JP2001266016A - Method for information accounting and information providing platform - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable an information user and an information provider to realize information accounting at a low cost by performing information accounting, according to contents, when a user uses a user terminal to give an order to the information provider through the Internet or the like and is provided with an article or a service. SOLUTION: An information database, which can be accessed via the Internet and where menu information and charged contents information are stored, is installed in the information provider, and the user uses a user terminal to access the information database via the Internet and downloads menu information and is logged on an information accounting system operated by the trade of contents accounting with respect to information which the user wants to acquire and accesses the information database via the information accounting system, to record personal information and downloads charged contents information, and then accounting is performed in the information accounting system, and an article or the like is sent to the user, based on personal information of the user recorded in the information database.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information billing method and an information providing platform, and more particularly to a method for realizing an information billing service suitable for a business such as a merchandise established by using an Internet network, and information provision. The present invention relates to the realization of an information providing platform including an information server, a charge server, and an authentication server connected to an information billing system provided by an information billing company that can be used jointly by users.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A time-limited use charging system is conventionally known as a charging system on the Internet (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 1 (1998)).
0-27936, Japanese Patent No. 2939923). In this timed usage billing system, the user (client)
When receiving a paid service from a site (service provider) using the Internet, a predetermined connection frequency is given to each user in advance, and the connection service is received until the connection frequency becomes less than 0. The system is configured so that a connection fee is charged according to the connection use time. As a method of charging a content usage fee, there is a charging method disclosed in JP-A-2000-13371. According to this billing method, when a client connects to the Internet via a provider and obtains content data, a server on the content providing side monitors and acquires a time for downloading the content data, and uses a predetermined method based on the time. This is a method configured to calculate the fee and inform the client side. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 8
No. 6,784,867 discloses a system and method for preventing unauthorized use of software / work. The subject (technical idea) of the present invention is to lock a software / work and sell a key for unlocking the software / work when the software / work is sold via a network. And to prevent unauthorized use. However, even in this system, since software / copyrights and the like are sold via a network, there is a problem of what kind of mechanism is originally provided for a charging system.

[0003]

The technical content of the above-mentioned conventional "time-based use charging system on the Internet" is a technology for charging by managing the connection time, and is not a charging for contents. The “content usage fee charging method” described above is a method of charging content, but a method of performing charging control using the characteristics of downloading content data. Although effective as one method of charging the content, charging is performed by replacing the content with the download time, and there is a problem that the content may not be sufficiently reflected in the charging amount. Further, in the above-mentioned “system for preventing unauthorized use of software / copyright and processing method for preventing unauthorized use of copyrights”, when sending a key for unlocking to a user, the method of charging inherently becomes an important issue. Nevertheless, there is no special mention of the billing method.

[0004] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a user with an order to an information provider via an internet network or the like using a user terminal to receive goods and services. The information billing system provided by the information billing company is used jointly by a plurality of information providers, thereby realizing the information billing by the information users and the information providers at a low cost. Another object of the present invention is to provide an information billing method and an information providing platform using the information billing system, which enables an information user to use an information billing system without disclosing personal information.

[0005]

An information billing method and an information providing platform according to the present invention are configured as follows to achieve the above object.

A first information billing method (corresponding to claim 1): An information provider installs an information database that is accessible via the Internet and stores menu information of goods or services and paid content information. The user accesses the information database via the Internet using the user terminal, downloads the menu information to the user terminal via the Internet, makes a selection based on the menu information, and obtains the information that the user wants to obtain. If so, log on to the information billing system operated by the content billing company, access the information database via the information billing system, record personal information, download paid content information, and use the information billing system with the download. Is charged and the usage recorded in the information database is This is a method of sending goods or providing services based on the user's personal information. Second information billing method (corresponding to claim 2): A user terminal ID, a user I,
D, a content ID, software that performs encryption of the software or the content by generating an encryption key based on the key generation source information such as date and time information, and the software or the content are installed. If encrypted, the user logs on to the computer installed by the software or content distributor through the information billing system and sends the key generator information, and the distributor computer uses the key generator information based on the key generator information. Key information for unlocking is generated, and the key information is downloaded to the user terminal for a fee through the information billing system based on the user's request, and the software or content is used by the user using the key information. A possible way. Third information billing method (corresponding to claim 3): A user uses a portable terminal to settle a payment amount from a device that should perform payment, such as a cash register in a store, a vending machine, a ticket vending machine, or a toll locker. Obtain information such as a product name, transmit information from the mobile terminal to the management device via the information billing system, and the management device receives the information and generates a pay password. The payment is made by downloading the payment to the portable terminal and verified by the device that should make the payment.

[0007] A first information providing platform (corresponding to claim 4) is configured so that a plurality of information providers can jointly use an information billing system provided by an information billing company, and thus communicates with the information billing system. An information server having a web server function of providing pay information to an information user via the Internet network and connected to the information billing system via a communication line, and receiving billing information from the information billing system; , A charge server for notifying the information provider and an authentication server for authenticating the information provider given via the communication line. Second information providing platform (corresponding to claim 5):
In the above configuration, the information server is characterized in that the information provider or the information user can provide and use the information using the ID number without disclosing the personal information of both parties to each other. Third information providing platform (corresponding to claim 6):
The above configuration is characterized in that the authentication server performs authentication at the time of logon when the information provider writes, updates, deletes, or refers to the information database in the information server via a communication line. Fourth information providing platform (corresponding to claim 7):
In the above configuration, when the information provider performs writing to the information database in the information report server via the communication line, the information server provides information of the date, month, day, hour, minute, second, and information amount (byte amount). Stores information on paid or free information content specified by the user, expiration date to be set in the information database, paid or free information name including ID case, and fee to be paid each time the information user uses it -Management of the information database to be managed is characterized. Fifth information providing platform (corresponding to claim 8):
The above configuration is characterized in that it has a function of recording and managing in the information database that the information provider has performed update, deletion, and reference. Sixth information providing platform (corresponding to claim 9):
In the above configuration, when an information user obtains paid information, information from a plurality of information providers is collectively arranged,
It is characterized in that the information user is configured to access on a set screen. Seventh information providing platform (corresponding to claim 10): In the above-described configuration, the information server provides, for each ID of the information user who accesses, information on the name of the paid information used, the amount used, and the date, time, date, hour, minute, and second Is recorded and managed. Eighth information providing platform (corresponding to claim 11): In the above configuration, the information providing agent notifies the information provider of the amount to be paid to the information provider based on the various types of information recorded. It is characterized in that it is determined based on a prior contract by comparing it with the billing information and recorded in a fee database in a fee server. Ninth information providing platform (corresponding to claim 12): In the above-described configuration, a charge management server for processing information such as statistics of usage of paid or free information based on a charge database is provided. Features.

[0008]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0009] First Embodiment: FIG 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the entire process of the information billing method according to the present invention is conceptually shown.

Referring to FIG. 1, the outline of the whole process is indicated by P1.
The description will be made according to the procedures from 01 to P109. In this process, in steps P101 to P109, the provider of the goods or services becomes the provider of the paid content information,
An example is shown in which goods or services are provided to a user and the price of the provision is collected. The user (user) uses the user terminal 10 to log on to the information database 9 via the Internet 531 and obtains menu information of goods or services (P101). The information database 9 is a provider of goods or services (information provider) and is used jointly by many providers 901. The menu information provided from the information database 9 indicates goods or services provided by many providers. If there is a desired product or service in the obtained menu information, the user logs on to the information billing system 8 using the user terminal 10 with an ID and password unique to the information billing service (P102). ), And further accesses the information database 9 (P103), and downloads the pay content information stored in the information database 9 (P104). In this way, paid content information is obtained by the user (P105). In the above-described process of obtaining the pay content information, the price of the pay content information is paid to the information database 9 that provides goods or services, that is, the provider via the information charging system 8 ( P107, P108). As described above, the information database 9, that is, the goods or service provider side, sends “goods or provides services” to the user based on the purchase information of the pay content information stored by the user in the information database 9. Is instructed (P109). As a result, the user can obtain “goods or services” as shown in the procedure P106. As described above, the information database 9 can be provided at low cost by being jointly used by a provider of goods or services and an information provider.

Next, the main part of the process shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail. The provider 901 of the product or service, in a shared state, provides the above-mentioned "menu information" free of charge and "music content, moving image or still image content, good use of goods or services, An information database 9 for storing paid content information such as "sound contents, still image contents, and moving image contents, which are to be obtained by followers" is provided. This information database 9 is usually placed in an information server 12 in the information providing platform 1 as shown in FIG.

[0012] The user who has obtained the menu information desires to obtain from the menu information, for example, a CD storing music contents or a DV storing moving images.
D, or select goods or services such as goods that fans or followers of religion want to obtain.

When a user makes a request to obtain paid content information from the user terminal 10 via the information billing system 8, usually, the user also transmits personal information such as an address, a name and a telephone number. The information is recorded in the information database 9.

In procedure P104, information billing system 8
The user's ID, product or service name, and settlement amount are recorded, and the user is charged for the amount. Further, when the charging of the paid content information is performed in the procedure P104, the ID of the user, the name of the product or service, and the payment amount are recorded in the information database 9. Based on the record and the personal information recorded in the procedure P103, the user is instructed to ship the goods or provide the service in the procedure P105, and the user can obtain it.

The information billing company that operates the information billing system 8 collects the amount charged to the user in step P107, and pays the goods or service provider in step P108 after deducting the commission. by this,
The goods or service provider can use the information billing system 8 to obtain the price of the paid content information.

Second Embodiment: Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment shows an example of an information billing method and relates to distribution of key information (paid key). FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a process of providing pay information, and more specifically, a process of utilizing the provision of key information such as a password for a fee in information billing.
According to the process shown in FIG. 2, the user who uses the pay information can evaluate the information and then use the information. In the following description, the process will be described in the order of P201 to P210.

P201: On the information provider (paid information provider) side, the information database 9 described in FIG.
The server (or terminal) 91 in the terminal is content information composed of any of characters, graphics, still images, moving images, and audio, or a combination thereof, which can be actually used only by inputting key information (paid key). Then, content information such as digital tickets, prepaid digital money, software, and shareware with key information is generated. When a user uses this content information, paid key information is required.

P202: The content information generated in P201 is sent by information recording medium (P202a).
Alternatively, the information is provided to the user (in this case, the information user) by downloading information (P202b) via the Internet network 531. When downloading information (P202b) via the Internet network 531, the information user must use a personal computer that can access the Web server,
A game machine, a PDA terminal, a mobile phone, an i-mode mobile terminal, a home appliance having an Internet function, and an information user terminal 10a such as an Internet TV are used. At this time, an information ID for identifying the information is also sent to the information user.

P203: The information user, with respect to the content information provided in P202,
In a, the evaluation is performed by considering the restriction of the use time, the restriction of the expiration date, the limited condition that only some functions can be used, or the trial use in the demonstration, Decide whether to purchase the content.

P204: The pay information provider generates and stores pay key information in the pay key database 92 existing in the information database 9.

P205: The information user uses the information user terminal 10a via the Internet 531 to
The user logs on to the information charging system 8 based on the procedure of the charging service provided by the information charging company.

P206: The information user must use the Internet 531 and the information billing system 8 and the communication line 54 on the assumption that necessary key information is obtained for a fee in order to use the content information in earnest. The information previously obtained in P202 and I
Request download based on D.

P207: The pay information provider stores the pay key information in the pay key database 92 as information and ID.
To the information user, the communication line 5
4, the information billing system 8, and downloading to the information user terminal 10 a via the Internet 531 is permitted.

P208: The information user obtains the pay key information based on P207 and inputs the key information through the information user terminal 10a, thereby enabling the actual use of the content information deemed necessary in P203. Become.

P209: The information user pays the fee of the pay key based on the function of the information charging system 8 at the request of the information charging company. The payee of the fee may be another person (agent) acting on behalf of the information billing company.

P210: The information billing agent or agent is
Based on a request from the pay information provider, a fee prescribed in advance from the charges collected from the information user is paid to the pay information provider.

Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This embodiment relates to an information providing platform and its processing process. 3 and 4 show an outline of the configuration and the entire contents of the information providing platform, and FIG. 5 shows a process of transferring information between the information provider and the information providing agent. In the description of each embodiment of the present invention, what is referred to as an "information billing company" is, for example, a "communications company that operates Carre and Levi, an Internet service provider,
Examples include a credit card settler based on SET, a virtual prepaid card issuer, and an application service provider.

[0028] Between the information provider and the information providing agent,
In order to use the information providing platform 1 in advance, the basic usage contract for the platform usage fee, communication fee, information fee payment method, fee detail providing method, contents to be written on the information providing platform, information communication interface, etc. An agreement is made.

The information provider stores the pay information database 21 in which the pay information intended to be provided to the information user is stored, and the charge information obtained from the information providing agent through the communication line 51. Price database 2
The server (or terminal) 2 including the server 2. In FIG. 3, a large number of servers 2 are shown in a multi-layer state, and there are a large number (or a plurality) of information providers corresponding to each of the large number of servers 2. Similarly, FIG. 3 shows many information user terminals 4 in a multilayer state. Therefore, there are a large number (or a plurality) of users corresponding to each information user terminal 4.

The information providing platform 1, which is positioned as an information providing agent for a large number of information providers, includes an authentication server 11 for authenticating the information provider and an information database 121 for storing pay information. An information server (Web (Web) server) 12 and a charge server 13 including a charge database 131 are provided. The information server 12 is connected to the information billing system 8 owned by the information billing company via the communication line 52, can exchange information with the information billing system 3, and is provided with software provided by the information billing company. Have been installed. In addition, the charge server 13 is notified of the charge information from the information charging company via the communication line 52, and stores the charge information in the charge database 131. The charge server 13 has a function of processing the charge information stored in the charge database 131.

Each of a large number of information users accesses, via the Internet 53, the information server 12 which is previously connected to the information billing system 3 owned by the information billing company and can receive the billing service. It has an information user terminal 4 that can do it. This information user terminal 4
For example, a personal computer, a game machine, a PDA terminal, a mobile phone, an i-mode mobile terminal, a home appliance having an Internet connection function, and an Internet TV.

The information provider activates the server 2 and accesses the authentication server 11 via the communication line 51 based on the above-mentioned basic usage contract to be authenticated as an information provider. Thereafter, the information provider writes information to be provided to the information user and the following management data 1) to 4) in the information database 121. 1) Writing date, date, hour, minute, second and expiration date 2) Name of free information to information users 3) Name of paid information to information users 4) Fee to be paid by information users

In the information providing platform 1, management data 1) to 4) written in the information database 121.
Is copied to the charge database 13 in the charge server 13
Record in 1.

In order to obtain paid information, the information user logs on to the information billing system 3 owned by the information billing company via the Internet 53 based on the ID and the password. Further, the information server 12 is accessed via the communication line 52 to search for pay information. In the information database 121 of the information server 12, pay information is classified and arranged, and the pay information database is processed so that information users can easily search and access. Information Users
D, download the pay information from the information database 121 in exchange for the password.

At that time, the following usage information i) to iv) of the information user are recorded in the charge database 131 of the charge server 13 via the information server 12, and the management data 1) to
It is accumulated after collation with 4). i) Information user ID ii) Year, month, day, hour, minute, second iii) Usage fee iv) Paid information name

The information billing company uses the information billing system 3 to charge a fee to the information user, and pays a predetermined fee from the collected fees to the information providing agency. The information providing agent checks the fee paid by the information billing agent against the fee database 131, checks the fee, divides the fee for each information provider in the fee server 13, and determines a predetermined fee. The fee to be paid to the information provider is determined by the calculation method. The information of the fee to be paid to the information provider is stored in the fee database 22 in the information provider server 2 via the communication line 51, and is described in the fee details (information user ID, date of use, date and time by pay information name). Second, usage fee, information fee to be paid to the information provider, usage status statistical data, etc.). Thereafter, a fee is paid to the information provider. The information provider compares and checks the usage fee paid by the information providing agent with the fee data in the fee database 22 installed in the server 2 and performs a check.

Fourth Embodiment: A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment relates to a method for providing pay information to a mobile phone terminal. According to the present embodiment, in the third embodiment, it is possible to use the information providing platform 1 by using a mobile terminal capable of accessing a Web server such as an i-mode terminal or a PDA terminal provided by a mobile phone carrier. To

[0038] The information billing system 3 of the information billing company is connected to the communication gateway 6 of the mobile phone carrier through a communication line 55. The communication gateway 6 wirelessly communicates with the information user's mobile terminal 41 via the base station 7.
The mobile terminal 41 can be connected by an on-call. The mobile terminal 41 of the information user subscribes to the information charging service of the mobile phone carrier in advance, and uses the information charging system 3 of the information charging company based on the ID and the password.
You need to be able to connect to In a state where the preconditions are satisfied, the information user
To operate the base station 7, communication gateway 6, communication line 5
The user logs in by inputting an ID and a password to the information billing system 3 via P5 (P602), and accesses the information providing platform 1 to request a pay information menu (P603). The information user can change the paid information menu from the information providing platform 1 to the mobile terminal 4.
1 (P604). Thereafter, the information user operates the mobile terminal 41 to select pay information from the menu, and downloads the pay information from the information providing platform 1 to the mobile terminal 41 based on the determination (P605). . The information billing company bills the information user based on the information accompanying the processing of the procedure P605 of the information billing system 3 (P606). Subsequent payment procedures P606, P607, P60
8, and the procedure P601 for writing the paid information content and the fee between the information provider and the information providing agent,
The contents are the same as those described in the above embodiment.

Fifth Embodiment: A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, as one of the applications of the process of providing the pay key information shown in FIG. 2, the information user terminal is a portable terminal, and the communication system of the Bluetooth standard is used between the service providing related device and the portable terminal. 1 shows a settlement method of the present invention in a case where information is exchanged using the settlement method.

The service providing related device 43 and the portable terminal 42 connectable to the Web server are respectively a Blue tooth
(Bluetooth) standard is provided for communication. Examples of the service providing related device 43 include devices accompanied by settlement, such as cash registers in stores, vending machines, POS terminals, ticket vending machines, and pay lockers.

The user who owns the portable terminal 42 has previously subscribed to the information billing service provided by the information billing company or its agent, and the user portable terminal 42 has an on-call information via the Internet 531. Billing system 8
It has a function that can be connected to. Information billing system 8
Is connected via a communication line 54 to a management device 9 that generates key information of an information provider that issues paid key information, and has a function of charging for the charged key information. The function of the management device 9 may be in the information server 12 existing in the information providing platform 1 shown in FIG. The management device 9 of the information provider generates pay key information in response to a request from the mobile terminal 42, distributes the pay key information to the mobile terminal 42, and also stores an ID number of the mobile terminal 42, a payment amount, a payment time, and pay key information. Has a function of recording and managing information on the ID number of the service providing related device. The process of the settlement method will be described below in the order of P701 to P710.

P701: When a user purchases a product or service at a store, the service providing related device 43 transmits the ID number of the service providing related device 43, the content of the product or service, and the settlement amount to the portable terminal 42. Notification is made using tooth standard communication means.

P702: The portable terminal 42 accumulates the information taken in P701, selects the goods or service contents as the case may be, the ID of the service providing related device 43 and the settlement amount determined by the selection, the transmission time, the portable terminal. 4
The information is collected as user information together with the ID number 2 and set.

P703: The portable terminal 42 uses the information billing system 8 to purchase a password for performing settlement.
The user logs on via the Internet 531 based on a user ID and password unique to the information billing system 8 determined in advance.

P704: The information billing system 8 logs on to the management device 9 based on the request from the portable terminal 42.

P705: In the management device 9, the portable terminal 4
2 receives the user information set in P702 transmitted from the server 2 and generates a password corresponding to the content based on the user information.

P706: Information is collected and set as management device information together with the transmission time, settlement amount, user ID, and ID of the service-related device 43 in the password generated by the management device 9 and transmitted to the portable terminal 42.

P707: The information billing system 8 uses P7
At step 06, a process of recognizing the settlement amount and the user ID in the contents of the transmission and charging the user is performed. Based on the charged amount, the information charging company or agent charges the information user for the settlement amount and pays the information provider the amount after deducting the commission.

P708: The management device information received by the portable terminal 42 is temporarily recorded in the portable terminal 42, and further transmitted to the service providing related device 43 by communication according to the Bluetooth standard.

P709: The service providing related device 43 checks the management device information transmitted from the portable terminal 42 and the procedure P7.
In addition to collating the user information recorded in 02 and verifying the validity of the password, if the password passes, it provides the user with goods or services assuming that payment has been executed.

P710: Service provision related device 43
Transmits the user information and the management device information accumulated in P709 and the information of the matching result of P709 to the management device 9 periodically, and performs the matching process in the management device 9,
Payment processing is performed for the amount obtained by subtracting a predetermined commission from the information provider to the store.

Sixth Embodiment Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment relates to a process of using an automatically encrypted content information and a pay key (decryption key) between a content seller (corresponding to the pay information provider described above), an information billing company, and a user. In this embodiment, charging according to the present invention is performed according to the use of the content by using the automatically encrypted content and the pay decryption key. The configuration of this embodiment is the same as that described in
Preferably, the present invention is carried out in combination with the invention disclosed in Item 84. The use process will be described below in the order of P801 to P809.

P801: The content seller according to the present embodiment refers to the clock at the user terminal 44 such as a personal computer, a game machine, or an i-mode portable terminal for content information such as business software or game software. Then, when a certain date and time come, or when either the usage time or the number of usages of the content information is measured and a certain condition is reached, an automatic encryption function that automatically encrypts and disables use is added to the content information. The content information is generated by the personal computer or the server 23 of the content seller. The function of the personal computer or server 23 is preferably the information server 12 in the information providing platform shown in FIG.

P802: The automatically encrypted content information is downloaded to the user terminal 44 via the Internet 532 free of charge together with the content ID, or
It is distributed free of charge via recording media such as D and DVD, and is installed in the user terminal 44.

P803: Automatically encrypted content information is not encrypted in the initial state in the user terminal 44 so that it can be used for a certain period of time. The automatically encrypted content information is encrypted under the conditions shown in P802. In this process, encryption condition information including the ID of the content is generated and stored in the user terminal 44.

P804: User is the information billing system 8
The user logs on to the personal computer or the server 24 of the content seller via the Internet 532 to request a decryption key together with personal information such as a user ID, and also sends encryption condition information. This function of the personal computer or server 24 is preferably provided in the information server 12 in the information providing platform 1 shown in FIG.

P805: A decryption key for the user is generated in the content seller's personal computer or server 24 based on the encryption condition information.

P806: The above-mentioned decryption key is downloaded to the user terminal 44 via the information charging system 8 and the Internet 532 as user information together with the usage fee information and the user ID for a fee. At this time, the information billing system 8 charges the user. At this point, the content seller's personal computer or server 24
The user information is recorded in the inside, and this becomes the management data of the fee collected from the user.

P807: In the user terminal 44, the user decrypts the encrypted content information based on the decryption key so that the content can be actually used.

By the above processes P801 to P807, the content seller including the ASP (application service provider) operator can use the time limit, the use period,
It is possible to charge the user for the usage fee according to any one of the number of times of use, based on the content information charging method. Further, the content seller receives from the information billing agent the amount obtained by subtracting the commission from the usage fee collected by the information billing company operating the information billing system 8 through the procedure P808 (P8).
09), it is possible to obtain a price.

[0061]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a user issues an order to an information provider via the Internet or the like using a user terminal to provide goods and services. By receiving information, information billing can be performed according to the content, and the information billing system provided by the information billing company is used jointly by a plurality of information providers. Information billing can be realized, and the information user can use the information billing system without disclosing personal information. Further, according to the present invention, since the telecommunications carrier collects the fee with a relatively low fee, the fee can be reliably collected by information billing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, and is a concept showing a configuration and a process for providing goods or services by providing content information for a fee based on an information billing method according to the present invention. It is a typical system configuration diagram.

FIG. 2 is a process diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention and showing a mechanism of information billing and a method of providing pay key information according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, and is a system configuration diagram showing a process outline and constituent functional elements in an information providing platform according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating information transmitted and received between an information provider, an information billing agent, and an information user centering on an information providing platform and an entire processing process of the information in the third embodiment. is there.

FIG. 5 is a correlation diagram showing information transmitted and received between an information provider and an information providing agent and details of a process of processing the information in the third embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and is a correlation configuration diagram showing a processing process related to transmission and reception of information in a method of providing pay information to a mobile phone terminal that can use the Internet network.

FIG. 7 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which pay key information can be obtained using a portable terminal capable of accessing a Web server in accordance with the Blue tooth standard;
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a process of making a service providing related device requiring payment available by using key information.

FIG. 8 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention and is a diagram showing a process for using content with automatically encrypted content information and a paid decryption key.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information providing platform 2 Information provider server 3,8 Information billing system 4,10a Information user terminal 10 User terminal 53,531 Internet network

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Claims (12)

[Claims] An information provider is provided with an information database accessible through the Internet and storing menu information and paid content information of goods or services. A user uses the user terminal to access the Internet using a user terminal. To access the information database via the Internet, download the menu information to the user terminal via the Internet, make selections based on the menu information, and if there is anything the user wants to obtain, Log on to the information billing system operated by the company, access the information database through the information billing system, record personal information, download pay content information, and charge the information billing system with the download. And recorded in the information database. Sending out the goods or providing the service based on the personal information of the user who has received the information. 2. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, an encryption key is generated in a user terminal based on key generation source information such as a user terminal ID, a user ID, a content ID, and date / time information. When software or software for encrypting content is installed together with the software or content, and the software or content is encrypted,
The user logs on to a computer installed by the software or content vendor through the information billing system and transmits the key generation source information, and the computer of the vendor opens based on the key generation source information. Generating key information for a lock, based on a user request, the key information is downloaded to the user terminal for a fee through an information billing system,
The information billing method, wherein the software or the content is made available to the user using the key information. 3. A user obtains information, such as a payment amount and a product name, from a device to perform payment, such as a cash register, a vending machine, a ticket vending machine, and a toll locker, using a portable terminal, The mobile terminal transmits the information to a management device via an information charging system, the management device receives the transmission of the information, generates a pay password, and the pay password is charged by an information charging system. Payment is performed by being downloaded to a mobile terminal and verified by a device that should perform payment, thereby performing payment. 4. An information billing system provided by an information billing company is configured so that a plurality of information providers can jointly use the information billing system. Therefore, the information billing system is connected to the information billing system via a communication line, and An information server having a web server function of providing pay information via the Internet network, connected to the information charging system via the communication line, receiving charging information from the information charging system, and notifying the information provider An information providing platform, comprising: a charge server; and an authentication server that authenticates the information provider provided via a communication line. 5. The information server according to claim 1, wherein the information provider or the information user enables provision and use of information by using an ID number without disclosing personal information of both parties to each other. The information providing platform according to claim 4. 6. The authentication server, when the information provider writes, updates, deletes, or refers to pay information in an information database in the information server via the communication line, performs authentication at logon. Claim 4
Information providing platform described. 7. The information server, when the information provider writes to the information database in the information report server via the communication line, the date, month, day, hour, minute, second, and information amount (byte amount) ) Information, information on paid or free information contents designated by the information provider, an expiration date to be installed in the information database, a paid or free information name including the case of ID conversion, and use by the information user. 5. The information providing platform according to claim 4, wherein the information database for storing and managing information on fees to be paid each time is performed. 8. The information providing platform according to claim 4, further comprising a function of recording and managing in the information database that the information provider has performed update, deletion, and reference. 9. When the information user obtains paid information, information from the plurality of information providers is collectively arranged,
5. The information providing platform according to claim 4, wherein said information user is configured to access on a set screen. 10. The information server according to claim 1, wherein for each ID of the information user who accesses, the information server records and manages information of a used pay information name, a use amount, and a use date / time / day / minute / second. Item 4. The information providing platform according to Item 4. 11. An information providing agent checks an amount paid to the information provider with charging information notified from the information charging agent based on the various types of recorded information, based on a prior contract. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the decision is made and recorded in a charge database in the charge server.
Information providing platform described. 12. The information providing platform according to claim 11, further comprising a charge management server that processes information based on the charge database to obtain statistics on the usage status of paid or free information.