Point card, point card processing apparatus, and point card system

A point card processing apparatus for use with a point card which is issued from a provider to a specific customer, said point card processing apparatus comprising:

• a card reader/writer for reading customer identification information from a customer identification information recording section in a memory of said point card, reading recorded service points, and recording a newly provided service point;
• and
• provider information transmission means for providing said point card with provider information via a communication network,
• wherein the provider information is indicative of available merchandise and a time period for the available merchandise, the provider information written onto the card in response to customer selection, the customer selection data indicative of merchandise desired by said customer and the customer selection data transmitted, from the specific customer, to one or more providers,
• wherein said reader/writer reads said recorded service points from said point card presented by the specific customer and detects browse history information recorded when the specific customer browses said provider information,
• wherein when the specific customer presents said point card to a provider upon purchase of commodities, said recorded service points are read out, said browse history information is detected, and a specified profit returning service based on the recorded service points and browse history information is presented,
• whereby said point card is operable to receive a communication wave for generating power for said point card.

A point card system comprising:

• a point card issued from a provider to a specific customer having a power generating means for receiving a communication wave and for generating power for said point card, a memory, a customer identification information recording section in said memory for recording unrewritable customer identification information, a service point recording section for recording service points, a browse history recording section for recording browse history information and a provider information recording section for recording provider information provided from a provider;
• an information provision apparatus for providing said provider with said provider information via a communication network;
• and
• a card reader/writer for reading said service points recorded in said service point recording section and recording a service point newly-added according to a consideration with respect to said point card presented by a customer upon purchase of commodities,
• wherein said information recording section of said point card records said provider information provided from said provider to a customer responsive to customer selection data, the information provided by the provider indicating available merchandise and a time period for the available merchandise, the customer selection data indicative of product information desired by said customer and the customer selection data being transmitted, from the specific customer, to one or more providers,
• wherein when said point card is presented to a provider upon purchase of commodities, said service points recorded in said service point recording section are read out, said browse history information recorded in said browse history information recording section is detected and a specified profit returning service based on the recorded service points and browse history information is presented.