Post-paid billing system and method for multimedia files

A post-paid billing system based on the number of times multimedia files have been played, comprising:

• a terminal having a wired or wireless Internet function;
• and
• a content providing server for providing multimedia files,
• wherein the terminal comprises:
• a data storage means for storing external multimedia files and play times associated with the identification code recorded in a play times recording means;
• a multimedia playing means for playing the relevant multimedia file stored in the data storage means;
• a play times counting means for monitoring a state where the multimedia file is played by the multimedia playing means and counting the number of times the multimedia file has been played;
• a play times recording means for recording the play times for the multimedia file associated with the identification code in the data storage means when the play times counting means counts the number of times played;
• and
• a play times transmitting means for transmitting the identification code and play times for the multimedia file stored in the data storage means to the content providing server at a predetermined period of time.

A post-paid billing method in a content providing server based on the number of times multimedia files have been played, the method comprising:

• a file creating step of creating and storing a multimedia file by inserting an identification code into an external multimedia source;
• a file transmitting step of transmitting the relevant multimedia file to a terminal when receiving a multimedia file download request signal from the terminal;
• and
• a billing step of charging a user a fee corresponding to the identification code and play times for the multimedia file based on user payment information when receiving the identification code and play times from the terminal.

A post-paid billing method in a terminal based on the number of times multimedia files have been played, the method comprising:

• a multimedia file storing step of downloading and storing an external multimedia file with an identification code inserted therein;
• a play times counting step of, when the relevant multimedia file is played, monitoring a play state of the multimedia file and counting the number of times the relevant multimedia file has been played;
• a play times recording step of, when the play times for the multimedia file is counted, recording the play times associated with the relevant identification code;
• and
• a play times transmitting step of transmitting the recorded identification code and play times for the multimedia files to a content providing server at a predetermined period of time.

A post-paid billing method based on the number of times multimedia files have been played, comprising:

• a file creating step of creating and storing a multimedia file by inserting an identification code into an external multimedia source, by a content providing server;
• a file transmitting step of transmitting the relevant multimedia file to a terminal when receiving a multimedia file download request signal from the terminal, by the content providing server;
• a multimedia file storing step of downloading the external multimedia file with the identification code inserted therein from the content providing server and storing the downloaded multimedia file, by the terminal;
• a play times counting step of, when the relevant multimedia file is played, monitoring a play state of the multimedia file and counting the number of times the relevant multimedia file has been played, by the terminal;
• a play times recording step of, when the play times for the multimedia file is counted, recording the play times associated with the relevant identification code, by the terminal;
• a play times transmitting step of transmitting the recorded identification code and play times for the multimedia files to a content providing server at a predetermined period of time, by the terminal;
• and
• a billing step of charging a user a fee corresponding to the identification code and play times for the multimedia file based on user payment information when receiving the identification code and play times from the terminal, by the content providing server.

A post-paid billing method in a terminal based on the number of times the multimedia files have been played, the method comprising the steps of:

• reading out an identification code and play times for the multimedia file stored in the portable multimedia player, when connected with a portable multimedia player;
• forwarding the read identification code and play times to a content providing server;
• receiving an authentication key for releasing or removing play restriction on the multimedia file from the content providing server;
• and
• forwarding the received authentication key to the portable multimedia player.

A post-paid billing method in a portable multimedia player based on the number of times multimedia files have been played, the method comprising steps of:

• restricting the play of multimedia files when total play times associated with all identification codes reach a predetermined play limit value;
• uploading the total play times associated with all the identification codes to the terminal when connected with a terminal having a wired/wireless Internet function;
• and
• removing the file play restriction for the multimedia file when receiving a notification from the terminal that the upload of the play times associated with all identification codes upload has been completed.

A post-paid billing method in a portable multimedia player with a radio frequency identification tag (RFID) installed therein, based on the number of times multimedia files have been played, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) downloading and storing an external multimedia file with an identification code inserted therein;
• (b) when the multimedia file is played, monitoring a play state of the multimedia file and counting the number of times the multimedia file has been played;
• and
• (c) when the play times for the multimedia file is counted, recording the play times associated with the identification code in the RFID.

A post-paid billing method in a terminal with an RFID reader installed therein, based on the number of times multimedia files have been played, the method comprising the steps of:

• reading out an identification code and play times for the multimedia file recorded in an RFID of a portable multimedia player, when the portable multimedia player approaches the terminal;
• uploading the read identification code and play times to a content providing server in which the terminal has been already registered;
• and
• informing the portable multimedia player that the identification code and play times have been uploaded to the content providing server.