Semiconductor-integrated device, electronics device using the same, and accounting method concerning the use thereof

An electronics device having a function to communicate with an external source, said electronics device comprising:

• a semiconductor-integrated device which includes:
• a reconfigurable circuit to realize a function by reconfiguring functional cells;
• and
• a reconfigurable circuit controller which controls said reconfigurable circuit and gives a reconfiguration instruction thereto;
• and
• wherein said reconfigurable circuit controller includes:
• a reconfiguration instruction unit which gives an instruction to said reconfigurable circuit;
• and
• an accounting information controller to execute accounting on a function to be realized by said semiconductor-integrated device;
• and
• wherein said accounting information controller measures accounting information according to reconfiguration status of said functional cells executed by said reconfiguration circuit based on a reconfiguration instruction from said reconfiguration indication unit and performs transmission and reception of information with an external source of said semiconductor-integrated device;
• and
• wherein said electronics device transmits accounting information to be received from said semiconductor-integrated device to an external accounting controller.

An electronics device having a connection function with an external storage device, said device comprising:

• a reconfigurable circuit to realize a function by reconfiguring functional cells;
• and
• a reconfigurable circuit controller which controls said reconfigurable circuit and gives a reconfiguration instruction thereto;
• wherein said reconfigurable circuit controller includes:
• a reconfiguration instruction unit which gives an instruction to said reconfigurable circuit;
• and
• an accounting information controller to execute accounting on a function to be realized by said semiconductor-integrated device;
• and
• wherein said accounting information controller receives remaining value of accounting stored in said external storage device, and when the remaining value of accounting is kept, said reconfiguration instruction unit gives a reconfiguration instruction to said reconfigurable circuit to executes reconfiguration of said functional cells.

An accounting method concerning use of an electronics device which incorporates a semiconductor-integrated device including a reconfigurable circuit to realize a function by reconfiguring functional cells and which has a communication function, said accounting method comprising the steps of:

• when a user of said electronics device enjoys an information service by using said electronics device, reconfiguring functional cells by giving an instruction to said reconfigurable circuit at the time of activating a semiconductor-integrated device to realize said information service;
• executing accounting of usage charge of the semiconductor according to reconfiguration status of said configurable circuit;
• and
• transmitting accounting information to an accounting controller of a communication infrastructure supplier which offers a communication service.

An accounting method concerning use of an electronics device which incorporates a semiconductor-integrated device including a reconfigurable circuit to realize a function by reconfiguring functional cells and has a function to connect an external storage device, said accounting method comprising the steps of:

• when a user of said electronics device uses said external storage device through said electronics device, connecting said external storage device storing a remaining value of accounting of the electronics device to the electronics device;
• transmitting the remaining value of accounting of said electronics device from said external storage device;
• storing said remaining value of accounting of said electronics device transmitted;
• when activating said semiconductor-integrated device to use said electronics device, reconfiguring the functional cells by giving an instruction to said reconfigurable circuit;
• subtracting a usage charge from said remaining value of accounting stored according to reconfiguration status of said reconfigurable circuit;
• and
• stopping operations of said electronics device when said remaining value of accounting is used up.