Information distributing apparatus, information storing apparatus, and information providing system

摘要

An information providing apparatus is realized: That is, in such a case that information is distributed/provided and this information is constituted by information formed by an information provider and also additional information such as an advertisement selected by the information provider, a use fee charged to the information provider can be reduced and/or increased based upon the additional information. Furthermore, since an information consumer refers to the additional information, a use fee charged to the information provider can be reduced and/or increased based on the additional information. The information providing apparatus is comprised of: a reception unit for receiving information to be provided; an information storage unit for storing thereinto the received information; a charge calculation unit for calculating a charge amount in accordance with additional information owned by the information by analyzing the information stored in the information storage unit, or for calculating a charge amount based upon a reference result of the additional information; a charge data storage unit for storing thereinto the calculated charge amount. Furthermore, the information providing apparatus is provided with a reference record storage unit, a reference base, and a reference control unit for providing the information stored in the information storage unit in response to a request, and also for producing such a signal for notifying the reference of the additional information.