JP2004023247A - Copyright management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manage step by step the processing such as duplication and alteration about each of parts by partially breaking down the digital contents. <P>SOLUTION: A contents storing station 13 stores digital contents 12 configured by combining a plurality of scenes time sequentially and attaches work processing range data CC1 to CC4 which regulate the range where others are allowed to process the digital contents 12 to each of the scenes. The contents storing station 13 processes each of the scenes of the digital contents 12 within the range defined by the work processing range data CC1 to CC4. Thus, it is possible to easily manage the copyright of each scene on the basis of the intention of the original author side of the digital contents. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a copyright management system and related technology.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When distributing digital contents including video and music using a network such as the Internet, various means have been considered to protect these copyrights.
[0003]
The main technologies for protecting the copyright of digital contents include (1) a method of writing copyright and information in a part of the header of the contents, and (2) a general method of using digital watermarking technology. There is a method in which copyright information is written in a file. Also, when a recording medium such as a DVD is distributed to the market, (3) measures such as writing a copy prohibition flag on the recording medium and prohibiting recording or copying on the playback device side by hardware are taken. There is.
[0004]
For example, according to the conventional copyright protection method shown in FIG. 4, a digital watermark (Water mark) 3 is embedded in the digital content 1 or the header information of the digital content 1 is distributed in the distribution station 2 that distributes the digital content 1. The digital content 1 is transmitted to the receiving station 6 through a network 5 such as the Internet, in which the copyright information 4 is included. The receiving station 6 determines the digital watermark 3 or the copyright information 4 by using a predetermined device 7. In this case, if the recording 8a, the copying 8b, and the modification 8c are permitted for the digital content 1, the respective actions 8a to 8c are performed within the permitted range.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
With the conventional copyright protection method, it is possible to clearly indicate the copyright on the digital content distribution side or to prohibit any processing of the digital content. It is assumed that measures are taken to prevent duplication or modification of the entire content, such as editing a part of the digital content or duplicating each individual scene included in the digital content. It did not finely reflect the free form of permitting or prohibiting modification or the like.
[0006]
For example, consider a case where a user wants to use a scene such as a seaside used in a certain public program as a momentary scene in a home video recorded by the user himself.
[0007]
In this case, the conventional copyright protection method only protects the entire public program, whether it is protected or the entire process is licensed, in an all-or-nothing manner.
[0008]
However, here, a case is considered in which, for a certain public program, for example, the original author may permit a third party to use a scene of a scene simply used as a background in a state in which a person or the like is not shown. In the conventional copyright protection method, if the entire video of the public program is protected, the secondary use of the video material by processing and editing is greatly hindered. On the other hand, if the processing of permitting the processing of all the videos of the public program is performed, the processing is naturally permitted also for scenes other than the scenery scenes to be permitted, which results in a result that is not the writer's inversion. I will.
[0009]
By the way, on the Internet, users themselves become more authors and create and distribute secondary works while processing digital contents as original works in a secondary and tertiary manner. However, conventional methods may hinder the development of derivative works with legitimate title.
[0010]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a copyright management system and a related technology capable of partially decomposing digital contents and managing the processing such as duplication and modification step by step for each part. is there.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 stores a digital content composed of a plurality of scenes combined in a time-series manner and sets a permission range for processing of the digital content by another person. A content storage bureau that assigns prescribed work processing range data for each scene, and is connected to the content storage bureau through a predetermined network, and for each scene of the digital content, is defined by the work processing range data. And a content utilization station for processing within the range.
[0012]
The invention according to claim 2 is the copyright management system according to claim 1, wherein the respective scenes of the digital content are held in the content storage station and received by the content use station through the network. Decomposition is defined by predetermined possible scene decomposition data, and the location of the digital content is specified by the scene decomposition data.
[0013]
The invention according to claim 3 is the copyright management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the content storage station holds a keyword assigned to each of the scenes, and However, by performing the matching of the keyword through the network, the scene as a processing target can be searched.
[0014]
A fourth aspect of the present invention is the copyright management system according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the content storage bureau expresses the contents of each scene by a plurality of content expression means. The content utilization station receives a plurality of the content representation means from the content storage station through the network and selects a plurality of the content representation means, so that the scene as a processing target can be selected. It was done.
[0015]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the copyright management system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the copyright processing range data is set so that each author of each scene of the digital content is It is given so as to indicate the processing permission range to be granted to others in a stepwise manner.
[0016]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the copyright management system according to the fifth aspect, wherein the processing of the original work and the combination with another work are not permitted at all in the work processing range data. And a second value indicating that a knitting operation for creating a new work by combining other works and / or different material data while using substantially all of the original work as it is is shown. A value, a third value indicating that editing work to create a new work by extracting, reordering, and / or adding necessary parts of the original work, and the original work And a fourth value indicating that a modification to create a different copyrighted work by changing a part or all of the copyrighted work is included.
[0017]
The invention according to claim 7 is the copyright management system according to claim 5, wherein the copyright processing range data indicates that no processing of the original scene as a copyrighted work is permitted at all. It includes a processing permission flag that stores either a value or a second value indicating that processing of the original scene as a copyrighted work is completely permitted.
[0018]
The invention according to claim 8 is the copyright management system according to claim 3, wherein the content storage bureau and / or the content storage bureau has quantified intuitive characteristics of data to be searched. The apparatus further has parameter information, which is a set of a plurality of attributes, and executes a search for the scene using the keyword and the parameter information as search conditions when a keyword is collated from the content use station.
[0019]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the copyright management system according to the third or eighth aspect, the content usage bureau uses the permission range of the work processing range data as at least a part of the keyword. Searchable.
[0020]
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the copyright management system according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the processing of the scene in the content use station is performed based on the copyright processing range data. Fee management related to the use of the copyrighted work is performed.
[0021]
The invention according to claim 11 is the copyright management system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the copyright management system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, relates to the secondary copyrighted work processed by the content use station for each scene. Further, copyright processing range data defining a permission range for processing by another person is added to each scene.
[0022]
A twelfth aspect of the present invention is the copyright management system according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, wherein the copyright processing range data includes a range in which another person distributes the copyright processing range data to a third party. Is included.
[0023]
In this specification, the term "scene" indicates a fragment of digital content separated by a predetermined time axis according to the intention of the author.
[0024]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a copyright management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this copyright management system, as shown in FIG. 1, a content storage station 13 for storing a plurality of digital contents 12 as original works (original works) including video and audio is connected to a network 11 such as the Internet. ing. The content storage station 13 may be a single content storage station that stores all digital contents 12 and manages them collectively, or a plurality of content storage stations 13 each owns its own digital content. 12 may be managed separately or independently or in cooperation with each other.
[0025]
The digital content 12 as a whole of the original work, scenes obtained by decomposing the digital content 12 in time series, and secondary works using these are still image data such as JPEG files and GIF files, MPEG Files and various moving image data such as streaming moving image files, audio data such as MP3 files and MIDI files, various material data such as text data (character information), and layout information for laying out these various material data on the screen The concept includes control information such as scenario information, programs, algorithms, and various parameters, etc., which directs various material data along the time axis. The works (original works and secondary works) handled in this embodiment Things), especially those with a time-dependent element It is.
[0026]
Individual digital contents 12 are not decomposed into individual scenes as entities, but are merely decomposed and defined by defining delimiters for each scene by scene decomposition data CS1 to CS4 described later. That is, various types of bibliographic data such as the start time of each scene of the digital content 12, the end time of each scene, or the total length of each scene, a thumbnail image in which the start time of each scene or a characteristic scene is extracted as a still image, Scene decomposition data CS1 to CS4 including data such as a preview video and a preview audio and a title for identifying each scene are provided, and a search keyword CK1 provided based on the content of each scene. To CK4 and copyright processing range data CC1 to CC4 in which the original author authorizes another person to process each scene, in association with the scene decomposition data CS1 to CS4. Note that the thumbnail image, the preview video and the preview audio, the title for identifying each scene, and the like are used as “content expression means” for expressing the content of each scene.
[0027]
The scene disassembly data CS1 to CS4 may be manually provided in advance in the content storage station 13, or may be decomposed by automatic processing at predetermined time intervals, for example, or may be various types in each scene at the time of image editing. Decompose by automatic processing with reference to the appearance timing of material data, etc., or perform speech recognition or image recognition processing to automatically judge that it is a different scene and decompose, or based on closed caption etc. For example, scene decomposition data CS1 to CS4 may be automatically assigned to each of a plurality of decomposed scenes.
[0028]
The scene decomposition data CS1 to CS4 include information on the location on the network 11 of the digital content 12 including the scene defined by the scene decomposition data CS1 to CS4. As the location information, for example, an IP address is applied.
[0029]
The keywords CK1 to CK4 are manually assigned in advance in the content storage station 13, for example. The keywords CK1 to CK4 include, for example, data such as the author of each scene (digital content 12) and the title of each scene, data such as a character string including a noun and a place name of the content of each scene, and the content of each scene. Character strings and data composed of adjectives and parameters to be expressed, or composite data composed of titles, nouns / adjectives / verbs, and various parameters relating to the contents of each scene are adopted.
[0030]
Alternatively, the keywords CK1 to CK4 may be keywords for “fuzzy search” disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-209661 proposed by the present applicant. It is provided manually by a person in charge, or automatically based on voice recognition / image recognition as in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-084743 proposed by the present applicant.
[0031]
Here, the "fuzzy search" is a method in which parameter information, which is a set of a plurality of attributes quantifying sensory characteristics of data to be searched, is stored in a database in advance, and keywords CK1 to CK4 and the above parameters are stored. Is input to the search interface as search conditions, and the search interface and the search results are transmitted to the user. By assigning the parameter information and the keywords CK1 to CK4 to each scene, The person in charge of the content use station 31 can intuitively execute the matching of the keywords CK1 to CK4.
[0032]
In many cases, data that can be used as keywords are stored in the scene decomposition data CS1 to CS4. Therefore, in the actual search processing, various data in the scene decomposition data CS1 to CS4 are used in addition to the keywords CK1 to CK4. Is also desirably treated as a keyword. As a result, for example, it is possible to retrieve only scenes that can be freely modified or redistributed.
[0033]
The copyright processing range data CC1 to CC4 reflect, as data, a processing license intended by the original author for another person, and is manually assigned in advance in the content storage station 13, for example. The copyright processing range data CC1 to CC4 include a “processing permission flag” for identifying three types of “composition”, “editing”, and “modification” as the mode of processing permitted for each scene. .
[0034]
Here, "composition" means to obtain a new copyrighted work by combining many other material data while using all of the original scenes, such as using all from the beginning to the end of each scene. And includes, for example, a collage method of performing a combination using all of the original scenes.
[0035]
“Editing” refers to extracting, reordering, or adding necessary portions of each scene, such as editing 90-minute video data into a 3-minute digest. And montage techniques to reconstruct.
[0036]
"Alteration" means that part or all of each scene is freely changed to a different copyrighted work, and includes, for example, a method of changing a part of the original scene, such as parody or modification.
[0037]
The "processing permission flag" indicates a range in which the processing is permitted according to the author's intention by a numerical value or the like. For example, as the number increases, the content user is given the right to freely perform the processing. Specifically, in the case where the processing range is identified as three types of “composition”, “editing”, and “modification”, “editing” has a wider range of permission than “composition” and is more free than “editing”. "Modification" has a wider scope of permission. In consideration of this, for example, a value of “0” (first value) when no processing is permitted for the entire scene, and a value of “1” (first value) when “composition” is permitted. The value of “2” is the value of “2” (third value) when “edit” is permitted, and the value of “3” (fourth value) when “modification” is freely permitted. Is stored. Thus, the larger the value stored in the “processing permission flag”, the wider the processing permission range.
[0038]
The copyright processing range data CC1 to CC4 also include a "re-distribution flag" that defines a permitted range for re-delivery intended by the original author, in addition to the "processing permission flag". The “re-distribution flag” has a value of “0” when no re-distribution is possible, and “re-distribution flag” when re-distribution is possible only within the range permitted by the “processing permission flag”. If the value “1” is completely re-distributable, the value “2” is stored.
[0039]
Further, as the copyright processing range data CC1 to CC4, various conditions when each scene is used as an optional item that is not essential, for example, a flag indicating whether the processing of each scene is paid or free. , A flag indicating the necessity of commercial use, a flag indicating the necessity of displaying the work, and predetermined data such as an expiration date for which the processing is permitted. And the like, such that these parameters become effective by an operation on the content use station 31 side.
[0040]
In the content storage station 13, the digital content 12 itself as the original work is stored in the content server 21, but when the digital content 12 is decomposed into a plurality of scenes, scene decomposition data CS1 to CS1 corresponding to each scene are stored. CS4, keywords CK1 to CK4, and work processing range data CC1 to CC4 are stored in the configuration database server 22. However, each scene itself is not actually handled as an individual file, but each scene is pseudo-divided as a whole with respect to the digital content 12 as defined by the scene decomposition data CS1 to CS4. It will be managed as something.
[0041]
Here, the content server 21 and the configuration database server 22 are connected to the network 11 through devices 23 and 24 having a communication function, respectively. Also, the network 11 refers to each of the scene decomposition data CS1 to CS4, the keywords CK1 to CK4, and the work processing range data CC1 to CC4 stored in the configuration database server 22 of the content storage station 13 while referring to each of the digital contents 12. A content utilization station (processing station) 31 for processing a scene to create a secondary work for each scene, and a digital content 12 or content as an original work stored in a content server 21 of a content storage station 13 A browsing station 32 capable of browsing a secondary work created by the use station 31 is connected.
[0042]
The content use station 31 uses a computer device connected to the network 11 and displays a thumbnail or a preview of each scene defined by the scene decomposition data CS1 to CS4 on a screen, or performs a predetermined input using a keyboard or the like. It is possible to select a scene to be processed while inputting a keyword by the device and collating the keywords CK1 to CK4 and the data in the scene decomposition data CS1 to CS4. It should be noted that it is preferable to search for a keyword when selecting a scene by using the above-described “fuzzy search” method.
[0043]
Then, the content use station 31 reads out the copyright processing range data CC1 to CC4 associated with the scene selected as the processing target, and performs predetermined content processing as long as the content is licensed in the above described copyright processing range data CC1 to CC4. Using a program (authoring tool), each scene can be processed (organized, edited, or modified).
[0044]
Here, in the secondary work edited by the content use station 31 using each scene provided by the content storage station 13, as long as the “re-distribution flag” of the scene decomposition data CS1 to CS4 is specified. Can be re-distributed, but the worker of the content utilization bureau 31 who created the secondary work is also an author only as far as the creation of the secondary work is concerned. Similarly to the “processing permission flag” and “re-distribution flag” in the scene decomposition data CS1 to CS4 for each scene as a crop, the processing permission range for a third party regarding this secondary work is defined. A "processing permission flag" and a "re-distribution flag" indicating the content of permission for re-distribution are provided.
[0045]
Incidentally, the secondary work is basically processed for each scene of the digital content 12 as the original work. However, all the material data of the secondary work (the original work for each original scene) is used. ) Is not directly copied and distributed, but as shown in FIG. 2, the data of the portion processed for each original scene and the information (IP address) of the location of the original work related thereto Is output to the network 11 in a state of being associated with the original scenes. Each scene in the original digital content 12 is arbitrarily leaked onto the network 11 from the content use station 31 other than the content storage station 13. Ensure that it is not copied without permission.
[0046]
Here, the data of a portion processed for each original scene refers to, for example, a processing history at the time of processing, or information on a change in a parameter when the parameter is changed at the time of processing. For example, in FIG. 2, a scene corresponding to the scene decomposition data CS1 and CS4 is used as a scene in the content storage station 13, and a processing such as adding a new scene (CA1, CA2) to the scene is performed. I do. In this case, the actual scenes corresponding to the scene decomposition data CS1 and CS4 are still retained in the content storage station 13 as the original set of digital contents 12, and these are copied at the content use station 31 or copied. Is not distributed to another station (that is, another content use station 31 or another viewing station 32), and the location of the scene corresponding to the scene decomposition data CS1 and CS4 of the digital content 12 in the content storage station 13 is determined. It is only shown (dotted line in FIG. 2). In this case, as data distributed from the content use station 31 to other stations, the new scenes (CA1, CA2) added and the scene decomposition data including the location information (IP address) of the original scenes are included. Only CS1 to CS4. Other stations that receive this call the corresponding scenes of the digital content 12 stored in the content storage station 13 based on the scene decomposition data CS1 and CS4 given from the content usage station 31, and further call the content usage station The new scenes (CA1, CA2) distributed from 31 are connected and synthesized and reproduced. In this case, the other station that received the distribution is the content use station 31, and the same processing is performed when a secondary copyrighted work is created based on this, and the original scene is stored in the original content storage. Only information that has been processed while being held as part of the digital content 12 in the station 13 is distributed.
[0047]
As a result, it is possible to strictly manage the copyright of the digital content 12 as the original work. In addition, the copyright of the secondary work is changed to the “processing permission” newly given by the content use bureau 31. With the "flag" and the "re-distribution flag", it is possible to link and manage the original work in the original content storage station 13 in a chained manner. Therefore, when a plurality of content use stations 31 are connected to the network 11, each scene of the original work in the original content storage station 13 is processed by a certain content use station 31 to create a secondary work. In the case where the secondary work is further processed by another content utilization station 31 after creating the content, the management of the permitted range for others can be managed in a superimposed and chain-related manner. Therefore, when digital contents are created, a copyright management system that matches the very actual situation is realized.
[0048]
Also, when using the original work or a secondary work produced by another content use station 31 at the content use station 31, the usage fee of the original work or the secondary work is automatically adjusted by the access. Is configured to be able to be determined. Specifically, the content storage station 13 and each content use station 31 set a fee for use of each scene of the original work or the secondary work and set the fee in the scene decomposition data CS1 to CS4 described above. The data of the charge setting is stored, and at the time when the scene is processed in each content use station 31 that intends to use the scene or the derivative work, the charge is automatically set on the content use station 31 side. The content amount is added and transmitted from the content use station 31 to the content storage station 13. The content storage bureau 13 counts the amount of the fee for each content usage bureau 31 and performs payment at a predetermined timing.
[0049]
The browsing station 32 uses a computer device connected to the network 11, and uses a browser and various software programs called plug-ins functioning in conjunction with the browser to store original work stored in the content storage station 13. It is possible to browse through the network 11 the digital content 12 as a secondary work and the secondary copyrighted work processed by the content use station 31.
[0050]
A method of using the copyright management system having the above configuration will be described. First, in the content storage station 13, digital content 12 created in advance by the original author is stored in the content server 21, and scene decomposition data is stored for each scene in which the digital content 12 is time-separated. CS1 to CS4, keywords CK1 to CK4, and work processing range data CC1 to CC4 are stored in the configuration database server 22 in advance.
[0051]
When creating a secondary copyrighted work using each scene in the content use station 31, the scene decomposition data CS1 to CS4 are downloaded through the network 11, a plurality of thumbnail images are displayed on the screen, and any of the thumbnail images is displayed. The user selects one of the scenes by designating with a pointing device such as a mouse, displaying a preview image, or sounding a preview sound. Alternatively, a keyword is input to a predetermined input field using an input device such as a keyboard, and the keyword is compared with the keywords CK1 to CK4 prepared in the content storage bureau 13 by a technique such as “fuzzy search”. Select one of the scenes.
[0052]
When one of the scenes is selected, the copyright processing range data CC1 to CC4 associated with the scene is downloaded to the content use station 31.
[0053]
Then, the person in charge of producing the secondary work uses a predetermined content processing program (authoring tool) for the scene selected by the user, as long as the processing range specified by the copyright processing range data CC1 to CC4. Processing (organization, editing or modification) of each scene.
[0054]
At this time, the person in charge of the production of the secondary copyrighted work, like the “processing permission flag” and “re-distribution flag” in the scene decomposition data CS1 to CS4 for each scene as the original copyrighted work, A “processing permission flag” that defines the range of processing permission for the copyrighted work to a third party and a “re-distribution flag” indicating the content of permission for re-distribution are provided.
[0055]
The secondary copyrighted work can be redistributed as long as it is specified by the “redelivery flag” of the scene decomposition data CS1 to CS4. Therefore, within this re-distributable range, secondary works are distributed in response to distribution requests from other content use stations 31 and viewing stations 32.
[0056]
In this case, instead of directly distributing all the material data of the secondary work (including the original work of the original scene), the data of the part processed for each original scene and the related data Only the information on the location of the original copyrighted work is distributed to the network 11 in a state where it is associated with each original scene.
[0057]
The other content use stations 31 and the viewing stations 32 receive the data of the portions processed from the original scenes from the content use stations 31 in which the data of the processed portions are produced, and transmit the scenes related thereto. Is received from the content storage station 13 and synthesized. The secondary copyrighted work thus synthesized is further processed at the content use station 31 and browsed at the browse station 32. As a result, it is possible to strictly manage the copyright of the digital content 12 as the original work. In addition, the copyright of the secondary work is changed to the “processing permission” newly given by the content use bureau 31. With the "flag" and the "re-distribution flag", it is possible to link and manage the original work in the original content storage station 13 in a chained manner. Therefore, when a plurality of content use stations 31 are connected to the network 11, each scene of the original work in the original content storage station 13 is processed by a certain content use station 31 to create a secondary work. In the case where the secondary work is further processed by another content utilization station 31 after creating the content, the management of the permitted range for others can be managed in a superimposed and chain-related manner. In the case where digital contents are created by using such a method, a copyright management system that matches the actual situation is realized.
[0058]
In addition, when the content utilization station 31 produces a secondary work using an original work or a secondary work produced by another content utilization station 31, the content utilization station 31 automatically creates the secondary work. Is added to the content, and transmitted from the content use station 31 to the content storage station 13. The content storage bureau 13 totals the amount of the fee for each content usage bureau 31 and performs payment at a predetermined timing. As a result, it is possible to efficiently manage the cost of using each copyrighted work.
[0059]
As described above, according to this embodiment, the digital content 12 as the original work is decomposed into scenes in advance, so that the copyright management for each scene can be easily performed according to the intention of the original author. .
[0060]
Also, in the copyright management, by changing the modification range for each scene stepwise, it is possible to edit contents with a high degree of freedom on both the author side and the user side.
[0061]
Further, since the use of the content in the re-distribution is considered from the beginning, it is possible to control the secondary use of the copyrighted work to some extent.
[0062]
Since a keyword for search is previously assigned to each scene as an original work, the person in charge of the production of the secondary work can use the keyword to search for the necessary contents from among the many digital contents 12. Can be easily selected. In this case, by supporting "fuzzy search" as a search keyword, a necessary scene can be searched by a more intuitive method. Then, for example, since the search can be performed using the copyrighted processing range data itself as a key, it is possible to provide a convenient copyright management system intended to edit contents suitable for distribution and redistribution in advance.
[0063]
Further, by taking over the scene decomposition data CS1 to CS4, the keywords CK1 to CK4, and the work processing range data CC1 to CC4 for the original scene to the secondary work, the work is successively processed in a chain. It is possible to perform extremely convenient management when performing the work of writing in a shared work.
[0064]
As described above, when a secondary work is redistributed from a certain content use station 31, the entity such as all material data (including the original work of the original scene) of the secondary work is used for the content. Instead of directly distributing from the station 31 to other stations (that is, the other content use stations 31 and the viewing stations 32), the data of the portion processed for each original scene and the location of the original work related thereto Since only the information about is used, for example, even in the secondary distribution, the original use form of the work can be kept in a safe form that does not infringe the copyright.
[0065]
In the above embodiment, when a secondary work is redistributed from a certain content use station 31, all material data of the secondary work (including the original work of the original scene) and the like are used. Instead of directly distributing the entity from the content use station 31 to another station (that is, another content use station 31 or the browsing station 32), the data of the portion processed for each original scene and its related Although only the information on the location of the original work was distributed (see FIG. 2), as shown in FIG. 3, each scene (the scene corresponding to the scene decomposition data CS1 and CS4 in FIG. 3) as the original work is replaced with another scene. The scenes CA1 and CA2 may be added and redistributed.
[0066]
Further, after each content use station 31 creates a secondary work, the content use station 31 functions as the content storage station 13 for the portion of the copyright superimposed on the original work with respect to the secondary work. Is passed to the next content use bureau 31 as an intermediate secondary work, and all the secondary works after processing are transferred from the content use bureau 31 to the viewing bureau 32 while directly distributing the work. You can make it available for distribution. In this case, by taking over the copyright processing range data in a chain, it is possible to reliably perform the copyright management of each scene that is processed in a chain.
[0067]
Also, in the above embodiment, the processing permission flag is divided into four stages of “processing impossible”, “organization”, “editing”, and “modification” as a range in which the original author permits processing to another scene for each scene. Is generated. For example, if the editing is not possible at all, the “processing permission flag” is set to “0” value, and if the processing is possible, the “processing permission flag” is set to “1” value. Or two or three or five or more steps.
[0068]
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, each scene of the digital content 12 is not actually handled as an individual file, and the digital content 12 as a whole is defined as the scene decomposition data CS1 to CS4. Although the above description has been made on the assumption that each scene is pseudo-divided, a file actually divided for each scene may be stored in the content storage station 13.
[0069]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the content storage bureau stores the digital content formed by combining a plurality of scenes in time series, and defines the permission range for the digital content to be processed by another person. The copyright processing range data is assigned to each scene, and the content use station can process each scene of the digital content within the range defined by the copyright processing range data. The copyright management for each scene according to the original author's intention can be easily performed.
[0070]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, each scene of the digital content is decomposed and defined by predetermined scene decomposition data held in the content storage station and made receivable by the content use station through the network. Since the location of the digital content is specified by the data, the entity of the digital content itself can be managed as being decomposed by the scene decomposed data, without being decomposed into scenes. Therefore, when redistributing a secondary work based on each scene from the content use station, the substance such as all the material data (including the original work of the original scene) of the secondary work is transferred to the content use station. Instead of distributing directly to other stations, it is possible to distribute only the data of the part processed for each original scene and the information on the location of the original work related thereto, and Also in the distribution of goods, the usage form of the digital contents as the original work can be kept in a safe form that does not infringe copyright while preventing each scene from being copied without permission.
[0071]
According to the third aspect of the invention, the content storage bureau holds a keyword assigned to each scene, and the content usage bureau performs keyword collation through a network to search for a scene to be processed. Since it has been made possible, the content use station can easily search for the scene to be used from the original digital content. This is particularly useful when there are a plurality of content storage stations.
[0072]
According to the invention as set forth in claim 4, the content storage station has a plurality of content expression means respectively representing the content of each scene, and the content use station transmits the plurality of content expression means from the content storage station through the network. Since the scene to be processed can be selected by receiving and selecting a plurality of the content expression means, the scene to be used can be easily selected from the original digital content at the content use station. This is particularly useful when there are a plurality of content storage stations.
[0073]
According to the fifth to seventh aspects of the present invention, the copyright processing range data is provided so as to indicate, in a stepwise manner, the processing permission range that each author of each scene of the digital content grants to another person. Therefore, while easily responding to the intention of the author of the original digital content, it is possible to process the content with a high degree of freedom on the content use station side while complying with the processing permission range defined by the copyright processing range data. Become.
[0074]
According to the invention described in claim 8, the content storage bureau and / or the content storage bureau further retains parameter information which is a set of a plurality of attributes quantifying sensory characteristics of data to be searched, When a keyword is collated from the content use station, a scene search is executed using the keyword and parameter information as search conditions, so that the content use station can search for a necessary scene in a more intuitive manner. It becomes.
[0075]
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the content use station can search the permission range itself of the work processing range data as at least a part of the keyword, so that content editing suitable for distribution and redistribution can be performed in advance. It can be easily used in the form intended by the author of the original digital content.
[0076]
According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, for the processing of a scene in the content use station, the fee management relating to the use of the literary work is performed based on the literary work processing range data. Can be implemented efficiently.
[0077]
According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, with respect to the secondary work processed by the content use station for each scene, work processing range data further defining a permission range for processing by another person is assigned to each scene. Therefore, in the case where the original work and the intermediate secondary work are passed on to the next content use station as they are and distributed, the copyright management can be easily performed. In this case, by taking over the copyright processing range data in a chain, it is possible to securely manage the copyright of each of the scenes that are processed in a chain.
[0078]
According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, since the copyright processing range data includes a redistribution flag defining a range in which another person can further distribute to a third party, the distribution / redistribution agreement is determined in advance. In such a case, the agreement can be reflected, and a copyright management system suitable for the actual situation can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a copyright management system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between scene decomposition data relating to each scene of original digital content held in a content storage station and a secondary work processed by a content use station.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing, in a modified example, a relationship between scene decomposition data relating to each scene of the original digital content held in the content storage station and a secondary work processed by the content use station.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the concept of processing general digital content in cooperation with a network.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Network
12 Digital Contents
13 Content Archive
31 Content Usage Bureau
32 reading stations

Claims (12)

A content storage station that stores digital content formed by combining a plurality of scenes in time series and assigns, for each scene, copyright processing range data that defines a permission range for processing of the digital content by another person. When,
A copyright management system connected to the content storage bureau through a predetermined network, the content management bureau including a content utilization bureau for processing each scene of the digital content within a range defined by the copyright processing range data; The copyright management system according to claim 1, wherein
Each scene of the digital content is decomposed and defined by predetermined scene decomposed data held in the content storage bureau and made receivable by the content usage bureau through the network. A copyright management system characterized in that a location is specified. The copyright management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:
The content storage bureau holds a keyword assigned to each scene,
A copyright management system, wherein the content use station can search the scene as a processing target by collating the keyword through the network. A copyright management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
The content storage bureau has a plurality of content representation means for representing the content of each scene,
The content utilization station receives a plurality of the content representation means through the network from the content storage station, and by selecting a plurality of the content representation means, it is possible to select the scene as a processing target Features a copyright management system. A copyright management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
A copyright management system, wherein the copyright processing range data is provided so as to indicate, in stages, a processing permission range permitted by a writer of each of the scenes of the digital content to another person. The copyright management system according to claim 5, wherein
In the work processing range data, a first value indicating that the processing of the original work and the combination with other works are not permitted at all, and other works while using substantially all of the original work as it is. And / or extracting, reordering, and / or adding a required value of the original work, and a second value indicating that a knitting operation for creating a new work by combining different material data is permitted. And a third value indicating that editing work for creating a new work is permitted, and a third value indicating that modification of a part of or all of the original work to create a different work is permitted. A copyright management system comprising a processing permission flag in which any one of the values is stored. The copyright management system according to claim 5, wherein
A first value indicating that processing of the original scene as a work is not permitted at all in the work processing range data, and a second value indicating that processing of the original scene as a work is permitted at all. A copyright management system comprising a processing permission flag storing any one of a value and a value. The copyright management system according to claim 3, wherein
The content storage station and / or the content storage station further holds parameter information that is a set of a plurality of attributes quantifying sensory characteristics of the data to be searched. A copyright management system, wherein when there is a search, the scene is searched using the keyword and the parameter information as search conditions. The copyright management system according to claim 3 or 8, wherein:
A copyright management system, wherein the content use station is capable of searching for the permission range itself of the work processing range data as at least a part of the keyword. A copyright management system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein
A copyright management system, wherein a fee management relating to use of a copyrighted work is performed based on the copyright processing range data for the processing of the scene in the content use station. A copyright management system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein
Copyright, wherein for each of the scenes, for each secondary work that has been processed by the content use station, copyright processing range data that defines a permitted range for processing by another person is assigned to each scene. Management system. The copyright management system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein:
A copyright management system, wherein the copyright processing range data includes a redistribution flag defining a range in which another person distributes the copyright to a third party.

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