JP2004328650A - Communication terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to use only a specific function of a communication terminal device, use a specific function by a predetermined amount, release only a contract for using some functions, and release a contract for using the communication terminal device. However, it is possible to continue the usage contract for only some of the functions or to transfer the contract for using each function of a certain communication terminal device to the contract for using each function of another communication terminal device as it is.
A server installed at a center stores and stores information on the availability and inability to use each function of a communication terminal device, and changes and updates the information in accordance with a usage contract for each function of the communication terminal device. The communication terminal device receives and stores the information on the availability and inability to use each function according to the contract contents, and controls each function to be usable and unusable according to the contents.
[Selection] Fig. 9

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention according to the present patent application (hereinafter, also simply referred to as the present invention) includes various data, for example, audio data, digital data, e-mail data, image data, game data including game software and game contents, Internet data, broadcast data, and the like. The present invention relates to a communication terminal device capable of transmitting and receiving data, photographing, recording, recording and reproducing.
[0002]
The communication terminal device is, for example, a mobile phone, a handheld computer, a notebook computer, a digital camera, an electronic organizer, a car navigation system, a stationary computer, and other electronic devices.
[0003]
The present invention also relates to a communication terminal device capable of controlling all or a part of various functions of the communication terminal device to be usable or unusable.
[0004]
Furthermore, the present invention receives from a predetermined server device (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a server) data for controlling all or some of various functions of the communication terminal device to be usable or unusable. And a communication terminal device.
[0005]
Further, the present invention relates to data for controlling all or a part of various functions of the communication terminal device to be usable or unusable, relating to setting, changing, and cancellation of a usage contract of the communication terminal device. The present invention relates to a communication terminal device which is one or a plurality of data.
[0006]
The data relating to the usage contract is data created based on a usage contract between a user of the communication terminal device and a communication carrier that provides a communication service using the communication terminal device. The present invention relates to a communication terminal device in which this data is also changed when setting, changing, updating, adding, suspending, or canceling a change in the model of the communication terminal device to be used or the service content to be provided.
[0007]
The data is changed not only based on the contents of the contract, but also with respect to a communication terminal device in which the data is changed in connection with payment or delinquency of a fee for use.
[0008]
This data is created based on a usage contract between a communication terminal device user and a communication carrier that provides a communication service, and is input to a computer at a communication company, for example, at a sales office, agency, or other store, and Is related to a communication terminal device stored in a server operated by a communication carrier or another person.
[0009]
Further, the data stored in the server of the communication carrier is downloaded to the communication terminal device at a predetermined timing as necessary, and all or some of various functions of the communication terminal device can be used or used. The present invention relates to a communication terminal device that becomes data for impossible control.
[0010]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional communication terminal device, a more sophisticated composite communication terminal device, that is, one in which an audio reproducing device is built in a mobile phone terminal device has been proposed. In recent years, with the increase in the capacity of a semiconductor memory and the improvement of audio data compression technology, it is possible to record, for example, audio data for several tens minutes to several hours in a memory in a memory card. Headphones are mounted on a small-sized reproducing apparatus using this memory card as a recording medium, and audio is heard with the headphones.
[0011]
By incorporating an audio playback device using a memory as a recording medium in a mobile phone terminal device, when the mobile phone terminal device is not used for a call, headphones can be attached to the terminal device to listen to audio. Thus, the use of the mobile phone terminal device is expanded.
[0012]
Also, by attaching an audio playback device to the mobile phone terminal device, for example, downloading audio data from the center to the terminal device via a mobile phone line, recording the audio data on a memory card attached to the terminal device, Audio data can be delivered to the user.
[0013]
As described above, when providing an audio data distribution service by incorporating an audio playback device in a mobile phone terminal device, it is conceivable to provide the service for a fee.
[0014]
Such a service is managed by a mobile phone company that operates a wireless phone system, and a method of collecting usage fees by a phone company or the like can be considered.
[0015]
Further, even when such a service is provided free of charge, since the service is provided as an additional service to the user of the mobile phone terminal device, only a user who has contracted with the mobile phone company is required to provide this service. It is desirable to be able to receive services.
[0016]
Alternatively, it is also possible to use this mobile phone terminal device and charge the usage fee of the mobile phone terminal device in accordance with the number of times that the terminal device reproduces the audio.
[0017]
For example, when audio data downloaded to a terminal device is reproduced, data indicating the reproduction is transmitted to a center device of a mobile phone company through a mobile phone line, and billing can be performed in real time.
[0018]
In this way, by incorporating the audio playback device into the mobile phone terminal device, it is possible to provide a service for ensuring the protection of copyright related to music playback.
[0019]
On the other hand, since the mobile phone terminal device incorporating the audio reproducing device is sold to a mobile phone line subscriber, when the user who is the contractor cancels the mobile phone line contract, the mobile phone terminal device itself is released. Remains in the user's hand.
[0020]
When the mobile phone terminal device whose contract has been canceled is used as an audio playback device, for example, listening to downloaded audio data is freely performed in a state that cannot be managed by the mobile phone company. That confirmation becomes impossible.
[0021]
Further, there are places and situations where it is not desirable to use the mobile phone terminal device. In such a case, the power of the terminal device is turned off to make it unusable. For example, in hospitals, it is recommended to turn off the power so that electromagnetic waves transmitted from the mobile phone terminal device do not cause medical devices to malfunction.
[0022]
Therefore, even in a mobile phone terminal device having a built-in audio reproducing device, the power is turned off in a hospital.
[0023]
However, when the power of the mobile phone terminal is turned off, the audio playback function built into the mobile phone terminal cannot be used at the same time. Therefore, for example, it is impossible to attach headphones to a mobile phone terminal device in a waiting room in a hospital and use the built-in audio reproduction function to listen to music.
[0024]
Although the example in which the audio playback device is incorporated in the mobile phone terminal device has been described above, other similar functions not directly related to communication, such as a digital camera function, a car navigation function, and other functions are provided in the same communication terminal device. A similar problem arises when incorporated.
[0025]
Conventionally, when other functions that are not directly related to communication are incorporated in a communication terminal device, it has been necessary to restrict some of the functions, select an operation state, or stop the communication functions. Has been done.
[0026]
Specifically, communication between a base station of a predetermined mobile phone company and a communication terminal device is permitted only when predetermined registration is performed, and functions other than the communication function provided in the communication terminal device are registered in a predetermined registration mode. A specific example of a communication terminal device that is controlled so as not to be used when the communication is not performed is disclosed in Patent Document 1 below.
[0027]
FIG. 12 shows a procedure for controlling the communication terminal device.
[0028]
It is determined whether or not an operation relating to the reproduction or recording of the audio content has been performed (901 in FIG. 12). If the operation has been performed, it is determined whether or not information relating to the mobile phone use contract has been recorded (step 901). 902 in FIG. 12).
[0029]
The information on the mobile phone usage contract is, for example, recorded in a center device of a mobile phone company.
[0030]
If the information on the mobile phone use contract is not recorded, the mobile phone use contract has been canceled and the audio function of the mobile phone cannot be used. A function invalid display is performed (905 in FIG. 12).
[0031]
If the information on the mobile phone use contract is recorded, the mobile phone use contract is continued and the audio function of the mobile phone can be used.
[0032]
Next, it is determined whether or not 30% or more of the battery of the mobile phone remains (903 in FIG. 12).
[0033]
When the audio function is used, the consumption of the battery is greater than the use of the communication function. Therefore, the use of the audio function is permitted only when the battery has a sufficient remaining amount.
[0034]
If the remaining amount of the battery is less than 30%, the audio function of the mobile phone cannot be used, and for example, a low battery level display is displayed on the display unit of the mobile phone (906 in FIG. 12).
[0035]
If the remaining battery level is 30% or more, the audio function of the mobile phone can be used, and the operation of the content specified by the operation is started (904 in FIG. 12).
[0036]
When a predetermined operation mode is set by the operation unit, communication is controlled so as not to be performed, and use of functions not directly related to communication is not limited.
[0037]
For example, if the communication use prohibition mode is set in a hospital or the like, communication cannot be performed, but, for example, an audio reproduction function that is not directly related to communication can be used.
[0038]
The communication use prohibition mode may be set, for example, by a user's operation, or may be set, for example, by a mobile phone receiving a specific radio wave at a hospital entrance or the like.
[0039]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-313695 A
[0040]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional communication terminal device as described above, when predetermined registration is not performed, for example, in a case where a mobile phone use contract is canceled, in addition to the communication function, all other functions other than communication are used. For example, the mobile phone usage contract is canceled because it is controlled so that it is not possible to use it, but if you want to continue using other additional functions such as audio playback function and game play function, select these functions and use them I couldn't.
[0041]
Alternatively, once the mobile phone usage contract was canceled, a contract for paying an additional fee was made again at a later date, and for example, there was no option to download new game content and play the game according to the paid fee.
[0042]
Also, when a user pays a copyright usage fee to download audio content and listens to the audio content, when the user cancels the mobile phone usage contract and changes to a new mobile phone, for example, if the user still pays, Even if the user has not used up the number of listenings corresponding to the copyright fee, the new mobile phone could not listen to the audio content the number of times corresponding to the remaining paid copyright fee.
[0043]
Further, in the case where the mobile phone model is changed, the mobile phone company registers and manages the old model and the new model by associating the old model with the new model, for example, in a parent-child relationship, a sibling relationship, and other relationships. However, it has not been possible to make a use form such that the basic function or a part of the additional function is continuously available, and the usage fee is collected together with the call fee of the new model or collected separately.
[0044]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1 of the present patent application provides a means for receiving data from a predetermined server device, and enables or utilizes a part or all of the functions according to the received data. And a means for making control impossible.
[0045]
The invention described in claim 2 of the present patent application is the communication terminal device, wherein the data includes data relating to a usage contract for the communication terminal device.
[0046]
The invention according to claim 3 of the present patent application is characterized in that the use contract includes setting of a use contract relating to cancellation of the use contract of the communication terminal device, change of the model of the communication terminal device, usable period, usable communication amount, A communication terminal device including one or more of change and release.
[0047]
The invention according to claim 4 of the present patent application is characterized in that the use contract is that part or all of the functions of the communication terminal device can be used, cannot be used, the use contract can be canceled, the use contract can be changed, the usable period can be changed, The communication terminal device includes one or more of setting, changing, and canceling of a usage contract related to a usable amount.
[0048]
The invention according to claim 5 of the present patent application is characterized in that the data includes data relating to payment of a usage fee required to use a part or all of the functions of the communication terminal device or the communication terminal device. Device.
[0049]
The invention according to claim 6 of the present patent application is characterized in that the predetermined server device is used when the usage contract or the usage fee payment is performed, or when at least one of addition, change, cancellation, and cancellation is performed. A communication terminal device for receiving the data from the communication terminal.
[0050]
The invention according to claim 7 of the present patent application is characterized in that, when the communication terminal device is operated, the data related to the use of the function of the communication terminal device used by the operation is received from the server device. A communication terminal device.
[0051]
The communication terminal device according to claim 8, wherein the communication terminal device receives the data related to the use of its own function from the server device via another communication terminal device. It is.
[0052]
The invention described in claim 9 of the present patent application is a communication terminal device, wherein the communication terminal device is a communication terminal device whose use of a communication function is restricted.
[0053]
The invention described in claim 10 of the present patent application is a communication terminal device, wherein the restriction on the use of the communication function is controlled based on information on a usage contract.
[0054]
In the invention according to claim 11 of the present patent application, the other communication terminal device is the other communication terminal device stored in the server device in association with the communication terminal device. Item 11. The communication terminal device according to any one of items 10.
[0055]
The invention according to claim 12 of the present patent application is the communication terminal device, wherein reception of the data is controlled based on information on a usage contract of the other communication terminal device.
[0056]
In the invention described in claim 13 of the present patent application, the received data is data for making all or a part of functions available in the another communication terminal device available in the communication terminal device. , A communication terminal device.
[0057]
The invention according to claim 14 of the present patent application is characterized in that a usage fee required by being made available by receiving the data is paid based on a usage contract of the other communication terminal device. It is a terminal device.
[0058]
The invention according to claim 15 of the present patent application is characterized in that a function corresponding to a function made available in the communication terminal device by receiving the data is reduced from a function available in the other communication terminal device. Is a communication terminal device that is controlled to be operated.
[0059]
The invention according to claim 16 of the present patent application is characterized in that the functions are a voice communication function, a data communication function, an e-mail transmission / reception function, a voice content reception function, a voice content recording / reproduction function, an image content reception function, and an image content recording / reproduction function. One or more of a game content receiving function, a game content recording / reproducing function, an Internet access function, a broadcast receiving function, a broadcast receiving / recording / reproducing function, a recording function, an image capturing function, an image capturing / recording function, and an image capturing / sending function. And a communication terminal device.
[0060]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the invention (also simply referred to as the present invention) according to the present patent application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0061]
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of a main part of a mobile phone terminal device 101 which is an embodiment of the communication terminal device of the present invention.
[0062]
The mobile phone terminal device 101 is connected to a base station (not shown) of a telephone company that provides a mobile phone communication service using the mobile phone terminal device 101 by the communication unit 103, and to another base station via the base station. Various communication can be performed with a center (not shown) or a device (not shown).
[0063]
The various types of communication include, for example, voice communication, digital data communication, audio content communication, image content communication, game content, multimedia communication including some of them, and communication of any other information.
[0064]
The digital data communication is communication including, for example, electronic mail, web data when accessing the Internet, and other various types of digital data such as application data.
[0065]
The audio content is any audio data including MIDI, MP3, PCM, various other digital music and analog music, digital and analog audio data, and the like.
[0066]
The image content is any image data including JPEG, GIF, and other various digital still images, MPEG and other digital moving images, other various analog still images, and analog moving images.
[0067]
The game content includes various game programs and applets that can be played using the mobile phone terminal device 101, data used by the programs, and other various data necessary for playing the game. When the game is a real-time battle game, it includes a program, an applet, and the like for real-time communication.
[0068]
The data received by the communication unit 103 is sent to the control unit 124 through demodulation, decoding, and other processes in the reception control unit 105. The control unit 124 is mainly composed of a CPU, and includes a program for operating the CPU, a memory used for the operation of the CPU, and other various elements, but the details are omitted because they are not directly related to the essence of the present invention.
[0069]
The control unit 124 controls the reception control unit 105 according to the availability / unavailability of various functions described later, and controls the availability / unavailability of the reception function.
[0070]
Data transmitted from the communication unit 103 is transmitted from the control unit 124 to the communication unit 103 through encoding, modulation, and other processes in the transmission control unit 104.
[0071]
The data includes, for example, an audio signal input by an audio encoding unit (for example, a microphone or a microphone or the like) 153, audio data recorded by the audio recording unit 155, and various digital signals stored by the data storage unit 122. Data, various game contents stored in the game storage unit 137, various image data stored in the image storage unit 145, various image data captured by the image capturing unit (for example, a camera or other) 143, and the like.
[0072]
The audio encoding unit 153 is, for example, a microphone, but is not limited to the microphone. It is applied to DVD and others, but not limited to this, and includes a fixed type and a portable type. Regarding specific examples of the recording unit and the storage unit, the same applies to the image storage unit 145, the game storage unit 137, and the data storage unit 122.
[0073]
The photographing unit 143 is, for example, a camera using a CCD image pickup device or a CMOS image pickup device and a lens using a semiconductor technology, a photoelectric principle, and an optical principle, but is not limited thereto. Or a photoelectric converter utilizing a nuclear reaction may be used.
[0074]
The audio encoding unit 153, the audio recording unit 155, the data storage unit 122, the game storage unit 137, the image storage unit 145, and the image capturing unit 143 also use the control unit 124 according to the availability or unusability of various functions described below. Controls whether the function can be used or not.
[0075]
The data received by the communication unit 103 is processed by the control unit 124 according to the type of each data. For example, if the received data is audio data, the data is sent to the audio reproduction unit (speaker) 157 to reproduce the sound. You. This implements, for example, a telephone call function.
[0076]
Alternatively, the audio data may be sent to the audio recording unit 155 and recorded simultaneously with or separately from the reproduction by the audio reproduction unit (speaker) 157. The audio data recorded in the audio recording unit 155 is read out as needed, and may be reproduced by an audio reproduction unit (for example, a speaker or other device) 157, or may be transmitted to the communication unit 103 via the control unit 124. May also be sent from.
[0077]
Recording, reproduction and transmission of audio data usually involve input of operation data from the operation unit 126 by the user, but since this is not directly related to the essence of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The same applies to other data and data-related functions.
[0078]
Alternatively, if the received data is image data, it is sent to an image display unit (for example, an LCD (liquid crystal display panel), a CRT (electron tube), a PDP (plasma display panel), or other display device) 147 to reproduce the image. Is done. This implements, for example, a videophone or image communication function.
[0079]
Alternatively, the image data may be sent to and stored in the image storage unit 145 simultaneously with or independently of the reproduction on the image display unit 147. The image data stored in the image storage unit 145 may be read as needed and reproduced by the image display unit 147, or may be transmitted from the communication unit 103 via the control unit 124.
[0080]
So far, the audio recording unit 155 and the image storage unit 145 have been described as being different from each other, but they are the same, and one unit may be used for both.
[0081]
It is not always necessary that the audio data and the image data are different data. For example, the data may include a plurality of data such as a digital broadcast stream or MPEG data. In this case, the audio data and the image data may be separated by the control unit 124 and sent to the respective storage means and the reproduction means. Alternatively, the audio data and the image data may be stored in one storage means while containing the audio data and the image data. In response to this, necessary data may be read and reproduced by the respective reproduction units, or transmitted from the communication unit 103.
[0082]
However, they are not directly related to the essence of the present invention and will not be described in further detail.
[0083]
Alternatively, if the received data is digital data, it is sent to and stored in the data storage unit 122 or used for various other controls.
[0084]
The digital data includes, for example, data for controlling the use / non-use of various functions of the mobile phone terminal device 101, which will be described later, as well as e-mail data, WEB data at the time of Internet access, and any other Includes application data and control data.
[0085]
Of course, the digital data may be received not alone but mixed with other audio data and image data. This case is essentially the same as the case where the audio data and the image data coexist, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0086]
Similarly to the above, the digital data stored in the data storage unit 122 may be transmitted from the communication unit 103 as it is or after some modification has been performed via the control unit 124. is there.
[0087]
If the received data is, for example, game content, the game content is once sent to, for example, the game storage unit 137, and the game content is stored when a user operation using the operation unit 126 is performed or when necessary. The content is read from the unit 137 and played back by the game playing unit 136, so that the user can play the game.
[0088]
It is not always necessary to send the information to the game storage unit 137 once, and it goes without saying that it may be directly reproduced and played by the game reproduction unit 136.
[0089]
Since game play usually involves display of image data and reproduction of audio data, the game content includes image data and audio data, which are sent to the image display unit 147 and the audio reproduction unit 157, respectively, and reproduced. Is done.
[0090]
Playback and play of a game usually involve input of operation data from the operation unit 126 by the user, but this is also not directly related to the essence of the present invention, and a detailed description is omitted.
[0091]
Similarly to the above, the game content stored in the game storage unit 137 may be transmitted from the communication unit 103 via the control unit 124, and may be mixed with other image data, audio data, or digital data. The possibility is the same as the above, and the detailed description is omitted.
[0092]
As described above, each function of the mobile phone terminal device 101 having many functions as described above is controlled to be usable and unusable, respectively. It is mainly the control unit 124 that performs the control of the availability and the unusability, but it is not necessarily limited to this.
[0093]
This data is sent to the control unit 124 via the reception control unit 105, and the control unit 124 controls whether each function of the mobile phone terminal device 101 can be used or not, based on the data. Then, the data is stored in the data storage unit 122.
[0094]
The data from which the control unit 124 controls the use / non-use of each function of the mobile phone terminal device 101 is, for example, the user of the mobile phone terminal device 101 providing a mobile phone service. When a user sets a mobile phone service contract, changes, adds, or cancels a usage contract including a model change at a sales office of a mobile phone company or at a store of an agent (101 in FIG. 10A), For example, the data is input to a computer of an agency of a mobile phone company (102 in FIG. 10A).
[0095]
FIG. 2 shows an example of the data. As shown in FIG. 2, this data includes the name of the contractor who is the portable telephone user, the address of the contractor, the terminal ID unique to the portable telephone to be used, and the portable telephone used for the call of the portable telephone terminal 101 to be used. It includes a number, a contract start date, a contract end date, a contract status, a paid usage fee, and control information of various additional functions.
[0096]
This is an example of data, and it is not always necessary to include all of them, and other data may be included in addition to these data.
[0097]
If a contract is being made, the contract status is stored to indicate that the contract is being made, and nothing is stored for the contract end date.
[0098]
The paid usage fee is stored in a case where the usage fee required for using the mobile phone terminal device 101 has been paid in advance, that is, when prepaid is being performed. If the usage fee has not been prepaid, its value is stored as zero.
[0099]
For example, if the mobile phone terminal device 101 has a game play function, an audio playback player function, a voice recorder function, a digital camera function, a movie camera function, and a television reception function in addition to the call function, For example, whether or not each function is currently available is stored.
[0100]
For example, in FIG. 2, ON indicates that the function is currently available, and OFF indicates that the function is currently unavailable.
[0101]
Also, these functions are merely examples, and it is not necessary to include all of them, and other functions may be included in addition to these functions.
[0102]
The data entered into the computer of the mobile phone company's agency and other computers is sent to the server installed and operated by the mobile phone company and registered as personal information on the user who is contracting with the mobile phone company ( FIG. 10 (a) 103). FIG. 3 shows an example of the data.
[0103]
The data registered in the server of the mobile phone company includes, for example, the items shown in FIG. 3, some of these items, or other items.
[0104]
Since this data is basically the same as the data input to the computer of the agency or the like, the description is omitted.
[0105]
Then, this contract is made, and on the day after the personal information is registered, it is assumed that the user has canceled the use contract of the mobile phone terminal device 101 at the store of the agency or the like (104 in FIG. 10B). ). FIG. 4 shows personal information input to the computer of the agency when the cancellation is performed and registered in the server installed and operated by the mobile phone company.
[0106]
As shown in FIG. 4, the data indicating the contract end date is the date when the contract was canceled, for example, February 11, 2003, and the contract status indicates “contract canceled”. Be changed.
[0107]
Further, FIG. 4 shows that the usage fee is prepaid by the user in advance with the cancellation of the contract, and the amount is 56,000 yen (FIG. 10 (b) 105).
[0108]
In this embodiment, the usage fee is prepaid by the user in accordance with the cancellation of the contract, but in other embodiments, the contract is independent of the cancellation of the contract independently of the cancellation of the contract. The usage fee may be prepaid before the cancellation or after the cancellation of the contract.
[0109]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, in this personal information, the control status of the additional function is such that the game play function is ON, the audio playback player function is OFF, the voice recorder function is OFF, the digital camera function is OFF, the movie camera function is OFF, and the television receiving function is ON. Therefore, in the mobile phone terminal device 101 whose contract has been canceled, only the game play function and the television receiving function among these additional functions are selected and available, and the other functions cannot be used ( FIG.10 (b) 106).
[0110]
That is, the prepaid usage fee of 56,000 yen is prepaid as a fee for using the game play function and the television reception function.
[0111]
As described above, when the user of the mobile phone terminal device 101 cancels the usage contract and prepaid the fee for using the additional function, the information is sent from the computer of the agency to the server of the mobile phone company. (FIG. 10 (b) 107), and is downloaded as function permission information from the server to the mobile phone terminal device 101 whose usage contract has been released (FIG. 10 (b) 108).
[0112]
The download of the function permission information may be performed by the server initiating the release of the use contract of the mobile phone terminal device 101, or may be performed by the mobile phone terminal device 101. The mobile phone terminal device 101 may take the initiative when an operation for using some function is performed, or may be triggered by something else, for example, at a predetermined time interval, Alternatively, it may be performed at a predetermined time.
[0113]
Alternatively, the case where the usage contract of the mobile phone terminal device 101 has been canceled has been described above, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to the cancellation of the usage contract of the mobile phone terminal device 101. The same is true for such cases.
[0114]
Similar changes are made to the personal information stored in the server for the mobile phone terminal device 101 that is no longer used due to this model change. Then, for the mobile phone terminal device 101 that is newly used, the personal information regarding the contract is registered as shown in FIG.
[0115]
Further, when the model is changed, a parent-child relationship is set between the new model and the old model, which will be described later in detail.
[0116]
FIG. 5 shows an example of the function permission information downloaded to the mobile phone terminal device 101 which is no longer used due to the cancellation of the usage contract or the model change. It should be noted that the term "no longer used" refers to the call function only, and may be used for other additional functions. Downloading of the function permission information for designating the available additional functions is not performed. This will be described below.
[0117]
The function permission information is created from the personal information of the user after the cancellation or the model change shown in FIG. 4 stored in the server, and the information is transferred to the mobile phone terminal device 101 whose cancellation or the model change is performed as shown in FIG. 10, the mobile phone terminal device 101 first checks the terminal device ID and the mobile phone number, and confirms that the function permission information is addressed to itself (FIG. 10). (B) 109).
[0118]
Next, the control unit 124 of the mobile phone terminal device 101 confirms that the contract status of the function permission information has been canceled, and then the control unit 124 of the mobile phone terminal device 101 sets the paid usage fee to 56 Check that 2,000 yen has been prepaid, and that the game play function and the television receiving function are on, and that only these two additional functions can be used. The other additional functions are controlled to be unusable (109 in FIG. 10B).
[0119]
In this state, when the user uses the game play function or the television reception function, plays a game, or receives a television, the control unit 124 of the mobile phone terminal device 101 sets a predetermined value according to the use. According to the standard, the paid usage fee included in the function permission information is reduced from the initial 56,000 yen (110 in FIG. 10B).
[0120]
For example, if the game play function is used for one hour, the paid usage fee is reduced by 100 yen, and if the television receiving function is used for one hour and television reception is performed for one hour, 70 yen is reduced from the paid usage fee. Control such as reduction is performed by the control unit 124 of the mobile phone terminal device 101.
[0121]
In this way, each time an additional function is used, the paid usage fee is reduced according to a predetermined standard, and when the paid usage fee becomes zero, the control status of all the additional functions is turned off. It is set and all the additional functions are controlled to be unusable (FIG. 10B 111).
[0122]
However, even if the paid usage fee becomes zero in this way, if the user makes a new contract or pays an additional fee, new function permission information is created from the personal information and the function permission As the information is downloaded from the server to the mobile phone terminal device 101, the paid usage fee is set again, and the control status of any additional function is controlled to be usable (FIG. 10B 112). .
[0123]
The payment of this additional usage fee and the recovery of the control status of the additional function are performed only after the paid usage fee has become zero, even if the paid usage fee remains at a certain level, even if the paid usage fee remains at zero. It is also possible to extend the time during which the additional functions can be used continuously by paying for the additional functions and accumulating the paid usage charges.
[0124]
Further, it is also possible to change the additional functions that can be used by changing the contract contents simultaneously with or separately from the payment of the additional charge (FIG. 10B 113).
[0125]
For example, in a situation in which the function permission information of the additional function shown in FIG. 5 is downloaded, only the game play function and the television receiving function can be used, and the other functions cannot be used. Thus, for example, the personal information stored in the server can be changed via the computer of the agency, for example, so that the digital camera function can be additionally used (FIG. 10B 113).
[0126]
Or, conversely, by changing the contents of the usage contract, for example, the personal information stored in the server is changed via the computer of the agency, for example, the game play function which was conventionally available is changed to be unusable. (FIG. 10 (b) 113).
[0127]
Alternatively, the change of the function permission information does not necessarily require, for example, changing the contract at the agency, and registering the result in the server of the mobile phone company, but directly contracting, applying for or reporting to the mobile phone company. Alternatively, the registered contents of the server can be directly changed by paying an additional fee.
[0128]
Furthermore, it is not always necessary to change the registered contents of the server. For example, by operating the operation unit 126 of the mobile phone terminal device 101, the function permission information can be changed only by the mobile phone terminal device 101. It is. However, in this method, control is performed by the control unit 124 so that the function permission information is not rewritten beyond the limit permitted by the balance of the paid usage fee, and the change of the paid usage fee is performed by the mobile phone terminal. It cannot be performed by the device 101.
[0129]
If this can be done, the paid usage fee may be rewritten more than actually paid, and the additional functions may be used without restriction.
[0130]
However, if a restricted function that does not allow such an operation to be performed indefinitely, for example, a password that is known only to an administrator having valid authority is input, a change in the paid usage fee is performed by the mobile phone terminal device 101. Embodiments may be used. In this embodiment, for example, when an additional charge is paid at the store of the agency, an additional function is added by adjusting the usage fee paid by the agent of the agency to the amount actually paid. It will also be possible to allow use.
[0131]
Next, a case will be described in which the model of the mobile phone terminal device 101 is changed, and at the same time, or not necessarily at the same time, a parent-child relationship is set between the new model and the old model.
[0132]
For example, it is assumed that the user of the mobile phone changes the model of the mobile phone terminal device 101 at the store of the agency or the like, and sets a parent-child relationship in which the old model is the slave and the new model is the master (see FIG. ) 121).
[0133]
This parent-child relationship is set, and the new mobile phone terminal device 101 serving as the parent machine is under contract for use, and in addition to the normal call function, the additional functions are not limited unless they are specially restricted for some reason. All additional functions can be used.
[0134]
However, even if some or all of the additional functions of the new model mobile phone terminal device 101 serving as a base unit are controlled to be unusable due to a usage contract of the mobile phone terminal device 101 or some other cause. I do not care.
[0135]
Conversely, the contract status of the old model mobile telephone terminal device 101, which is a child device in which a parent-child relationship has been set, is canceled, the normal call function cannot be used, and the additional functions are also prepaid. Only the additional functions for which a special usage contract has been made can be used.
[0136]
Up to this point, this is the same as the above-described mobile phone terminal device 101 under contract and the mobile phone terminal device 101 whose contract has been canceled.
[0137]
The change of the model of the mobile phone terminal device 101 and the parent-child relationship with the old model as the slave unit and the new model as the master unit are registered in the server of the mobile phone company (122 in FIG. 11A).
[0138]
The difference between the mobile phone terminal device 101 for which the contract has been canceled and the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the old model in which the parent-child relationship has been set is that personal information about the mobile device registered in the server of the mobile phone company is different. Means that the ID of the parent terminal device is registered.
[0139]
FIG. 6 shows an example of personal information about the child device registered in the server of the mobile phone company with respect to the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the child device which is the old model in which the parent-child relationship is set. As described above, with respect to the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the child device that is the old model in which the parent-child relationship is set, the personal information about the child device registered in the server of the mobile phone company is the mobile phone terminal device for which the contract has been canceled. The only difference from the personal information relating to 101 is that it includes the parent terminal device ID “AXZ-0012-0345”.
[0140]
FIG. 7 shows an example of personal information on the parent device registered in the server of the cellular phone company for the cellular phone terminal device 101 of the parent device which is a new model in which the parent-child relationship is set.
[0141]
Regarding the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the parent device, which is a new model in which the parent-child relationship is set, the personal information on the parent device registered in the server of the mobile phone company is different from the personal information on the mobile phone terminal device 101 under contract. That is, it includes the child terminal device ID “BYZ-0987-1468” and information about the control status of the additional function of the child device.
[0142]
Information related to the model change registered in the server of the mobile phone company and the associated parent-child relationship setting is downloaded to the parent device and the child device, respectively (123 in FIG. 11A).
[0143]
FIG. 8 shows an example of the function permission information regarding the child device downloaded from the server of the mobile phone company for the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the child device which is the old model in which the parent-child relationship is set.
[0144]
With respect to the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the child device that is the old model in which the parent-child relationship is set, the function permission information about the child device downloaded from the server of the mobile phone company is the function related to the mobile phone terminal device 101 whose contract has been released. The only difference from the permission information is that it includes the parent terminal device ID “AXZ-0012-0345”.
[0145]
FIG. 9 shows an example of the function permission information about the parent device downloaded from the server of the cellular phone company with respect to the cellular phone terminal device 101 of the parent device which is a new model in which the parent-child relationship is set.
[0146]
With respect to the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the parent device which is a new model in which the parent-child relationship is set, the personal information about the parent device downloaded from the server of the mobile phone company is the same as the function permission information of the mobile phone terminal device 101 under contract. What is different is that it contains the child terminal device ID “BYZ-0987-1468”, that it contains information indicating the contract status of this child device, and that information about the control status of the additional functions of this child device is It is to include.
[0147]
As shown in FIG. 8, if a paid usage fee of 76,000 yen has been prepaid in advance for the portable telephone terminal device 101 of an old model in which the parent-child relationship has been set, a game of an additional function is performed. The play function and the television receiving function are turned on, and these additional functions can be continuously used even after the contract is canceled (124 in FIG. 11A).
[0148]
After a predetermined period of time, when the prepaid paid usage fee has disappeared, or has not been completely lost but has run out, or wants to use more, even though it is still running low, If the mobile phone terminal device 101 has simply been released from the contract, the mobile phone terminal device 101 is taken to a mobile phone company or its sales office or agency, an additional paid usage fee is paid, and the mobile phone terminal device 101 stores it. It was necessary to increase the paid usage fee according to the amount paid.
[0149]
However, in the portable telephone terminal device 101 of an old model in which a parent-child relationship is set, there are some methods, for example, radio waves or infrared rays used as a data communication line of a wired cable or a wireless data communication line, or one standard thereof. When an example of Bluetooth or the like connects a mobile phone terminal device 101 of a child device that is an old model with a parent-child relationship and a mobile phone terminal device 101 of a parent device that is a new model with a parent-child relationship is connected. Then, the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the child device prepaids the additional paid usage fee via the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the parent device, and increases the stored paid usage fee in accordance with the prepaid amount. be able to.
[0150]
Specifically, the portable telephone terminal device 101 of the child device and the portable telephone terminal device 101 of the parent device are connected by any method as described above, and communication between the portable telephone terminal device 101 of the child device is performed by the communication between them. An additional payment request signal for the paid usage fee is transmitted to the portable telephone terminal device 101 of the device (125 in FIG. 11B).
[0151]
At this time, the portable telephone terminal device 101 of the child device uses the stored parent terminal device ID, and the portable telephone terminal device 101 of the connected parent device surely establishes a parent-child relationship with itself. Is confirmed to be the mobile phone terminal device 101.
[0152]
At the same time, the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the base unit that has been requested to add the prepaid additional usage fee via the connected data communication line uses the stored child terminal device ID to connect the connected child terminal device. It is confirmed that the portable telephone terminal device 101 of the portable device is indeed the portable telephone terminal device 101 of the portable device in which the parent-child relationship is set with itself (FIG. 11 (b) 126).
[0153]
The mobile phone terminal device 101 of the master unit checks the current state of the slave unit based on the contract status of the slave unit and the control information of the additional function stored at the same time.
[0154]
This is for confirming that the prepaid additional paying usage fee requested by the slave unit is legitimate and conforms to the usage contract with the mobile phone company.
[0155]
If it is determined by this confirmation that the prepaid additional payment fee requested by the child device is legitimate, the mobile telephone terminal device 101 of the parent device passes through the communication unit 103 to the mobile telephone company. The server communicates with the server of (1) and applies for a prepaid additional paying usage fee requested by the slave unit (127 in FIG. 11B).
[0156]
Further, the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the base unit, upon obtaining the approval from the server of the mobile phone company to be described later, requests the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the base unit for the additional payment requested by the mobile unit. The prepaid usage fee is approved (129 in FIG. 11B).
[0157]
When the portable telephone terminal device 101 of the slave unit receives the prepaid approval of the additional paid usage fee from the master unit, the mobile phone terminal device 101 increases the stored paid usage fee by that amount (FIG. 11). (B) 130).
[0158]
In addition, the approval of the prepaid additional paid usage fee for the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the slave unit by the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the base unit does not necessarily require the approval from the server of the mobile phone company as described later. In some embodiments, this is done without.
[0159]
In the server of the mobile phone company, the content of the prepaid application for the additional paid usage fee made by the parent device is compared with the content of the information shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and the validity of the application is confirmed (FIG. 11 (b) 128).
[0160]
If the validity of the application is confirmed, a prepaid additional paying usage fee is approved for the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the master unit (128 in FIG. 11B), and the information stored accordingly Is updated, and the amount corresponding to the prepaid amount of the approved additional paid usage fee is updated together with the usage fee of the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the parent device under contract or separately from this usage fee. It is collected from the subscriber of the mobile telephone terminal device 101 of the middle parent device (128 in FIG. 11B).
[0161]
Alternatively, in another embodiment, the collection of the amount according to the prepaid amount of the approved additional paid usage fee may be performed by a person other than the contractor of the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the parent device under contract. .
[0162]
Alternatively, in still another embodiment, if the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the base unit has some paid usage fee, the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the base unit is not necessarily added to the server of the mobile phone company. Without applying for a prepaid usage fee paid by the user, transfers part or all of the paid usage fee that the user has to the portable telephone terminal device 101 of the child device, and the user corresponding to the transferred amount It is also possible to reduce the paid usage fee that one has.
[0163]
In still another embodiment, the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the slave unit requests not only a prepaid additional paying usage fee but also a request for use of an additional function which has not been used before. There may be.
[0164]
This additional function use request may be applied to the server of the mobile phone company via the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the base unit, or, for example, the additional request requested by the slave unit. If the function use is an additional function that can be used in the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the parent device, the additional additional function is also used in the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the slave device without necessarily applying to the server of the mobile phone company. The mobile phone terminal 101 of the base unit may be controlled so that the additional function of the mobile phone terminal unit 101 of the base unit cannot be used. The additional function may be controlled to be continuously available.
[0165]
Alternatively, the request for using the additional function from the mobile phone terminal device 101 of the slave unit may be made at the same time as the prepaid of the additional paid usage fee. May be performed.
[0166]
In still another embodiment, the request made from the portable telephone terminal device 101 of the child device to the portable telephone terminal device 101 of the parent device does not necessarily require the use of an additional additional function or the additional paid use fee. The request may be not only prepaid but also a request to download and play new game software, or a request to distribute music or video content.
[0167]
The mobile phone terminal device 101 of the parent device that has made this request may request the request to the server of the mobile phone company. For example, the requested content or other information may be transmitted to the mobile device of the parent device. If possessed by the telephone terminal device 101, the mobile phone terminal device 101 itself of the parent device, through the application and approval to the server of the mobile phone company, or without going through either or both of the application and approval, The data may be distributed or downloaded to the portable telephone terminal device 101 of the child device.
[0168]
In this way, when the prepaid addition of the paid usage fee is performed on the child device whose contract has been canceled along with the model change using the parent-child relationship, the contract is canceled in accordance with the amount of the prepaid addition. It is possible for the slave unit to continue using the additional function (131 in FIG. 11B).
[0169]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, in the communication terminal device according to the present invention, the server installed at the center stores and retains information on the availability and unusability of each function of the communication terminal device. Changes and updates in accordance with the usage contract for each function, and the communication terminal receives and stores the information on the availability and non-availability of each function according to the contents of the contract, and stores each function according to the content. It can be controlled to be available or unavailable.
[0170]
As a result, only a specific function of the communication terminal device is used, a specific function is used by a predetermined amount, only a use contract of some functions is canceled, or a use contract of the communication terminal device is canceled. However, it is possible to continue the usage contract for only some of the functions, or to transfer the contract for the use of each function of one communication terminal device to the contract for the use of each function of another communication terminal device as it is. The convenience of the device can be significantly improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a main part of a mobile phone terminal device 101 which is an embodiment of a communication terminal device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of personal information input for each contractor at an agency.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of personal information of a contracting user registered in a server of a mobile phone company;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a user's personal information after cancellation or model change registered in a server of a mobile phone company;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of function permission information downloaded to a mobile phone terminal device after cancellation or model change;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an embodiment of information relating to a child device registered in a server when a parent-child relationship is set.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an embodiment of information on a parent device registered in a server when a parent-child relationship is set.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an embodiment of function permission information downloaded from a server to an old portable telephone terminal device which is a child device when a parent-child relationship is set.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an embodiment of function permission information downloaded from a server to a new mobile phone terminal device which is a parent device when a parent-child relationship is set.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flow of control involved in setting, adding, changing, and canceling a usage contract of a mobile phone terminal device.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a setting flow of a parent-child relationship performed simultaneously with a change of the model of the mobile phone terminal device and a flow of control accompanying addition of a prepaid card utilizing the parent-child relationship.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a flow of control in a conventional communication terminal device in which functions other than the communication function are controlled so that they cannot be used when predetermined registration is not performed.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 Mobile phone terminal device
103 Communication unit
104 Transmission control unit
105 reception control unit
122 Data storage unit
124 control unit
126 Operation unit
136 Game Playback Department
137 Game storage unit
143 Imaging Department
145 Image storage unit
147 Image display section
153 Audio Encoding Unit
155 Audio recording unit
157 Audio playback unit

Claims (16)

Means for receiving data from a predetermined server device;
Means for controlling a part or all of the functions to be available or unavailable according to the received data,
A communication terminal device having: The data includes data related to a usage contract for the communication terminal device,
The communication terminal device according to claim 1. The usage contract includes any one or more of setting, changing, and canceling the usage contract related to the release of the usage contract of the communication terminal device, the change of the model of the communication terminal device, the available period, and the available communication amount.
The communication terminal device according to claim 2. The usage contract is for setting, changing, and canceling a usage contract relating to the availability, unavailability, cancellation of a usage contract, change of a usage contract, available period, and available amount of some or all of the functions of the communication terminal device. Including any one or more of
The communication terminal device according to claim 2 or 3. The data includes data related to usage fee payment required to use some or all of the functions of the communication terminal device or the communication terminal device,
The communication terminal device according to claim 1. 6. The data is received from the predetermined server device when the usage contract or the usage fee payment is performed, or when at least one of addition, change, cancellation, and cancellation is performed. The communication terminal device according to claim 1. When the operation of the communication terminal device is performed, the data related to the use of the function of the communication terminal device used by the operation is received from the server device,
The communication terminal device according to claim 1. The communication terminal device receives the data related to the use of its own function from the server device via another communication terminal device,
The communication terminal device according to claim 1. The communication terminal device is a communication terminal device for which use of a communication function is restricted,
The communication terminal device according to claim 8. The restriction on the use of the communication function is controlled based on information on a usage contract.
The communication terminal device according to claim 9. The other communication terminal device is the other communication terminal device stored in the server device in association with the communication terminal device,
The communication terminal device according to any one of claims 8 to 10. The reception of the data is controlled based on information related to a usage contract of the other communication terminal device.
The communication terminal device according to claim 8. The received data is data for making all or a part of the functions available in the another communication terminal device available in the communication terminal device,
The communication terminal device according to claim 8. The usage fee required by being available by receiving the data is paid based on a usage contract for the other communication terminal device,
The communication terminal device according to any one of claims 8 to 13. The function corresponding to the function that has become available in the communication terminal device by receiving the data is controlled to be reduced from the function that is available in the other communication terminal device,
The communication terminal device according to any one of claims 8 to 14. The functions include a voice communication function, a data communication function, an e-mail transmission / reception function, a voice content receiving function, a voice content recording / reproducing function, an image content receiving function, an image content recording / reproducing function, a game content receiving function, a game content recording / reproducing function, and the Internet. Including one or more of an access function, a broadcast reception function, a broadcast reception recording / playback function, a recording function, an image shooting function, an image shooting recording function, an image shooting transmission function,
The communication terminal device according to claim 1.

Images