JPH0946679A - Image transmitter and image transmission system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain charging taking kind and quality of information into account by providing a charging means for charging processing in response to a kind of a frame to be sent and a storage means of a charge of an image in MPEG data. SOLUTION: A charging processing section 401 of a charging means 400 monitors a message sent/received by an image transmission system 410 or receives a message from the image transmission system 410 to receive information requesting transmission of an image Info 1 in a mode 3. Then the charging processing section 401 reads a charge per unit information from the charge table stored in a storage section 402 when the Info 1 is provided in the mode 3. Then the processing section 401 measures an information amount of the Info 1 being transmitted. The processing section 401 detects an end of the image Info 1. The processing section 401 outputs the calculated area to a transmission system 410.

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 for the information.

[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 problems, it is a first object of the present invention to make it possible to carry out a charging process in consideration of the types of information and services and the quality of information.

A second object is to make it possible to carry out a charging process according to the type of the decoded MPEG data frame.

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

[0007]

An image transmission apparatus of the present invention is an image transmission apparatus which handles MPEG data, and a charging means for performing a charging process according to the type of a frame transmitted among the MPEG data, It is characterized by comprising a charge storage means for storing the charge of the image.

In addition, the image transmission system of the present invention uses an MP
In the image transmission system handling EG data, the MP
The EG data is characterized by including a charging means for performing a charging process according to the type of the transmitted frame.

Another feature of the image transmission system of the present invention is that in an image transmission system that handles MPEG data, a charging process is performed according to the type and information amount of the transmitted frame in the MPEG data. It is characterized by comprising a charging means for

Another feature of the present invention is that in an image transmission system that handles MPEG data,
Of the MPEG data, a charging unit for performing a charging process according to the type of the transmitted frame, an information amount measuring unit for measuring the information amount of the transmitted frame, and a charge storage for storing the image charge. And means.

Another feature of the present invention is that in an image transmission system that handles MPEG data,
Of the above-mentioned MPEG data, a charging means for performing a charging process according to the type of transmitted frame and the amount of information,
It is characterized by comprising a charge storage means for storing the charge of the image.

Another feature of the present invention is that in an image transmission system handling MPEG data,
Of the above-mentioned MPEG data, a charging means for performing a charging process according to the type of transmitted frame and the amount of information,
An information amount measuring means for measuring the information amount of the transmitted frame and a fee storing means for storing the image fee are provided.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a payment means for paying the image charge 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 receiving side has the above charging means.

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 that in an image transmission system handling MPEG data,
All frames of the MPEG data are transmitted, and the MPE
It is characterized in that a charging means is provided for performing a charging process according to the type of the decoded frame of the G data.

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

Another feature of the image transmission apparatus of the present invention is image transmission destination designating means for designating an image transmission destination to an arbitrary image reception device and requesting the image provider to transmit the image. , An image transmitting means for transmitting an image to the image receiving device designated by the image destination designating means, and a processing for performing a charging process for a destination designator of the image or a user who received the image. And a charging means.

[0020]

Since the present invention has the above-mentioned technical means, it becomes possible to charge an image fee for each mode.

Further, according to another feature of the present invention, since the charging is performed according to the mode and the amount of information of the image information, the image charge can be charged for each mode and the amount of information can be also set. You will be able to pay for the charges.

Further, according to another feature of the present invention, since the payment means for paying the fee for every fixed period is provided, it is possible to settle the charge for each fixed period by calculating the accumulated charge. Become.

Further, according to another feature of the present invention, it is possible to perform a charging process according to the type of the decoded frame in the transmitted MPEG data.

[0024]

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. According to the embodiments described below, the present charging means is capable of imposing an image charge according to the type of the frame to be transmitted, in consideration of the characteristics of the MPEG data, in the transmission system for transmitting the MPEG data through the transmission path. It is applied to

In particular, in the first embodiment, there is a charge system that determines charges for transmitting only I frames, transmitting I frames and P frames, and transmitting I frames, P frames, and B frames. The charging means at that time will be described.

In the second embodiment, when only I frame is transmitted, when I frame and P frame are transmitted,
In addition to the case of transmitting the I frame, the P frame and the B frame, a charging means in the case of a charge system considering the amount of information will be described.

In the third embodiment, a charging means will be described in which charges are settled at regular intervals in the first and second embodiments.

In the fourth embodiment, the image providing side is the first.
A case will be described in which the charging means described in the first to third embodiments is included.

In the fifth embodiment, the image receiving side is the first
A case will be described in which the charging means described in the first to third embodiments is included.

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

In the seventh embodiment, a case will be explained in which the charging means shown in the first to sixth embodiments is applied to communication between devices connected to a local area network.

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

In the ninth embodiment, MPE of a certain image is performed.
When transmitting all G data and decoding only I frames,
A description will be given of the charging means when the I-frame and P-frame are decoded and the I-frame, the P-frame, and the B-frame are decoded, when the charge system determines the charge.

In the tenth embodiment, in order to protect information from eavesdropping and falsification and to carry out fair charging processing, the first embodiment described above is adopted.
A case will be described in which the encryption means is combined with the charging means shown in the embodiments to the ninth embodiment.

A first embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Before describing the first embodiment in detail, MPEG (Mo) used as an encoding method for efficiently storing and transmitting moving image information.
Ving Picture Experts Grou
p) will be described.

MPEG data is an international standard for the purpose of high-efficiency coding of moving images. It utilizes the frequency characteristics of data and human visual characteristics, and the redundancy in the time axis direction peculiar to moving images. This is a method of performing even higher efficiency coding by utilizing.

This MPEG system uses MPEG1 having a maximum transfer rate of 1.5 Mbps for digital storage media, and bidirectional digital multimedia equipment, digital VTR, and ATV without the upper limit of transmission rate.
(Advanced Television), MPEG2 intended to be used in all transmission systems such as optical fiber networks, but the basic algorithm is almost the same. Therefore, in the following, MPEG
Based on No. 1, the principle and data structure of the encoding method will be described.

First, the principle of this high-efficiency coding system based on MPEG will be described. In this high-efficiency coding 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.
By performing T and variable length coding processing to reduce the redundancy in the spatial direction, high efficiency coding is realized as a whole.

Regarding the redundancy in the time axis direction, paying attention to the fact that a continuous frame has a high correlation in the case of a moving image, the difference between the frame to be encoded and the frame preceding or succeeding in time is calculated. By taking this, it becomes possible to reduce the redundancy.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 20, in MPEG, in addition to an intra-coded image obtained in a coding mode in which coding is performed exclusively in a frame, a difference value from a temporally preceding frame is coded. The smallest amount of data among the difference value between the forward predictive coded image (P-picture) and the temporally preceding frame or the subsequent frame, or the difference value between the interpolated frames from both frames. Bidirectional predictive coded image (B-picture)
, And frames in these encoding modes are combined in a predetermined order.

In MPEG, the above-mentioned I-picture, P-picture, and B-picture are 1, 4, and 1, respectively.
1 unit with 0 sheets (GOP: Group Of Pictu
res) with an I-picture at the beginning and two B-pictures
It is recommended to repeatedly combine pictures and P-pictures. By placing I-pictures at a constant cycle, special reproduction such as reverse reproduction and partial reproduction in units of the above GOPs are possible, and an error occurs. We are trying to prevent transmission.

When a new object appears in a frame, the difference value between the succeeding frame and the succeeding frame is smaller than the difference between the succeeding frame and the preceding frame. There are cases. Therefore, in MPEG, bidirectional predictive coding as described above is performed to perform more efficient compression.

In MPEG, motion compensation is performed. That is, the difference between the previous 8 pixel × 8 pixel block and the macro block in the vicinity of the corresponding block of the preceding frame or the succeeding frame is a unit of a predetermined block (macro block) in which 4 blocks for luminance data and 2 blocks for color difference data are collected. , The motion vector is detected by searching the macro block having the smallest difference, 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 by using this motion vector, and thereby the encoded data encoded by motion compensation is decoded. I have to.

In the motion compensation as described above, a temporally preceding frame is once coded, and then a frame decoded again is obtained as a preceding frame, and the macroblock of this frame and the macro of the frame to be coded are obtained. Motion compensation is performed using blocks and.

It should be noted that MPEG1 performs motion compensation between frames, whereas 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. The data structure of this MPEG system is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, it 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.

Hereinafter, each layer will be described in order from the layer described in the lower part of the drawing. First, similarly to JPEG, the block layer is composed of 8 pixels × 8 pixels for each of luminance data and color difference data, and DCT is performed for each unit.

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 color data, and a macroblock header is added. In the MPEG system,
This macroblock is used as a unit for motion compensation and coding described later.

In the macroblock header, each data of motion compensation and quantization step in each macroblock and six DCT blocks (Y0, Y1, Y2, Y3, Cr, Cb) in each macroblock are included. It contains data on whether or not it has data.

The slice layer is composed of one or more macroblocks and a slice header which are continuous 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.

The slice header has data relating to the quantization step in each slice layer, and if there is no quantization step data specific to each macroblock, the quantization step in that slice layer is fixed. . Also,
The leading macroblock resets the difference value of the DC component.

The picture layer is the slice layer described above.
It is a collection of a plurality of frames, and is composed of a header such as a picture start code, and one or more slice layers following the header. Further, the header includes a code indicating the image encoding mode and a code indicating the accuracy of motion detection (pixel unit or half pixel unit).

The GOP 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, during which a plurality of GOPs having the same control data and image size necessary for decoding the image size, aspect ratio, etc.
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.

As described above, in MPEG, an I frame reproduces a moving image with a rough motion regardless of the P frame and the B frame, and the P frame is decoded together with the I frame to make the moving image smoother. I am trying to reproduce it in motion. Further, the B frame is decoded together with the I frame and the P frame so that a smoother motion can be reproduced.

Focusing on such a point, MPEG can be regarded as coding in which the motion of an image is treated hierarchically. Further, the required transmission capacity is larger for transmitting the I frame and the P frame than for the I frame alone, and the required transmission capacity is larger for transmitting the I frame, the P frame, and the B frame.

Therefore, when transmitting MPEG data, the following transmission methods can be considered. That is, the above-mentioned MPEG encoding is performed on the image transmitted first. Next, the usage status of the transmission path is inspected, and if there is sufficient free space, all the frames of the image information are transmitted.

If there is not enough free space required to send all frames, I frame and P frame are transmitted. Furthermore, if there is not enough free space,
Only transmit I-frames. Such a transmission method is
This is an important elemental technology when multimedia is handled by AN (Local Area Network) or the like.

In this embodiment, the MPEG is transmitted via the transmission line.
In an image transmission system for transmitting data, MPEG
In consideration of the characteristics of data, a frame of MPEG data to be transmitted is selected according to the traffic on the transmission path. Then, the present invention is applied to realize a billing processing means for performing billing processing in a fee system determined according to the frame transmitted for each image.

In this embodiment, MPEG is used.
As the data transmission mode, the case where only I frames are transmitted is defined as mode 1, the case where I frames and P frames are transmitted is defined as mode 2, and the case where I frames, P frames and B frames are transmitted is mode 3 Stipulate.

The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is based on MPEG.
An image transmission system for transmitting data via a transmission line, which is applied in order to realize a charging means of a charge system in which a charge is determined according to a frame to be transmitted for each image in consideration of characteristics of MPEG data. Is.

In this embodiment, as the transmission mode of the MPEG data, the case of transmitting only the I frame is the mode 1, the case of transmitting the I frame and the P frame is the mode 2, and the transmission mode of the I frame, the P frame and the B frame is transmitted. The case is defined as mode 3.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional arrangement of the charging means of this embodiment. In FIG. 1, 100 is a charging means included in the image transmission system of the present embodiment, and 1
Reference numeral 01 denotes a billing processing unit for fetching a user's image transmission request transmitted / received in the image transmission system and for obtaining / notifying the billing information from the storage unit 102.

Reference numeral 102 is a storage unit for storing fee information and usage information referred to by the charging processing unit 101.
Reference numeral 110 denotes the image transmission system according to the present embodiment, which includes a network and terminals such as a computer, a receiver, a printer, and a monitor connected to the network by wire or wirelessly.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the charge table stored in the storage unit 102. In the charge table of FIG. 3, for example, the information “Info 1” is the charge 11 when provided in the mode 1, the charge 12 when provided in the mode 2, and the charge 13 when provided in the mode 3. It means that.

Below, by the charging means of the present embodiment,
When the user (or the user's terminal used by the user) operates the image I when performing the charging process under the charge system in which the charge is determined for each mode.
The case where nfo 1 is requested from the provider in mode 3 is shown as an example.

First, in the first operation procedure, the billing processing unit 1 sends a message sent and received by the image transmission system.
The information for requesting to send the image Info 1 in mode 3 is captured by monitoring at 01 or by receiving a message from the image transmission system.

Next, in the second operation procedure, the charging processing unit 101 reads out the charge 13 for providing the image Info 1 in the mode 3 from the charge table (FIG. 3) stored in the storage unit 102.

Next, in the third operation procedure, the charge 13
Is output to the image transmission system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the charging processing unit 101. Reference numeral 201 shown in FIG. 2 is I / O according to a program stored in the ROM 204 or the RAM 203.
It is a CPU for processing an input from the O interface 202 and issuing a command to an external device.

Reference numeral 202 denotes an I / O interface for exchanging information with the image transmission system and inputting / outputting with the storage section. 203 is a RAM, which is the CPU 20
1 is used as a temporary memory or for storing a program.

Reference numeral 204 is a ROM that stores a program to be executed by the CPU 201. However,
Read the program from outside the billing means,
If you want to store the program in AM203,
The ROM 204 may be omitted.

Reference numeral 205 denotes the CPU 201 to ROM 20.
4 is a bus for exchanging data. In addition,
The storage unit 102 can be realized using a storage device such as a magnetic, optical, or semiconductor device.

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 MPEG data via a transmission path, considering the characteristics of MPEG data, a charge per unit information amount is determined according to a frame to be transmitted for each image,
The present invention is applied in order to realize a billing means of a fee system that obtains a fee from the unit fee and the amount of transmitted image information.

In this embodiment, the transmission mode of MPEG data is mode 1 when transmitting only I frames, mode 2 when transmitting I frames and P frames, and mode 2 when transmitting I frames, P frames and B frames. The case of transmission is defined as mode 3.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the charging means according to this embodiment. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 400 denotes a charging unit included in the image transmission system according to the present embodiment, and 401.
Captures a user's image transmission request transmitted and received in the image transmission system from the image transmission system, and stores in the storage unit 40.
A billing processing unit for obtaining, calculating, and notifying billing information from 2.

Reference numeral 402 is a storage unit for storing fee information and usage information referenced by the charging processing unit 401. 41
Reference numeral 0 denotes the image transmission system of the present embodiment, which is composed of a network and terminals such as a computer, a receiver, a printer, and a monitor connected to the network by wire or wirelessly.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the fee table stored in the storage unit 402. In the charge table of FIG. 6, for example, in the case of information “Info 1”, the charge per unit information amount when provided in the mode 1 is the unit charge 1
1 means that the charge per unit information amount when provided in the mode 2 is unit charge 12, and the charge per unit information amount when provided in the mode 3 is unit charge 13.

Below, by the charging means of the present embodiment,
A charge (unit charge) per unit amount of information is set for each mode, and the operation of performing the charging process in a charge system that uses the product of the unit charge and the information amount of the transmitted image as the charge (or the user's As an example, a case where the (use terminal) requests the image Info 1 from the provider in mode 3 is shown.

First, in the first operation procedure, the billing processing unit 401 transmits the image Info 1 in the mode 3 by monitoring the message transmitted / received by the image transmission system or by receiving the message from the image transmission system. Capture the information to request that.

Next, in the second operation procedure, the charging processing unit 401 uses the charge table (FIG. 6) stored in the storage unit 402 to charge the image information 1 in mode 3 per unit information amount. The unit charge 13 is read out.

Next, in the third operation procedure, the charging processing unit 401 measures the information amount of the image Info1 being transmitted.

Next, in the fourth operation procedure, the image In
When the transmission of fo 1 ends, the charging processing unit 401
The end of the image Info 1 transmitted to the User L is detected by a method similar to the operation procedure of 1.

Next, in the fifth operation procedure, the charging processing unit 401 calculates the charge from the unit charge 13 and the measured amount of information.

Next, in the sixth operation procedure, the charging processing unit 401 notifies the image transmission system 410 of the charge calculated in the fifth operation procedure. However, in addition to the above operation,
The operations of the fifth operation procedure to the sixth operation procedure may be performed at any timing during image transmission. Further, in the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 5, a charge system other than simply setting the product of the unit charge and the information amount as the charge may be adopted.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific configuration example of the charging processing unit 401 in FIG. A CPU 501 shown in FIG. 5 is an I / O interface 50 according to a program stored in the ROM 504 or the RAM 503.
It is for processing the input from 2 and issuing a command to an external device.

Reference numeral 502 denotes an I / O interface for exchanging information with a communication partner in the image transmission system 410 of this embodiment and for inputting / outputting with a storage device. A RAM 503 is used by the CPU 501 as a temporary memory and stores a program.

Reference numeral 504 is a ROM that stores a program to be executed by the CPU 501. However,
The ROM 504 may be omitted when the program is read from the outside of the charging unit or the program is stored in the RAM 503.

A bus 505 is used by the CPU 501 to the ROM 504 to exchange data. 506 is
It is a measuring device for measuring the amount of image information transmitted and received in the image transmission system 410, and is composed of a counter or the like.

In the configuration of FIG. 5, for example, the charge calculation is performed by the CPU 501, and the operation procedure and charge calculation method therefor are stored in the RAM 503 or the ROM 504. The access to the storage device is performed via the I / O interface 502, and the information amount of the image transmitted in the image transmission system is measured by the measuring instrument 506.

However, instead of the amount of information, time is measured,
When the charge is calculated from the unit charge and time, the CPU 5
The measurement may be performed at 01 and the measuring device 506 may be omitted.

Also, the charging processing unit 401 in FIG.
The configuration shown in FIG. 7 may be used. 701 shown in FIG. 7 is I /
It is an O interface, takes in the image request signal transmitted and received in the image transmission system, accesses the storage device, and reads the unit fee from the fee table (FIG. 6),
The read charge is input to the multiplier 702, and the multiplier 7
It is for outputting the charge calculated by 02 to the image transmission system.

Reference numeral 702 calculates the product of the unit charge of the image input from the I / O interface 701 and the amount of information measured by the measuring device 703, and the value (product) is used as the charge for the I / O interface 701. Is a multiplier that outputs to. Reference numeral 703 is a measuring device such as a counter or a timer that measures the amount of image information transmitted and received in the image transmission system.

In the configuration of FIG. 7, for example, the charge calculation is performed by the multiplier 702, and the message for the user to request the image and the charge notification are performed via the I / O interface 701.

Then, the measuring device 703 measures the information amount of the image transmitted in the image transmission system. However, the configuration shown in FIG. 7 is a configuration in which the product of the unit charge and the information amount is used as the charge.

The configuration for realizing the charging processing unit in FIG. 4 is not limited to that shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. For example, in FIG. 7, the multiplier 702 is a multiplier, a divider, an adder, a subtracter, etc. May be replaced with an arbitrary combination, or the entire billing processing unit may be configured as one device.

The third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is applied in order to enable the charge settlement for each fixed period by calculating the accumulated charge in the above-described first and second embodiments.

In this embodiment, as the transmission mode of MPEG data, when transmitting only I frame, mode 1 is transmitted, when transmitting I frame and P frame, mode 2, and when I frame, P frame and B frame are transmitted. The case is defined as mode 3.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing the main structure of the charging means. Reference numeral 800 shown in FIG. 8 is a charging means included in the image transmission system of the present embodiment.

Reference numeral 801 captures a user's image transmission request transmitted / received in the image transmission system of this embodiment,
A billing processing unit for obtaining, calculating, and notifying billing information from the storage unit 802. 802 is the charging processing unit 80
1 is a storage unit for storing fee information and usage information referred to by 1. An image transmission system 810 includes a network and terminals such as a computer, a receiver, a printer, and a monitor connected to the network by wire or wirelessly.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a cumulative amount table stored in the storage unit 802. For example, FIG.
(A) shows a cumulative amount table when the charging means is provided in the terminal on the image provider side, and User L
Charge of the image provided to the user
It means that only A is unpaid and only charge Charge B of the image charge provided to the user called User B is unpaid, and so on.

Further, for example, FIG. 10B shows a cumulative amount table when the above-mentioned charging means is provided in the terminal on the user side, and the charge of the image charges provided by the provider A Only Charge A is unpaid, and the charge Charg of the image charges provided by the provider B
It means that only e B is unpaid and ...

Below, the charging means of the present embodiment will be used.
As an example, a case where the user (or the user's use terminal) User L requests the image Info 1 from the provider A in mode 3 will be described as an example of the procedure for obtaining the accumulated charge of the charges obtained from the unit charge information amount.

First, in the first operation procedure, the billing processing unit 801 transmits the image Info 1 in the mode 3 by monitoring the message transmitted / received by the image transmission system or by receiving the message from the image transmission system. Capture the information to request that.

Next, in the second operation procedure, the storage unit 8
Image I from the charge table (FIG. 6) stored in 02.
A unit charge 13 which is a charge per unit information amount when nfo 1 is provided in mode 3 is read out.

Next, in the third operation procedure, the charging processing unit 801 measures the information amount of the image Info1 being transmitted.

Next, in the fourth operation procedure, the image In
When the transmission of fo 1 is completed, the billing processing unit 801 detects the end of the image Info 1 transmitted to the User L by the same method as the first operation procedure of this operation example.

Next, in the fifth operation procedure, the billing processing unit 802 calculates the charge from the unit charge 13 and the information amount.

Next, in the sixth operation procedure, the charging processing unit 802 notifies the image transmission system 810 of the charge.

Next, in the seventh operation procedure, charging processing unit 801 causes storage unit 802 or image transmission system 810.
The cumulative charge of User L (or the provider A) is read from the cumulative charge table managed in.

Next, in the eighth operation procedure, the charging processing unit 802 calculates the sum of the above-mentioned accumulated charge and the charge of the image newly provided as a new accumulated charge.

Next, in the ninth operation procedure, the charging processing unit 802 determines the accumulated charge for User L (or provider A) recorded in the accumulated charge table (FIG. 10) by the eighth operation procedure. Update to the calculated cumulative charge.
However, the above operation example shows the case where the fee is determined from the mode of the image to be provided and the amount of information.

The following cases are also included in this embodiment. That is, the charge table is changed from that shown in FIG. 6 to that shown in FIG. In the eighth operation procedure, the sum of the accumulated charge read in the seventh operation procedure and the charge 13 is set as a new accumulated charge.

Further, the fifth operation procedure and the sixth operation procedure should be performed in parallel with the third operation procedure.

Further, a part or all of the seventh to ninth operation procedures should be performed in parallel with the second to sixth operation procedures.

Also, only one of the sixth operation procedure and the ninth operation procedure should be performed.

Further, in the ninth operation procedure, the billing processing unit 802 outputs the accumulated charge calculated in the eighth operation procedure to the image transmission system.

FIG. 9 shows a specific configuration example for realizing the billing processing unit 801. 901 shown in FIG. 9 is a CPU
It is for processing an input from the I / O interface 902 and issuing a command to an external device according to a program stored in the ROM 904 or the RAM 903.

Reference numeral 902 is an I / O interface for exchanging information with the image transmission system and for inputting / outputting with a storage device. Reference numeral 903 denotes an RA used by the CPU 901 as a temporary memory or for storing a program.
It is M.

Reference numeral 904 is a ROM which stores a program to be executed by the CPU 901. However,
The ROM 904 may be omitted when the program is read from the outside of the charging unit or the program is stored in the RAM 903.

Reference numeral 905 denotes a bus for the CPU 901 to the ROM 904 to exchange data. 906 is
It is a measuring device for measuring the amount of image information transmitted and received by the image transmission system 810, and is composed of a counter or the like.

In the configuration of FIG. 9, for example, charge calculation is performed by the CPU 901, and the operation procedure and charge calculation method therefor are stored in the RAM 903 or the ROM 904.

In addition, I / O is required for fetching the above-mentioned message into the charging means, notifying a charge, and accessing the storage device.
The measuring device 906 measures the information amount of the image transmitted through the O interface 902 and transmitted in the image transmission system of the present embodiment. However, also in the case of the present embodiment, the measuring device 906 is omitted when the time is measured instead of the information amount and the charge is calculated from the unit charge and the time, or in the case of a charge system in which the information amount is not considered. May be.

The charging processing unit 801 shown in FIG.
The configuration shown in FIG. 11 may be used. 1 shown in FIG.
101 is an I / O interface. The I / O interface 1101 is used when capturing the image request signal transmitted / received by the image transmission system 810 of the present embodiment, accessing the storage unit 802, and reading the charge from the charge table (FIG. 3).

A cumulative charge table managed by the storage unit 802 or the image transmission system 810 (FIG. 10).
It is also used when the accumulated charge is read from the input device, the read charge and the accumulated charge are input to the adder 1103, and the read charge or the charge calculated by the adder 1103 is output to the image transmission system 810.

An adder 1103 calculates the sum of the image charge input from the I / O interface 1101 and the accumulated charge, and outputs the sum (sum) as a charge to the I / O interface 1101. It is for.

Reference numeral 1111 shown in FIG. 11B is an I / O interface. The I / O interface 111
1 captures an image request signal transmitted / received by the image transmission system 810, accesses the storage unit 802 to read out a unit charge from the charge table (FIG. 6), or inputs the read charge into the multiplier 1112. Used to.

Also, the accumulated charges are read from the accumulated charges table (FIG. 10), the read charges and the accumulated charges are input to the adder 1103, and the charges calculated by the multiplier 1112 are output to the image transmission system 810. And is used to output the charge calculated by the adder 1113 to the image transmission system 810.

Reference numeral 1112 denotes the I / O interface 1 described above.
Unit charge of image input from 111 and measuring instrument 1114
It is a multiplier that calculates a product with the amount of information measured by and outputs the value (product) as a charge to the I / O interface 1111 or the adder 1113.

Reference numeral 1113 is an I / O interface 111.
This is an adder that calculates the sum of the accumulated charge input from 1 and the charge passed from the multiplier 1112 as a new accumulated charge and outputs it to the I / O interface 1111.
Further, 1114 is the image transmission system 8 of the present embodiment.
10 is a measuring device such as a counter that measures the amount of image information transmitted and received in 10.

In the configuration of FIG. 11, for example, the charge calculation is performed by the multiplier 1112 and the adder 1113, and the message acquisition for requesting an image by the user and the notification of the charge are performed via the I / O interface 1111. Be seen.

In addition, the measurement of the information amount of the image transmitted in the image transmission system of this embodiment is performed by the measuring instrument 1
At 114. However, the configuration shown in FIG. 11A is a configuration in which the amount of information is not taken into consideration.
The configuration as shown in (b) is a configuration in which the product of the unit fee and the information amount is used as the fee.

The configuration for implementing the charging processing unit 801 in FIG. 8 is not limited to the configurations in FIGS. 9 and 11, and various modifications can be considered. For example, in FIG. 11, the parts of the multiplier 1112 and the adder 1113 may be replaced with an arbitrary combination of a multiplier, a divider, an adder, a subtractor, etc., or the entire billing processing unit 801 may be configured as one device. May be.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the image transmission system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 12
The case where the image provider (or its terminal device) has the charging means shown in the first to third embodiments is shown.

In this embodiment, as the transmission mode of the MPEG data, the mode 1 is transmitted when only the I frame is transmitted, the mode 2 is transmitted when the I frame and the P frame are transmitted, and the I frame, the P frame and the B frame are transmitted. The case is defined as mode 3.

In FIG. 12, reference numeral 1201 denotes a transmission terminal device, which is a personal computer on the image provider side equipped with a charging means,
It is composed of a workstation, other computers and image transmitters.

Reference numeral 1202 is the charging means shown in the first to third embodiments, and 1203 is a user side personal computer, workstation, other computer or receiving terminal device such as an image receiver. Is.

In the following, according to FIG. 13, when the charging means of the second embodiment is applied, User L (reception terminal device 1203) displays image Info 1 in mode 3 by provider A (transmission terminal device 1201). The operation of the present embodiment will be described by taking as an example the case of making a request.

First, in the first operation procedure [S1],
User L provides provider A with image Info 1 in mode 3
A message requesting to be transmitted by the above is transmitted to the provider A via the transmission path (hereinafter, the above message is referred to as an image transmission request message). When the image transmission request message is received by the terminal device 1201 of the provider A,
The billing means 1202 fetches the image transmission request message from the transmission terminal device 1201.

Next, in the second operation procedure [S2],
The charging means 1202 reads the unit charge 13 for providing the image Info1 in mode 3 from the charge table (FIG. 6).

Next, in the third operation procedure [S3],
The transmission terminal device 1201 transmits the hierarchically encoded Info 1 to the User L in mode 3 via the transmission path. At the same time, the charging unit 1202 measures the amount of information of Info 1 being transmitted.

Next, in the fourth operation procedure [S4],
The accounting unit 1202 monitors Info 1 being transmitted, detects a bit pattern indicating the end of the image, or receives a message indicating that the transmission of Info 1 from the transmitting terminal 1201 to User L has ended, and User
When recognizing that the transmission of Info 1 to L is completed, the charge to User L is calculated from the information amount of Info 1 provided to User L and the unit charge 13.

Next, in the fifth operation procedure [S5],
The billing means 1202 outputs the charge information obtained in the fourth operation procedure [S4] to the transmitting terminal device 1201. Further, the transmission terminal device 1201 notifies User L of the above-mentioned charge via the transmission line.

Next, in the sixth operation procedure [S6],
Pay the fee.

The following cases are also included in this embodiment. That is, in the first operation procedure [S1], when the user requests an image from the image provider, the user also specifies the terminal device (or image processing device) to which the image is output, and the provider A
Is to send the image information to the specified output destination.

In the second operation procedure [S2],
After reading out the unit charge 13, the transmitting terminal device 1201
Output from the transmitting terminal device 1201 via the transmission line to Us.
Send to erL.

In the third operation procedure [S3],
The unit charge 13 and the amount of information at that time are used to calculate the charge up to that time, and the above-mentioned charge is output to the transmission terminal device 1201 to notify the provider A or User L.

Further, the charging means 1202 should be realized by using the CPU, memory, storage device, etc. of the transmission terminal device 1201.

Further, the charging means of the first embodiment is applied, the charging means of the third embodiment is applied, and the like.

The fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, MP
As the transmission mode of EG data, the case of transmitting only I frame is defined as mode 1, the case of transmitting I frame and P frame is defined as mode 2, and the case of transmitting I frame, P frame and B frame is defined as mode 3.

FIG. 14 shows a case where the user (or the terminal device thereof) has the charging means shown in the first to third embodiments. In FIG. 14, 140
Reference numeral 1 is a transmission terminal device such as a personal computer, a workstation, other computers or an image transmitter on the image provider side, which is provided with a charging means.

Reference numeral 1402 designates the above-mentioned first embodiment.
The charging means 1403 shown in the third embodiment is a receiving terminal device such as a personal computer, a workstation, another computer on the side of the receiver, an image receiver, or the like.

Below, according to FIG. 15, when the charging means of the second embodiment is applied, User L (reception terminal device 1403) displays image Info 1 in mode 3 by provider A (transmission terminal device 1401). The operation of the present embodiment will be described by taking as an example the case of making a request.

First, in the first operation procedure [S1],
User L provides provider A with image Info 1 in mode 3
A message requesting to be transmitted by the above is transmitted to the provider A via the transmission path (hereinafter, the above message is referred to as an image transmission request message). The billing means 1402 fetches the image transmission request message from the receiving terminal device 1403.

Next, in the second operation procedure [S2],
The charging unit 1402 refers to the charge table (FIG. 6) stored in the storage unit in the charging unit 1402 and refers to the image I.
The unit charge 13 for providing nfo 1 in mode 3 is obtained.

Next, in the third operation procedure [S3],
The transmitting terminal device 1401 transmits Info1 in mode 3, and the receiving terminal device 1403 receives this Info1. The billing unit 1402 measures the amount of information of Info 1 being received.

Next, in the fourth operation procedure [S4],
The charging unit 1402 monitors Info 1 being received and detects a bit pattern indicating the end of the image, or
Info 1 from the provider A from the receiving terminal device 1403
When the reception of Info 1 from the provider A is recognized in response to the message indicating that reception of Info 1 has been completed, the provider A determines from the information amount of Info 1 received from the provider A and the unit charge 13. Calculate the fees charged by.

Next, in the fifth operation procedure [S5],
The charging means 1402 outputs the fee information obtained in the above-described fourth operation procedure [S4] to the receiving terminal device 1403.

Next, in the sixth operation procedure [S6],
Pay the fee.

The following cases are also included in this embodiment. That is, in the first operation procedure [S1], when the user requests the image from the image provider, the user specifies the terminal device (or the 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 two types are included.

First, the case where the user has a charging means. In this case, the user (or the charging means that the user has) indicates that the image transmission has been started from the output destination or the image provider before starting the image provision (second operation procedure [S2]). The user is informed, the charging operation is started, and at the end of the image provision (the fourth operation procedure [S4]), the user is notified that the image transmission is ended, and the charging operation is ended. Also, the user will be notified of the amount of information from the output destination or the provider.

When the output destination designated by the user has the charging means, the user also sends the image transmission request message to the output destination in the first operation procedure [S1], and the charging means of the output destination The image transmission request message is fetched. Further, the charging means at the output destination notifies the provider or the user of the charge in the fifth operation procedure [S5].

In the second operation procedure [S2],
After the unit charge 13 is read out, it is output to the receiving terminal device 1403, displayed on the receiving terminal device 1403, and User L
Let us know.

In the third operation procedure [S3],
Unit charge 13 and Info 1 received by that time
The amount of information up to that point is calculated from the amount of information, and the above-mentioned amount is output to the receiving terminal device 1403, displayed, and User L is notified.

The charging means 1402 is realized by using the CPU, memory, storage device and the like of the receiving terminal device 1403. Furthermore, the charging means of the first embodiment or the charging means of the third embodiment may be applied.

The sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 16 illustrates 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 means shown in the third embodiment.

In this embodiment, as the transmission mode of the MPEG data, the mode 1 is transmitted when only the I frame is transmitted, the mode 2 is transmitted when the I frame and the P frame are transmitted, and the I frame, the P frame and the B frame are transmitted. The case is defined as mode 3.

In FIG. 16, reference numeral 1601 denotes a personal computer, a workstation, or the like on the image provider side equipped with a charging means.
It is a transmission terminal device such as another computer or an image transmitter.

Reference numeral 1602 is the charging means shown in the first to third embodiments, and 1603 is a user side personal computer, workstation, or the like equipped with the charging means.
It is a receiving terminal device such as another computer or an image receiver such as an image receiver. Further, 1604 is the charging means shown in the first to third embodiments.

Below, according to FIG. 17, when the charging means of the second embodiment is applied, User L (reception terminal device 1603) displays image Info 1 in mode 3 by provider A (transmission terminal device 1601). The operation of the present embodiment will be described by taking as an example the case of making a request.

First, in the first operation procedure [S1],
User L provides provider A with image Info 1 in mode 3
A message requesting to be transmitted by the above is transmitted to the provider A via the transmission path (hereinafter, the above message is referred to as an image transmission request message).

When the transmission terminal device 1601 of the provider A receives the image transmission request message, the billing means 1603 fetches the image transmission request message from the transmission terminal device 1601. Also, the charging means 1604 on the User L side fetches the image transmission request message from the receiving terminal device 1603.

Next, in the second operation procedure [S2],
The charging unit 1602 on the provider A side reads out the unit charge 13 for providing the image Info 1 in the mode 3 from the charge table (FIG. 6). User L side charging means 16
Similarly, 04 also obtains the unit charge 13 by referring to the charge table (FIG. 6).

Next, in the third operation procedure [S3],
The transmission terminal device 1601 reads Info1 in mode 3 and transmits it to User L via the transmission path. The charging unit 1602 measures the amount of information of Info 1 being transmitted. The receiving terminal device 1603 receives Info 1. The charging unit 1604 measures the amount of information of Info 1 being received.

Next, in the fourth operation procedure [S4],
The charging unit 1602 monitors Info 1 being transmitted,
The user receives the message that the bit pattern indicating the end of the image is detected or that the transmission of Info 1 from the transmission terminal 1601 to the User L is completed.
When recognizing that the transmission of Info 1 to L is completed, the charge to User L is calculated from the information amount of Info 1 provided to User L and the unit charge 13.

[0177] The charging means 1604 determines whether Info is being received.
1 is detected and the bit pattern indicating the end of the image is detected, or In from the provider A from the receiving terminal 1603.
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 provider A determines from the information amount of Info 1 received from the provider A and the unit charge 13. Calculate the fees charged.

Next, in the fifth operation procedure [S5],
The charging means 1602 outputs the fee calculated in the above-mentioned fourth operation procedure [S4] to the transmitting terminal device 1601. The transmission terminal device 1601 notifies User L of the above-mentioned charge via the transmission path.

The charging means 1604 outputs the fee calculated in the above-mentioned fourth operation procedure [S4] to the receiving terminal device 1603. In the receiving terminal device 1603, the above charge is displayed to notify User L.

Next, in the sixth operation procedure [S6],
Pay the fee.

The following cases are also included in this embodiment. In the first operation procedure [S1], when the user requests the image from the image provider, the user specifies the terminal device (or image processing device) of the image output destination, and the provider A specifies the specified output destination. Send image information to. At this time, the following 2
Including the street.

That is, first, in the first case, the provider and the user have the charging means. In this case, the user (or the billing means possessed by the user) starts the image provision from the output destination or the image provider (second operation procedure [S
Before 2)), the user is notified that the image transmission has started, and the charging operation is started. Further, when the image provision is completed (fourth operation procedure [S4]), the user is notified that the image transmission is completed, and the billing operation is completed. Also,
The user will also be notified of the amount of information by 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 output destination charging means may notify the user of the charge in the fifth operation procedure [S5].

In the second operation procedure [S2],
The billing means 1604 reads the unit fee 13 and then outputs it to the receiving terminal device 1603, and displays it on the receiving terminal device 1603 to notify User L.

In the third operation procedure [S3],
The charging means 1604 calculates the unit charge 13 and the charge up to that time from the information amount of Info 1 that has been received at that time, outputs the calculated charge to the receiving terminal device 1603, displays it, and informs the User L.

In the fifth operation procedure [S5],
From the provider A (sending terminal device 1601) to User L
Omit notification of charges to (user).

Also, the charging means 1602 is realized by using the CPU, memory, storage device and the like of the transmission terminal device 1601.

The charging means 1604 is realized by using the CPU, memory, storage device and the like of the receiving terminal device 1603.

Further, the charging means of the first embodiment is applied or the charging means of the third embodiment is applied.

The networks using the charging means described above are all embodiments according to the present invention.
A preferred embodiment using the charging means of this embodiment will be described below.

The seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing the entire network of this embodiment. In FIG. 18, reference numeral 1801 denotes an ATM (Asyncron) to be described later.
It is an ATM network that transfers transmissions in an “Out Transfer Mode” (asynchronous transfer mode).

Reference numerals 1802 and 1803 denote local area networks (LAN) using Ethernet or the like for transferring data in modes other than ATM. The following various devices are connected to these networks, for example.

Reference numeral 1804 is a facsimile machine, 1805 is a color printer having an internal page memory, and 1806.
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 1807 denotes a file server for temporarily storing image data input via the ATM network, 1
808 is a workstation for inputting / outputting data to / from this file server, 1809 is a terminal device connected to an ATM network, and this terminal device 1809 also transmits / receives data to / from the local area network described above. Performs various processes such as editing image data.

Further, the terminal device 1809 is connected to the printer 1805 and the like via the network line 1803 or a dedicated line. 1810 is a server having the same configuration as the file server 1807.

The server 1810 is connected to a color copying machine 1811 similar to the color copying machine 1806 described above. Reference numeral 1812 denotes a digital television connected to the ATM network.
Receives data via the ATM network and displays it on a display device as a visible image.

Reference numeral 1813 is a VTR for receiving image data via the ATM network. 1814
Is a center station such as a CATV station that sends various software data and image data to the ATM network.

Reference numeral 1815 denotes another ATM network connected to the ATM network.
1816 is a first router for connecting the TM network, and 1816 is a second router for connecting to 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 1804, the printer 1805 and the color copying machine 1807. It should be noted that 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 1814 has a charging means (fourth
Embodiment), a terminal device 180 that is a user
FIG. 19 shows an example of the case where 9 designates the digital television 1812 as the image output destination and issues a request to the center station 1814 on the transmitting side.

First, in the first operation procedure [S1],
The terminal device 1809 makes a transmission request to the center station 1814, and designates the requested image, its mode, and the digital television 1812 as an output destination. At this time, the charging means fetches the transmission request from the center station 1814 which has received the transmission request.

Next, in the second operation procedure [S2],
The center station 1814 sends the image data to the digital television 18
12, and the digital television 1812 receives the image data. At this time, the charging operation is executed as shown in the fourth embodiment, and the derivation of the charge to be paid by the terminal device 1809 (or the user thereof) to the center station 1814 proceeds.

Next, in the third operation procedure [S3],
The terminal device 1809 or the digital television 1812 is
When you want to end data reception on the way Center station 1814
Send a send end request to.

Next, in the fourth operation procedure [S4],
The center station 1814 ends the supply of the image data in response to the transmission end request. Further, the charging means detects it and ends the charging operation.

Next, in the fifth operation procedure [S5],
The center station 1814 notifies the terminal device 1809 of the charge derived using the charging means.

Next, in the sixth operation procedure [S6],
A fee is paid between the center station 1814 and the terminal device 1809. If there is bidirectional data transfer, the same billing is performed in the reverse transmission and reception.

The following cases are also included in this embodiment.
In other words, when the center station 1814 is not provided with the charging means but the terminal device 1809 is provided with the charging means, in the first operation procedure [S1], the charging means sends a transmission request to the terminal device 1809.
When importing from 809.

[0208] Further, when the image provision is started, the center station 1814 or the digital television 1812 notifies the terminal device 1809 of a message notifying the start of the image provision, and when the image provision is ended, the center station 1814 or The digital television 1812 notifies the terminal device 1809 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 terminates the billing operation upon detecting the image provision end message. In this case, the fifth embodiment
The operation procedure [S5] is omitted.

Further, the center station 1814 and the terminal device 180
When the charging means is not provided in 9 and the charging means is provided in the digital television 1812, the charging means fetches the transmission request from the digital television 1812 in the first operation procedure [S1]. The charging operation is as shown in the fifth embodiment, and the fifth operation procedure [S5] of the present embodiment.
In the digital television 1812 to the center station 1
814, or the terminal device 1809, or the center station 18
14 is notified to both the terminal device 1809 and the terminal device 1809.

The operation when at least both the center station 1814 and the terminal device 1809 have a charging means is as follows.
It is clear 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.

Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of the concept of a multimedia network system to which the present invention is applied. FIG.
2001, B-ISD using high-speed public line
N network, 2002 is a cable television (CATV) network.

Reference numerals 2003 and 2004 denote a local area network (LAN), 2005 denotes a communication satellite, and 20
11 and 2012 are ground stations that perform information communication via communication satellites, and 2021 and 2022 are information that provides video information, audio information, and other various multimedia information using these communication networks and receives the price thereof. It is a provider. In addition, 2031 to 2039 are users who pay the price using the information provided by the information provider.

B-ISDN network 2001, CATV network 20
02, LAN 2003 and 2004, communication satellite 200
5 are connected to each other, and information can be exchanged (bidirectional communication) with each other. Also, information providers 2021 and 202
2. Users 2031 to 2039 are connected to any of these communication networks.

The information providers 2021 and 2022 have the charging means shown in the first to third embodiments. However, since two-way communication is possible, if both the information provider and the user have a billing means, the information provider can be the user or the user can be the 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 2039 is the information provider 20.
FIG. 21 shows a case in which an application is made to 22 and a charge is made from the user 2039 according to the information provided by the information provider 2022, and only the provider has a charging means. It demonstrates using. In the following description, the transmission path is the second LAN 2004, BI.
SDN network 2001, CATV network 2002, first LAN
2003.

First, in the first operation procedure [S1],
The user 2039 sends a request for sending an image to the information provider 2022 via the transmission path.

Next, in the second operation procedure [S2],
The information provider 2022 provides the image information to the user 2039 via the transmission line in accordance with the request from the user 2039. During this period, the charging operation as shown in the fourth embodiment is executed.

Next, in the third operation procedure [S3],
When the user 2039 wants to end the transmission of the image on the way, the user 2039 sends a transmission end request.

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.

When the user has the charging means in the above-mentioned network, the charging means shown in the fifth embodiment operates. When both the provider and the user have the charging means, the charging means shown in the sixth embodiment operates. As is clear from the above, similar charges can be made for other users and other information providers.

Next, a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the above-described first to eighth embodiments, the case where only necessary frames are transmitted has been described, but in the present embodiment, all frames of MPEG data are transmitted from the transmitting side. Then, the receiving side (user) decodes only necessary frames, and applies it to realize means for charging according to the decoded frames.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the receiving side mainly has the charging means. In the present embodiment, the MPEG data decoding mode is
Mode 1 is for decoding only I frames, mode 2 is for decoding I frames and P frames, and I frame and P frames are for decoding
Mode 3 is defined when decoding a frame and a B frame.

The charging means of this embodiment is almost the same as any one of the charging means shown in the first to third embodiments, except that (1) the above-mentioned transmission mode is used instead. It manages the decryption mode. (2) By detecting in which decoding mode the user (or the terminal device thereof) is decoding the MPEG data, the decoding mode is detected and the charging process is performed.

The MPEG decoding means for decoding the MPEG data in the specified decoding mode can be realized by using a known MPEG decoding device. It should be noted that the present embodiment also includes the case where the transmitting side has the above-described charging means.

Next explained is the tenth embodiment of the invention. In the image transmission system of the present embodiment, 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, 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 fraudulent acts such as.

[0229] As measures against such fraud,
It is also possible to combine the charging means shown in the first to eighth embodiments with the following encryption means. In this case, in FIG. 12, FIG. 14 and FIG. 16, the transmitting terminal device and the receiving terminal device may be provided with the following encryption means.

In this embodiment, as decoding modes for MPEG data, mode 1 is used when only I frames are decoded, mode 2 is used when I frames and P frames are decoded, and I frame, P frames, and B frames are decoded. The case is defined as mode 3.

Particularly, in the present embodiment, in the first to ninth embodiments, simply MPEG is used.
Not only can data be encrypted and transmitted, but the following charging system can be realized.

First, on the transmitting side, as shown in FIG. 22, the MPEG data is encrypted with the encryption key Ki for the I frame, the encryption key Kp for the P frame, and the encryption key K for the B frame.
Encrypt with b.

Then, the transmitting side notifies the user of Ki or the decryption key corresponding thereto when the user (or the terminal device thereof) desires the mode 1. If mode 2 is desired, the user is notified of Ki and Kp or their corresponding decryption keys. In addition, if you want mode 3, K
The user is notified of i, Kp, and Kb, or the corresponding decryption key, and the above-described encrypted MPEG data is transmitted. At this time, the transmission side charges the user according to the decryption key notified to the user.

It should be noted that the present embodiment also includes the case where the amount of information that has been subjected to encrypted decryption processing, the number of times of encryption or decryption processing, the operating time of the encryption or decryption means, etc. are reflected in the charge.

The number of keys to be notified to the user is always 1
For the user who desires the mode 1, the transmitting side encrypts the I frame with the encryption key K1, the P frame and the B frame with the encryption key K2, and uses K1 or the corresponding decryption key. Only notify.

For a user who desires the mode 2, I frame and P frame are encrypted with the encryption key K1 and B frame is encrypted with the encryption key K2, and only K1 or the corresponding decryption key is notified. For the user who desires the mode 3, the case where the I frame, the P frame, and the B frame are encrypted with the encryption key K and the encryption key K or the corresponding decryption key is notified is also included in this embodiment. Let's assume.

The encryption technology will be described below. Cryptographic techniques can be roughly classified into the following common key cryptosystems and public key cryptosystems, and 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 in which the same cryptographic key is secretly shared by 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.

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 stream ciphers, there are known Bisnel ciphers using a multi-table and Vernam ciphers using a one-time disposable key. (See Chapters 2 and 4).

[0240] Among the above block ciphers, DES (Data Encryption) whose algorithm is open to the public is also available.
pion Standard) and FEAL (Fas
tdata Encipherment ALgori
Thm) (for details, see "Cipher and Information Security" by Tsujii and Kasahara, Chapter 2 of Shokoido, 1990.) is widely used as a commercial cipher.

Next, public key encryption will be described. The public key encryption method is an encryption method in which an encryption key and a decryption key are different, and the encryption key is made public and the decryption key is kept secret. The characteristics of public key cryptography are as described in (1), (2), and (3) below.

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

(2) Since each user's encryption key is open to the public, each 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.

That is, RSA encryption, R encryption, W encryption,
MI encryption, MH encryption, GS encryption, CR encryption, M encryption, E
The cipher, the T cipher, the S cipher, the L cipher, the GMY cipher, the GMR cipher, the OSS cipher, the OS cipher, and the like. (Details of each cipher are written by Ikeno and Koyama, "Modern Cryptography," IEICE, 19
86. (See Chapter 5 to Chapter 8).

[0246]

As described above, according to the present invention, since it is possible to charge according to the mode of image information, a charging system that makes use of the characteristics such as the type and quality of information and services is realized. Therefore, various information and services can be dealt with.

Further, according to another feature of the present invention, the transmitting side of the image information can be charged according to the type of the frame decoded by the user.

Another feature of the present invention is that it is possible to prevent fraudulent acts on information transmitted and received in the image transmission system.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional configuration diagram of a charging unit according to a first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a charging processing unit in the charging means of the first exemplary embodiment.

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

FIG. 4 is a functional configuration diagram of a charging unit according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a billing processing unit in a billing unit of the second exemplary embodiment.

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

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of a billing processing unit in the billing means of the second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a functional configuration diagram of a charging unit according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a billing processing unit in a billing means of a third exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a cumulative charge table used by a charging unit according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of a charging processing unit in the charging means of the third exemplary embodiment.

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

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an operation procedure of the image transmission system according to the fourth embodiment.

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

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an operation procedure of the image transmission system according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an image transmission system according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an operation procedure of the image transmission system according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing an entire network according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a charging procedure in the system according to the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a system of an eighth exemplary embodiment and showing an example of a concept of a multimedia network system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a charging procedure in the system of the eighth embodiment.

[Fig. 22] Fig. 22 is a diagram showing assignment of keys used for encryption of MPEG U data in the tenth embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a frame structure of MPEG.

[Fig. 24] Fig. 24 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a format of MPEG-encoded image data.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 charging means 101 charging processing unit 102 storage unit 110 image transmission system

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Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An image transmission device for handling MPEG data, comprising: a billing means for performing billing processing according to the type of a frame sent out of the MPEG data, and a fee storage means for storing a fee for an image. An image transmission device comprising: 2. An image transmission system for handling MPEG data, comprising an accounting means for performing an accounting process according to the type of frame transmitted in the MPEG data. 3. An image transmission system for handling MPEG data, comprising an accounting means for performing an accounting process according to the type and amount of information of the transmitted frame of the MPEG data. . 4. In an image transmission system handling MPEG data, a charging means for performing a charging process according to the type of the transmitted frame in the MPEG data, and an information amount for measuring the information amount of the transmitted frame. An image transmission system comprising a measuring means and a charge storage means for storing a charge of an image. 5. An image transmission system for handling MPEG data, wherein among the MPEG data, a charging means for performing a charging process according to the type and amount of information of the transmitted frame, and a charge for storing the image charge. An image transmission system comprising a storage means. 6. An image transmission system handling MPEG data, wherein a charging means for performing a charging process according to the type and information amount of a transmitted frame in the MPEG data, and an information amount of the transmitted frame are measured. An image transmission system comprising: an information amount measuring unit for storing the image data; and a charge storage unit for storing the image charge. 7. A payment means for paying a fee for an image every fixed period.
The image transmission system according to any one of 6 above. 8. An image transmission system comprising the charging means according to any one of claims 2 to 7 on the transmission side. 9. An image transmission system comprising the charging means according to any one of claims 2 to 7 on a receiving side. 10. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 7.
An image transmission system comprising the charging means described in the item (3) on both the transmitting side and the receiving side. 11. A charging means for transmitting all the frames of the MPEG data and performing a charging process according to the type of the decoded frame of the MPEG data. The image transmission system according to any one of items. 12. The image transmission according to claim 8, further comprising an encryption unit for performing at least encryption or digital signature on the transmitted information. system. 13. An image transmission destination designating unit for designating an image transmission destination to an arbitrary image receiving device and requesting an image provider to transmit an image, and an image receiving device designated by the image transmission destination designating unit. An image transmitting apparatus comprising: an image transmitting means for transmitting an image; and a charging means for processing so as to perform a charging process for a designated person to whom the image is sent or a user who receives the image.