JPH0946680A - Image transmission system and communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain charging taking kind and quality of information into account. SOLUTION: A charging means 100 is made up of a control section 101, a traffic check section 102, a resolution selection section 103, a charging section 104 and a storage device 105, a characteristic of image information subject to hierarchical-coded is taken into account and the resolution of an image subject to hierarchical coding to be sent is selected depending on a traffic of a transmission line. Then the charging processing is conducted by the charge system depending on the resolution sent for each image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

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

[0002]

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

[0003]

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

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a charging system corresponding to the hierarchical coding technique, and enables charging in consideration of the types of information and services and the quality of information. To aim.

A second object is to make it possible to perform billing processing according to traffic on the transmission path.

A third object is to prevent fraudulent acts on information transmitted and received in the image transmission system.

[0007]

According to an image transmission system of the present invention, in an image transmission system for transmitting layer-encoded image information, traffic of a transmission line for transmitting the layer-encoded image information is used. It comprises selection means for selecting a hierarchy of images to be transmitted accordingly, and accounting processing means for performing accounting processing of the image information to be transmitted according to the hierarchy selected by the selection means.

Another feature of the present invention is that
In an image transmission system that transmits layer-encoded image information so that the resolution is different for each layer between a transmission terminal and a reception terminal, the inspection of the traffic of the transmission line that transmits the layer-encoded image information is performed. A receiving terminal including a traffic inspection unit for performing the operation, a resolution selection unit for selecting a resolution of an image to be transmitted according to an inspection result of the traffic inspection unit, and the above-mentioned reception terminal according to the resolution selected by the resolution selection unit. It is characterized in that it comprises a transmission terminal equipped with a charging processing means for charging the image information to be transmitted and a charge storage means for storing the charge of the image information.

Another feature of the present invention is that, in an image transmission system that handles layer-encoded image information, traffic of a transmission line for transmitting the layer-encoded image information is inspected. Traffic inspection means, and resolution selection means for selecting the resolution of an image to be transmitted according to the inspection result of the traffic inspection means,
It comprises a billing processing means for billing the image information to be transmitted according to the resolution selected by the resolution selecting means, and a charge storage means for storing a charge for the image information.

Another feature of the present invention is that an image transmission system for transmitting image information hierarchically encoded so that the resolution is different for each layer is transmitted between a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal. A receiving terminal equipped with a resolution selecting means for selecting the resolution of the image, a charging processing means for charging the image information to be transmitted according to the resolution selected by the resolution selecting means, and a charge for the image information are stored. It is characterized in that it comprises a transmission terminal provided with a charge storage means for carrying out.

Another feature of the present invention is that, in an image transmission system that handles layer-encoded image information, the traffic of a transmission line for transmitting the layer-encoded image information is inspected. Traffic inspection means, and resolution selection means for selecting the resolution of an image to be transmitted according to the inspection result of the traffic inspection means,
Information amount measuring means for measuring the information amount of the transmitted image, billing processing means for performing billing processing according to the resolution and the information amount of the transmitted image information, and for storing the charge of the image information And a charge storage means.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a payment means for paying the image information fee at regular intervals.

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

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

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

Another feature of the present invention is an image transmission destination designating means for designating a transmission destination of the image information to an arbitrary image receiving device and requesting the image information provider to transmit the image information. Image transmitting means for transmitting image information to the image receiving device designated by the image destination designating means,
It is characterized by comprising a charging means for performing a charging process for a designated person to whom the image information is transmitted or a user who receives the image information.

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

A feature of the communication apparatus of the present invention is a communication apparatus in an image transmission system which handles layer-encoded image information, wherein the transmission for transmitting the layer-encoded image information. It is provided with a billing processing means for performing billing processing based on the resolution of the image and the amount of information according to the road traffic.

Another feature of the present invention is that
A communication device for transmitting, to a receiving terminal via a network, layer-encoded data in a designated layer, characterized by charging according to the designated layer.

Another feature of the present invention is a communication device for receiving layer-encoded encoded data via a network, which comprises means for designating a layer in the layer encoding. There is.

[0021]

Since the present invention has the above technical means, the resolution of the image to be transmitted is set according to the traffic on the transmission path,
An image fee can be charged according to the set resolution.

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

Further, according to another feature of the present invention, it becomes possible to settle the charge of the image for which the charge processing has been performed for each fixed period.

Further, according to another feature of the present invention, since an encryption means for at least encrypting or digitally signing the information to be transmitted is provided, the information is protected from eavesdropping and falsification, and a fair fee is charged. Will be able to do.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of an image transmission system of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment described below, in a transmission system that transmits hierarchically encoded image information via a transmission path, the resolution (layer) of the transmission image is set according to the traffic of the transmission path in consideration of the hierarchical encoding. However, the present invention is applied in order to charge an image according to the above resolution.

In particular, in the first embodiment, a charging means for performing a charging process when a uniform charge system is set for each resolution (layer) will be described in detail.

In the second embodiment, a billing means in the case where the fee system takes into consideration the amount of information in addition to the resolution (layer) will be described in detail.

In the third embodiment, a charging means for adjusting the charge for every fixed period in the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described in detail.

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

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

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

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

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

In the ninth embodiment, in order to protect information from eavesdropping and tampering and to make a fair charge, an encryption means is used for the charge means shown in the fourth to eighth embodiments. The case where these are combined will be described in detail.

A first embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Before describing the first embodiment in detail, an outline of hierarchical coding will be described. In the coding of image information, there is hierarchical coding as a coding method that efficiently corresponds to image processing devices having different resolutions and is a coding method suitable for image retrieval in an image database.

In the hierarchical encoding, a reduced image that roughly represents the whole is encoded first, and then difference information for sequentially enlarging the reduced image is encoded.

As a result, it is possible to use a code having a certain degree of scalability, for example, a reduced image having a small number of pixels is used for a monitor display or the like, and a detailed image having a large number of pixels is used for printing by using all information. Can be realized.

FIG. 20 shows a general conceptual diagram of hierarchically encoded data. In FIG. 22, the beginning of the image indicates a header indicating the beginning of one piece of image information. Then, the header of the frame 1 is a bit pattern indicating the start of the frame 1, and the frame 1 is the information of the layer 1 that is obtained by encoding the most reduced image of the original image.

The header of the frame 2 is a bit pattern indicating the beginning of the frame 2, and the frame 2 is the information of the layer 2 which is difference information for enlarging the image of the layer 1.

Hereinafter, the header of the frame n is a bit pattern indicating the beginning of the frame n, and the frame n is the information of the layer n which is difference information for enlarging the image of the layer n-1.

By the way, as a typical encoding method, J
Hierarchical coding method of PEG is used. Above JPEG
ISO / IEC 10918-1,109
18-2 or ITU-TT. 81, T.I. See 83. Such an encoding technique is a technique often used in multimedia networks.

Further, in the image transmission method, an image transmission system has been proposed in which the resolution of image information to be transmitted is changed according to the traffic on the transmission path, as will be described later.

The outline of the operation of the image transmission system will be described below. First, the above-mentioned hierarchical encoding is performed on the image to be transmitted. Next, the usage status of the transmission path is inspected, and if there is sufficient free space, the frames of all layers of the image information are transmitted.

If there is not enough free space to send the information of all layers, the information of the layer 1 is transmitted in order from the information of the layer 1 to the information of the upper layer within the range that can be sent with the free capacity of the transmission path.
Such a transmission method is an important elemental technology when handling multimedia on a LAN or the like.

However, as described above, the method does not depend on the type or quality of information or service, and charging is not performed in consideration of image data that has been hierarchically encoded as described above. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to perform charging that is compatible with the hierarchical coding technique.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a main part of a billing means relating to the image transmission system of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 is a billing means included in the image transmission system. Reference numeral 101 denotes a control unit, which takes in an image transmission request of a user transmitted and received in the image transmission system, a traffic inspection unit 102, a transmission mode selection unit 10
3. The operation control of the billing processing unit 104 is performed, and the identifier of the image requested by the transmission mode selection unit 103 and the billing processing unit 104 (name, code for identifying the image, etc.)
Control to notify.

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

Reference numeral 103 receives the image identifier requested by the control unit 101 and the traffic information of the image transmission system from the traffic inspection unit 102, and selects a resolution for transmitting an image according to the traffic information ( The resolution selecting method will be described later), and the resolution selecting unit notifies the charging processing unit 104 that performs the charging process and the image transmission system 110.

Reference numeral 104 denotes a billing processing unit, which is the control unit 101.
The image identifier is fetched from the resolution selection unit 103.
Get resolution information from. Then, the storage unit 105 stores the charge corresponding to the captured image identifier and resolution information.
Read from the image transmission system 110 and notify the image transmission system 110.

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

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

The traffic inspection unit 102 determines whether the image can be transmitted at a certain transmission rate Cr.
Call 10. Then, the image transmission system 1
If 10 does not give permission to transmit at the transmission rate Cr, the image transmission system 110 is queried for C′r with C′r <Cr until permission is given. In addition, the image transmission system 110 uses the transmission rate Cr.
If you give permission to transmit at
Is the inspection value.

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

Next, an example of the resolution selecting method in the resolution selecting unit 103 will be described. The resolution selection unit 103
First, it receives information about the traffic of the image transmission system 110 from the traffic inspection unit 102, and also obtains the identifier of the requested image from the control unit 101.
Receive from

Then, the transmission capacity necessary for accessing the storage unit 105 and transmitting the requested image at each resolution (for the information stored in the storage unit 105,
(Described later with reference to FIG. 3) is compared with traffic (transmissible capacity) of the image transmission system to determine the resolution when transmitting the image by the following procedure.

The transmittable capacity determined by the traffic inspection unit 102 is Cr, and the transfer capacity required to transmit certain hierarchically encoded image information at resolution 1 is C1.
The transmission capacity required to transmit at resolution 2 (layer 1 and layer 2 information) is C2, and the transmission capacity required to transmit at resolution 3 is resolution 3 (layer 1, layer 2 and layer 3 information).
When the transmission capacity required for transmission at C3 and the transmission capacity required for transmission at resolution 4 (layer 1, layer 2, layer 3, layer 4) are C4, and Cr ≧ C4, Select resolution 4.

If C4> Cr ≧ C3, the resolution 3 is selected, and if C3> Cr ≧ C2, the resolution 3 is selected. If C2> Cr ≧ C1, resolution 2 is selected, and if C2> Cr ≧ C1, resolution 1 is selected. When C1> Cr, the image transmission system is notified that sufficient transmission capacity cannot be obtained even with resolution 1.

However, the operation of the resolution selecting unit 103 is not limited to the above-described one, and Cr is the resolution i (i = 1, 2, ...).
Even if it is not enough to transmit the image (Cr <C
i), the image of resolution i may be transmitted by Cr, or processing such as waiting until a sufficient capacity Cr (≧ Ci) is obtained may be performed.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a charge table stored in the storage device 102. In the charge table of FIG. 3, for example, the information “Info 1” indicates that the charge when the resolution 1 is provided is the charge 11, and the required transmission capacity at that time is C11.

Further, it is shown that the fee when the resolution 2 is provided is 12 and the required transmission capacity is C12.
This means that the charge when the resolution 3 is provided is charge 13, and the required transmission capacity is C13.

Below, the user (or the user's user terminal) operates the image Info when performing the charging when the charging means of the present embodiment charges the fee according to the resolution.
1 is requested to the provider and the transferable capacity of the image transmission system at that time is Cr (C14> Cr ≧ C13) as an example.

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

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

Next, in the third operation procedure, the control unit 1
01 notifies the resolution selection unit 103 of the requested image identifier Info 1. Further, the traffic inspection unit 102 notifies the resolution selection unit 103 of the above-mentioned transmittable capacity Cr. Furthermore, the resolution selection unit 103 uses Info
1 is read from the storage unit 105, and the transmission capacity necessary for transmitting 1 at each resolution is read from the storage capacity Cr.
The image resolution 3 is selected according to the traffic by comparing with, and the image transmission system 110 is notified.

Next, in the fourth operation procedure, the control unit 1
01 notifies the billing processing unit 104 of the requested image identifier Info 1. The resolution selection unit 103 notifies the billing processing unit 104 of the selected resolution 3.

The charging processing unit 104 notifies the image identifier Info 1 notified from the control unit 101 and the resolution selection unit 103 from the charge table stored in the storage device 105, that is, the charge table shown in FIG. The corresponding charge 13 is read from the resolution 3 thus obtained and is notified to the image transmission system 110.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a concrete configuration example of the charging means 100 shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 200 denotes a charging means, which corresponds to the charging means 100 shown in FIG. 201 is C
The PU is the I / O interface 20 according to the program stored in the ROM 204 or the RAM 203.
It is for processing the input from 2 and issuing a command to an external device.

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

Reference numeral 204 is a ROM, which is the CPU 201.
Stores a program to be executed by. However,
Loading programs from outside the billing means 200,
It may be omitted when the program is stored in the RAM 203.

Reference numeral 205 is a bus for the CPU 201 to ROM 204 to exchange data, and 206 is a storage device for storing a charge for each image for each resolution.
For example, it is composed of magnetism, light, semiconductor elements, and the like.

In FIG. 2, the control unit 10 shown in FIG.
1, traffic inspection unit 102, resolution selection unit 103,
Each function of the billing processing unit 104 includes a CPU 201, an I / O interface 202, a RAM 203, a ROM 204, and a B.
It can be realized by US205.

For example, the control of the above-mentioned operation procedure, traffic inspection, resolution selection, billing processing, etc. are performed by the CPU 20.
The RAM 20 is used for the operation procedure, the traffic inspection method, the resolution selection method, and the billing processing method.
3 or ROM 204. I / I is used for traffic inspection in the first operation procedure, resolution notification in the second operation procedure, and charge notification in the fourth operation procedure.
This is done through the O interface 202.

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

That is, the second operation procedure and the third operation procedure are combined into one procedure, and the resolution selection section 103 uses the Inf
The transmission capacity Ci required when transmitting o 1 at a certain resolution i is read out. Then, after notifying the traffic inspection unit Ci of the transmission capacity Ci, the traffic inspection unit inspects whether transmission is possible at the resolution i.

If transmission is not possible, the resolution selection unit 103 reads out the required transmission capacity at a resolution lower than the resolution i (for example, resolution i-1),
If the transmission is possible by repeating the above-described operation, the resolution selection unit determines the resolution from the image transmission system and the billing processing unit 104.
To notify.

In the first operation procedure, the resolution is specified when the user requests an image, and the charging means of the present embodiment sets the resolution specified in the second to fourth operation procedures. If the image can be transmitted by the resolution selection unit 103, the resolution selection unit 103 notifies the image transmission system of an instruction to transmit at the designated resolution, and the billing processing unit 104.
Performs billing processing at the above resolution.

If the resolution cannot be transmitted, the resolution selecting section 103 transmits at a transferable rate or waits until the transmission becomes possible. Alternatively, the image transmission system is notified that the processing is performed with the resolution reduced or the request is canceled. The charging processing unit 104
Charging processing is performed according to each processing.

A second embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, in an image transmission system that transmits layer-encoded image information via a transmission path, the resolution (layer) of an image to be transmitted is selected according to traffic on the transmission path in consideration of hierarchical encoding. However, it is applied in order to realize a charging means of a fee system that determines a unit charge per unit information amount according to the resolution for each image and determines the charge from the unit charge and the information amount of the transmitted image. .

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the main part of the charging means in the image transmission system of the present invention, and is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1 in the first embodiment. Note that, in the following description, detailed description of portions that are the same as the configuration and operation of the above-described first embodiment will be omitted. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 400 denotes a billing means included in the image transmission system, which corresponds to the billing means 100 in FIG.

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

A charging processing unit 404 corresponds to the charging processing unit 104 in FIG. A storage device 405 stores the charge information of the image referred to by the control unit 401.
This corresponds to the storage device 105 in FIG. An image transmission system 410 corresponds to the image transmission system 110 of FIG.

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

FIG. 6 shows an example of a charge table stored in the storage device 402. In the charge table of FIG. 6, for example, the information “Info 1” indicates that the charge per unit information amount when the resolution 1 is provided is the charge 11.

Further, it means that there is a charge of 12 per unit information amount when the resolution is 2 and the charge is 13 when the resolution is 3.

Below, the fee per unit information amount determined for each resolution is determined by the charging means of the present embodiment, and the fee is determined by the fee system which determines the fee from the unit information amount and the information amount of the transmitted image. The user (or the user's terminal) requests the image Info 1 from the provider for the operation to be performed, and the transmission capacity of the image transmission system at that time is C.
The case of r (C14> Cr ≧ C13) is shown as an example. In this case, the first operation procedure to the fourth operation procedure are the first operation procedure to the third operation procedure in the above-described first embodiment.
Since it is the same as the operation procedure of, the description thereof will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, when the above-mentioned fourth operation procedure is completed, next, in the fifth operation procedure, the measurement unit 406 causes the image transmission system 410 to perform the Info operation.
While transmitting 1, the amount of information is counted and In
After the transmission of fo 1 is completed, the unit price 1
The charge is determined from 2 and the counted information amount, and the charge is notified to the image transmission system 410.

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

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

Reference numeral 506 denotes a storage device for storing a charge for each image for each resolution, and the storage device 206 shown in FIG.
Is equivalent to 507 is an image transmission system 4
A measuring device for measuring the transmission amount of image information transmitted and received at 10, and is composed of a counter or the like. However, when time is measured instead of the amount of information and the charge is calculated from the unit charge and time, the CPU measures the time,
The measuring device 507 can be omitted.

In FIG. 5, the control section 40 shown in FIG.
1, traffic inspection unit 402, resolution selection unit 103,
Each function of the charging processing unit 104 includes a CPU 501 and an I / O 5
02, RAM 503, ROM 504, BUS 505, and measuring device 507 (however, measuring device 507 may be omitted in the case of time measurement).

Also in the case of the present embodiment, various modifications as described in the above-mentioned first embodiment can be considered. In the case of the present embodiment,
At an arbitrary timing during image transmission, the charge at that time is obtained by a method such as the fifth operation procedure, and the charging processing unit 4
04 notifies the image transmission system of the above charge.

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

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram for explaining the charging means according to the third embodiment. 7, reference numeral 701 denotes a control unit, which is the control unit 401 shown in FIG.
Is equivalent to

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

Reference numeral 704 denotes a billing processing unit, which corresponds to the billing processing unit 404 shown in FIG. Reference numeral 705 denotes a storage device, which corresponds to the storage device 405 shown in FIG. A measurement unit 706 corresponds to the measurement unit 406 illustrated in FIG. The details of each section and the resolution selection method are the same as those described above, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

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

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

Below, by the charging means of the present embodiment,
User (or user's terminal) Use the procedure to calculate the cumulative charge of the charge calculated from the unit charge and the amount of image information.
rL requests the image Info 1 from the provider A, and the transmission capacity of the image transmission system at that time is Cr (C1
The case of 4> Cr ≧ C13) is shown as an example.

Since the first to fifth operation procedures in the operation procedure of the present embodiment are the same as the above-described first to fifth operation procedures, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, when the above-mentioned fifth operation procedure is completed, then, in the sixth operation procedure, charging processing section 704 causes storage section 705 to return User L.
The accumulated charge is read, the charge obtained in the fifth operation procedure is added to the accumulated charge, and the result is recorded in the storage unit 705.

FIG. 8 shows a concrete configuration example of the charging means corresponding to the functional block diagram of FIG. In FIG. 8, 800 is a charging means, and the charging means 5 shown in FIG.
It is equivalent to 00. Reference numeral 801 denotes a CPU, which corresponds to the CPU 501 shown in FIG. 802
Is an I / O interface and corresponds to the I / O interface 502 shown in FIG.

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

Reference numeral 806 denotes a storage device for storing a charge for each image for each resolution, and the storage device 506 shown in FIG.
Is equivalent to

In FIG. 8, the control unit 70 shown in FIG.
1, traffic inspection unit 702, resolution selection unit 703,
Each function of the charging processing unit 704 includes a CPU 801, an I / O 8
02, RAM 803, ROM 804, BUS 805, and measuring device 807 (however, measuring device 807 may be omitted in the case of time measurement).

This is as described in the first embodiment. In the case of the present embodiment, the fee at that time is obtained by the method such as the fifth operation procedure at an arbitrary timing during image transmission, and the charging processing unit 704 charges the image transmission system with the above fee. Notice.

The operation of this embodiment is not limited to the above-mentioned operation, and various modifications are considered as described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment. be able to.

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

Then, at any timing during image transmission, the charge at that time is obtained by the method such as the above-mentioned fifth operation procedure. Then, the charging processing unit 704
The above charge is notified to the image transmission system.

Further, the following processing is performed. That is,
The sixth operation procedure is performed in parallel with the fourth operation procedure and the fifth operation procedure. In the fifth operation procedure, no charge notification is given. In the sixth operation procedure, it is possible to notify the accumulated charge, and so on.

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

In FIG. 10, reference numeral 1001 denotes a transmission terminal device, a personal computer on the image provider side equipped with a charging means,
A device such as a workstation or other computer or image transmitter.

1002 is a charging means corresponding to the charging processing means shown in the first to third embodiments.
Reference numeral 003 denotes a user-side personal computer, workstation, other computer, or a receiving terminal device such as an image receiver.

Below, referring to FIG. 11, when the charging processing means and the apparatus therefor of the second embodiment are applied, User L (reception terminal device 1003) displays an image Inf.
o1 is requested to the provider A (transmitting terminal device 1001), and the transferable capacity of the image transmission system at that time is Cr.
The operation of this embodiment will be described by taking the case of (C14> Cr ≧ C13) as an example.

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

Next, in the second operation procedure, after the billing processing means 1002 inspects the traffic on the transmission line via the transmission terminal device 1001 to obtain the transmissible capacity Cr,
Referring to C11 to C14 in the charge table of FIG. 6, the transmissible capacity Cr and C11 to C14 are compared, and Info 1
Is transmitted at a resolution of 3, and the transmission terminal device 10
01 is notified of resolution 3.

Next, in the third operation procedure, the transmitting terminal device 1001 sets Info 1 to resolution 3 via the transmission path.
And send it to User L. At the same time, the billing processing unit 1002 measures the amount of information of Info 1 transmitted by the transmission terminal device 1001.

Next, in the fourth operation procedure, the billing processing means 1002 monitors Info1 being transmitted and detects a bit pattern indicating the end of the image, or the Info 1 from the transmitting terminal 1001 to the User L is transmitted. When receiving the message indicating that the transmission is completed and recognizing that the transmission of Info 1 to User L is completed,
Unit charge 13 is read from the charge table shown in
Info 1 information amount provided to er L and unit price 1
Determine the charge to be charged to User L from 3.

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

The following cases are also included in this embodiment. First, when the user requests an image in the first operation procedure, the resolution is also designated. If the transmission capacity Cr sufficient for transmission at the designated resolution cannot be obtained, the billing processing means transmits at the resolution designated by the transmission capacity Cr. Alternatively, wait until a sufficient transmission capacity can be secured. Alternatively, it is transmitted at a resolution that can be transmitted by the transmission capacity Cr.

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

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

In the third operation procedure, the unit charge 13 is read out, the unit charge 13 and the charge up to that time are calculated from the amount of information at that time, and the calculated charge is output to the transmitting terminal device 1001. And the provider A and User
Notify L etc.

In the fourth operation procedure, after the unit charge 13 is read, it is output to the transmitting terminal device 1001 and the unit charge 13 is transmitted from the transmitting terminal device 1001 via the transmission line.
To User L.

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

In the present embodiment, the following modifications can be considered in addition to the above-mentioned example. That is, modifications such as applying the charging processing means of the first embodiment or applying the charging processing means of the third embodiment can be included in the present embodiment.

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

In FIG. 12, reference numeral 1201 denotes a personal computer, a workstation, or the like on the image provider side equipped with a charging means.
Other transmission terminals such as computers and image transmitters, 1202 is a charging means corresponding to the charging processing means shown in the first to third embodiments, and 1203 is a personal computer or workstation on the receiver side. , And other receiving terminals such as computers and image receivers.

In the following, according to FIG. 13, when the charging processing means of the second embodiment is applied, User L (reception terminal device 1203) displays the image Info 1 as the provider A.
(Transmitting terminal device 1201), and the transmittable capacity Cr of the image transmission system at that time (C14> Cr ≧
The operation of this embodiment will be described by taking the case of C13) as an example.

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

Next, in the second operation procedure [S2],
The charging means 1202 inspects the traffic on the transmission path via the receiving terminal device 1203 to obtain the transmittable capacity Cr, and then refers to C11 to C13 in the charge table of FIG.
Then, the transmissible capacity Cr is compared with C11 to C14, it is determined that Info 1 is transmitted at resolution 3, and the reception terminal device 1203 is notified of resolution 2.

The receiving terminal device 1203 displays "User L
Requests the provider A to transmit the image Info 1 at resolution 3 ”to the transmitting terminal device 1201 via the transmission path.

Next, in the third operation procedure [S3],
Receiving the notification from the receiving terminal device 1203, the transmitting terminal device 1201 transmits Info 1 to User L at a resolution of 3 via the transmission path. At the same time, the billing processing means 1202 measures the amount of information of Info 1 received by the receiving terminal device 1203.

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

When the billing processing means 1202 recognizes that the reception is completed as described above, the unit fee 13 is read from the fee table shown in FIG. 6, and the information amount of Info 1 received from the provider A and the unit fee are read. 13 determines the charge charged by the provider A, and the receiving terminal device 1203
Output to Next, in the fifth operation procedure [S5], the fee is paid.

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

Alternatively, the image receiving apparatus is notified of an instruction to cancel the request, the charging processing is performed according to the instruction, and the image receiving apparatus transmits the image to the image transmitting apparatus or cancels the request according to the instruction. Process. The above processing may be inquired to the user to be selected.

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

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

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

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

In the first operation procedure, the receiving terminal device 1
An image transmission request message is transmitted from 203, and the transmission terminal device 1201 selects resolution 3 by the same method as the billing processing means 1202.

In the third operation procedure, the unit charge 13 is read out, the charge up to that time is calculated from the unit charge 13 and the information amount of Info 1 received up to that time, and the calculated charge is calculated. Receiving terminal device 1203
It is output to and displayed on, and UserL is notified.

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

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

In FIG. 14, reference numeral 1401 denotes a personal computer, a workstation, or the like on the image provider side, which is equipped with a charging means.
Other transmitting terminal devices such as computers and image transmitters, 1402 is a charging means corresponding to the charging processing means shown in the first to third embodiments, and 1403 is a user side equipped with the charging means. A personal computer, a workstation, other receiving terminals such as computers and image receivers, and 1404 are billing means corresponding to the billing processing means shown in the first to third embodiments.

Below, according to FIG. 15, when the charging processing means and the apparatus therefor according to the second embodiment described above are applied, User L (reception terminal device 1403) sends the image Info 1 to the provider A (transmission). Terminal device 1401)
The operation of the present embodiment will be described by taking as an example the case where the transferable capacity of the image transmission system at that time is Cr (C14> Cr ≧ C13).

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

Next, in the second operation procedure [S2],
The billing means 1402 inspects the traffic on the transmission path via the transmission terminal device 1401 to obtain the transmittable capacity Cr, and then refers to C11 to C14 in the charge table of FIG. 6 to determine the transmittable capacity Cr and C11 to C14. And compare Info
1 is transmitted at resolution 3 and transmission terminal device 1401 is notified of resolution 3. The charging means 1404 also obtains the resolution 3 similarly to the charging means 1402, and notifies the receiving terminal device 1403.

Next, in the third operation procedure [S3],
The transmitting terminal device 1401 transmits Info 1 with a resolution of 3 to the receiving terminal device 1403 via the transmission path. In the charging means 1402, the I transmitted by the transmitting terminal device 1401 is transmitted.
The information amount of nfo 1 is measured.

The receiving terminal device 1403 receives Info 1 sent via the transmission path. On the other hand, in the charging unit 1404, the I received by the receiving terminal device 1403 is received.
The information amount of nfo 1 is measured.

Next, in the fourth operation procedure [S4],
The charging unit 1402 monitors the Info 1 being transmitted and detects a bit pattern indicating the end of the image, or receives a message indicating that the transmission of the Info 1 from the transmission terminal 1401 to the User L has ended, and User
When recognizing that the transmission of Info 1 to L is completed, the unit charge 13 is read from the charge table shown in FIG. Then, the charge to be charged to User L is calculated from the information amount of Info 1 provided to User L and the unit charge 13, and is notified to the transmitting terminal 1401.

Charging means 1404 determines whether Info is being received.
1 is detected and a bit pattern indicating the end of the image is detected, or In from the provider A from the receiving terminal 1403.
Upon recognizing that the reception of Info1 from the provider A is completed in response to the message indicating that the reception of fo1 has been completed, the unit charge 13 is read from the charge table shown in FIG.

Then, the fee charged by the provider A is calculated from the information amount of the Info 1 received from the provider A and the unit fee 13 and is notified to the receiving terminal 1403.

Next, in the fifth operation procedure [S5],
Pay the fee.

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

If the transmission capacity Cr sufficient for transmission at the designated resolution cannot be obtained, the charging means 1402 (or 1404) transmits at the resolution designated by the transmission capacity Cr. Alternatively, wait until a sufficient transmission capacity can be secured. Alternatively, it is transmitted at a resolution that can be transmitted by the transmission capacity Cr.

Alternatively, an instruction to cancel the request or the like is sent to the image transmitting apparatus (the image receiving apparatus in the case of the charging unit 1404), the charging processing is performed according to the instruction, and the image transmitting apparatus and the image receiving apparatus receive the instruction. According to the procedure, processing such as image transmission or request cancellation is performed. The above processing may be inquired to the user to be selected.

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

That is, the first case is a case where the provider and the user have the charging means. In this case, the user (or the charging means that the user has) has the third operation procedure [S3] at the time of starting the image provision from the output destination or the image provider.
In step 3, the user is informed that the image transmission has started, the charging operation is started, and at the time of the image provision end, the fourth operation procedure [S4] is informed that the image transmission has ended. , The charging operation ends. Also, the user is notified of the amount of information of the image from the output destination or the provider.

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

At the stage of the second operation procedure [S2],
The charging unit 1402 reads out the unit fee 13, notifies the transmitting terminal device 1401 and displays it on the transmitting terminal device 1401 to notify the provider A.

Further, at the stage of the second operation procedure [S2], the charging means 1404 reads out the unit charge 13, notifies the receiving terminal device 1403, displays it on the receiving terminal device 1403, and notifies User L.

In the third operation procedure [S3], the charging means 1404 reads out the unit charge 13, and the unit charge 1
3 and the charge up to that time is calculated from the information amount of Info 1 that has been received up to that time, and the above charge is output to the receiving terminal device 1403.

The charging means 1402 is connected to the transmitting terminal device 140.
It is realized by using the CPU, the memory, the storage device, and the like included in 1. In addition, the charging means 1404 is connected to the receiving terminal device 14
It is realized by using the CPU, memory, storage device, etc. that 03 has.

Furthermore, the charging processing means of the first embodiment is applied, or the charging processing means of the third embodiment is applied. The networks using the charging means described above are all embodiments related to the present invention.
A preferred embodiment using the charging means according to the present invention will be described below.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In order to explain the charging operation in the above configuration, the center station 1614 has a charging means (fourth
Embodiment), a terminal device 160 that is a user
An example will be described with reference to FIG. 17, in which 9 designates the digital television 1612 as the image output destination and issues a request to the center station 1614 on the transmission side.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The following cases are also included in this embodiment.
That is, when the center station 1614 is not provided with the charging means but the terminal device 1609 is provided with the charging means, in the first operation procedure [S1], the charging means sends the transmission request to the terminal device 1610.
Take in from 09.

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

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

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

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

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

The eighth embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the concept of a multimedia network system to which the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 18, 1801 is a B-ISDN network using a high-speed public line, 1802 is a cable television (CTAV) network, 1803 and 1804 are local area networks (LAN), and 1805 is a communication satellite.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Next, in the second operation procedure [S2],
The information provider 1821 sends the image information hierarchically encoded according to the request from the user 1839 to the user 1 via the transmission line.
839. During this period, the charging operation as shown in the fourth embodiment is executed.

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

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

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

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

As a countermeasure against such fraud,
The charging means shown in the first to eighth embodiments or the system using the same can be combined with the following encryption means.

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

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

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

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

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

[0207] Among the block ciphers, the DES (Data Encryption) algorithm whose algorithm is open to the public is used.
Ion Standard) and FEAL (Fast)
data Encipherment ALgorit
hm) (for details, see "Cipher and Information Security" by Tsujii and Kasahara, Shokoido, Chapter 2 in 1990.) is widely used as a commercial cipher.

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

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

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

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

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

[0213]

As described above, according to the present invention, according to the present invention, the resolution of an image to be transmitted is selected according to the traffic on the transmission path, and charging is performed according to the selected resolution. It is possible to realize a billing system that makes use of characteristics such as the type and quality of information and services, and it is possible to handle a variety of information and services.

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

Further, according to another feature of the present invention, since it is possible to perform billing in consideration of the information amount of the image in addition to the resolution of the image to be transmitted, it is possible to optimize the image transmission according to the actual situation of image transmission. Can be charged.

Further, according to another feature of the present invention, the charge for the image subjected to the charge processing can be settled for every fixed period, so that the settlement of the image charge can be prevented from being delayed.

According to another feature of the present invention, information can be protected from wiretapping and tampering, and fair billing can be performed.

Further, according to another feature of the present invention, it is possible to carry out layer coding in a designated layer and to charge according to the designated layer.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

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

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

FIG. 4 is a functional configuration diagram showing a charging means of a second embodiment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an outline of a format of hierarchically encoded image data.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 billing means 101 control unit 102 traffic inspection unit 103 resolution selection unit 104 billing processing unit 105 storage unit 110 image transmission system

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An image transmission system for transmitting layer-encoded image information, and selecting means for selecting a layer of an image to be transmitted in accordance with traffic on a transmission path for transmitting the layer-encoded image information. And an accounting processing means for accounting for the transmitted image information according to the layer selected by the selecting means. 2. An image transmission system for transmitting, between a transmission terminal and a reception terminal, layer-encoded image information such that the resolution is different for each layer, and a transmission path for transmitting the layer-encoded image information. Traffic inspection means for inspecting the traffic of the traffic, and a receiving terminal equipped with a resolution selection means for selecting the resolution of an image to be transmitted according to the inspection result of the traffic inspection means, and the resolution selection means. An image transmission system comprising: a billing processing means for billing the image information to be transmitted according to the resolution; and a transmission terminal provided with a fee storage means for storing the fee of the image information. 3. An image transmission system for handling layer-encoded image information, the traffic inspection means for inspecting traffic on a transmission path for transmitting the layer-encoded image information, and the traffic inspection means. Resolution selecting means for selecting the resolution of the image to be transmitted according to the inspection result, charging processing means for performing the charging processing of the image information to be transmitted according to the resolution selected by the resolution selecting means, and the charge for the image information. An image transmission system, comprising: a charge storage unit for storing the. 4. An image transmission system for transmitting, between a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal, image information that is layer-encoded so that the resolution is different for each layer, and a resolution selecting means for selecting the resolution of an image to be transmitted. And a receiving terminal, a billing processing unit that bills the image information to be transmitted according to the resolution selected by the resolution selecting unit, and a charge storage unit that stores the charge of the image information. An image transmission system comprising a terminal. 5. An image transmission system for handling layer-encoded image information, the traffic inspection means for inspecting traffic on a transmission line for transmitting the layer-encoded image information, and the traffic inspection means. A resolution selecting means for selecting a resolution of an image to be transmitted according to an inspection result, an information amount measuring means for measuring an information amount of the transmitted image, and a resolution and an information amount of the transmitted image information. An image transmission system comprising: a billing processing unit that performs a billing process; and a fee storage unit that stores a fee for the image information. 6. The image transmission system according to claim 1, further comprising a payment means for paying the image information fee at regular intervals. 7. An image transmission system comprising the charging means according to claim 1 on a transmission side. 8. An image transmission system comprising the charging means according to claim 1 on a receiving side. 9. An image transmission system comprising the charging means according to any one of claims 1 to 6 on both the transmitting side and the receiving side. 10. An image transmission destination designating unit for designating a destination of image information to an arbitrary image receiving device and requesting an image information provider to transmit image information, and an image designated by the image transmission destination designating unit. An image transmitting means for transmitting the image information to the receiving device, and a charging means for performing a charging process for a designated person to whom the image information is sent or a user who receives the image information. Image transmission system. 11. The image transmission according to claim 7, further comprising an encryption unit for performing at least encryption or digital signature on the transmitted information. system. 12. A communication device in an image transmission system that handles layer-encoded image information, the image resolution and the amount of information according to the traffic of a transmission path for transmitting the layer-encoded image information. A communication device, comprising: a billing processing unit that performs a billing process based on 13. A communication device for transmitting data hierarchically encoded in a specified layer to a receiving terminal via a network, wherein the communication device charges according to the specified layer. 14. A communication device for receiving layer-encoded encoded data via a network, comprising: means for designating a layer in the layer encoding.