JP2004064503A - Method and device for charging video chat - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video chat charging method for making it possible for a user who plans a predetermined theme to arbitrarily set a charging sum for the predetermined number of participants. <P>SOLUTION: The schedule information of a video chat and bit information for participants are reserved and registered 4 from a sponsor 3 through a network 1, and the participation reservation code and bit reply information of the video chat are received and temporarily registered 4 from users 2. The participation permission code and password information are transmitted through an electronic mail 5 to the participants who satisfy the participation conditions of the video chat from among the plurality of users 2 based on the bit information and tender information, and access from the sponsor 3 and the participants 2 is authenticated, and the moving images or characters of the video chat of the sponsor are distributed 6. After the video chat is started, charging information based on the bit reply information is inputted 8 to a charging table so as to be associated with at least the participants. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a video chat charging method, and more particularly, to a video chat charging method for determining an amount to be charged to a participant when a video chat is reserved by a bidding method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, there is a video chat service that allows a video conversation using the Internet. A video chat server on the Internet establishes a membership-based community site and allows users to transmit and receive audio and video in real time.
[0003]
In a video chat, a group of up to 10 people can have a conversation at the same time, and the user can freely use the video chat by accessing each of the open rooms provided according to themes such as hobbies and business. Also, if you want to have a conversation between acquaintances, open a closed room, distribute the preset PIN by e-mail between users, access the room provided on the set date and time, and enter the PIN Only authorized users used private video chat.
[0004]
Further, the usage fee of the video chat is operated by a system in which the first month is provided free of charge and a fixed fee of several hundred yen per month is provided from the second month.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as described above, since the usage fee of the video chat is fixed, the profitability of the video chat server is low, and there is a certain limit for widespread use.
[0006]
In recent years, as broadband (high-speed, large-capacity) communication such as asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) has become widespread, there has been a demand from users for the use of video chat as one medium.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a video chat charging method in which a user who plans a predetermined theme arbitrarily sets a charging amount for a predetermined number of participants.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, a video chat billing method according to the invention according to claim 1 is connected to a network as shown in FIG. A video chat billing method for distributing video chat schedule information, wherein the schedule registration of video chat and bid information for participants are registered and registered from the organizer 3 through the network 1; The video chat participation reservation code and the bidding information are each received from the user 2 and the provisional registration 4 is performed. The video chat participation temporary reservation step, and the video chat participation from the plurality of users 2 based on the bid information and the bidding information. For a predetermined number of participants who meet the conditions, the participation permission code and password , And a participation permission / non-permission determination step of a video chat for transmitting a participation rejection code via e-mail 5 to another user who does not satisfy the participation conditions, and authenticates access from the organizer 3 and the participant 2. Then, a video chat distribution step of distributing the video and voice or text of the video chat of the organizer 6 and, after the video chat is started, charging information based on bid information associated with at least the participants is input to the charging table. And an accounting process.
[0009]
With this configuration, it is possible to mediate between the host of the video chat and the participant to determine whether or not to participate in the video chat based on bidding and bidding information, and to input billing information in association with the participant. Can be.
[0010]
In order to achieve the above object, a billing method for video chat according to claim 1 according to claim 2 of the present invention provides, for example, as shown in FIG. The method further includes a step of inputting 8 into the charging table the charging amount specified by the organizer 3 as charging information in association with the viewer 2.
[0011]
With this configuration, it is possible to input 8 into the charging table in association with the viewer 2 the amount of the browsing designated by the organizer 3 for the viewer 2 who browses the video chat as charging information.
[0012]
In order to achieve the above object, a video chat billing method according to claim 1 of the present invention according to claim 3 is, for example, as shown in FIG. The calendar table 40 is transmitted to the terminal device of the organizer 3, and the schedule information 50 corresponding to the date column of the calendar table 40 displayed on the terminal device is received and the reservation is registered.
[0013]
With this configuration, the organizer 3 can check the reservation status of the video chat for each date in the calendar table 40, receive schedule information corresponding to the date column from the organizer 3, and make a video chat plan reservation. It can be performed.
[0014]
To achieve the above object, a video chat billing apparatus according to the invention according to claim 4 is connected to a network as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. A video chat billing device that distributes voice or text, receives video chat schedule information and browsing fee information transmitted from the organizer 3 through the network 1, registers the information in a matrix table 40 in a matrix matrix, Until the number of viewers of the video chat reaches a predetermined number, the browsing application code of the video chat and the e-mail address of the browsing application user are received from the plurality of browsing application users 2 accessing the calendar table 40, and the browsing permission code of the video chat is received. A video chat reservation service that replies to A video chat distribution server 5 that authenticates access from the browsing application user 2 based on the browsing permission code and distributes the video chat video and voice or text of the organizer 3 to the browsing application user 2; After the video chat of the organizer 3 is started, there is provided a charging management server 5 that transmits browsing fee information as charging information to the charging server 8 at least in association with the browsing application user 2.
[0015]
With this configuration, the reservation server 4 returns a browse permission code to the browse application user until the number of video chat viewers reaches a predetermined number, and the browse fee information transmitted from the organizer 3 is used as billing information. It can be transmitted to the billing server 8 in association with the viewing application user 2.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding members are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals, and overlapping description will be omitted.
[0017]
FIG. 1 is a schematic system diagram of a video chat charging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. A billing system as a billing device is connected to the Internet 1 as a network, and executes a video chat reservation server 4 for executing a video chat reservation process. Server 5, which is connected to the Internet 1 and transmits video and audio or character information to user terminals 2 and 3 of a plurality of users in real time, and stores user attribute information. A user information database 7 is provided.
[0018]
The reservation server 4 and the e-mail server 5 are connected to the user information database 7 through a communication line (LAN), and execute authentication processing of access from the user based on the user ID and the password as the member information.
[0019]
The user information database 7 stores the user's e-mail address, name or name, gender, address or residence, telephone number, handle name used in video chat, and the like.
[0020]
The reservation server 4 provides demo streaming of a video chat to general users via the Internet 1. In addition, it performs a new user registration and an authentication process of a registered user, and performs various reservation processes such as establishment of a video chat room, participation registration in a registered room, and browsing registration. Further, a log acquisition process for storing the access status of the user based on the authentication process and a trace process for tracing the behavior (access) of the user are executed.
[0021]
The e-mail server 5 works in conjunction with the reservation server 4 to complete registration of a new user, complete establishment of a video chat room (attachment of a participation ticket), completion of registration of a participation (attachment of a participation ticket), completion of registration of registration (attachment of a participation ticket), and completion of video chat. E-mails related to the user such as cancellation of room opening, deletion of participation registration, deletion of browsing registration, etc. are transmitted to the user terminals 2 and 3 via the Internet 1.
[0022]
The e-mail server 5 connects to the charging server 8 via the Internet 1 and transmits / receives charging information for video chat via e-mail.
[0023]
A user who plans a video chat accesses, for example, the reservation server 4 from a personal computer 3 as a user terminal, and writes the schedule information of the video chat planned by himself and the bidding information for the participant to a calendar table in a matrix matrix. The information is entered using the information and registered in the reservation server 4. For example, the user inputs the name of the video chat room, the date and time of the video chat, the contents of the room as the schedule information, and the minimum bid price of the participation fee and the designation of the viewing cost as the bid information.
[0024]
On the other hand, a user who participates in or browses a video chat accesses, for example, the reservation server 4 from the desktop personal computer 2 as a user terminal via the Internet 1. Further, the reservation server 4 is accessed from the notebook personal computer 2 via the hot spot 9 and the Internet 1. The user can know the room name of the planned video chat by browsing the calendar table. The user as a participation application user operates the computer 2 to select a room displayed in the calendar table, confirms the bidding condition of the room, and bids on it. In addition, the user can access the reservation server 4 from the mobile phone 2a via the communication carrier base station 10 and the Internet 1 and bid.
[0025]
The billing server 8 as a billing site connects to the chat site via the Internet 1, receives billing information for each user, and aggregates billing information on a monthly or weekly basis and reports the billing amount to the user and the chat site. Have been. For example, the billing information is aggregated, and the billing amount is settled on a monthly basis using credit card settlement, point settlement, prepaid settlement, convenience store settlement, or other settlement means registered by the user.
[0026]
The distribution server 6 transmits to the computer 3 of the video chat planner, the computer 2 of the participant, and the computer 2 of the viewer, the moving picture, voice or chat character information of the planner and the participant through the Internet 1 in real time. Deliver in the direction. Also, the video, voice or chat text information of the planner and the participants is distributed to the viewers of the video chat simultaneously and in a multicast manner through the Internet 1. The viewer can receive such a scene of the video chat, but cannot view the video chat, and views the video chat in a so-called peeping state.
[0027]
FIG. 2 is a front view of a video chat screen. The video chat screen 11 includes a meeting frame 14, a waiting frame 15 for inputting a video chat environment setting, chat character display frames 20, 21, and 22, a chat character input box 24, and a speaker ON / OFF control. A button 25, a microphone ON / OFF control button 26, and a user connection information display frame 23 participating in a video chat are provided. In the upper part of the screen 11, a minimize button 12 and a close button 13 for the Windows screen are provided.
[0028]
The meeting frame 14 displays, for example, images of up to 10 chat participants in a thumbnail format. The video of the user who planned the video chat is displayed in the upper left window 16, and the video of the other participants is displayed in the lower five windows such as the windows 18, 18 a, 18 b, and 18 c. I do. A drop button 17 is provided at the bottom of the organizer's window 16. By selecting the button 17, a drop-down menu is used to allow or disallow other participants to speak, turn on / off the video display, and keep secret from a specific participant. Various options such as operation can be selected.
[0029]
The chat character display frame 20 displays "Mr. XX entered" and the frame 21 displays information input by the participant with the handle name "1234". The information that the participant with the name “2600” has input characters is displayed.
[0030]
Further, the video chat screen 11 is also transmitted to the user who browses the video chat, and the situation of the television conversation is distributed by moving images, voices, and characters. Advertising information is displayed above the video chat screen 11, and the operating company of the video chat server can obtain advertising fee income from the advertiser. The number of users browsing this video chat depends on the capacity of the distribution server 6, but it is necessary to limit the current capacity of the distribution server 6 to about 200. If the number of viewers is unlimited, the capacity of the distribution server 6 is exceeded and the users participating in the video chat are prevented from communicating with each other, so that it is difficult to provide a high quality video chat.
[0031]
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a user who has planned a video chat can show his / her performance on the video chat, for example, a room for discussing with a well-known critic, a room for performing talent, and a room for performing talent. The magician plans a video chat that is well received by the general public, such as a room that reveals the magic tricks, and the planner can determine the participation fee for joining the room himself, and the planner also specifies the viewers It can be charged at the viewing cost.
[0032]
FIG. 3 is a front view of the video chat screen of the mobile phone. The mobile phone 2a includes a liquid crystal display 29, a CCD camera 35, a television conversation speaker 36, a telephone earphone 37, a selection button 38, and a cursor movement button 39.
[0033]
When the mobile phone 2a is open, the video chat screen on the liquid crystal display 29, the CCD camera 35, and the TV conversation speaker are directed to the user side to provide a two-way TV conversation. The user's voice is transmitted to the video chat through a call microphone (not shown).
[0034]
On the video chat screen, one video can be selected from the other users participating in the video chat with the cursor movement button 39 and displayed. For example, the video chat information transferred in real time by the packet method is stored in the internal memory while being stored as page information for each user, and the user image of the page specified by the cursor movement button 39 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 29. Further, the photographing state of the person 34 can be monitored in the lower right frame 33.
[0035]
The TV conversation speaker 36 outputs real-time audio transferred from the distribution server 6 in a packet format. The audio output is turned off by pressing the selection button 38, and the character information is transmitted from the 10 key button to the video chat. It can also be sent.
[0036]
FIG. 4 is a front view of the video chat calendar table 40 displayed on the display. The calendar table 40 has a plurality of frames arranged in a matrix. For example, a weekday column displaying seven days of the week from Sunday to Saturday is arranged in the uppermost horizontal direction, and date columns are arranged below the respective weekday columns in calendar order. The illustrated calendar table 40 forms a date frame with five rows and seven columns.
[0037]
On the fourth day (Thursday), which belongs to the first week of a certain month in the figure, the room name 50 of "politician" and the "O" mark 51 are displayed at the left end, and the politician's room can be browsed. It turns out that it shows. On the 6th (Saturday), a room name 46 of “meeting” and an “◎” mark 47 are displayed at the right end thereof, indicating that the room of the meeting is in a participating and browsable state.
[0038]
On the 7th (Sunday) belonging to the second week in the calendar table 40, the room name 48 of “Talent” and an “X” mark 49 are displayed at the right end thereof, and the room of the talent has the designated number of participants and viewers. It can be seen that the state has been reached. In addition, the room name 48a, room name 48b, and room name 48c of “talent” reserved on another Sunday and the “x” mark 49a, “x” mark 49b, and “x” mark 49c at the right end thereof are displayed. It can be seen that all the talent rooms are full.
[0039]
Also, on the 11th (Thursday) in the calendar table 40, the room name 50a of “critic” and an “○” mark 51a are displayed at the right end thereof, indicating that the critic's room is in a viewable state. ing. Similarly, on the 18th (Thursday), a room name 50b of “professor” and an “○” mark 51b are displayed at the right end thereof, indicating that the room of the professor can be browsed. On the 25th (Thursday), the room name 50c of "foreigner" and the "o" mark 51c are displayed at the right end thereof, indicating that the room of foreigner can be browsed.
[0040]
Further, on the 12th (Friday) in the calendar table 40, a room name 52 of "Talent A" and an "X" mark 53 are displayed at the right end thereof, indicating that the room of the talent A is full. . On the 20th (Saturday), a room name 46a of “meeting” and an “◎” mark 47a are displayed at the right end thereof, indicating that the meeting room can participate and be viewed.
[0041]
In this way, the reservation status of a video chat in a certain month can be grasped on one screen, and it is possible to judge whether or not to apply for participation or browsing by the mark of ◎. The user moves the pointer to the room name displayed on the calendar table 40 and clicks on the application for participation or browsing with a pointing device such as a mouse, and inputs the registered user ID and password to enter or participate in the application. Execute the entry process for browsing. Therefore, the user can apply for participation or browsing using the calendar table 40 while referring to his or her own schedule.
[0042]
In the video chat, since about 30 rooms can be opened at the same time, the user can determine whether or not a new room can be registered only by browsing the calendar table 40. To register a new room, the user moves the pointer to a number button of the date displayed in the calendar table 40 or a registration button provided near the number, and performs a click operation with a pointing device such as a mouse to register the registered user ID. And enter the password to execute the room registration process.
[0043]
For example, in a reservation form transmitted from the reservation server 4 in response to a click operation, predetermined items such as a room name, room contents, a date and time of the room, a minimum winning bid of a participation fee, designation of a reading fee, and the like are input boxes. , And the reservation server 4 can complete the reservation of the room by selecting the reservation button.
[0044]
The illustrated display includes a title box 41 for searching for topics, a drop button 42 for drop-displaying a plurality of title menus, an input box 43 for inputting a search character, and a search start button 44, and You can search topics. Above the calendar table 40, the date 45 of the displayed calendar table 40 is displayed. By selecting the button 54 for displaying all schedules provided adjacent to the right, the calendar table 40 is displayed. The screen is changed to a list display format and a screen for listing and displaying schedules of all rooms is displayed.
[0045]
In the above-described embodiment, the day of the week is displayed in the horizontal direction, a frame is provided for each date, and a plurality of room names are displayed in this frame. It may be arranged at the left end or the right end to display each day of the week in the vertical direction. In short, any format can be used as long as the room names of the video chats distributed simultaneously in one frame are displayed so that the user can visually grasp the congestion status and the success of the room reservation. A calendar table 40 can be assembled.
[0046]
Also, as described above, the number of rooms that can be distributed simultaneously is limited to about 30. Therefore, in order to make it easier to see rooms that coexist at the same time, a time column is arranged on the vertical axis and the room name is written along the horizontal axis. You may comprise. That is, the calendar table 40 may be configured like a television program guide so that room names are displayed for each time slot.
[0047]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a video chat planning reservation process. The planning reservation process of the video chat is started from a start step 60. The reservation server 4 receives the user ID and password information inputted from the user terminal 3 of the organizer through the Internet 1 in step 61, compares the information with the user ID and password information stored in the user information database 7, and performs an authentication process. Perform If the user ID and the password match, the process branches to step 63, and if they do not match, the process branches to step 62 to end the process.
[0048]
Step 63 is a step of receiving from the Internet 1 a signal indicating that the organizer has clicked a schedule setting button provided in the calendar table 40 displayed on the display screen of the user terminal 3. Regarding the schedule setting button, various button icons can be used as long as it is a means that can be visually recognized, such as a numeral indicating a date or an icon provided in a frame of the date.
[0049]
Subsequently, in step 64, the organizer interactively exchanges information with the reservation server 4 interactively while watching the display screen, and inputs the date and time of the planned video chat. For example, characters may be input from an input box or a down menu, such as "Year xx year x month △ day xx hour to xx hour". By clicking the number in the date frame in the calendar table 40, the date and time may be input from an input menu corresponding to this date.
[0050]
Step 65 is a step in which the organizer inputs a room name of the video chat, a description of the room, the number of persons entering the room, and a public or private identification code using a keyboard and a mouse while watching the display screen. For example, assuming that the organizer is talent A, a predetermined room name “talent A”, a description of the room “conversation with a fan”, the number of entering rooms “10”, and a public “check” and other characters and identification information to the reservation server 4. Send. The reservation server 4 that has received the room name, the description of the room, the number of persons entering the room, characters such as disclosure, and identification information determines in step 66 whether the video chat is public or private.
[0051]
If it is determined in step 66 that the video chat is open, the process branches to step 71. If it is determined that the video chat is not open, the process branches to step 67. Step 67 is a step in which the reservation server 4 allows the host user terminal 3 to select whether the video chat is paid or free. The organizer inputs a paid or free check into the selection menu displayed on the display screen of the user terminal 3 and transmits the check to the reservation server 4.
[0052]
If the organizer selects free of charge at step 67, the process branches to step 76, where the reservation server 4 stores the password specified by the organizer in association with the video chat planned by the organizer, and sets authentication for room entry permission. And then go to step 71. On the other hand, if the sponsor selects pay in step 67, the process branches to step 68 to select a billing method for room participants.
[0053]
Various charging methods can be set. For example, a fixed-rate method in which the organizer specifies the charging amount, an auction method in which the participants determine the charging amount, and a price-up method can be adopted. The setting of the billing method is performed interactively between the host and the reservation server 4 through the display on the display screen of the user terminal 3.
[0054]
If the organizer has selected a non-fixed amount in step 68, the process branches to step 77, where the room participant determination method selects either the auction method or the price-up method. When the price-up method is selected, the process branches to step 80, where the user as a room participant accesses the reservation server 4 from the user terminal 2 via the Internet 1 and inputs the amount for each video chat application order. It is configured to catch the amount to be charged. On the other hand, if the organizer selects the auction method in step 77, the process branches to step 78.
[0055]
Step 78 is a step in which the organizer sets the minimum bid amount for the video chat participation fee. For example, when the organizer is a talent, it is possible to determine by viewing the calendar table 40 that the popularity is high by displaying the mark “x” 49 of the participation reservation deadline, and for example, the minimum bid amount is set as high as 5,000 yen. However, if the organizer plans a match, the minimum bid amount is set because the relatively unreserved mark “◎” 47 is displayed and the popularity is low or the participants operate independently. Set as low as 500 yen. When the setting of the minimum bid amount is completed, the process proceeds to step 79.
[0056]
If the organizer has set the charging method to the fixed amount in step 68, the process branches to step 69, where the organizer inputs the amount of charge for the participant. Then, the process proceeds to step 70, in which the organizer selects one of the methods of determining the participant, the order of application or the lottery. In the case of a lottery, the process branches to step 79, and an input deadline date and time input process is executed. The organizer transmits character information of the application deadline to the reservation server 4 by keyboard input. The organizer who has shifted the processing from step 78 to step 79 also executes the input deadline input processing. Further, the reservation server 4 can limit the number of participants in the video chat to the above-mentioned nine people, and can limit the total number of television conversations to ten with the organizer, and the number of viewers as described above. Can be programmed to limit to about 200 people.
[0057]
Step 71 is a browsing permission selection step of selecting whether or not to allow a third party other than the organizer and the participant to view the video chat. If the organizer has selected not to permit browsing, the flow branches to step 81 to end the video chat plan reservation process. On the other hand, when the organizer permits browsing, the process branches to step 72.
[0058]
Step 72 is a step of allowing the user to select whether the viewing of the video chat is free or paid. When the organizer selects free of charge, the process branches to step 75 to end the video chat planning and reservation process. On the other hand, if the sponsor selects pay, the process branches to step 73, where the host enters the amount of the charge for the viewer by keyboard and transmits it to the reservation server 4. In this way, the reservation server 4 receives the amount charged to the viewer and stores it internally, so that it can be reflected in the video chat reservation process for the user, and the process proceeds to step 74 to execute the video chat plan reservation process. finish.
[0059]
In the above-described embodiment, the operation between the reservation server 4 and the user terminal 3 as the function realizing means has been described sequentially. However, the present invention is not limited to this sequence, and these may be changed and set appropriately. be able to. Therefore, as long as there is no inconsistency in the operation, the processing procedure may be changed or the operation may be performed in parallel.
[0060]
For example, the host terminal collectively collects a plurality of pieces of information such as a room name, a room description, the number of participants, bid information for participants as bid information, permission of a viewer, price up, and auction as schedule information of video chat from the organizer. 3 to the reservation server 4 via the Internet 1 to execute the reservation process according to the above-described sequence. In the present invention, the reservation processing can be performed not only from the personal computer 3 but also from the mobile phone 2a or the PDA terminal.
[0061]
FIG. 6 is a system flow diagram of a video chat participation or browsing method. Data relating to the video chat is exchanged on the Internet 1 between the user terminal 2, the reservation server 4 as a reservation management system, the billing server 8 as a payment agent system, the distribution server 6 as a video chat system, and the content provider 90. It is configured to mutually transmit and receive data.
[0062]
First, the user of the video chat accesses the reservation server 4 from the user terminal 2 and watches a streaming demo of the video chat (step 91). After viewing the demonstration, the user performs a video chat member registration from the user terminal 2 to the reservation server 4 (step 92). Member registration is completed by transmitting the user's e-mail address, user name, user's gender, user ID and password designated by the user from the user terminal 2 to the reservation server 4 via the Internet 1.
[0063]
The registered user executes a video chat reservation process while the user terminal 2 accesses the reservation server 4 (step 93). The user confirms the program reservation status of the video chat displayed in the calendar table 40 as a program linkage table by using marks “◎”, “○”, and “×”. Here, the “◎” mark 47 indicates a program that can be participated and browsed, the “○” mark 51 indicates a program that cannot be participated but can be browsed, and the “x” mark 49 indicates a state where both the participation and the browse have reached the designated number. Is shown.
[0064]
The user can make a reservation for participation in the program with the “◎” mark 47, and can make a reservation for browsing with respect to the program with the “」 ”mark 51. The user appropriately moves the pointer to a button icon on the screen for selecting a video chat program to participate or browse and presses the button icon by a click operation to execute a reservation application.
[0065]
The reservation server 4 replies to the user terminal 2 via the Internet 1 to the user terminal 2 via the Internet 1 in response to a reservation request from the user, a video chat charge notification, selection of a charge type, and selection of approval or disapproval (step 94). Based on the returned information, the user can confirm on the display screen of the user terminal 2 that the provisional reservation of the video chat has been completed.
[0066]
The reservation server 4 accesses the billing server 8 via the Internet 1 simultaneously and in parallel, and registers the user's e-mail address, The user name is transmitted (step 95).
[0067]
The accounting server 8 obtains credit information based on the user's e-mail and user name and determines whether or not the information is suitable for the person to be charged. If no accident history such as delinquent payment has been found in the past, authentication is performed in step 96. Is returned to the reservation server 4.
[0068]
Upon receiving the authentication of the charging server 8, the reservation server 4 proceeds to step 97 and transmits an e-mail describing the video chat server address URL to the user's e-mail address. This e-mail includes a user ID and a password for accessing the video chat room, and a pseudo button for linking to the URL of the video chat server. The pseudo button is composed of, for example, an image in the GIF format, and a target video chat room can be accessed simply by moving a pointer on the image in the GIF format and clicking.
[0069]
Thereafter, the user accesses the user's e-mail server using the user terminal 2 or another computer and downloads the e-mail from the reservation server 4 stored in the mailbox.
[0070]
In step 98, the user performs an e-mail attachment pseudo button click operation. That is, the user clicks an image in the GIF format attached to the downloaded e-mail or displayed in a flash format, and makes a hyperlink to access the reservation server 4 as a reservation management system.
[0071]
When the user accesses the reservation server 4 from the user terminal 2, the user ID and the password automatically transmitted from the user terminal 2 are transmitted to the reservation server 4 via the Internet 1 in response to the click of the image in the e-mail or the GIF format. Is performed (step 98).
[0072]
The reservation server compares the received user ID and password with the user ID and password stored in the user information database 7 and performs an authentication process. If the authentication is successful, the reservation server 4 returns an active X (ACTIVEEX) script to the user terminal 2 and automatically connects the user terminal 2 and the video chat room in the distribution server 6.
[0073]
The user can receive the provision of the video chat service by joining or browsing to the connected video chat room.
[0074]
Further, the content provider 90 can access the video chat distribution server 6 via the Internet 1 in step 99 to provide video chat content. The company that provides the video chat pays the content provider 90 for the provision of the content, and the payment is made on a monthly basis within the reservation server 4 as a reservation management server based on the registration form of the content provider 90. The system is configured to pay a predetermined price based on the totalized result of the stored access log data. Of course, by paying a part of the amount charged to the participants and the viewers to the organizer who planned the room, the usage rate of the video chat can be improved.
[0075]
Thus, on the Internet 1, the user can easily communicate with another user located in a remote place by a noisy video chat, and the expression and voice of the other party talking in the television conversation can be obtained in real time. it can.
[0076]
The video chat charging system of the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example described above, and it goes without saying that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0077]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the video chat charging system of the present invention, there is provided an excellent video chat charging method in which a user who plans a predetermined theme arbitrarily sets a charging amount for a predetermined number of participants. The effect can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic system diagram of a video chat charging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of a video chat screen used in the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a front view of a video chat screen of the mobile phone used in the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a front view showing a calendar table used in the present invention on a display.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a video chat planning reservation process used in the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a system flow diagram of a video chat participation or browsing method used in the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Internet
2 Personal computer
2a Mobile phone
3 Personal computer
4 Reservation server
5 E-mail server
6 distribution server
7 User information database
8 Billing server
11 Video chat screen
29 LCD display
35 Camera
36 Speaker for TV conversation
37 Earphones for telephone calls
38 Select button
39 Cursor move button
40 calendar table
90 Content Provider

Claims (4)

A video chat billing method that is connected to a network and distributes video and audio or text in real time among a plurality of user terminals;
A video chat planning / reserving step of reserving and registering the video chat schedule information and bid information for participants from the organizer through the network;
A video chat participation tentative reservation step of receiving the video chat participation reservation code and the bidding information from the plurality of users via the network, respectively, and temporarily registering the video chat participation reservation code;
Based on the bidding information and the bidding information, a participation permission code and password information are transmitted via e-mail to a predetermined number of participants who satisfy the video chat participation conditions from among the plurality of users, and A video chat participation permission / inhibition determination step of transmitting a participation rejection code via e-mail to another user who does not satisfy the conditions;
A video chat distribution step of authenticating access from the organizer and the participant and distributing video and audio or text of the organizer's video chat;
A charging processing step of inputting charging information based on the bidding information into a charging table at least in association with the participant after the video chat is started;
A video chat billing method comprising: 2. The video according to claim 1, further comprising a step of inputting, as billing information, a browsing amount designated by an organizer to a viewer who browses the video chat through the network as billing information in the billing table in association with the viewer. Chat billing method. The video chat planning reservation process transmits a matrix table in the form of a matrix matrix to the terminal device of the organizer through the network, and receives the schedule information corresponding to the date column of the calendar table displayed on the terminal device. The video chat charging method according to claim 1, wherein the reservation is registered by using the video chat. A video chat billing device connected to a network and delivering a moving image and voice or text in real time among a plurality of user terminals;
Receives video chat schedule information and browsing fee information transmitted from the organizer through the network, registers them in a matrix table in a matrix matrix, and stores the calendar table until the number of viewers of the video chat reaches a predetermined number. A video chat that receives a browsing application code of the video chat and an e-mail address of the browsing application user from a plurality of browsing application users to access, and returns a browsing permission code of the video chat to the browsing application user via an e-mail. With a reservation server;
A video chat distribution server that authenticates access from the browsing application user based on the browsing permission code and distributes the video chat video and audio or text to the browsing application user;
A billing management server that transmits the browsing fee information to the billing server as billing information in association with at least the browsing application user after the organizer's video chat is started;
Video chat billing device.

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