Push-button switch member, portable information terminal having push-button switch member and payment system using portable information terminal

A portable information terminal comprising:

• an electronic display operable to produce a function display;
• a touch panel having a push-button switch comprising a movable key top portion, through which the function display produced by said electronic display is displayed, a stationary contact, and a movable contact disposed under said key top portion opposed to said stationary contact, said movable contact being capable of being depressed by said key top portion toward said stationary contact;
• and
• a communication means operatively connected to said push-button switch for communicating via endless interactive communication with other equipment having a communication function,
• wherein said key top portion, said movable contact and said stationary contact are positioned in an overlapped positional relationship,
• wherein one of said movable contact and said stationary contact is capable of being electrically connected to a circuit that is operable to perform a function corresponding to the function display such that, when said movable contact is depressed such that said movable contact and said stationary contact become in contact with each other, the circuit performs the function corresponding to the function display,
• wherein said portable information terminal is operable to receive function display information from the other equipment via the interactive communication when said portable information terminal is within a communication proximity to the other equipment,
• wherein said electronic display is operable to produce the function display based on the received function display information, and
• wherein said portable information terminal is capable of instructing the other equipment to perform a function corresponding to the function display displayed on said push-button switch when said push-button switch is pushed.

A price payment system comprising:

• an electronic display operable to produce a function display;
• a touch panel having a push-button switch comprising a movable key top portion, through which the function display produced by said electronic display is displayed, a stationary contact, and a movable contact disposed under said key top portion opposed to said stationary contact, said movable contact being capable of being depressed by said key top portion toward said stationary contact;
• a communication means operatively connected to said push-button switch for communicating via endless interactive communication with other equipment having a communication function;
• a first server operable to receive order information via an award/payment processing terminal provided for an automatic vending machine or a seller or provider in response to an operation of said push-button switch, said first server being operable to convert the order information into payment information of a customer;
• and
• a second server operable to receive the payment information,
• wherein said key top portion, said movable contact and said stationary contact are positioned in an overlapped positional relationship,
• wherein one of said movable contact and said stationary contact is capable of being electrically connected to a circuit that is operable to perform a function corresponding to the function display such that, when said movable contact is depressed such that said movable contact and said stationary contact become in contact with each other, the circuit performs the function corresponding to the function display,
• wherein said communication means is operable to receive function display information from the other equipment via the interactive communication when said communication means is within a communication proximity to the other equipment,
• wherein said electronic display is operable to produce the function display based on the received function display information,
• wherein said price payment system is in communication with a bank of the seller or provider and a bank of the customer, and
• wherein said price payment system is capable of transferring an amount money corresponding to the payment information between an account the bank of the customer and an account of the bank of the seller or provider.

A price payment system comprising:

• an electronic display operable to produce a function display;
• a touch panel having a push-button switch comprising a movable key top portion, through which the function display produced by said electronic display is displayed, a stationary contact, and a movable contact disposed under said key top portion opposed to said stationary contact, said movable contact being capable of being depressed by said key top portion toward said stationary contact;
• and
• a communication means operatively connected to said push-button switch for communicating via endless interactive communication with other equipment having a communication function,
• wherein said key top portion, said movable contact and said stationary contact are positioned in an overlapped positional relationship,
• wherein one of said movable contact and said stationary contact is capable of being electrically connected to a circuit that is operable to perform a function corresponding to the function display such that, when said movable contact is depressed such that said movable contact and said stationary contact become in contact with each other, the circuit performs the function corresponding to the function display,
• wherein said communication means is operable to receive function display information from the other equipment via the interactive communication when said communication means is within a communication proximity to the other equipment,
• wherein said electronic display is operable to produce the function display based on the received function display information,
• wherein said communication means is capable of instructing the other equipment to perform a function corresponding to the function display displayed on said push-button switch when said push-button switch is pushed,
• wherein said price payment system is in communication with a bank of the seller or provider and a bank of the customer, and
• wherein said price payment system is capable of transferring an amount money corresponding to the payment information from an account of the bank of the customer to an account of the bank of the seller or provider.

A portable information terminal comprising:

• a push-button switch member comprising a touch panel having a push-button switch provided thereon, an electronic display disposed in operative association with said push-button switch, and a key top portion disposed in operative association with said push-button switch, said electronic display operable to produce a function display through said key top portion;
• and
• a communication means operatively connected to the push-button switch member for communicating via endless interactive communication with other equipment having a communication function,
• wherein said portable information terminal is operable to receive function display information from the other equipment via the interactive communication when said portable information terminal is within a communication proximity to the other equipment, and
• wherein said electronic display is operable to produce the function display based on the received function display information in response to receipt of the received function display information.