Charging system, charging method, charging control data signal embodied in a carrier wave, and data-recording medium on which a charging control program is recorded
First Claim
1. A charging system for charging a fee generated by using an information provision system comprising:
- a communication network including a monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of using the communication network;
a terminal apparatus for performing communication via the communication network;
an administrator'"'"'s apparatus belonging to an administrator who administrates a state of using communication of the terminal apparatus; and
an information provision apparatus for providing the terminal apparatus with information via the communication network;
said charging system comprising;
a first calculation device for calculating a first fee generated by using said information provision system;
a charging processing device for performing processing for charging the administrator the first fee;
a payment acceptance device for performing processing for the administrator to pay a second fee which is set to a fixed amount in advance by a user of said terminal apparatus; and
a control device for controlling generation of the first fee according to charging conditions of said communication network at the time when the information provision system is used.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided a charging system or the like for charging a fee generated in an information provision system or the like using a communication network. An information provision system is set up which includes: a communication network including a communication apparatus C for monitoring a state of using a communication network; an attached terminal T for performing communication via the communication network; a processing apparatus H belonging to an administrator who manages a state of using communication of the attached terminal T; and a service provision apparatus I for providing the attached terminal T with information via the communication network. In a charging system for charging a fee generated by using this information provision system, the communication apparatus C includes: a fee calculation server for calculating a usage fee generated by using the information provision system; and a charging server for performing processing for charging the administrator this usage fee. In addition, the processing apparatus H includes: a payment acceptance processor for performing processing for the administrator to receive payment of a user'"'"'s share set to a fixed amount in advance from a user of the attached terminal T; and a control processor for controlling generation of the usage fee according to charging conditions of the communication network at the time when the information provision system is used.
13 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A charging system for charging a fee generated by using an information provision system comprising:
- a communication network including a monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of using the communication network;
a terminal apparatus for performing communication via the communication network;
an administrator'"'"'s apparatus belonging to an administrator who administrates a state of using communication of the terminal apparatus; and
an information provision apparatus for providing the terminal apparatus with information via the communication network;
said charging system comprising;
a first calculation device for calculating a first fee generated by using said information provision system;
a charging processing device for performing processing for charging the administrator the first fee;
a payment acceptance device for performing processing for the administrator to pay a second fee which is set to a fixed amount in advance by a user of said terminal apparatus; and
a control device for controlling generation of the first fee according to charging conditions of said communication network at the time when the information provision system is used. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- a communication network including a monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of using the communication network;
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13. A monitoring apparatus included in a charging system for charging a fee generated by using an information provision system comprising:
- a communication network including the monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of using the communication network;
a terminal apparatus for performing communication via the communication network;
an administrator'"'"'s apparatus belonging to an administrator who administrates a state of using communication of the terminal apparatus; and
an information provision apparatus for providing the terminal apparatus with information via the communication network;
said monitoring apparatus comprising;
a first calculation device for calculating a first fee generated by using said information provision system;
a charging processing device for performing processing for charging the administrator the first fee.
- a communication network including the monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of using the communication network;
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14. A terminal apparatus included in a charging system for charging a fee generated by using an information provision system comprising:
- a communication network including a monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of using the communication network;
the terminal apparatus for performing communication via the communication network;
an administrator'"'"'s apparatus belonging to an administrator who administrates a state of using communication of the terminal apparatus; and
an information provision apparatus for providing the terminal apparatus with information via the communication network;
said terminal apparatus comprising;
a control device for controlling generation of the first fee according to charging conditions of said communication network at the time when the information provision system is used.
- a communication network including a monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of using the communication network;
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15. An administrator'"'"'s apparatus included in a charging system for charging a fee generated by using an information provision system comprising:
- a communication network including a monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of using the communication network;
a terminal apparatus for performing communication via the communication network;
the administrator'"'"'s apparatus belonging to an administrator who administrates a state of using communication of the terminal apparatus; and
an information provision apparatus for providing the terminal apparatus with information via the communication network;
said administrator'"'"'s apparatus comprising;
a payment acceptance device for performing processing for the administrator to pay a second fee which is set to a fixed amount in advance by a user of said terminal apparatus; and
a relay device for relaying communication between said information provision apparatus and the monitoring apparatus;
a second calculation device for calculating an amount of transmitted information which has been transmitted to said terminal apparatus; and
a storage device for storing the calculated amount of the information.
- a communication network including a monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of using the communication network;
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16. An information provision apparatus included in a charging system for charging a fee generated by using an information provision system comprising:
- a communication network including a monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of using the communication network;
a terminal apparatus for performing communication via the communication network;
an administrator'"'"'s apparatus belonging to an administrator who administrates a state of using communication of the terminal apparatus; and
the information provision apparatus for providing the terminal apparatus with information via the communication network;
said information provision apparatus comprising;
an information transmission device for transmitting information in response to a request from the terminal apparatus;
an encryption device for encrypting the information to be transmitted to said terminal apparatus; and
a decryption information transmission device for transmitting decryption information, which makes it possible to decrypt the encrypted information in said terminal apparatus, to said terminal apparatus.
- a communication network including a monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of using the communication network;
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17. A charging method for charging a fee generated by using an information provision system comprising:
- a communication network including a monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of using the communication network;
a terminal apparatus for performing communication via the communication network;
an administrator'"'"'s apparatus belonging to an administrator who administrates a state of using communication of the terminal apparatus; and
an information provision apparatus for providing the terminal apparatus with information via the communication network;
said charging method comprising;
a first calculation process of calculating a first fee generated by using said information provision system;
a charging processing process of performing processing for charging the administrator the first fee;
a payment acceptance process of performing processing for the administrator to pay a second fee which is set to a fixed amount in advance by a user of said terminal apparatus; and
a control process of controlling generation of the first fee according to charging conditions of said communication network at the time when the information provision system is used.
- a communication network including a monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of using the communication network;
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18. A charging control data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing a sequence of instructions that causes a computer, the computer included in a charging system for charging a fee generated by using an information provision system comprising:
- a communication network including a monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of using the communication network;
a terminal apparatus for performing communication via the communication network;
an administrator'"'"'s apparatus belonging to an administrator who administrates a state of using communication of the terminal apparatus; and
an information provision apparatus for providing the terminal apparatus with information via the communication network;
said charging control data signal causing the computer to function as;
a first calculation device for calculating a first fee generated by using said information provision system;
a charging processing device for performing processing for charging the administrator the first fee;
a payment acceptance device for performing processing for the administrator to pay a second fee which is set to a fixed amount in advance by a user of said terminal apparatus; and
a control device for controlling generation of the first fee according to charging conditions of said communication network at the time when the information provision system is used.
- a communication network including a monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of using the communication network;
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19. A data-recording medium having recorded therein a charging control program so as to be readable by a computer, the computer included in a charging system for charging a fee generated by using an information provision system comprising:
- a communication network including a monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of using the communication network;
a terminal apparatus for performing communication via the communication network;
an administrator'"'"'s apparatus belonging to an administrator who administrates a state of using communication of the terminal apparatus; and
an information provision apparatus for providing the terminal apparatus with information via the communication network;
said charging control program causing the computer to function as;
a first calculation device for calculating a first fee generated by using said information provision system;
a charging processing device for performing processing for charging the administrator the first fee;
a payment acceptance device for performing processing for the administrator to pay a second fee which is set to a fixed amount in advance by a user of said terminal apparatus; and
a control device for controlling generation of the first fee according to charging conditions of said communication network at the time when the information provision system is used.
- a communication network including a monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of using the communication network;
Specification