Content transaction system and method, and program providing medium therefor

Abstract

A user device receives the content, and pays a content fee, based on the usage control policy of the content, by electronic money up to the allowable amount of money set in an issue log. The user device then creates a usage log including a content identifier and sends it to a service provider. The service provider creates a receive log based on the usage log, and sends it to a clearing center. The clearing center performs settlement processing for the electronic money based on the receive log, and sends a transfer request to an account management institution. By performing the above-described series of processing by using encrypted data, the settlement of the content usage fee is safely performed.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA [0001] The present application is a divisional application of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 803,869 filed on Mar. 12, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference to the extent permitted by law. This application also claims the benefit of priority to Japanese Application No. P2000-069788, filed Mar. 14, 2000, which is also incorporated herein by reference to the extent permitted by law.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention generally relates to a content transaction system, a content transaction method, and program providing media for providing a program implementing the above-described method. More specifically, the invention relates to a content transaction system and a content transaction method for distributing various items of content information, such as music data, image data, game programs, etc., to users in the form of recording media, such as compact discs (CDs), digital versatile discs (DVDs), etc., or via a network,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] Accordingly, in view of the above background, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple content transaction system and content transaction method without using a credit card number or a bank account number in sales for the rights of use of many software contents, such as game programs, music data, and image data, while managing transactions and settlement processing performed among a plurality of users, and also to provide a program providing medium for providing a program implementing the above-described content transaction method.

Problems solved by technology

It is however difficult for the users who do not own a credit card or a bank account to use these methods.

This is one of the reasons that the spread of content distribution has been hampered.

It is difficult to control the transactions between users, which contributes to the widespread of illegal copies.

In transactions between users, in general, nothing is guaranteed for the users providing the content.

For example, it is not guaranteed that a user who has received the content will pay to the user who has provided the content.

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