KR100596010B1 - Internet Content Charge System and Method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a billing system for billing a content fee remotely provided by one or more information providers on the Internet, wherein the Internet content fee billing system according to the present invention is an encrypted authentication generated by a content fee billing device from an information user terminal. One or more information provider servers that receive and compare information and information user information, respectively, and transmit the requested content to the information user terminal when authentication is successful; Sends the encrypted authentication information received from the content fee charging device to the information provider server together with the information user information, requests the content, extracts and logs logging information for charging from the content received from the information provider server, A plurality of information user terminals for transmitting the logged information to the content usage charging device at predetermined intervals; And receiving the information user information from the information user terminal and comparing the information user information with pre-registered information user information to generate the encrypted authentication information and transmitting the encrypted authentication information to the information user terminal, and transmitting the logging information for charging from the information user terminal. And a content usage fee charging device that calculates and charges a content usage fee on the basis of the previously registered charging information.

Description

Internet contents billing system and method

Figure 1 shows the overall configuration of the Internet content charging system according to the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a content fee charging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary screen provided by an information provider register to register information provider information through the web, and FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary screen provided by an information provider register to register content information through the web. will be.

3C and 3D illustrate exemplary screens for the information user registration unit to register affiliate store information and affiliate store IP as information user information, respectively.

4A illustrates an exemplary portal screen provided by a web server to an information user terminal having installed a charging plug-in program.

4B illustrates an exemplary screen for performing a general authentication process in which an information provider server receives a user identifier and a password from an information user and authenticates it.

4C illustrates an exemplary screen that an information provider server provides to an information user terminal when authentication is successfully performed.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of a method for charging Internet content using fee according to the present invention.

6 is a flowchart for explaining a second embodiment of the Internet content usage fee charging method according to the present invention.

♣ Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawing ♣

1: Internet Contents Charge Fee System

10: content usage fee billing device 20: information provider server

30: user terminal 40: the Internet

110: information provider register 120: information user register

130: download plug-in program for billing

140: Web server 150: information user authentication unit

160: billing management server 170: database server

The present invention relates to a billing system that charges a content usage fee provided remotely by one or more information providers on the Internet, and particularly relates to URLs and services related to paid content from service providers (service IP, port, etc.). The present invention relates to an internet content fee charging system and a method for billing by receiving information and periodically receiving logging information necessary for billing from an information user.

There is an increasing demand for various digital contents using the Internet based on the high-speed communication network, and huge costs are required to develop such contents. Information providers who develop and provide digital content will have a billing system that charges the fee for digital content in order to recover the costs they have paid or to realize their benefits.

By the way, the conventional billing system does not consider the content usage degree or usage form of the content user and simply adopts a uniform billing method such as a monthly fee or a membership plan. This conventional charging system has the following problems.

First, it is difficult to ascertain whether the content and quality of information provided by the information provider is satisfactory to the information user so that the information provider can pay the predetermined monthly fee without any objection. Of course, a service in the form of "teaser information" that can preview the information provided by the information provider may be provided, but it is difficult to make an appropriate judgment on the quantity and quality of the actual paid content only with such a service. Therefore, the information user has no choice but to follow the information unilaterally determined by the information provider, and the information user is reluctant to access the contents provided by the information provider.

Second, it is difficult for content users to secure diversity in information usage. In other words, each content user is not the same in terms of the purpose of using the information, the range of use, the time of use, the mode of use and the like. For example, some content users may wish to extract and obtain necessary information from different sources. In this case, since the content user wants to pay according to the usage time or the amount of use of the content, the charging method using the conventional charging system is very burdensome.

Third, it is difficult to improve the quality of contents due to competition of information providers. According to the conventional billing system, since information is provided based on a fee and quality criteria unilaterally determined by the information provider, there is little room for market logic to be determined by the information user's judgment. Therefore, it is difficult for information providers to continue their efforts to improve the quality of content that fits their preferences.

Fourth, in order for the information user to access a plurality of information providing sites, the user must go through a login process every time for user authentication. As the number of information providing sites accessed by the information user increases, these login processes become very inconvenient. That is, the information user should remember the user identifier and password corresponding to each information providing site and change it periodically as necessary for security. These processes become obstacles in creating wide information demand. have.

The present invention was devised to solve the above problems, and it is possible to minimize the burden of the information provider for one or more information providers and a plurality of information users, and to use the logical charge method for the contents provided by the information provider to the information users. Performed by a remote third party that allows for a mixture of time-based billing methods The purpose of the present invention is to provide an Internet content fee charging system, a content fee charging device, and a method thereof.

In order to achieve the above object, the Internet content usage fee charging system for charging the fee for the content provided by the information provider to the information user for one or more information providers and a plurality of information users in the present invention is a content fee from the information user terminal One or more information provider servers for receiving and comparing the encrypted authentication information and the information user information generated by the charging device, and transmitting the requested content to the information user terminal when authentication is successful; Sends the encrypted authentication information transmitted from the content fee charging device to the information provider server along with the information user information to request the content, extracts and logs logging information for charging from the content received from the information provider server, and A plurality of information user terminals for transmitting the logged information to the content usage charging device every cycle of the; And receiving the information user information from the information user terminal and comparing the information user information with pre-registered information user information to generate the encrypted authentication information and transmitting the encrypted authentication information to the information user terminal, and transmitting the logging information for charging from the information user terminal. Based on pre-registered billing information And a content usage fee charging device that calculates and charges a content usage fee.

In order to achieve the above another object, the content usage fee billing device includes a database server; An information provider registration unit that receives information provider information and content information provided by the information provider and stores the information in the database server; An information user registration unit for receiving information user information and storing the information user information in the database server; A billing plug-in program downloader configured to automatically install the billing plug-in program on the information user terminal with the permission of the information user if the billing plug-in program is not installed in the information user terminal requesting access; A web server for providing a portal screen of registered contents to an information user terminal in which a charging plug-in program is installed; When the information user terminal wants to access the information provider server through the web server, the information user terminal receives the information user information from the information user terminal and compares the information user information with the pre-registered information user information to generate encrypted authentication information. An information user authentication unit for transmitting to the information user terminal; And receiving charging logging information according to a predetermined cycle from an information user terminal having a charging plug-in program installed therein, and storing the charging logging information in the database server, and storing the charging logging information, content information and And a billing management server that calculates and bills the content usage fee according to the information user information.

In order to achieve the above another object, in the Internet content fee charging method according to the present invention, the content fee charging device registers the information provider information, the content information about the content provided by the information provider and the information user information stored in the database server Doing; Generating content and transmitting the encrypted authentication information to the information user terminal when the content fee charging device receives the information user information from the information user terminal and compares the information user information with pre-registered user information; When the information user terminal is going to access the information provider server, receiving and comparing the encrypted authentication information and the information user information generated by the content fee billing device from the information user terminal, respectively; If the authentication is successful, providing the requested content by the information provider server from the information user terminal; Extracting, by the information user terminal, logging information for charging from the content received from the information provider server and logging the same; Transmitting, by the information user terminal, the logged information to the content usage charging device at predetermined intervals; And receiving, by the content usage fee charging device, logging information for charging from the information user terminal to calculate and charge the content usage fee based on the previously registered charging information.

Hereinafter, according to the present invention, a preferred embodiment of the Internet content fee charging system for charging a fee for content provided by an information provider through the Internet to one or more information providers and a plurality of information users is attached. It will be described in detail based on the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, an Internet content fee charging system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a content fee charging device 10, one or more Content Provider (CP) servers 20, and a plurality of information users. It is configured to include the terminals (30). These components are all interconnected by the Internet 40 to send and receive the necessary information. In one embodiment of the present invention, the Internet content fee charging system 1 is for each group of information user terminal 30 (for example, information user terminals belonging to a specific PC room, school, company, institution, organization, etc.) In order to charge the content fee, and to identify each information user terminal 30, it is assumed that a public IP address assigned to the information user terminal 30 is used and payment is made by postpay.

In FIG. 1, the Internet 40 refers to a computer communication network that connects the entire world using a Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP) protocol. However, in the present specification, an information user server 20 is interworked with the Internet. ) And the wired / wireless communication network connecting the information user terminal 30 is used in a broad sense. In addition, the information user terminal 30 can read a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) or Extensible Markup Language (XML) document, which is a standard document of the web, and is provided by the information provider server 20 using the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP). A terminal having a web browser (not shown) and other programs that are software capable of receiving various contents. However, the information user terminal 30 in the present invention is not limited thereto, and a PDA having a web browser (not shown) capable of reading a WML (Wireless Markup Language) document and supporting WAP (Wireless Application Protocol). (Personal Digital Assistant), mobile phone, etc. are used as a generic term.

Referring to FIG. 2, the content usage fee billing device 10 constituting the Internet content fee billing system 1 includes a database server 170, an information provider registration part 110, an information user registration part 120, and a charging plug-in program download part. 130, the web server 140, the information user authentication unit 150, and the billing management server 160 are configured. Such a content usage fee charging device 10 is preferably implemented as a general information processing system operated by software. Therefore, the content usage fee billing device 10 according to the present invention should be understood as a combination of hardware and software, and its technical feature can be said to be in the software for driving the hardware device rather than the configuration of the hardware device itself.

The information provider registration unit 110 receives the information provider information and the content information about the content provided by the information provider to the information user and stores in the database server 170. 3A illustrates an exemplary screen provided by the information provider registration unit 110 to register information provider information via the web, and FIG. 3B is provided by the information provider registration unit 110 to register content information via the web. An example screen is shown. 3A and 3B, the information provider information includes a CP code, a CP name, a CP ID, a CP password, an address, a telephone number, and the like, and the content information includes a CP name, a service name, a server IP, a domain, and a domain. URL, type of service (paid / free), billing time, service port, and unit cost. In the present embodiment, the information provider registration unit 110 configures the user interface as a web screen, but in the technical field to which the present invention belongs, it is also possible to configure a user interface provided through a separate operator terminal (not shown). Those who have knowledge will easily understand. 3A and 3B respectively illustrate screens for registering information provider information and content information, the information provider registration unit 110 according to the present invention may correct / delete information provider information and content information already registered. Of course, it can also be provided with a user interface for listing the current status.

The information user registration unit 120 receives information user information and stores the information user information in the database server 170. As described above, in the present embodiment, the content usage fee is charged for each group of information user terminals 30 (for example, information user terminals belonging to a specific PC room, school, company, organization, group, etc.) and each information user. In order to identify the terminal 30, since the public IP address assigned to the information user terminal 30 is used, the information user registration unit 120 may include affiliate store information and affiliate store IP as illustrated in FIGS. 3C and 3D. Is registered as information user information. According to FIG. 3C, the affiliate store information may include an affiliate store code, an affiliate store name, an affiliate store ID, a password, an address, and the like. In the present embodiment, although the information user registration unit 120 configures the user interface as a web screen, it is possible to configure a user interface provided through a separate operator terminal (not shown). Those who have knowledge will easily understand. 3C and 3D illustrate screens for registering affiliate store information and affiliate store IP, respectively, but the information user registration unit 110 according to the present invention may correct / delete already registered store information and affiliate store IP. Of course, it can also be provided with a user interface for listing the current status.

The charging plug-in program downloader 130 checks whether the charging plug-in program is installed in the information user terminal 30 requesting access by inputting a URL corresponding to the content usage fee charging device 10, and is not installed. If not, with the information user's permission to download the charging plug-in program to the information user terminal 30 to be automatically installed.

The web server 140 provides a portal screen for the content registered in advance by the information provider registration unit 110 to the information user terminal 30 in which the plug-in program for charging is installed as illustrated in FIG. 4A.

The information user authentication unit 150, when the information user terminal 30 wants to access the information provider server 20 through the portal screen provided by the web server 140, the information user information (from the information user terminal 30) In the present embodiment, the public IP address of the information user terminal 30) is received and compared with information user information registered in advance by the information user registration unit 120. The information user authentication unit 150 generates encrypted authentication information by encrypting the public IP address of the information user terminal 30 and the authenticated system time (that is, charging device authentication time) when such authentication is successfully performed. Thereafter, the information user authentication unit 150 transmits the encrypted authentication information to the information user terminal 30 to be connected to the information provider server 20.

On the other hand, the billing management server 160 receives the logging information for billing according to a predetermined period (for example, 5 minutes) from the information user terminal 30, the billing plug-in program is installed and stored in the database server 170 do. In addition, the billing management server 160 may charge logging information, content information, and information user information stored in the database server 170 according to a predetermined other period (for example, 24 hours). On the basis of information for billing Compute and charge for the content usage fee. The logging information for billing and the billing method of the billing management server 160 will be described in more detail below.

The database server 170 is a device for storing data using a floppy disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, flash memory, and an electric, magnetic, optical, or other recording medium, and for storing, withdrawing, and modifying data on the device. A combination of hardware and software that is bundled together with software.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the information provider server 20 encrypts the encrypted authentication information and the information user information (that is, the public IP of the information user terminal 30) generated by the content usage fee charging device 10 from the information user terminal 30. Each user is sent and compared to authenticate the user. At this time, the information user information decrypted from the encrypted authentication information and the information user information transmitted by the information user terminal 30 coincide with each other, and the authentication time at the information provider server 20 is prevented for hacking and security. Information user authentication is considered to be successful only within a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes) from the charging device authentication time. If authentication is successful, the information provider server 20 transmits the requested content to the information user terminal 30, after which the information user is free to use the content provided by the information provider server 20 without additional authentication procedure It becomes possible . Thus, the information provider server 20 is encrypted by the authentication information and the information user information as described above before the general authentication process of receiving and authenticating a user identifier and password from the information user as shown by way of example in Figure 4b The automatic authentication process must be performed first. 4C exemplarily illustrates a screen provided by the information provider server 20 to the information user terminal 30 when authentication in the same manner as in the present embodiment is successful.

The information user terminal 30 is connected to the content fee billing device 10, the Internet plug-in billing system according to an embodiment of the present invention by downloading and automatically installing the billing plug-in program from the billing plug-in program downloader 130 Function as a component of (1). That is, the information user terminal 30 installed with the charging plug-in program transmits the encrypted authentication information received from the information user authentication unit 150 to the information provider server 20 together with the information user information to request the content. do. In addition, the information user terminal 30 installed the charging plug-in program captures the content received from the information provider server 20 to extract and log logging information for charging, The logged information is transmitted to the content fee charging device 10 every predetermined period (for example, 5 minutes). Logging information for billing stored and managed by the information user terminal 30 includes the content receiving start time, content receiving end time, information user information, information provider IP address and content URL, information user terminal port, service port, etc. can do. At this time, if the logging information for billing is not normally logged due to malicious behavior, the billing plug-in program forcibly terminates the web browser program receiving the content and the program for using other services, thereby making it impossible to use the content any more. Let's do it. When the information user terminal 30 is transferred from the user terminal 30 to the content fee billing device 10, content-related files (* .htm, * .html, * .asp, * .php, etc.), such as * .jpg and * .tif. It is preferable to configure the logging information for the data redundantly included in the transmission.

In addition, when the information user terminal 30 is implemented in a PC using Windows as an operating system, the file in which the logging information for charging is stored is set to the "Hidden" file attribute, and the corresponding file is set only for the charging plug-in program. It is desirable to process this so that it can be opened and modified in the "Exclusive" form so that other programs (e.g. editor programs) can not open, modify or delete the file. In addition, the period for transmitting the logged information to the content fee charging device 10 needs to be appropriately adjusted in terms of system load and security of the logging information.

In the present invention, the billing method adopted by the billing management server 160 is a mixture of the logical billing method and the time-based billing method, and the information user terminal 30 simultaneously or sequentially stores a plurality of contents from the information provider server 20. Information provider-specific logic with a single billing timeline even when received and used Adopt a time-based system. In this case, the initial content reception start or end time is the start time on the billing timeline, and the end time on the timeline is predetermined in advance in the content reception start or end time for content other than a streaming service, FTP, and DownLoad Service. For the time plus the logical charging reference time, or for video (Streaming Service), FTP, DownLoad Service content, the last data reception time of the content is determined. If new content is received before the end time on the timeline has elapsed, the end time is updated according to the above-described manner. In other words, for content other than video (Streaming Service), FTP, and DownLoad Service, the time of adding or receiving a predetermined logical charging reference time from the content reception start or end time or content for video (Streaming Service), FTP, DownLoad Service content The last data reception time of is updated with the new end time. If no new content is received within the end time, the reception or start of receiving the first received content The new start time and new end time are determined by using the time as the initial content reception time. In this way, the time between each start time and the end time that is determined by adding up is determined as the total content use time. However, in the present invention, the charging method adopted by the charging management server 160 is one embodiment, and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

On the other hand, according to another embodiment of the present invention, instead of the public IP address as the information user information (for example, the MAC address of the network card embedded in the information user terminal 30 and the serial number of other devices, etc.) or User identifiers can be used. Accordingly, in the present invention, when the information user authentication is based on the terminal authentication, the information user authentication unit 150 performs authentication using the system identifier or the public IP address as the information user information, and the information user information and the system time of the authentication. (That is, charging device authentication time) is encrypted to generate encrypted authentication information. Meanwhile, in the present invention, when the information user authentication is based on personal authentication, the information user authentication unit 150 receives the user identifier and the password and performs the primary authentication (however, this process may be omitted if necessary). Also, encrypted system authentication information is generated by encrypting the system identifier as the information user information and the authenticated system time (i.e., charging device authentication time). In this case, the information provider server 20 compares the system identifier in the encrypted authentication information with the system identifier of the information user terminal 30 to perform authentication. In addition, the billing management server 160 calculates the content usage fee for each user by matching the system identifier and the user identifier.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the content usage fee charging device 10 may be paid in advance. In this case, whenever the billing management server 160 receives the billing logging information from the user terminal 30 according to the specified time, the billing logging information, content information and information user information stored in the database server 170, etc. Calculate the content usage fee and deduct it from the prepayment of the corresponding information user. If the remaining amount does not reach a predetermined reserve amount, the billing management server 160 returns a specific value related thereto to the billing plug-in program of the information user terminal 30 to control service usage. Accordingly, the charging plug-in program displays a message for the user to make a prepaid payment and requests a user's selection in order to use additional content. At this time, if the payment is made through the normal payment process, the normal use state is maintained, but if the payment is not made through the normal payment process, the time limit corresponding to the remaining amount of money is passed. Forcibly terminate the browser and other programs for use of the service, making further content unavailable.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the Internet content fee charging method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Here, the Internet content usage fee charging system charges the content usage fee for each information user terminal 30, and uses a system identifier assigned to the information user terminal 30 to identify each information user terminal 30. It is assumed that payment is made by.

First, in the registration step (S100), the content usage fee charging device 10 receives the information provider information, the content information about the content provided by the information provider and the information user information is stored in the database server. In this case, in order for the content usage charging device 10 to read the system identifier from the information user terminal 30, the user registers the information user information with the content usage charging device 10 through the information user terminal 30. It is preferable.

When the information user terminal 30 inputs a corresponding URL or requests access to the content usage charging device 10 through a hyperlink, the content usage charging device 10 first charges the information user terminal 30 with a charging plug-in program. Check whether it is installed. As a result of the check, when the charging plug-in program is not installed, the content usage fee charging device 10 downloads the charging plug-in program to the information user terminal 30 and automatically installs it with the permission of the information user (S110).

Subsequently, when the information user terminal 30 on which the charging plug-in program is installed wants to access the information provider server 20 through the portal screen provided by the content fee charging apparatus 10, the system identifier from the information user terminal 30 is determined. Is received and compared with pre-registered system identifiers. The content fee charging device 10 generates encrypted authentication information by encrypting the received system identifier and billing device authentication time when such authentication is successfully performed (S120). Thereafter, the content fee charging device 10 transmits the encrypted authentication information to the information user terminal 30.

The charging plug-in program of the information user terminal 30 transmits the encrypted authentication information received from the content usage charging device 10 and its system identifier to the information provider server 20.

Next, the information provider server 20 receives and compares the encrypted authentication information and the system identifier from the information user terminal 30 to authenticate the information user terminal 30 (S130). At this time, the system identifier decrypted from the encrypted authentication information and the system identifier transmitted by the information user terminal 30 coincide with each other, and the authentication time at the information provider server 20 is a predetermined time (for example, from the charging device authentication time). For example, it is considered that the authentication of the information user terminal 30 is successful only within 10 minutes). If authentication is successful, the information provider server 20 transmits the requested content to the information user terminal 30 (S140).

The charging plug-in program installed in the information user terminal 30 captures the content received from the information provider server 20, extracts and logs logging information for charging (S150), and a predetermined period (for example, 5 minutes). Information is logged to the content usage fee charging device 10 (S160). At this time, if the logging information for billing is not normally logged due to malicious behavior, the billing plug-in program may receive a web browser and other services for receiving content. Forcibly terminate the program.

The content usage fee charging device 10 receives the charging logging information according to a predetermined cycle from the information user terminal 30 in which the charging plug-in program is installed and stores it in the database server 170. In addition, the content usage fee billing device 10 calculates the content fee based on charging logging information, content information, and information user information stored in the database server 170 according to a predetermined other period (eg, 24 hours). (S170).

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of a method for charging internet content fee according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6. Here, the Internet content usage fee charging system charges the content usage fee for each information user, and uses a system identifier and a user identifier assigned to the information user to identify each information user, and it is assumed that payment is made by prepaid payment.

First, in the registration step (S200), the content usage fee billing device 10 registers the information provider information, the content information about the content provided by the information provider and the information user information and stores it in the database server. In this case, in order for the content usage charging device 10 to read the system identifier from the information user terminal 30, the user registers the information user information with the content usage charging device 10 through the information user terminal 30. It is preferable. The information user information registered by the user may include a user identifier and a password.

When the information user terminal 30 inputs a corresponding URL or requests access to the content usage charging device 10 through a hyperlink, the content usage charging device 10 first charges the information user terminal 30 with a charging plug-in program. Check whether it is installed. As a result of the check, when the charging plug-in program is not installed, the content fee charging device 10 downloads the charging plug-in program to the information user terminal 30 and automatically installs it with the permission of the information user (S210).

Subsequently, when the information user terminal 30 on which the plug-in program for charging is installed attempts to access the information provider server 20 through the portal screen provided by the content fee charging apparatus 10, the user identifier and password are received from the user. The system identifier is received from the information user terminal 30 and compared with a pre-registered user identifier, password, and system identifiers. Here, the user identifier and the system identifier do not need to correspond one-to-one. In addition, the user identifier and password should be input by the information user, but if necessary, such a procedure may be omitted, and the system identifier may be directly checked from the information user terminal 30. The content fee charging device 10 generates encrypted authentication information by encrypting the received system identifier and the billing device authentication time when the authentication is successfully performed (S220). Thereafter, the content fee charging device 10 transmits the encrypted authentication information to the information user terminal 30.

The charging plug-in program of the information user terminal 30 transmits the encrypted authentication information received from the content usage charging device 10 and its system identifier to the information provider server 20.

Next, the information provider server 20 receives the encrypted authentication information and the system identifier from the information user terminal 30 and compares them to authenticate the information user (S230). At this time, the system identifier decrypted from the encrypted authentication information and the system identifier transmitted by the information user terminal 30 coincide with each other, and the time for which the information provider server 20 requests authentication is a predetermined time (for example, from the charging device authentication time). For example, only 10 minutes) is regarded as successful. If authentication is successful, the information provider server 20 transmits the requested content to the information user terminal 30 (S240).

The charging plug-in program installed in the information user terminal 30 captures the content received from the information provider server 20 and extracts and logs logging information for charging (S250), and a predetermined period (for example, 5 minutes). Information is logged to the content usage fee charging device 10 (S260). In this case, when logging information for charging is not normally logged due to malicious behavior, the charging plug-in program forcibly terminates the web browser receiving the content and other programs for using the service.

The content usage fee charging device 10 receives the charging logging information according to a predetermined cycle from the information user terminal 30 with the charging plug-in program installed, and the charging logging information, the content information, and the information stored in the database server 170. The content usage fee is calculated according to the user information and the like is deducted from the prepayment of the corresponding information user (S270). If the remaining amount does not reach the predetermined reserve amount (S280), the billing management server 160 controls the use of the service by returning a specific value related thereto to the billing plug-in program of the information user terminal 30. Done. As a result, the charging plug-in program displays a message for the user to make a prepaid payment and requests the user's selection for additional contents, and when the payment is made through the normal payment process, the normal use state is maintained. If the payment is not made after the payment process, the remaining amount of time passes and the corresponding time limit is forcibly terminated, thereby forcibly terminating the web browser related to the use of the service and other programs for the use of the service, thereby making it impossible to use any further content. S290).

So far I looked at the center of the preferred embodiment for the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented in a modified form without departing from the essential features of the present invention. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The scope of the present invention is shown in the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.

Since most existing Internet content fee charging systems exist in the form of billing the use of one information provider's content, most of them have a form that is separately produced and mounted on the information provider's server. Therefore, it is a system that charges only excessive contents and certain types of contents according to individual production, and thus has limitations on the types of contents that the billing system can accommodate, and can be applied to the use of information between multiple information providers and multiple users. There is no limit. However, the billing system according to the present invention enables a rational billing by combining a logical billing method and a time-based billing method for the use of content between a plurality of information providers and a plurality of users by a third party at a remote location. When used for information brokerage service, it has a positive expectation effect as follows.

First, the information provider does not need to mount an expensive billing system on its own server, but simply installs a few programs for authentication processing with a billing agency equipped with a content billing device according to the present invention, and inserts or modifies a few programs. A variety of billing services are available, which combine a logical billing method with a time-based billing method, rather than a monthly plan. Therefore, it is possible to supply content without adding or wasting resources such as reorganizing the information providing site or changing the service system, so that various billing services can be provided while supplying pre-produced contents to information users at a low price without burdening large costs. You will be provided.

Second, due to the complex billing method that combines the logical billing method and the time-based billing method, the user can see the content and quality of the provided information without the risk of signing up and judge whether the information is used or not. Done.

Third, due to the introduction of a competition system among similar content providers, the price ratio of content is reasonably determined by market logic under the competition system, and the quality of contents provided through competition among similar companies You can expect improvement.

Fourth, through Contents Portal Service Gateway, access to the desired information providing site can be accessed without entering the user's identifier and password, as well as various authentications of the information provider for the charge of the fee. By omitting the procedure, convenient use is possible.

Fifth, if you register the necessary information at the first sign-up only for Contents Portal Service companies, you can contribute to the prevention of personal information leakage by not requiring any additional procedures such as membership of all the information providers to access the information or providing personal information.

Sixth, in terms of information providers, it is possible to enter the terminal certification market (schools, PC rooms, research institutes, public institutions, etc.) that were difficult to enter into individual companies through the Contents Portal Service company. In addition, demand creation activities such as advertising marketing, which was difficult to deploy as a single information provider alone due to cost and other issues, can be collectively done through Contents Portal Service companies, enabling a wide range of sales or distribution of the produced contents. Can be improved. In addition, through this, resources can be concentrated on production of high quality content, consequently contributing to the improvement of the quality of information provided and the competitiveness of the company.

Claims (11)

In the Internet content fee billing system for billing the fee for content provided by the information provider to the information user for one or more information providers and a plurality of information users, One or more information provider servers for receiving and comparing encrypted authentication information and information user information generated by the content user charging device from the information user terminal, and transmitting the requested content to the information user terminal when authentication is successful. ; Sends the encrypted authentication information transmitted from the content fee charging device to the information provider server along with the information user information to request the content, extracts and logs logging information for charging from the content received from the information provider server, and Sending the logged information to the content usage fee billing device at every cycle, and if the logging information for billing is not normally logged, terminates the web browser and the program for using the service provided by the information provider server. Information user terminals; And When the information user information is transmitted from the information user terminal and compared with the information user information registered in advance, and successfully authenticated, the encrypted authentication information is generated and transmitted to the information user terminal, and the logging information for charging is received from the information user terminal. And a content usage fee charging device that calculates and charges a content usage fee based on pre-registered charging information. The method of claim 1, wherein the information user information is It is a public IP or system identifier of the information user terminal, And the encrypted authentication information is encrypted information including information user information and a charging device authentication time at which the content usage fee charging device authenticates the information user. The method of claim 2, wherein the information provider server The information user information in the encrypted authentication information and the information user information transmitted from the information user terminal coincide with each other, and authentication is successful only when the authentication time at the information provider server is within a predetermined time from the charging device authentication time. Internet content charge system. The method of claim 1, wherein the information user information is Identifier and system identifier of the information user, And the encrypted authentication information is encrypted information including a system identifier and a billing device authentication time at which the billing device authenticates the information user. delete According to claim 1, wherein the content fee charging device is If the charging information plug-in program is not installed in the information user terminal when the information user terminal is connected, the charging plug-in program is downloaded to the information user terminal with the permission of the information user to automatically install the Internet. Content Usage Billing System. Database server; An information provider registration unit that registers information provider information and content information about content provided by the information provider and stores the information in the database server; An information user registration unit for receiving information user information and storing the information user information in the database server; A billing plug-in program downloader configured to automatically install the billing plug-in program on the information user terminal with the permission of the information user if the billing plug-in program is not installed in the information user terminal requesting access; On the registered content A web server for providing a portal screen to an information user terminal in which a charging plug-in program is installed; When the information user terminal is going to access the information provider server through the web server, if the information user information is received from the information user terminal and successfully authenticated by comparing with the registered information user information, the encrypted information is generated by generating the encrypted authentication information. An information user authentication unit for transmitting to the information user terminal; And Receive charging logging information from a user terminal installed with a charging plug-in program according to a predetermined cycle and store the charging logging information in the database server, and store logging information, content information and information stored in the database server according to a predetermined other cycle. And a billing management server that calculates and bills the content fee based on the user information. The method of claim 7, wherein the charging logging information is Content receiving fee billing device, characterized in that it comprises the start time, content receiving end time, information user information, information provider IP address and URL of the content, service port. The method of claim 8, wherein the billing management server In calculating the content usage fee by the information provider by the time-based system, the initial content reception start or end time is used as the start time, and for the content other than the streaming service, the FTP, and the DownLoad service, a predetermined predetermined time is determined from the content reception start or end time. For the time plus the logical charging reference time, or the video (Streaming Service), FTP, DownLoad Service content, the last data reception time of the content as the end time, when the new content is received within the end time to update the end time If new content is not received within the end time, a new start time and a new end time are determined by using a start or end time of receiving the first received content again as an initial content reception time, and ending at each start time. More time between times Content usage fee billing device, characterized in that determined by the total content using time. Registering, by the content usage fee charging device, content information about the content provided by the information provider and information user information in a database server; Generating content and transmitting the encrypted authentication information to the information user terminal when the content fee charging device receives the information user information from the information user terminal and compares the information user information with pre-registered user information; When the information user terminal is going to access the information provider server, receiving and comparing the encrypted authentication information and the information user information generated by the content usage charging device from the information user terminal, respectively, and authenticating them; If the authentication is successful, providing the requested content by the information provider server from the information user terminal; Web browser and other services that the information user terminal extracts and logs logging information for billing from the content received from the information provider server, but receives the content provided by the information provider server if the logging information for billing is not normally logged. Terminating the program for use; Transmitting, by the information user terminal, the logged information to the content usage charging device at predetermined intervals; And And charging the content usage fee device by receiving logging information for charging from the information user terminal and comparing the pre-registered charging information to calculate and charge the content usage fee. The method of claim 10, If the billing plug-in program is not installed in the information user terminal requesting access, the content charging device further includes the step of downloading the billing plug-in program to the information user terminal with the permission of the information user and automatically installing it. How to charge for content usage.

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