Information communication system, information processing apparatus, and operating terminal

An information processing unit capable of communication with multiple operation terminals operated by users, comprising:

• an information processing execution means for executing predetermined information processing;
• a console side transmitting means for transmitting and receiving information to/from the operation terminals;
• a console side terminal identification information storage means stored with terminal identification information unique to the operation terminals;
• a correspondence setting means for corresponding one of multiple virtual terminal numbers to terminal identification information received by the console side transmitting means, and associating the one virtual terminal number corresponded to the terminal identification information to the predetermined information processing;
• and
• a correspondence storage means stored with correspondence between the terminal identification information and the virtual terminal number;
• wherein
• the console side transmitting means receives the terminal identification information stored in the operation terminals from said operation terminals when starting communication with the operation terminals;
• and
• when the console side transmitting means has received the terminal identification information from the operation terminals, the correspondence setting means determines whether the terminal identification information received by the console side transmitting means is stored in the console side terminal identification information storage means, and when it has already been stored, associates the one virtual terminal number to the terminal identification information, and when it is not yet stored, stores the received terminal identification information in the console side terminal identification information storage means and then corresponds the one virtual terminal number to the terminal identification information.

An operation terminal, comprising:

• a terminal side transmitting means for transmitting and receiving information to/from an information processing unit;
• a terminal side terminal identification information storage means prestored with unique terminal identification information;
• a terminal side console identification information storage means stored with console identification information;
• a console identification information storage control means;
• a terminal side display means;
• and
• a terminal side display control means for performing display control for the terminal side display means, wherein
• the terminal side transmitting means transmits the terminal identification information stored in the terminal side terminal identification information storage means to the information processing unit when starting communication with the information processing unit, receives unique console identification information for the information processing unit from the information processing unit, and receives a virtual terminal number corresponded to the terminal identification information by the information processing unit or information corresponding to the virtual terminal number from the information processing unit;
• the console identification information storage control means stores the received console identification information in the terminal side console identification information storage means;
• and
• the terminal side display control means displays an identification display directly or indirectly representing the virtual terminal number on the terminal side display means when the terminal side transmitting means receives the virtual terminal number or information corresponding to the virtual terminal number.