shows the permission of the use of the management object. For example, various kinds of information, such as room entrance information for showing the entering of the user, the use information showing the use of the specific apparatus and equipment by the user, and information showing the room and space entered by the user, can be used as the use permission information.

In the facility, one or plural management object(s) is(are) provided, and the use management apparatus for managing of the use is provided in each management object. When a certain management object is used, the user makes the use management apparatus read the use permission information from the information storage medium. The use management apparatus controls the availability or unavailability of the management object, based on the use permission information. The control of the availability and unavailability includes releasing of a lock function for using them and presenting the information necessary for the use when the management object is the electronics and equipment. In addition, when the user uses the management object, the use management apparatus stores, on the information storage medium, the use information showing that he or she uses it.

The facility includes independent spaces such as plural rooms, and the use permission information corresponding to the space is assigned for the management object provided in each space. Whenever the user moves, the use permission information corresponding to the space after the movement is stored on the information storage medium. Thereby, even if the user frequently enters and leaves many spaces, the use of each management object can be securely managed.

The leaving management apparatus provided in the vicinity of the exit of the facility manages the leaving of the user, based on the use information stored on the information storage medium. The management of the leaving includes storing of the existence or nonexistence of the leaving, confirming and storing of the use information of the management object at the time of leaving and making the leaving of the user possible or limited.

In this manner, by using the information storage medium of the user, the use of the management object and entering and leaving the facility are managed. Thereby, it can be prevented that the user without use right and the user who does not follow the appropriate procedure uses the management object.

In an embodiment, identification information of the user may be stored on the information storage medium, and the entrance management apparatus may include: a unit which stores collation identification information, showing a user permitted to enter the facility; a unit which reads the identification information of the user from the information storage medium; and an entrance control unit which collates the identification information read from the information storage medium with the collation identification information, and enables the user to enter the facilities when they coincide.

In this manner, the identification information of the user is pre-stored on the information storage medium. The entrance management apparatus controls whether or not the user can enter the facility, based on the identification information of the user. Thus, only the user with the appropriate right can be permitted to enter the facility.

In another embodiment, the leaving management apparatus may include a storage unit which associates the use information stored on the information storage medium with the identification information of the user to store it. Thereby, use history information of the management object in the facility can be stored and managed for each user.

In still another embodiment, the leaving management apparatus may include an erasing unit which erases the use permission information and the use information stored on the information storage medium. The use management apparatus may erase the use information stored on the information storage medium after the user uses the management object. Thereby, it can be prevented that the use permission information and the use information is left on the information storage medium and they are illegally used.

In still another embodiment, the use management apparatus may include a control unit which makes the management object unavailable when it is determined that the use permission information stored on the information storage medium does not store information showing availability. Thereby, when the use is not permitted, the use of the management object is prohibited.

Preferably, the management system may include a plurality of use management apparatuses, and at least one of the use management apparatuses may control the availability or unavailability of the management object managed by said at least one , by prescribing the use information, stored on the information storage medium by another of the use management apparatuses, as the use permission information.

In this manner, when the user simultaneously or continuously uses the plural management objects associated with each other, the use of the other management object can be permitted under condition of the use of the one management object. For example, in such a case that there are a PC and a printer serving as the management objects in the facilities, only when the use information showing that the PC is used is stored on the information storage medium, the PC can be controlled to be used.

In a preferred example of the above control system, the entrance management apparatus may include a time recorder provided in the facility, and the time recorder may store, on the information storage medium, specifying information of the time recorder as the use permission information, in addition to date and time information. In this example, by using the time recorder normally used in a company, the management of the entering and leaving and the use management of the electronics can be simultaneously executed.

In another preferred example of the above management system, the entrance management apparatus may include a material storage apparatus provided inside or outside the facility, and may store the use permission information on the information storage medium only when a predetermined material is stored in the material storage apparatus. In this example, when the PC serving as the management object exists in the facility, the material storage apparatus such as a cabinet and a locker is used in order to take out papers necessary for the work and leave a mobile phone being a prohibited item. Only when the material storage apparatus is appropriately used, the management object such as the PC can be structurally used.

In still another embodiment, the entrance management apparatus may store, on the information storage medium, the use permission information of only a predetermined specific management object of the plural management objects provided in the facility. In a similar manner, user identification information may be stored on the information storage medium, and the entrance management apparatus may include: a storage unit which stores information of the management object available for the user in correspondence with the use identification information, and a unit which stores, on the information storage medium, the use permission information of the management object corresponding to the use identification information stored on the information storage medium. Thereby, it is prohibited that the user uses the items other than the items predetermined in the plural management objects.

In still another embodiment, the leaving management apparatus may include a unit which prohibits the user from leaving the facility when the use information is not stored on the information storage medium. Thereby, unless the user uses the management object in accordance with the appropriate procedure and rule, he or she cannot leave the facility.

In still another example, the leaving management apparatus may include a unit which prohibits the user from leaving the facility when the use information of all the management objects that the user can use is not stored on the information storage medium. In this manner, unless the user executes all the predetermined work and process, he or she cannot leave the facility. This system is effective for the purpose of prevention of skipping of items in a health check including items different among the users, for example.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a management method which manages use of a management object provided in a facility by using an information storage medium of a user, comprising: an entrance management step which stores use permission information for permitting use of the management object on the information storage medium by an entrance management apparatus provided in a vicinity of an entrance of the facility when the user enters the facility; a use management step which controls availability or unavailability of the management object by a use management apparatus provided in each management object based on the use permission information stored on the information storage medium, and stores, on the information storage medium, use information showing that the management object is used; and a leaving management step which determines whether or not the user can leave the facility by a leaving management apparatus provided in a vicinity of an exit of the facility, based on the use information stored on the information storage medium, when the user leaves the facility, wherein the facility includes plural independent spaces, wherein the entrance management apparatus and the leaving management apparatus are provided in each of the plural spaces, wherein the entrance management step stores use permission information corresponding to the space to be entered on the information storage medium when the user enters the space corresponding to the entrance management apparatus, wherein the leaving management step rewrites the use permission information stored on the information storage medium to the use permission information corresponding to a space to be left to, out of the space to be left, when the user leaves the space corresponding to the leaving management apparatus, wherein the management object and the use management apparatus corresponding to the management object are provided in the space, and wherein the use management apparatus stores room entrance information identifying the space in which the corresponding management object is provided, and making the management object available only when the use permission information corresponding to the space to be entered on the information storage medium coincides with the room entrance information stored by the use management apparatus.

The present invention will hereinafter be described, by reference to the accompanying drawings, not all of which illustrate embodiments of the invention. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 schematically shows a use management system of electronics which is not an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a non-contact IC card;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of an IC tag integrated with the non-contact IC card;
FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the use management system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the use management system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a process by the use management system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 shows a further use management system of the electronics which is not an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the use management system of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the process by the use management system of FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 shows a further use management system of the electronics which is not an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of the use management system of FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the process by the use management system of FIG. 11;
FIG. 14 shows schematically a use management system of an embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 15A and 15B are flow charts showing the process by the use management system of the embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 16 shows schematically a use management system which is not an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram of a time recorder shown in FIG. 16; and
FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing the process by the use management system of FIG. 16.

In the drawings the following references are used:

1 PC
3 Non-contact IC card
4 Room
6 Room entrance management apparatus
9 IC card reader/writer
10 Room leaving management apparatus
34,143 Printers
160 Time recorder
170,180 Cabinets

The present invention is to manage the use of the management object provided in a facility by using the information storage medium. The management object can be managed, even when it is not connected to a communication network. Therefore, when the management object is taken out of the facility and the room, it is prohibited that the illegal third person uses it. It can be limited that even the legal owner of the information storage medium uses the management object at a place including no security surroundings. Thus, the optimum use management can be realized.

For clarity, a number of management systems which are not embodiments of the invention are initially described.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the use management system of the electronics which is not an embodiment of the invention. The facilities include a room, a building, a floor in the building, a specific place, a specific area, a specific field and a specific region, for example. We shall now describe, as an example, a system in which it is a room including the electronics.

A user 2 having a use right of a personal computer (PC) 1 being electronics, provided in a room 4, has a non-contact IC card 3 being an information storage medium. A room entrance management apparatus 6 is provided in the vicinity of an entrance 5a of the room 4. Opening/closing state of an automatic door 7 provided at the entrance 5a is controlled by the room entrance management apparatus 6.

The room entrance management apparatus 6, capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from the non-contact IC card 3 by radio, can read the information stored on the non-contact IC card 3 and write the information to the non-contact IC card 3. In addition, an IC card reader/writer 9, provided in the PC 1, can read the information stored on the non-contact IC card 3 and write the information to the non-contact IC card 3.

Further, a room leaving management apparatus 10 is provided in the vicinity of an exit 5b of the room 4, which controls the opening/closing state of the automatic door 7. In addition, the room leaving management apparatus 10, capable of transmitting and receiving the information to and from the non-contact IC card 3 by the radio, can read the information stored on the non-contact IC card 3 and write the information onto the non-contact IC card 3.

In the room 4, the entrance 5a and the exit 5b may be separately provided, and an entrance/exit serving as the entrance 5a and the exit 5b may be provided. FIG. 1 shows such a case that the entrance/exit is provided. Moreover, the room entrance management apparatus 6 and the room leaving management apparatus 10 may be integrated to be provided on a part of a wall separating an outside and an inside of the room.

The non-contact IC card 3 being the information storage medium has such a configuration that a non-contact IC tag 8 is integrated inside of card base materials 3a and 3b, as shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, for example. The non-contact IC tag 8 is also referred to as "non-contact data carrier" or "RFID", and a transmitting/receiving unit 88 including a coil pattern is formed on a base material 81 made of plastic, as shown in FIG. 4. The non-contact IC tag 8 forms a resonant circuit with using a coil and a capacitative element to receive and transmit an acoustic wave of a constant frequency. Additionally, as another system, power transmission and data transmission may be performed by electromagnetic induction of a carrier wave from the reader/writer. Generally, frequency bands of 135kHz (medium wave), 13.56MHz and 2.45GHz (micro wave) are used.

In the case of the shown example, the transmitting/receiving unit 88 including the coil pattern forms a jumping circuit on the rear side of the base material 81 by a continuity member 84, and is connected to a bump on the rear side of an IC chip 82 by a coil connection terminal 88C. The IC chip 82 includes a control unit 89 serving as a CPU and a storage unit 90 serving as a memory.

In the shown example, the capacitative element is integrated in the IC chip 82. The non-contact IC tag 8 is formed by forming the coil pattern by the photo etching or the etching after resist print of metallic foil such as aluminum foil laminated on a resin base material, mounting the IC chip 82, and providing a protective coating. The size can be a size equal to or smaller than 30mmx30mm.

The resin base material 81 used for the non-contact IC tag 8 can be made of various kinds of materials such as PET, polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene and nylon. Moreover, the resin base material 81 may be made of paper. Though thickness thereof can be 15-300 f Êm, 20-100 f Êm is preferred in consideration of the strength, the processing work property and the cost. Though copper foil, aluminum foil and iron foil can be used as the metallic foil, the aluminum foil is preferred in consideration of the cost and the processing property, and the thickness about 6-50 f Êm is preferred.

In reading and writing the information stored on the non-contact IC tag 8, the IC card reader/writer 9 sends a resonating calling signal to the non-contact IC tag 8, and receives a response signal from the non-contact IC tag 8 at the distance from several to several tens centimeter. Thereby, the information stored in the memory being the storage unit of the IC chip 82 of the non-contact IC tag 8 can be read, and the information can be written. In addition, the ID information for the identity certification is pre-registered in the memory serving as the storage unit of the IC chip 82.

Next, a system configuration will be explained in detail, with reference to the functional block diagram shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 shows the system configuration including the non-contact IC card 3, the room entrance management apparatus 6, the IC card reader/writer 9 and the PC 1.

The room entrance management apparatus 6 provided in the vicinity of the entrance 5 includes a transmitting/receiving unit 11, a collation unit 12, a door opening/closing unit 13, a room entrance information writing unit 14, a storage unit 15 and a control unit 16. The transmitting/receiving unit 11 transmits and receives the information to and from the transmitting/receiving unit 88 of the non-contact IC card 3 by the radio transmission.

The collation unit 12 collates ID information received from the non-contact IC card 3 and collation ID information pre-stored in the storage unit 15. When they coincide with each other by the collation process of the collation unit 12, the door opening/closing unit 13 opens the automatic door 7. Instead of the ID information, various kinds of information associated with the ID information, other than the ID information, may be stored in the storage unit 15 as the collation information.

When the ID information coincide with each other in the collation process by the collation unit 12, the room entrance information writing unit 14 controls the control unit 16 and transmits the room entrance information to the non-contact IC card 3 from the transmitting/receiving unit 11 of the room entrance management apparatus 6 to write the room entrance information in the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3.

As the room entrance information written in the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3 from the room entrance management apparatus 6, various kinds of information can be used. For example, as the room entrance information, predetermined specific information obtained by combining characters and numbers may be used. In this case, various kinds of information, such as a room number, a random number, a predetermined number and a predetermined character string, can be prescribed as the room entrance information.

At the time of entering the room, as room entrance information, a flag may be written into a room entrance flag storage area, which is provided in the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3. Further, entering the room may be determined by erasing the flag prewritten in the entering flag storage area, at the time of entering of the room. When the above-mentioned flag is used, by writing or erasing the flag into or from the room entrance flag storage area, the information stored in the room entrance flag storage area is changed. Thereby, the writing process of the room entrance information is executed.

The PC 1 includes a display unit 17, a room entrance information confirmation and determination unit 18, a PC lock control unit 19, a use information writing unit 20, a storage unit 21, an input unit 22, a control unit 23 and an interface (I/F) 24. By the interface (I/F) 24, the PC 1 is connected to other electronics such as a printer provided in the room via a LAN 25.

The room entrance information confirmation and determination unit 18 controls the control unit 23 and transmits the signal to the non-contact IC card 3 from the IC card reader/writer 9. In this manner, the room entrance information confirmation and determination unit 18 reads the room entrance information stored in the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3 and determines whether or not the room entrance information is the proper room entrance information. When the room entrance information stored on the non-contact IC card 3 is about existence or nonexistence of the flag, by determining whether or not the room entrance information is proper on the basis of the existence or nonexistence of the flag, the room entrance information confirmation and determination unit 18 determines whether or not to make the PC available.

When the room entrance information confirmation and determination unit 18 determines that the room entrance information read from the non-contact IC card 3 is proper, the PC lock control unit 19 releases the lock of the PC 1 to make it available. When the use of the PC 1 ends, the PC lock control unit 19 executes the control so that the PC 1 is in the lock state again, i.e., the PC 1 becomes unusable again.

The use information writing unit 20 writes the use information showing the use of the PC 1 in the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3 via the control unit 23 and the IC card reader/writer 9. As the use information, the predetermined specific information obtained by combining the characters and the numbers can be used. In this case, various kinds of information, such as the management number of the electronics, the random number, the predetermined number and the predetermined character string, can be prescribed as the use information.

At the time of entering of the room, as the use information, the flag can be written into the room entrance flag storage area, which is provided in the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3. In addition, at the time of entering of the room, by erasing the flag prewritten in the room entrance flag storage area, the use of the electronics can be determined, too. In the case of using the above-mentioned flag, by writing and erasing the flag into and from the room entrance flag storage area, the information stored in the room entrance flag storage area is changed. In this manner, writing of the use information is executed.

Next, a description will be given of a relation between the room leaving management apparatus 10 and the non-contact IC card 3, with reference to a functional block diagram of the room leaving management apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 6.

The room leaving management apparatus 10 includes a transmitting/receiving unit 26, a door opening/closing unit 27, a registration unit 28, a storage unit 29, a room entrance information erasing unit 30, a use information erasing unit 31, a control unit 32 and a PC user information database 33.

The transmitting/receiving unit 26 transmits and receives the information to and from the transmitting/receiving unit 88 of the non-contact IC card 3 by the radio transmission. The door opening/closing unit 27 opens the automatic door at the time of receiving the ID information from the non-contact IC card 3. The registration unit 28 associates the ID information received from the non-contact IC card 3 with the use information to register it to the PC user information database 33.

The room entrance information erasing unit 30 erases the room entrance information stored in the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3, and makes the environment return to the state of the room before the entering of the user of the PC 1. The use information erasing unit 31 erases the use information stored in the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3, and makes the environment return to the state of the room before the entering of the user of the PC 1.

In the system described above, the room 4 corresponds to the facility, and the room entrance management apparatus 6 serves as the entrance management apparatus. The room leaving management apparatus 10 serves as the leaving management apparatus, and the room entrance information serves as the use permission information. Further, the PC 1 serves as the management object and the use management apparatus.

As illustrated by the flow chart shown in FIG. 7, when the user of the PC 1 in the room 4 serving as the facilities in which the entrance is managed enters the room 4 from an entrance thereof, he or she puts the non-contact IC card 3 being the information storage medium close to the room entrance management apparatus 6. At this time, the room entrance management apparatus 6 reads the ID information stored in the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3 (step S1). The collation unit 12 of the room entrance management apparatus 6 collates the read ID information with the ID information pre-registered in the storage unit 15 of the room entrance management apparatus 6 as collation management information (step S2).

When the ID information coincide with each other in the collation process, the signal for writing the room entrance information is transmitted to the non-contact IC card 3 from the transmitting/receiving unit 11 by the control of the room entrance information writing unit 14 of the room entrance management apparatus 6, and the room entrance information is written into the storage unit of the non-contact IC card 3 (step S3). Substantially simultaneously, the automatic door 7 is opened by the door opening/closing unit 13, and the user can enter the room 4 (step S4).

When the ID information do not coincide with each other in the collation process of the ID information in step S2, the signal for writing the flag being the room entrance information is never transmitted to the non-contact IC card 3 from the room entrance management apparatus 6. Therefore, the automatic door 7 is kept closed, and the user cannot enter the room 4. Then, the process ends.

The user, entering the room 4 from the entrance, puts the non-contact IC card 3 close to the IC card reader/writer 9 included in the PC 1, and the IC card reader/writer 9 reads the room entrance information from the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3 (step S5) to determine whether or not the flag being the room entrance information is written into the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3 (step S6).

When it is determined that the room entrance information is written into the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3, the PC lock control unit 19 releases the start-up lock of the PC 1 to make the PC 1 available (step S7).

Meanwhile, when it is determined that the room entrance information is not written into the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3, the start-up lock of the PC 1 is never released, and the PC 1 is kept unavailable. Then, the process ends.

When it is determined that the room entrance information is written into the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3 and the start-up lock of the PC 1 is released by the PC lock control unit 19, the use information is transmitted to the non-contact IC card 3 from the IC card reader/writer 9 by the control of the use information writing unit 20 of the PC 1, and the flag being the use information is written into the use flag storage area of the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3 (step S8).

Afterwards, when the user 2 leaves the room from the exit, the room leaving management apparatus 10 reads the ID information and the use information stored in the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3 (step S9). Then, the room leaving management apparatus 10 associates the ID information with the use information to register it in the PC user information database 33 (step S10).

Moreover, the room leaving management apparatus 10 transmits the signal to the non-contact IC card 3, and erases the room entrance information and the use information stored in the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3. Thereby, the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3 returns to the state before the room entrance information and the use information are written (step S11).

In the use management system described above, it is determined whether or not the room entrance information is stored in the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3 of the user when the user uses the PC 1 in the room 4 serving as the facilities in which the entrance is managed. When it is determined that the room entrance information is stored, the PC 1 structurally becomes available. Thus, it can be prevented that a person, illegally entering the room through a route other than the predetermined room entrance route, uses the PC.

The room entrance information erasing unit 28 provided in the room leaving management apparatus 10 may be provided in the PC 1 being the electronics. In such a case that the PC 1 includes the room entrance information erasing unit, it is determined that the room entrance information is written onto the non-contact IC card 3 in step S6, and the start-up lock of the PC 1 is released by the PC lock control unit 19. Subsequently, such a process that the room entrance information of the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3 is erased may be executed to the non-contact IC card 3 by the PC 1. Thereby, the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3 returns to the state before the room entrance information is written.

In the above-described system, though such an example that the flag is used as the room entrance information is described, instead of the flag, the information of the character and the number such as the room number may be also used as the room entrance information. For example, when the room number is used as the room entrance information, the room number being the room entrance information is written onto the non-contact IC card 3 from the transmitting/receiving unit 11 by the control of the room entrance information writing unit 14 of the room entrance management apparatus 6. The user who enters the room from the entrance puts the non-contact IC card 3 close to the IC card reader/writer 9 provided in the PC 1, and makes the IC card reader/writer 9 read the room number stored on the non-contact IC card 3 to collate the room number with collation room entrance information pre-stored in the PC 1. When the information coincide with each other, the PC lock control unit 19 releases the start-up lock of the PC 1, and the PC 1 becomes available.

Instead of the room entrance information, the other information associated with the room entrance information may be stored in the PC 1 as the collation information.

FIG. 8 shows another use management system which is not an embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 8, in addition to the PC being the first electronics, a printer 34 being the second electronics is also provided in a room 4a. An IC card reader/writer 35 is provided in the printer 34, which makes it possible to read the information stored on the non-contact IC card 3 and write the information onto the non-contact IC card 3.

FIG. 9 shows a functional block diagram of the printer 34. As shown in FIG. 9, the printer 34 includes a display unit 36, a room entrance information confirmation and determination unit 37, a printer lock control unit 38, a print output unit 39, a storage unit 40, an input unit 41, a control unit 42 and an interface (I/F) 43. The printer 34 is connected to the PC 1 provided in the room 4a via the interface (I/F) 43 and the LAN 25. The user of the PC 1 can transmit data for print output to the printer 34 from the PC 1 via the LAN 25 and print it out from the printer 34. The printer 34 is also provided in the room 4a, similarly to the PC 1.

The room entrance information confirmation and determination unit 37 transmits the signal to the non-contact IC card 3 from the IC card reader/writer 35, and reads the room entrance information stored in the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3 to determine whether or not the room entrance information is proper. When the room entrance information stored on the non-contact IC card 3 is about the existence or nonexistence of the flag, the room entrance information confirmation and determination unit 37 determines whether or not the room entrance information is proper based on the existence or nonexistence of the flag, and determines whether or not to make the PC available.

When the room entrance information confirmation and determination unit 37 determines that the room entrance information read from the non-contact IC card 3 is proper, the printer lock control unit 38 executes the control to make the printer 34 available. Namely, the printer lock control unit 38 executes the control and makes it possible for the printer 34 to print out.

In the system of FIG. 8, the room 4a corresponds to the facility, and the room entrance management apparatus 6 serves as the entrance management apparatus. The room leaving management apparatus 10 serves as the leaving management apparatus. Additionally, the room entrance information serves as the use permission information, and the PC 1 and the printer 34 serve as the management object and the use management apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the process of the FIG. 8 system. FIG. 10 shows only the part of the process which differs from the processing illustrated in FIG. 7. The process of FIG. 10 adds steps S12 to S15 shown in FIG. 10 between steps S8 and S9 in the flow chart shown in FIG. 7.

The user who prints the data from the PC 1 provided in the room 4a with using the printer 34 executes the processes from steps S1 to S8 of the flow chart shown in FIG. 7. After the process up to step S8 is completed, the user uses the PC 1, and the data for print output is transmitted from the PC 1 to the printer 34. The user transmits the data for print output from the PC 1 to the printer 34 (step S12). When the user prints out from the printer 34, he or she puts the non-contact IC card 3 close to the IC card reader/writer 35 provided in the printer 34, and the IC card reader/writer 35 reads the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3 (step S13). Next, the printer 34 determines whether or not the room entrance information is written in the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3 (step S14). When it is determined that the room entrance information is written in the storage unit 90, the printer lock control unit 38 releases the start-up lock of the printer 34, which makes the printer 34 available (step S15).

Meanwhile, when it is determined that the room entrance information is not written in the storage unit 90, the start-up lock of the printer 34 is not released, and the printer 34 is kept unavailable. Thus, the user cannot use the printer 34, and the process ends.

As described above with reference to FIG. 8, the plural electronics are provided in the room 4a, and the data is transmitted from the first electronics to the second electronics, e.g., from the PC to the printer. Even when the user uses the first electronics in order to print-output the data by using the second electronics, the second electronics determines whether or not the room entrance information is written in the non-contact IC card 3 of the user. When the room entrance information is not written, the user cannot use the second electronics.

In the above described system, such an example that the flag is used is described as the room entrance information. However, instead of the flag, the information of the character and the number such as the room number may be used as the room entrance information. For example, when the room number is used as the room entrance information, the room number being the room entrance information is written onto the non-contact IC card 3 from the transmitting/receiving unit 11 by the control of the room entrance information writing unit 14 of the room entrance management apparatus 6. The user who enters the room from the entrance puts the non-contact IC card 3 close to the IC card reader/writer 9 provided in the PC 1, and makes the IC card reader/writer 9 read the room number stored on the non-contact IC card 3 to collate it with the collation room entrance information pre-stored in the PC 1. When they coincide with each other, the PC lock control unit 19 releases the start-up lock of the PC 1, which makes the PC 1 available.

Moreover, the IC card reader/writer 35 reads the room number stored in the non-contact IC card 3, and the printer 34 collates it with the collation room entrance information stored therein. When they coincide with each other, the printer 34 permits the output. Therefore, the room entrance information is not limited to the flag, and various kinds of information can be used.

Instead of the room entrance information, the other information associated with the room entrance information may be stored in the PC 1 and the printer 34, as the collation information.

Additionally, at the time of entering of the room, the room entrance information may be stored in a mobile phone on which the information storage medium is mounted. In this case, when using the electronics, the user who enters the room from the entrance transmits, to the electronics, the room entrance information stored in the mobile phone. Then, the transmitted room entrance information and the collation room entrance information pre-stored in the electronics are collated. When they coincide with each other, the electronics may be available.

FIG. 11 shows a schematic configuration of an illegal use prevention system which is not an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 11, a PC 1b is provided in the room 4b in which the entrance is managed.

From a company having the PC 1b, the non-contact IC card 3 being the storage medium is given to the user 2, who receives a use right of the PC 1b from the company. The non-contact IC card 3 is sometimes an ID card which the company having the PC 1b gives an employee as an employee card, which can prevent the third person other than the employee, who does not have the non-contact IC card 3 being the ID card, from illegally operating the PC 1.

A room entrance management apparatus 6b is provided in the vicinity of an entrance 5a of the room 4b, and the opening/closing state and the lock state of the automatic door 7 provided at the entrance 5a are controlled by the room entrance management apparatus 6b. The room entrance management apparatus 6b can transmit the information to the non-contact IC card 3 by the radio transmission, and it can read the information stored on the non-contact IC card 3 and write the information onto the non-contact IC card 3.

In correspondence with a result of a certification process based on the ID information stored on the non-contact IC card 3 of the user 2, the room entrance management apparatus 6b executes the control, and makes the automatic door 7 locked or makes it opened to make the user enter the room. Thereby, the room entrance management is executed so that the third person cannot illegally enter the room.

Additionally, a reader/writer 9b provided in the PC 1b can read the information stored on the non-contact IC card 3 and write the information onto the non-contact IC card 3 by the radio transmission without contact. Thereby, the information which the reader/writer 9b reads from the non-contact IC card 3 can be transmitted to the PC 1b, and the information from the PC 1 can be transmitted to the non-contact IC card 3 via the reader/writer 9b.

In addition, the PC 1b is connected to a server 52 via an Internet 51 being the network. In accessing the Internet 51 with using the PC 1b, a predetermined IP address is necessary. In accessing the Internet 51 with using the PC 1, it is necessary that the PC 1b reads the IP address stored on the non-contact IC card 3 via the reader/writer 9b.

Further, the room leaving management apparatus 10 is provided in the vicinity of the exit 5b of the room 4b, and the opening/closing state of the automatic door 7 is controlled by the room leaving management apparatus 10. In addition, the room leaving management apparatus 10 can transmit the information to the non-contact IC card 3 by the radio transmission, and it can read the information stored on the non-contact IC card 3 and write the information onto the non-contact IC card 3.

Since the structure and the function of the non-contact IC card 3 being the storage medium are same as described earlier, further explanations are omitted.

FIG. 12 shows the system configuration of the system of FIG. 11 including the non-contact IC card 3, the room entrance management apparatus 6b, the reader/writer 9b and the PC 1b.

The room entrance management apparatus 6b provided in the vicinity of the entrance 5a includes a transmitting/receiving unit 53, a certification and determination unit 54, a door lock control unit 55, an IP address writing control unit 56, a storage unit 57 and a control unit 58.

The transmitting/receiving unit 53 transmits and receives the information to and from the transmitting/receiving unit 88 of the non-contact IC card 3 by the radio transmission. The certification and determination unit 54 collates the ID information received from the non-contact IC card 3 and the collation ID information pre-stored in the storage unit 57 to execute the process of the identity certification. When the identity certification is accepted in the certification process by the certification and determination unit 54, the door lock is released by the door lock control unit 55, and the automatic door 7 is opened.

When the identity certification is accepted by the certification and determination unit 54 and the person is permitted to use the Internet, the IP address writing control unit 56 controls the transmitting/receiving unit 53 of the room entrance management apparatus 6b on the basis of the ID information, and writes the IP address onto the non-contact IC card 3. By transmitting the IP address information to the non-contact IC card 3 from the room entrance management apparatus 6b, the IP address information is written to the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3.

The reader/writer 9b includes a transmitting/receiving unit 59, a storage unit 60, an interface (I/F) 61 and a control unit 62. The transmitting/receiving unit 59 transmits and receives the information to and from the transmitting/receiving unit 88 of the non-contact IC card 3 by the radio transmission. The reader/writer 9b is connected to the interface (I/F) of the PC 1b via the interface (I/F) 61 and transmits the IP address information read from the non-contact IC card 3 to the PC 1b.

The PC 1b includes a display unit 63, an interface (I/F) 64, an input unit 65, an IP address reading unit 66, a storage unit 67, a communication unit 68 and a control unit 69. The IP address reading unit 66 reads the IP address stored on the non-contact IC card 3 via the reader/writer 9b and temporally stores it in the storage unit 67. The IP address temporally stored in the storage unit 67 is erased from the storage unit 67 at the time of turning off the power of the PC 1b so that other user cannot use it again.

Since the configuration of the room leaving management apparatus 10 is basically the same as shown in FIG. 6, an explanation thereof is omitted. However, the room leaving management apparatus 10 includes the IP address erasing unit which erases the IP address stored on the non-contact IC card 3.

In FIG. 11, the room 4b corresponds to the facility. The room entrance management apparatus 6b serves as the entrance management apparatus, and the room leaving management apparatus 10 serves as the room leaving management apparatus. In addition, the ID information serves as the use permission information, and the PC 1b serves as the management object and the use management apparatus.

Next, the process of the system of FIG. 11 will be explained with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 13. First, the user 2 who uses the PC 1b provided in the room 4b puts the non-contact IC card 3 close to the room entrance management apparatus 6b at the time of entering the room 4b from the entrance thereof. At this time, the room entrance management apparatus 6b reads the ID information stored in the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3 (step S21). Then, by the certification and determination unit 54 of the room entrance management apparatus 6b, the identity certification and determination in correspondence with the read ID information is executed (step S22).

When the identity certification is accepted in the identity certification and determination and the use of the Internet is permitted to the user, the IP address is transmitted to the non-contact IC card 3 from the transmitting/receiving unit 53 by the control of the IP address writing control unit 56 of the room entrance management apparatus 6b, and the IP address is written into the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3 (step S23). Substantially simultaneously, the door lock control unit 55 releases the lock of the automatic door 7, and the automatic door 7 is opened. Thereby, the user can enter the room (step S24).

Meanwhile, when the identity certification is not accepted in the identity certification and determination in step S22, the IP address is not transmitted to the non-contact IC card 3 from the room entrance management apparatus 6b. In addition, the automatic door 7 is kept closed, and the user cannot enter the room. In such a situation, the process ends.

Next, the user who enters the room from the entrance 5a puts the non-contact IC card 3 close to the reader/writer 9b provided in the PC 1b. At this time, the IP address stored on the non-contact IC card 3 is read and stored in the storage unit 67 of the PC 1b (step S25). Thereby, the user of the PC 1b can access the server 52 by using the IP address, and he or she can use the Internet (step S26).

When the user of the PC 1b turns off the power of the PC 1b, the IP address stored in the storage unit 67 is erased (step S27). Moreover, when the user of the PC 1b leaves the room 4b, the IP address stored in the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3 is erased by the signal outputted from the room leaving management apparatus 10 provided at the exit 5b of the room 4b (step S28).

As described above, when the user enters the room 4b, the IP address is written onto the storage medium for only the user whose certification is accepted, and the user can access the Internet with using the PC 1b by using the IP address.

FIG. 14 shows a schematic configuration of a use management system of an embodiment of the present invention. In an example shown in FIG. 14, a room 100 includes plural rooms 101 and 110, and the room 110 includes a room 120.

As examples of the electronics, personal computers (PCs) 150 to 153 are provided in the respective rooms 100, 101, 110 and 120. Each of the PCs 150 to 153 basically has the same configuration as that of the PC 1 according to the system shown in FIG. 5. Further, each of the PCs 150 to 153 includes the IC card reader/writer 9, similarly to the first embodiment.

Moreover, at the entrance/exit of each of the rooms 100, 101, 110 and 120, a room entrance management apparatus 130 and a room leaving management apparatus 131 are provided, respectively. The room entrance management apparatus 130 basically has the same configuration as that of the room entrance management apparatus 6 of the system shown in FIG. 5, and controls the door opening/closing of the room. In addition, the room leaving management apparatus 131 also basically has the same configuration as that of the room leaving management apparatus 10 of the system shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, and controls the door opening/closing of each of the rooms. However, the room entrance management apparatus 130 and the room leaving management apparatus 131 have a function to rewrite the entrance information stored on the non-contact IC card 3 when the user enters and exits the room.

In this embodiment, the room number is used as the room entrance information, as shown in FIG. 14. The room entrance information out of the room 100 is prescribed as "000". As shown in FIG. 14, when the user enters the room 100 from the outside, the room entrance management apparatus 130 rewrites the room entrance information "000" stored on the non-contact IC card 3 to "100" corresponding to the room 100. When the user enters the room 110, the room entrance management apparatus 130 rewrites the room entrance information "100" stored on the non-contact IC card 3 to "110". Similarly, when the user enters the room 101 from the room 100, the room entrance management apparatus 130 rewrites the room entrance information "100" to "101". When the user enters the room 120 from the room 110, the room entrance management apparatus 130 rewrites the room entrance information "110" to "120".

Only when the room entrance information stored on the non-contact IC card 3 of the user coincides with the number of the room in which the PC is provided, the start-up lock of the PC provided in each of the rooms is released, and the PC becomes available. Namely, the PC 150 provided in the room 100 stores the collation room entrance information "100" in the storage unit. Thus, only the user having the non-contact IC card 3 including the room entrance information "100" can use the PC 150. Specifically, when the user puts the non-contact IC card 3 close to the IC card reader/writer 9, the IC card reader/writer 9 reads the room entrance information from the storage unit 90 of the non-contact IC card 3 and transmits it to the control unit of the PC 150. The control unit of the PC 150 collates the room entrance information with the collation room entrance information stored in the storage unit of the PC. Only when they coincide with each other, the PC lock control unit releases the start-up lock.

Similarly, the PC 151 provided in the room 101 is available by only the user having the non-contact IC card 3 on which the room entrance information "101" is stored, and the PC 152 provided in the room 110 is available by only the user having the non-contact IC card 3 on which the room entrance information "110" is stored. The PC 153 provided in the room 120 is available by only the user having the non-contact IC card 3 on which the room entrance information "120" is stored.

The floor including each of the rooms 100 to 120 corresponds to the facility, and each of the rooms 100 to 120 corresponds to a separate space included in the facility. The room entrance management apparatus 130 serves as the entrance management apparatus, and the room leaving management apparatus 131 serves as the leaving management apparatus. Additionally, the room entrance information serves as the use permission information, and the PCs 150 to 153 serve as the management object and the use management apparatus.

FIG. 15A shows a flow chart of the room entrance management process by the room entrance management apparatus 130. When the user entering the room puts the non-contact IC card 3 close to the room entrance management apparatus 130, the room entrance management apparatus 130 reads the room entrance information from the non-contact IC card 3 (step S30). Then, the room entrance management apparatus 130 collates the read room entrance information with the collation room entrance information pre-stored in the storage unit (step S31). When they coincide with each other, the room entrance management apparatus 130 rewrites the room entrance information of the non-contact IC card 3 to the room entrance information (the room number in this embodiment) of the room which the user enters (step S32), and opens the room door (step S33). Thereby, the user can enter the room. In addition, since the room entrance information stored on the non-contact IC card 3 is rewritten to the room number, the PC provided in the room is usable. Meanwhile, as a result of the collation, when the room entrance information do not coincide with each other (step S31; No), the process ends. Therefore, the user cannot enter the room.

FIG. 15B shows a flow chart of the room leaving management process by the room leaving management apparatus 131. When the user leaving the room puts the non-contact IC card 3 close to the room leaving management apparatus 131, the room leaving management apparatus 131 reads the room entrance information from the non-contact IC card 3 (step S35). Then, the room leaving management apparatus 131 collates the read room entrance information with the collation room entrance information pre-stored in the storage unit (step S36). When they coincide with each other, the room leaving management apparatus 131 rewrites the room entrance information of the non-contact IC card 3 to the room entrance information (the room number in this embodiment, but "000" in a case of the outside of the room 100) of the room out of the room which the user leaves (step S37), and it opens the room door (step S38). Thereby, the user can leave the room. Meanwhile, as a result of the collation, when the room entrance information do not coincide with each other (step S36; No), the process ends. Thus, the user cannot leave the room.

Next, a description will be given of a change of the room entrance information in such a case that the user enters the rooms 100, 110, 120 and 101 in this order and leaves the room 100, with reference to FIG. 14. When the user previously entered and exited the rooms in the proper process, the room entrance information of the non-contact IC card 3 is "000". When the user enters the room 100, the room entrance information of the non-contact IC card 3 is rewritten from "000" to "100". Then, the user can use the PC 150 in the room 100.

Next, when the user enters the room 110, the room entrance information of the non-contact IC card 3 is rewritten from "100" to "110". Thereby, the user can use the PC 152 in the room 110. Moreover, when the user enters the room 120, the room entrance information of the non-contact IC card 3 is rewritten from "110" to "120". Thereby, the user can use the PC 153 in the room 120.

Next, when the user leaves the room 120, the room entrance information of the non-contact IC card 3 is rewritten from "120" to "110". In addition, when the user leaves the room 110, the room entrance information of the non-contact IC card 3 is rewritten from "110" to "100". Next, when the user enters the room 101, the room entrance information of the non-contact IC card 3 is rewritten from "100" to "101". Thereby, the user can use the PC 151 in the room 101. Next, when the user leaves the room 101, the room entrance information of the non-contact IC card 3 is rewritten from "101" to "100". When the user leaves the room 100, the room entrance information of the non-contact IC card 3 is rewritten from "100" to "000". In this manner, when the user enters the room 100 next time, the non-contact IC card 3 is properly rewritten to "000".

As described above, in the system of the invention, even in such a case that the PCs are provided in the plural rooms, respectively, only when the room entrance information stored on the non-contact IC card 3 with the proper approach of the room by the user coincides with the collation room entrance information pre-stored in the PC of the room, the PC becomes available. Hence, even when plural rooms are complexly arranged, it becomes possible to securely prevent the illegal use.

In the above-mentioned example, such an example that the PC is arranged in each of the rooms is given. However, the application of the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is applicable in such a case that the use of all the equipments having the configuration for releasing the lock control by the collation of the room entrance information is controlled. In addition, plural equipments may be provided in one room.

Further, in this embodiment, similarly to the system illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, when the equipment such as the PC is used, the use information showing the use may be written onto the IC card 3. In addition, when the user leaves the room, the use information stored on the IC card 3 may be erased or stored on the IC card 3. Moreover, when the user leaves the room, the use information may be stored in the database in the room leaving control apparatus as the use history.

FIG. 16 shows schematically an example of a use management system which is not an embodiment of the invention. In the example shown in FIG. 16, plural PCs 142 and a printer 143 are provided in the room 100 as the electronics. The PCs 142 basically have the same structure as the PC 1 shown in FIG. 5. The printer 143 basically has the same configuration as the printer 34 shown in FIG. 9. The IC card reader/writer 9 having the configuration shown in FIG. 5 is provided in the PCs 142 and the printer 143, respectively.

A room entrance management apparatus 140 having the same configuration as that of the room entrance management apparatus 130 of the embodiment of the invention described above is provided out of the room 100, and a room leaving management apparatus 141 having the same configuration as that of the room leaving management apparatus 131 described above is provided in the room 100.

Additionally, a time recorder 160 is provided in the room 100. The time recorder 160 has a function to record stamping information including a room entrance time and a room leaving time on the IC card 3. FIG. 17 shows the configuration of the time recorder 160.

As shown in FIG. 17, the time recorder 160 includes a transmitting/receiving unit 161, a control unit 162, a collation unit 163, a storage unit 164 and a stamping information writing unit 165. The transmitting/receiving unit 161 transmits and receives the information to and from the transmitting/receiving unit 88 of the IC card 3 by the radio transmission.

When the user enters the room, the collation unit 163 collates the room entrance information received from the IC card 3 with the collation room entrance information pre-stored in the storage unit 164. When the room entrance information coincide with each other in the collation by the collation unit 163, the stamping information writing unit 165 writes the stamping information at the time of the room entrance onto the IC card 3. The stamping information at the time of the room entrance includes information for specifying the time recorder (e.g., an identification number of the time recorder, hereinafter referred to as "time recorder specifying information"), in addition to the room entrance date and time of the user.

Additionally, when the user leaves the room, the collation unit 163 reads the stamping information at the time of the room entrance, which is stored on the IC card 3, and checks whether or not the proper time recorder specifying information is included. In addition, when the user leaves the room, the stamping information writing unit writes the stamping information at the time of the room leaving onto the IC card 3. The stamping information at the time of the leaving time includes the leaving date and time of the user and the time recorder specifying information.

The PC 142 pre-stores collation time recorder specifying information in the inner storage unit. When the user puts the IC card 3 close to the IC card reader/writer 9, the PC 142 reads the time recorder specifying information stored on the IC card 3 and collates it with the collation time recorder specifying information stored in the storage unit. Thus, only the user having the IC card 3 including the stamping information properly stored by the time recorder 160 can use the PC 142. Additionally, when the time recorder specifying information coincide with each other, the PC 142 releases the start-up lock, which makes the PC 142 available. Then, the PC 142 writes the use information onto the IC card 3.

The printer 143 pre-stores the collation use information in the inner storage unit. When the user puts the IC card 3 close to the IC card reader/writer 9, the printer 143 reads the use information stored on the IC card 3 and collates it with the collation use information stored in the storage unit. Therefore, only the user who actually has used the PC 142 can use the printer 143. The PC 142 and the printer 143 are connected to each other via the LAN, and the data to be printed is transmitted to the printer 143 from the PC 142 via the LAN.

The room 100 corresponds to the facilities, and the room entrance management apparatus 140 serves as the entrance management apparatus. The room leaving management apparatus 141 serves as the leaving management apparatus. In addition, the stamping information by the time recorder 160 serves as the use permission information, and the PC 142 and the printer 143 serve as the management object and the use management apparatus.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart of the process of the system of FIG. 16. First, when the user puts the IC card 3 close to the room entrance management apparatus 140, the room entrance management apparatus 140 reads the ID information from the IC card 3 (step S40) and collates it with the collation ID information pre-stored in the storage unit (step S41). When the ID information does not coincide, the process ends. In this case, the door does not open, and the user cannot enter the room 100. Meanwhile, when the ID information coincide with each other, the room entrance management apparatus 140 writes the room entrance information in the storage unit 90 of the IC card 3 (step S42) and opens the door (step S43). In this case, the room entrance information is prescribed as "100" being the room number of the room 100, for example. Thereby, the user can enter the room 100.

When entering the room, the user puts the IC card 3 close to the time recorder 160. The time recorder 160 reads the room entrance information from the IC card 3 (step S44) and collates it with the room entrance information pre-stored in the storage unit 164 (step S45). In the storage unit 164 of the time recorder 160, "100" is stored as the collation room entrance information corresponding to the room 100. When the room entrance information do not coincide with each other, the process ends. Meanwhile, when they coincide, the time recorder 160 writes the stamping information at the time of the room entrance onto the IC card 3 (step S46). The stamping information at the time of the room entrance includes "200" as the time recorder specifying information corresponding to the time recorder, for example.

Next, the user puts the IC card 3 close to the IC card reader/writer 9 provided in the PC 142 in order to use the PC 142. The IC card reader/writer 9 reads the stamping information at the time of the room entrance from the IC card 3 to read the time recorder specifying information "200" included therein (step S47). The collation time recorder specifying information "200" is pre-stored in the storage unit 21 in each of the PCs 142 in the room 100. The PC 142 collates the time recorder specifying information with it (step S48). When they do not coincide with each other, the process ends. In this case, the user cannot use the PC 142. Meanwhile, when the time recorder specifying information coincide with each other, the start-up lock of the PC 142 is released, and the PC 142 becomes available (step S49). Moreover, the PC 142 writes the use information onto the IC card 3 (step S50).

When the user completes the work with using the PC 142, he or she puts the IC card 3 close to the time recorder 160. The time recorder 160 reads the stamping information at the time of the room entrance from the IC card 3 (step S51), and collates the time recorder specifying information included in the stamping information with its specifying information (step S52). When they coincide, the time recorder 160 writes the stamping information at the time of the room leaving onto the IC card 3 (step S53) and stores the stamping information at the time of the room entrance and the room leaving in the storage unit 164 of the time recorder 160 (step S54).

Next, when the user puts the IC card 3 close to the room leaving management apparatus 141, the room leaving management apparatus 141 reads the stamping information at the time of the room leaving from the IC card 3 (step S55) and collates the time recorder specifying information included therein with the collation time recorder specifying information pre-stored in the room leaving management apparatus 141 (step S56). When they do not coincide with each other, the process ends. Thus, the user cannot exit the room. Meanwhile, when they coincide, the room leaving management apparatus 141 opens the door (step S57). Thereby, the user can exit the room 100. Additionally, as need arises, the room leaving management apparatus 141 reads, from the IC card 3, the ID information, the room entrance information, the stamping information at the time of the room entrance and the room leaving and the use information of the equipment such as the PC, and stores them in the PC use information database 33 as the history information (step S58). Furthermore, as need arises, the room leaving management apparatus 141 erases the room entrance information, the stamping information and the use information from the IC card 3 (step S59).

In the above example, since the respective pieces of information are erased from the IC card 3 in step S59, the memory of the IC card can be saved. Moreover, since the information of the time recorder is not taken out of the room, the security advantageously becomes high. However, when the history such as the use information is needed to be left on the IC card 3, step S59 may be omitted.

As described above, since the use limit of the equipment is normally performed by using the stamping information of the time recorder used for the time management of the room entrance and leaving, only the user properly performing the stamping can use the equipment, and the illegal use of the equipment can be prevented.

Instead of the ID information, various kinds of information associated with the ID information, other than the ID information, may be stored in the room entrance management apparatus as the collation information. In addition, though the room number is used as the room entrance information, various kinds of information other than the room number can be used.

In the example described above, the time recorder is in the room. But the time recorder may be arranged out of the room. In this case, first, the user uses the time recorder and stores the stamping information on the IC card. The room entrance management apparatus pre-stores the collation time recorder specifying information. When the time recorder specifying information read from the IC card coincides with the collation time recorder specifying information, the room entrance management apparatus opens the room door. In addition, at the time of the room leaving, the room leaving management apparatus reads the time recorder specifying information from the IC card. Only when it coincides with the pre-stored collation time recorder specifying information, the room leaving management apparatus may open the door.

When the time recorder is arranged out of the room, one time recorder can be provided in correspondence with the plural rooms, and it also becomes possible to execute the working management of the IC card user who works out of the room.

Claims

A management system which uses an information storage medium (3) of a user to manage use of a management object (150,151,152,153) provided in a facility (100), comprising:
an entrance management apparatus (130), provided in a vicinity of an entrance of the facility, which stores use permission information for permitting the use of the management object onto the information storage medium (3) when the user enters the facility;

a use management apparatus (150 to 153), provided in each management object, which controls availability or unavailability of the management object based on the use permission information stored on the information storage medium (3), and which stores, on the information storage medium, use information showing that the management object is used; and

a leaving management apparatus (131), provided in a vicinity of an exit of the facility, which manages leaving of the user based on the use information stored on the information storage medium when the user leaves the facility,

wherein the facility (100) includes plural independent spaces (100,101,110,120), and the entrance management apparatus (130) and the leaving management apparatus (131) are provided in each of the plural spaces,

wherein the entrance management apparatus (130) stores use permission information corresponding to the space to be entered on the information storage medium when the user enters the space corresponding to the entrance management apparatus,

wherein the leaving management apparatus (131) rewrites the use permission information stored on the information storage medium to the use permission information corresponding to a space to be left to, out of the space to be left when the user leaves the space corresponding to the leaving management apparatus,

wherein the management object and the use management apparatus corresponding to the management object are provided in the space (100,101,110,120), and

wherein the use management apparatus (150 to 153) stores room entrance information identifying the space in which the corresponding management object is provided, and

wherein the use management apparatus (150 to 153) includes a control unit which makes the management object available only when the use permission information corresponding to the space to be entered on the information storage medium coincides with the room entrance information stored by the use management apparatus.
A management system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein identification information of the user is stored on the information storage medium (3), wherein the entrance management apparatus (130) includes:
a unit (15) which stores collation identification information, showing a user permitted to enter the facility;

a unit (11) which reads the identification information of the user from the information storage medium (3); and

an entrance control unit (12) which collates the identification information read from the information storage medium with the collation identification information, and enables the user to enter the facility when they coincide.
A management system as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the leaving management apparatus includes a storage unit which associates the use information stored on the information storage medium with the identification information of the user to store it.
A management system as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the leaving management apparatus (131) includes an erasing unit (31) which erases the use permission information and the use information stored on the information storage medium.
A management system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the use management apparatus erases the use information stored on the information storage medium after the user uses the management object (150,151,152,153).
A management system as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the use management apparatus (150 to 153) includes a control unit which makes the management object unavailable when it is determined that the use permission information stored on the information storage medium does not store information showing availability.
A management system as claimed in Claim 1, comprising a plurality of use management apparatuses (150 to 153), wherein at least one of the use management apparatuses controls the availability or unavailability of the management object managed by said at least one of the use management apparatuses, by prescribing the use information, stored on the information storage medium by another of the use management apparatuses, as the use permission information.
A management system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the entrance management apparatus (130) includes a time recorder provided in the facility, and wherein the time recorder stores, on the information storage medium (3), specifying information of the time recorder as the use permission information, in addition to date and time information.
A management system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the entrance management apparatus (130) includes a material storage apparatus provided inside or outside the facility, and stores the use permission information on the information storage medium (3) only when a predetermined material is stored in the material storage apparatus.
A management system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the entrance management apparatus (130) stores, on the information storage medium (3), the use permission information of only a predetermined specific management object of the plural management objects provided in the facility.
A management system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein user identification information is stored on the information storage medium (3), and wherein the entrance management apparatus (130) including:
a storage unit which stores information of the management object available for the user in correspondence with the user identification information, and

a unit which stores, on the information storage medium, the use permission information of the management object corresponding to the user identification information stored on the information storage medium.
A management system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the leaving management apparatus (131) includes a unit which prohibits the user from leaving the facility when the use information is not stored on the information storage medium.
A management system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the leaving management apparatus (131) includes a unit which prohibits the user from leaving the facility when the use information of all the management objects that the user can use is not stored on the information storage medium.
A management method which manages use of a management object (150,151,152,153) provided in a facility (100) by using an information storage medium (3) of a user, comprising:
an entrance management step which stores use permission information for permitting use of the management object on the information storage medium by an entrance management apparatus (130) provided in a vicinity of an entrance of the facility when the user enters the facility;

a use management step which controls availability or unavailability of the management object by a use management apparatus (150 to 153) provided in each management object based on the use permission information stored on the information storage medium, and stores, on the information storage medium, use information showing that the management object is used; and

a leaving management step which determines whether or not the user can leave the facility by a leaving management apparatus (131) provided in a vicinity of an exit of the facility, based on the use information stored on the information storage medium, when the user leaves the facility,

wherein the facility includes plural independent spaces (100,101,110,120),

wherein the entrance management apparatus (130) and the leaving management apparatus (131) are provided in each of the plural spaces,

wherein the entrance management step stores use permission information corresponding to the space to be entered on the information storage medium (3) when the user enters the space corresponding to the entrance management apparatus (130),

wherein the leaving management step rewrites the use permission information stored on the information storage medium (3) to the use permission information corresponding to a space to be left to, out of the space to be left, when the user leaves the space corresponding to the leaving management apparatus (131),

wherein the management object and the use management apparatus corresponding to the management object are provided in the space (100,101,110,120), and

wherein the use management apparatus (150 to 153) stores room entrance information identifying the space in which the corresponding management object is provided, and

making the management object available only when the use permission information corresponding to the space to be entered on the information storage medium (3) coincides with the room entrance information stored by the use management apparatus (150 to 153).