# US 10,503,889 B2 · Mobile terminal, mobile terminal program, checkpoint management system, and checkpoint management method

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- Number: US 10,503,889 B2
- Document ID: US10503889B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/521,516
- Filed: 2015-10-20
- Published: 2017-10-26
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2014-10-24
- Assignees: The Aqua Enterprise Company
- Applicants: The Aqua Enterprise Company
- Inventors: Koichi Yano
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10503889B2

## CPC

- G06F 21/35: communicating wirelessly
- G06F 21/34: involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
- G06F 21/44: Program or device authentication
- G06K 7/10: by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
- G06K 19/07: with integrated circuit chips
- G06K 19/0719: {at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for application selection, e.g. an acceleration sensor or a set of radio buttons (application selection on smart cards using pure software control, see G07F7/10)}
- G06Q 50/10: Services
- G07B 15/00: Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points (handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00)
- G07G 1/12: electronically operated
- G07G 1/14: Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit
- H04W 4/021: Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
- H04W 4/025: {using location based information parameters}
- H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services
- H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
- H04W 8/18: Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
- H04W 84/10: Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
- H04W 4/02: Services making use of location information
- H04W 4/023: {using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07B: TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
- G07G: REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

A mobile terminal that can be utilized for a checkpoint management system performs contactless electric communication with a reader/writer device for a passive RFID tag. An application processing unit cooperates with an application server through electronic communication. A position information acquisition unit acquires current position information of the mobile terminal. A terminal controller or a RFID tag processing unit receives a signal related to a carrier wave or a command emitted from the reader/writer device which results in a trigger that causes the application processing unit to operate. The application processing unit acquires from the mobile terminal personal information and chronologic information. The application processing unit further transmits the information to the application server together with current position information. Information transmitted from the mobile terminal can be utilized as history information on the checkpoint from, through or at which the user departs, passes or arrives.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A mobile terminal that performs contactless electronic communication with a reader/writer device for a passive RFID tag, the mobile terminal comprising:
an application processing unit configured to cooperate with an application server through a communication network;
a position information acquisition unit configured to acquire current position information of the mobile terminal;
an RFID tag processing unit configured to receive a signal related to a carrier wave or a command emitted from the reader/writer device and to output in response to said signal a trigger; and
a terminal controller configured to cause the application processing unit to operate in response to the trigger,
wherein the application processing unit is configured to acquire, from the mobile terminal, identification information of a user of the mobile terminal or identification information of the mobile terminal and chronologic information of a date and time when the application processing unit operates or a date and time when the reader/writer device and the RFID tag processing unit perform communication, and
further wherein the application processing unit is configured to transmit the identification information and the chronologic information directly through said communication network to the application server together with the current position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit or information of a checkpoint related to the reader/writer device identified on the basis of the current position information.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the application processing unit is further configured to identify a checkpoint related to the reader/writer device by causing the user to select the checkpoint among the group consisting of one or more checkpoints extracted by the application server from a plurality of the checkpoints registered in advance in the application server on the basis of the current position information.

### Claim 3

A mobile terminal that performs contactless electronic communication with a reader/writer device for a passive RFID tag, the mobile terminal comprising:
an application processing unit configured to cooperate with an application server through a communication network;
a position information acquisition unit configured to acquire current position information of the mobile terminal; and
a terminal controller configured to receive a signal related to a carrier wave or a command emitted from the reader/writer device and further configured to cause the application processing unit to operate,
wherein the application processing unit is configured to acquire, from the mobile terminal, identification information of a user of the mobile terminal or identification information of the mobile terminal and chronologic information of a date and time when the application processing unit operates or a date and time when the reader/writer device and the terminal controller perform electronic communication, and
further wherein the application processing unit is configured to transmit the identification information and the chronologic information directly through said communication network to the application server together with the current position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit or information of a checkpoint related to the reader/writer device identified on the basis of the current position information.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The mobile terminal according to claim 3, wherein the application processing unit is further configured to identify a checkpoint related to the reader/writer device by causing the user to select the checkpoint among the group consisting of one or more checkpoints extracted by the application server from a plurality of the checkpoints registered in advance in the application server on the basis of the current position information.

### Claim 5

A checkpoint management system comprising:
a reader/writer device for a passive RFID tag;
an application server;
a mobile terminal configured to perform contactless electronic communication with the reader/writer device for a passive RFID tag, the mobile terminal comprising:
an application processing unit configured to cooperate with said application server through a communication network;
a position information acquisition unit configured to acquire current position information of the mobile terminal; and
a terminal controller configured to receive a signal related to a carrier wave or a command emitted from the reader/writer device and to cause the application processing unit to operate in response to said signal;
wherein the application processing unit is configured to acquire, from a mobile terminal, identification information of a user of the mobile terminal or identification information of the mobile terminal and chronologic information of a date and time when the application processing unit operates or a date and time when the reader/writer device and the terminal controller perform electronic communication;
wherein the application processing unit is configured to transmit the identification information and the chronologic information directly over said communication network to the application server together with the current position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit or information of a checkpoint related to the reader/writer device identified on the basis of the current position information,
and wherein the application server is configured to record information transmitted from the mobile terminal as history information on the checkpoint from, through, or at which the user departs, passes or arrives.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The checkpoint management system according to claim 5, wherein the application server is further configured to hold master information related to a plurality of the checkpoints; and the application server includes a checkpoint management unit that extracts, from the master information, information of the checkpoint(s) located within a predetermined distance on the basis of designated position information;
and wherein the application processing unit of the mobile terminal is configured to identify the checkpoint related to the reader/writer device by causing the user to select the checkpoint among the one or more checkpoints extracted by the application server on the basis of the current position information.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The checkpoint management system according to claim 5, wherein the application server further includes a prediction processing unit that, in response to receipt of information of the one or more checkpoints from, through, or at which the user is scheduled to depart, pass, or arrive and information of transportation to be used by the user, performs statistical processing of information recorded in the history information and determines a point estimate or an estimation interval related to a departure, passage or arrival time at each of the checkpoints and that outputs the point estimate or the estimation interval as travel schedule information.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The checkpoint management system according to claim 7, wherein the application server is further configured to hold master information which is related to a seller and which includes information of an output condition of an advertisement related to an event held by the seller; and wherein said application server further includes a recommendation information management unit that extracts and outputs information of the event scheduled to be held within a predetermined distance from each checkpoint from, through, or at which the user is scheduled to depart, pass, or arrive, on the basis of information of the point estimate or the estimation interval which is related to the departure, passage or arrival time at each of the checkpoints and which is included in the travel schedule information, and on the basis of the output condition of the advertisement registered in the master information on the seller.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The checkpoint management system according to claim 5, wherein the application server further includes a reader/writer device control unit that outputs an instruction for operating the reader/writer device installed at the checkpoint from, through, or at which the user has departed, passed, or arrived or is scheduled to depart, pass, or arrive.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The checkpoint management system according to claim 5, wherein the application server further includes a charging processing unit that performs a billing process related to a use of a service associated with the checkpoint from, through, or at which the user departs, passes or arrives.

### Claim 11

A checkpoint management system comprising:
a reader/writer device for a passive RFID tag;
a mobile terminal configured to perform contactless electronic communication with the reader/writer device for a passive RFID tag, the mobile terminal comprising:
an application processing unit configured to cooperate with an application server through a communication network;
a position information acquisition unit configured to acquire current position information of the mobile terminal;
an RFID tag processing unit configured to receive a signal related to a carrier wave or a command emitted from the reader/writer device and to output in response to said signal a trigger; and
a terminal controller configured to cause the application processing unit to operate in response to the trigger;
wherein the application processing unit is configured to acquire, from the mobile terminal, identification information of a user of the mobile terminal or identification information of the mobile terminal and chronologic information of a date and time when the application processing unit operates or a date and time when the reader/writer device and the terminal controller perform electronic communication;
wherein the application processing unit is configured to transmit the identification information and the chronologic information directly through said communication network, to the application server together with the current position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit or information of a checkpoint related to the reader/writer device identified on the basis of the current position information;
and wherein the application server is configured to record the information transmitted from the mobile terminal as history information on the checkpoint from, through, or at which the user departs, passes or arrives.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The checkpoint management system according to claim 11, wherein the application server is further configured to hold master information related to a plurality of the checkpoints; wherein said application server further includes a checkpoint management unit that extracts, from the master information, information of the checkpoint(s) located within a predetermined distance on the basis of designated position information; and
wherein the application processing unit of the mobile terminal is configured to identify the checkpoint related to the reader/writer device by causing the user to select the checkpoint among the one or more checkpoints extracted by the application server on the basis of the current position information.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The checkpoint management system according to claim 11, wherein the application server further includes a prediction processing unit that, in response to receipt of information of the one or more checkpoints from, through, or at which the user is scheduled to depart, pass, or arrive and information of transportation to be used by the user, performs statistical processing of information recorded in the history information and determines a point estimate or an estimation interval related to a departure, passage or arrival time at each of the checkpoints and that outputs the point estimate or the estimation interval as travel schedule information.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The checkpoint management system according to claim 13, wherein the application server is further configured to hold master information which is related to a seller and which includes information of an output condition of an advertisement related to an event held by the seller; and wherein the application server further includes a recommendation information management unit that extracts and outputs information of the event scheduled to be held within a predetermined distance from each checkpoint from, through, or at which the user is scheduled to depart, pass, or arrive, on the basis of information of the point estimate or the estimation interval which is related to the departure, passage or arrival time at each of the checkpoints and which is included in the travel schedule information, and on the basis of the output condition of the advertisement registered in the master information on the seller.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The checkpoint management system according to claim 11, wherein the application server further includes a reader/writer device control unit that outputs an instruction for operating the reader/writer device installed at the checkpoint from, through, or at which the user has departed, passed, or arrived or is scheduled to depart, pass, or arrive.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The checkpoint management system according to claim 11, wherein the application server further includes a charging processing unit that performs a billing process related to a use of a service associated with the checkpoint from, through, or at which the user departs, passes or arrives.

### Claim 17

A checkpoint management method for an information processing system that includes a reader/writer device for a passive RFID tag, a mobile terminal that performs contactless electronic communication with the reader/writer device, and an application server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal, the checkpoint management method comprising:
a position information acquisition step of acquiring, by the mobile terminal, current position information;
a step of outputting, by the mobile terminal, a trigger upon receiving a signal related to a carrier wave or a command emitted from the reader/writer device;
a step of executing, by the mobile terminal, an application process of cooperating with the application server through a communication network, in accordance with the trigger,
the application process includes acquiring, from the mobile terminal, identification information of a user of the mobile terminal or identification information of the mobile terminal and chronologic information of a date and time when the application process is executed or a date and time when the reader/writer device and the mobile terminal perform electronic communication, and transmitting the identification information and the chronologic information directly through said communication network to the application server together with the current position information acquired in the position information acquisition step or information of a checkpoint related to the reader/writer device identified on the basis of the current position information; and
a step of recording, by the application server, information transmitted from the mobile terminal as history information on the checkpoint from, through, or at which the user departs, passes or arrives.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The checkpoint management method according to claim 17, further comprising:
a step of holding, by the application server, master information related to a plurality of the checkpoints; and
a step of extracting, by the application server, from the master information, information of the checkpoint(s) located within a predetermined distance on the basis of designated position information,
wherein the application process of the mobile terminal further includes identifying the checkpoint related to the reader/writer device by causing the user to select the checkpoint among the one or more checkpoints extracted by the application server on the basis of the current position information.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The checkpoint management method according to claim 17, further comprising a step of performing, by the application server, in response to receipt of information of the one or more checkpoints from, through, or at which the user is scheduled to depart, pass, or arrive and information of transportation to be used by the user, statistical processing of information recorded in the history information, determining, by the application server, a point estimate or an estimation interval related to a departure, passage or arrival time at each of the checkpoints, and outputting, by the application server, the point estimate or the estimation interval as travel schedule information.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The checkpoint management method according to claim 19, further comprising:
a step of holding, by the application server, master information which is related to a seller and which includes information of an output condition of an advertisement related to an event held by the seller; and
a step of extracting and outputting, by the application server, information of the event scheduled to be held within a predetermined distance from each checkpoint from, through, or at which the user is scheduled to depart, pass, or arrive, on the basis of information of the point estimate or the estimation interval which is related to the departure, passage or arrival time at each of the checkpoints and which is included in the travel schedule information, and on the basis of the output condition of the advertisement registered in the master information on the seller.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The checkpoint management method according to claim 17, further comprising a step of outputting, by the application server, an instruction for operating the reader/writer device installed at the checkpoint from, through, or at which the user has departed, passed, or arrived or is scheduled to depart, pass, or arrive.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

The checkpoint management method according to claim 17, further comprising a step of performing, by the application server, a billing process related to a use of a service associated with the checkpoint from, through, or at which the user departs, passes or arrives.

### Claim 23

A checkpoint management method for an information processing system that includes a reader/writer device for a passive RFID tag, a mobile terminal that performs contactless electronic communication with the reader/writer device, and an application server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal, the checkpoint management method comprising:
a position information acquisition step of acquiring, by the mobile terminal, current position information;
a step of executing, by the mobile terminal, an application process of cooperating with the application server through a communication network upon receiving a signal related to a carrier wave or a command emitted from the reader/writer device,
the application process includes acquiring, from the mobile terminal, identification information of a user of the mobile terminal or identification information of the mobile terminal and chronologic information of a date and time when the application process is executed or a date and time when the reader/writer device and the mobile terminal perform electronic communication, and transmitting the identification information and the chronologic information directly through the said communication network to the application server together with the current position information acquired in the position information acquisition step or information of a checkpoint related to the reader/writer device identified on the basis of the current position information; and
a step of recording, by the application server, information transmitted from the mobile terminal as history information on the checkpoint from, through, or at which the user departs, passes, or arrives.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The checkpoint management method according to claim 23, further comprising:
a step of holding, by the application server, master information related to a plurality of the checkpoints; and
a step of extracting, by the application server, from the master information, information of the checkpoint(s) located within a predetermined distance on the basis of designated position information,
wherein the application process of the mobile terminal further includes identifying the checkpoint related to the reader/writer device by causing the user to select the checkpoint among the one or more checkpoints extracted by the application server on the basis of the current position information.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The checkpoint management method according to claim 23, further comprising a step of performing, by the application server, in response to receipt of information of the one or more checkpoints from, through, or at which the user is scheduled to depart, pass, or arrive and information of transportation to be used by the user, statistical processing of information recorded in the history information, determining, by the application server, a point estimate or an estimation interval related to a departure, passage or arrival time at each of the checkpoints, and outputting, by the application server, the point estimate or the estimation interval as travel schedule information.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The checkpoint management method according to claim 25, further comprising:
a step of holding, by the application server, master information which is related to a seller and which includes information of an output condition of an advertisement related to an event held by the seller; and
a step of extracting and outputting, by the application server, information of the event scheduled to be held within a predetermined distance from each checkpoint from, through, or at which the user is scheduled to depart, pass, or arrive, on the basis of information of the point estimate or the estimation interval which is related to the departure, passage or arrival time at each of the checkpoints and which is included in the travel schedule information, and on the basis of the output condition of the advertisement registered in the master information on the seller.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

The checkpoint management method according to claim 23, further comprising a step of outputting, by the application server, an instruction for operating the reader/writer device installed at the checkpoint from, through, or at which the user has departed, passed, or arrived or is scheduled to depart, pass, or arrive.

### Claim 28 (depends on 23)

The checkpoint management method according to claim 23, further comprising a step of performing, by the application server, a billing process related to a use of a service associated with the checkpoint from, through, or at which the user departs, passes or arrives.

### Claim 29

A non-transitory medium in which a mobile terminal program is recorded for causing a mobile terminal capable of acquiring current position information of the mobile terminal to execute a process so as to perform contactless electronic communication with a reader/writer device for a passive RFID tag, the process comprising:
causing the mobile terminal to execute an application process of cooperating with an application server through a communication network in response to, as a trigger, the mobile terminal receiving a signal related to a carrier wave or a command emitted from the reader/writer device,
wherein the application process includes acquiring, from the mobile terminal, identification information of a user of the mobile terminal or identification information of the mobile terminal and chronologic information of a date and time when the application process is executed or a date and time when the reader/writer device and the mobile terminal perform electronic communication, and transmitting the identification information and the chronologic information directly through said communication network to the application server together with the current position information acquired by the mobile terminal or information of a checkpoint related to the reader/writer device identified on the basis of the current position information.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The non-transitory medium according to claim 29, wherein the application process further includes identifying the checkpoint related to the reader/writer device by causing the user to select the checkpoint among the one or more checkpoints extracted by the application server from a plurality of the checkpoints registered in advance in the application server on the basis of the current position information.