Flat rate pricing with packet-frequency-aware billing system for mobile broadband communication

information processing apparatus comprising:

• a threshold storage unit configured to store a first threshold of a common carrier, the common carrier being capable of charging according to the first threshold to be applied to a packet communication volume in each first unit period;
• a packet communication unit configured to perform packet communication to and from a communication apparatus of the common carrier;
• a packet communication volume calculation unit configured to calculate a packet communication volume in each second unit period shorter than the first unit period;
• and
• a packet communication control unit configured to control the packet communication unit based on the packet communication volume in the second unit period so as to keep the packet communication volume in the first unit period below the first threshold.

A packet communication method comprising:

• in an information processing apparatus,
• storing a first threshold of a common carrier, the common carrier being capable of charging according to the first threshold to be applied to a packet communication volume in each first unit period;
• performing a packet communication to and from a communication apparatus of the common carrier;
• calculating the packet communication volume in each second unit period shorter than the first unit period;
• and
• controlling the packet communication based on packet communication volume in the second unit period so as to keep the packet communication volume in the first unit period below the first threshold.

An information processing apparatus comprising:

• a threshold storage unit configured to store a threshold to be applied to a packet communication volume in each calculation unit period shorter than a charge unit period with respect to packet communication of a user terminal;
• a packet communication volume calculation unit configured to calculate a packet communication volume of the user terminal in each calculation unit period;
• and
• a charge determination unit configured to determine a charge in the charge unit period based on a relation between the packet communication volume and the threshold in each calculation unit period calculated.