EP0793205A2 — Electronic wallet and method for operating the sa…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 89 words

An electronic wallet (31) for allowing electronic money information to be withdrawably stored in IC cards (10, 10'), characterized by: a plurality of card slots (3151, 3161) for removably receiving the IC cards; a plurality of operating keys (317); a display part (312) for displaying the electronic money information thereon; and at least one independent function switch (3191, 3192) in addition to a power switch (318), wherein the electronic money information stored in the IC cards are displayed on said display part while said independent function switch is operated.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 47 words

An electronic wallet as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the electronic money information displayed on said display part includes at least one of balances (304) of the electronic money and a lock state (303) for inhibiting data processing of one of the IC cards.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 96 words

An electronic wallet (31) for allowing electronic money information to be withdrawably stored in IC cards (10, 10'), characterized by: a plurality of card slots (3151, 3161) for removably receiving the IC cards; a plurality of operating keys (317); a display part (312) for displaying the electronic money information thereon; and at least one independent function switch (3191, 3192) in addition to a power switch (318), wherein one of said IC cards is put in its lock state (303) to inhibit data processing of one of said IC cards while said independent function switch is operated.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 43 words

An electronic wallet as set forth in claim 3, characterized in that the electronic money information displayed on said display part includes at least one of balances (304) of the electronic moneys and a lock state (303) for one of the IC cards.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 39 words

An electronic wallet as set forth in claim 4, characterized in that a lock key (3192) is operated to put one of said IC cards in the lock state, while a password is entered to release said lock state.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 40 words

An electronic wallet as set forth in claim 4, characterized in that a lock key (3192) is operated to put one of said IC cards in the lock state, while secret character information is entered to release said lock state.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 92 words

An electronic wallet (31) for allowing electronic money information to be withdrawably stored in IC cards (10, 10'), characterized by: a plurality of card slots (3151, 3161) for removably receiving the IC cards; a plurality of operating keys (317); a display part (312) for displaying the electronic money information thereon; and a controller (314) having contacts (3504, 3505) for causing appearance of said electronic money information stored in said IC cards on said display part for a predetermined time during which contacts of the IC cards are put in their conductive state.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 47 words

An electronic wallet as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that the electronic money information displayed on said display part includes at least one of balances (304) of the electronic moneys and a lock state (303) for inhibiting data processing of one of the IC cards.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 139 words

An electronic wallet (31) for allowing electronic money information to be withdrawably stored in IC cards (10, 10'), characterized by: a plurality of card slots (3151, 3161) for removably receiving the IC cards; a plurality of operating keys (317) having a plurality of numeric keys and calculation keys; a display part (312) for displaying the electronic money information and IC card state information thereon; at least one independent function switch (3191, 3192) in addition to a power switch (318); a plurality of control keys (3500) for operating said electronic money information stored in said IC cards and said IC card state information; and a function key (3501) having a plurality of function level layers (3502, 3503) having a plurality of tasks (S, T, L, ST, M, CU, CA) for selecting said plurality of tasks having said function level layers.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 94 words

An electronic wallet as set forth in claim 9, characterized in that the electronic money information displayed on said display part include balances (304) of the electronic moneys; and that said IC card state information include a card lock state (303) indicative of inhibition of data processing of one of said IC cards, a selected card state (302) indicative of which one of the IC cards inserted in said plurality of card slots, and a card insertion state (301) indicative of one of the IC cards being inserted in one of said card slots.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 122 words

An electronic wallet as set forth in claim 9, characterized in that one of said function level layers selected by said function key (3501) is a first function level layer (3502); and that a task of said first function level layer at least includes (1) a first subtask (S) for selecting either one of first and second IC cards inserted into said card slots, (2) a second subtask (L) for locking said first and second IC cards, (3) a third subtask (T) for transferring said electronic money information, (4) a fourth subtask (ST) for displaying transaction information of said first and second IC cards on said display part, and (5) a fifth subtask (M) for selecting a second function level layer (3503).

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 70 words

An electronic wallet as set forth in claim 11, characterized in that a task of said second function level layer (3503) to be selected by said fifth subtask includes (1) a first sub-subtask (CU) for converting the electronic money stored in one of said IC cards to a currency of a predetermined country, and (2) a second sub-subtask (CA) for operating numeric and instruction keys to provide a calculation function.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 165 words

An electronic wallet as set forth in claim 12, characterized in that said control keys (3500) include a clear/cancel key (C) for clearing the information displayed on said display part and for stopping transfer of said electronic money in process, up and down keys (U, D) for instructing a transfer direction of said electronic money, and a decision key (E) for instruction execution; said up and down keys have functions of (1), when said first subtask (S) is instructed, instructing either one of said first and second IC cards by operation of any of said keys, (2) instructing the transfer direction of said electronic money information by operation of any of said keys, (3) when said fourth subtask (ST) is instructed, searching for the latest transaction information of said IC card from the beginning by operation of any of said keys, and (4), when said fifth subtask (M) is instructed, selecting tasks of said second function level layer by operation of any of said keys.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 66 words

An electronic wallet as set forth in claim 10, further characterized by IC card readers/writers (316) provided each for each of the 2 IC cards (10, 10') inserted in said card slots, a microprocessor (313) for causing said IC card readers/writers to perform reading/writing operation over the electronic money under control of said controller, and a modem connector (311) for connection with a modem unit (321).

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 80 words

An electronic wallet as set forth in claim 14, characterized in that said modem unit is removably mounted to said card slots (3151, 3161) of said electronic wallet, said modem unit is provided with a through opening (3162) to communicate with said card slots and a modular jack (3212) to be connected to a communication line (323), so that, when said modem unit is already mounted to said card slots, said IC card can be inserted from said card slots.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 82 words

An electronic wallet as set forth in claim 15, characterized in that a party to which said electronic money information is to be transferred from one of said IC cards (10, 10') is (1) the other of said IC cards inserted into the other card slot, (2) a terminal capable of transmitting or receiving electronic money to or from said IC card, or (3) an IC card of another electronic wallet (31) connected to said first-mentioned electronic wallet through said modem unit.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 99 words

A method for operating an electronic wallet (31) which has a plurality of card slots (3151, 3161) for removably receiving IC cards (10, 10') and which allows electronic money information to be withdrawably stored in the IC cards, said method characterized by the steps of: (a) inserting the IC cards (10, 10') into said card slots (3151, 3161); (b) operating at least one independent function switch (3191, 3192) in addition to a power switch (318); and (c), during operation of said independent function switch, displaying the electronic money information stored in said IC cards on a display part (312).

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 50 words

A method for operating an electronic wallet as set forth in claim 17, wherein, in said step (c), balances (304) of the electronic moneys and a card lock state (303) indicative of an inhibition of data processing of one of said IC cards are displayed as said electronic money information.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 103 words

A method for operating an electronic wallet (31) which has a plurality of card slots (3151, 3161) for removably receiving IC cards (10, 10') and which allows electronic money information to be withdrawably stored in the IC cards, said method characterized by the steps of: (a) inserting the IC cards (10, 10') into said card slots (3151, 3161); (b) operating at least one independent function switch (3191, 3192) in addition to a power switch (318); and (c), during operation of said independent function switch, putting one of said IC cards in its lock state (303) to inhibit data processing of the IC card.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 43 words

A method for operating an electronic wallet as set forth in claim 19, wherein, in said step (c), a user pushes a lock key (3192) to put the IC card in said lock state, and enters a password to release said lock state.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 46 words

A method for operating an electronic wallet as set forth in claim 19, characterized in that, in said step (c), a user pushes a lock key (3192) to put the IC card in said lock state, and enters secret character information to release said lock state.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 98 words

A method for operating an electronic wallet (31) which has a plurality of card slots (3151, 3161) for removably receiving IC cards (10, 10') and which allows electronic money information to be withdrawably stored in the IC cards, said method characterized by the steps of: (a) inserting the IC cards (10, 10') into said card slots (3151, 3161); (b) causing contacts of said IC cards to be brought into contact with contacts (3504, 3505) of a controller (314); and (c) displaying the electronic moneys information stored in said IC cards for a predetermined time set by said controller.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 50 words

A method for operating an electronic wallet as set forth in claim 22, wherein, in said step (c), balances (304) of the electronic moneys and a card lock state (303) indicative of an inhibition of data processing of one of said IC cards are displayed as said electronic money information.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 150 words

A method for operating an electronic wallet (31) which has a plurality of card slots (3151, 3161) for removably receiving IC cards (10, 10') and which allows electronic money information to be withdrawably stored in the IC cards, said method characterized by the steps of: (a) inserting the IC cards (10, 10') into said card slots (3151, 3161); (b) displaying the electronic money information stored in said IC cards and IC card state information on a display part (312); (c) displaying a plurality of tasks (S, T, L, ST, M, CU, CA) having predetermined function level layers on said display part (312) with use of a function key (3501); (d) operating said IC card state information according to said IC card state information; (e) instructing any of said plurality of tasks with use of said function key; and (f) executing the selected tasks with use of respective control keys (3500).

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 108 words

A method for operating an electronic wallet as set forth in claim 24, characterized in that, in said step (b), the electronic money balances (304) are displayed on said display part as said electronic money information; and a card lock state (303) indicative of inhibition of data processing of one of said IC cards, a selected card state (302) indicative of which one of the IC cards inserted in said plurality of card slots, and a card insertion state (301) indicative of one of the IC cards being inserted in one of said card slots are also displayed on the display part as said IC card state information.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 115 words

A method for operating an electronic wallet as set forth in claim 24, characterized in that, in said step (c), at least (1) a first subtask (S) for selecting either one of first and second IC cards inserted into said card slots, (2) a second subtask (L) for locking said first and second IC cards, (3) a third subtask (T) for transferring said electronic money information, (4) a fourth subtask (ST) for displaying transaction information of said first and second IC cards on said display part, and (5) a fifth subtask (M) for selecting a second function level layer (3503) are displayed on said display part as task of said first function level layer (3502).

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 82 words

A method for operating an electronic wallet as set forth in claim 26, characterized in that (1) a first sub-subtask (CU) for converting the electronic money stored in one of said IC cards to a currency of a predetermined country, and (2) a second sub-subtask (CA) for operating numeric and instruction keys to provide a calculation function are selected and displayed on said display part as a task of said second function level layer (3503) to be selected by said fifth subtask.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 82 words

A method for operating an electronic wallet as set forth in claim 26, characterized in that, in said step (d), change of said IC card state information is carried out so that, when a user instructs said first function level layer (3502) with use of said function key and enters user's password with use of said operating keys, said card lock state is released, whereas, when the user operates said second subtask (L), the card is returned to said card lock state.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 176 words

A method for operating an electronic wallet as set forth in claim 27, characterized in that said control keys (3500) include a clear/cancel key (C) for clearing the information displayed on said display part and for stopping transfer of said electronic money in process, up and down keys (U, D) for instructing a transfer direction of said electronic money, and a decision key (E) for instruction execution; said up and down keys have functions of (1), when said first subtask (S) is instructed, instructing either one of said first and second IC cards by operation of any of said keys, (2), when the third subtask (T) is instructed, instructing the transfer direction of said electronic money information by operation of any of said keys, (3), when said fourth subtask (ST) is instructed, searching for the latest transaction information of said IC card from the beginning by operation of any of said keys, and (4), when said fifth subtask (M) is instructed, selecting tasks of said second function level layer by operation of any of said keys.

Electronic wallet and method for operating the same

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