Abstract: A biometric authentication apparatus for identifying a subject person by using biometric information of a user has memories and a processing unit for performing biometric authentication. The memories and store a remaining trial number whose value is reduced each time biometric authentication fails. The processing unit generates a lower limit value smaller than the remaining trial number at the start of biometric authentication, performs biometric authentication until the reduced remaining trial number becomes equal to or smaller than the lower limit value, and generate alarm data for issuing alarm to the user when the reduced trial number becomes equal to or smaller than the lower limit value.

Abstract: A management apparatus including a portable terminal identifying module to receive card information from a non-contact IC card processing unit having a module to communicate with an IC card without contact.

Abstract: A hierarchical structure is established among a plurality of RFID tags, such that ID numbers can be read only from RFID tags which belong to a particular layer. RFID tag can control whether permission should be given to read its ID number therefrom to protect the ID number. Data held in the RFID tag can be read from the outside. RFID tag comprises a memory circuit having a function of holding data, and a logic circuit having a function of processing a control command received from outside. Memory circuit stores an own ID number for identifying the RFID tag itself, and a parent ID number for identifying a second RFID tag. When RFID tag receives an ID number read command which contains first data as a parameter from outside, the logic circuit outputs the own ID number to outside only when the first data matches the parent ID number.

Abstract: An RFID device is capable of stopping and restarting a response via a response stop command. The device is capable of initializing a part of or the whole of internal data including a response restart set data storage portion. The device is capable of using command data from an external communication equipment to look up response restart data at the restart of a response, deciding a data storage area and content that may be initialized when the restart is possible, and rewriting a data storage portion.

Abstract: In a settlement transaction system or settlement transaction method using the system, the system includes a content providing server conducting a digital broadcast, for example, for a CS broadcast, a BS broadcast, a CATV, or a broadcast using ground waves; a settlement server to execute settlement transaction or settlement transaction, an order placement managing server to execute order placement processing, and an order managing server which receives an order of a request from a user to purchase articles and which sends an associated indication to the settlement server and the order placement managing server according to information of the order. The user operates a terminal in which an IC card communication application to communicate with an IC card is only installed. It then becomes possible to reduce a load imposed onto the system in association with a change to an existing digital broadcast system.

Abstract: An electronic money transferring method that enables the payment of electronic money through an electronic money transferring system with reliability. An external information processor is operated to enter the product number of a desired product, and then a host apparatus sends information about electronic money information indicating an amount of money necessary for purchasing the product, etc. to a control unit. The data processing unit reads electronic money information indicating the amount of money from an IC card. The electronic money information is transferred to the host apparatus.

Abstract: In a settlement transaction system or settlement transaction method using the system, the system includes a content providing server conducting a digital broadcast, for example, for a CS broadcast, a BS broadcast, a CATV, or a broadcast using ground waves; a settlement server to execute settlement transaction or settlement transaction, an order placement managing server to execute order placement processing, and an order managing server which receives an order of a request from a user to purchase articles and which sends an associated indication to the settlement server and the order placement managing server according to information of the order. The user operates a terminal in which an IC card communication application to communicate with an IC card is only installed. It then becomes possible to reduce a load imposed onto the system in association with a change to an existing digital broadcast system.

Abstract: A management apparatus including a portable terminal identifying module to receive card information from a non-contact IC card processing unit having a module to communicate with an IC card without contact.

Abstract: An RFID device is capable of stopping and restarting a response via a response stop command. The device is capable of initializing a part of or the whole of internal data including a response restart set data storage portion. The device is capable of using command data from an external communication equipment to look up response restart data at the restart of a response, deciding a data storage area and content that may be initialized when the restart is possible, and rewriting a data storage portion.

Abstract: An RFID device is capable of stopping and restarting a response via a response stop command. The device is capable of initializing a part of or the whole of internal data including a response restart set data storage portion. The device is capable of using command data from an external communication equipment to look up response restart data at the restart of a response, deciding a data storage area and content that may be initialized when the restart is possible, and rewriting a data storage portion.

Abstract: A settlement terminal including a password input unit for inputting the password of a user and a biometrics information acquisition unit for acquiring the biometrics information of the user based on a predetermined biometrics authentication method is disclosed. Before person identification of the user, the settlement terminal receives a person identification method list containing available person identification methods and the person identification method priority order indicating the priority order of the person identification method from the IC card. In accordance with the person identification method list and the priority order of the person identification method, the settlement terminal thus determines whether to conduct the password verification using a password input unit or the biometrics authentication using a biometrics information acquisition unit.

Abstract: Information recorded by an application provider in an IC card can be referred to, read out or changed by another application provider. The IC card has a plurality of cipher keys for reading out or writing the information recorded in the IC card, and provides a cipher key conversion function for encryption with a file capable of being managed, read out or written by the application provider himself using the cipher key. By the cipher key conversion function, data can be read out or written from or in the file of the other application provider.

Abstract: A smart card and a settlement terminal are provided by which, when common-key cryptography is used for value transfer between smart cards, the security of the whole system can be improved by enabling easy updating of a cryptographic key used for the value transfer. A smart card transmits/receives value data to/from another smart card. The smart card includes an information accumulating unit for accumulating value data, a transfer key used to update the value data, and an update key used to update the transfer key; a communication unit for receiving a transfer key encrypted by use of the update key, the transfer key being transmitted from another smart card; and an arithmetic processing unit for decrypting the encrypted transfer key by use of the update key to update the transfer key accumulated in the information accumulating unit by use of the decrypted transfer key.

Abstract: In a portable terminal having an IC card, the outstanding SF value, the commuter pass information and the conditions for the corresponding operation to charge the SF value or renew the validity period of the commuter pass are stored in the IC card. The outstanding SF value and the validity period of the commuter pass are checked at a predetermined timing. In the case where the outstanding SF value and the validity period satisfy the conditions for the corresponding operation (in the case where the outstanding SF value is reduced to less than a predetermined amount, for example), the set corresponding operation is performed. Thus, a predetermined amount is charged against the outstanding SF value, or the oncoming expiry of the validity period of the commuter pass is notified. The conditions for the corresponding operation can be set and changed appropriately at the portable terminal.

Abstract: In a settlement transaction system or settlement transaction method using the system, the system includes a content providing server conducting a digital broadcast, for example, for a CS broadcast, a BS broadcast, a CATV, or a broadcast using ground waves; a settlement server to execute settlement transaction or settlement transaction, an order placement managing server to execute order placement processing, and an order managing server which receives an order of a request from a user to purchase articles and which sends an associated indication to the settlement server and the order placement managing server according to information of the order. The user operates a terminal in which an IC card communication application to communicate with an IC card is only installed. It then becomes possible to reduce a load imposed onto the system in association with a change to an existing digital broadcast system.

Abstract: On the basis of information which is the standard for transaction conditions such as amount information in an IC card as well as age information registered in the IC card or a predetermined contract destination, a transaction when electronic money is used and restrictions and conditions for program audience are automatically set.

Abstract: A biometric authentication apparatus for identifying a subject person by using biometric information of a user has memories and a processing unit for performing biometric authentication. The memories and store a remaining trial number whose value is reduced each time biometric authentication fails. The processing unit generates a lower limit value smaller than the remaining trial number at the start of biometric authentication, performs biometric authentication until the reduced remaining trial number becomes equal to or smaller than the lower limit value, and generate alarm data for issuing alarm to the user when the reduced trial number becomes equal to or smaller than the lower limit value.

Abstract: In a settlement transaction system or settlement transaction method using the system, the system includes a content providing server conducting a digital broadcast, for example, for a CS broadcast, a BS broadcast, a CATV, or a broadcast using ground waves; a settlement server to execute settlement transaction or settlement transaction, an order placement managing server to execute order placement processing, and an order managing server which receives an order of a request from a user to purchase articles and which sends an associated indication to the settlement server and the order placement managing server according to information of the order. The user operates a terminal in which an IC card communication application to communicate with an IC card is only installed. It then becomes possible to reduce a load imposed onto the system in association with a change to an existing digital broadcast system.

Abstract: An IC card and a method thereof for adding or changing a program for a memory for writing without adversely affecting the function of the IC card and by keeping the security of a program to be written later by restricting writing by a write control program having a decryption function or a program code conversion function

Abstract: In a settlement transaction system or settlement transaction method using the system, the system includes a content providing server conducting a digital broadcast, for example, for a CS broadcast, a BS broadcast, a CATV, or a broadcast using ground waves; a settlement server to execute settlement transaction or settlement transaction, an order placement managing server to execute order placement processing, and an order managing server which receives an order of a request from a user to purchase articles and which sends an associated indication to the settlement server and the order placement managing server according to information of the order. The user operates a terminal in which an IC card communication application to communicate with an IC card is only installed. It then becomes possible to reduce a load imposed onto the system in association with a change to an existing digital broadcast system.