JP2002092494A - Charging system using internet communication of pc game - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charging system using Internet communication of a PC game enabling a user to play the game only by the part which the user wants to use, with a credit through a network when the user enjoys the specified game. SOLUTION: A client terminal 1 transmits an ID and a password to an authentication server device 2, and when authenticated, sends the ID to a contents server device 3. The contents server device 3 issues one time ID. The client terminal requests a credit of specified game soft with one time ID. The contents server device 3 pays out the credit, carries out charging processing and stores it in a storage part 4. The user can play the game specified times on the client terminal 1 with the paid-out credit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paid game service via the Internet, and more specifically, each time a user uses a game, the user connects to a billing / authentication server and uses the game only for the credits for which credits have been distributed. The present invention relates to a charging method using Internet communication of a PC game that can be performed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When obtaining game software, an interface is required.
A method of downloading using a network such as a net is used. Payment for the downloaded game software is paid by a credit card or a collection agency of a telecommunications carrier. The company also pays for game software through a monthly membership system.

[0003]

The game software downloaded from the network is intended for games with relatively small files. The above-mentioned game software is based on the purchase of the game software or the monthly fee. Therefore, when a user wants to use it, there is no system that can be used only for what he wants to use. In particular, in the case of a large-capacity game of the number + MB using a lot of 3D / CG, only a package sale is possible, and there is no use / billing mechanism via the Internet.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a billing system using Internet communication of a PC game that allows a user to play only a game he or she wants to use by credit through a network when the user enjoys a predetermined game. .

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a billing system using Internet communication of a PC game according to the present invention, which comprises a game program, a credit requesting unit, a credit detecting unit, and a credit communication unit. A terminal device, an authentication server device for performing authentication of identity verification, a content server device for performing a credit billing process, and a network connecting the game terminal device, the authentication server device and the content server device, When the game terminal device accesses the authentication server device by the credit communication means and is authenticated, the content server device issues a one-time ID, and the game terminal device receives the one-time ID. When the credit requesting means The content server device issues a credit when receiving the credit request, and the game terminal device detects the credit by a credit detecting means, and the game terminal device detects the credit by the issued credit, and the game terminal device detects the credit by the issued credit. It is configured to execute a program. The game terminal device has credit subtraction means, and the issued credits are subtracted by executing the game, and the game is stopped when the subtracted value reaches a predetermined value.
The credits are configured so that a predetermined number of games can be played.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a PC according to the present invention.
It is the schematic which shows embodiment of the charging system using the internet communication of a game. The client terminal device (game terminal device) 1 is a terminal device operated by a user who plays a game. The user activates the client terminal device 1, accesses the URL of the authentication server device 2, and sends out an ID and a password for identity verification. When authenticating the transmitted ID and password, the authentication server device 2 sends only the ID to the content server device 3.

[0007] The content server device 3 has a one-time ID.
And responds to the authentication server device 2. The authentication server device 2 notifies the client terminal device 1 of the one-time ID. The client terminal device 1 requests the content server device 3 for a credit for a predetermined game software using the one-time ID. Here, the credit is defined as, for example, a unit capable of playing a game a predetermined number of times. The content server device 3 performs a billing process, stores the billing process in the storage unit 4, and executes the client terminal device 1.
Pay out credits to

The user can enjoy predetermined game software stored in a storage unit such as a CD-ROM or the like by the amount of credits by the above method. The game software is distributed to users by methods such as (1) downloading, (2) distributing a dedicated CD-ROM, and (3) PC bundle. Charge collection is I
Collected by SP agent, credit card, Internet prepaid card, collection agency of telecommunications carrier, etc.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining the details of the client terminal device. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing the configuration of a CD-ROM, and FIG. 2B is a block diagram of a circuit of the client terminal device. FIG. 2 shows only parts directly related to the present invention. The game software on the CD-ROM 10 supplied to the user includes a game program main body 10a, a credit detection program 10b for detecting credits sent from the content server device, a credit subtraction program 10c for subtracting paid-out credits, and receiving credits. And a credit request program 10e for requesting a credit.

The client terminal 1 comprises a client terminal 11, a keyboard 19, a mouse 20, and a monitor 12. The client terminal unit 11 includes a CD-ROM deck 10 for mounting a CD-ROM in which game software is stored, a memory 14 for reading the game software, a hard disk storing OS, application software, and data. 15. Modem for connecting to the Internet 16,
It comprises a graphic card 17 for performing image processing for sending a predetermined image to the monitor 12 and a CPU 13.

The CPU 13 includes a credit requesting unit 13
a, credit detecting means 13b, credit subtracting means 1
3c and the function of the credit communication means 13d. The credit requesting unit 13a uses the credit requesting program 10e, the credit detecting unit 13b uses the credit detecting program 10b, and the credit subtracting unit 13
c is realized by reading the credit subtraction program 10c, and the credit communication means 13d is realized by reading the credit communication program 10d.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams for explaining server devices connected via a network. FIG. 3A is a block diagram of an authentication server device, and FIG. 3B is a block diagram of a content server device. FIG. 3 shows only parts directly related to the present invention. The authentication server device 2 includes a communication unit 21 and a CPU 2
3 and an authentication unit 22. The communication unit 21 is connected to a client terminal device or a content server device via the Internet, and exchanges data. CP
The U23 controls the operation of controlling the authentication server device, and when the ID and the password are sent from the client terminal device, the U23 controls the authentication unit 22 for identity verification.

The content server device 3 includes a communication unit 2
4, a CPU 26 and a billing processing storage unit 25. The communication unit 24 connects to a client terminal device or an authentication server device via the Internet to exchange data. The CPU 26 controls an operation of controlling the content server device, and when receiving an ID from the authentication server device 2, performs a credit payout and a charging process thereof. The accounting processing storage unit 25 stores credit payout data for each user.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the charging system using the Internet communication of the PC game according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a game operation by a credit of the client terminal device. Hereinafter, the charging of the credit for the game and the game processing will be described with reference to FIGS. The client terminal unit 11 is activated, and the credit communication unit 13d activates the credit communication module (step (hereinafter, “S”).
401). The user has a keyboard 19 and a mouse 2
When the authentication information (ID and password) is input by using 0 (S402), the credit communication unit 13d sets the modem 1
6 to access the authentication server device 2 on the Internet (S403).

The authentication server device 2 is connected to the client device 1 via the communication means 21, and the CPU 23 performs an authentication process for the ID and password sent from the client device 1. The authentication is performed by comparing the authentication information of the user registered in the authentication unit 22 in advance with the sent authentication information (S404). As a result of the authentication, if the identity cannot be confirmed, the process shifts to S402 to notify that the authentication information should be input again. As a result of the authentication, if the identity can be confirmed, the CPU 23 accesses the content server 3 and
Send D.

The content server device 3 includes a communication unit 24
The CPU 26 receives the ID and issues a one-time ID, and the authentication server device 2 receives the ID and notifies the client terminal device 1 of the one-time ID (S405). In response to this, the client terminal device 1 requests the credit requesting means 13a to pay out a credit of predetermined software.
The content server device 3 performs a credit payout process by the CPU 26 (S406). Then, the credit is paid out to the client terminal device 1 and the charging process storage unit 25 is charged for the user by paying out the credit (S407).

The client terminal device 1 receives the credit payout notice by the credit detecting means 13b (S408), stores the paid out credit in the memory 14 (S409), and ends the communication (S410).
In FIG. 5, when the user starts the game, an idle menu is displayed (S501, S502). The user selects a game start menu (S503).
And the remaining number N for credit confirmation is displayed, and the CPU
13 displays a screen for asking the user whether to start credit communication when the remaining number N is 0 (S).
504, S505).

If the user does not start communication, S50
Return to 2. When the start of the credit communication is confirmed, the communication is started, and the credit is paid and the communication is terminated (S5).
06, S507). As described above, when the credit is paid out, or when the remaining credit number N is 0 or more in S504, a route selection screen (for example, in a train driving game) is displayed (S508). This allows the user to start the game (S5
09). When the user starts the game, the credit subtracting means 13c counts down one from the remaining credit number N (S510). And if the game is over,
It returns to S502.

[0019]

As described above, the present invention relates to a game terminal having a game program, a credit requesting unit, a credit detecting unit, and a credit communicating unit, an authentication server device for performing authentication of identity verification, and a credit server. A content server device that performs a billing process for
A network connecting the game terminal device, the authentication server device and the content server device,
When the game terminal device accesses the authentication server device by the credit communication means and is authenticated, the content server device issues a one-time ID, and when the game terminal device receives the one-time ID, the credit request means A credit is requested from the content server device, and the content server device issues a credit when receiving the credit request, and the game terminal device detects the credit by the credit detecting means and executes the game program for the issued credit. It is configured as follows. Therefore, each time the user uses the game, the user can connect to the billing / authentication server and use the game only for the credits to which the credits have been distributed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a charging system using Internet communication of a PC game according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining the details of a client terminal device, wherein FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a configuration of a CD-ROM, and FIG. 2B is a block diagram of a circuit of the client terminal device;

3A and 3B are diagrams for explaining a server device connected via a network, wherein FIG. 3A is a block diagram of an authentication server device,
(B) is a block diagram of a content server device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of a charging method using Internet communication of a PC game according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a credit-based game operation of the client terminal device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Client terminal device (game terminal device) 2 ... Authentication server device 3 ... Content server device 4 ... Storage part 10 ... CD-ROM deck 11 ... Client terminal device part 12 ... Monitor 13,23,26 ... CPU 14 ... Memory 15 ... Hard disk 16 ... Modem 17 ... Graphic card 18 ... Bus 19 ... Keyboard 20 ... Mouse 21, 24 ... Communication means 25 ... Charge processing storage unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 13/00 530 G06F 9/06 660C (72) Inventor Shingo Izuda 2-chome, Hirakawacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. 3 Taito Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuta Ito 2-3-3 Hirakawacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) 2C001 BA02 BD07 CA02 CB08 CC02 5B049 BB11 CC05 CC36 GG00 5B076 BB06 FB00 FC10

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A game terminal device having a game program body, a credit requesting unit, a credit detecting unit, and a credit communicating unit, an authentication server device for performing authentication of identity verification, a content server device for performing a charging process for credits, A network connecting the game terminal device, the authentication server device and the content server device, wherein the game terminal device accesses the authentication server device by the credit communication means and is authenticated;
The content server device issues a one-time ID, and when receiving the one-time ID, the game terminal device requests the content server device for a credit by the credit requesting means. The content server device requests the credit request. PC game, wherein the game terminal device is configured to detect a credit by a credit detecting means and execute the game program for the issued credit. Billing method using Internet communication. 2. The game terminal device has credit subtraction means, wherein the issued credits are subtracted by executing the game, and the game is stopped when the subtracted value reaches a predetermined value. The billing method using Internet communication of the PC game according to claim 1. 3. The billing method according to claim 1, wherein the credit can be played a predetermined number of games.