JPH09231277A - Charging device, communication device, and communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adequately charge a user while protecting the privacy of the user and facilitating management and a procedure as to a multimedia network which transmits hierarchically ciphered information. SOLUTION: At a user terminal, the user inserts cash or cash information PPC such as a prepaid card into a reception slot 13 to pay charge. A decision part 14 collates the charge, indicated by information characteristic data PID attached to provided information sent from an information provider P through the network and additional data TID, with the paid cash information PPC to decide whether or not the provided information PP can be used. According to the usable/unusable decision result, an information processing part 12 processes the provided information PP and provides it for the user as a video signal and an audio signal.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a charging device, a communication device and a communication system suitable for use in a multimedia network for transmitting information such as moving image data, still image data, voice data, computer data, computer programs and the like. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, maintenance of optical fiber networks in trunk communication networks, spread of cable television systems,
With the practical use of satellite communication, the spread of local area networks, etc., information providers provide various information to users using such communication networks, and collect fees according to the content and amount of the information. The so-called information service industry is increasing. In such a service, it is important to appropriately charge the user for the provided information. However, in reality, protection of information is incomplete,
Unauthorized use of programs and video (including audio) information has become a problem. In order to prevent this unauthorized use, a copy protection function has been added to the past, or the hardware machine number assigned to a computer etc. is used, and the software machine number corresponding to that machine number is attached to the software itself, and at the time of program execution, Techniques such as matching two machine numbers are taken. However, the copy protection function is inconvenient for backup and the like, and the machine number verification is inconvenient for machine number management and sales, so it is not very practical.

On the other hand, Ryoichi Mori proposed a concept of "super-distribution" aimed at protecting the rights of software rights holders (hereinafter referred to as information providers).
No. 218, JP-A-60-191322, JP-A-64-68835, JP-A-02-44447 and JP-A-04-64129. FIG. 20 is a conceptual diagram of "super distribution" disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 04-64129. The information provider P determines whether or not to use the software PPi (or PPj) as the provided information created by the information provider P by using the software unique data PI.
Di (or PIDj) and the condition for each USERID of the user terminal determine in the CHECK section, and if available, record the usage history of the provided information in the SH section, and the information provider P provides the provided information based on the history. Request information usage fees. The SSU is a software service unit including the above means.

[0004]

However, this "super distribution" has the following problems. (1) "Super-distribution" is determined by the user-specific data such as USERID to determine whether the user is authorized by the information provider. Therefore, at least user-specific data is required to realize "super-distribution". Storage means is required. In such a system, the user needs to apply to the information provider to use the information in advance, obtain his USERID, etc., and register it as user-specific data. It is complicated to manage such a user application procedure and many different user-specific data such as USERID.

(2) "Super-distribution" is to prevent "unauthorized use" of information, or to realize "super-distribution" in order for the information provider to grasp the usage status of the provided information. It is necessary to provide a storage means, and the information provider needs to bill the user based on the history.
In "super distribution", this usage history is necessary because information is treated as rental rather than purchase, but such a method protects the privacy of the user regarding what information the user has used. Can not do it.

(3) "Super distribution" is a means and system for correctly grasping the usage state of the provided information, that is, for correctly grasping the usage fee, but does not include means or system for payment of the fee. . Therefore, in "super distribution", after the information provider knows the usage state of the provided information, it is necessary to charge and collect the fee by other means.

(4) "Super-distribution" allows the information provider to charge for the use of his / her provided information by using the software unique data. If the provided information is a computer program that was originally intended for "super distribution" and has a small capacity, but it is worthwhile to use it, that is all that is needed, but it seems to be aimed at by recent multimedia. In the case of very large information such as a real-time moving image, the charge for transmission as well as the charge for use has a large proportion. However, "super distribution" does not support charges related to network line usage fees and multimedia CPU and terminal usage fees. Therefore, there is a need for a system that can also charge a provider other than an information provider such as a transmission line provider or a terminal provider related to a multimedia network.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to realize a charging system that solves the problems (1) to (4) described above.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, at least one of information-specific data specific to input hierarchically-coded additional information and auxiliary data relating to hierarchical information corresponding to the additional information is provided. A determination means is provided for determining whether or not the provided information can be used, based on one and the monetary information paid by the user.

In the communication device according to the second aspect of the present invention, at least one of information peculiar data peculiar to the inputted hierarchically encoded additional information and auxiliary data relating to the hierarchical information for the above-mentioned additional information, and a user There is provided a judging means for judging whether or not the provided information can be used based on the paid money information, and an information processing means for processing the provided information according to the judgment result of the judging means and giving it to the user.

A communication system according to a third aspect of the present invention is a communication device for an information provider for transmitting hierarchically encoded additional information, information specific data specific to the input additional information, and hierarchical information for the additional information. A charging device having a determining means for determining whether or not to use the provided information based on at least one of the attached data regarding the information and the monetary information paid by the user; and the provided information according to the determination result of the determining means. There is provided a user communication device having an information processing means for processing the information and giving it to the user, and a network connecting the above devices.

[0012]

According to the billing device of the present invention, the judgment means compares the monetary information paid by the user of the provided information with at least one of the information peculiar data and the auxiliary data relating to the hierarchy information, Billing is performed by determining whether the provided information can be used.

According to the communication device of the invention of claim 2,
The determination means compares the monetary information paid by the user of the provided information with at least one of the information-specific data and the auxiliary data related to the hierarchy information to determine whether or not the provided information can be used. If it is determined, the information processing means can process the provided information and deliver it to the user.

According to the communication system of the third aspect of the present invention, the determination means in the charging device stores the money information paid by the user of the provided information and at least one of the information specific data and the auxiliary data related to the hierarchy information. By comparing, it is determined whether or not the provided information can be used, and if it is determined that the provided information can be used, the information processing means in the user communication device processes the provided information sent from the information provider communication device through the network. And deliver it to the user.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, P is an information provider, and 10 is a user terminal used by a user who receives information provided by the information provider P through a network. PP (PPi, PPj) is PID (PID (PID), which is information provided by the information provider P as paid information provided to the user.
i, PIDj) is information peculiar data peculiar to the provision information PP and indicates, for example, a charge. The PPC is money information to be inserted into the user terminal 10, and cash or a card is used as described later.

In the user terminal 10, 11 is a charging unit for charging the user, 12 is a signal OK from the charging unit 11,
An information processing unit that processes the provided information PP based on NG and delivers a video signal, an audio signal, and the like to the user. Billing unit 11
In, 13 is a receiving port for receiving the monetary information PPC, 1
4 is information peculiar data PID and received money information PPC
A determination unit that determines whether or not the provided information PP can be used based on the above, and a display unit 15 that displays necessary information.

Next, the operation will be described. Information provider P
Provides the provided information PP as paid information including the information unique data PID. The user terminal 10 is configured to always pass through the billing unit 11 when using the provided information PP, and the billing unit 11 has the money information PP.
There is a C receptacle 13. When a request for using the provided information PP is made, the availability determination unit 14 checks the availability of the provided information PP based on at least a part of the information of the PID and PPC. For example, it is a check whether the usage fee indicated by the PID is within the money information PPC. Whether or not the use is OK (NG) is notified to the information processing unit 12, and if the use is OK, the information processing unit 12 performs processing so that the provided information PP can be used. PID and PP at this time
Information on C (such as the usage fee of the provision information PP and the balance of PPC) is displayed on the display unit 15. The display unit 15 can also show the availability determination result by the determination unit 14.

The money information PPC in the present invention may be actual money, that is, cash, or a prepaid card such as a telephone card. Further, it may be electronic information equivalent to money stored in a floppy disk, an IC card, PCMCIA, or the like.

In the present invention, instead of the user-specific data USERID for each user, the monetary information P that does not exist for the user.
Whether or not the provided information PP can be used is determined by the PC.
Therefore, the user does not need to perform the application procedure for receiving the user-specific data, only has the monetary information PPC equivalent to the actual monetary amount, that is, pays only the information to be used, which is natural and It's simple. This eliminates the need to manage a lot of user-specific information, and solves the problem (1).

In the present invention, since the user does not have the user-specific data, the user does not know the privacy of what information he has used. It seems that the right of the information provider P is not protected, but it is enough for the information provider P as long as the fee is paid according to the frequency of use of the information provided by the information provider P. There is no need to know the privacy of the user as to which information the user used.

In the present invention, there is no use history storing means for which user having which USERID used which information PP, but the use frequency storing means or the currently provided information indicating which provided information is used and how many times. It is possible to provide a use notification means for notifying that the user is using the service. FIG.
In the above, the usage frequency information is notified to the information provider P by the route of the dotted line. However, specific usage frequency storage means or usage notification means are described in the second to sixth
Will be described in detail in the embodiment. From the above, the problem (2) of protecting the privacy of the user is also solved.

In the present invention, since PPC is information equivalent to money, using PPC itself corresponds to payment of charges. This solves the problem (3). Specific methods of obtaining and collecting PPCs and methods of distributing fees are shown in the second to sixth embodiments in connection with the problem (2).

Further, regarding the problem of the above (4), P
In addition to the ID, this can be solved by attaching data set by a transmission path provider, a terminal provider, or the like regarding the use of the transmission path or terminal called TID to the provided information. This TID can formally be included in the PID. This TI
A specific example of solving the problem (4) regarding D will be described in detail in the ninth and subsequent embodiments.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 2 shows a case where PPC is actual money. At this time, the PPC socket 13
Is the entrance for coins and bills, and the user must first use this PPC
When a certain amount of money is put in the receiving port 13 of the user and the amount of money exceeds the fee shown in the PID, the determination unit 14 determines that the provided information PP
Allow the use of. In addition, the charging unit 11 displays the usage charge of the provided information PP on the display unit 15, the user inputs money corresponding to the usage fee into the receptacle 13 of the PPC, and the determination unit 14 uses the provided information PP based on it. Judge whether or not.

When the charge is updated according to the time, it may be displayed to that effect and an additional charge may be input accordingly. However, the entered amount is the coin box 16
And is collected by the information provider P or some institution that collects the fee. At this time, the usage frequency of each provided information PP is recorded / collected in the counter 17, and the fee of the coin box 16 is distributed to each information provider P according to the usage frequency. The counter 16 can be omitted when the frequency of use is not necessary because there is only one provision information PP.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 3 shows a case where the PPC is a prepaid card such as a telephone card. The user inserts the prepaid card into the receptacle 13 of the PPC, and the judging unit 14 judges whether or not the amount of money described in the card is larger than the usage fee (the amount of money may be displayed) indicated in the PID. If the number is large, use of PP is permitted. In this case, the determining unit 14 and the receiving port 13 of the PPC are configured so that the PP usage fee can be continuously used even if the PP usage fee is updated depending on the time, as long as it is within the prepaid card fee. If the PPC receptacle has a structure in which a prepaid card can be additionally inserted, it can be used for a longer period of time. Such a prepaid card can be easily obtained anywhere as long as it is in a sales form marketed by many stores like the current telephone card. In this case, the manufacturer of the prepaid card becomes the charge distributor 18, and the information provider P receives the distribution of the charge according to the frequency of use of the provided information PP by registering with the charge distributor 18. The above-mentioned store is included in the charge distributor 18.

The charge distribution according to the frequency of use is realized by the charging unit 11 using the communication I / F 19 to notify the charge distributor 18 of the current use information. This usage notification is configured to be output only when the charging unit 11 updates the amount of the prepaid card.
When the provided information PP is also obtained by communication, this communication I / F 19 can be shared. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the charge distributor 18, the information provider, and the terminal devices of the user are connected to the network, and the charge distributor 18 pays the charge according to the notification. Distribute to.

If the communication I / F 19 is not provided,
There is also a method of changing the type of prepaid card according to the information used. At this time, the determination unit 14 performs a process of checking the type of prepaid card according to the information,
Whether or not to use it is also determined. Further, the charging unit 11 has means for recording a use record of the provided information PP on a prepaid card, and the charge distributor 18 collects the prepaid card, whereby the charge can be distributed according to the frequency of use. . At this time, in order to promote the collection of the prepaid card, in the case of exchanging the prepaid card, only the fee for the monetary information is required. It may be added to the sales form.
However, the charges corresponding to the usage records that cannot be collected may be distributed at a ratio according to the usage records that can be collected.

[Fourth Embodiment] FIGS. 5 and 6 show the case where the PPC is a floppy disk or an easily rewritable electric and / or magnetic device. At this time, the monetary information stored in the PPC is data guaranteed by a bank or another financial institution, or special data that can be added only by the charge distributor 18 including a store. The user has a PPC in the PPC socket 13.
Insert. The billing unit 11 reads out the monetary information from the PPC, and if the amount is more than the fee shown in the PID (the amount may be displayed), the billing unit 11 can charge the PPC for the usage fee. Permits the use of PP. In this case, even if the PP usage fee is updated according to time, the usage fee within the PPC entry fee is continuously available.

Since the monetary information in this case is electronic, the monetary information can be input / output by communication with the charge distributor 18 through the communication I / F 19 by a predetermined procedure. At this time, unlike the first and second embodiments, the user does not directly pay the actual money to the charge distributor 18, so it is necessary to make a contract with the user to guarantee the money payment of the user. It is a bank or other financial institution (hereinafter, charge resetter 20 in FIGS. 5 and 6). Furthermore, regarding the notification of the usage information, the communication I / I is also used as in the third embodiment.
By using F19 to inform the charge distributor 18 of the current usage information, it becomes possible to distribute charges according to the frequency of use. In this case, the usage fee can be directly sent to the fee distributor 18 or the information provider P by electronic monetary information.

Specifically, electronic money information input / output can be realized by the following communication processing. However, it is assumed that the billing unit 11 has an encryption / authentication processing unit as described later, and has a unit for safely managing a time stamp indicated by TA or the like described later. This is because the PPC is a medium such as a floppy disk that can be easily rewritten, so there is a possibility that fraud may be made by copying the monetary information. To prevent this, the monetary information can be authenticated and the time stamp This is to prevent fraud such as copying of monetary information.

Here, in each terminal in FIG. 6, the user is A, the information provider is B, the charge distributor is C, and the charge resetter is D. It is assumed that the other party knows a public key whose signature can be inspected (for example, the private key of A is sA and the public key is pA). Consider a case where A uses the provided information Pi of B.
However, the processing result of the key Y of X is represented by {X} ^ Y,
Each process of the user and the management of the key and the stamp will be described by assuming that the security of the charging unit 11 is guaranteed or by each person's memory or record.

[Financial Information Acquisition Processing] (1) A attaches a request for input of financial information of a yen (the unit of currency is not limited to yen) to his / her own registration information iA (account number, credit number, etc.) It is signed with the private key sA and sent to C. MA = {A, {A, iA, a, TA} ^ sA} (2) C inspects the signature of MA with A's public key pA, iA
Use D to request a yen portion of D, and if it is accepted, the monetary information a is signed every C yen or every basic unit e (or 100 yen if the information is priced in 100 yen units) C's signature Sign with sC, the key, and send the next message to A. However, they are given different time stamps TCi. MC = Σ {TA, {C, e, TCi} ^ sC} ^ pA (3) A decrypts each MC with pA, and further inspects the signature with the public key pC of C corresponding to sC, and the inspection result If is correct, record {C, a, TCi} ^ sC in PPC.
However, TA and TCi are time stamps, and messages with the same time stamp from the same sender are illegal requests. Further, TA and TCi need not be time stamps as long as they are serial numbers or random numbers that do not coincide with each other or are small in number.

[Usage Information Notification Processing] (1) When A wants to use the information Pi, if the monetary information in the PPC of A is larger than the usage fee indicated by PDIi, the billing unit 11 permits the usage of Pi. (2) When A finishes using Pi, or while A is in use, the charging unit 11 deletes the required usage fee from the money information of the PPC. (3) At this time, A sends the next usage notification MB to C. However, the deleted usage fee is b. MB = {A, B, {B, b, TB} ^ sA} (4) C inspects this message and, when correct, pays b yen as a distribution to B.

In the above, the public key cryptography is used as the cryptographic method between C and each user in order to simplify the processing, but it is clear that common key cryptography may be used if the keys are shared in advance. is there. Also, the validity period of each message can be determined by the time from the time stamp. In the above, the order of arrangement in the message is arbitrary, and the user identifiers and time stamps indicated by A, B, etc. may not be necessary. Further, the procedure of the monetary information acquisition process and the usage information notification process described above is one example, and all processes that perform the charging process without using the user-specific data as electronic information as monetary information are included in the present invention. .

When the communication I / F 19 is not provided, the user is asked to enter the money information to be stored in the PPC at the charge distributor 18 such as a store. Also, the charging unit 11
By recording the use record of the provided information such as the MB in the PPC, and collecting the use record by the replenisher when the PPC is replenished / input the money information at the charge distributor 18 such as a store. , It is possible to distribute charges according to the frequency of use. Since such electronic monetary information is special data that can be processed only by the charge distributor 18, as described above, a user who does not have the communication I / F 19 can use the PPC.
Since it is always necessary to use a charge distributor such as a store in order to use, the usage record can be collected without fail and the charge can be distributed according to the usage frequency.

[Fifth Embodiment] In the case where the PPC is an electronic card such as an IC card or PCMCIA,
As shown in FIG. At this time, the monetary information stored in the PPC is data guaranteed by a bank or another financial institution, or special data that can be added only by the charge distributor 18 including a store. The user inserts the PPC into the receptacle 13 of the PPC, and makes the PPC operable by a predetermined procedure (inspection of the personal identification number, etc.).
The billing unit 11 reads out the monetary information from the PPC, and if the amount is more than the fee shown in the PID (the amount may be displayed), the billing unit 11 can charge the PPC for the usage fee. Permits the use of PP. in this case,
Even if the usage fee of PP is updated by time, P
It is constructed so that it can be continuously used within the stated charge of the PC.

Since the monetary information in this case is electronic information, the monetary information can be input / output by communication with the charge distributor 18 through the communication I / F 19 by a predetermined procedure. At this time, unlike the first and second embodiments, the user does not directly pay the actual money to the charge distributor 18, so it is necessary to make a contract with the user to guarantee the money payment of the user. It is a bank or other financial institution (hereinafter, the charge resetter 20 in FIG. 7). Further, regarding the notification of the usage information, the communication I / F 19 is also used as in the third embodiment.
By using the to notify the current usage information to the charge distributor 18, the charge can be distributed according to the frequency of use. In this case, the usage fee can be directly sent to the fee distributor 18 or the information provider P by electronic monetary information.

Specifically, electronic money information input / output can be realized by the following communication processing. However, an electronic card used as a PPC in consideration of safety regarding communication and processing has a security function such as owner confirmation by a personal identification number, access control to a data memory according to access conditions, and encryption by an encryption method described later. -It is assumed that authentication can be performed. At this time, it is assumed that the secret key used for the encryption processing or the authentication processing is written in the memory area whose access is controlled as described above, and that only a person who satisfies the access condition (card issuer, charge distributor, etc.) can access it. It is also assumed that the following billing operation can be changed only by the card issuer or charge distributor.

It is assumed that the user, the information provider, the charge distributor, and the charge resetter are connected as a terminal device via a network as shown in FIG. Here, the user is A, the information provider is B, the fee distributor is C, and the fee advancer is D, and C shares a secret key for encrypted communication with each user (for example, A Let sA be the secret key between C and sB be the secret key between B and C.)
C is open to the public. The case where A uses the provided information Pi of B will be considered below. However, the key Y of plaintext X
It is assumed that the ciphertext by is represented by {X} ^ Y, and that each processing of the user is performed in the PPC having the security function as described above.

[Financial Information Acquisition Process] (1) A requests C to input monetary information for a yen (the unit of currency is not limited to yen) to D by registering own information iA (account number or credit number). Etc.) and send to C. MA = {A, {A, iA, a, TA} ^ sA} (2) C decrypts the encrypted part of MA with sA, which is shared with A, and uses iA to bill D for a yen. If it is accepted, the monetary information a is signed with sC, which is C's signature key, and the next message is sent to A. MC = {TA, {C, a, TC} ^ sC} ^ sA (3) A decrypts MC with pA and further inspects the signature with C's public key pC corresponding to sC, and the inspection result is correct Only the PPC of A adds the monetary information for a yen. However, TA and TC are time stamps, and messages with the same time stamp from the same sender are illegal requests. Further, TA and TC do not have to be time stamps as long as they are serial numbers or random numbers that do not coincidentally or have few coincidences.

[Usage Information Notification Processing] (1) When A wants to use the information Pi, if the monetary information in the PPC of A is larger than the usage fee indicated by PDIi, the billing unit 11 permits the usage of Pi. (2) When A finishes using Pi or during use, billing unit 11 deducts the required usage fee from the money information of PPC, and writes the result in PPC. (3) At this time, A sends the next usage notice to C. However, the usage fee deducted is b. MB = {A, {A, B, b, TB} ^ sA} (4) When C decodes this message and is correct, it pays b yen as a distribution to B.

Next, when the information between A and B is also exchanged by cryptographic communication, the following processing may be performed between the above-mentioned monetary information acquisition processing and usage information notification processing. However, it is assumed that C shares the secret key with the information provider.

[Information Utilization Processing] (1) A sends the following message to C in order to request C to generate a conversation key with B. MA '= {A, B, TA'} (2) C generates the conversation key CK and sends the next message to A. MC '= {{TC', A, CK} ^ sB, TA ', B,
CK} ^ sA (3) A decodes MC 'with sA, {TC', A, C
Send K} ^ sB to B. (4) B decrypts the received message with sB, and the conversation key CK
The information encrypted by is sent to A. (5) A decrypts the encrypted information with the conversation key CK.

In the above, the common key cryptography is used as the cryptographic method between C and each user in order to simplify the processing, but it is clear that public key cryptography may be used as in the previous embodiment. is there. Also, the validity period of each message can be determined by the time from the time stamp. In the above, the order of arrangement in the message is arbitrary, and the user identifiers and time stamps indicated by A, B, etc. may not be necessary. Further, the procedure of the monetary information acquisition process and the usage information notification process described above is one example, and all processes that perform the charging process without using the user-specific data as electronic information as monetary information are included in the present invention. .

When the communication I / F is not provided, the user is asked to input the monetary information to be stored in the PPC at a charge distributor such as a store. In addition, the billing unit records a use record of the provided information on the PPC, and when the PPC collects and uses the PPC at the charge distributor such as the store, the replenisher collects the use record to use. Charges can be distributed according to frequency. Since such electronic monetary information is special data that can be processed only by the charge distributor as described above, a user who does not have a communication I / F must always use a PPC in order to use the PPC to distribute the charge. Since it is necessary to go through the person, it is possible to collect the usage record without fail and to distribute the charge according to the usage frequency.

[Sixth Embodiment] The fifth embodiment is the fifth embodiment.
As in the above embodiment, electronic information is used as monetary information (see FIG. 9), and a charging system that does not require a charge distributor is shown. Figure 10 shows the users, information providers, and charge resetters.
It is assumed that they are connected by a network like. Further, it is assumed that the electronic card used as the PPC can perform owner confirmation by a personal identification number as a security function, access control to a data memory by an access condition, and encryption / authentication by an encryption method as described later. At this time, it is assumed that the secret key used for the encryption process or the authentication process is written in the memory area whose access is controlled as described above. It is also assumed that the following billing operation can be changed only by the card issuer or charge distributor.

The user is A, the information provider is B, and the fee advancer is D, each secretly holding a private key that can be signed, and the communication partner knows a public key that can verify the signature ( For example, the secret key of A is sA and the public key is pA). Consider a case where A uses the provided information Pi of B.
However, the processing result of the key Y of X is represented by {X} ^ Y,
It is assumed that each processing of the user is performed in the PPC having the security function as described above.

[Financial Information Acquisition Processing] (1) A attaches a request for input of financial information of a yen (the unit of currency is not limited to yen) to his / her own registration information iA (account number, credit number, etc.) It is signed with the private key sA and sent to D. MA = {A, {A, iA, a, TA} ^ sA} (2) D inspects MA's signature with A and public key pA,
Is correct and A can pay a yen, the money information a
Sign with D and send the next message to A. MD = {TA, {D, a, TD} ^ sD} ^ sA (3) A inspects MD with pA, further inspects the signature with D's public key pD corresponding to sD, and the inspection result is correct Only the PPC of A adds the monetary information for a yen. However, TA and TD are time stamps, and messages with the same time stamp from the same sender are illegal requests. Also, TA and TD need not be time stamps as long as they are serial numbers or random numbers that do not coincide with each other or are few.

[Usage Information Notification Processing] (1) When A wants to use the information Pi, if the monetary information in the PPC of A is larger than the usage fee indicated by PIDi, the billing unit permits the usage of Pi. (2) When A finishes using the Pi or during use, the billing unit deducts the required usage fee from the money information of the PPC, and writes the result in the PPC. (3) At this time, A sends the next usage notification MB to B. However, the usage fee deducted is b. MB = {A, B, {B, b, TB} ^ sA} (4) When B verifies the signature and is correct, A's signature {B,
b, TB} ^ sA is shown in D, and the fee of b yen is received.

Next, when the information between A and B is also exchanged by cryptographic communication, the public key of the other party can directly perform the cryptographic communication by the public key, but when the amount of information is large, the common key is It is also possible to carry out encrypted communication by encryption.
In this case, it is assumed that the common key encryption means is shared between each user and the information provider. However, in (1) and (2), A and B may be reversed.

[Information Utilization Processing] (1) A encrypts the common key CK with B with the public key pB of B and sends it. MA '= {A, B, CK, TA'} ^ pB (2) B decodes the received message with sB. (3) B sends common key encrypted information with common key CK to A. (4) A decrypts the common key encryption information with the common key CK.

In the above, in order to simplify the process, the encryption method of D, each user, and the information provider is the public key encryption, but it is obvious that the common key encryption as described above may be used. is there. Also, the validity period of each message can be determined by the time from the time stamp. In the above, the order of arrangement in the message is arbitrary, and the user identifiers and time stamps indicated by A, B, etc. may not be necessary. In addition, the above monetary information acquisition process,
The procedure of the usage information notification processing is one example, and any processing that performs the charging processing without using the user unique data as electronic information as financial information is included in the present invention.

[Other Embodiments] [Seventh Embodiment] According to the charging system using actual money shown in the second embodiment, an information provider or a charge distributor installs a facility in which a terminal is installed. It is possible to realize a billing system in which many people such as public telephones, arcades, coffee shops, and libraries are open and can freely use the above installed terminals by paying money. According to the charging system using the prepaid card shown in the third embodiment, the information provider widely distributes the provided information through CD-ROM, personal computer communication, etc., and an organization such as the Copyright Association for the information acts as the charge distributor. It is possible to realize a billing system in which a prepaid card is produced and sold, the user purchases the prepaid card through a store, and the provided information is used at home or other terminals.

By the charging system using the floppy disk shown in the fourth embodiment, no special socket is required for the PPC in the third embodiment (usually, the user terminal receives the floppy disk socket). In addition, a store can be omitted by exchanging financial information through communication, and by performing software encryption / authentication processing, a charging system that can be easily realized in the current network can be configured. The charging system using the electronic card such as the IC card or PCMCIA shown in the fifth embodiment can realize the charging system in which the charging system using the fourth embodiment is more secure.

By the charging system shown in the sixth embodiment, it is possible to realize a charging system that does not require a charge distributor, that is, a user and an information provider can make a direct transaction through a charge advancer. Further, it is obvious that this billing system and billing system can be applied to electronic cash that treats certain special data that is expected to be put to practical use in the same way as money. The present invention also includes various charging systems that combine the above-described charging methods and charging systems.

[Eighth Embodiment] At present, an information provider encrypts a large amount of information with different keys and stores it in a CD-ROM or the like, and the CD-ROM itself as a medium is sold at a low price through a store, 2. Description of the Related Art A charging method is known in which an information provider charges a usage fee of information when an information provider notifies the user of an encryption key of designated information in response to a request from the user. However, with this method, there is a problem in that a retailer who sells the CD-ROM can obtain the sales profit as a medium but cannot obtain the profit for selling the usage information. Therefore, the above-described problem can be solved by using the PPC charging method shown in the present invention for purchasing information instead of using rental information. That is, the user purchases the CDROM at the store and simultaneously purchases the PP such as the prepaid card.
The information provider collects the usage fee from the store that sold the prepaid card by purchasing C and designating the payment with the prepaid card when knowing the encryption key through communication (telephone etc.) with the information provider. . As a result, because the flow of the information usage fee also passes through the retail store, the retail store can also obtain a profit for using the information. However, if the billing unit inspects the monetary information of the PPC and the information can be used, the billing unit can only use the P when decrypting the encryption for the information.
Configure to charge from PC. Furthermore, this PP
If C is not used, it can be exchanged for money. At this time,
A PPC is produced by each information provider and sold through a CD-
Sold in the same way as ROM. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the charge distributor is not required.

Further, in the third embodiment, the use information notification process can be made safe by making the use information notification process as follows. However,
The prepaid card has an identification number i for each prepaid card.
P and the private key sP corresponding to it are registered. [Usage Information Notification Processing] (1) If the monetary information in the PPC of A is larger than the usage fee indicated by PDIi, the determination unit permits the usage of the information Pi. (2) When A finishes using Pi or during use, the determination unit deducts the required usage fee from the money information of PPC, and writes the result in PPC. (3) At this time, the determination unit sends the next usage notification to C. However, the usage fee for B is b. MB = {iP, {B, b, iP, TB} ^ sP} (4) C decrypts MB with the registered private key sP, and pays b yen as a distribution to B when this message is correct. As a result, no usage notification can be generated by anyone other than those who know the iP and sP.

[Ninth Embodiment] In a multimedia network, as shown in FIG. 11, in addition to the information provider P, the transmission path provider 21 which is the network itself and the terminal are required to have high quality. So terminal provider 22
Is expected to exist. Therefore, the user has to pay a fee for using the information as well as the information. Therefore, they may be processed by different charging systems, but it is more convenient if they are processed by one charging system, and finer charging is possible if they are charged by the information unit used.

Therefore, the present embodiment shows a charging system in which the charge is distributed to all providers related to the network in information units. The charging methods shown in the first to eighth embodiments are charged based on the PID set by the information provider and the PPC which is money information, and the charged money is directly or according to the usage, the charge distributor. Through the information provider. Therefore, each provider 21, such as a transmission line and a terminal,
If 22 can attach the information corresponding to the PID to the provided information, the fee can be properly distributed to each provider including the information provider by the same method.

Next, with reference to FIG. 12, description will be given of a method for realizing the charging to all providers. In FIG. 12, P is an information provider, PPi (or PPj) is provision information as paid information provided by P, PIDi (or PI).
Dj) is information peculiar data peculiar to PPi, PPC is monetary information, and 14 is a determination unit of availability, which is the same as the above description. Here, TIDi (or TIDj) is ancillary data related to the use of the transmission path and the terminal set by the transmission path provider 21 and the terminal provider 22.

The information provider P and / or each provider attaches each attached data TID including the PID to the provided information PP (these may be collected as one data). The user terminal 10 is configured so as to always pass through the billing unit 11 when using the provided information PP, and the billing unit 11 has a receiving port 13 for PPC which is financial information. When a request for using the provided information PP is made, the determination unit 14 checks the availability of the provided information based on at least part of the information of PID, TID, and PPC.
For example, it is a check whether the usage fee indicated by the PID and TID is within the money information of the PPC. Use is OK
Whether or not it is notified to the use terminal 10, and if it is OK, the use terminal 10 can use the provision information PP. At this time, information about PID, TID and PPC (provided information PP
The usage fee and the balance of PPC) are displayed on the display unit 15. The determination result of the determination unit 14 can also be shown on the display unit 15.

The monetary information PPC may be actual monetary money, a prepaid card such as a telephone card, a floppy disk, an IC card or a P card.
It may be electronic information equivalent to money stored in CMCIA or the like. In the present invention, the availability of the provided information PP is determined by the monetary information PPC that does not exist in the user instead of the user unique data USERID for each user.
Therefore, the problems (1) to (3) described above are solved as in the first to eighth embodiments. However, although the description of the communication I / F is omitted in FIG. 12 for the sake of simplicity, the communication I / F may be added as in the other embodiments to allow communication with the charge distributor and the charge resetter.

As for the problem (4), the TID has the same meaning as the PID except that the providers are different, and the user also pays the charge for the TID from the PPC as described above, so that the charge distributor (or direct communication) is used. Then, the fee will be distributed to each provider according to the use of the TID, and all providers related to the network will be paid a valid fee. This solves the problem (4). As a concrete example,
If the charge according to the line use time of the provided information is written in the TID, the transmission line provider can legally obtain the charge according to the use of the line. In addition, detailed charges can be made by describing in the TID the charges such as the usage time and the usage line. At this time, the transmission path provider may cause the connector or the like connecting the information provider and the network to attach the TID. (Connectors include those in the transmission line such as hubs and gateways). Similarly, in the case of the usage fee of the CPU and the terminal, if the usage time and the fee corresponding to the processing are described in the TID, the usage fee of the CPU and the terminal can be properly obtained.

Specific examples of billing for various cases will be described below. [Tenth Embodiment] The present embodiment shows an embodiment of charging for image compression. In the coding of image information, there is hierarchical coding as a coding method that is compatible with image processing apparatuses having different resolutions and that is used for efficiently performing image retrieval in an image database. The outline of the hierarchical coding will be described below. First, a reduced image that roughly represents the whole is encoded, and subsequently, difference information for sequentially enlarging the reduced image is encoded. As a result, it is possible to realize scalable encoding that can support different resolutions. For example, it becomes possible to display a reduced image with a small number of pixels on a monitor at high speed, and to output a detailed image with a large number of pixels using all information for printing.

FIG. 1 is a general conceptual diagram of hierarchically encoded data.
3 is shown. In FIG. 13, the beginning of the image is a header indicating the beginning of one piece of image information, the header of frame 1 is the bit pattern indicating the beginning of frame 1, and frame 1 is the layer 1 in which the most reduced image of the original image is encoded. Information, the header of frame 2 is a bit pattern indicating the beginning of frame 2, frame 2 is the information of layer 2 which is difference information for enlarging the image of layer 1, ..., The header of frame n is the beginning of frame n The bit pattern and the frame n shown are information of the layer n which is difference information for enlarging the image of the layer n-1. As a typical method, JP
The EG hierarchical encoding method (see ISO / IEC 10918-1, 10918-2 or ITU-T T.81, T.83) and the encoding method shown in the patent publication of File No. 114821 are known. . Such an encoding technique is a technique often used in multimedia networks.

In the present embodiment, the resolution obtained by such hierarchical coding will be described below as an example of the TID. This resolution is data that is not unique to the information. That is, even with the same one piece of information, the resolution due to the hierarchical encoding of the information sent through the transmission path differs depending on the traffic of the transmission path, the resolution of the user's monitor, the accuracy of data retrieval, and the like. Therefore, it is assumed that the TID indicates the resolution of hierarchical encoding when the additional information is sent and the charge related to the resolution. For example, even if the same information is transmitted at the coarse resolution of layer 1, the fee written in the TID is different when transmitted at the fine resolution of layer n. In addition, the transmission itself can be sent at a precise resolution of layer n, and when decoding or displaying it, the resolution can be up to a layer corresponding to the capabilities of the decoder and the display unit. In this case, the TID shows the charges for all the layers, and it is possible to charge according to the layer used.

Next, the charging operation in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 14, the user is PP
The PPC is inserted into the receiving port 13 of C, the money information is read from the PPC, the amount is larger than the charges shown in the PID and TID (the amount may be displayed), and the charging unit 11 sets P.
When the usage fee can be charged to the PC, the determination unit 14 sets P
Permit use of P. However, when sending all layers of data and decoding at the designated resolution, there is an input means (not shown) such as a keyboard for inputting the designated resolution to the billing unit 11, and the charge relating to the TID is determined by this. Further, even if the PID charge of the PP or the TID charge is updated depending on the time, it may be configured to be continuously usable within the charge stated in the PPC. Moreover, as described in the other embodiments, the PPC is
It may be real money or a prepaid card made of paper or an electronic card.

When the decision unit 14 permits the use of the PP, the data regarding the resolution described in the TID is sent together with the PP to the hierarchical coding processing unit 12a, and the hierarchical coding processing unit 12a receives the hierarchy corresponding to the resolution. Encoding decoding processing is performed. Also, if PP includes all hierarchical data and the user or terminal specifies the resolution to be decoded, P
The specified resolution together with P is the hierarchical encoding processing unit 1
2a, and the hierarchical encoding processing unit 12a performs a decoding process up to a layer corresponding to the designated resolution. The hierarchical encoding processing unit 12a uses JPEG or the File No. 11 described above.
A known processing device such as that disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4821 may be used. Further, regarding distribution of charges, the same means as in the other embodiments can be used. Therefore, FIG.
It is also possible to add a communication I / F to.

Since the hierarchical coding processing section is often developed by the transmission path provider 21 or the like different from the information provider P,
The transmission path provider 21 provides the coding processing unit of the hierarchical coding to the information provider P together with the TID, and the information provider provides the PID together with the PID, or the information provider P and the network transmit the information. If the connection is provided by the connector provided by the path provider 21, when the provided information PP including the PID is sent to the transmission path through the connector, the connector performs hierarchical coding processing, and at that time, PP May be attached to. (The connector may be in the transmission line like a hub). In addition, when an institution such as an information center collects information from the information provider P and collectively provides the information,
The center can set the TID by performing hierarchical coding alone or in cooperation with the transmission path provider 21 (the center may also serve as the transmission path provider 21 or the charge distributor 18). Regarding the distribution of charges, the user is PID
If the information about the TID is notified to the charge distributor in addition to the information about the TID, the charge distributor can distribute the charge to the transmission line provider according to the use of the notified TID, as in the method of the other embodiments. Good. Therefore, the method of charge distribution can use the method described in the other embodiments. However, for the sake of simplicity, the description has been made on the assumption that the transmission channel provider develops the hierarchical encoding processing unit, but if not, the charge is distributed to the legitimate provider.

[Eleventh Embodiment] This embodiment shows an embodiment of charging for image compression. MPE as an encoding method for efficiently storing and transmitting moving image information
G is known. This MPEG data is an international standard for high-efficiency encoding of moving images, and utilizes the frequency characteristics of data and human visual characteristics as well as the redundancy in the time axis direction peculiar to moving images. This is a method for performing even higher efficiency encoding. This MPEG system has a maximum transfer rate of 1.5M for digital storage media.
MPEG1 with bps, bidirectional digital multimedia equipment without the upper limit of transmission rate, digital VTR,
There is MPEG2 which is planned to be used in all transmission systems such as ATV and optical fiber networks, but since the basic algorithm is almost the same, the principle and data structure of the encoding method will be explained based on MPEG1. .

First, the principle of this high-efficiency coding system based on MPEG will be described. In this high-efficiency encoding 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.
High efficiency coding is realized as a whole by performing T and variable length coding processing to reduce redundancy in the spatial direction. Regarding the redundancy in the time axis direction, focusing on the fact that the correlation of consecutive frames is high in the case of a moving image, by taking the difference between the frame to be encoded and the frame preceding or succeeding in time. Redundancy can be reduced. Therefore, in MPEG, as shown in FIG. 15, in addition to an intra-coded image (I-picture) obtained in a coding mode in which coding is exclusively performed in a frame, a difference value from a temporally preceding frame is coded. Of the difference value between the forward predictive coded image (P-picture) and the temporally preceding frame or the following frame, or the difference value between the interpolated frames from both frames, which has the smallest data amount. Both predictive coded images (B-pictures) are combined, and the frames in these coding modes are combined in a predetermined order.

In MPEG, the above-mentioned I-picture, P-picture and B-picture are respectively 1, 4, 1
We recommend a combination in which 0 is 1 unit (GOP), an I-picture is placed at the beginning, and two B-pictures and P-pictures are repeatedly placed. Special reproduction such as reverse reproduction and partial reproduction in units of this GOP are possible and error propagation is prevented. When a new object appears in a frame, the difference value may be smaller when the difference between the frame and the subsequent frame is calculated than when the difference between the frame and the subsequent frame is calculated. Therefore, in MPEG, both of the predictive codings described above are performed to perform more efficient compression.

In MPEG, motion compensation is performed. That is, a block of 8 pixels × 8 pixels is set to 4 for luminance data.
For each block and color difference data, a motion vector is obtained by taking a difference with a macro block in the vicinity of a corresponding block of a preceding or subsequent frame in a unit of a predetermined block (macro block) that is a collection of two blocks and searching for a macro block having the smallest difference. Is detected 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 using this motion vector, and thereby the encoded data encoded using motion compensation is decoded. In the motion compensation as described above, a temporally preceding frame is once encoded, and then the frame is decoded again to obtain a preceding frame. The macroblock of this frame and the macroblock of the frame to be encoded Motion compensation is performed using and. Note that while MPEG1 performs motion compensation between frames, 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. This data structure 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.
The layers will be described below in order from the lower layer. First, the block layer is composed of 8 pixels × 8 pixels for each of luminance data and color difference data as in the case of JPEG, and the DCT is set for each unit.
Is performed. 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 chrominance data, and a macroblock header is attached. In the MPEG system, this macroblock will be described later. It is a unit of motion compensation and coding. The macroblock header has data of motion compensation and quantization steps for each macroblock, and data of six DCT blocks (Y0, Y1, Y2, Y3, Cr, Cb) in each macroblock. Whether or not the data is included. The slice layer is composed of one or more macroblocks and slice headers that are consecutive in the scanning order of an image, and the quantization step in a series of macroblocks in the same slice layer can be made constant. Incidentally, the slice header, each slice header has data regarding the quantization step in each slice layer,
If there is no unique quantization step data in each macroblock, the quantization step in the slice layer is fixed. Also, the first macroblock resets the difference value of the DC component. The picture layer is a collection of a plurality of slice layers described above in units of one frame, and is composed of a header including a picture start coat and the like, and one or more slice layers following the header.

Further, the header includes a code indicating the image encoding mode (encoding identification code) and a code indicating the accuracy of motion detection (pixel unit or half pixel unit). Above GO
The P 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 meantime, a plurality of GOPs having the same control data and image size necessary for decoding the image size and aspect ratio 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.

In the following description of the present embodiment, such MPEG picture information as the TID will be described as an example. This picture information is data that is not unique to the information. That is, even with the same one piece of information, the required MPEG encoding efficiency differs depending on the traffic on the transmission path and the resolution of the user's monitor. So TID
Indicates the degree of information regarding the MPEG picture when the additional information is sent and the fee related thereto. For example,
Even for the same information, the charge for frame-by-frame moving image transmission with less transmission of P-pictures and B-pictures and the charge for moving image transmission using all the pictures are different from the charges described in the TID. In addition, the transmission itself can send all pictures, and when decoding or displaying the pictures, decoding can be performed using the pictures specified according to the capabilities of the decoder and the display means. In this case, a charge for all pictures is shown in the TID, and a charge may be made according to the used picture.

Next, the charging operation according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 16, the user is a PPC
Put the PPC in the receiving port of the PPC, read the monetary information from the PPC, the amount is more than the charges shown in the PID and TID (the amount may be displayed), and the billing unit 11 can charge the usage fee to the PPC. If so, the determination unit 14 permits the use of the PP. However, when all the pictures are sent and decoded by the designated picture, there is a means (not shown) such as a keyboard for inputting the designated picture information to the billing unit 11, and the charge relating to the TID is determined by the means. Further, even if the PID charge of the PP or the TID charge is updated depending on the time, it may be configured to be continuously usable within the charge stated in the PPC. Further, the PPC may be actual money or a prepaid card using paper or an electronic card as described in the other embodiments.

When the decision unit 14 permits the use of the PP, the data regarding the picture described in the TID is sent together with the PP to the MPEG processing unit 12b, and the MPEG processing unit 12b performs the decoding process corresponding to the picture.
Further, when the PP includes all pictures and the user or the terminal specifies a picture to be decoded, the specification information is sent to the MPEG processing unit 12b together with the PP, and the MPEG processing unit 12b corresponds to the specified picture. Performs decryption processing. The MPEG processing unit 12b is a known processing device. Further, regarding distribution of charges, the same means as in the other embodiments can be used. To that end, FIG.
It is also possible to add a communication I / F to.

Since the MPEG processing unit 12b is often developed by the transmission path provider 21 and the like different from the information provider P, the transmission path provider provides the MPEG encoding processing unit to the information provider together with the TID. If the information provider provides the PID together with the PP, or if the information provider and the network are connected by a connector provided by the transmission path provider, the provided information PP including the PID is connected as described above. When it is sent to the transmission line through the device, the connection device performs MPEG encoding processing and may be attached to the PP at that time (the connection device may be in the transmission line like a hub). Further, when a certain organization such as an information center collects information from information providers and provides the information collectively, the center performs MPEG encoding alone or in cooperation with a transmission path provider to perform TID. It can also be set (the center may also serve as a transmission line provider or a charge distributor).

Regarding the distribution of the charge, if the user notifies the charge distributor of not only the information about the PID but also the information about the TID, the charge distributor can use the notified TID in the same manner as in the other embodiments. The charge may be distributed to the transmission line providers according to the use. Therefore, the method of charge distribution can use the method described in the other embodiments. However, for the sake of simplicity, the description has been made on the assumption that the transmission path provider develops the MPEG processing unit, but if not, the charge is distributed to the legitimate provider. Further, in this embodiment, MP
Although the EG has been described as an example, all the methods of charging using PPC for encoding by the difference on the time axis are included in the present embodiment.

[Twelfth Embodiment] In the present embodiment,
The present invention relates to the charging of cryptographic technology so that only the designated users can use the provided information. Since the multimedia network handles various kinds of information, the required processing speed and safety greatly differ depending on the type of information. For example, in the case of large-capacity data such as moving images that requires high-speed real-time processing, high-speed cryptographic processing is required, and small-capacity non-real-time data represented by documents and software. In this case, it is desired to reduce the encryption processing speed to reduce the load related to the encryption processing. On the other hand, data with a large capacity and high-speed real-time property, such as moving images, is often good with low-security cryptographic processing such as scrambling. In the case of data, highly secure cryptographic processing is often desired. Therefore, it is desired to realize billing corresponding to the required processing speed and safety. In the present embodiment, the case where a charge for the processing speed and strength of such encryption is indicated as TID will be described below as an example.

The charging operation according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 17, the user inserts the PPC into the receptacle 13 of the PPC, reads the monetary information from the PPC, and the amount is larger than the charges shown in the PID and TID (the amount may be displayed). When 11 can charge the usage fee to the PPC, the determination unit 14 permits the usage of the PP. In addition, the charge by PID of PP and TI
Even if the charge etc. by D is updated by time,
The PPC may be configured to be continuously available within the stated charge. Further, the PPC may be actual money or a prepaid card using paper or an electronic card as described in the other embodiments.

When the judgment unit 14 permits the use of the PP, the data regarding the processing speed and strength of the cipher described in the TID is sent to the cipher processing unit 12c together with the PP, and the cipher processing FIG. 12c shows the processing speed and strength. Decryption processing corresponding to is performed. The configuration of the encryption processing unit capable of performing encryption and decryption processing according to such different processing speeds and strengths is File No. 1
The details are described in the Japanese Patent Publication No. 48067 and can be realized by a known technique.

Further, regarding the distribution of the charge, the same means as in the other embodiments can be used. Therefore, a communication I / F can be added to FIG. In addition, since the encryption processing unit is often developed by a transmission path provider different from the information provider, the transmission path provider provides the encryption processing unit to the information provider together with the TID, and the information provider co-operates with the PID. When the provision information PP including the PID is sent to the transmission line through the above-mentioned connector, if the information provider and the network are connected to each other by the connector provided by the transmission line provider. In addition, the connection device may perform an encryption process and may be attached to the PP at that time (the connection device may be in a transmission line like a hub). Further, when an organization such as an information center collects information from information providers and provides the information collectively, the above-mentioned center alone
Alternatively, the TID can be set by performing encryption in cooperation with the transmission path provider (the center may also serve as the transmission path provider or charge distributor).

Regarding the distribution of the charge, if the user notifies the charge distributor of the information about the TID in addition to the information about the PID, the charge distributor uses the notified TID in the same manner as in the other embodiments. The fee may be distributed to the transmission path providers in accordance with the above. Therefore, the method of charge distribution can use the method described in the other embodiments. However, for the sake of simplicity, the description has been made on the assumption that the transmission path provider develops the encryption processing unit, but if not, the charge is distributed to the legitimate provider. Further, in the present embodiment, the patent publication of File No. 148067 has been described as an example of the encryption processing unit, but the invention is not limited to the encryption processing unit, and any charging method capable of handling different encryption processing speeds and strengths is applicable to the present invention. included.

[Thirteenth Embodiment] In the twelfth embodiment, a billing method relating to encryption processing speed and strength is shown. As shown in FIG. 18, not only encryption processing speed and strength but also encryption type In the case of different networks, it is important to realize billing according to the type of encryption. in this case,
If a charge according to the type of cipher to be used is written in the TID, it is obvious that a charge corresponding to various ciphers can be realized by collecting the charge according to the kind from the PPC. However, it is assumed that the provided information is encrypted by the cipher described in the TID. Further, as in the twelfth embodiment, each of the ciphers may have detailed settings for the processing speed and strength in the TID. In this case,
It is obvious that the configuration shown in FIG. 7 can be realized similarly to the twelfth embodiment. However, the encryption processing unit in FIG. 17 is an encryption processing unit included in each terminal.

Further, charging may be considered for the case where each terminal can select the encryption to be used according to the type of information. File No. 1 is the encryption processing unit that can select the encryption to be used.
It is shown in the '48072 patent. Therefore, if the cryptographic processing unit of FIG. 17 is replaced with the cryptographic processing unit of File No. 148072, charging can be realized for the case where the cryptography can be selected with the same configuration as that of FIG. At this time, the types of all the ciphers and their charges are described in the TID, and the TID may be charged according to the cipher used thereafter.
In addition, detailed settings for billing may be made for each cipher.

[Fourteenth Embodiment] In the present embodiment,
The present invention relates to charging for the image quality of the information provided. Here, the image quality refers to the number of frames per unit time, the number of pixels of the image, the chromaticity of each pixel included in the image, the saturation of the pixel, the number of resolutions of the dynamic range on the scale of the brightness of the pixel, and the like. .. The higher the image quality of each item is, the wider the dynamic range and the finer the gradation are. In the present embodiment, each item of such image quality will be described as an example of TID.
The image quality based on these items is data that is not unique to information. That is, the image quality of the information sent through the transmission path is different depending on the traffic of the transmission path, the resolution of the user's monitor, the accuracy of data retrieval, etc. Therefore, it is assumed that the TID indicates the image quality when the provided information is sent and the fee or the like related to the image quality. For example, even if the same information is transmitted, the fee for transmitting coarse pixel information and the fee for transmitting fine pixel information differ from each other. Also, the transmission itself can be sent with the highest image quality, and can be displayed with the image quality as required when displaying it. In this case, the TID shows a charge for all grades, and it is possible to charge according to the grade used.

Next, the charging operation in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 19, the user is PP
The PPC is inserted into the receiving port 13 of C, the money information is read from the PPC, the amount is larger than the charges shown in the PID and TID (the amount may be displayed), and the charging unit 11 sets P.
When the usage fee can be charged to the PC, the determination unit 14 sets P
Permit use of P. However, when sending all the quality data and displaying it with the designated quality, there is an input means (not shown) such as a keyboard for inputting the designated quality to the charging means, and the charge relating to the TID is determined by this. Furthermore, P
Even if the charge by PID of P or the charge by TID is updated according to time, it may be configured to be continuously usable within the charge described in PPC. Also,
The PPC may be actual money or a prepaid card using paper or an electronic card as described in the other embodiments.

When the judgment unit 14 permits the use of the PP, the data regarding the quality described in the TID together with the PP is sent to the image display unit 12d, and the image display unit 12d monitors the image with the quality corresponding to the quality. To display. Also, when the PP includes all the quality data and the user or the terminal specifies the quality to be displayed, the specified quality is sent together with the PP to the image display unit 12d, and the image display unit 12d receives the specified quality. Is displayed with the quality corresponding to. Further, regarding the distribution of the charge, the same means as in the other embodiments can be used. Therefore, a communication I / F can be added to FIG.

Since the image display section is often developed by a terminal provider or the like different from the information provider, the terminal provider provides the image display section to the information provider together with the TID, and the information provider and the PID together. Provided as an attachment to the PP or in collaboration with the transmission path provider to connect to the network, etc.
Provided information P including PID by adding the function of adding D
When P is sent through the connector,
An ID may be attached (the connector may be in the communication path like a hub). In addition, when an organization such as an information center collects information from information providers and provides the information collectively, the center alone or in cooperation with the terminal provider performs hierarchical coding to set the TID. It is also possible (the above center may also serve as a terminal provider or a charge distributor).

Regarding the distribution of the charge, if the user notifies the charge distributor of not only the information about the PID but also the information about the TID, the charge distributor uses the notified TID in the same manner as in the other embodiments. The fee may be distributed to the terminal providers according to the above. Therefore, the method of charge distribution can use the method described in the other embodiments. However, for the sake of simplicity, it has been described that the terminal provider develops the image display unit, but if not, the charge is distributed to the legitimate provider.

[Fifteenth Embodiment] A billing system for lines, terminals, image compression, encryption, image quality, etc. has been shown in the ninth to fourteenth embodiments. The billing system proposed by the present invention can be applied to a network in which they are mixed by defining the TID format such as the target billed to the TID. Further, it is clear that this charging system can be applied to various processes other than the above-described process by defining the format such as the type of the process in the PID or TID, and other than the information provider P described above. It is clear that the charging system is highly flexible so that various providers related to the network can freely enter. It is also clear that the billing according to the processing speed of the encryption shown in the twelfth embodiment can be set not only according to the encryption but also according to various processing speeds such as image coding. It is also clear that the security can be set not only for the strength of encryption but also for various security such as access control.

Further, the TID may be exchanged independently as data of a specific format without being exchanged with the information, and the provided information may be transmitted if the fee shown therein is within the amount of PPC. After that, the PID may be charged for the use of the provided information. further,
Like the TID, the PID may be exchanged independently as data of a specific format. In this case, if the provided information is transmitted only when the charges for PID and TID are within the amount of PPC, the transmission path can be used efficiently.

Further, for example, when the TID is data unique to the terminal, even if the TID is not exchanged via the network as described above, the terminal has the TID storage unit and whether the provision information PP can be used or not. It is also apparent that the same billing process can be executed if data relating to the TID is sent to the determination unit 14 from the determination. Since TID is not unique to information, this is not limited to terminals
It is effective for the part specific to. Also, 0 (free) is included in the price. Therefore, in some cases, some of the provided information or its part (such as in the case of coarsely-encoded pixels) can also be used.

Next, the cipher used in the present invention will be described. [Common Key Cryptography] The common key cryptography is an encryption scheme in which the sender and the receiver secretly share the same encryption key (also called secret key cryptography, symmetric cryptography, or conventional cryptography). The common key cryptosystem is a character string (block) of an appropriate length
Each block can be divided into a block cipher that encrypts with the same key and a stream cipher that changes the key for each character string or bit. 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 stream ciphers, there are well-known business table ciphers such as bi-nel ciphers and parnum ciphers that use a one-time disposable key. (See Chapters 2 and 4). Also, among the block ciphers, DES (Data Encryption Standard) and F, which have public algorithms,
Cryptography such as EAL (Fast data Encipherment ALgorithm) (For details, see "Cipher and Information Security" by Tsujii and Kasahara.
Chapter 2 of Shokoido, 1990.) is widely used as a commercial cipher. However, since DES and FEAL disclose algorithms, a cryptanalysis method has been developed, and various modifications may be made to counter the cryptanalysis method. (For example, increase the number of repetitions described later or (CH
Mayer and SM Matyas: "CRYPTOGRAPHY-A New Dimension
in Computer Data Security ", Wiley-Interscience, A
ppendix D, pp.679-712, 1982.), changing keys frequently (Yamamoto, Iwamura, Matsumoto, Imai: "Practical cryptosystem using square-type pseudo-random number generator and block cipher", IEICE Technical report,
ISEC93-29, pp, 65-75, 1993.) and other modifications are proposed).

[Public Key Cryptography] The public key cryptography is an encryption scheme in which the encryption key and the decryption key are different, and the encryption key is disclosed and the decryption key is kept secret (hence, the public key and the decryption key are Sometimes called a private key). Public key cryptography has the following features not found in common key cryptography. (1) Since the encryption key and the decryption key are different and the encryption key can be disclosed, it is not necessary to secretly deliver the encryption key, and the key delivery is easy. (2) Since the encryption key of each user is open to the public, each user need only secretly store his own decryption key, and the key management is easy. (3) Since the receiver confirms that the sender of the sent communication text is not a fake one and that the communication text has not been tampered with, the authentication function can be realized.

The public key cryptographic cryptographic communication and the authentication communication, and the cryptographic communication with the authentication function are realized by the following protocols. Here, a protocol for performing encrypted communication, authentication communication, and encrypted communication with an authentication function from the sender A to the receiver B is shown. A's private key is ksA and public key is kpA
, The private key of B is ksB, the public key is kpB, and the encryption operation using the public key kp for the message M is E (k
p, M) and the decryption operation using the secret decryption key ks is D
Expressed as (ks, M). [Cryptographic Communication] When secretly communicating the communication text (plain text) M from A to B, the procedure is as follows. Step 1: A encrypts M's public key with kpB,
Send the ciphertext C to B. C = E (kpB, M) Step2: B decrypts C with its own secret key ksB to obtain the original plaintext M. M = D (ksB, C) Since the public key of recipient B is open to the general public,
Not only A, but everyone can secretly communicate with B.

[Authentication Communication] Message from A to B (plain text) M
When performing authentication communication with, follow the procedure below. Step 1: A generates a transmission sentence S with its own secret key ksA and sends it to B. S = D (ksA, M) This transmission sentence S is called a signature sentence, and the operation of obtaining the signature sentence is called a signature. Step 2: B is subjected to S restoration conversion with A's public key kpA to obtain the original plaintext M. M = E (kpA, S) If you confirm that M is a meaningful sentence,
Authenticate that M was indeed sent from A. Since the public key of the sender A is open to the public, not only B but anyone can authenticate the signature text of A. Such authentication is also called a digital signature.

[Signed Cryptographic Communication] When the communication text (plaintext) M from A to B is signed and secretly communicated, the procedure is as follows. Step 1: A signs M with his own secret key ksA and creates a signature sentence S. S = D (ksA, M) Furthermore, A encrypts S with B's public key kpB, and the ciphertext C
To B. C = E (kpB, S) Step 2: B decrypts C with its own secret key ksB, and obtains the signature text S. S = D (ksB, C) Furthermore, B restores and converts S with A's public key kpA to obtain the original plaintext M. M = E (kpA, S) If you confirm that M is a meaningful sentence,
Authenticate that M was indeed sent from A. In addition,
The order of performing the functions in each Step may be reversed.

An example of a typical public key cryptosystem will be given below. A method that enables encrypted communication and authenticated communication: RSA encryption (RLRivest, A.Shamir and L.Adleman:
"A method of obtainingdigital signatures and publi
c key cryptosytems ", Comm. of ACM, 1978) ・ R cryptography (M.Rabin:" Digitalized signatures and pub
lic-key cryptosystems ", MIT / LCS / TR-212, Technical
Report MIT, 1979) ・ W encryption (HCWilliams: "A modification of the RSA
public-key encryption procedure ", IEEE Trans. Inf.
Theory, IT-26, 6, 1980) ・ MI Cryptography (Matsumoto, Imai: "A new algorithm of public key cryptography", IEICE Tech., IT82-84, 1982; T. Matsumoto a
nd H. Imai: "A class of asymmetric cryptosystems ba
sed on polynomials over finite rings ", IEEE Intern
ational Symp. onInformation Theory, 1983)

[0103] A system capable of only encrypted signals: -MH encryption (RC Merkle and MEHellman: "Hiding in
formation and signatures in trapdoor knapsacks ", I
EEE Trans. Inf. Theory, IT-24, 5, 1978) ・ GS encryption (A. Shamir and REZippel: "On the secur
ity of the Merkle-Hellman cryptographic scheme ", I
EEE Trans. Inf. Theory, IT-26, 3, 1980) ・ CR encryption (B.Chor and RLRivest: "A knapsack typ
e public key cryptosystem based on arithmetric in
finite field ", Proc. Crypto 84) ・ M cryptography (RJMcEliece:" A public-key cryptosystem "
based on algebraic coding theory "DSN Progress Re
p., Jet Propulsion Lab., 1978) ・ E-encryption (TEElGamal: "A public-key cryptosystem
and a signature schemebased on discretre logarith
m ", Proc. Crypto 84, 1984) ・ T-cipher (Shigeo Tsujii:" A public-key cryptosystem using matrix decomposition ", IEICE Tech., IT85-12, 1985)

A scheme that allows only authenticated communication-S encryption (A.Shamir: "A fast signature scheme", Rep
ort MIT / LCS / TM-107, MIT laboratory for computer sc
ience, Cambridge, Mass., 1978) ・ L encryption (K. Lieberhorr: "Uniform complexity and di
gital signature ", Lecture Notes in Computer Scienc
e 115 Automata, Language and Programming, Eighth C
olloquium Acre, Israel, 1981) ・ GMY encryption (S.Goldwasser, S.Micali and A.Yao: "S
trong signature schemes ", ACM Symp. on Theory of C
omputing, 1983) GMR encryption (S. Goldwasser, S. Micali and RLRives
t: "A" paradoxical "solution to the signature prob
lem ", ACM Symp. on Foundation of Computer Science,
1984) ・ OSS encryption (H.Ong, CPSchnorr and A.Shamir: "An
efficient signature scheme based on quadratic equ
ation ", ACM Symp. on Theory of Computing, 1984) ・ OS encryption (Okamoto, Shiraishi:" Digital signature method by polynomial operation ", IEICE theory (D), J68-D, 5, 1985; T.Okam
oto and A.shiraisi: "A fast signature schemebased
on quadratic inequalities ", IEEE Symp. on Theory o
f Computing, 1984)

[0105]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to obtain a billing device, a communication device, and a communication system capable of performing proper billing, and by using these, a billing method and billing system that solve the problems shown in (1) to (4) above are realized. can do. In particular, it is possible to realize a charging system in a network that transmits hierarchically encoded information. By this, users can protect various types of information while renting inexpensively, and information providers can use the information according to the frequency of use of the provided information without managing the information usage for each user. You can receive a fee distribution. Further, for example, by introducing a charge distributor including a store or a charge advancer, it is possible to configure a charging system that is easy to use, including payment of charges. Furthermore, it is possible to construct a flexible billing system that can distribute legal fees to various providers related to networks other than the information provider by using attached data that is not unique to the information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a network according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a network according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a network according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a network according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a network according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram showing hierarchical encoding.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a tenth embodiment.

[Fig. 15] Fig. 15 is a configuration diagram for describing encoding by MPEG.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an eleventh embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a twelfth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a network according to a thirteenth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a fourteenth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing conventional super distribution.

[Explanation of symbols]

 P information provider PP provided information PID information specific data PPC monetary information TID attached data 10 user terminal 11 billing unit 12 information processing unit 13 PPC receptacle 14 determination unit 15 display unit 16 coin box 18 charge distributor 19 communication I / F 20 Charge recovery person 21 Transmission path provider 22 Terminal provider 12a Layer coding processing section 12b MPEG processing section 12c Encryption processing section 12d Image display section

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location G09C 1/00 660 7259-5J G09C 1/00 660B 7259-5J 660E 7259-5J 660F 7259-5J 660G H04L 9/08 H04M 11/08 9/30 15/00 Z 9/32 H04N 7/16 C 12/14 H04L 9/00 601D H04M 11/08 601E 15/00 663Z H04N 7/16 675B 7/167 675A 9466 -5K 11/02 F H04N 7/167 Z

Claims (26)

[Claims] 1. The above-mentioned information based on at least one of information-specific data specific to the hierarchically-encoded provision information and auxiliary data relating to the hierarchy information for the provision information, and monetary information paid by the user. A billing device having a determination means for determining availability of provided information. 2. The above-mentioned information based on at least one of information-specific data specific to the hierarchically-encoded provision information and auxiliary data relating to the hierarchy information for the provision information, and monetary information paid by the user. A communication device comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not to use the provided information; and an information processing unit that processes the provided information according to the determination result of the determination unit and provides the user with the information. 3. A communication device for an information provider for transmitting layer-encoded provision information, at least information specific data specific to the provision information to be input, and auxiliary data relating to layer information for the provision information. One, a billing device having a determining means for determining availability of the provided information based on monetary information paid by the user, and the provided information processed and given to the user according to the determination result of the determining means. A communication system comprising: a user communication device having information processing means; and a network connecting the above devices. 4. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein the billing device is provided in the user communication device. 5. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the monetary information is cash or a prepaid card equivalent thereto, and an insertion means for inserting the monetary information is provided. 6. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the financial information is electronic information, and an insertion means for inserting the financial information is provided. 7. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein different monetary information is used according to the information peculiar data and / or the attached data, and identification means for identifying the monetary information is provided. 8. A display means is provided for displaying the information peculiar data / adjunct data and information relating to financial information.
The communication device as described. 9. The communication device according to claim 2, further comprising a notifying unit for notifying the information peculiar data regarding the provided information used and / or the information regarding the attached data. 10. The communication device according to claim 2, further comprising an input / output unit for inputting / outputting the financial information through a network. 11. The communication device according to claim 9, further comprising encryption / authentication processing means for encrypting / authenticating the information notified by said notifying means. 12. The communication device according to claim 10, further comprising encryption / authentication processing means for encrypting / authenticating the financial information input / output by said input / output means. 13. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the attached data also includes data regarding use of a line. 14. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the attached data also includes data regarding use of the terminal. 15. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the attached data also includes data regarding an MPEG picture. 16. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the attached data also includes data regarding the security of the provided information. 17. The communication device according to claim 11, wherein the attached data also includes data regarding a processing speed of encryption by the encryption / authentication processing means. 18. The communication device according to claim 11, wherein the attached data also includes data relating to the type of encryption. 19. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the attached data also includes data relating to image quality. 20. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the attached data also includes data relating to a processing speed. 21. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the attached data also includes data regarding a type of processing. 22. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein a communication device for a charge distributor, which receives the monetary information received by the charging device and sends it to the information provider communication device, is connected to the network. 23. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein a communication device for a fee advancer for exchanging money information received by the charging device is connected to the network. 24. A communication device for a fee-refiner connected to the network for recovering the monetary information received by the billing device, and the money information received by the communication device for a fee-refiner receiving the information. 4. The communication system according to claim 3, further comprising a charge distributor communication device connected to the network for sending to the provider communication device. 25. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein a communication device for a transmission path provider used by a person who provides the network is connected to the network. 26. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein a communication device for a terminal provider used by a person who provides the charging device and each communication device is connected to the network.