Information processor, file server, accounting control system, accounting control method, and recording medium recording a program therefor

• US 20060168140A1
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega
• Inventors: Sata, Takenao, Inoue, Taro, Ooka, Yoshiki, Hada, Naoyuki, Shida, Tooru, Asahina, Makoto, Yamauchi, Shun-ichi
• Application Number:
  US11/303,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20060168140A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5513 involving billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1432 Metric aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

The object of the present invention is to manage the use number relating to a user in a suitable manner, when a game device operated by a user downloads a file, such as a game program, or the like, from a file server, in order to play a game. Therefore, the present invention is a charge management server which stores use number data relating to a use number for a user, and a group of files for supply to the aforementioned user, performs authorization to permit or refuse connection on the basis of individual information relating to the user as transmitted by the game device operated by the user, receives a file transmission request sent by a game device having undergone the aforementioned authorization process, transmits a particular file as specified by the aforementioned file transmission request to the aforementioned game device, receives a confirmation message sent by said game device having completed reception of the aforementioned particular file, and updates the use number data of the aforementioned user.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A charge management system constituted by an information processing device and a file server,

wherein said file server comprises:

first storage means for storing use number data relating to the number of uses by a user;

second storage means for storing a plurality of files for provision to said user;

authorizing means for performing authorization to permit or refuse connection on the basis of individual information for the user transmitted by an information processing device operated by said user;

responding means for receiving a file transmission request sent by an information processing device having undergone said authorization, reading out a particular file as specified by said file transmission request from said second storing means, and transmitting same to said information processing device;

confirming means for receiving a confirmation message sent by said information processing device having completed reception of said particular file, and judging whether or not transmission of said particular file has been successful; and

updating means for updating the use number data for said user as stored in said first storing means, when it is judged that transmission of said particular file has been successful; and

said information processing device comprises;

connecting means for sending individual information for a user to a file server, in order to establish a connection with said file server;

requesting means for sending a file transmission request relating to a particular file managed by said file server, to said file server;

receiving means for receiving data relating to said particular file as transmitted from said file server in response to said file transmission request;

judging means for judging whether or not reception of said particular file has been completed; and

notifying means for sending a confirmation message to said file server in order to update the use number data relating to the use number for the user as managed by said file server, in cases where it is judged by said judging means that reception has been completed.

12-54. -54. (canceled)

55. A charge management system constituted by an information processing device and file server,

wherein said file server comprises:

first storage means for storing use number data relating to the number of uses by a user;

second storage means for storing a plurality of files for provision to said user;

authorizing means for performing authorization to permit or refuse connection on the basis of individual information for the user transmitted by an information processing device operated by said user;

responding means for receiving a file transmission request sent by an information processing device having undergone said authorization, reading out a particular file as specified by said file transmission request from said second storing means, and transmitting same to said information processing device in a sequential fashion;

confirming means for receiving a confirmation message sent from said information processing device having completed reception of said particular file, and judging whether or not transmission of said particular file has been successful;

and updating means for updating the use number data for said user as stored in said first storing means when it is judged that transmission of said particular file has been successful;

and said information processing device comprises;

connecting means for sending individual information for a user to a file server, in order to establish a connection to said file server;

requesting means for sending a file transmission request relating to a particular file managed by said file server, to said file server;

receiving means for receiving data relating to said particular file as transmitted from said file server in response to said file transmission request;

judging means for judging whether or not reception of said particular file has been completed; and

notifying means for sending a confirmation message to said file server in order to update the use number data relating to the use number for the user as managed by said file server, in cases where it is judged by said judging means that reception has been completed.

56. The charge management system according to claim 55, wherein said program data is previously divided into a plurality of block data;

said transmitting means transmits said program data in transmission units of one or a plurality of block data; and

said information processing device transmits said reception notice signal to said file server each time that it receives one or a plurality of block data.

57-62. -62. (canceled)