Transmission apparatus and method, reception apparatus and method, management apparatus and method, charging apparatus and method, providing apparatus and method, and recording medium
AssigneeSony Corporation
InventorsShin Iima, Makoto Saito
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to a transmission apparatus for transmitting digital content data via a communication medium, comprising attachment means for attaching cost information per unit data volume to the digital content data; and transmission means for transmitting the digital content data attached with the cost information after converting a data format of the digital content data attached with the cost information into a data format suitable to the communication medium.
Claims37
A transmission apparatus for transmitting digital content data via a communication medium, comprising:
- attachment means for attaching cost information per unit data volume to said digital content data;
- and
- transmission means for transmitting said digital content data attached with said cost information after converting a data format of said digital content data attached with said cost information into a data format suitable to said communication medium.
A transmission method for transmitting digital content data via a communication medium, comprising the steps of:
- attaching cost information per unit data volume to said digital content data;
- and
- transmitting said digital content data attached with said cost information after converting a data format of said digital content data attached with said cost information into a data format suitable to said communication medium.
A recording medium recording a computer-readable program for transmitting digital content data via a communication medium, said computer-readable program comprising the steps of:
- attaching cost information per unit data volume to said digital content data;
- and
- transmitting said digital content data attached with said cost information after converting a data format of said digital content data attached with said cost information into a data format suitable to said communication medium.
A reception apparatus for receiving digital content data transmitted via a communication medium, comprising:
- reception means for receiving said digital content with its data format converted into a data format suitable for said communication medium and restoring the received digital content data;
- removal means for removing said cost information from the restored digital content data;
- and
- reproduction means for reproducing said digital content data deprived of said cost information.
A reception method for receiving digital content data transmitted via a communication medium, comprising the steps of:
- receiving said digital content with its data format converted into a data format suitable for said communication medium and restoring the received digital content data;
- removing said cost information from the restored digital content data;
- and
- reproducing said digital content data deprived of said cost information.
A recording medium recording a computer-readable program for receiving digital content data transmitted via a communication medium, said computer-readable program comprising the steps of:
- receiving said digital content with its data format converted into a data format suitable for said communication medium and restoring the received digital content data;
- removing said cost information from the restored digital content data;
- and
- reproducing said digital content data deprived of said cost information.
A management apparatus for managing purchase and sale of digital content data transmitted from a transmission unit and received by a reception unit via a communication medium, comprising:
- reception means for receiving at least one of transmission information and reception information about said digital content data from a given point on a communication route between said transmission unit and said reception unit inclusive;
- and
- computation means for computing, on the basis of at least one of said transmission information and said reception information received by said reception means, a sale price of said digital content data via said communication medium.
A management method for managing purchase and sale of digital content data transmitted from a transmission unit and received by a reception unit via a communication medium, comprising the steps of:
- receiving at least one of transmission information and reception information about said digital content data from a given point on a communication route between said transmission unit and said reception unit including the both;
- and
- computing, on the basis of at least one of said transmission information and said reception information received in said reception step, a sale price of said digital content data via said communication medium.
A recording medium recording a computer-readable program for managing purchase and sale of digital content data transmitted from a transmission unit and received by a reception unit via a communication medium, said computer-readable program comprising the steps of:
- receiving at least one of transmission information and reception information about said digital content data from a given point on a communication route between said transmission unit and said reception unit including the both;
- and
- computing, on the basis of at least one of said transmission information and said reception information received in said reception step, a sale price of said digital content data via said communication medium.
A charging apparatus for charging for digital content data attached with cost information per unit data volume transmitted from a transmission unit to a reception unit via a communication medium, comprising:
- acquisition means for acquiring a sale price of said digital content data on the basis of said cost information per unit data volume;
- and
- charging means for charging a user of said reception apparatus on the basis of said sale price acquired by said acquisition means.
A charging method for charging for digital content data attached with cost information per unit data volume transmitted from a transmission unit to a reception unit via a communication medium, comprising the steps of:
- acquiring a sale price of said digital content data on the basis of said cost information per unit data volume;
- and
- charging a user of said reception apparatus on the basis of said sale price acquired in said acquisition step.
A recording medium recording a computer-readable program for charging for digital content data attached with cost information per unit data volume transmitted from a transmission unit to a reception unit via a communication medium, said computer-readable program comprising the steps of:
- acquiring a sale price of said digital content data on the basis of said cost information per unit data volume;
- and
- charging a user of said reception apparatus on the basis of said sale price acquired in said acquisition step.
A charging apparatus for charging for digital content data transmitted from a transmission unit to a reception unit via a communication medium, comprising:
- acquisition means for acquiring information about a sale price of said digital content data;
- synthesis means for synthesizing said information about said sale price acquired by said acquisition means with information about a usage fee for use of said communication medium;
- and
- charging means for charging a user of said reception unit on the basis of synthesized information supplied by said synthesis means.
A charging method for charging for digital content data transmitted from a transmission unit to a reception unit via a communication medium, comprising:
- acquiring information about a sale price of said digital content data;
- synthesizing said information about said sale price acquired in said acquisition step with information about a usage fee for use of said communication medium;
- and
- charging a user of said reception unit on the basis of synthesized information supplied in said synthesis step.
A recording medium recording a computer-readable program for charging for digital content data transmitted from a transmission unit to a reception unit via a communication medium, said computer-readable program comprising:
- acquiring information about a sale price of said digital content data;
- synthesizing said information about said sale price acquired in said acquisition step with information about a usage fee for use of said communication medium;
- and
- charging a user of said reception unit on the basis of synthesized information supplied in said synthesis step.
A charging apparatus for charging for digital content data transmitted from a transmission unit to a reception unit, comprising:
- acquisition means for acquiring information about sale price of said digital content data:
- synthesis means for synthesizing said information about sale price acquired by said acquisition means with information about a usage fee for use of information transmitted from said transmission unit;
- and
- charging means for charging a user of said reception unit on the basis of the synthesized information supplied by said synthesis means.
A charging method for charging for digital content data transmitted from a transmission unit to a reception unit, comprising the steps of:
- acquiring information about sale price of said digital content data:
- synthesizing said information about sale price acquired in said acquisition step with information about a usage fee for use of information transmitted from said transmission unit;
- and
- charging a user of said reception unit on the basis of the synthesized information supplied in said synthesis step.
A recording medium recording a computer-readable program for charging for digital content data transmitted from a transmission unit to a reception unit, said computer-readable program comprising the steps of:
- acquiring information about sale price of said digital content data:
- synthesizing said information about sale price acquired in said acquisition step with information about a usage fee for use of information transmitted from said transmission unit;
- and
- charging a user of said reception unit on the basis of the synthesized information supplied in said synthesis step.
A charging apparatus for charging for a predetermined service ordered from a first unit to a second unit via a network, comprising:
- extraction means for extracting cost information from order information provided by said second unit to said first unit for ordering said predetermined service from said first unit to said second unit via said network;
- and
- charging means for charging a user of said first unit on the basis of said cost information extracted by said extraction means.
A charging method for charging for a predetermined service ordered from a first unit to a second unit via a network, comprising the steps of:
- extracting cost information from order information provided by said second unit to said first unit for ordering said predetermined service from said first unit to said second unit via said network;
- and
- charging a user of said first unit on the basis of said cost information extracted in said extraction step.
A recording medium recording a computer-readable program for charging for a predetermined service ordered from a first unit to a second unit via a network, said computer-readable program comprising the steps of:
- extracting cost information from order information for ordering said predetermined service from said first unit to said second unit via said network;
- and
- charging a user of said first unit on the basis of said cost information extracted in said extraction step.
A providing apparatus for providing a predetermined service ordered from a unit via a network, comprising:
- attachment means for attaching cost information about said predetermined service to order information for ordering said predetermined service by a user of said unit;
- transmission means for transmitting said order information attached with said cost information to said unit via said network;
- and
- acceptance means for accepting an order placed by said unit via said network on the basis of said order information transmitted by said transmission means.
A providing method for providing a predetermined service ordered from a unit via a network, comprising the steps of:
- attaching cost information about said predetermined service to order information for ordering said predetermined service by a user of said unit;
- transmitting said order information attached with said cost information to said unit via said network;
- and
- accepting an order placed by said unit via said network on the basis of said order information transmitted in said transmission step.
A recording medium recording a computer-readable program for providing a predetermined service ordered from a unit via a network, said computer-readable program comprising the steps of:
- attaching cost information about said predetermined service to order information for ordering said predetermined service by a user of said unit;
- transmitting said order information attached with said cost information to said unit via said network;
- and
- accepting an order placed by said unit via said network on the basis of said order information transmitted in said transmission step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.