Patent ID: 7430752

Claim:
A bonus determining method for determining a bonus information item for a first user of a recording device, the following acts being processed: recording a coded playback information item, and recording a link information item which identifies an authorizing device authorized to grant a playback authorization for the coded playback information item, and recording at least one recorder identification information item on a recording carrier with the aid of the recording device, the recorder identification information item identifying the recording device that performs the recording; obtaining a playback authorization for the coded playback information item, played back with the aid of one or more playback devices associated with corresponding one or more second users from the recording carrier or from a copy of the recording carrier, from the authorizing device identified by the link information item, in order to permit a pay per view billing of a playback charge; transferring the at least one recorder identification information item, played back from the recording carrier or from the copy of the recording carrier, from the one or more playback devices to the authorizing device identified by the link information item; and determining the bonus information item for the first user of the recording device from the number of recorder identification information items transferred during a billing period to the authorizing device by the one or more second users of the one or more playback devices and identifying the recording device.