Patent ID: 7869797

Claim:
A communication system with a charging management apparatus, comprising: a processor including: a designator adapted to designate desired methods for at least an application layer and hardware control layer, respectively; a request signal transmitter configured to send a signal of request for a method designated by the designator; a receiver for receiving a reply to the request signal; a signal processor for selectively carrying out methods related to the application layer; a hardware controller for selectively carrying out methods related to the hardware control layer; and a controller for controlling the signal processor or hardware controller to carry out the method designated by the designator; a charging management apparatus including: a receiver for receiving the request signal; a judgment unit for judging, based on the received request signal, that the method designated by the designator is available; a transmitter for sending the judgment result from the judgment unit to the receiver; a usage-charge storage unit for storing charge information on the use of each of a plurality of methods stored in the signal processor or hardware controller; and a processor for computing, based on information stored in the usage-charge storage unit, information indicative of an amount charged to the user having made designation to the designator, and outputting the charged amount information, wherein the hardware controller controls a power for supply to circuits in the processor according to the methods carried out by the processor.