Count system for a number of peripheral devices and for a user-number of software, and royalty settling system

• US 20020188660A1
• Filed: 06/04/2002
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Shigyo, Yuji
• Granted Patent: US 7,305,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Software for operating a digital camera is installed in a personal computer. The software takes out a serial number of the digital camera, which is connected to the personal computer, when firstly booted. The serial number is sent to a server via the internet. The server checks the received serial number against ledger data. When the received serial number is not registered, this serial number is recorded in the ledger data. The server charges a dealer a royalty of the software in accordance with a user number counted every predetermined period. The dealer requests a monetary facility to transfer the royalty of the software to an account of a right holder of the software.

Claims

1. A count system for counting one of a number of peripheral devices and a user-number of application software of said peripheral device, said peripheral device being connected to a personal computer and said application software being installed in said personal computer, said count system comprising:

serial-number sending means incorporated in said application software, said serial-number sending means taking a serial number of said peripheral device and transferring said serial number via the internet connected to said personal computer;

a server connected to the internet; and

registration software installed in said server, said registration software receiving the transferred serial number to check this number with the registered serial numbers, and said registration software registering the non-registered serial number to increase one of the number of said peripheral devices and the user-number of said application software.

2. A count system according to claim 1, wherein said serial-number sending means transfers said serial number without confirmation for the user.

3. A count system according to claim 1, wherein said serial-number sending means executes a warning process suggesting either of connection to the internet and user registration by a mail, when said personal computer is incapable of connecting to the internet.

4. A count system according to claim 1, wherein said serial-number sending means saves a transmission-history of said serial number and is prevented from doubly sending said serial number.

5. A count system according to claim 1, wherein said serial-number sending means transfers said serial number whenever said peripheral device is connected to said personal computer.

6. A count system according to claim 1, wherein said serial-number sending means transfers said serial number whenever said application software is used.

7. A count system according to claim 1, wherein said serial-number sending means counts one of a usage number of said peripheral device and a usage number of said application software, said serial-number sending means transferring said serial number every predetermined usage number.

8. A count system according to claim 1, wherein said serial-number sending means counts one of a usage number of said peripheral device and a usage number of said application software, said serial-number sending means transferring said serial number when the counted usage number reaches a predetermined number.

9. A count system according to claim 1, wherein said server further calculates a royalty in accordance with one of the number of said peripheral devices and said user-number.

10. A royalty settling system for settling a royalty in accordance with a user-number of application software of a peripheral device which is connected to a personal computer, said application software being installed in said personal computer, said royalty settling system comprising:

serial-number sending means incorporated in said application software, said serial-number sending means taking a serial number of said peripheral device and transferring said serial number via the internet connected to said personal computer;

a server connected to the internet; and

registration software installed in said server, said registration software receiving the transferred serial number to check this number with the registered serial numbers, and said registration software registering the non-registered serial number to increase said user-number of said application software.

11. A royalty settling system according to claim 10, wherein said server is set up at a side of a right holder of said application software, said server having a function that a bill of said royalty is automatically issued to a dealer of said peripheral device.

12. A royalty settling system according to claim 11, wherein said server transfers a sum corresponding to the royalty of said user-number, from an account of a monetary facility of said dealer, said server notifying said dealer about the transfer of the sum.

13. A royalty settling system according to claim 10, wherein said server is set up at a side of a dealer of said peripheral device, said server having a function that said user-number is automatically notified to a right holder of said application software.

14. A royalty settling system according to claim 13, wherein said server automatically transfers a sum corresponding to the royalty of said user-number, from an account of a monetary facility of said dealer to an account of a monetary facility of said right holder.

15. A royalty settling system according to claim 10, wherein said server is owned by a provider of the internet, said server having a function that said user-number is automatically notified to both of a dealer of said peripheral device and a right holder of said application software.

16. A royalty settling system according to claim 15, wherein said right holder charges a sum corresponding to the royalty of said user-number for said dealer, and said dealer transfers said sum to said right holder.