Charging method and charging system in interactive on-line service

Abstract

Abstract A charging method in interactive on-line service where a server and terminals of users are mutually connected by means of a transmission medium, and a predetermined service is provided from the server to the terminals via the transmission medium, and the fee for such service is collected from each user individually. The charging method comprises the steps of opening, in the server, an imaginary account for a child of the relevant user with a limited maximum amount, and withdrawing from the imaginary account the fee for the service provided to the user's child. The server can provide a predetermined service to the relevant user's child within a range of the limited maximum amount preset in the imaginary account. And when withdrawing the fee from the imaginary account, the server can restrict the service providable to the terminal. Thus, the parent enables his child to receive a desired on-line service, such as on-line shopping or video-on-demand, on the basis of the child's own judgment by setting an upper limit of a service utilisable by the child and still limiting the services providable for the child, hence realising promoted utilisation of the service by children.

Inventors

• 👤 Junichi c/o Sony Corp. Nagahara
• 👤 Tatsushi c/o Sony Corp. Nashida
• 👤 Hiroaki c/o Sony Corp. Nakano
• 👤 Makoto c/o Sony Corp. Niijima
• 👤 Yumie c/o Sony Corp. Sonoda
• 👤 Yoshiaki c/o Sony Corp. Kumagai

Bibliographic Details