Communication apparatus, mobile terminal, communication system, non-contact communication device, network connection method, and program

A mobile terminal, comprising:

• a non-contact communication device regarding which information is read and written by non-contact communication by a non-contact communication unit, which a communication apparatus capable of connecting to a network via another apparatus by wireless communication has;
• a mobile communication unit which performs communication via a different wireless communication network from the wireless communication network which said wireless communication unit uses;
• an application obtaining unit which obtains an application for forming a storage region for said authentication information in said non-contact communication device using said mobile communication unit;
• and
• a region formation unit which forms a storage region for said authentication information in said non-contact communication device using the application obtained by said application obtaining unit;
• wherein a first storage region where monetary information is stored is provided in said non-contact communication device;
• and wherein, in the event of being held up to the non-contact communication unit of said communication apparatus to attempt connection to a network via a certain said other apparatus for the first time, said application obtaining unit is used to obtain an application for forming a storage region for authentication information provided by said other apparatus, and said application is used to form a second storage region for said authentication information by said region formation unit;
• and wherein monetary information stored in said first storage region is updated in settlement processing of said communication apparatus, authentication information provided from said other apparatus due to completion of said settlement processing is stored to said second storage region, and the authentication information stored in said second storage region is used to execute authentication processing as to said other apparatus.

A communication system comprising:

• a first communication apparatus including
• a wireless communication unit which connects to a network via another apparatus by wireless communication,
• a settlement processing unit which executes settlement processing of connection fees to said network by controlling a non-contact communication unit capable of reading out information stored in a non-contact communication device via non-contact communication, and writing information to said non-contact communication device via non-contact communication, so as to update monetary information stored in said non-contact communication device,
• an authentication information recording unit which controls said non-contact communication unit to write authentication information, provided from said other apparatus when settlement processing by said settlement processing unit is completed, to said non-contact communication device, and
• an authentication processing unit which controls said non-contact communication unit to read said authentication information out from said non-contact communication device, and executes authentication processing as to said other apparatus using said authentication information;
• and
• a second communication apparatus in which said non-contact communication device is installed, said second communication apparatus including
• a mobile communication unit which performs communication via a different wireless communication network from the wireless communication network which the wireless communication unit of said first communication apparatus uses,
• an application obtaining unit which obtains an application for forming a storage region for said authentication information in said non-contact communication device using said mobile communication unit, and
• a region formation unit which forms a storage region for said authentication information in said non-contact communication device using the application obtained by said application obtaining unit;
• wherein, in the event of attempting connection to a network via a certain said other apparatus for the first time, said mobile terminal uses said application obtaining unit to obtain an application for forming a storage region for authentication information provided by said other apparatus, and uses said application to form a storage region for said authentication information by said region formation unit;
• and wherein said second communication apparatus writes said authentication information to the storage region formed by said region formation unit of said mobile terminal using said authentication processing unit, and executes authentication processing as to said other apparatus using the authentication information stored in said storage region by said authentication processing unit, thereby establishing a network connection by said wireless communication unit.

A network connection method, for a communication apparatus to perform communication using a wireless communication unit which connects to a network via another apparatus by wireless communication, and a non-contact communication unit capable of reading out information stored in a non-contact communication device via non-contact communication and writing information to said non-contact communication device via non-contact communication, said method comprising:

• first controlling, of said non-contact communication unit, to update monetary information stored in said non-contact communication device, so as to execute settlement processing for connection fees to said network;
• second controlling, of said non-contact communication unit by said communication device, to write authentication information, provided from said other apparatus when settlement processing in said first controlling has been completed, to said non-contact communication device;
• and
• third controlling, of said non-contact communication unit by said communication device, to read said authentication information out from said non-contact communication device, and execute authentication processing as to said other apparatus using said authentication information, thereby establishing a network connection by said wireless communication unit.

A program causing a computer to execute:

• control of a communication apparatus to perform communication using
• a wireless communication unit which connects to a network via another apparatus by wireless communication, and
• a non-contact communication unit capable of reading out information stored in a non-contact communication device via non-contact communication and writing information to said non-contact communication device via non-contact communication;
• and
• the steps of
• first controlling, of said non-contact communication unit, to update monetary information stored in said non-contact communication device, so as to execute settlement processing for connection fees to said network,
• second controlling, of said non-contact communication unit by said communication device, to write authentication information, provided from said other apparatus when settlement processing in said first controlling has been completed, to said non-contact communication device, and
• third controlling, of said non-contact communication unit by said communication device, to read said authentication information out from said non-contact communication device, and execute authentication processing as to said other apparatus using said authentication information, thereby establishing a network connection by said wireless communication unit.