Server apparatus, subscriber apparatus and information on demand system

Abstract

An information on demand system provides a user of a terminal (subscriber) information through a network such as CATV such that the user pays an adequate charge to a server (information provider). According to the information on demand system, the received information can be recorded in a recording medium under control of the terminal equipment. Cases in which 1) the subscriber merely watches a program on a television receiver and; 2) the subscriber records the program and watches it by reproducing the recorded information at another time are distinguished and the subscriber is charged a different amount by the server accordingly.

1. An information on demand system comprising:
 a server apparatus for providing information according to a request from a subscriber;    display means for displaying said information provided by said server apparatus; and    recording means for recording said information provided by said server apparatus;    wherein a different amount is charged to said subscriber among a) in the case in which said information is provided to said display means, b) in the case in which said information is provided to said recording means and c) in the case in which said information is provided to said display means and to said recording means.    
     
     
       2. An information on demand system comprising:
 information providing means for providing information according to a request from a subscriber;    information receiving means for receiving said information provided by said information providing means;    display means for displaying a further information signal output from said information receiving means;    recording means for recording said further information signal of said information receiving means;    subscriber mode discriminating means for discriminating whether said further information signal of said information receiving means is provided to one of said display means and said recording means;    charging means for charging a different amount among a) in the case in which said further information is provided to said display means, b) in the case in which said further information is provided to said recording means and c) in the case in which said further information is provided to said display means and to said recording means according to an output of said subscriber mode discriminating means; and,    charge registering means for registering charge data output from said charging means.    
     
     
       3. A server apparatus comprising:
 subscriber identification means for reading an identifying information to identify a subscriber;  
 information providing means for providing information according to a request from said subscriber;  
 subscriber mode recognizing means for discriminating whether said information providing means provides said information a) to a subscriber display means, b) to a subscriber recording means or c) to said subscriber display means and said subscriber recording means;  
 charging means for charging a different amount among a) in the case in which said information is provided to said subscriber display means, b) in the case in which said information is provided to said subscriber recording means and c) in the case in which said information is provided to said subscriber display means and to said subscriber recording means according to an output of said subscriber mode recognizing means; and  
 charge registering means provided for every subscriber for registering a charge data output from said charging means; and wherein said charge registering means accumulates the charge data output from said charging means at said charge registering means corresponding to said identifying information according to a discriminating information discriminated at said subscriber identification means.  
 
     
     
       4. A server apparatus comprising:
 provided information designating means for providing information requested by a subscriber to a server;    information receiving means for receiving said information provided by said server according to said subscriber request;    subscriber mode discriminating means for discriminating whether an information signal output from said information receiving means is provided a) to a display means, b) to a recording means or c) to both the display means and the recording means and informing said subscriber through said information receiving means.    
     
     
       5. A subscriber apparatus comprising:
 information receiving means for receiving a provided information according to a request from a subscriber;    subscriber mode discriminating means for discriminating whether a further information signal output from said information receiving means is provided a) to a display means, b) to a recording means or c) to both said display means and said recording means;    charging means for charging a different amount among a) in the case in which said further information is provided to said display means, b) in the case in which said further information is provided to said recording means and c) in the case in which said further information is provided to said display means and to said recording means according to an output of said subscriber mode discriminating means; and    charge registering means for accumulating an amount output from said charging means.    
     
     
       6. A subscriber apparatus as recited in  claim 5 ; wherein the charge registering means periodically informs the subscriber's charge to a server. 
     
     
       7. A subscriber apparatus comprising:
 demodulating means for demodulating an information signal provided by a server; and  
 terminal control means for inputting a demodulated information signal of said demodulating means, outputting a signal to recording means which records said demodulated information signal in a recording medium in which a subscriber identification number is recorded and controlling supply of the output signal; and wherein  
 said terminal control means registers said subscriber identification number recorded in said recording medium of said recording means and an information identification number provided from said server in said terminal control means, when a subscriber finishes the recording of the information signal provided from said server in said recording medium of said recording means.  
 
     
     
       8. A subscriber apparatus as recited in  claim 7 ; wherein
 said demodulated information signal is not output to said recording means, when the subscriber identification number is not recorded in the recording medium of said recording means.  
 
     
     
       9. A subscriber apparatus as recited in  claim 7  or  8 ; wherein
 an identification number of said recording means is used instead of the subscriber identification number.  
 
     
     
       10. A subscriber apparatus as recited in  claim 9  wherein:
 said subscriber is determined from the identification number of said recording means; and  
 a charge is collected from said subscriber.  
 
     
     
       11. A subscriber apparatus as recited in  claim 10  wherein when the subscriber records information provided from an information providing apparatus, said information can not be recorded unless the subscriber is approved by the server. 
     
     
       12. A method for providing information on demand comprising the steps of:
 receiving a request from a subscriber requesting information;    transmitting the information to at least one of a subscriber display means and a subscriber recording means for displaying and recording the information respectively, and    charging the subscriber one of a plurality of amounts depending upon whether the transmitted information is intended for recording on said recording means,    wherein said request for information indicates whether the subscriber is recording said information on said recording means.    
     
     
       13. An apparatus for providing information on demand comprising:
 receiving means for receiving a request from a subscriber for information,    sending means for sending the information to at least one of a subscriber display means and a subscriber recording means for displaying and recording the information respectively, and    charging means for charging the subscriber one of a plurality of amounts depending upon whether the transmitted information is intended for recording on said recording means,    wherein said request for information indicates whether the subscriber is recording said information on said recording means.