Accounting device, communicating apparatus, and communication system

• US 6,144,946 A
• Filed: 02/25/1997
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Iwamura, Keiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel Todd
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hayes, John W.
• Application Number:
  US08/805,970
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 705/30, 705/32, 705/1, 705/34, 705/400, 705/50, 705/51, 705/52, 705/53, 705/54, 705/59, 380/4, 380/25, 395/200.54, 348/12, 348/1, 348/3
• US Class Current: 705/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like

Abstract

An accounting device of the invention cooperates with a terminal station to allow one to use information from an information provider, and includes a first input unit for inputting first data PIDi and PIDj regarding the contents of providing information, a second input unit for inputting second data TIDi and TIDj regarding the use of hardware to carry out the use of the providing information at the terminal station, a third input unit for inputting third data PPC indicative of money information, and a checking unit for discriminating between a permission and an inhibition (prohibition) of the use of the information at the terminal station by using at least one of the first and second, and third data. The checking unit outputs a discrimination result about the permission or inhibition of the use to the external of the accounting device, thereby properly prohibit illegal use of the terminal station and contributing to a spread of network terminal apparatus.

Claims

1. An accounting device which cooperates with a terminal station which is used for the user to use information from an information provider, comprising:

a first input device, via which is input first data, regarding contents of information sought to be provided;

a second input device, via which is input second data, regarding a use charge for use of said terminal station;

a third input device, via which is input third data, indicative of money information; and

a discriminator, that discriminates a permission or an inhibition of the use of said information at said terminal station by using (i) at least one of said first data and said second data, and (ii) said third data,

wherein said discriminator outputs from said device a discrimination result about the permission or the inhibition of said use.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said discriminator calculates fourth data indicative of a use charge of said information from said first and/or second data and compares said third data with said fourth data.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said device is enclosed in said terminal station.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said third input device is constructed to obtain, as said money information, information regarding cash inputted.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said third input device is constructed to obtain said money information from information written in a prepaid card.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said third input device is constructed to receive said money information in the form of electronic information.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said third input device is constructed to receive said third data through a network to which said terminal station is connected.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said discriminator is constructed to use, as said second data, data indicative of a use charge of a network to which said terminal station is connected.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said information sought to be provided is enciphered information, and wherein said discriminator is constructed to process, as said second data, information concerned with a decoding processing time of said enciphered information.

10. A communicating apparatus which is used for the user to use information from an information provider, comprising:

a first input device, via which is input first data, regarding contents of information sought to be provided;

a second input device, via which is input second data, regarding a use charge for use of a terminal station;

a third input device, via which is input third data, indicative of money information; and

a discriminator, that discriminates a permission or an inhibition of the use of said information in said apparatus by using at least one of said first data and said second data, and said third data.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said discriminator calculates fourth data indicative of a use charge of said information from said first and/or second data and compares said third data with said fourth data.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said discriminator is constructed to use, as said second data, data regarding a use charge of a network to which said communicating apparatus is connected, and a second communicating apparatus, for a provider of said network, and a third communication apparatus, for a charge accommodator to send money information corresponding to said second data to said second communicating apparatus for said network provider, are connected to said network.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the claimed communicating apparatus is a first communicating apparatus, and wherein said discriminator is constructed to use, as said second data, data regarding a use charge of said first communicating apparatus, and wherein a second communicating apparatus, for a provider of said first communicating apparatus, and a third communicating apparatus, for a charge accommodator to send money information corresponding to said second data to said second communicating apparatus for said communicating apparatus provider, are connected to a network to which said first communicating apparatus is connected.

14. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a second communicating apparatus, for said information provider, and a third communicating apparatus, for a charge accommodator to send money information corresponding to said first data to said second communicating apparatus for said information provider, are connected to a network to which the claimed communicating apparatus is connected.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, where said discriminator is constructed to use, as said second data, data regarding a user charge of said network, and a fourth communicating apparatus, for a provider of said network, and a fifth communicating apparatus, for a charge distributor to distribute money information corresponding to said fourth data which was advanced by said third communicating apparatus for said charge accommodator to said second communicating apparatus for said information provider and said fourth communicating apparatus for said network provider, are further connected to said network.

16. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said discriminator is constructed to use, as said second data, data regarding a use charge of the claimed communicating apparatus, and a fourth communicating apparatus, for a provider of the claimed communicating apparatus, and a fifth communicating apparatus, for a charge distributor to distribute money information corresponding to said fourth data which was advanced by said third communicating apparatus for said charge accommodator to said second communicating apparatus for said information provider, and said fourth communicating apparatus for said communicating apparatus provider are further connected to said network.

17. A communication system comprising:

a first communicating apparatus, for an information provider for providing information; and

a second communicating apparatus, for a user which is used for the user to use the information,

wherein said first communicating apparatus for said information provider and said second communicating apparatus for said user are connected to a common network, and

wherein said second communicating apparatus for said user includes;

an inputter, by means of which are input first data regarding contents of providing information, second data regarding a use charge for use of a terminal station, and third data indicative of money information; and

a discriminator, that discriminates a permission or an inhibition of the use of said information in said apparatus by using at least one of said first data and said second data, and said third data.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein said discriminator calculates fourth data indicative of a use charge of said information from said first and/or second data and compares said third data with said fourth data.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein said second data is data regarding a use charge of a network to which said system is connected, and a third communicating apparatus, for a provider of said network, and a fourth communicating apparatus, for a charge accommodator to send money information corresponding to said second data to said third communicating apparatus for said network provider are connected to said network.

20. A system according to claim 18, wherein said second data is data regarding a use charge of said communicating apparatus, and a third communicating apparatus, for a provider of said communicating apparatus, and a fourth communicating apparatus, for a charge accommodator to send money information corresponding to said second data to said third communicating apparatus for said communicating apparatus provider are connected to a network to which said communication system is connected.

21. A system according to claim 18, wherein said first communicating apparatus for said information provider and a third communicating apparatus for a charge accommodator to send money information corresponding to said first data to said first communicating apparatus for said information provider are connected to a network to which said communication system is connected.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein said second data is data regarding a use charge of said network, and a fourth communicating apparatus for a provider of said network and a fifth communicating apparatus for a charge distributor to distribute money information corresponding to said fourth data which was advanced by said third communicating apparatus for said charge accommodator to said first communicating apparatus for said information provider and said fourth communicating apparatus for said network provider are further connected to said network.

23. A system according to claim 21, wherein said second data is data regarding a use charge of said second communicating apparatus, and wherein a fourth communicating apparatus, for a provider of said second communicating apparatus, and a fifth communicating apparatus, for a charge distributor to distribute money information corresponding to said fourth data which was advanced by said third communicating apparatus for said charge accommodator to said first communicating apparatus for said information provider and said fourth communicating apparatus for said communication apparatus provider are further connected to said network.

24. An accounting method for use with an accounting device which cooperates with a terminal station which is used for the user to use information from an information provider, said method comprising the steps of:

inputting first data, regarding contents of information sought to be provided;

inputting second data, regarding a use charge for use of the terminal station;

inputting third data, indicative of money information; and

discriminating a permission or an inhibition of the use of the information at the terminal station by using (i) at least one of said first data and said second data, and (ii) said third data,

wherein said discriminating step includes outputting a discrimination result about the permission or the inhibition of said use.

25. A communication method for use in a system that comprises:

a first communicating apparatus, for an information provider for providing information; and

a second communicating apparatus, for a user which is used for the user to use the information,

wherein the first communicating apparatus for the information provider and the second communicating apparatus for the user are connected to a common network,

said method comprising the steps of;

the second communicating apparatus for the user inputting first data regarding contents of providing information, second data regarding a use charge for use of a terminal station, and third data indicative of money information; and

the second communicating apparatus for the user discriminating a permission or an inhibition of the use of the information in the apparatus by using at least one of the first data and the second data, and the third data.

26. A memory medium storing computer-executable codes for an accounting method for use with an accounting device which cooperates with a terminal station which is used for the user to use information from an information provider, said method comprising the steps of:

inputting first data, regarding contents of information sought to be provided;

inputting second data, regarding a use charge for use of the terminal station;

inputting third data, indicative of money information; and

discriminating a permission or an inhibition of the use of the information at the terminal station by using (i) at least one of said first data and said second data, and (ii) said third data,

wherein said discriminating step includes outputting a discrimination result about the permission or the inhibition of said use.

27. A memory medium storing computer-executable code for a communication method for use in a system that comprises:

a first communicating apparatus, for an information provider for providing information; and

a second communicating apparatus, for a user which is used for the user to use the information,

wherein the first communicating apparatus for the information provider and the second communicating apparatus for the user are connected to a common network,

said method comprising the steps of;

the second communicating apparatus for the user inputting first data regarding contents of providing information, second data regarding a use charge for use of a terminal station, and third data indicative of money information; and

the second communicating apparatus for the user discriminating a permission or an inhibition of the use of the information in the apparatus by using at least one of the first data and the second data, and the third data.