Patent ID: 7099846
Filing Date: 2006-08-29
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. An information processing system which includes a server and one or more information processing apparatuses and enables the information processing apparatuses to purchase rights to decrypt and use encrypted information, comprising: first preparation means, located at the server, for preparing a first usage control status which identifies first usage details describing purchased rights and pricing details corresponding to said first usage details; storage means for storing, located at the server, said encrypted information, said first usage control status, a usage control policy that contains a second use type that describes rights available for purchase at a subsequent time based on the first usage details of said purchased rights, price tags that contain pricing details corresponding to second usage details, and a key needed to decrypt said encrypted information; and second preparation means, located at the server, for preparing a second usage control status that identifies said second usage details and pricing details corresponding to said second usage details, based on said usage control policy and said price tags, when rights are purchased again by said one or more information processing apparatuses; wherein said encrypted information is accessed, at a first information processing apparatus, for a first pre-selected period of time, as a function of said purchased rights and usage control policy, wherein said encrypted information is accessed, by a second information processing apparatus, using second rights, for a second pre-selected period of time, wherein the second information processing apparatus accesses said encrypted information independent of a connection to the first information processing apparatus, wherein the first usage control status and the second usage control status includes at least system registration information; and wherein the system registration information includes at least an equipment number, a settlement number, account-settling user information, subordinate user information, and use point information.