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  Electronic apparatus, charging system and method, charge processing device, storage medium, and prepaid cardUSPTO Application #: 20060195381Title: Electronic apparatus, charging system and method, charge processing device, storage medium, and prepaid card 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. (end of abstract) Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP - Washington, DC, US Inventors: Satoru Suzuki, Yasuji Yui USPTO Applicaton #: 20060195381 - Class: 705035000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Data Processing: Financial, Business Practice, Management, Or Cost/price Determination, Automated Electrical Financial Or Business Practice Or Management Arrangement, Finance (e.g., Banking, Investment Or Credit) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060195381. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a charging system and a charging method whereby apparatuses are not sold outright but are instead charged for the period of time in which they have been actually used, as well as an electronic apparatus for use with such a system and a method, a charge processing device, a storage medium, and a prepaid card. [0002] It has been customary for users to purchase products and acquire their ownership before use. The users thus generally pay the price of each product itself. [0003] The traditional way of purchase signifies that people pay the price of a given product whether or not they actually use it. In other words, the buyers must also pay for the period of time in which their product is not used for the simple reason that they own it Basically, products are worth their price only when utilized. If a product has been purchased but not used for some reason, that obviously means the buyer has wasted money on the product. [0004] Today's so-called high-tech products such as computers become obsolete in a very short cycle. Often new products appear on the market before their predecessors have been fully exploited. Users who bought earlier-models tend to feel shortchanged at seeing new and better products prematurely superseding their possessions. [0005] Those who wish to keep up with the latest and most sophisticated products need to pay in full for each novel item that comes along. This can be a considerable financial burden on the high-tech novelty hunters. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and provides a system and a method whereby products are charged not for their ownership but for the time period in which they have been actually used. [0007] In carrying out the invention and according to one aspect thereof, there is provided an apparatus including: 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 in which each of the functions is 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. [0008] The inventive electronic apparatus permits computing of the chargeable amount based on the time in which each selected function has been executed. This makes it possible to establish a scheme for charging the apparatus not for its value as a whole but for the amount commensurate with the way it has been used. [0009] The user of the apparatus thus pays solely according to how long the apparatus has been utilized. The same scheme applies to any new product, alleviating the user's grumbling about having to pay for ever-newer products appearing all the time to replace their prematurely outmoded predecessors. [0010] In on preferred structure according to the invention, the chargeable amount computing element may compute the chargeable amount based on the execution time for each of the functions and through weighting on a function-by-function basis. [0011] The apparatus of the invention may forestall the measuring of time if it is powered but not actually used. A suitable charging process may be implemented depending on which of different functions with different utility values has been used. Illustratively, the playback function, rewind function, fast forward function, and recording function may each be charged in an appropriately weighted manner when used in practice. [0012] In another preferred structure according to the invention, the apparatus may further include: a storing element for storing a usable time of the apparatus; and a settling element for subtracting a time representing the chargeable amount computed by the chargeable amount computing element, from the usable time stored in the storing element. [0013] With this preferred structure, the user is allowed to user to decide on a desired period of time and to store that period as a usable time in the storing element. The storing of the usable time into the storing element may be effected in consideration of a payment. The apparatus of this structure causes the usable time to be decremented by the time over which the apparatus has been actually used, allowing the user to employ the apparatus until the usable time is fully exhausted. [0014] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus including: an input detecting element for detecting a text input; and a controller for checking the input text detected by the input detecting element and setting the electronic apparatus for a time charge mode depending on a result of the check. [0015] The electronic apparatus of the above structure may be set by a text input either for a conventional sell-off model or for a time-charged model. There is no need to distinguish the two different models of the same apparatus during fabrication. [0016] According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus including: an operation inputting element for designating at least an operating state and a non-operating state; a used time measuring element for measuring duration of the operating state as a used time; a cumulative time measuring element for measuring an accumulated used time resulting from the measuring by the used time measuring element; and a chargeable time computing element for computing a chargeable time by weighting the used time measured by the used time measuring element in accordance with a weighting factor reflecting the accumulated used time measured by the cumulative time measuring element. [0017] The electronic apparatus of the above structure permits a charging practice that takes depreciation of the apparatus into consideration. More specifically, charges are weighted in accordance with the used time representative of product depreciation, i.e., the charging rate may be reduced over time. Many products used as fixed assets by corporations are conventionally bought by payment in full. In that case, depreciation expenses necessarily deviate chronologically from the actual spending of money on the product. By contrast, the inventive electronic apparatus allows its depreciation expenses to be spread substantially in time with the actual payment. [0018] According to an even further aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus including: an operation inputting element for designating at least an operating state and a non-operating state; a used time measuring element for measuring duration of the operating state as a used time; a chargeable time computing element for computing a chargeable time based on the used time measured by the used time measuring element; a memory for storing usable time information about the electronic apparatus; a settling element for subtracting the chargeable time computed by the chargeable time computing element from the usable time stored in the memory; and a reading element for reading the usable time information from the memory to notify a user thereof. [0019] With this structure, the memory continuously retains the usable time information about the apparatus in question. The usable time information can be retrieved by the reading element. [0020] When the usable time information is retrieved from the electronic apparatus for conversion into a utility value, it is possible to market the apparatus as a secondhand product offering its remaining utility value, whereby a secondhand product market is created. [0021] As outlined above, the user is charged for and pays up the exact amount of product time used according to the invention. The scheme clarifies the value of a given product from the user's point of view. Because the chargeable rate is varied from function to function regarding the product, it is possible to build a reasonable charging system that satisfies the user's sense of fairness. The user, if desired, may replace the currently used product with a new model every time such a model comes along. [0022] The inventive scheme replaces the traditional concept of transferring a product's ownership and lifetime use to a customer for a consideration, with a new concept of charging the user for the exact amount of product usage time. With people's obsession of product ownership discarded, it becomes easier for used products to be recovered and recycled, whereby a truly recycle-oriented society can be realized in time. Continue reading... Full patent description for Electronic apparatus, charging system and method, charge processing device, storage medium, and prepaid card Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Electronic apparatus, charging system and method, charge processing device, storage medium, and prepaid card patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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