Service provider
OwnerFuyuki Ohtomoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
When map-information distribution is demanded by a user who uses a navigation apparatus, a map-information transmitter determines whether or not the status of charging for the user is appropriate. When the charging status is determined as inappropriate, as in a case where the total amount of fees (the total of a map-information fee and a communication fee) that have been charged until now approach a maximum value that had been set by the user, the map-information transmitter reduces the data amount of map information that was to be transmitted according to a predetermined service plan and transmits the reduced map information to the user.
Claims24
A service provider for providing information to a user over a communication link at a charge according to the service provided, comprising:
- a maximum-value storing unit for storing information about a maximum value of charging for each user;
- and
- a service-providing unit for modifying the details of information for distribution based on the maximum-value information and for distributing the information to the user.
A method of operating a service provider for providing information to a user over a communication link at a charge according to the service provided, comprising:
- storing information representing a maximum value of charging for each user;
- controlling the distribution of information to a user based on the maximum-value information associated with the user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.