JPH0946677A - Image transmission system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain imposition taking information and kind of service and quantity of information into account. SOLUTION: A control section 101', a traffic check section 102, a transmission mode selection section 103, a charging section 104, and a storage device 105 are provided to form a charge imposition processing means 100, a characteristic of MPEG data is taken into account and a frame of the MPEG(moving picture image coding expert system) data to be sent is selected in response to the traffic of the transmission line. Then the charge imposition processing is conducted by a charge system decided depending on the sent frame for each image to conduct properly the charging processing with respect to the served image information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to provision of information in a multimedia network for transmitting information such as moving image data, still image data, audio data, computer data, and an image transmission system for the information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the so-called information service industry has been increasing with the provision of optical fiber networks in trunk communication networks, the spread of cable television systems, the practical use of satellite communication, and the spread of local area networks. The information service industry provides various information using the communication network as described above, and collects a fee according to the content and the amount of the information. In such an information service industry, it is an important problem to properly charge the provided information.

[0003]

However, the conventional charging system used in the information service industry is, for example, a monthly charging system irrelevant to the frequency of use, such as a cable television system or satellite broadcasting. Alternatively, as in a computer utilization service, a billing method is often used in which only the frequency of use (or time of use) is irrelevant to the type and quality of information.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to perform billing in consideration of the types of information and services and the quality of information.

[0005]

According to an image transmission system of the present invention, in an image transmission system for transmitting MPEG data via a transmission line, a frame of MPEG data to be transmitted is set according to traffic on the transmission line. It is characterized in that the billing process is performed with a fee system according to the set frame.

Another feature of the present invention is that
In an image transmission system for transmitting MPEG data between a transmission terminal and a reception terminal via a transmission line, a reception terminal provided with a frame setting means for setting a frame of MPEG data to be transmitted according to traffic on the transmission line. ,
It is characterized by comprising a transmitting terminal provided with a charging processing means for performing a charging processing under a predetermined charging system and an image charging information storage means for storing charging information of an image used in the charging processing. I am trying.

Another feature of the present invention is that, in an image transmission system for transmitting MPEG data via a transmission line, a frame setting for setting a frame of MPEG data to be transmitted according to traffic on the transmission line. And a billing processing unit for performing billing processing with a fee system according to the frame of the transmitted MPEG data and the amount of information.

Another feature of the present invention is that, in an image transmission system for transmitting MPEG data via a transmission line, traffic inspection means for inspecting the traffic of the transmission line, and traffic of the transmission line. Frame setting means for setting a frame of MPEG data to be transmitted according to the above, a charging processing means for performing a charging processing with a predetermined charge system, and an information amount of an image transmitted via the transmission path. Information amount measuring means for
Image charge information storage means for storing charge information of images used in the above-mentioned billing process.

Another feature of the present invention is that, in an image transmission system for transmitting MPEG data via a transmission line, traffic inspection means for inspecting traffic on the transmission line, and traffic on the transmission line. Frame setting means for setting a frame of MPEG data to be transmitted according to the above, billing processing means for performing a billing processing with a fee system according to the frame and information amount of the transmitted MPEG data, and used in the billing processing. Image charge information storage means for storing image charge information.

Another feature of the present invention is that it comprises a fee payment means for paying a fee at regular intervals. 2. The image transmission system according to 1.

Another feature of the present invention is that the billing processing means is provided on the transmitting side.

Another feature of the present invention is that the billing processing means is provided on the receiving side.

Another feature of the present invention is that the billing processing means is provided on both the transmitting side and the receiving side.

Another feature of the present invention is an image transmission destination designating means for designating an image transmission destination to an arbitrary image receiving device and requesting the image provider to transmit the image.
An image transmitting means for transmitting an image to the image receiving device designated by the image destination designation means, and a billing process for charging the designated person to whom the image is destined or the user who received the image. And means.

Another feature of the present invention is that it comprises an encryption means for at least encrypting or digitally signing the transmitted information.

[0016]

Since the present invention has the above-mentioned technical means, it becomes possible to set a frame of MPEG data to be transmitted according to the traffic of the transmission path and charge an image fee according to the contents of the set frame. .

Further, according to another feature of the present invention, it is possible to perform the charging process with a fee system in which the amount of information of an image is considered in addition to the content of the frame to be transmitted.

Further, according to another feature of the present invention, it becomes possible to settle the charge at regular intervals.

Further, according to another feature of the present invention, it becomes possible to protect information from wiretapping and falsification and to carry out fair charging.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of an image transmission system of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiment, in a transmission system for transmitting MPEG data via a transmission path, the MPEG system for transmitting according to the traffic on the transmission path in consideration of the characteristics of the MPEG data.
This is applied in order to set a frame of data and to charge an image according to the frame.

In particular, in the first embodiment, a charge system that determines charges for transmitting only I frames, transmitting I frames and P frames, and transmitting I frames, P frames, and B frames The charging processing means for performing the charging processing in such a case will be described in detail.

In the second embodiment, when only I frame is transmitted, when I frame and P frame are transmitted,
In addition to the case of transmitting the I frame, P frame, and B frame, the charging processing means in the case of the charge system considering the information amount of the image will be described in detail.

In the third embodiment, a billing processing means for performing the settlement of the charge for each fixed period in the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described in detail.

In the fourth embodiment, the image providing side is the first.
The case of having the billing processing means shown in the first to third embodiments will be described in detail.

In the fifth embodiment, the image receiving side is the first
The case of having the billing processing means shown in the first to third embodiments will be described in detail.

In the sixth embodiment, a case where both the image providing side and the image receiving side have the charging processing means shown in the first to third embodiments will be described in detail.

In the seventh embodiment, the case where the billing processing means shown in the first to sixth embodiments is applied to the communication between the devices connected to the local area network will be described in detail. explain.

In the eighth embodiment, the case where the charging processing means shown in the first to sixth embodiments is applied to the communication between the devices connected to the wide area network will be described in detail. explain.

In the ninth embodiment, in order to protect information from eavesdropping and tampering and perform fair charging, the charging processing means shown in the fourth to eighth embodiments is encrypted. The case where the means are combined will be described in detail.

A first embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Before describing the first embodiment in detail, MPEG (Mo) used as an encoding method for efficiently storing and transmitting moving image information.
Ving Picture Experts Grou
p) will be described.

MPEG data is an international standard for the purpose of high-efficiency coding of moving images. It utilizes the frequency characteristics and human visual characteristics of the data, and the redundancy in the time axis direction peculiar to moving images. This is a method of performing even higher efficiency coding by utilizing.

This MPEG system uses MPEG1 with a maximum transfer rate of 1.5 Mbps for digital storage media, and bidirectional digital multimedia equipment, digital VTR, ATV without the upper limit of transmission rate.
(Advanced Television), MPEG2 intended to be used in all transmission systems such as optical fiber networks, but the basic algorithm is almost the same. Therefore, in the following, MPEG
Based on No. 1, the principle and data structure of the encoding method will be described.

First, the principle of this high-efficiency coding system based on MPEG will be described. In this high-efficiency coding method, the redundancy in the time axis direction is reduced by taking the difference between frames, and the difference data obtained by this is converted into DC.
By performing T and variable length coding processing to reduce the redundancy in the spatial direction, high efficiency coding is realized as a whole.

Regarding the redundancy in the time axis direction, paying attention to the fact that continuous frames have a high correlation in the case of a moving image, and the difference between the frame to be encoded and the frame preceding or succeeding in time is calculated. By taking this, it becomes possible to reduce the redundancy.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 20, in MPEG, in addition to an intra-coded image obtained in a coding mode in which coding is performed exclusively in a frame, a difference value from a temporally preceding frame is coded. The smallest amount of data among the difference value between the forward predictive coded image (P-picture) and the temporally preceding frame or the subsequent frame, or the difference value between the interpolated frames from both frames. Bidirectional predictive coded image (B-picture)
, And frames in these encoding modes are combined in a predetermined order.

In MPEG, the above-mentioned I-picture, P-picture and B-picture are respectively 1, 4, 1
1 unit with 0 sheets (GOP: Group Of Pictu
res) with an I-picture at the beginning and two B-pictures
It is recommended to repeatedly combine pictures and P-pictures. By placing I-pictures at a constant cycle, special reproduction such as reverse reproduction and partial reproduction in units of the above GOPs are possible, and an error occurs. We are trying to prevent transmission.

When a new object appears in a frame, the difference value becomes smaller by taking the difference with the following frame than by taking the difference with the temporally preceding frame. There are cases. Therefore, in MPEG, bidirectional predictive coding as described above is performed to perform more efficient compression.

In MPEG, motion compensation is performed. That is, the difference between the previous 8 pixel × 8 pixel block and the macro block in the vicinity of the corresponding block of the preceding frame or the succeeding frame is a unit of a predetermined block (macro block) in which 4 blocks for luminance data and 2 blocks for color difference data are collected. , The motion vector is detected by searching the macro block having the smallest difference, and this motion vector is encoded as data.

At the time of decoding, the corresponding macroblock data of the preceding or following frame is extracted by using this motion vector, and thereby the encoded data encoded by motion compensation is decoded. I have to.

In the motion compensation as described above, a temporally preceding frame is once encoded, and then a frame decoded again is obtained as a preceding frame, and the macroblock of this frame and the macro of the frame to be encoded are obtained. Motion compensation is performed using blocks and.

It should be noted that MPEG1 performs motion compensation between frames, whereas MPEG2 performs motion compensation between fields. The difference data and the motion vector obtained by the motion compensation as described above are further highly efficient coded by the DCT transform and the Huffman coding as described above.

Next, the data structure of this MPEG system will be described. The data structure of this MPEG system is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, it has a hierarchical structure including a video sequence layer, a GOP layer, a picture layer, a slice layer, a macroblock layer, and a block layer.

Hereinafter, each layer will be described in order from the layer described in the lower part of the drawing. First, similarly to JPEG, the block layer is composed of 8 pixels × 8 pixels for each of luminance data and color difference data, and DCT is performed for each unit.

The macroblock layer is a block in which the above-mentioned blocks of 8 pixels × 8 pixels are grouped into 4 blocks for luminance data and 1 block for color data, and a macroblock header is added. In the MPEG system,
This macroblock is used as a unit for motion compensation and coding described later.

In the macroblock header, each data of motion compensation and quantization step in each macroblock and six DCT blocks (Y0, Y1, Y2, Y3, Cr, Cb) in each macroblock are included. It contains data on whether or not it has data.

The slice layer is made up of one or more macroblocks and a slice header which are consecutive in the scanning order of the image, and the quantization step in a series of macroblocks in the same slice layer can be made constant.

The slice header has data relating to the quantization step in each slice layer, and if there is no quantization step data specific to each macroblock, the quantization step in that slice layer is made constant. . Also,
The leading macroblock resets the difference value of the DC component.

The picture layer is the slice layer described above.
It is a collection of a plurality of frames, and is composed of a header such as a picture start code, and one or more slice layers following the header. Further, the header includes a code indicating the image encoding mode and a code indicating the accuracy of motion detection (pixel unit or half pixel unit).

The GOP layer is composed of a header such as a group start code and a time code indicating the time from the beginning of the sequence, and a plurality of I frames, B frames or P frames following the header.

The video sequence layer starts with a sequence start code and ends with a sequence end code, and in the meanwhile, a plurality of GOPs having the same control data and image size necessary for decoding the image size, aspect ratio and the like.
Are arranged. In the MPEG system having such a data structure, the bit stream is defined by the standard. Such an encoding technique is a technique often used in multimedia networks.

As described above, in MPEG, an I frame reproduces a moving image in a rough motion regardless of the P frame and the B frame, and the P frame is decoded together with the I frame to make the moving image smoother. I am trying to reproduce it in motion. Further, the B frame is decoded together with the I frame and the P frame so that a smoother motion can be reproduced.

Focusing on such a point, MPEG can be regarded as coding in which the motion of an image is treated hierarchically. Further, the required transmission capacity is larger for transmitting the I frame and the P frame than for the I frame alone, and the required transmission capacity is larger for transmitting the I frame, the P frame, and the B frame.

Therefore, when transmitting MPEG data, the following transmission methods can be considered. That is, the above-mentioned MPEG encoding is performed on the image transmitted first. Next, the usage status of the transmission path is inspected, and if there is sufficient free space, all the frames of the image information are transmitted.

If there is not enough free space required to send all frames, I frame and P frame are transmitted. Furthermore, if there is not enough free space,
Only transmit I-frames. Such a transmission method is
This is an important elemental technology when multimedia is handled by AN (Local Area Network) or the like.

In this embodiment, MPEG is transmitted via a transmission line.
In an image transmission system for transmitting data, MPEG
In consideration of the characteristics of data, a frame of MPEG data to be transmitted is selected according to the traffic on the transmission path. Then, the present invention is applied to realize a billing processing means for billing with a fee system determined according to the frame transmitted for each image.

In this embodiment, MPEG is used.
As the data transmission mode, the case where only I frames are transmitted is defined as mode 1, the case where I frames and P frames are transmitted is defined as mode 2, and the case where I frames, P frames and B frames are transmitted is mode 3 Stipulate.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a main part of a billing processing means relating to the image transmission system of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 is a billing processing means included in the image transmission system. Reference numeral 101 denotes a control unit that takes in a user's image transmission request transmitted and received in the image transmission system, controls the operation of the traffic inspection unit 102, the transmission mode selection unit 103, and the charging unit 104, and
Image identifiers requested by the transmission mode selection unit 103 and the billing unit 104 (names and codes for identifying images)
Control to notify.

Reference numeral 102 monitors the image transmission system 110 (or a transmission path), or inquires of the image transmission system 110 about information regarding traffic managed by the image transmission system 110.
This is a traffic inspection unit that inspects the transmittable capacity (traffic information) at that time and notifies the transmission mode selection unit 103 of the inspection result.

Reference numeral 103 receives the image identifier requested by the control unit 101 and the traffic information of the image transmission system from the traffic inspection unit 102, and selects a transmission mode for transmitting an image according to the traffic information. , A transmission mode selection unit that notifies the charging unit 104 that performs the charging process and the image transmission system 110.

Reference numeral 104 is a billing unit, which fetches an image identifier from the control unit 101 and also a transmission mode selection unit 103.
Retrieve transmission mode information from. Then, the charge corresponding to the captured image identifier and the transmission mode information is read from the storage unit 105 and notified to the image transmission system 110.

Reference numeral 105 is a storage unit for storing fee information of the image referred to by the charging control unit 101. Then
An image transmission system 110 includes a network and terminals such as a computer, a receiver, a printer, and a monitor that are connected to the network by wire or wirelessly. It should be noted that, without dividing each function as described above, a plurality of function blocks may be one function block, or a plurality of the above-mentioned arbitrary function blocks may be provided.

In the following, an example of a traffic inspection method in the traffic inspection unit 102 will be described in which the image transmission system 110 uses an ATM (Asynchronous Tra).
The description will be given by taking as an example the case of being realized by the nsfer mode).

The traffic inspection unit 102 determines whether the image can be transmitted at a certain transmission rate Cr.
Call 10. Then, the image transmission system 1
If 10 does not give permission to transmit at the above-mentioned transmission rate Cr, C'r <Cr C'until permission is given.
Inquiry r to the image transmission system 110. If the image transmission system 110 permits the transmission at the transmission rate Cr, the transmission rate Cr is used as the inspection value.

Further, in an image transmission system constructed by another network system, a traffic inspection method other than the above may be performed depending on the network. That is, the traffic inspection method according to the present embodiment is not limited to the above ATM example.

Next, an example of a transmission mode selection method in the transmission mode selection unit 103 will be described. The transmission mode selection unit 103 first receives information regarding the traffic of the image transmission system 110 from the traffic inspection unit 102, and also receives the identifier of the requested image from the control unit 101.

Then, the transmission capacity necessary for accessing the storage unit 105 and transmitting the requested image in each transmission mode (for the information stored in the storage unit 105, refer to FIG. 3 later). Will be described) and the traffic (transmittable capacity) of the image transmission system are compared to determine the transmission mode for transmitting the image in the following procedure.

The transmission capacity determined by the traffic inspection unit 102 is Cr, the transmission capacity required to transmit certain MPEG data in the transmission mode 1 is C1, and the transmission capacity required to be transmitted in the transmission mode 2 is C2. When the transmission capacity required for transmission in the transmission mode 3 is C3, the transmission mode 3 is selected if Cr ≧ C3.

If C3> Cr ≧ C2, the transmission mode 2 is selected, and if C2> Cr ≧ C1, the transmission mode 1 is selected. When C1> Cr, the image transmission system is notified that sufficient transmission capacity cannot be obtained even in transmission mode 1.

However, the operation of the transmission mode selection unit 103 is not limited to the one described above, and the Cr transmission mode i (i = 1, i = 1,
2, ...) is not enough to transmit the image (Cr
<Ci), Cr may be used to transmit an image in transmission mode i, or processing such as waiting until a sufficient capacity Cr (≧ Ci) is obtained.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a charge table stored in the storage device 102. In the charge table of FIG. 3, for example, the information Info 1 is the transmission mode 1
It is shown that the fee for the case of providing the service is 11 and the required transmission capacity at that time is C 11.

Also, it is shown that the charge when the transmission mode 2 is provided is 12, and the necessary transmission capacity is C12, and the charge when the transmission mode 3 is provided is the charge 13.
This means that the required transmission capacity is C13.

Below, the operation when the charging processing means of the present embodiment charges a fee according to the charge system determined for each transmission mode will be described by the user (and the user's terminal).
fo1 is requested from the provider, and the transferable capacity of the image transmission system at that time is Cr (C13> Cr ≧ C12).
The case of is shown as an example.

First, in the first operation procedure, the control section 101 monitors the message transmitted / received by the image transmission system or receives the message from the image transmission system, whereby the user transmits the image Info 1. Capture the information required to do so.

Next, in the second operation procedure, the traffic inspecting unit 102 determines that the image transmission system 1 at that point in time.
The traffic of 10 is inspected to obtain the transmittable capacity Cr.

Next, in the third operation procedure, the control unit 1
01 notifies the transmission mode selection unit 103 of the requested image identifier Info 1. Further, the traffic inspection unit 102 notifies the transmission mode selection unit 103 of the above-mentioned transmission capacity Cr. Furthermore, the transmission mode selection unit 103
Reads the transmission capacity necessary for transmitting Info 1 in each transmission mode from the storage unit 105 and compares these with the transmission capacity Cr, thereby selecting the image transmission mode 2 according to the traffic, Notify the image transmission system 110.

Next, in the fourth operation procedure, the control unit 1
01 notifies the charging unit 104 of the identifier Info 1 of the requested image. The transmission mode selection unit 103 notifies the charging unit 104 of the selected transmission mode 2.

The billing unit 104 receives the image identifier I notified from the control unit 101 from the charge table stored in the storage device 105, that is, the charge table shown in FIG.
The corresponding charge 12 is read out from nfo 1 and the transmission mode 2 notified from the transmission mode selection unit 103, and is notified to the image transmission system 110.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a concrete example of the configuration of the billing processing means 100 shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 200 denotes a charging processing means, which corresponds to the charging processing means 100 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 201 denotes a CPU, which is the ROM 204 or the RAM 20.
3 is for processing the input from the I / O interface 202 and issuing a command to an external device according to the program stored in 3.

Reference numeral 202 denotes an I / O interface, which exchanges information with the image transmission system and a storage device 206.
It is for inputting and outputting with. A RAM 203 is used by the CPU 201 as a temporary memory or for storing a program.

Reference numeral 204 denotes a ROM, which is the CPU 201.
Stores a program to be executed by. However,
It may be omitted when the program is read from outside the billing processing unit 200 or stored in the RAM 203.

Reference numeral 205 is a bus for the CPU 201 to ROM 204 to exchange data, and 206 is a storage device for storing a charge for each transmission mode for each image. For example, by a magnetic, optical, semiconductor element or the like. It is composed.

In FIG. 2, the control unit 10 shown in FIG.
1, traffic inspection unit 102, transmission mode selection unit 10
3. Each function of the charging unit 104 includes a CPU 201, an I / O interface 202, a RAM 203, a ROM 204, and a B
It can be realized by US205.

For example, the control of the above-mentioned operation procedure, traffic inspection, transmission mode selection, billing processing, etc. are performed by the CPU.
The operation procedure, the traffic inspection method, the transmission mode selection method, and the billing processing method for that purpose are performed by R 201.
It is stored in the AM 203 or the ROM 204. First
The traffic inspection in the operation procedure of, the notification of the transmission mode in the second operation procedure, and the charge notification in the fourth operation procedure are performed through the I / O interface 202.

However, the configuration for realizing the functional blocks of FIG. 1 is not limited to the configuration of FIG. 2, and one or more of the functional blocks of FIG. 1 may be configured as one device, All the functional blocks in FIG. 1 may be configured as one device. Further, the operation is not limited to the above operation, and the following cases are included in this embodiment.

That is, the second operation procedure and the third operation procedure are combined into one procedure, and the transmission mode selection unit 103 is
The transmission capacity Ci required when transmitting nfo 1 in a certain transmission mode i is read. Then, the transmission capacity Ci
After notifying the traffic inspection section, the traffic inspection section inspects whether transmission is possible in the transmission mode i.

If the transmission is not possible, the transmission mode selection unit 103 reads out the required transmission capacity in the transmission mode lower than the transmission mode i (for example, the transmission mode i-1), and repeats the above operation. If transmission is possible, the transmission mode selection unit notifies the image transmission system and the charging unit of the transmission mode.

In the first operation procedure, the user specifies the transmission mode when requesting the image, and the billing processing means of this embodiment specifies the transfer mode in the second to fourth operation procedures. If the image can be transmitted in the specified transmission mode, the transmission mode selection unit 103 notifies the image transmission system of an instruction to transmit in the specified transmission mode, and the charging unit 104 performs the charging process in the transmission mode. .

If the transmission mode selection unit 103 cannot transmit the data, the transmission mode selection unit 103 waits until the data can be transmitted or at the transmission possible rate. Alternatively, the image transmission system is notified that the transmission is performed with the transmission mode lowered or that the request is canceled. Billing unit 104
Performs charging processing according to each processing.

A second embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, in an image transmission system for transmitting MPEG data via a transmission line, a frame of MPEG data to be transmitted is selected according to traffic of the transmission line in consideration of the characteristics of the MPEG data, and for each image. The present invention is applied in order to realize a billing processing means of a fee system that determines a unit charge per unit information amount according to the transmitted frame and determines the charge from the unit charge and the transmitted image information amount.

In this embodiment, as the transmission mode of the MPEG data, the case of transmitting only the I frame is the mode 1, the case of transmitting the I frame and the P frame is the mode 2, and the transmission mode of the I frame, the P frame and the B frame is transmitted. The case is defined as mode 3. In the following description, only parts different from the parts described in the previously described drawings will be described in detail, and detailed description of substantially the same parts will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the main part of the billing processing means relating to the image transmission system of the present invention, and is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1 in the first embodiment. FIG.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 400 denotes a billing processing unit included in the image transmission system, which corresponds to the billing processing unit 100 in FIG.

Reference numeral 401 denotes a control unit, which is the control unit 10 of FIG.
Corresponds to 1. A traffic inspection unit 402 corresponds to the traffic inspection unit 102 in FIG. Reference numeral 403 denotes a transmission mode selection unit, which is the transmission mode selection unit 103 in FIG.
Corresponding to.

Numeral 404 is a charging unit, which is the charging unit 10 of FIG.
Corresponds to 4. A storage device 405 stores the charge information of the image referred to by the control unit 401, and corresponds to the storage device 105 in FIG. 1. An image transmission system 410 corresponds to the image transmission system 110 of FIG.

Reference numeral 406 denotes a measuring unit for measuring the amount of image information transmitted and received by the image transmission system 410, which is not provided in the first embodiment described above.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a charge table stored in the storage device 402. In the charge table of FIG. 6, for example, the information Info 1 is the transmission mode 1
It is shown that there is a charge of 11 per unit information amount when provided by.

Further, it means that the charge per unit amount of information when provided in the transmission mode 2 is 12, and that the charge when provided in the transmission mode 3 is 13.

In the following, a charge system for determining the charge per unit information amount determined for each transmission mode by the charge processing means of the present embodiment and determining the charge from the unit information amount and the information amount of the transmitted image. The user (or the user's terminal) requests the image Info 1 from the provider for the operation for charging, and the transferable capacity of the image transfer system at that time is Cr (C13> Cr ≧ C12). The case of is shown as an example. In this case, the first operation procedure to the fourth operation procedure are the same as the first operation procedure to the fourth operation procedure in the above-described first embodiment, and therefore will be omitted in the following description.

In the present embodiment, when the above-mentioned fourth operation procedure is completed, next, in the fifth operation procedure, the measuring section 406 causes the image transmission system 410 to perform the Info operation.
While transmitting 1, the amount of information is counted and In
After the end of transmission of fo 1, the charging unit 404 determines the charge from the unit charge 12 and the counted amount of information, and notifies the image transfer system 410 of the charge.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a concrete configuration example of the charging processing means 400 shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 500 denotes a charging processing means, which corresponds to the charging processing means 200 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 501 denotes a CPU, which corresponds to the CPU 201 shown in FIG. Reference numeral 502 denotes an I / O interface, which corresponds to the I / O interface 202 shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 503 denotes a RAM, which is the RA shown in FIG.
It corresponds to M203. A ROM 504 corresponds to the ROM 204 shown in FIG.
A bus 505 is used by the CPU 501 to the ROM 504 to exchange data, and corresponds to the bus 205 shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 506 denotes a storage device for storing the charge for each transmission mode for each image. The storage device 2 shown in FIG.
It is equivalent to 06.

In FIG. 5, the control section 40 shown in FIG.
1, traffic inspection unit 402, transmission mode selection unit 10
3. Each function of the billing unit 104 includes a CPU 501, an I / O 5
02, RAM 503, ROM 504, BUS 505, and measuring device 507 (however, measuring device 507 may be omitted in the case of time measurement).

This is as described in the first embodiment. In the case of the present embodiment, the billing unit 404 notifies the image transmission system of the above-mentioned fee by obtaining the fee at that time by a method such as the fifth operation procedure at an arbitrary timing during image transmission. To do.

The third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is applied in the first embodiment and the second embodiment in order to make it possible to settle a charge for each fixed period by calculating a cumulative charge.

In this embodiment, the transmission mode of MPEG data is as follows: Mode 1 is for transmitting only I frames, Mode 2 is for transmitting I frames and P frames, and I frame, P frames and B frames are transmitted. If so, it is defined as mode 3.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram for explaining the billing processing means according to the third embodiment. 7, reference numeral 701 denotes a control unit, which is the control unit 4 shown in FIG.
It corresponds to 01.

Reference numeral 702 denotes a traffic inspection unit, which is shown in FIG.
It corresponds to the traffic inspection unit 402 shown in FIG. Reference numeral 703 denotes a transmission mode selection unit, which corresponds to the transmission mode selection unit 403 shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 704 denotes a charging unit, which corresponds to the charging unit 404 shown in FIG. Reference numeral 705 denotes a storage device, which corresponds to the storage device 405 shown in FIG. Reference numeral 706 denotes a measuring unit, which is the measuring unit 406 shown in FIG.
Is equivalent to

FIG. 9 shows an example of a cumulative amount table stored in the storage unit 702. For example, the table in FIG. 9A shows a cumulative amount table when the billing processing unit 700 is provided in the terminal on the image provider side. FIG.
In (a), of the image charges provided to the user User A, only the charge Charge A is unsettled, and of the image charges provided to the user User B, only the charge Charge B is unsettled. It means that.

Further, for example, FIG. 9B shows a cumulative amount table when the billing processing means is provided in the user side terminal. In FIG. 9B, among the image charges provided by the provider A, only the charge Charge A is unpaid, and among the image charges provided by the provider B, only the charge Charge B is unpaid. It means that there is.

The procedure for obtaining the accumulated charge of the charge obtained from the unit charge and the information amount of the image by the charging processing means of the present embodiment will be described below by the user (or the user's terminal) U.
ser L requests the image Info 1 from the provider A, and the transmission capacity of the image transmission system at that time is Cr.
The case of (C13> Cr ≧ C12) is shown as an example.

Since the first to fifth operation procedures in the operation procedure of the present embodiment are the same as the above-described first to fifth operation procedures, detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the present embodiment, when the fifth operation procedure ends, next, in the sixth operation procedure, charging unit 704.
Reads the accumulated charge of User L from the storage unit 705, adds the charge obtained in the fifth operation procedure to the accumulated charge, and records it in the storage unit 705.

FIG. 8 shows a concrete configuration example of the charging means corresponding to the functional block diagram of FIG. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 800 is a billing processing means, which corresponds to the billing processing means 500 shown in FIG. Reference numeral 801 denotes a CPU, which corresponds to the CPU 501 shown in FIG. An I / O interface 802 corresponds to the I / O interface 502 shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 803 denotes a RAM, which is the RA shown in FIG.
It is equivalent to M503. Reference numeral 804 denotes a ROM, which corresponds to the ROM 504 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 805 denotes a bus for the CPU 801 to the ROM 804 to exchange data, which corresponds to the bus 505 shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 806 denotes a storage device for storing a charge for each transmission mode for each image. The storage device 5 shown in FIG.
It is equivalent to 06.

In FIG. 8, the control unit 70 shown in FIG.
1, traffic inspection unit 702, transmission mode selection unit 70
3. Each function of the charging unit 704 includes a CPU 801, an I / O 8
02, RAM 803, ROM 804, BUS 805, and measuring device 807 (however, measuring device 807 may be omitted in the case of time measurement).

This is as described in the first embodiment. In the case of the present embodiment, the billing unit 704 notifies the image transmission system of the above-mentioned fee by obtaining the fee at that time by a method such as the fifth operation procedure at an arbitrary timing during image transmission. To do.

In the present embodiment, the charge table is changed from the charge table of FIG. 6 to the charge table of FIG. Then, in the fourth operation procedure, the flat charge (charge 13) for each image is read out instead of the unit charge. Next, the fifth
In the sixth operation procedure, the sum of the accumulated charge read in the fourth operation procedure and the charge 13 is set as a new accumulated charge without counting the amount of information in the operation procedure.

Then, at an arbitrary timing during image transmission, the charge at that time is obtained by the method such as the fifth operation procedure. Then, the charging unit 704 notifies the image transmission system of the charge.

Further, the following processing is performed. That is,
The sixth operation procedure is performed in parallel with the fourth operation procedure and the fifth operation procedure. In the fifth operation procedure, no charge notification is given. In the sixth operation procedure, the cumulative charge is notified.

A fourth embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 10 shows the first embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a case where an image provider (or its terminal device) has the charging processing means shown in the third embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the transmission mode of MPEG data is mode 1 when transmitting only I frames, mode 2 when transmitting I frames and P frames, and mode 2 when transmitting I frames, P frames and B frames. The case of transmission is defined as mode 3.

In FIG. 10, reference numeral 1001 denotes a transmission terminal device, which is a device such as a personal computer, a workstation, other computers or an image transmitter on the image provider side having a billing processing means.

Reference numeral 1002 denotes the charging processing means shown in the first to third embodiments, and reference numeral 1003 denotes a user side personal computer, a workstation, other receiving terminals such as computers and image receivers. is there.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 11, when the charging processing means and the apparatus therefor of the second embodiment are applied, User L (reception terminal device 1003) displays an image Inf.
o1 is requested to the provider A (transmitting terminal device 1001), and the transferable capacity of the image transmission system at that time is Cr.
The operation of this embodiment will be described by taking the case of (C13> Cr ≧ C12) as an example.

First, in the first operation procedure, User
L transmits a message requesting the image Info 1 to the provider A to the provider A via the transmission line (hereinafter, the message is referred to as an image transmission request message). In the terminal device 1001 of the provider A, when the image transmission request message is received, the billing processing means 1002 fetches the image transmission request message from the transmission terminal device 1001.

Next, in the second operation procedure, after the billing processing means 1002 inspects the traffic on the transmission line via the transmission terminal device 1001 to obtain the transmissible capacity Cr,
Referring to C11 to C13 in the charge table of FIG. 6, the transmissible capacity Cr and C11 to C13 are compared, and Info 1
Is transmitted in transmission mode 2, and transmission terminal 2 is notified to transmission terminal apparatus 1001.

Next, in the third operation procedure, the transmitting terminal device 1001 transmits Info 1 to User L in the transmission mode 2 via the transmission path. At the same time,
The billing processing unit 1002 measures the information amount of Info 1 transmitted by the transmission terminal device 1001.

Next, in the fourth operation procedure, the billing processing means 1002 monitors Info1 being transmitted and detects a bit pattern indicating the end of the image, or the Info 1 from the transmitting terminal 1001 to the User L is transmitted. When receiving the message indicating that the transmission is completed and recognizing that the transmission of Info 1 to User L is completed,
Unit charge 12 is read from the charge table shown in
Info 1 information amount provided to er L and unit price 1
Determine the charge to be charged to User L from 2.

Next, in the fifth operation procedure, the charging processing means 1002 outputs the fee calculated in the fourth operation procedure to the transmission terminal device 1001. Next, in the sixth operation procedure, the fee is paid.

The following cases are also included in this embodiment. First, when the user requests an image in the first operation procedure, the transmission mode is also designated. If the transmission capacity Cr sufficient for transmission in the designated transmission mode cannot be obtained, the billing processing means performs transmission in the transmission mode designated by the transmission capacity Cr. Alternatively, wait until a sufficient transmission capacity can be secured. Alternatively, the transmission is performed in a transmission mode in which the transmission capacity Cr can be used.

Alternatively, an instruction to cancel the request or the like is sent to the image transmitting apparatus, the charging processing is performed according to the instruction, and the image transmitting apparatus performs the image transmission processing with the image receiving apparatus according to the instruction, or Perform processing such as request cancellation. The above process may be inquired to the user and selected.

Further, in the first operation procedure, when the user requests an image from the image provider, the user also designates the terminal device (or image processing device) of the image output destination, and the provider A designates the designated output. Image information is transmitted first.

In the third operation procedure, the unit charge 12 is read out, the unit charge 12 and the charge up to that time are calculated from the amount of information at that time, and the calculated charge is output to the transmission terminal device 1001. And the provider A and User
Notify L etc.

In the fourth operation procedure, after the unit charge 12 is read, it is output to the transmitting terminal device 1001 and the unit charge 12 is transmitted from the transmitting terminal device 1001 via the transmission line.
To User L.

In the fifth operation procedure, the transmitting terminal device 1
001 informs User L of the above charges via the transmission line. The billing processing means 1002 is set to the transmission terminal device 1001.
It is realized by using a CPU, a memory, a storage device, and the like included in

In addition to the examples described above, the following modifications can be considered in the present embodiment. That is, the billing processing means of the first embodiment is applied. Modifications such as application of the charging processing means of the third embodiment can be included in the present embodiment.

The fifth embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 12 shows a case where a user (or a terminal device thereof) has the charging processing means shown in the first to third embodiments.

In this embodiment, as the transmission mode of the MPEG data, a mode 1 is transmitted when only I frame is transmitted, a mode 2 is transmitted when I frame and P frame are transmitted, and an I frame, P frame and B frame are transmitted. The case is defined as mode 3.

In FIG. 12, reference numeral 1201 denotes a transmission terminal device such as a personal computer, a workstation, other computers or image transmitters on the image provider side having a billing processing means, and 1202 the first to third embodiments. The billing processing means 1203 shown in the embodiments is a receiving side personal computer such as a personal computer, a workstation, another computer, an image receiver on the side of the receiver.

In the following, according to FIG. 13, when the accounting processing means of the second embodiment is applied, User L (reception terminal device 1203) displays the image Info 1 as the provider A.
(Transmitting terminal device 1201), the transferable capacity Cr of the image transmission system at that time (C13> Cr ≧
The operation of this embodiment will be described by taking the case of C12) as an example.

First, in the first operation procedure [S1],
User L generates a message in the receiving terminal device 1203 that requests the provider A to send the image Info 1. (Hereinafter, the above message is referred to as an image transmission request message). The billing processing means 1202 fetches the image transmission request message from the receiving terminal device 1203.

Next, in the second operation procedure [S2],
The billing processing means 1202 inspects the traffic on the transmission path via the receiving terminal device 1203 to obtain the transmittable capacity Cr, and then refers to C11 to C13 in the charge table of FIG. Then, the transmissible capacity Cr is compared with C11 to C13, it is determined to transmit Info 1 in the transmission mode 2, and the reception terminal device 1203 is notified of the transmission mode 2.

The receiving terminal device 1203 displays "User L
Requests the provider A to transmit the image Info 1 in the transmission mode 2 ”to the transmission terminal device 1201 via the transmission path.

Next, in the third operation procedure [S3],
Upon receiving the notification from the receiving terminal device 1203, the transmitting terminal device 1201 transmits Info 1 to User L in the transmission mode 2 via the transmission path. At the same time, the billing processing means 1202 measures the amount of information of Info 1 received by the receiving terminal device 1203.

Next, in the fourth operation procedure [S4],
The billing processing means 1202 monitors Info 1 being received and detects a bit pattern indicating the end of the image, or the receiving terminal device 1203 receives Info 1 from the provider A.
Receiving the message indicating that the reception of Info 1 has been completed, it recognizes that the reception of Info 1 from the provider A has been completed.

When the billing processing means 1202 recognizes that the reception has been completed as described above, the unit fee 12 is read from the fee table shown in FIG. 6, and the information amount of Info 1 received from the provider A and the unit fee are read. 12 determines the fee charged by the provider A, and the receiving terminal device 1203
Output to Next, in the fifth operation procedure [S5], the fee is paid.

The following cases are also included in this embodiment. In the first operation procedure, the user also specifies the transmission mode when requesting an image. If the transmission capacity Cr sufficient for transmission in the designated transmission mode cannot be obtained, the billing processing means 1202 transmits in the transmission mode designated by the transmission capacity Cr. Alternatively, wait until a sufficient transmission capacity can be secured. Alternatively, the transmission is performed in a transmission mode in which the transmission capacity Cr can be used.

Alternatively, the image receiving device is instructed to cancel the request and the charging process is performed according to the instruction, and the image receiving device communicates with the image transmitting device in accordance with the instruction or cancels the request. Process. The above processing may be inquired to the user to be selected.

In the first operation procedure, when the user requests the image from the image provider, the user specifies the terminal device (or the image processing device) of the output destination of the image, and the provider A outputs the specified output. Image information is transmitted first. At this time, the following 2
Including the street.

First, in the first case, the user has a billing processing means. In this case, the user (or the billing processing means possessed by the user) notifies the output destination or the image provider that the image transmission has been started before the third operation procedure when the image provision is started. Get notified and start billing operation.

At the end of image provision, in the fourth operation procedure, the user is notified that the image transmission is completed, and the billing operation is completed. Also, the user is notified of the amount of information of the image from the output destination or the provider.

In the second case, the output destination designated by the user has a billing processing means. In this case, the user also transmits the image transmission request message to the output destination in the first operation procedure, and the billing processing means at the output destination fetches the image transmission request message. Further, the billing processing means at the output destination notifies the provider or the user of the charge in the fourth operation procedure.

In the first operation procedure, the receiving terminal device 1
The image transmission request message is transmitted from 203, and the transmission terminal device 1201 selects the transmission mode 2 by the same method as the billing processing means 1202.

In the third operation procedure, the unit charge 12 is read out, the charge up to that time is calculated from the unit charge 12 and the information amount of Info 1 received up to that time, and the calculated charge is calculated. Receiving terminal device 1203
It is output to and displayed on, and UserL is notified.

The following modifications can be considered. That is, the billing processing means 1202 is realized by using the CPU, memory, storage device and the like of the receiving terminal device 1203. In addition, the billing processing means of the first embodiment is applied. Further, a modification such as applying the charging processing means of the third embodiment can be included in the present embodiment.

The sixth embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 14 shows the first embodiment.
It shows a case where both the image provider (or its terminal device) and the user (or its terminal device) have the charging processing means shown in the third embodiment.

In this embodiment, MPEG is used.
As data transmission modes, the case of transmitting only I frames is defined as mode 1, the case of transmitting I frames and P frames is defined as mode 1, and the case of transmitting I frames, P frames and B frames is defined as mode 3.

In FIG. 14, reference numeral 1401 denotes a transmission terminal device such as a personal computer, a work station, other computers or image transmitters on the image provider side having a billing processing means, and 1402 denote the first to third embodiments. The charging processing means 1403 shown in the embodiments is a user-side personal computer, workstation, or other receiving terminal device such as a computer or an image receiver, which is equipped with the charging processing means.
Reference numeral 04 denotes the charging processing means shown in the first to third embodiments.

Below, according to FIG. 15, when the charging processing means and the apparatus therefor of the second embodiment described above are applied, User L (reception terminal device 1403) sends the image Info 1 to the provider A (transmission). Terminal device 1401)
The operation of the present embodiment will be described by taking as an example the case where the transferable capacity of the image transmission system at that time is Cr (C13> Cr ≧ C12).

First, in the first operation procedure [S1],
User L (reception terminal device 1403) transmits a message requesting transmission of the image Info 1 to the provider A (transmission terminal device 1401) via the transmission path (hereinafter, the message requesting the transmission will be referred to as an image transmission request message). Called). The billing processing means 1404 is the receiving terminal device 140.
The image transmission request message is fetched from 3. When the transmission terminal device 1401 receives the image transmission request message, the billing processing means 1402 fetches the image transmission request message from the transmission terminal device 1401.

Next, in the second operation procedure [S2],
The billing processing means 1402 inspects the traffic on the transmission path via the transmission terminal device 1401 to obtain the transmittable capacity Cr, and then refers to C11 to C13 in the charge table of FIG.
The transferable capacity Cr is compared with C11 to C13, and Inf is compared.
It decides to transmit o 1 in the transmission mode 2 and notifies the transmission terminal device 1401 of the transmission mode 2. The charging processing means 1404 also obtains the transmission mode 2 similarly to the charging processing means 1402 and notifies the receiving terminal device 1403.

Next, in the third operation procedure [S3],
The transmitting terminal device 1401 transmits Info 1 in the transmission mode 2 to the receiving terminal device 1403 via the transmission path. The billing processing means 1402 measures the information amount of Info 1 transmitted by the transmission terminal device 1401.

The receiving terminal device 1403 receives Info 1 sent via the transmission path. On the other hand, the billing processing means 1404 measures the amount of information of Info 1 received by the receiving terminal device 1403.

Next, in the fourth operation procedure [S4],
The billing processing means 1402 monitors Info 1 being transmitted and detects a bit pattern indicating the end of the image, or Info 1 from the transmitting terminal 1401 to User L.
Use in response to the message that the transmission of the
When recognizing that the transmission of Info 1 to r L is completed, the unit charge 12 is read from the charge table shown in FIG. Then, the charge to be charged to User L is calculated from the information amount of Info 1 provided to User L and the unit charge 12, and is notified to the transmitting terminal 1401.

[0166] The billing processing means 1404 receives the Inf being received.
o 1 is monitored and a bit pattern indicating the end of the image is detected, or a message indicating that the reception of Info 1 from the provider A is completed is received from the receiving terminal 1403, and When recognizing that the reception is completed, the unit charge 12 is read from the charge table shown in FIG.

Then, the fee charged by the provider A is calculated from the information amount of the Info 1 received from the provider A and the unit fee 12, and is notified to the receiving terminal 1403. Next, the fifth
In the operation procedure [S5], the fee is paid.

The following cases are also included in this embodiment. That is, in the first operation procedure [S1], the user also specifies the transmission mode when requesting an image.

If the transmission capacity Cr sufficient for transmission in the designated transmission mode cannot be obtained, the charging processing means 1402 (or 1404) determines the transmission capacity Cr.
Transmit in the transmission mode specified in. Alternatively, wait until a sufficient transmission capacity can be secured. Alternatively, the transmission is performed in a transmission mode in which the transmission capacity Cr can be used.

Alternatively, an instruction to cancel the request is issued to the image transmitting device (in the case of the billing processing means 1404, the image receiving device).
And perform billing processing according to the above instruction,
The image transmitting device and the image receiving device perform processing such as image transmission or request cancellation according to the above instruction. The above processing may be inquired to the user to be selected.

In the first operation procedure [S1], when the user requests an image from the image provider, the user specifies the terminal device (or the image processing device) to which the image is output, and the provider A is specified. Image information is transmitted to the output destination. At this time, the following 2
Including the street.

That is, in the first case, the provider and the user have the charging processing means. In this case, the user (or the billing processing means possessed by the user) confirms that the image transmission has been started from the output destination or the image provider at the time of image provision start in the third operation procedure [S3]. The user is informed that the charging operation is started, and in the fourth operation procedure [S4] at the end of image provision, the user is notified that the image transmission is ended, and the charging operation is ended. Also, the user is notified of the amount of information of the image from the output destination or the provider.

In the second case, the output destination designated by the provider and the user has a billing processing means. In this case, the user also transmits the image transmission request message to the output destination in the first operation procedure [S1], and the billing processing means of the output destination fetches the image transmission request message. Further, the billing processing means at the output destination may notify the user of the charge in the fourth operation procedure [S4].

Further, at the stage of the second operation procedure [S2],
The billing processing means 1402 reads out the unit charge 12, notifies the transmitting terminal device 1401, displays it on the transmitting terminal device 1401, and informs the provider A.

Further, at the stage of the second operation procedure [S2], the charging processing means 1404 reads the unit fee 12,
Notify the receiving terminal device 1403, and the receiving terminal device 1403
Display and notify User L.

In the third operation procedure [S3], the charging processing means 1404 reads out the unit charge 12 and calculates the unit charge 12 and the charge up to that time from the information amount of Info 1 received up to that time. , And outputs the above fee to the receiving terminal device 1403.

[0177] The charging processing means 1402 is used as the transmitting terminal device 1.
It is realized by using a CPU, a memory, a storage device, and the like included in 401. Further, the billing processing means 1404 is realized by using the CPU, the memory, the storage device and the like of the receiving terminal device 1403. Further, the charging processing means of the first embodiment is applied, or the charging processing means of the third embodiment is applied. The networks using the charging processing means described above are all embodiments relating to the present invention. Particularly, a preferred embodiment using the charging processing means according to the present invention will be described below.

The seventh embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the entire network of this embodiment. In FIG. 16, reference numeral 1601 denotes an ATM (Asynchro) described later.
It is an ATM network that transfers data in a nose transfer mode (asynchronous transfer mode).

Reference numerals 1602 and 1603 denote local area networks (LAN) using Ethernet or the like for transferring data in modes other than ATM. For example, the following various devices are connected to these networks 1601, 1602, and 1603.

Reference numeral 1604 is a facsimile machine, 1605 is a color printer having an internal page memory, and 1606.
Is a color copying machine including a color scanner and a color printer, and includes a page memory in which image data of an original read by the color scanner is written, and a circuit for reading the data written in the page memory and supplying the data to the printer.

Reference numeral 1607 denotes a file server for temporarily storing image data input via the ATM network, and 1608 denotes a workstation for inputting / outputting data to / from the file server.

Reference numeral 1609 denotes a terminal device connected to the ATM network. The terminal device 1609 also exchanges data with the local area networks 1602 and 1603 described above to perform various processes such as editing various image data. I do. The terminal device 1609 includes the printer 1605 and the like, the network line 1603,
Or they are connected via a dedicated line.

Reference numeral 1610 is a server similar to the server 1607 and has the same configuration as the server 1607.
Such a server 1610 includes the above-mentioned color copying machine 1
It is connected to a color copying machine 1611 similar to 606.

Reference numeral 1612 is a digital television connected to the ATM network. The digital television receives data via the ATM network.
This is displayed on the display device as a visible image.

Reference numeral 1613 is a VTR that receives image data via the ATM network. 1614 is
It is a center station such as a CATV station that sends various software data and image data to the ATM network. 1615
Is a first router for connecting another ATM network to the ATM network, and 1616 is a second router for connecting another local area network.

Further, an ATM network switch (not shown) is provided between the ATM network and a device connected to the ATM network such as the facsimile machine 1604, the printer 1605, the color copying machine 1607. Further, these devices are provided with a billing processing means as shown in the first to third embodiments, if necessary.

In order to explain the charging operation in the above configuration, the center station 1614 has a charging processing means (fourth embodiment), and the terminal device 1609 which is the user is the image output destination. As digital television 161
2 is designated and the center station 1614 on the transmission side
As an example, the case of issuing a request will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in the first operation procedure [S1],
The terminal device 1609 makes a transmission request to the center station 1614, and specifies the requested image, its transmission mode, and the digital television 1612 as an output destination. At this time, the billing processing means fetches the transmission request from the center station 1614 which has received the transmission request.

Next, in the second operation procedure [S2],
The center station 1614 sends the image data to the digital television 16
12, and the digital television 1612 receives the image data. At this time, as shown in the above-described fourth embodiment, the charging operation is executed, and the terminal device 16
The derivation of the charge that 09 (or its user) should pay to the center station 1614 proceeds.

Next, in the third operation procedure [S3],
When the terminal device 1609 or the digital television 1612 wants to end the data reception on the way, the center station 16
A transmission end request is sent to 14.

Next, in the fourth operation procedure [S4],
The center station 1614 ends the supply of the image data in response to the transmission end request. Further, upon detecting this, the billing processing means ends the billing operation.

Next, in the fifth operation procedure [S5],
The center station 1614 notifies the terminal device 1609 of the charge derived using the charging processing means.

Next, in the sixth operation procedure [S6],
A fee is paid between the center station 1614 and the terminal device 1609. If there is bidirectional data transfer, the same billing will be applied in the reverse transmission and reception.

The following cases are also included in this embodiment.
That is, the center station 1614 is not provided with a billing processing means,
When the terminal device 1609 is provided with the billing processing means, in the first operation procedure [S1], the billing processing means fetches the transmission request from the terminal device 1609.

[0195] Further, when the image provision is started, the center station 1614 or the digital television 1612 notifies the terminal device 1609 of a message notifying the start of the image provision, and when the image provision is terminated, the center station 1614 or The digital television 1612 notifies the terminal device 1609 of a message notifying the end of image provision.

The billing processing means starts the billing operation as shown in the fourth embodiment when detecting the image provision start message, and ends the billing operation when detecting the image provision end message. In this case, the fifth operation procedure [S5] in the description of the procedure of this embodiment is omitted.

When the center station 1614 and the terminal device 1609 are not provided with the billing processing means but the digital television 1612 is provided with the billing processing means, in the first operation procedure [S1], the billing processing means sends the transmission request to the digital television 161.
Take in from 2.

The charging operation is as shown in the fifth embodiment, and the fifth operation procedure [S5] of the present embodiment.
In the digital television 1612 to the center station 1
614, or the terminal device 1609, or the center station 16
The charge is notified to both 14 and the terminal device 1609.

Further, at least the operation in the case where both the center station 1614 and the terminal device 1609 have the charging processing means is apparent from the operation example shown in the sixth embodiment. Obviously, this can be charged not only for the center station and the digital television but also for data exchange between other terminals.

The eighth embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the concept of a multimedia network system to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 18, reference numeral 1801 is a B-ISDN network using a high-speed public line, 1802 is a cable television (CTAV) network, 1803 and 1804 are local area networks (LAN), and 1805 is a communication satellite.

1811 and 1812 are ground stations that perform information communication via communication satellites, and 1821 and 1822 use these communication networks to provide video information, audio information, and other various multimedia information, and pay for them. Information providers 1831 to 1839 who receive the information are users who pay a fee using the information provided by the information provider.

B-ISDN network 1801, CATV network 18
02, LAN 1803 and 1804, communication satellite 180
5 are connected to each other, and information can be exchanged (bidirectional communication) with each other. Also, information providers 1821 and 1
822 and users 1831 to 1839 are connected to any of these communication networks. The information providers 1821 and 1822 have the charging processing means shown in the first to third embodiments.

However, since the two-way communication is possible, the information providers 1821 and 1822 and the users 1831 to 1
If both 839 and 839 have a billing processing means, the information provider can be the user or the user can be the information provider. The billing processing means may be built in each device, installed so as to be inserted between each device and the network, or connected to each device as an external device of each device.

Below, the user 1839 is the information provider 18
Information provider 1821
A case where only the provider has a billing processing means will be described below with reference to FIG. 19 by taking as an example the operation of billing from the user 1839 according to the information provided by the provider.

In the following description, the transmission line is the second
LAN 1804, B-ISDN network 1801, CATV
The network 1802 and the first LAN 1803 are indicated.

First, in the first operation procedure [S1],
The user 1839 sends a request to the information provider 1821 to send an image via the transmission path.

Next, in the second operation procedure [S2],
The information provider 1821 provides the MPEG 18 encoded image information to the user 1839 via the transmission line in accordance with the request from the user 1839. During this period, the charging operation as shown in the fourth embodiment is executed.

Next, in the third operation procedure [S3],
The user 1839 sends a transmission end request when the user wants to end the image transmission on the way.

Next, in the fourth operation procedure [S4],
The information provider ends the transmission of the image in response to the transmission end request. The billing processing means also ends the above billing operation.

Next, in the fifth operation procedure [S5],
Payment of fees is made. In the above network, when the user has the charging processing means, the charging processing means shown in the fifth embodiment operates. Further, when both the provider and the user have the charging processing means, it is clear that the charging processing means shown in the sixth embodiment operates. From the above, it is apparent that similar charges can be made to other users and other information providers.

Next, a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described. When information (a signal requesting an image, image information, information regarding billing, etc.) is transmitted between a transmitting station and a receiving station via a transmission path, for example, 1. The third party intercepts the image information without paying the price. 2. A third party impersonates another receiving station to request and receive information. 3. After the receiving station receives the information, the billing information is falsified. 4. The receiving station forges the receipt information without paying the consideration. There is a risk of misconduct such as.

[0212] As measures against such fraud,
It is also possible to combine the billing processing means shown in the first to eighth embodiments or the system using the billing processing means with the following cipher means.

In this case, in FIG. 10, FIG. 12 or FIG. 14, the transmitting terminal device and the receiving terminal device may be provided with the following cipher means. Further, the encryption / decryption means may be assigned to the image data layer by layer, and the operation time of the encryption / decryption means and the information amount of the image processed by the encryption / decryption means may be used as one element for the charge calculation.

By the way, the encryption technique can be roughly classified into the following common key cryptosystem and public key cryptosystem. Common key cryptography and public key cryptography are described below.

First, the common key cryptosystem will be described. The common key cryptosystem is a cryptosystem that secretly shares the same cryptographic key between the sender and the receiver (also called secret key cryptosystem, symmetric cryptosystem, or conventional cryptosystem).

The common key cryptosystem can be divided into a block cipher in which a character string (block) having an appropriate length is encrypted with the same key and a stream cipher in which the key is changed for each character string or bit. . Further, the block ciphers include transposed ciphers in which the order of characters is replaced for encryption, and substitutable ciphers in which characters are replaced with other characters.

In this case, the correspondence table of transposition and substitution is the encryption key. As the above stream ciphers, there are known the Bisnel cipher using a multi-table, the Vernam cipher using a one-time disposable key, etc. (Details of each cipher are written by Ikeno and Koyama, "Modern Cryptography," IEICE, See Chapters 2 and 4 of 1986.).

[0218] Among the block ciphers, DES (Data Encryption) whose algorithm is open to the public is used.
Ion Standard) and FEAL (Fast)
data Encipherment ALgorit
hm) (for details, see "Cipher and Information Security" by Tsujii and Kasahara, Shokoido, Chapter 2 in 1990.) is widely used as a commercial cipher.

Public key cryptography is an encryption method in which the encryption key and the decryption key are different, and the encryption key is disclosed and the decryption key is kept secret. The features of the public key cryptography are as follows (1), (2),
As described in (3).

(1) Different from the encryption key and the decryption key, since the encryption key can be disclosed, it is not necessary to secretly distribute the encryption key, and the key distribution is easy.

(2) Since each user's encryption key is open to the public, each user need only secretly store his or her own decryption key.

(3) It is possible to realize an authentication function for the receiver to confirm that the sender of the sent communication text is not an impostor and that the communication text has not been tampered with. This function is also called a digital signature. The following methods have been proposed as typical methods.

RSA encryption, R encryption, W encryption, MI encryption,
MH encryption, GS encryption, CR encryption, M encryption, E encryption, T encryption, S encryption, L encryption, GMY encryption, GMR encryption, OSS
Encryption, OS encryption. (For details of each cipher, see "Modern Cryptography" by Ikeno and Koyama, Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, 1986., Chapters 5 to 8).

[0224]

As described above, according to the present invention, according to the present invention, a frame of MPEG data to be transmitted is set according to traffic on a transmission path, and an image fee is charged according to the contents of the set frame. Since this is done, it is possible to realize a billing system that makes use of the characteristics such as the type and quality of information and services, and it is possible to handle a variety of information and services.

Further, according to another feature of the present invention, it is possible to perform the charging process with a fee system that considers the amount of information of the image in addition to the content of the frame to be transmitted.

Further, according to another feature of the present invention, it becomes possible to perform charging corresponding to the hierarchical coding technique.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional configuration diagram showing a charging processing unit according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration example of a billing processing unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a charge table used by a charge processing unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a functional configuration diagram showing a billing processing unit according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration example of a billing processing unit according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a charge table used by a charge processing unit according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a functional configuration diagram showing a charging processing unit according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration example of a billing processing unit according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a cumulative charge table used by a billing processing unit according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an image transmission system according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the image transmission system according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an image transmission system according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the image transmission system of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an image transmission system according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the image transmission system of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a system according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a charging procedure in the system of the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a system according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a charging procedure in the system of the eighth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a frame structure of MPEG.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an outline of a format of MPEG-encoded image data.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 billing processing means 101 control section 102 traffic inspection section 103 transmission mode selection section 104 billing section 105 storage device 110 image transmission system

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An image transmission system for transmitting MPEG data via a transmission line, wherein a frame of MPEG data to be transmitted is set according to traffic on the transmission line, and a billing process is performed with a charge system according to the set frame. An image transmission system characterized by performing. 2. An image transmission system for transmitting MPEG data between a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal via a transmission line, comprising frame setting means for setting a frame of MPEG data to be transmitted according to traffic on the transmission line. A transmitting terminal including a receiving terminal provided with the charging terminal, a charging processing means for charging according to a predetermined charge system, and an image charge information storage means for storing charge information of an image used in the charging processing. An image transmission system comprising: 3. An image transmission system for transmitting MPEG data via a transmission line, comprising frame setting means for setting a frame of MPEG data to be transmitted according to traffic on the transmission line, and a frame of the MPEG data to be transmitted. An image transmission system comprising: a billing processing unit that performs billing processing according to a fee system according to the amount of information. 4. An image transmission system for transmitting MPEG data via a transmission line, wherein traffic inspection means for inspecting traffic on the transmission line and a frame of MPEG data to be transmitted according to traffic on the transmission line are set. Frame setting means, charging processing means for performing charging processing with a predetermined charge system, information amount measuring means for measuring the information amount of an image transmitted through the transmission path, and the charging processing described above. An image transmission system comprising: an image charge information storage means for storing charge information of an image to be used. 5. An image transmission system for transmitting MPEG data via a transmission line, wherein traffic inspection means for inspecting traffic on the transmission line and a frame of MPEG data to be transmitted according to traffic on the transmission line are set. Frame setting means, charging processing means for performing charging processing in a charging system according to the frame and information amount of the transmitted MPEG data, and an image charge for storing the charge information of the image used in the charging processing. An image transmission system comprising an information storage means. 6. A charge payment means for paying a charge for every fixed period is provided.
The image transmission system according to any one of 1. 7. The image transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the billing processing means is provided on the transmission side. 8. The image transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the billing processing means is provided on the receiving side. 9. The charging processing means is provided on both the transmitting side and the receiving side.
The image transmission system according to any one of 1. 10. An image transmission destination designating unit for designating an image transmission destination to an arbitrary image receiving device and requesting an image provider to transmit an image, and an image receiving device designated by the image transmission destination designating unit. An image transmission system comprising: an image transmitting means for transmitting an image; and an accounting processing means for performing processing so as to charge an addressee of the image or a user who has received the image. 11. The image transmission system according to claim 7, further comprising an encryption unit that at least encrypts or digitally signs the transmitted information.