Relay terminal, base station, charging server, communication system, charging method, program computer data signal, and storage medium
AssigneeNtt Docomo, Inc.
InventorsHijin Sato, Yasushi Yamao
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a relay terminal A for relaying packet communication between a destination terminal C located outside a service area of a base station Z, and the base station Z, a contribution to relaying is measured and the measurement result is transmitted to a billing server SA configured to store an information communication charge of the relay terminal A, whereby it becomes feasible to give the relay terminal an incentive.
Claims32
A relay terminal for relaying packet communication between a destination terminal and a base station, said relay terminal comprising:
- measuring means for measuring a contribution to the relaying;
- and transmitting means for transmitting a measurement result of the contribution to a billing server connected to a network including the base station and configured to store an information communication charge of the relay terminal.
(canceled)
(canceled)
7-8. (canceled)
A base station for implementing packet communication with a destination terminal through a relay terminal, said base station comprising:
- measuring means for measuring a contribution to relaying by the relay terminal;
- and transmitting means for transmitting a measurement result of the contribution to a billing server connected to a network including the base station and configured to store an information communication charge of the relay terminal.
14-23. (canceled)
A billing server for storing an information communication charge of a relay terminal, said billing server comprising:
- receiving means for receiving a contribution to relaying by the relay terminal for relaying packet communication between a destination terminal and a base station;
- and billing means for effecting negative billing according to the contribution received by the receiving means, on the information communication charge stored.
A billing method of an information communication charge comprising:
- a step of storing an information communication charge of a relay terminal in a storage device;
- a step of receiving a contribution to relaying by the relay terminal for relaying packet communication between a destination terminal and a base station;
- and a step of effecting negative billing calculation according to the received contribution on the information communication charge stored in the storage device.
A computer data signal included in a carrier wave, said computer data signal letting a computer having read the signal, execute:
- a step of storing an information communication charge of a relay terminal in a storage device;
- and a step of receiving a contribution to relaying by the relay terminal for relaying packet communication between a destination terminal and a base station and effecting negative billing calculation according to the received contribution, on the information communication charge stored in the storage device.
(canceled)
A relay terminal for relaying packet communication between a destination terminal and a base station, said relay terminal comprising:
- measuring means for measuring a contribution to the relaying;
- and calculating means for calculating from a measurement result by the measuring means, a value to be deducted from an information communication charge in a billing server connected to a network including the base station and configured to store the information communication charge of the relay terminal.
A billing method of an information communication charge comprising:
- a step of transmitting a contribution to relaying by a relay terminal for relaying packet communication between a destination terminal and a base station, from the relay terminal;
- and a step of effecting negative billing calculation according to the contribution, on an information communication charge stored in a predetermined storage device.
40-42. (canceled)
A program for letting a computer execute a step of storing an information communication charge of a relay terminal in a storage device;
- and a step of receiving a contribution to relaying by the relay terminal for relaying packet communication between a destination terminal and a base station and effecting negative billing calculation according to the received contribution on the information communication charge stored in the storage device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.