In a method and a usage counter for registering a usage value of a commodity, a measured value of the commodity is generated between an input and an output for the commodity, a rate value for charging for usage of said commodity is non-volatilely stored, and in a security module a monetary charge is calculated from the measured value and the rate value. An inputter inputs a source file to be analyzed and provides it to a reference relationship examiner. The second substrate having a second flow path is disposed corresponding to the first substrate that has a first flow path.