Information distributing method and system

• US 7,454,384 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2005
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sako, Yoichiro, Obata, Masayuki, Ito, Shuichi, Inokuchi, Tatsuya, Sakurai, Kazuko
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca; Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US11/230,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20060031169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 705/57, 705/52, 705/14, 705/34, 709/224
• US Class Current: 705/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/21 Billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information

Abstract

When the amount of money billed each time the information is distributed once is determined depending on the number of times that the information is distributed within a predetermined time period, the intention of information offerer and the estimation of user reflects automatically on the amount of money billed when the information is distributed.

Claims

1. An electronic information distributing method for distributing information subjected to billing in an electronic information distributing system by using wireless communication or wired communication, the method comprising:

counting a number of times said information is previously distributed within a predetermined time period to apparatuses;

calculating a fee to be collected from another apparatuses that will receive distribution of said information, the calculated fee based on the number of times said information was previously distributed within the predetermined time period to the apparatuses;

requesting payment of the calculated fee from the another apparatus that requested distribution of the information subsequent to the predetermined time period; and

distributing said information to the another apparatus after payment has been received.

2. The electronic information distributing method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving information transferred for a plurality of external apparatuses;

storing received information in a storage medium; and

distributing information to one or more of the plurality of external apparatus.

3. The electronic information distributing method according to claim 1, wherein said time period is one selected from a predetermined time to a current time.

4. The electronic information distributing method according to claim 1, wherein said time period is a definite term from a predetermined time.

5. The electronic information distributing method according to claim 1, wherein said time period is one from an optionally set time point to a current time point.

6. The electronic information distributing method according to claim 1, wherein said time period is one from a first optionally set time point to a second optionally set time point.

7. The electronic information distributing method according to claim 1, wherein said time period is a definite term from an optionally set time point.

8. The electronic information distributing method according to claim 1, wherein said time period is a definite term to the current time point.

9. The electronic information distributing method according to claim 1, wherein said time period is an optionally set time point.

10. The electronic information distributing method according to claim 1, wherein when said number of times of distribution reaches a previously set number of times or more, said fee for said information is increased.

11. The electronic information distributing method according to claim 1, wherein when said number of times of distribution reaches a previously set number of times or more, said fee for said information is decreased.

12. An electronic information distributing apparatus for distributing information by using wireless communication or wired communication, the apparatus comprising:

a counter configured to count a number of times said information is previously distributed within a predetermined time period to apparatuses;

a calculator configured to calculate a fee to be collected from another apparatus that will receive said information, the calculated fee based on the number of times said information was previously distributed within the predetermined time period to the apparatuses;

a requester configured to request payment of the calculated fee from the another apparatus that requested distribution of the information subsequent to the predetermined time period;

a receiver configured to receive payment of the calculated fee; and

a distributor configured to distribute said information to the another apparatus after the fee has been received by the receiver.

13. The electronic information distributing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive information transferred from a plurality of external apparatuses; and

a controller configured to control to store received information in a storage medium,

wherein said distributor distributes information among received information.

14. The electronic information distributing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said time period is one selected from a predetermined time to a current time.

15. The electronic information distributing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said time period is a definite term from a predetermined time.

16. The electronic information distributing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said time period is one from an optionally set time point to a current time point.

17. The electronic information distributing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said time period is one from a first optionally set time point to a second optionally set time point.

18. The electronic information distributing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said time period is a definite term from an optionally set time point.

19. The electronic information distributing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said time period is a definite term to the current time point.

20. The electronic information distributing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said time period is an optionally set time point.

21. The electronic information distributing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein when said number of times of distribution reaches a previously set number of times or more, said fee for said information is increased.

22. The electronic information distributing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein when said number of times of distribution reaches a previously set number of times or more, said fee for said information is decreased.

23. An information distributing method comprising:

establishing a predetermined time period in which to determine a fee for distribution of the information;

counting a number of times the information is distributed within the predetermined time period to apparatuses;

calculating a fee for distribution of the information subsequent to the predetermined time period, the calculated fee based on the number of times the information was distributed within the predetermined time period to the apparatuses;

receiving a request from another apparatus for distribution of the information subsequent to the predetermined time period;

requesting payment of the calculated fee from the another apparatus; and

distributing the information to the another apparatus after payment has been received.