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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for storing the history of use of
marketable programs (software) such as marketable computer programs. By
storage of the history of use, proprietors of marketable programs can
charge for the exact amount of use of the software. Specifically, the
system allows proprietors to obtain information on the exact state of use
of software by a specific user and charge appropriately for that use, thus
making the use of such software more attractive to users.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, it is difficult for a proprietor of software such as a computer
program to protect and to extract the full benefits of his software
rights. Once software is passed into the hands of a customer, the
proprietor has no way of knowing how the software is used. He therefore
cannot stop unauthorized use or copying, and cannot utilize a system of
charges based on the amount of actual use. This has not only resulted in
relatively high charges for the use of software, but has also discouraged
software suppliers from the production of good software and promotes a
general decline in the quality of software on the market. Obviously, this
situation is detrimental to progress and the wider use of software in the
future.
A method has been proposed for preventing unauthorized copying of computer
programs, in which the program is coded for the particular computer unit
on which use is authorized. This method is disclosed, for example, in
Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 53-17849. The program
can be used only when this code corresponds to that of the computer on
which use is attempted. This prevents use of unauthorized copies of the
program on other computer units. The control and management of such
computer codes, however, is not easy or practical in the case where the
computer program is mass-marketed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a system in which the use of a
program is recorded every time the program is used.
It is another object of the invention to provide a system in which the
proprietor of a program can charge for the exact amount of use of his
program and can claim damages upon unauthorized use thereof.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a system in which
the users of a program are actually encouraged to copy the program,
whereby extensive utilization of well-designed programs is promoted.
In accordance with a fundamental aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a system for storing data on the history of use of programs,
including a data processing apparatus used by a user and program storage
means for storing a program acquired from a proprietor and
program-specific data. The data processing apparatus includes
user-specific credit data storage means for storing data identifying the
user of the data processing apparatus and indicating credit for payment
capacity, use time length, or the like of the user of the data processing
apparatus. Also included is use decision means for determining permission
to use the program on the data processing apparatus on the basis of
program-specific data supplied from the program storage means or
user-specific credit data supplied from the user-specific credit data
storage means, the use decision means delivering either an affirmative or
negative signal corresponding to results of the decision. Also included is
program use history storage means connected to the use decision means for
storing program use history data derived from the program-specific data or
the user-specific credit data. In this system, the program use history
data is rendered accessible to the proprietors of the programs used in the
data processing apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings,
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for storing data on the history of
use of computer programs according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of more detailed structure of the embodiment of
the system shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 an even more detailed block diagram of the structure and operation
of the system shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another example of the structure and operation
of the system shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a further example of the structure and
operation of the system shown in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a password inspection device which can be used
in association with the system shown in FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A system for storing data on the history of use of programs according to an
embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The system shown
in FIG. 1 includes a data processing apparatus 1 such as a computer used
by a previously approved user, marketable program storages 21, 22, . . .
2n such as magnetic tapes or magnetic disks, and a program registration
and management unit 4.
The data processing apparatus 1 is operated when one of the program
storages 21, 22 . . . 2n is entered into the data processing apparatus 1.
The data processing apparatus 1 includes a use decision unit 11, a
user-specific credit data storage 12, a use history storage 13, and an
operating system portion 14. One of the program storages 21, 22, . . . 2n
is entered into the use decision unit 11. The user-specific credit data
storage 12 is connected to the use decision unit 11. The use decision unit
11 supplies an OK/NG (no good) signal to the operating system portion 14
and an output signal to the use history storage 13 and receives a signal
from the use history storage 13.
An output signal of the use history storage 13 can be supplied to the
program registration and management unit 4, which can send a signal to the
user-specific credit data storage 12. In addition to the program for
operating the user's computer, the program storages 21, 22, . . . , 2n
store the program-specific data of portions 211, 212, . . . 2n.
The user-specific credit data storage 12 stores data indicating the user's
authorization to use the program to be entered into the computer 1, the
user's ability to pay for the use of the program, the period of time the
user is allowed to use the program, and the like. When, for example, the
program-specific data from the program storage 21 is supplied to the use
decision unit 11, the use decision unit 11 compares the program-specific
data from the program-specific data portion 211 with the user-specific
credit data from the user-specific credit data storage 12 and decides
whether the user may use the program.
If the decision is affirmative, an OK signal is supplied to the operating
system portion 14 to allow the subsequent operation of the computer to
proceed. A data signal is supplied to the use history storage 13 to cause
the program-specific data from the program-specific data portion 211
and/or the user-specific credit data from the user-specific credit storage
12 to be stored in the use history storage 13.
If the decision is negative, an NG (no good) signal is supplied to the
operating system portion 14 to prevent subsequent operation of the
computer from taking place.
Once the program-specific data or the user-specific credit data is stored
in the use history storage 13, the program use history data is accessible
to the proprietor of the programs executed on the data processing
apparatus the Therefore, the proprietor can obtain the information
necessary for charging the user for the exact amount of use of his
program.
It is also possible to transmit the data stored in the use history storage
13 to the program registration and management unit 4, which is outside of
the data processing apparatus 1. After predetermined data processing
operations in the program registration and management unit 4, output data
can be transmitted to the user-specific credit data storage 12 to update
or change the data stored therein.
The detailed structure of the system shown in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2.
The user-specific credit data storage 12 is divided into two portions. One
is a storage portion 121 for storing the user-specific code, the other is
a storage portion 122 for storing data of the charge payable by the user
as well as a currency unit, such as yen, dollars, or pounds. The use
history storage 13 includes a main portion 131 of the use history storage
13, an input/output processing portion 132, and a timer portion 133. The
data processing apparatus 1 also includes a magnetic disk device 15, a
printer 16, a keyboard 17, and a display device 18.
The program registration and management unit 4 in the system shown in FIG.
1 is a program pool station 5 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. The
program pool station 5 includes a registration portion 51, a management
docket 52, and an account portion 53.
A proprietor of a program enters a bank account number at the registration
portion 51 and receives a program-specific code (program proprietor
identification code). The data processed in the registration portion 51 is
written in and read from the management docket 52.
The account portion 53 is connected with the input/output processing
portion 132 of the use history storage 13 in the data processing apparatus
1. The information of the charge payable by the user stored in the use
history storage 131 may be a predetermined limit on the amount of
cumulative charges of a user. The content of the use history storage 131
can be emptied when the data to be stored into the use history storage 131
exceeds the predetermined limit of the capacity of storage of data. When
the charge to the user for use of the program in the data processing
apparatus 1 is very high, information concerning such expensive use can be
transmitted through the input/output processing portion 132 to the account
portion 53 in the program pool station 5. Also, information on the balance
of the charge payable by the user stored in the use history storage 131
can be revised to raise the limit of the cumulative charges stored in the
use history storage 131 by instructions supplied through the input/output
processing portion 132 from the account portion 53 in the program pool
station 5.
The data transmission through the input/output processing portion 132 may
be realized through various means, such as on-line data transmission, a
magnetic card, or an IC card including a microprocessor therein.
The program storages 21, 22, . . . are mass-marketed by the proprietors of
the programs 31, 32, 33, . . . . Before this, the proprietors register
their programs at the program pool station 5. Later, they obtain accounts
of the use of their programs by the users from the station 5. For example,
the program-specific data is stored in the program-specific portion 211 of
the program storage 21. The program-specific data includes the
program-specific code supplied from the program pool station 5, the
version number of the program, and the charge for use of the program.
It is possible to include information on a special contract concerning the
use of the program in the program-specific data. In this case, the use
decision unit 11 delivers an affirmative decision only when the data
stored in the user-specific credit data storage 12 includes information
indicating a special use contract code corresponding to the special
contract information.
The information concerning such a special contract is usually supplied to
the program pool station 5. Hence, it is possible for the proprietor of
the program to obtain information concerning the use of his program, for
which the special contract is designated, from the program pool station 5.
The system shown in FIG. 2 operates as follows. The entry of the marketable
program storage 21 in the data processing apparatus 1 is detected by the
operating system portion 14 by interpreting the job control language in
the storage. Upon detection, the use decision unit 11 commences a
comparison operation. The data from the user-specific code storage 121 and
the payable charge storage 122 are compared with the program-specific data
from the program storage 21.
A user balance in the data from the payable charge storage 122 has
subtracted from it the charge for use of the program in the
program-specific data. When the result of the subtraction is a negative
number, this information is supplied to the operating system portion 14 to
cause the display device to indicate that use of the program is impossible
because the charge of use exceeds the balance. When the result of the
subtraction is either zero or a positive number, information including the
result of the subtraction, the program-specific code, the charge for use
of the program, the user-specific code, and a new user balance is stored
in the use history storage 13. Also, information of the continuation of
the operation of the computer is supplied to the operating system to allow
the operation of the computer to proceed.
Thus, in the use history storage 13, data of the user balance, i.e., the
result of the subtractions of charges for uses of programs, the data of
the program-specific code, and the data of the user-specific code stored.
It is also possible to and determine, from the stored data, the total
amount which should be paid by the user to the proprietors of the used
programs.
The program pool station 5 can be controlled by an organization such as an
association of the proprietors of computer programs. When the program pool
station 5 is controlled by a proprietor association, the association
obtains the information on the use of the programs stored in the use
history storage 131.
It is possible to establish a contract between a program proprietor and a
user to refund 10% of the charge for use of a program if the user gives
the information on the program use to the proprietor. With such a
contract, assuming, for example, prepayment by the user, it is in user's
interest to give information on the program use to the proprietor.
Therefore, collection of charges for use of the proprietor's program is
ensured with a high probability.
Upon receipt of the information on use of the program from the user's data
processing apparatus 1, the proprietor association collects the charge for
use of the program from the user and transfers it to the bank account
registered in the management docket 52 in the program pool station 5.
A similar procedure can be followed using an integrated circuit (IC) card.
In such a case, the IC card is adopted as the means for data transmission
through the input/output processing portion 132. It is possible for the
program proprietor to contract with a user having an IC card so that the
user brings back the card to the proprietor association in return for a
cash refund. The amount of the cash refund payment may be 10% of the total
of the charges for use of the program and the remainder of the user
balance if a payable charge was prepaid by the user.
With such a contract, it is in the interest of the holder of the IC card to
bring back his IC card to the proprietor association to obtain at least
the 10% refund on the total of the charges for the use of the program,
even if the remainder of the payable charge, i.e., user balance, is zero.
Upon receipt of the IC card from the user, the proprietor association
arranges for transfer of funds to the bank account of the proprietor.
With the proprietor association, the proprietor of a program can receive
the charge for use of his program at his bank account through the
proprietor association. Even if unauthorized copying of the program is
carried out and the copied program is used, under a properly organized
system, the charges for use of the copied program will be transferred to
the bank account of the program proprietor through the proprietor
association, since the program-specific data including the program
proprietor identification code is stored in the program storage.
Accordingly, use of the unauthorized copy does not detract from, but adds
to the profit of the program proprietor.
Also, even if unauthorized copying of the program is carried out and an
incorrect program proprietor identification code is unlawfully attached,
the use history of the copy can be detected from the data stored in the
use history storage 131, and hence damages can be claimed against the
program proprietor identified by the incorrect program proprietor code.
An example of detailed structure and functions of the system shown in FIG.
2 is illustrated in FIG. 3. The use history and payable charge data
storage 110 includes a balance storage 110a, a pointer storage 110b, a use
details storage 110c, and an access control portion 300 for the use
details storage 110c. There is provided a program data memory 210 which
includes a program proprietor identification code storage 210a, a program
identification data storage 210b, a use charge storage 210c, and discount
rate storage 210d.
There are provided a discount process 220, a balance checking portion 230,
a use details storage range checking portion 240, a use possibility
checking portion 250, and a balance storage updating portion 260. There
are also provided a pointer updating portion 270, a use details storage
writing portion 280, and an operating system response processing portion
290. There are also provided a user checking portion 310, a balance
increase fetching portion 320, an adder portion 330, a pointer checking
portion 340, a use history storage reading portion 350, a transfer portion
360, and a pointer decrement portion 370.
The operation of the system shown in FIG. 3 will now be described. First,
the routine of the use of the program will be described. Upon receipt of
an instruction from the keyboard 17, the information of the balance stored
in the balance storage 110a is checked in the balance checking portion
230. When the result of the checking is either negative or zero, BALANCE
ZERO is indicated on the display device 18. When the result of the
checking is neither negative nor zero, the information stored in the
pointer storage 110b is checked for whether or not the predetermined
elements of the information exceed the maximum limit values. The maximum
limit values may be determined by the number of items in the use details
storage 110c or the sum for the charge of use of the program not reported
to the proprietor association.
When the predetermined elements of the information exceed the maximum limit
values, REMAINING CAPACITY OF USE DETAILS STORAGE INSUFFICIENT. PLEASE
SEND USE DETAILS TO PROPRIETOR ASSOCIATION. (or PLEASE CHANGE IC CARD AT
PROPRIETOR ASSOCIATION) is indicated on the display device 18.
When the predetermined elements of the information do not exceed the
maximum limit values, the discount processing portion 220 calculates the
charge for use of the program, by using the use charge from the use charge
storage 210c, the discount rate from the discount rate storage 210d, and
the user-specific code from the user-specific code storage 121. It is
possible to set the charge for use of the program to provide a special
discount for a special user, or a special discount, including no charge,
for a user for a predetermined number of initial uses. Of course, when no
information of a contract is detected in the user-specific credit data,
THIS PROGRAM NOT AVAILABLE, BECAUSE OF ABSENCE OF CONTRACT may be
indicated on the display device 18.
The use possibility checking portion 250 subtracts from the balance output
by the balance storage 110a a calculated charge output by the the discount
processing portion 220 and checks whether or not the result of the
subtraction is a negative number. When the result is a negative number,
BALANCE SHORTAGE is indicated on the display device 18. When the result is
not a negative number, the balance storage-updating portion 260 updates
the value of the balance storage 110a, and the pointer updating portion
270 updates the value of the pointer storage 110b to increment the value
by 1. Then, the use details storage writing portion 280 stores the user
identification code, the program proprietor identification data from the
portion 210a, the program identification data from the portion 210b, and
the amount of the calculated charge, including the currency unit, into the
use details storage 110c. This storage into the use details storage 110c
is carried out at the storage location designated by the pointer for the
access control portion 300 stored in the pointer storage 110b. After that,
the operating system response processing portion 290 delivers a signal
indicating approval of use of the program to the operating system portion
14.
Instead of the above-described subtraction of the payable charge each time
a program is used, it is possible to maintain the initial payable charge,
i.e., not subtract the charges for use of the program, and to deliver the
information of the result of subtraction from the initial payable charge
of the sum of the charges for use of a program only when the delivery of
the result is required.
Next, the routine for increasing of the value of the balance storage 110a
will be described. Upon receipt of an instruction from the keyboard 17,
the user checking portion 310 checks whether or not the user is entitled
to use the program. For example, coincidence between the password code
from the keyboard 17 and a code from the user-specific code storage 121 is
checked. When no coincidence is found, PLEASE INPUT PASSWORD AGAIN is
indicated on the display device 18. When coincidence is found, the amount
of the balance which is to be increased is fetched in the balance increase
fetching portion 320 using the signal from the input/output processing
portion 132. This can be done by obtaining information concerning the
amount of the balance to be increased from the keyboard 17 after
exchanging on-line information concerning the password with the program
pool station or by using an IC card connected to the input/output
processing portion 132 for obtaining information concerning the amount by
which the balance is to be increased.
The amount of by which the balance to be increased is added to the balance
in the balance storage 110a by the adder portion 330, and the result of
the addition in the adder portion 330 is stored in the balance storage
110a.
Next, the routine of the transfer of data from the use history storage 110
to the program pool station 5 will be described. Upon receipt of an
instruction from the keyboard 17, the pointer value checking portion 340
checks the data in the pointer storage 110b for whether or not the pointer
value is greater than zero. When the result of the check is that the
pointer value is not greater than zero, TRANSFER OF USE DETAILS STORAGE
DATA COMPLETED is indicated on the display device 18. When the result of
the check is that the pointer value is greater than zero, the reading
portion 350 reads the data of the use details storage 110c in the range
designated by the pointer in the pointer storage 110b, and the transfer
portion 360 transfers the read data directly to the program pool station 5
via the input/output processing portion 132. In the case where an IC card
is used, the data is recorded on the IC card.
Then, the pointer value decreasing portion 370 decreases the pointer value
by 1, and the process returns to the pointer checking portion 340. Thus,
the process is repeated until the value of the pointer storage 110b
reaches zero. Accordingly, all of the data in the use details storage 110c
is transmitted to the program pool station 5.
It is possible to change the maximum limit value in the use details storage
range checking portion 240 in accordance with the degree of credit of the
user. Hence, it is possible to designate a relatively long interval for
reports of the data in the use details storage 110c for a user with an
excellent credit standing and to designate a relatively short interval for
reports of the data in the use details storage 110c for a user with a poor
credit standing.
An embodiment of the system in which an IC card is used is shown in FIG. 4.
The system shown in FIG. 4 includes a central processing system 530 having
a main memory 537, a central processor unit 538, a channel device 539, an
input/output control device 536, and a keyboard 510; an IC card reader
550; and an IC card 570 having a microprocessor unit 573, a use history
storage 571, an EPROM 574, an input/output port 575, and a bus 576. The
use history storage 571 includes a balance storage 571a, a pointer storage
571b, and a use details storage 571c.
In the system shown in FIG. 4, whether or not the program can be used is
checked by using the balance storage 571a. When the result of the check is
affirmative, the data in the balance storage 571a is updated, by
subtraction, and the details of the use of the program are stored in the
use details storage 571c.
The purchase price of the IC card 570 paid by the user to the proprietor
association is stored in the balance storage 571a in the IC card 570.
After using the IC card to close to the extent allowed by the payable
charge, the user returns the IC card 570 to the proprietor association.
Assuming, for example, prepayment of the purchase price, upon receipt of
the IC card 570, the proprietor association returns the balance stored in
the balance storage 571a and 10% of the total of the charges for use of
the program. It is possible accordingly for the proprietor association to
pay the charge of use for a program to the proprietor.
It is possible to store in the EPROM 574 a program which forbids processing
in the direction of increase of the balance in the balance storage 571a.
It is also possible to encipher the program-specific data and distribute
the enciphered program-specific data through the program. Such enciphered
program-specific data is deciphered by using the key information stored in
the IC card 570. These measures can prevent unauthorized use of the IC
card 570. It is also possible to omit use of the user identification code
to ensure the privacy of the user.
Another possibility is to adopt a system in which an indication that the
amount of the balance in the balance storage 571a is approaching zero is
displayed. It is also possible to allow the use of a program up to a
predetermined negative balance in the balance storage 571a with an
indication that the user is in such a negative condition. It is also
possible for the proprietor association to cancel the service of the
proprietor association for a user who has exceeded the above-mentioned
predetermined negative balance. It is also possible to store, in the
balance storage 571a, information concerning the increase of the payable
charge in response to the insertion of coins.
It is possible either that the function of the use decision unit 11 in
association with the user-specific credit data storage 12 and the use
history storage 13 is included in the functions of the data processing
apparatus 1 or that the above-mentioned function is carried out by a
program service unit consisting of a use decision unit, a user-specific
credit data storage, and a use history storage, this program service unit
constituting a portion of the data processing apparatus 1.
It is also possible to encipher the marketable program and store in the IC
card 570 key data for deciphering the enciphered marketable program, in
order to prevent the program registration data from being changed at
random without authorization.
Another example of the detailed structure and the functions of the system
shown in FIG. 2 is illustrated in FIG. 5. The system shown in FIG. 5
includes a program data storage 421, a decision and registration
processing unit 422, a use history and payable charge data storage 411,
and a registration cancel processing unit 423. The use history and payable
charge data storage 411 includes a balance storage 411a, a purchased
program table 411b, and a use details storage 411c.
The program data storage 421 stores program proprietor identification
information 421a, a program-specific code 421b, program charge information
421c, and return-sale rate information 421d. The decision and registration
processing unit 422 includes a comparison processing portion 424, a
subsequent process decision portion 425, a purchaseability check
processing portion 426, a balance storage update processing portion 427, a
storage processing portion 428, and an addition processing portion 429.
A registration cancel processing unit 423 includes a program characteristic
data read processing portion 431, a return-sale price calculation portion
432, an addition processing portion 433, a registration cancel processing
portion 434, and a storage processing portion 435. There are also provided
a keyboard 416, operating system response processing portions 430 and 436,
and input/output processing portions 437 and 438.
Three major processes, that is, the process of use of a marketable program,
the process of purchase of a marketable program, and the process of
return-sale of the purchased program, are carried out in the system shown
in FIG. 5. First, in the process of use of a marketable program, the use
of a program is instructed by information delivered from the keyboard 416.
Upon receipt of the instruction, the purchased program table 411b is
accessed, and whether or not the purchased program in question is
registered in the purchased program table is checked in the comparison
processing portion 424. This check is carried out on the basis of whether
or not the program identification code 421b is registered in the purchased
program table 411b.
When the result of the check is affirmative, the subsequent process
decision portion 425 causes the addition processing portion 429 to carry
out the addition processing to update the value of N, which represents the
total use time of the program in question in the table by value DN,
assuming that DN is the time of one use. When the result of the check is
negative, it is necessary to purchase the program in question, and program
purchase processing is carried out.
Second, in the process of the purchase of a marketable program, the use
charge 421c stored in the program-specific data storage 421 is compared
with the balance stored in the balance storage 411a. When the result of
the subtraction, from the balance stored in the balance storage 411a, of
the use charge 421c stored in the program-specific data storage 421 is a
negative number, NO REMAINDER is indicated on the display device 18 via
the operating system response processing portion 430. When the result of
the subtraction is a positive number, the amount of balance stored in the
balance storage 411a is updated by subtracting, from the balance stored in
the balance storage 411a, the use charge 421c stored in the
program-specific data storage 421.
Then, the storage processing portion 428 stores the program-specific data
421a, 421b, 421c, and 421d in the purchased program table 411b and the use
details storage 411c. The use details storage 411c is controlled, for
example, by the maximum value of the pointer so that the number of columns
is limited to that in which the writing of data is allowable. After that,
the use time is added in the addition processing portion 429, and the
response to the operating system is carried out in the operating system
response processing portion 430.
Third, in the process of return-sale of the purchased program, the user
operates the keyboard 416 to designate the program which the user wishes
to sell in the form of return-sale. Upon receipt of this instruction, the
program-specific data read processing portion 431 reads the
program-specific data and the use time data N for the program in question
from the purchased program table 411b.
Then, the return-sale price calculation portion 423 calculates the
return-sale price by using the use charge 421c, the use time, and the
return-sale rate 421d. The equation of such calculation is, for example,
"RETURN-SALE PRICE=USE CHARGE.times.(1-N.times.R)". In this equation, R is
selected as 0.001 under the condition that the return-sale is possible
only within the use time of 1000 hours.
When the result of the calculation according to this equation is negative,
the information of the result is transmitted to the operating system to
display NO REFUND EVEN IF CANCELLATION IS EFFECTED on the display device
18. When the result of the calculation is positive, the value of the
balance storage 411a is updated by the addition of the result of the
calculation to the value of the balance storage 411a, and the registration
cancel processing portion 434 cancels the contents corresponding to the
program in question from the purchased program table 411b. After that, the
storage processing portion 435 records the information that the program in
question has been sold in the form of return-sale in the use details
storage 411c, and the process proceeds to the operation in the operating
system response processing portion 436.
It is possible to obtain the price of the return-sale by storing the date
of purchase of the program in question in the purchased program table
411b, obtaining the holding period from the return-sale price calculation
portion 432 by the difference between the current date and the date of
purchase of the program in question stored in the purchased program table
411b, and obtaining the price of the return-sale by applying the
above-obtained holding period to the return-sale function. The calender
mechanism used in recent data processing systems may be adopted in the
above-described system for obtaining the price of the return-sale.
The balance storage 411a is updated by the external information provided
through the input/output processing portion 437 by increasing the value of
the balance storage 411a either by the operation of the IC card purchased
from the proprietor association or directly by on-line operation. The
direct on-line transmission of the information of the contents of the use
details storage 411c to the proprietor association is carried out through
the input/output processing portion 438.
A password inspection device 700 which can be used in association with the
main system according to the present invention will be described with
reference to FIG. 6. The main system becomes available only when the
coincidence of the password is confirmed by the password inspection device
700.
An identification card 701, such as a bank cashing service card, is used in
the device 700 shown in FIG. 6. The device 700 includes a card reader 702,
a retrieving portion 703, a keyboard 704, an acceptance indication portion
706, a rejection indication portion 707, a pause indication portion 710,
an AND gate 713, a comparison portion 705, and a main system.
The device 700 shown in FIG. 6 also includes a counter 708, a comparison
portion 709, a flip-flop circuit 712, a timer 711, switches 716 (SW1) and
717 (SW2), OR gates 714 and 715, and a signal source 718.
The retrieving portion 703 retrieves the password on the basis of the
content of the identification card 701 which is read by the card reader
702. The user inputs the password or various data into the device 700
shown in FIG. 6 through the keyboard 704. The comparison portion 705
compares the password retrieved by the re | | |
