Accounting system and method in data communication network
First Claim
1. An accounting system in a data communication network, comprising:
- a central computer for data communication with a user computer of a user;
receiving means for receiving upload data transmitted from the user computer to the central computer;
download data generating means for generating download data with reference to the received upload data;
transmitting means for transmitting the download data from the central computer to the user computer;
account calculating means for calculating accounts payable by the user depending upon content and/or volume of the download data transmitted from the central computer to the user computer;
reward calculating means for calculating a reward for the user depending upon the content and/or volume of the upload data transmitted from the user computer; and
billing means for billing the user an amount obtained by subtracting the reward from the accounts payable.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An accounting system and method are incorporated into a data communication network conducted by a information provider which includes a central computer for data communication with a user computer. Download data, such as route guidance data, is transmitted from the central computer of the information provider to the user computer, whereas the upload data which is available to enrich a database in the central computer is transmitted from the user computer to the central computer. The central computer determines accounts payable by the user in accordance with the content and/or volume of the download data. It also determines a reward for the user in accordance with the content and/or volume of the upload data. An amount that is a balance obtained by subtracting the reward from the accounts receivable is charged to the user. Therefore, the more upload data sent by the user to the central computer and the more it is utilized, the more the user'"'"'s expense for the service provided by the information provider is reduced.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An accounting system in a data communication network, comprising:
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a central computer for data communication with a user computer of a user;
receiving means for receiving upload data transmitted from the user computer to the central computer;
download data generating means for generating download data with reference to the received upload data;
transmitting means for transmitting the download data from the central computer to the user computer;
account calculating means for calculating accounts payable by the user depending upon content and/or volume of the download data transmitted from the central computer to the user computer;
reward calculating means for calculating a reward for the user depending upon the content and/or volume of the upload data transmitted from the user computer; and
billing means for billing the user an amount obtained by subtracting the reward from the accounts payable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An accounting system in a data communication network for a vehicle navigation system, comprising:
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a central computer, having a road/map database, for data communication with a user computer of a user;
route guidance data generating means for generating data for route guidance from a current position of the user to a destination by retrieval of road/map data from the road/map database;
transmitting means for transmitting the route guidance data from the central computer to the user computer;
account calculating means for calculating accounts payable by the user in accordance with content and/or volume of the route guidance data transmitted from the central computer to the user computer;
receiving means, at the central computer, for receiving traffic information from the user computer, wherein the received traffic information is referenced in generating the route guidance data by the route guidance data generating means;
reward calculating means for calculating a reward for the user depending upon content and/or volume of the traffic information transmitted from the user computer; and
billing means for billing the user an amount obtained by subtracting the reward from the accounts payable. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An accounting method for use in a data communication network wherein an information provider communicates with a user computer, comprising the steps of:
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receiving upload data transmitted from the user computer to the information provider;
generating download data by making reference to the received upload data;
transmitting the download data from the information provider to the user computer;
calculating accounts payable by the user in accordance with content and/or volume of the download data;
calculating a reward for the user in accordance with the content and/or volume of the upload data; and
billing the user an amount obtained by subtracting the reward from the accounts payable. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An accounting method in a data communication network for a vehicle navigation system, wherein an information provider, having a road/map database, communicates with a user computer, comprising:
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generating route guidance data for guidance from a current position of the user to a destination, with retrieval of road/map data from the road/map database;
transmitting the route guidance data from the information provider to the user computer;
calculating accounts payable by the user in accordance with content and/or volume of the route guidance data transmitted from the information provider to the user computer;
receiving traffic information from the user computer wherein the received traffic information is referenced in generating the route guidance data;
calculating a reward for the user in accordance with content and/or volume of the traffic information transmitted from the user computer; and
billing the user an amount obtained by subtracting the reward from the accounts payable. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification