Patent ID: 8103798

Claim:
A gateway for connecting a first network and a second network using a signal format different from that of the first network, said gateway comprising an operation unit that comprises: a conversion section configured to convert a first signal used in the first network to a second signal used in the second network, and the second signal used in the second network to the first signal used in the first network, when communication is performed between a terminal connected to the first network and a terminal connected to the second network; a detection section configured to detect as conversion-process information a time, after ability exchange is performed, that said conversion section spent to perform CODEC conversion or protocol conversion of the first signal or the second signal; and a network-connecting section configured to connect to at least one of the first network and the second network and configured to transmit the conversion-process information to a fee-charging system of the first network or to a fee-charging system of the second network, wherein the gateway is configured to detect the conversion-process information after the terminal of the first network and the terminal of the second network have been connected to each other.