JPH06169293A - Charging imposing device for radio communication - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain proper charging in response to a frequency of a medium to be used by writing an identification code in each data string and writing the sent data on an IC card as soon as various data are sent. CONSTITUTION:An IC card reader writer 12a reads an utility limit of an IC card and after the residue is confirmed, a processing block 10 reaches the processing standby state. Then the information to count the utilizing state is inserted to a transmission signal from a master set and an identification code in response to the kind of the information is written in a signal frame. Then the information executed in the information received by a tuner 9 is processed by processing circuits 13a-13c corresponding to the information. After the end of reception, the utility charge for each identification code is calculated by a control CPU 11. Furthermore, the residue resulting from subtracting the utility charge from the utility limit stored in advance on the IC card 12b is used for a succeeding utility limit and an IC card reader writer 12a writes it newly.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure for efficiently collecting charges according to the type of information in various information services using wireless communication, especially satellite communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In satellite communications such as radio broadcasting, television broadcasting, and broadcasting using satellites, how to collect an information usage fee has been a major problem. As a system which is widely used at present, it is general to collect a fee assuming that a channel is selected if a television device is included. In recent satellite communication, the signal is scrambled at the time of transmission,
On the receiving side, a system for separately providing a compound device for canceling this and collecting a fixed monthly fee when the compound device is installed is also widely used.

[0003]

However, in the conventional method, it is premised that the receiving side voluntarily pays the receiving fee, and the fee collection efficiency is very poor. Also, when a complex device is required, it is possible to avoid the receiving side from using the radio wave without permission, but this will force the receiving side to spend extra money of the complex device, and therefore the number of subscribers will not increase. There is a problem.

Further, in the conventional fee system, a fixed monthly fee is generally used, and the fee cannot be changed depending on the type of information at any time. Therefore, the transmitting side cannot provide only media with a high broadcasting fee. However, on the other hand, there is the contradictory problem that the number of subscribers will not grow unless the popular high-priced media are enhanced.

The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and even if a fixed monthly fee is not necessarily collected from the receiving side, a proper charge is made according to the frequency of the medium used. The present invention provides a device that can be used.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a main device including a host computer storing various data and a transmitter for wireless communication, and processing / execution according to the various data. And a receiving device that operates. The identification code for each type of data is written in the signal frame of the data transmitted from the main device, while an IC card reading / writing device is provided in the receiving device, and the identification code of the data executed in this receiving device. Is stored and the information is written in the IC card inserted in the reading / writing device based on the stored charging data.

As a second means, in order to carry out prepaid payment processing, the IC card is preliminarily written with the usage limit of the charge, while the receiving device displays data indicating the charge corresponding to the identification code. A means for holding a table, calculating the charge amount in the receiving device based on this data table, and rewriting the usage limit amount written in the IC card was used.

As another means, in order to carry out post-payment payment processing, the stored identification code is written as frequency data in the IC card, while the main device is provided with a data table displaying the fee for each identification code. A means of using the possessed billing device, appropriately uploading the frequency data to the billing device through a telephone line, and calculating the billing amount for each receiving device by the billing device was used.

Furthermore, the means of claim 2 and claim 3 are provided in parallel, and means for selecting both of them are provided so that the user selects either of the above two charging means at the start of reception. I chose

[0010]

The main device and the receiving device communicate with each other by wireless communication represented by satellite communication, and send and receive karaoke data, game data, video signals and the like. The reading / writing device is provided in the receiving device, and is a part that performs a function of reading the contents of the RAM built in a known IC card and writing new data. In the means of the present invention, the IC card has written therein the data usage history for charging the information usage fee or the remaining charge data as a prepaid card. In the configuration in which the data usage history is written, the data is transmitted to the main device, Charge calculation will be performed by the charging device in the device. On the other hand, when functioning as a prepaid card, the charging fee is calculated based on the data table held by the receiving device, and the usage limit written in the IC card is rewritten and updated.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Three embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment and is a block diagram showing the whole of the device of the present invention when satellite communication is used. In the figure, 1 is a communication satellite, 2 is a main device for transmitting information as a signal, and 3 is a receiving device. As shown in FIG. 2, the main device 2 mainly includes a host computer 4, a database 5, a transmitter 6, and an antenna 7. Then, from the main device 2, signals of a plurality of channels are transmitted to the communication satellite 1 by addressing different types of information to the respective channels. There are various types of information addressed to multiple channels, such as karaoke music,
Of course, the lyrics information can be set as an independent channel and the data of the computer game can be set as an independent channel, so that the user can freely decide.

Next, the internal structure of the receiver 3 will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, 8 is a receiving antenna, 9 is a tuner for receiving satellite signals, and is a device for receiving signals transmitted from the main device 2. The signal to be transmitted is
Video signals are transmitted in the form of digital signals if they are video signals and data necessary for karaoke or games. In addition,
The tuner 9 has a configuration capable of receiving a plurality of channels at the same time. Reference numeral 10 denotes a reception data processing unit such as a buffer memory, which temporarily saves data of each signal when the tuner 9 processes signals of a plurality of channels at the same time, and data used for communication such as header and footer. It is a block that performs basic processing such as processing columns and extracting only necessary information. Reference numeral 11 is a control CPU that controls the entire receiving apparatus. In the memory area that can be controlled by the control CPU 11, the usage charge for each piece of information is stored as a data table, and the charge calculation is performed with reference to this data table. Reference numeral 12a is an IC card reader / writer, and 12b is an IC card reader / writer 1.
It is an IC card that can be inserted into 2a. IC card 12b
In advance, information such as the user's name, address, date of birth,
Like the prepaid card, the usage limit is written. If the IC card 12b is not inserted into the IC card read / write device 12a at the time of reception, the processing block 1
0 does not process the information received by the antenna 8. Reference numeral 13 is a signal processing circuit, which is a video signal processing circuit 1.
Circuits corresponding to the types of transmission / reception signals such as 3a, a karaoke signal processing circuit 13b, and a game signal processing circuit 13c are provided in parallel. The output of each processing circuit is connected to the output terminals 14a, 14b, 14c. If a video terminal is connected to a display, and if a game terminal is connected to a computer game machine, a desired game can be performed. be able to. An operation panel 15 is used to select desired information by key operation based on the information list displayed on the display panel 16.

Next, a configuration for charging information use will be described. Since the IC card 12b stores a usage limit in advance and has a function as a prepaid card, the charging process is substantially finished when the user purchases the IC card. Therefore, the IC card usage limit is I
The processing is performed by the C card read / write device 12a, the balance is confirmed, and then the processing block 10 enters the processing standby state.
Here, the information for counting the usage status is the main device 2
The identification code corresponding to the type of information, such as karaoke or game, is written in the signal frame. Then, of the information received by the tuner 11, the executed information is processed by the corresponding processing circuits 13a to 13c. Then, after the reception is completed, the control CPU 11 executes the calculation while referring to the data table in which the usage charges for each identification code are listed,
Calculate usage charges. Further, the balance obtained by subtracting the above usage fee from the usage limit stored in advance in the IC card 12b is newly written by the IC card reading / writing device 12a as the next usage limit. That is, the previously used limit amount is updated.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the entire apparatus of the second embodiment. In the figure, 1a to 3a are each provided with a communication satellite, a main unit, and a receiving unit, as in the first embodiment.
Is a billing device that holds usage charges as a data table,
Reference numeral 18 is a telephone line, and 18a is a telephone line network. The billing device 17 and the receiving device 3a can communicate with each other via a telephone line 18. The transmission method from the main unit is the same as in the first embodiment. The accounting process for information use will be described with reference to FIG. 5 showing the configuration of the receiving device 3a. Reference numeral 12a is an IC card reading / writing device for counting the usage status in the signal processing circuit for each circuit and accumulating it in the IC card 12b. . Then, based on the accumulated result, the transmission side regularly calculates the usage fee. Here, the identification code for each type of data is stored as frequency data in the IC card 12b only for the processed data. For example, if the karaoke is processed N times and the game is processed M times within a certain period, the karaoke N and the game M are accumulated as frequency data in the IC card 12b. Further, if it is not only the type of information but the charge is different depending on the content even if it is the same type, a different identification code is given to each information and the frequency is stored for each identification code. If this is done, finer billing is possible.
Although the communication satellite is used in this embodiment, the basic configuration is not changed even if wireless communication is performed by another means such as FM communication.

The frequency data for each type of data stored in the IC card 12b as described above is protected by the battery backup even if the IC card 12b is once pulled out. Then, when the IC card 12b is inserted, the data previously stored is the data communication modem 19
And is transmitted via the telephone line 18 to the charging device 17 managed by the transmitting side. Here, when the charging device 17 fetches the frequency data, there are two means.
One is to access the charging device 17 from the receiving device 3 and transmit the frequency data, and the other is to access the receiving device 3 from the charging device 17 and upload the frequency data held by the receiving device 3. The present invention can employ any of the configurations, but the configuration in which the receiving device 3 periodically accesses the charging device 17 based on the internal block of the control CPU 11 that it owns is simpler. However, when the number of subscribers of the receiving device 3 is large, if the receiving device 3 independently measures the access timing, the traffic of the line may be extremely deteriorated. On the other hand, although it becomes complicated if the billing device 17 accesses the receiving terminal, the billing device 17 can manage the access timing, and the problem of traffic can be easily solved. That is, both may be selectively adopted according to the number of subscribers.

As described above, after uploading the frequency data to the billing device 17, the usage charge is calculated for each individual receiving device. The amount of money per unit for each identification code is set as a data table inside the charging device 17, and if frequency data is input, the data table is collated to calculate the total amount of money. After the usage fee is calculated in this way, each user is billed by an appropriate means.

Next, as a third embodiment, a method of selectively adopting a settlement method will be described. In this case, the configuration of the entire device is the same as that of the second embodiment, and the receiving device 3 has a control CPU 11 into which a floppy disk holding a usage charge for each type of data similar to that of the charging device 17 on the transmission side as a data table can be inserted. It is provided inside. With such a configuration, and the payment method can be selected when the IC card is inserted, the receiver can appropriately select whether the payment method of the usage fee is prepaid or postpaid.

[0018]

According to the present invention, as described above, various kinds of data are transmitted from the main device on the transmitting side, and at the same time, the identification code is written in each data string, and only the used portion of the data transmitted by communication is stored in the IC card. Since the information is written, the information provider can certainly collect the fee. Also, for information users, only the data they want can be retrieved and the fee paid only for this.
Useless payment can be suppressed.

Further, in claim 2, since the RAM built in the IC card is set to function as a prepaid card, the charge is collected when the IC card is purchased, and the risk of collecting the charge. There is no. further,
Since the IC card can be rewritten any number of times, it can be renewed before the usage limit reaches zero.

In the third aspect, the identification code used is stored together with the frequency by using the memory function of the IC card, and the charging device or the receiving device periodically accesses the other party to upload the frequency data. Since this is done, it is possible to reliably grasp the data usage frequency of each receiving device. Then, since the transmission side calculates the usage fee based on this frequency data, it is possible to make a reliable charge, and there is little chance of data modification, which is safe. When these configurations are performed by satellite communication, it is possible to give an instruction from the satellite as to the access timing from the receiving device to the billing device, and it is possible to respond appropriately without setting a particular period. Furthermore, with this configuration, since the data collected by the main device can be processed to construct the secondary data, the useful information can be fed back to the user of the terminal, and the utility value thereof is very high.

By combining the features of claims 2 and 3, the receiver can select the settlement method of the fee for receiving the service before receiving it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the entire apparatus of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a receiving device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the entire apparatus of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a receiving device according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Communication Satellite 2 Main Device 3 Receiving Device 4 Host Computer 5 Database 6 Transmitter 7 Database 8 Receiving Antenna 9 Tuner 10 Processing Block 11 Control CPU 12a Read / Write Device 12b IC Card 13 Signal Processing Circuit 14 Output Terminal 15 Operation Panel 16 Display Panel 17 Billing device 18 Telephone line 19 Data communication modem

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A main device including a host computer that stores various data and a transmitter for wireless communication, and a receiving device that processes / executes according to the various data. The identification code for each type of data is written in the signal frame, while an IC card read / write device is provided in the reception device, and the identification code of the executed data is accumulated in the reception device, and the accumulated billing is performed. A fee-charging device for wireless communication, characterized in that information is written in an IC card inserted in the reading / writing device based on data. 2. The IC card is preliminarily written with a usage limit amount of charges, while the receiving device has a data table in which the charges corresponding to the identification codes are displayed, and the receiving device is based on this data table. 2. The wireless communication charge accounting device according to claim 1, wherein the charge amount is calculated in step 2 to rewrite the usage limit amount written in the IC card. 3. The stored identification code is written as frequency data in the IC card, while the main device is provided with a billing device having a data table displaying a charge for each identification code, and the frequency data is called by a telephone. 2. The wireless communication charge billing device according to claim 1, wherein the billing device calculates the billing amount for each receiving device while uploading the billing device to the billing device by a line. 4. A wireless communication system in which the means of claim 2 and claim 3 are provided in parallel, and selection means for both are provided so that the user selects either of the two charging means at the start of reception. Charge billing device.