Mobile information terminal device, storage, server, and method for providing storage region

Abstract

A user-dedicated storage area (97) of a cellular phone (10) is retained in a storage server (9) on a network (6). Software purchased by a user via a sales server (12) is not transferred directly to the user's cellular phone (10) but is stored in the user-dedicated storage area (97) of the user. The user downloads the software from his or her own dedicated storage area (97) to his or her own cellular phone (10) before using the software.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to a portable data terminal with the data communication capability, and more particularly to a portable data terminal whose storage capacity of the internal storage device is relatively limited.BACKGROUND ART[0002]Recently, portable data terminals, such as cellular phones (including a personal handy-phone system called PHS) with the Internet access capability have been widely used. Those terminals make it possible not only to make voice communications but also to provide electronic mail transmission / reception services and various services via web site access. Considering the limitation on the display screen size of a cellular phone, more and more web sites have been prepared for cellular phones.[0003]Today, various services provided by web sites are carried out through online data transfer to and from web servers. However, because a cellular phone does not support the software capture capability that reads software from an external ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]According to the method of the present invention described above, new software may be added to the dedicated storage area and required software may be downloaded, as required, into the user's portable data terminal. In particular, because purchased software is stored, not directly in the portable data terminal, but first in the dedicated storage area, the user may purchase new software without concerning about the constraints of the internal storage capacity of the user's portable data terminal. In addition, even if already stored software is erased when the internal storage capacity becomes insufficient, the same software may be downloaded again from the dedicated storage area and, therefore, the user may erase software without hesitation. As a result, the user does not hesitate to purchase new software any more just because storage capacity is limited.

[0019]An expiration date until which the user may use the software stored in the storage server may be set, and the method may further comprise the step of making the software, which is in the dedicated storage area, unavailable to the user after the expiration date. By setting such a time limit (expiration date), it is possible to charge the user for each update. This allows the software vendor to lower the sales price for each effective period. At the same time, the user need to pay only for renewed subscription for software that is useful to him or her and may reduce wasteful costs by refusing the renewal of unnecessary software.

[0020]The above method may further comprise the steps of storing software, which is not purchase-requested by the user, into the dedicated storage area; allowing the user to select the software not purchase-requested; and charging the user for the software when the user downloads the selected software or when the user indicates an intention to continue to use after a trial period. This enables the user to select necessary software from his or her dedicated storage area and download it without having to access a sales site. Also, the vendor not only effectively informs the user of available software but also provides the user with software in the downloadable format, significantly increasing the sales chance.

[0023]A portable data terminal according to present invention used in the method described above is a portable data terminal with a network connection capability, comprising local storage into which required software is downloaded from full-set software as required, the full-set software being stored in a dedicated storage area allocated on a storage unit on a network; and a management table in which management information associated with the software stored in the local storage is stored, wherein the management information includes at least expiration date information on the software. The portable data terminal further comprises means for automatically erasing the software from the local storage when an expiration date defined by the expiration date information has passed. Because the software is automatically erased when the expiration date has arrived, the user who wants to use the same software again must purchase the software again. This allows the software vendor to virtually manage the software after the sale. In addition, setting an expiration date makes it possible to provide software at lower costs.

Problems solved by technology

In addition, even if already stored software is erased when the internal storage capacity becomes insufficient, the same software may be downloaded again from the dedicated storage area and, therefore, the user may erase software without hesitation.

As a result, the user does not hesitate to purchase new software any more just because storage capacity is limited.

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