JP2005182442A - Charging system and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charging system enabling management of copyright and collection of royalties. <P>SOLUTION: Upon loading of a document by a user, a copier 4 reads a portion of the document to be actually copied, determines whether the document is a copyrighted material or not, and prepares charging information if the document is a copyrighted material. In response to a request from a fee collection proxy system 3, the copier 4 transmits the stored charging information to the fee collection proxy system 3. The fee collection proxy system 3 performs charging processing between itself and a financial institution 104. As a result of the foregoing processing, royalties are paid to a copyright management system 6 and fees are paid to the fee collection proxy system 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a charging system and method for charging for copying and distribution of a copyrighted work.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of specifying original ID from a part of an original and obtaining original data.
However, with this method, the copyright is not managed, and only the original is specified.

Further, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses a method of charging for each usage status of resources such as documents and fonts.
However, this method cannot manage document data.
In addition to these documents, for example, Patent Document 3 discloses a method of managing the actual number of copies of a work to be copied using an external database of a management organization.
JP 2002-14978 A JP 2003-150862 A JP 2002-209039 A

  The present invention has been made from the above-described background, and an object thereof is to provide a billing system and method capable of managing copyright and collecting copyright fees.

  In order to achieve the above object, a billing system according to the present invention is a billing system having an information output device that outputs a part or all of an output target to be output, and a billing device, wherein the information output An apparatus includes: an output target acquiring unit that acquires the output target to be output; an output target specifying unit that specifies the acquired output target; and an output target part to be output among the specified output targets Output target portion specifying means for determining whether or not the output target portion needs to be charged based on the output target and the output target portion specifying result, and output of the output target portion Billing information generating means for generating billing information indicating the contents of billing of the output target portion when it is determined that charging for the output is necessary, and output for outputting the output target portion And a stage, said charging apparatus, based on the generated charging information, the charging for the output of the output target portion.

  Preferably, the information output device further includes user specifying means for specifying a user who outputs the output target portion, and the charging information generating means generates charging information for the specified user. .

Preferably, the information output device further includes output target storage means for storing the output target, and the output target acquisition means acquires the output target to be output from the stored output target.

  Preferably, the apparatus further includes a distribution device that distributes the output target in response to a search, and the information output device further includes output target search means for searching for the output target portion of the output target, and the output The target acquisition unit acquires the output target portion included in the output target obtained as a result of the search.

  Preferably, the output object includes a literary work, and the charge determination means charges when the acquired output object is a literary work based on a result of specifying the output object and the output object part. Is determined to be necessary.

  Preferably, the billing information generating means generates billing information indicating a copyright fee for the output target portion.

The billing method according to the present invention is a billing method by an information output device that outputs part or all of an output target to be output and a billing device that charges an information fee for the output information. The information output device acquires the output target to be output,
The obtained output target is specified, the output target part to be output is specified among the specified output targets, and the output target part is output based on the output target and the output target part specifying result Whether or not charging for the output target portion is necessary, and when it is determined that charging is required for the output of the output target portion, billing information indicating the charging contents of the output target portion is generated, and the output target portion is generated. And the charging device charges the output of the output target portion based on the generated charging information.

  The program according to the present invention is a program for the information output apparatus in a charging system including an information output apparatus that outputs a part or all of an output target to be output and a charging apparatus, and the charging apparatus Are charged for the output of the output target portion based on the generated charging information, and an output target acquisition step for acquiring the output target to be output; and an output target specification for specifying the acquired output target An output target part specifying step for specifying an output target part to be output among the specified output targets, and output of the output target part based on a specification result of the output target and the output target part A charging determination step for determining whether charging is necessary, and when it is determined that charging is required for the output of the output target portion, And charging information generating step of generating charging information indicating the content of the billing of the serial output target portion to execute an output step of outputting the output target portion to the computer.

  According to the present invention, copyright management and copyright fee collection can be performed.

[Outline of the present invention]
Prior to the description of the embodiments of the present invention, the outline will be described first in order to facilitate understanding.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a charging method according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating information attached to a copyrighted work (original) and used for copyright management and accounting.
In FIG. 1, the flow of information is illustrated by solid arrows, and the flow of charges is illustrated by dotted arrows.
As shown in FIG. 1, there are a plurality of copyright management organizations (copyright management systems) depending on countries and objects.

In the billing method according to the present invention, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a copyrighted work to be copied includes a barcode, a digital watermark, a copyrighted work, a pattern that differs for each page, or an RFID (IC tag). Information to identify the copyrighted work (output target) to be copied, and part or all of the copyrighted work such as the page to be actually copied (output target part) Information is attached.
When the copyright holders enter into a contract with a copyright management organization, information such as the ISBN (International Standard Book Number), title, author, and publisher of the copyrighted work is stored in a database managed by the copyright management organization. be registered.

When copying a copyrighted work by a user, the copying machine refers to a database in which the copyrighted work is registered based on information attached to the copyrighted work (FIG. 2), and generates billing information. Recorded in the accounting information database (DB).
At a later date or on a regular basis, the fee collection agency obtains the billing information from the billing information DB in each copying machine, collects the copyright fee from the user and the owner of the copying machine, and the provided work Pay to the copyright management organization that manages the
The copyright management organization pays the copyright fee to the copyright holder based on the consignment contract according to the amount of the copy.

[Network system 1]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the network system 1 to which the accounting method according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is applied.
As shown in FIG. 3, the network system 1 includes a copyright management system 6 of one or more copyright management organizations, a fee collection agency system 3 of a fee collection agency, a copier 4, a user computer (user PC) 102, a financial institution 104 used by a user who copies a copyrighted work, a copyright holder, a copyright management organization, and a fee collection agency, is connected to be communicable via a network 100 such as a LAN, WAN, or the Internet. Adopted configuration.
In the following drawings, substantially the same components or processes are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

The copyright management system 6, the fee collection agency system 3, and the financial institution 104 have a configuration in which, for example, one or more computers (PCs) 22 and a server 24 are connected via a network such as a LAN 20.
The network system 1 implements the accounting method according to the present invention shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, components connected to the network 100 such as the copyright management system 6, the fee collection agency system 3, the copying machine 4, the user PC 102, and the financial institution 104 are also simply referred to as nodes.
Further, the function sharing of each node shown in FIG. 3 is an example, and the function sharing of each node is changed, the functions of a plurality of nodes are combined into one node, or the functions of one node are combined into a plurality of functions. The distribution to the nodes does not have any influence on the technical scope of the present invention.

[Hardware configuration]
4 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the PC 22, the server 24, the user PC 102, and the copying machine 4 illustrated in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the PC 22, the server 24, the user PC 102, and the copying machine 4 include a computer main body 120 including a CPU 122, a memory 124, and peripheral circuits thereof, a display, a keyboard, a mouse, and as necessary. And an input / output device 126 including a terminal for receiving information from the IC tag, a recording device 128 for writing / reading data to / from a recording medium 130 such as a hard disk / CD, and communication with other nodes via the network 100 It includes hardware components required for each function, such as the communication device 132 that performs the above.

The copying machine 4 further includes a function realization unit for realizing functions necessary as a copying machine, such as a scanner for reading an original, a read original, or a printer for printing an image sent as data. 134 is included.
That is, the PC 22, the server 24, the user PC 102, and the copying machine 4 include a component part as a computer and other component parts for realizing functions required for each.

[First embodiment]
The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of the first copying machine program 40 executed in the copying machine 4 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the first copier program 40 includes a user interface (UI) unit 400, a first copy processing unit 42 for performing general printing / copying processes, and a document to be copied. The first billing processing unit 44 charges the copyright fee.
The copying machine program 40 is supplied to, for example, the copying machine 4 (PC 22 or server 24 in the fee collection agency system 3) via the recording medium 130 (FIG. 4), loaded into the memory 124, and executed (hereinafter referred to as the copying machine program 40). The same for each program.)

The copy processing unit 42 includes an image reading unit 420, an image processing unit 422, and an output processing unit 424.
The billing processing unit 44 includes a document information acquisition unit 440, a first specific processing unit 442, a copyright information database (DB) 448, a billing information creation unit 450, and a billing information DB 452.
The specific processing unit 442 includes a copy original specifying unit 444 and a copy part specifying unit 448.

The copy processing unit 42 controls each component of the copying machine 4 with these components, and performs processing for copying the original (when a part is copied, the same unless otherwise specified). Do.
The billing processing unit 44 determines whether or not the manuscript is a literary work using these components, and performs processing for charging a copyright fee when the manuscript is a literary work.

  In the copying machine program 40, the UI unit 400 receives a user operation performed on the input / output device 126 and controls the processing of each component of the copying machine program 40 according to the received operation.

In the copy processing unit 42, the image reading unit 420 controls the scanner or the like of the copying machine 4 (function realization unit 134; FIG. 4) to generate an image of the document.
The image reading unit 420 reads the generated image and outputs it to the image processing unit 422.
Note that when the document includes an image necessary for specifying the document as illustrated in FIG. 2, the image reading unit 420 sends the read image to the document information acquisition unit 440 of the charging processing unit 44. Output.

The image processing unit 422 performs necessary processing on the image input from the image reading unit 420 (creation of bitmap data, printing N number of images on one sheet (N up), etc.). The image obtained as a result of the processing is output to the image processing unit 422.
The output processing unit 424 controls the printer of the copying machine 4 and prints the image input from the image processing unit 422.

In the billing processing unit 44, the document information acquisition unit 440 includes an image of the document input from the image reading unit 420 (such as the barcode and pattern shown in FIG. 2) or an IC input from the input / output device 126 or the like. Accept tag signal.
The document information acquisition unit 440 uses the received image / signal to specify information (output target information) that identifies the document itself that is to be copied, and the part that is actually copied (when it is a part or all of it) Information (output target partial information), and, if necessary, information necessary for obtaining information for specifying the user who performs copying is extracted and sent to the specific processing unit 442. Output.
The copyright information DB 448 is information for managing a manuscript (copyrighted work) to which a copyright is set, for example, whether the manuscript corresponds to a literary work, and which part of the manuscript corresponds to a literary work. Is stored.

In the specification processing unit 442, the copy original specification unit 444 specifies which original is to be copied from the information input from the original information acquisition unit 440. Note that the copy original specification unit 444 specifies the original. For example, an ISBN number that is read from a scanner and can be identified by OCR (Optical Character Recognition) can be used.

The copy part specifying unit 446 specifies which part of the original is to be copied.
For specifying the copy portion of the document by the copy portion specifying unit 446, for example, a display of a page that is read from the scanner and can be identified by OCR, or a pattern or a barcode attached to each page can be used. .

The identification processing unit 442 refers to the information stored in the copyright information DB 448 to determine whether the specified document and its part correspond to a copyrighted work, and determines the determination result and the document to be copied and its part. The information shown is output to the billing information creation unit 450.
The billing information DB 452 stores information indicating a copyright fee required for copying a document.

The billing information creation unit 450 is a billing information indicating the copyright fee required for copying the document specified by the specification processing unit 442, which copy machine 4 was copied, and the copied document. Is generated.
The charging information creation unit 450 stores the generated charging information in the charging information DB 452.
Note that the information recording format in the accounting information DB 452 is, for example, a log format in which a copy date / time, an identifier (ID) of a copyright owner, a copyright fee, and the like are associated with each other. It may be a cumulative value of copyright fees.
Further, the billing information creation unit 450 transmits the generated billing information to the fee collection agent system 3 via the network 100 (FIG. 3) in response to a request from the fee collection agent system 3, for example.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing of the copying machine program 40 shown in FIG.
When a document is set on the copying machine 4 (such as the figure), an image / signal that is attached to the document and used for specifying the document is read out from a scanner or the like (function realizing unit 134; FIG. 4).
The document information acquisition unit 440 (FIG. 5) acquires the image / signal output in this way, extracts necessary information, and outputs it to the specific processing unit 442.

As shown in FIG. 6, in step 100 (S 100), the copy original specifying unit 444 specifies an original set on the copier 4.
In step 102 (S102), the copy part specifying unit 446 specifies a part to be copied in the document.
In step 104 (S104), the specific processing unit 442 searches the copyright information DB 448 for information, and obtains information for determining whether the document corresponds to a copyrighted work.

In step 106 (S106), the specific processing unit 442 determines whether the document to be copied is a literary work.
The copying machine program 40 proceeds to the process of S108 when the original is a literary work, and proceeds to the process of S112 otherwise.

In step 108 (S108), the billing information creation unit 450 refers to the billing information DB 452, and generates billing information for the copy of the document specified by the specification processing unit 442.
In step 110 (S110), the billing information creation unit 450 stores the generated billing information in the billing information DB 452, or in response to a request from the fee collection agent system 3 (FIG. 3), the fee collection agent system 3 Send to.
In step 112 (S112), the copy processing unit 42 copies the document.

[Toll collection agency program 30]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a fee collection agent program 30 executed in the fee collection agent system 3 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the fee collection agent program 30 includes a charging processing unit 300, a charging information management unit 302, and a charging DB 304.
The fee collection agent program 30 collects billing information from each of the copying machines 4 by these components, and collects the copyright of the copied manuscript from the user on behalf of the copyright management system 6, or The accounting information is notified to each copyright management system 6.

The charging information management unit 302 controls the processing of the charging processing unit 300 and the charging DB 304.
The billing processing unit 300 requests the copying machine 4 (copying machine program 40) to send billing information under the control of the billing information management unit 302, and the billing information returned from each copying machine 4 is billed. The information is stored in the accounting DB 304 via the information management unit 302.
In addition, the billing processing unit 300 transmits billing information input via the billing information management unit 302 to the copyright management system 6 or, in accordance with the billing information, between the financial institution 104 and the user Alternatively, processing for charging the copying machine 4 is performed.

[Copyright Management Program 60]
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a copyright management program 60 executed in the copyright management system 6 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, the copyright management program 60 includes a billing unit 62 and a document distribution unit 64.
The charging unit 62 includes a charging processing unit 620 and a charging DB 622.
The manuscript distribution unit 64 includes a literary work management / search unit 640 and a literary work DB 642.
The copyright management program 60 charges the copyright fee of the copied manuscript, and manages and distributes the copyrighted work using these components.

In the charging unit 62, the charging processing unit 620 stores the copyright information input from the fee collection agency system 3 in the charging DB 622, and charges the user or the copier 4 with the financial institution 104. Process.
In the manuscript distribution unit 64, the copyright DB 642 stores a literary work that may be distributed as a manuscript to the copying machine 4 and information necessary for its management.

The copyright management / retrieval unit 640 searches the copyright DB 642 in response to a request from the copying machine 4, and uses the network 100 as a document to be printed by the copying machine 4 using the copyrighted work obtained as a result of the search. To the copying machine 4.
The copyrighted work management / retrieval unit 640 processes the charging information input from the charging processing unit 620 and manages the copyrighted work stored in the copyright DB 642.

[Deposit Program 106]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of the deposit program 106 executed in the financial institution 104 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, the deposit program 106 includes a deposit management unit 108 and a deposit DB 110.
The deposit program 106 manages deposit accounts of the user, the fee collection agency system 3 and the copyright management system 6 using these components.
Further, the deposit program 106 increases or decreases the deposit balances of the user, the fee collection agent system 3 and the copyright management system 6 in accordance with the charging process with the fee collection agent system 3 or the copying machine 4.

[Overall operation]
Hereinafter, accounting in the network system 1 (FIG. 3) will be generally described.
10 and 11 are sequence diagrams showing the first and second charging processes S20 and S22 in the network system 1 shown in FIG.
When the user sets a document on the copying machine 4, as shown in FIG. 10, in step 200 (S200), the copying machine 4 reads a portion of the document that is actually copied.

In step 202 (S202), the copying machine 4 determines whether or not the read original is a literary work, and creates and stores billing information when the original is a literary work.
The copying machine 4 transmits the stored charging information to the fee collection agent system 3 in response to a request from the fee collection agent system 3.
In step 204 (S204), the fee collection agent system 3 performs billing processing with the financial institution 104.

The process shown in FIG. 10 can be changed as follows.
That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the fee collection agent system 3 transmits billing information to the copyright management system 6 in step 220 (S220).
In step 222 (S222), the copyright management system 6 performs a charging process for the financial institution 104.

As a result of the above processing (S20, S22), the copyright fee is paid to the copyright management system 6 and the fee is paid to the fee collection agency system 3, as shown by the dotted lines in FIGS. It becomes.
In the operations shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the user who made a copy using the copying machine 4 is not identified.

Accordingly, the processing shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 includes, for example, a copyright fee added in advance to the copy fee / maintenance fee by the copying machine 4, and the fee collection agent system 3 adds the copyright fee. Is suitable for a method of distributing the content to the copyright management system 6.
After the accounting process is completed, the accounting information stored in the copying machine 4 (accounting information DB 452) is deleted by the copyright management system 6 or the like as necessary.
The accounting process described above can be applied to copying / outputting information by the user PC 102 in addition to copying a document.

[Second Embodiment]
The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration of the second copying machine program 46 executed in the copying machine 4 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 12, the second copying machine program 46 employs a configuration in which the first charging processing unit 44 in the first copying machine program 40 is replaced with a second charging processing unit 48.

The second billing processing unit 48 replaces the first document information acquisition unit 440 with the second document information acquisition unit 480 and replaces the first specific processing unit 442 with the second specific processing unit 50. Furthermore, the configuration in which the user information DB 482 is added is adopted, and the second identification processing unit 50 adopts the configuration in which the user identification unit 500 is added to the first identification processing unit 442.
The copying machine program 46 charges for each user who performs copying using the copying machine 4 by these components.

In the billing processing unit 48, the document information acquisition unit 480 is used for identifying a user in addition to the information input to the input / output device 126 (FIG. 4) and received by the document information acquisition unit 440, for example. User information (for example, information stored in ID / password, magnetic card / IC tag, fingerprint) is further read and output to the user identification unit 500.
The user information DB 482 stores information for specifying the user of the copying machine 4.

In the identification processing unit 50, the user identification unit 500 refers to the user information DB 482, identifies the user indicated by the user information read by the document information acquisition unit 480, and notifies the billing information creation unit 450. To do.
In the second copying machine program 46, the billing information creation unit 450 generates billing information for each user and stores it in the billing information DB 452, or collects a fee in response to a request from the fee collection agency system 3. It transmits to the agency system 3.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing of the second copying machine program 46 shown in FIG.
When a document is set on the copier 4 (FIG. 3 or the like), an image / signal attached to the document and used for specifying the document and an input / output device 126 from a scanner or the like (function realizing unit 134; FIG. 4). From the above, an image / signal specifying the user is read out.

The document information acquisition unit 480 (FIG. 12) acquires the image / signal output in this way, extracts necessary information, and outputs it to the specific processing unit 50.
As shown in FIG. 13, in step 120 (S120), the user identifying unit 500 refers to the user information DB 482 and identifies the user from the image / signal input from the document information acquiring unit 480.
In step 122 (S122), the billing information creation unit 450 creates billing information for each user identified by the user identifying unit 500 and stores the billing information in the billing information DB 452, or charges collection agent upon request. Send to system 3.

As described above, by configuring the copier program 46, it becomes possible to provide fine-tuned services for each user.
Specifically, by using the copy machine program 46, application of academic price setting to a student / faculty / faculty member, which is currently in wide use, or no charge for copying by the copyright owner itself, etc. Can be mentioned.
In addition, when charging is performed for each user in this way, the user charges only for the copy made within the copyright range, and does not charge for the copy made outside the copyright range. You can also do that.

[Third embodiment]
The third embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration of a third copying machine program 52 executed in the copying machine 4 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 14, the copying machine program 52 employs a configuration in which the first copy processing unit 42 shown in FIG. 5 is replaced with a second copy processing unit 52. The second copy processing unit 52 A configuration in which a document DB 540 is added to the first copy processing unit 42 is adopted.

The document DB 540 stores information on a document (literary work) that can be output by the copying machine 4 and information for specifying the document.
The document DB 540 outputs document information to the document information acquisition unit 440 and outputs information used for document specification to the image reading unit 420.
That is, the copy processing unit 52 is configured to output a document stored in the document DB 540 and charge the document.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing processing of the third copy processing unit 52 shown in FIG.
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an operation image displayed on the input / output device 126 by the UI unit 400.
When the UI unit 400 displays an operation image (UI image) as illustrated in FIG. 16 on the input / output device 126, the user uses the UI image to output a document to be output (printed) and its portion. (For example, the first page and the last page) are selected.

In response to this selection, the document DB 540 outputs the document to the image reading unit 420 and outputs information for specifying the document to the document information acquisition unit 440.
Based on this selection, the copy original specifying unit 444 and the copy part specifying unit 446 specify the original.

As shown in FIG. 15, in step 140 (S140), the second copy processing unit 52 controls the printer (function realizing unit 134; FIG. 4) to print the document output from the document DB 540.
Similarly, in step 142 (S142), the second copy processing unit 52 controls the function realizing unit 134 (FIG. 4) to print the document output from the document DB 540.
However, in the process of S142, copying for printing an image read from the scanner (function implementation unit 134) may be performed.

As described above, when a document stored in the document DB 540 is directly printed, the user can obtain a higher-quality print result than when a hard-copy document is copied.
Here, the copying processing unit 52 has exemplified the case where the charging process for each user is not performed, but the function of the second copying machine program 46 and the function of the third copying processing unit 52 are contradictory. As long as there is no such problem, they can be used in combination (hereinafter the same).

[Fourth embodiment]
The fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the configuration of the fourth copier program 56 executed in the copier 4 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 17, the fourth copying machine program 56 replaces the first charging processing unit 44 of the first copying machine program 40 shown in FIG. The third copy processing unit 58 employs a configuration in which a document search unit 580 is added to the first copy processing unit 42.

For example, the manuscript search unit 580 requests the copyright management system 6 to search for a manuscript (literary work) in response to a user operation illustrated in FIG. And output to the image reading unit 420.
However, the transmission of the document from the copyright management system 6 to the copying machine 4 may be performed by non-electronic methods such as FAX communication or mail in addition to data transfer via the network 100 or electronic mail.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the processing of the fourth copy processing unit 56 shown in FIG.
When the UI unit 400 displays an operation image (UI image) as illustrated in FIG. 16 on the input / output device 126, the user uses the UI image to output a document to be output (printed) and its portion. And select.

As shown in FIG. 18, in step 160 (S160), the document search unit 580 requests the copying machine 4 to search for the selected document.
The copy processing unit 58 prints the original image returned in response to this request.
Also in step 162 (S162), the document search unit 580 prints an image of the document returned in response to the search.
However, in the process of S162, a copy for printing an image read from the scanner (function implementation unit 134) may be performed.

[Overall operation]
FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram showing a third billing process S24 in the network system 1 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 19, in step 240 (S240), the copying machine 4 requests the copyright management system 6 to search for a manuscript (a literary work).
In step 242 (S242), the copyright management system 6 searches for the requested manuscript (work) in response to the search request and returns it to the copying machine 4.
In step 244 (S244), the copying machine 4 prints the document returned from the copyright management system 6.

[Profit]
The following advantages can be obtained by the embodiments described so far.
For example, n is the number of users (use groups) of copyrighted works (manuscripts), m is the number of copyright management groups, k is the average transfer fee, and k 'is the agency fee charged by the fee collection agency. To do.

In this case, when the copyright management organization collects the price directly, each user needs a cost of km (yen) as the transfer fee.
On the other hand, if the fee collection agency performs the fee collection, the cost of each user is k ′ (yen).
Therefore, according to the method of the present invention, the user is provided with a profit of km-k ′ (yen).

If there are m organizations that manage copyrights, the total amount of the transfer fee for each transfer is k × m.
The transfer fee when the fee collection agency transfers the total amount to the copyright management organization will also be k × m if the transfer fee is constant (in reality, however, if the total amount is high, the fee may be slightly higher) is there).
Since the revenue of the agency fee is k ′ × n, the difference is k ′ × n−k × m (difference between the fee collected from the user and the transfer fee).
Therefore, if the fee collection agency sets km-k ′> 0 and k′n-km> 0 and commission k ′, profit can be increased.

According to the billing method of the present invention, electronic data of a manuscript can be provided instead of collecting a copyright fee, so that a user can obtain a manuscript with better image quality than a simple copy.
In addition, in the billing method according to the present invention, by devising a method for specifying a portion to be copied, it is not necessary to open a page to be copied each time in a bound work, and a complicated page turning device is not required. .

Further, according to the charging method according to the present invention, a page of a copyrighted work can be specified and used by the advancement of sensing technology using a two-dimensional barcode, an IC tag (RFID) or the like.
Further, according to the billing method of the present invention, as long as the proper copyright fee can be charged, the copyright can be protected without impairing the convenience for the user.
Further, according to the billing method of the present invention, if a document can be specified for the purpose of charging a copyright fee, it is easy to obtain an electronic image of the document, and it is possible to provide a copy document with good image quality. .

  The present invention can be used for billing for copies of copyrighted works.

It is a figure which illustrates the outline | summary of the accounting method concerning this invention. It is a figure which illustrates the information which is attached | subjected to a copyrighted work (original), and is used for copyright management and charge. It is a figure which illustrates the structure of the network system with which the accounting method concerning this invention shown in FIG. 1 is applied. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a PC, a server, a user PC, and a copier illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a first copying machine program executed in the copying machine shown in FIG. 3. 6 is a flowchart showing processing of the copier program shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the fee collection agent program performed in the fee collection agent system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the copyright management program performed in the copyright management system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the deposit program performed in the financial institution shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a first billing process S20 in the network system shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a second billing process S22 in the network system shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a second copying machine program executed in the copying machine shown in FIG. 3. 13 is a flowchart showing processing of a second copying machine program shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a third copying machine program executed in the copying machine shown in FIG. 3. 15 is a flowchart showing a process of a third copy processing unit shown in FIG. It is a figure which illustrates the image for operation displayed on an input / output device by UI part. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a fourth copying machine program executed in the copying machine shown in FIG. 3. 18 is a flowchart showing processing of a fourth copy processing unit shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing a third billing process S24 in the network system shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Network system,
102: User PC,
120... Computer main body,
122... CPU
124: Memory,
126... Input / output device,
128... Recording device,
130... Recording medium,
134 ... function realization part,
104 ... financial institutions,
106 ... deposit program,
108 ... Deposit Management Department,
110 ... Deposit DB,
3 ... Charge collection agent system,
22 ... PC,
24 ... server,
30 ... Charge collection agency program,
300 ... billing processing unit,
302 ... billing information management unit,
304 ... billing DB,
4 ... Copier,
40, 46, 52, 56 ... copier program,
42, 54, 58 ... copy processing section,
420: Image reading unit,
422 ... an image processing unit,
424 ... an output processing unit,
540: Document DB,
580... Manuscript search unit,
44, 48 ... billing processing unit,
440, 480 ... Document information acquisition unit,
442, 50 ... specific processing unit,
444: Copy original specifying part,
446 ... Copy part specifying part,
448 ... Copyright information DB,
500 ... user identification part,
450 ... Billing information creation unit,
452 ... Billing information DB,
482 User information DB,
6 ... Copyright management system,
60 ... Copyright management program,
62 ... billing department,
620 ... billing processing unit,
622... Charging DB,
64 ... manuscript distribution part,
642 ... Copyright DB,

Claims (13)

A charging system having an information output device that outputs a part or all of an output target to be output, and a charging device,
The information output device includes:
Output target acquisition means for acquiring the output target to be output;
Output target specifying means for specifying the acquired output target;
Among the specified output targets, output target part specifying means for specifying an output target part to be output;
Charging determination means for determining whether or not charging for the output of the output target portion is necessary based on a result of specifying the output target and the output target portion;
Billing information generating means for generating billing information indicating the contents of billing of the output target portion when it is determined that charging for the output of the output target portion is necessary;
Output means for outputting the output target portion,
The charging device is
A charging system that charges the output of the output target portion based on the generated charging information. The information output device includes:
A user specifying means for specifying a user who outputs the output target portion;
The billing system according to claim 1, wherein the billing information generation unit generates billing information for the specified user. The information output device includes:
An output object storage means for storing the output object;
The billing system according to claim 1, wherein the output target acquisition unit acquires the output target to be output from the stored output target. A distribution device for distributing the output object in response to the search;
The information output device includes:
An output target search means for searching for the output target portion of the output target;
The billing system according to claim 1, wherein the output target acquisition unit acquires the output target portion included in the output target obtained as a result of the search. The output object includes a copyrighted work. The charge determination means needs to be charged when the acquired output object is a copyrighted work based on a result of specifying the output object and the output target part. The charging system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The charging system according to claim 5, wherein the charging information generating unit generates charging information indicating a copyright fee for the output target part. A charging method by an information output device that outputs a part or all of an output target to be output and a charging device that charges an information fee of the output information,
The information output device includes:
Obtain the output target to be output,
Identify the acquired output target,
Among the specified output targets, specify the output target portion to be output,
Based on the result of specifying the output target and the output target part, determine whether or not charging for the output of the output target part is necessary,
When it is determined that charging for the output of the output target portion is necessary, billing information indicating the content of charging of the output target portion is generated,
Outputting the output target part,
The charging device is
A charging method for charging the output of the output target portion based on the generated charging information. A program of the information output device in a charging system having an information output device that outputs a part or all of an output target to be output, and a charging device, wherein the charging device adds the generated charging information to the charging information Based on the output of the output target portion,
An output target acquisition step for acquiring the output target to be output;
An output target specifying step for specifying the acquired output target;
Among the specified output targets, an output target part specifying step for specifying an output target part to be output; and
A charging determination step for determining whether or not charging is required for the output of the output target part based on the output target and the output target part identification result;
A billing information generating step for generating billing information indicating the contents of billing of the output target portion when it is determined that billing is required for the output of the output target portion;
A program for causing a computer to execute an output step of outputting the output target portion. Causing the computer to further execute a user specifying step of specifying a user who outputs the output target portion;
The program according to claim 8, wherein the charging information generating step generates charging information for the specified user. Further causing the computer to execute an output object storage step of storing the output object;
The program according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the output target acquisition step acquires the output target to be output from the stored output target. The billing system further includes a distribution device that distributes the output target in response to a search,
Causing the computer to further execute an output object search step of searching for the output object portion of the output object;
The program according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the output target acquisition step acquires the output target portion included in the output target obtained as a result of the search. The output target includes a copyrighted work. The charging determination step requires charging when the acquired output target is a copyrighted work based on a result of specifying the output target and the output target portion. The program according to any one of claims 8 to 11. The program according to claim 12, wherein the billing information generation step generates billing information indicating a copyright fee for the output target portion.

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