IP Library Granted Patent US 7,580,889
Granted Patent B2
US 7,580,889 · App. 11/390,207 · Granted Aug 25, 2009

Electronic apparatus, charging system and method, charge processing device, storage medium, and prepaid card

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,580,889
App. No.
11/390,207
Granted
Aug 25, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus of the invention comprises an operation inputting element for designating one of a plurality of functions; a function executing element for executing the function designated by the operating inputting element; a measuring element for measuring the time during which each of the functions has been executed by the function executing element; and a chargeable amount computing element for computing a chargeable amount based on the execution time measured by the measuring element regarding each of the functions.

Claims (13)

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:

operation inputting means for designating at least an operating state and a non-operating state;

used time measuring means for measuring duration of time in the operating state as a used time; and

chargeable time computing means for computing a chargeable time by weighing the used time in accordance with different weighting factors set for different functions, wherein a time unit charge decreases as the used time increases and the time unit charge becomes zero when the used time reaches a predetermined time value.

2. An electronic apparatus comprising:

operation inputting means for designating at least an operating state and a non-operating state;

used time measuring means for measuring duration of said operating state as a used time;

cumulative time measuring means for measuring an accumulated used time; and

chargeable time computing means for computing a chargeable time by weighing the used time in accordance with different weighting factors set for different functions, wherein a time unit charge decreases as the used time increases and the time unit charge becomes zero when the used time reaches a predetermined time value.

3. A computer-implemented charging method, the computer including a processor and memory and the method comprising steps performed by the computer of:

measuring, by the processor, an actual operating time of an apparatus within a chargeable period as a chargeable used time;

measuring, by the processor, an accumulated time of the chargeable used time; and

computing, by the processor, a chargeable time by weighing the measured accumulated chargeable used time in accordance with different weighting factors set for different functions, wherein a time unit charge decreases as the chargeable used time increases and the time unit charge becomes zero when the chargeable used time reaches a predetermined time value.

Assignments (6)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE CITY SHOULD BE SPELLED AS TOKYO PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 058597 FRAME: 0141. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 17, 2023
From: LINE CORPORATION
To: A HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062401/0328 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SPELLING OF THE ASSIGNEES CITY IN THE ADDRESS SHOULD BE TOKYO, JAPAN PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 058597 FRAME: 0303. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 17, 2023
From: A HOLDINGS CORPORATION
To: LINE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062401/0490 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Dec 28, 2021
From: LINE CORPORATION
To: LINE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059511/0374 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 28, 2021
From: LINE CORPORATION
To: A HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058597/0141 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2021
From: A HOLDINGS CORPORATION
To: LINE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058597/0303 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 27, 2015
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: LINE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036436/0145 →