Server device, communication system, information-processing device, communication method, and storage medium

A communication system comprising:

• a program medium that includes a first storage device configured to store an application program and a medium ID, the application program including a process for communicating data via a predetermined network, the medium ID uniquely identifying the program medium;
• an information-processing device comprising:
• a transceiver configured to communicate data via the predetermined network;
• a second storage device configured to store a user and/or device ID that is an identification of a user or the information-processing device;
• a connector that is configured to connect to the program medium;
• a processing system that includes at least one processor, the processing system configured to:
• execute the application program stored in the program medium;
• transmit, using the transceiver, to a server device the medium ID of the program medium and the user and/or device ID;
• and
• the server device comprising:
• a storage medium system configured to:
• store a database that includes a plurality of pairs of a user and/or device ID and a corresponding first parameter, the user and/or device ID being an identification of a user and/or an information-processing device, the first parameter indicating an amount of data that the user or the device has a right to communicate via a predetermined network, and
• store a plurality of flags that each indicate a status for an adding process for a corresponding retail ID for each of a plurality of application programs;
• and
• a processing system that includes at least one processor, the processing system configured to:
• obtain a user/device ID and a corresponding retail ID from the information-processing device;
• perform an adding process to add a second parameter to a first parameter corresponding to the obtained user/device ID, the determined second parameter indicating an amount of data to be added and corresponding to the obtained retail ID;
• in response to obtaining the retail ID for the first time, update the flag corresponding to the retail ID so that the flag indicates that the adding process has been completed;
• obtain an amount of data that has been communicated by the information-processing device via the predetermined network;
• and
• subtract the obtained amount of data from the first parameter corresponding to the user and/or device ID,
• wherein the adding process is performed in a case that a flag corresponding to the retail ID is obtained.

An information-processing device comprising:

• a transceiver configured to communicate data using an electronic communications network with a remote server device, the remote server device storing a user/device ID and a corresponding first parameter, the user/device ID indicating a user and/or an information-processing device, the first parameter indicating an amount of data that the user or the information-processing device has a right to communicate via the electronic communications network, the remote server device storing a plurality of flags, each flag indicating that an adding process for the corresponding retail ID is completed for each of the plurality of application programs;
• an attachment connector configured to allow a storage medium device to be attached, the storage medium device including a memory device configured to store an application program and a medium ID, the application program including a process for communicating data via the electronic communications network, the medium ID uniquely identifying the storage medium device;
• a second memory storage device configured to store a user/device ID that is an identification of a user or the information-processing device;
• a processing system that includes at least one processor, the processing system configured to:
• execute the application program stored in the storage medium device when attached to the attachment connector;
• transmit the medium ID and the user/device ID to a remote server device, wherein the transmitted medium ID and the user/device ID causes the service device to update the flag corresponding to the retail ID in the second table so that the flag indicates that the adding process has been completed in response to obtaining the retail ID for the first time;
• and
• accept a first parameter to which a second parameter is added, the second parameter indicating an amount of data that is based on the medium ID and the user/device ID, the first parameter indicating a second amount of data that the user or the device has a right to communicate via the electronic communications network,
• wherein the adding process is performed in a case that a flag corresponding to the retail ID is obtained by the server.

A communication method for use with a computing device that includes at least one processor, the computing device coupled to a communication system, the method comprising:

• storing plural first parameters with the computing device, the plural first parameters corresponding to plural account identifiers, the plural first parameters respectively indicating an amount of data;
• obtaining an account identifier and a retail ID from an information-processing device, the obtained account identifier being one of the stored plural account identifiers and the retail ID being associated with at least one application program used and/or installed with the information-processing device;
• storing a plurality of flags that each indicate a status of whether or not an adding process has been performed for a corresponding retail ID for each of the application programs;
• in response to obtaining the account identifier and the retail ID from the information-processing device, performing, using the at least one processor, an adding process to add a second parameter to the first parameter that corresponds to the obtained account identifier, wherein the second parameter corresponds to obtained retail ID transmitted from the information-processing device;
• based on obtaining the account identifier and the retail ID from the information-processing device, updating the flag corresponding to the retail ID so that the flag indicates that the adding process has been completed;
• obtaining an amount of data that the information-processing device has communicated via an electronic communications network;
• and
• subtracting the obtained amount of data from the stored first parameter that corresponds to the obtained account identifier,
• wherein the adding process is performed in a case that a flag corresponding to the retail ID is obtained.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing an information processing program for use with a computing system that includes at least one processor coupled to a memory device, the information processing program comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing system to:

• accept a client ID and a corresponding application ID from a remotely located information processing device, the client ID indicating a user ID and/or device ID, the corresponding application ID identifying an application program;
• store a plurality of flags that each indicate a status for an adding process for each of the corresponding application IDs for each of the application programs;
• obtain an amount of data that has been communicated by the information-processing device using an electronic communications network;
• in response to accepting the client ID and the corresponding application ID, perform an adding process that includes adding a second parameter to a first parameter, the second parameter being linked to the accepted corresponding application ID, the first parameter being stored with the computing system, associated with the client ID, and indicating how much data that the user or device associated with the client ID has a right to communicate through the electronic communications network;
• in response to obtaining the retail ID for the first time, update the flag corresponding to the retail ID so that the flag indicates that the adding process has been completed;
• subtract the obtained amount of data from the first parameter,
• wherein the adding process is performed in a case that a flag corresponding to the retail ID is obtained.

A method of metering an amount of data communicated over an electronic communications network, the method comprising:

• determining an application identifier of an application execution capability added to an information processing device;
• storing a plurality of flags that each indicate a status for an adding process for each one of a plurality of corresponding application identifiers for each application execution capability;
• in response to determination of the application identifier, using at least one processor, performing the adding process that includes increasing a data communication limit that is associated with an account identifier, which is linked to the information processing device, in response to the added application execution capability, the data communication limit being increased by a variable amount that depends on the determined application identity of the added application execution capability;
• in response to obtaining the application identifier for the first time, update the flag corresponding to the application identifier so that the flag indicates that the adding process has been completed;
• metering an amount of data that the information processing device communicates;
• and
• automatically preventing the amount of communicated data from exceeding the data communication limit,
• wherein the adding process is performed in a case that a flag corresponding to the application identifier is obtained.