Accounting apparatus, information receiving apparatus, and communication system

Abstract

A communication system and accounting apparatus are provided capable of easy management of accounting a use of information by a user in multi-media networks while protecting privacy of the user. As a user input money information to an PPC input unit of a user terminal, the money information including cash, a prepaid card, an IC card, and the like, a discrimination unit judges a use permission of provided information in accordance with the money amount indicated by the money information and/or charge information added to the information provided by an information provider. In response to a user permission signal, a signal processing unit processes the provided information and supplies it to the user.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An accounting apparatus comprising: 
 input means for inputting money information indicating an amount of money; and    judging means for judging the money information input from said input means and outputting a permission signal for permitting a use of information provided by an information provider.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said judging means judges the money information in accordance with the money information and use charge information added to the provided information.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said money information is cash.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said money information is recorded in a recording medium.  
     
     
         5 . An information receiving apparatus for receiving information provided by an information provider, comprising: 
 input means for inputting money information indicating an amount of money; and    judging means for judging the money information input from said input means and outputting a permission signal for permitting a use of information provided by an information provider.    
     
     
         6 . An information receiving apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said judging means judges the money information in accordance with the money information and use charge information added to the provided information.  
     
     
         7 . An information receiving apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said money information is cash.  
     
     
         8 . An information receiving apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said money information is recorded in a recording medium.  
     
     
         9 . An information receiving apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising communication means for transmitting use information of the provided information.  
     
     
         10 . A communication system comprising: 
 an information provider terminal for providing information;    a user terminal for receiving and using information provided by said information provider terminal; and    an accounting unit inputted with money information and having judging means for judging the input money information, and outputting a permission signal for permitting a use of information provided by an information provider.    
     
     
         11 . A communication system according to  claim 10 , wherein said judging means judges the money information in accordance with the money information and use charge information added to the provided information.  
     
     
         12 . A communication system according to  claim 10 , wherein said money information is cash.  
     
     
         13 . A communication system according to  claim 10 , wherein said money information is recorded in a recording medium.  
     
     
         14 . A communication system according to  claim 10 , further comprising communication means for transmitting use information of the provided information.  
     
     
         15 . A communication system according to  claim 14 , further comprising a charge distributor terminal for transmitting charge distribution information to said information provider terminal in accordance with the use information.  
     
     
         16 . A communication system according to  claim 14 , further comprising a charge accommodating terminal for performing accommodation of a use charge of the provided information in accordance with the use information.  
     
     
         17 . A communication system according to  claim 10 , wherein cipher communication is performed between said terminals.  
     
     
         18 . A device in operation with a terminal from which a user uses information provided from an information provider, comprising: 
 means for inputting first data indicating an amount of money;    means for inputting second data regarding the information provided from the information provider; and    judging means for judging whether a use of the information at the terminal can be permitted or not, in accordance with the first and second data,    wherein said judging means transmits the judgement result of a use permission to the external of the device.    
     
     
         19 . A device according to  claim 18 , wherein said second data includes a use charge, and said judging means judges a use permission of the information by comparing the amount of money and the use charge.  
     
     
         20 . A device according to  claim 18 , wherein said first data includes data indicating the type of a recording medium in which said first data is recorded, and said judging means judges a use permission of the information in accordance with the data indicating the type.  
     
     
         21 . A device according to  claim 18 , further comprising means for rewriting the amount of money in response to a judgement operation of said judging means.  
     
     
         22 . A device according to  claim 18 , further comprising means for outputting a use state of the information to the external of the device in response to a judgement operation of said judging means.  
     
     
         23 . A device according to  claim 22 , further comprising means for rewriting the amount of money in response to a judgement operation of said judging means, and means for notifying a use state of the information to the external of the device, synchronously with the operation of said rewriting means.