Terminal device, accounting system and data processing method
First Claim
1. A method for receiving chargeable information, the method comprising:
- storing accounting point information representing a monetary balance in a first memory of a recording/reproducing device, the accounting point information indicating a number of points;
receiving, at the recording/reproducing device, a request by a user of the recording/reproducing device for purchase of the information for which a fee is chargeable; and
in response to the recording/reproducing device receiving the request by the user of the recording/reproducing device,receiving, at the recording/reproducing device, the information for which a fee is chargeable from a source that is external to the recording/reproducing device, the information for which a fee is chargeable being associated with particular content,recording, in a second memory of the recording/reproducing device, the received information for which a fee is chargeable along with a management file having an information use permission flag which indicates whether use by the recording/reproducing device of the received information for which a fee is chargeable is permitted,determining, at the recording/reproducing device, whether the accounting point information stored in the first memory indicates sufficient points to pay for the information for which a fee is chargeable,in response to determining at the recording/reproducing device that the accounting point information stored in the first memory of the recording/reproducing device indicates sufficient points to pay for the received information for which a fee is chargeable,subtracting points from the accounting point information stored in the first memory of the recording/reproducing device to pay for the received information for which a fee is chargeable and setting the information permission flag to an AVAILABLE state, andin response to determining at the recording/reproducing device that the accounting point information stored in the first memory of the recording/reproducing device does not indicate sufficient points to pay for the received information for which a fee is chargeable,initiating, at the recording/reproducing device, an actual accounting process with an accounting center, andin response to receiving approval from the accounting center,restoring the accounting point information stored in the first memory of the recording/reproducing device to a predetermined point value, subtracting points from the accounting point information stored in the first memory of the recording/reproducing device to pay for the received information for which a fee is chargeable, and then setting the information permission flag to the AVAILABLE state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a terminal device capable of communicating with an accounting center, an accounting system, and a data processing method. A point memory 45 of a recording/reproducing device 10 stores accounting point information. An HDD 15 stores information distributed from an external source. A CPU 11 updates the accounting point information stored in the point memory 45 and updates attributes of the distributed information when the distributed information is stored onto the HDD 15. Thus, such inconvenience that communication with a distribution/accounting center 1 is carried out every time information is distributed to the recording/reproducing device 10 is avoided.
56 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for receiving chargeable information, the method comprising:
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storing accounting point information representing a monetary balance in a first memory of a recording/reproducing device, the accounting point information indicating a number of points; receiving, at the recording/reproducing device, a request by a user of the recording/reproducing device for purchase of the information for which a fee is chargeable; and in response to the recording/reproducing device receiving the request by the user of the recording/reproducing device, receiving, at the recording/reproducing device, the information for which a fee is chargeable from a source that is external to the recording/reproducing device, the information for which a fee is chargeable being associated with particular content, recording, in a second memory of the recording/reproducing device, the received information for which a fee is chargeable along with a management file having an information use permission flag which indicates whether use by the recording/reproducing device of the received information for which a fee is chargeable is permitted, determining, at the recording/reproducing device, whether the accounting point information stored in the first memory indicates sufficient points to pay for the information for which a fee is chargeable, in response to determining at the recording/reproducing device that the accounting point information stored in the first memory of the recording/reproducing device indicates sufficient points to pay for the received information for which a fee is chargeable, subtracting points from the accounting point information stored in the first memory of the recording/reproducing device to pay for the received information for which a fee is chargeable and setting the information permission flag to an AVAILABLE state, and in response to determining at the recording/reproducing device that the accounting point information stored in the first memory of the recording/reproducing device does not indicate sufficient points to pay for the received information for which a fee is chargeable, initiating, at the recording/reproducing device, an actual accounting process with an accounting center, and in response to receiving approval from the accounting center, restoring the accounting point information stored in the first memory of the recording/reproducing device to a predetermined point value, subtracting points from the accounting point information stored in the first memory of the recording/reproducing device to pay for the received information for which a fee is chargeable, and then setting the information permission flag to the AVAILABLE state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for receiving chargeable information, the method comprising:
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storing accounting point information representing a monetary balance in a first memory of a portable device that is electrically connectable to a recording/reproducing device, the accounting point information indicating a number of points; receiving a request by a user of the portable device for purchase of the information for which a fee is chargeable; and in response to receiving the request by the user of the portable device, receiving the information for which a fee is chargeable from a source that is external to the portable device, the information for which a fee is chargeable being associated with particular content, recording, in a second memory of the portable device, the received information for which a fee is chargeable along with a management file having an information use permission flag which indicates whether use of the received information for which a fee is chargeable is permitted, determining whether the accounting point information stored in the first memory of the portable device indicates sufficient points to pay for the information for which a fee is chargeable, in response to determining that the accounting point information stored in the first memory of the portable device indicates sufficient points to pay for the received information for which a fee is chargeable, subtracting points from the accounting point information stored in the first memory of the portable device to pay for the received information for which a fee is chargeable and setting the information permission flag to an AVAILABLE state, and in response to determining that the accounting point information stored in the first memory of the portable device does not indicate sufficient points to pay for the received information for which a fee is chargeable, initiating an actual accounting process with an accounting center , and in response to receiving approval from the accounting center, restoring the accounting point information stored in the first memory of the portable device to a predetermined point value, subtracting points from the accounting point information stored in the first memory of the portable device to pay for the received information for which a fee is chargeable, and then setting the information permission flag to the AVAILABLE state. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification