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US 2007/0177003 A1Published application
Data processing system and method, communication system and method, and charging apparatus and method
AssigneeSony Corporation
InventorsTetsujiro Kondo, Yoshinori Watanabe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a communication system for serving data corresponding to a request from the user and charging the user for the data served to the user, when the user designates a result of a desired one of a plurality of different operations, a usage management unit selects a one, corresponding to the user's designation, of a plurality of processors which effect operations corresponding to a plurality of different algorithms, respectively. When the processor corresponding to the designation is selected, an algorithm processor makes an operation corresponding to the designation. A management center charges the user for the use of the algorithm.
Claims42
1-83. (canceled)
A communication system with a charging management apparatus, comprising:
- a processor including:
- a designator adapted to designate desired methods for at least an application layer and hardware control layer, respectively;
- a request signal transmitter configured to send a signal of request for a method designated by the designator;
- a receiver for receiving a reply to the request signal;
- a signal processor for selectively carrying out methods related to the application layer;
- a hardware controller for selectively carrying out methods related to the hardware control layer;
- and
- a controller for controlling the signal processor or hardware controller to carry out a method designated by the designator;
- a charging management apparatus including:
- a receiver for receiving the request signal;
- a judgment unit for judging, based on the received request signal, whether the method is available;
- a transmitter for sending the judgment result from the judgment unit to the receiver;
- a usage-charge storage unit for storing charge information on the use of each of a plurality of methods stored in the signal processor or hardware controller;
- and
- a processor for computing, based on information stored in the usage-charge storage unit, information indicative of an amount charged to the user having made designation to the designator, and outputting the charged amount information.
12 more elements
A charging management apparatus comprising:
- a receiver for receiving, from an external apparatus, a signal of request for permission to use desired methods related to an application layer and hardware control layer, respectively, of the external apparatus;
- a judgment unit for judging, based on the permission request signal received by the receiver, whether the method is available;
- a transmitter for sending the judgment result from the judgment unit to the receiver;
- a usage-charge storage unit for storing charge information on the use of each of a plurality of methods;
- and
- a processor for computing, based on information stored in the usage-charge storage unit, information indicative of an amount charged to the user having made a designation to a designator and for outputting the charged amount information.
3 more elements
A communication system comprising first and second communication apparatuses and a charging apparatus,
- the first communication apparatus including:
- a designation input unit for designating desired methods for at least an application layer and hardware control layer, respectively, of a transmitter;
- a signal transmitter for sending a signal of request for a method designated by the designation input unit;
- a receiver for receiving content data processed by the method made available by the signal transmitter;
- a hardware controller for selectively carrying out methods related to the hardware control layer;
- and
- a first controller for controlling the hardware controller to carry out a method designated by the designation input unit;
- the second communication apparatus including:
- a signal processor for selectively carrying out methods related to the application layer to process input content data;
- a second controller for controlling the method designated by the designation input unit to be carried out based on the request signal sent from the signal transmitter;
- and
- a transmitter for sending the processed content data to outside;
- and
- the charging management apparatus including:
- a usage-charge storage unit for storing charge information on the use of each of a plurality of methods stored in the signal processor or hardware controller;
- and
- a processor for computing, based on information stored in the usage-charge storage unit, information indicative of an amount charged to the user having made a designation to the designation input unit, and for outputting the charged amount information.
14 more elements
A communication method for computing information of an amount charged to the user, comprising the steps of:
- designating desired methods for at least an application layer and hardware control layer, respectively;
- judging whether the designated methods are available;
- carrying out, by a signal processor or hardware controller, the requested method according to the judgment that the method is available;
- and
- computing information on an amount charged to the user having designated the method based on information on usage charge for the method.
2 more elements
A charging method for presenting charging information to the user, comprising the steps of:
- receiving, from an external apparatus, a signal of request for permission of the use of desired methods for an application layer and hardware control layer, respectively, of the external apparatus;
- judging whether the methods are available, based on the received request signal;
- computing, correspondingly to the result of the judgment, information on an amount charged to the user having sent the request signal based on usage charge information for each of the methods;
- and
- outputting the charged amount information.
2 more elements
A communication method for communication of content data, comprising the steps of:
- designating desired methods for at least an application layer of a transmitter and a hardware control layer, respectively, of a receiver;
- sending a signal of request for the designated method;
- processing content data input to the transmitter by a signal processor by carrying out the method according to the sent request signal;
- sending the processed content data from the transmitter to the receiver;
- receiving the sent content data by the receiver;
- controlling the power supply to an internal circuit of the receiver by a method carried out by a hardware controller corresponding to the designated method;
- computing information on an amount charged to the user having designated the methods based on information stored in a usage charge information storage which stores usage charge information for each of a plurality of methods stored in the signal processor or hardware controller;
- and
- outputting the charged amount information.
6 more elements
A storage medium having stored therein a program readable by an information processor, the program comprising the steps of:
- designating desired methods for at least an application layer and hardware control layer, respectively;
- judging whether the designated methods are available;
- carrying out, by a signal processor or hardware controller, the requested method according to the judgment that the method is available;
- and
- computing information on an amount charged to the user having designated the method based on information on usage charge for the method.
2 more elements
A storage medium having stored therein a program readable by an information processor, the program comprising the steps of:
- receiving, from an external apparatus, a signal of request for permission of the use of desired methods for an application layer and hardware control layer, respectively, of the external apparatus;
- judging whether the methods are available, based on the received request signal;
- computing, corresponding to the result of judgment, information on an amount charged to the user having sent the request signal based on usage charge information for each of the methods;
- and
- outputting the charged amount information.
2 more elements
A storage medium having stored therein a program readable by an information processor, the program comprising the steps of:
- designating desired methods for at least an application layer of a transmitter and a hardware control layer, respectively, of a receiver;
- sending a signal of request for the designated method;
- processing content data input to the transmitter by a signal processor by carrying out the method according to the sent request signal;
- sending the processed content data from the transmitter to the receiver;
- receiving the sent content data by the receiver;
- controlling the power supply to an internal circuit of the receiver by a method carried out by a hardware controller corresponding to the designated method;
- computing information on an amount charged to the user having designated the methods based on information stored in a usage charge information storage which stores usage charge information for each of a plurality of methods held in the signal processor or hardware controller;
- and
- outputting the charged amount information.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.