Chip card, method and system for using and paying for services

Claim 1

A chip card for a user to use and pay for fee-based services of different service providers (A, B, C), the chip card comprising: first means (EP) for decoding information sent by the selected fee-based service of the different service providers (A, B, C), a first memory (I) for storing an aggregate amount for paying for the fee-based services of any of the different service providers (A, B, C), a second memory (KM) for storing usage data of the fee-based services of the different service providers (A, B, C) so as to eliminate a need for a backward channel to the different service providers (A, B, C) in order to use the chip card for fee-based services, wherein the second memory (KM) stores: a service provider identity, the fee-based service, start time and duration of the usage of the fee-based service, and a fee charged to the user for using a fee-based service, the chip card further storing cost associated with the fee-based services incurred to a card company (Z) and comprising means (ST) for evaluating stored data and for determining cost of an actual fee-based service therefrom, and for reducing the aggregate amount which is stored in the first memory by an amount equal to the cost, wherein the aggregate amount is loaded at a loading station which has no backward channel to the fee-based service providers (A, B, C) and wherein the loading station has a backward channel linking to the card company (Z) so as to allow the card company (Z) to determine payable amounts to be credited to the different service providers based on a respective usage and the cost stored on the chip card.

Claim 7

A method for a user to use and pay for fee-based services of different service providers (A, B, C), wherein a fee-based service is requested and information sent by the selected fee-based service is decoded with the help of a chip card (CC) having a memory (KM), wherein data relating to a usage of the fee-based services, a fee charged to the user for using a fee-based service, and cost of the fee-based service incurred to a card company (Z) are stored in the memory (KM) of the chip card (CC) so as to eliminate a need for a backward channel to the different service providers (A, B, C) in order to use the chip card for fee-based services, and wherein an aggregate amount of money is loaded onto the chip card (CC) at a loading station (LS) which has no backward channel to the fee-based service providers (A, B, C) for paying for services provided by any of the different service providers (A, B, C) and data relating to the usage are read and erased from the chip card, and wherein the read data are transmitted to the card company (Z) so as to allow the card company (Z) to determine payable amounts to be credited to the different fee-based service providers (A, B, C) based on a respective usage and the cost stored in the chip card.

Claim 8

A method for a user to use and pay for fee-based services of different service providers (A, B, C), wherein a fee-based service is requested and information sent by the selected fee-based service is decoded with the help of a chip card (CC) having a memory (KM), wherein data relating to a usage of the fee-based services, a fee charged to the user for using a fee-based service, and cost of the fee-based service incurred to a card company (Z) are stored in the memory (KM) of the chip card (CC) so as to eliminate a need for a backward channel to the different service providers (A, B, C) in order to use the chip card for fee-based services, and wherein an aggregate amount of money is loaded onto the chip card (CC) at a loading station (LS) which has no backward channel to the fee-based service providers (A, B, C) for paying for services provided by any of the different service providers (A, B, C) and data relating to the usage are read and erased from the chip card, and wherein the read data are transmitted to the card company (Z) so as to allow the card company (Z) to determine payable amounts to be credited to the different fee-based service providers (A, B, C) based on a respective usage and the cost stored in the chip card.

Claim 13

A system for using fee-based services of different service providers (A, B, C), the system comprising: a chip card (CC) to be used by a user, having means for receiving and decoding a request of fee-based services of different service providers (A, B, C), a first memory, and a second memory for storing usage data of the fee-based services of any of the different service providers (A, B, C), a fee charged to the user for using a fee-based service, and cost of the fee-based service incurred to a card company (Z) so as to eliminate a need for a backward channel to the different service providers in order to use the chip card for fee-based services, a loading station (LS) for loading an aggregate amount onto the first memory of the chip card (CC) for paying for services provided by any of the different service providers (A, B, C) and for reading and erasing usage data of the fee-based services of the different service providers (A, B, C) from the second memory of the chip card (CC), wherein the loading station has no backward channel to the fee-based service providers (A, B, C) and wherein the loading station has a backward channel linking to the card company (Z) so as to allow the card company (Z) to determine payable amounts to be credited to the service providers depending on a respective usage and the cost stored on the chip card.

Claim 14

A system for using fee-based services of different service providers (A, B, C), the system comprising: a chip card (CC) to be used by a user, having means for receiving and decoding a request of fee-based services of different service providers (A, B, C), a first memory, and a second memory for storing usage data of the fee-based services of any of the different service providers (A, B, C), a fee charged to the user for using a fee-based service, and cost of the fee-based service incurred to a card company (Z) so as to eliminate a need for a backward channel to the different service providers in order to use the chip card for fee-based services, a loading station (LS) for loading an aggregate amount onto the first memory of the chip card (CC) for paying for services provided by any of the different service providers (A, B, C) and for reading and erasing usage data of the fee-based services of the different service providers (A, B, C) from the second memory of the chip card (CC), wherein the loading station has no backward channel to the fee-based service providers (A, B, C) and wherein the loading station has a backward channel linking to the card company (Z) so as to allow the card company (Z) to determine payable amounts to be credited to the service providers depending on a respective usage and the cost stored on the chip card.

Claim 16

A system for using the fee-based services of different service providers (A, B, C), the system comprising: a chip card (CC), having means for receiving and decoding a request of fee-based services of different service providers (A, B, C), a first memory, and a second memory for storing usage data of the fee-based services of any of the different service providers (A, B, C), a fee charged to the user for using a fee-based service, and cost of the fee-based service incurred to a card company (Z) so as to eliminate a need for a backward channel to the different service providers in order to use the chip card for fee-based services and to guarantee anonymous use; a loading station (LS) for loading an aggregate amount onto the first memory of the chip card (CC) for paying for services provided by any of the different service providers (A, B, C) and for reading and erasing usage data of the fee-based services of the different service providers (A, B, C) from the second memory of the chip card (CC), and wherein the card company (Z) is connected to the loading station (LS) for determining amounts to be credited to the service providers depending on respective usage.

Claim 17

A system for using the fee-based services of different service providers (A, B, C), the system comprising: a chip card (CC), having means for receiving and decoding a request of fee-based services of different service providers (A, B, C), a first memory, and a second memory for storing usage data of the fee-based services of any of the different service providers (A, B, C), a fee charged to the user for using a fee-based service, and cost of the fee-based service incurred to a card company (Z) so as to eliminate a need for a backward channel to the different service providers in order to use the chip card for fee-based services and to guarantee anonymous use; a loading station (LS) for loading an aggregate amount onto the first memory of the chip card (CC) for paying for services provided by any of the different service providers (A, B, C) and for reading and erasing usage data of the fee-based services of the different service providers (A, B, C) from the second memory of the chip card (CC), and wherein the card company (Z) is connected to the loading station (LS) for determining amounts to be credited to the service providers depending on respective usage.