Patent ID: 7974926

Claim:
A content usage system, comprising: an information terminal; a content usage apparatus; a settlement apparatus; and a server apparatus configured to transmit content usage information to the information terminal, the content usage information relating to usage of content; the information terminal comprising: a processor; a reception unit configured to receive, from the server apparatus, (i) the content usage information including a usage right for the content and charge information showing a usage amount of the content, and (ii) an identifier that identifies a provider of the content; a generation unit configured to generate, using the processor, settlement request information including the charge information and the identifier; a transmission unit configured to transmit the generated settlement request information to a settlement apparatus of a communications enterprise that provides communication service to the information terminal; a storage unit configured to store identification information that identifies an apparatus permitted to receive the content usage information from the information terminal; a judgment unit configured to judge, using the processor, whether or not to transfer the content usage information to a content usage apparatus that is the request-source and to use the content by comparing the identification information stored in the storage unit with identification information that identifies the content usage apparatus; and a transfer unit configured to transfer the content usage information to the content usage apparatus in a case in which a result of the judgment by the judgment unit is affirmative; the content usage apparatus comprising: a content obtaining unit configured to obtain the content; a content usage information reception unit configured to receive the content usage information from the information terminal; and a content usage unit configured to use the content in accordance with the usage information; and the settlement apparatus comprising: a settlement apparatus processor; a reception unit configured to receive the settlement request information from the information terminal; a proxy settlement unit configured to perform, using the settlement apparatus processor, proxy settlement for the content usage information for a content distribution server that distributes the content, in a case in which proxy settlement relating to the received settlement request information is permitted; and a settlement unit configured to perform, using the settlement apparatus processor, settlement for both the communication service and the content usage information for the information terminal in a case in which the proxy settlement is performed.