Accounting system, accounting method, content executing device, accounting monitoring device, accounting control device and recording medium

• US 20020032664A1
• Filed: 01/24/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Ikuta, Tatsuhiko
• Application Number:
  US09/767,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20020032664A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/73
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8207 Time based data metric aspects, e.g. VoIP or circuit switched packet data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7813 Time based data, e.g. VoIP or circuit switched packet data

Abstract

A monitoring module reports registration certification to an accounting server from a terminal device when contents determined as a target to be charged for are accessed in the terminal device which is previously registered in the accounting server. The accounting server confirms properlity of the registration certification in the accounting server, and performs fee charging. The application program, when the properlity of the registration certification is confirmed, reports permission of access to the contents from the accounting server to the terminal device, and enabling the contents to be accessed in the terminal device.

Claims

1. An accounting system comprising:

a part reporting registration certification to an accounting server from a terminal device when contents to be charged for are accessed in the terminal device which is previously registered in said accounting server;

a part confirming properlity of the reported registration certification in said accounting server, and performing fee charging; and

a part, when the properlity of the registration certification is confirmed, reporting permission of access to the contents, from said accounting server to said terminal device, and making the contents accessible in said terminal device.

2. An accounting method comprising the steps of:

a) reporting registration certification to an accounting server from a terminal device when contents to be charged for are accessed in said terminal device which is previously registered in said accounting server;

b) confirming properlity of the reported registration certification in said accounting server, and performing fee charging; and

c) when the properlity of the registration certification is confirmed, reporting permission of access to the contents, from said accounting server to said terminal device, and making the contents accessible in said terminal device.

3. An accounting method comprising the steps of:

a) determining whether or not a condition for accessing contents is satisfied, when the contents are accessed; and

b) enabling the access to the contents when the condition for accessing the contents is satisfied, and enabling the access to the contents after performing fee charging when the condition for accessing the contents is not satisfied.

4. An accounting method comprising the steps of:

a) determining whether or not a condition for accessing contents is satisfied;

b) reporting fee charging to an accounting server when the condition for accessing the contents is not satisfied; and

c) updating from said accounting server the condition for accessing the contents into a condition such that the contents can be accessed.

5. An accounting method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a certificate previously issued for registration information of a terminal device, and determining whether or not the certificate is valid;

b) transmitting the determination result of said step a) to said terminal device, generating information indicating that a condition for accessing contents is satisfied when the determination result is that the certificate is valid, and transmitting the generated information to said terminal device; and

c) charging said terminal device.

6. A content executing device comprising:

a determining part determining whether or not a condition for accessing contents is satisfied, when the contents are accessed; and

an access control part enabling the access to the contents when the condition for accessing the contents is satisfied as a result of the determination by said determining part, and enabling the access to the contents after performing fee charging when the condition for accessing the contents is not satisfied.

7. An accounting monitoring device comprising:

a determining part determining whether or not a condition for accessing contents is satisfied;

an accounting reporting part reporting fee charging to an accounting server when the condition for accessing the contents is not satisfied as a result of the determination result of said determining part; and

a updating part updating, by a condition for accessing the contents, provided from said accounting server, the condition for accessing the contents so that the contents can be accessed.

8. The accounting monitoring device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said determining part, accounting reporting part and updating part are achieved on an OS of a terminal device.

9. An accounting control device comprising:

a certificate determining part receiving a certificate previously issued for registration information of a terminal device, and determining whether or not the certificate is valid;

an information updating part transmitting the determination result from said certificate determining part to said terminal device, generating information indicating that a condition for accessing contents is satisfied when the determination result is that the certificate is valid, and transmitting the generated information to said terminal device; and

an accounting part charging said terminal device.

10. A computer-readable recording medium storing therein a program causing a computer to execute the steps of;

a) determining whether or not a condition for accessing contents is satisfied, when the contents are accessed; and

b) enabling the access to the contents when the condition for accessing the contents is satisfied as a result of the determination made in said step a), and enabling the access to the contents after performing fee charging when the condition for accessing the contents is not satisfied.

11. A computer-readable recording medium storing therein a program causing a computer to execute the steps of;

a) determining whether or not a condition for accessing contents is satisfied;

b) reporting fee charging to an accounting server when the condition for accessing the contents is not satisfied as a result of the determination in said step a); and

c) updating, by a condition for accessing the contents, provided from said accounting server, the condition for accessing the contents so that the contents can be accessed.

12. The recording medium as claimed in claim 11, wherein said steps a), b) and c) are executed on an operating system of said computer.

13. A computer-readable recording medium storing therein a program causing a computer to execute the steps of;

a) receiving a certificate previously issued for registration information of a terminal device, and determining whether or not the certificate is valid;

b) transmitting the determination result of said step a) to said terminal device, generating information indicating that a condition for accessing contents is satisfied when the determination result is that the certificate is valid, and transmitting the generated information to said terminal device; and

c) charging said terminal device.