WO2011145157A1

WO2011145157A1 - Content receiver, content usage system, viewing deadline establishment method, program, and recording medium

Info

Publication number: WO2011145157A1
Application number: PCT/JP2010/006749
Authority: WO
Inventors: 柴田憲壱; 西村拓也
Original assignee: パナソニック株式会社
Priority date: 2010-05-20
Filing date: 2010-11-17
Publication date: 2011-11-24
Also published as: JP5296202B2; JPWO2011145157A1

Abstract

If pack content is distributed upon a content receiver and a removable medium, it becomes impossible to synchronize viewing deadlines. A control unit (916) of a content receiver (903), when causing content (906) to be written to a removable medium (911), writes a viewing license (801) of the content together to the removable medium, and if the viewing deadline of the content has not been established, invalidates a viewing license of related content (905) belonging to the same predetermined content group as the first-mentioned content by way of an invalidation/validation unit (917). A content player (960), when playing content that has been recorded on the removable medium, establishes a viewing deadline and records the same upon the removable medium. A control unit, when the removable medium for which the content player has played the content has been mounted, sets a viewing deadline of the related content to be the same deadline as the viewing deadline of the first-mentioned content upon the removable medium and validates the viewing license of the related content.

Description

Content receiver, content use system, viewing time limit determining method, program, and recording medium

The present invention relates to a content receiver, a content use system, a viewing time limit determination method, and the like, in which encrypted content managed for viewing time limit is copied from a content receiver to a replaceable medium, and played back on a replay device of the replaceable medium. About.

In recent years, with the development of the Internet, technologies for downloading and playing back movies, music, etc. are becoming common. There are many services for downloading content from a server that distributes content such as movies and music to a PC, AV device, mobile phone, or portable device via a network.

In this type of content distribution service, a sold-out content sale that allows users to permanently view the purchased content and a rental sale that allows the downloaded content to be viewed within a limited viewing time limit. There is.

In typical download-type rental sales, a content provider that supplies content operates a content server and a DRM server, and a content receiver on the viewer side downloads encrypted rental content from the content server, The decryption key for the encrypted content and the viewing conditions for the content are acquired from the DRM server. The content viewing conditions include viewing time limit information for permitting viewing of the content, content duplication conditions, and the like.

When playing the rental content, the content receiver refers to the viewing time limit specified by the DRM server. If the viewing time limit has not been exceeded, the content receiver starts playing the content, and if the viewing time limit has been exceeded, Perform content deletion.

In addition, the content receiver may write the rental content to a replaceable medium such as an SD card together with the viewing deadline. In this case as well, the SD card playback terminal tried to play the rental content or finished playback. Sometimes, the viewing time limit of the content is inspected, and if the viewing time limit is exceeded, the content is deleted. As a method for reproducing this type of content with a viewing time limit, there is a method described in Patent Document 1, for example.

FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram in a case where a terminal that has downloaded content from a server moves content in order to view the content on another terminal in conventional content download as described in Patent Document 1. .

The download terminal 601 can view the content by accumulating the content distributed from the server 600 and acquiring a viewing license for the content from the server 600.

In order to view this content on another viewing terminal 602, the content itself may be moved (moved) from the download terminal 601 to the viewing terminal 602, but the viewing license is linked to the download terminal 601 on the server 600. Therefore, the viewing terminal 602 reacquires a viewing license from the server 600 in order to enable viewing on another viewing terminal 602.

As a viewing license granting mode, a viewing license with a viewing deadline that is granted in a form in which the reproduction permission conditions for the target content are specified by an absolute date and time, and a viewing deadline when performing the first viewing on the terminal, There is a viewing license with a viewing period in which an absolute date and time is not designated and only a viewable period such as 48 hours is designated.

In the case of content with a viewing license with a viewing period, the terminal that plays the content does not acquire a viewing license from the server 600 again and starts playing the content for the first time. The date and time 48 hours after that time is determined and set as the viewing time limit for the content.

In addition, there is a form called rental sales as a rental content sales form. This is a form in which, for example, all 12 episodes of a drama are rented and sold as one content group, that is, a package, and provided at a lower price than purchasing 12 episodes individually.

In this case, the service price paid by the user to the service provider is low, but instead, the viewing deadline is generally unified throughout the pack content. Specifically, after downloading 12 pieces of content, if viewing of any one of them starts, the viewing deadline for all 12 pieces is set to the same date and time.

JP 2004-227282 A

However, in the above-described conventional technology, rental content for which the viewing deadline is not fixed (rental content with a viewing license with a viewing period) is written to a replaceable medium such as an SD card and viewed on a portable terminal or the like. When trying to do so, there was a problem that the viewing deadline of the content could not be unified between the terminal that wrote the content and the portable terminal.

This issue will be explained below.

For example, when a part of rental content sold in packs is written on an SD card or other interchangeable medium on a download terminal and viewed on a portable terminal or the like, it is viewed with the contents remaining on the download terminal (not written) It is necessary to synchronize deadlines.

If any of the rental contents sold in a pack has already been viewed on the download terminal, the viewing time limit for that pack has been finalized. It can be secured. On the other hand, if all of the rental content in the pack is unviewed and a part of the rental content is written to a replaceable medium, the rental content that must share the viewing deadline is stored in a physically separate storage medium. Since each is stored, the viewing deadline is set separately at the first viewing time, and the viewing deadline cannot be synchronized.

FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram when the download terminal 601 that has received the pack rental content from the server 600 writes out a part of the pack content to the SD card 606 and views the content on the SD card 606 with the viewing terminal 602. It is.

In the HDD 605 of the server 600, 12 contents with content numbers C1 to C12 are stored as a pack. Consider a case in which nine contents C1 to C9 out of the twelve contents are downloaded by the download terminal 601 and five of C1 to C5 are moved to the SD card 606.

If none of the contents of C1 to C9 is viewed on the download terminal 601 before writing to the SD card 606, the viewing time limit of all the contents of C1 to C12 is not fixed. The viewing period is specified such that 48 hours of viewing is possible after viewing. In this state, when the contents of C1 to C5 are written to the SD card 606, the contents to share the viewing deadline exist separately on the SD card 606 and the download terminal 601.

When any of the contents C6 to C9 remaining on the download terminal 601 is viewed on the download terminal 601 with the contents C1 to C5 moved to the SD card 606 in this way, all contents C1 to C12 are viewed. The deadline must be fixed synchronously. However, the contents C1 to C5 taken out by the SD card 606 are under the control of the viewing terminal 602, and there is no means for the download terminal 601 to determine the viewing time limit of the contents C1 to C5. Further, there is no means for the download terminal 601 to determine the viewing time limit for the contents of C10 to C12 that have not been downloaded to the download terminal 601 yet. Furthermore, even if any of the contents C1 to C5 is viewed on the viewing terminal 602, there is no means for determining the viewing time limit of the contents C6 to C9 on the download terminal 601 and the contents C10 to C12 that have not yet been downloaded.

In addition to the pack content, the same problem occurs even in the case of one content, when the content is copied and written on a replaceable medium such as the SD card 606 while the content remains on the download terminal 601. . That is, when a copy of the content whose viewing time limit has not been determined is written to the SD card 606, the viewing time limit of the content left on the download terminal 601 is determined when the content is played back on the download terminal 601 while being written to the SD card 606. Since the viewing time limit of the content is determined when the content is played back on the viewing terminal 602, a different viewing time limit is set for one content.

In the present invention, in consideration of the above-described conventional problems, even when some contents of a plurality of contents that should have the same viewing deadline are written on a replaceable medium before the viewing deadline is determined, the plurality of contents It is an object of the present invention to provide a content receiver, a content use system, a viewing time limit determining method, and the like that can synchronize the viewing time limit.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the first aspect of the present invention provides:
A content receiver that receives content managed for a viewing time limit from a content server and writes the content to a replaceable medium,
A license invalidation validating unit for invalidating and validating a viewing license; and writing / reading the content and the viewing license of the content to the replaceable medium and reading at least the view license written in the replaceable medium A viewing deadline setting unit for setting a viewing deadline, and a control unit,
The controller is
When the content is written to the replaceable medium by the replaceable medium read / write unit before the content is played, the content viewing license is written to the replaceable medium together with the content viewing time limit. Is invalidated, the license invalidation validating unit invalidates the viewing license of the related content belonging to the same predetermined content group as the content,
When the replaceable medium on which the viewing license of the content in which the viewing time limit determined by the content player reproducing the content written on the replaceable medium is recorded is loaded, the viewing time limit setting is performed. The content receiver sets the viewing time limit of the related content to the same time limit as the viewing time limit of the content, and makes the viewing license of the related content valid by the license invalidation validating unit.

The second aspect of the present invention
A transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives data to / from a license server that supplies the viewing license;
The content according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein when the viewing time limit setting unit sets the viewing time limit of the related content, the control unit causes the transmission / reception unit to notify the license server of the set viewing time limit. It is a receiver.

The third aspect of the present invention
The control unit causes the transmission / reception unit to notify the license server of the set viewing deadline only when there is content belonging to the predetermined content group that has not yet been downloaded from the content server. It is a content receiver of the present invention.

The fourth aspect of the present invention is
The controller is
When the related content is played when the exchangeable medium in which the viewing license for the content whose viewing deadline has not yet been confirmed is loaded, the license invalidation validating unit validates the viewing license for the related content In addition, the viewing time limit of the related content is determined by the viewing time limit setting unit, and the viewing time limit of the content recorded on the exchangeable medium is set to the same time limit as the determined viewing time limit of the related content. The content receiver according to the first aspect of the present invention.

The fifth aspect of the present invention provides
The license invalidation validating unit invalidates the viewing license of the related content whose viewing deadline has not yet been determined, is to discard the viewing license of the related content,
The content receiver according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein when the control unit validates the viewing license of the related content that has been discarded, the license invalidation validation unit reacquires the viewing license of the related content from a license server. It is.

The sixth aspect of the present invention provides
A content use system comprising: a content receiver that receives content whose viewing deadline is managed from a content server and writes the content to a replaceable medium; and a content player that reproduces the content recorded on the replaceable medium Because
The content receiver includes a license invalidation validating unit that invalidates and validates a viewing license, writes the content and the viewing license of the content to the replaceable medium, and at least the view license written in the replaceable medium An exchangeable medium read / write unit for reading the content, a viewing time limit setting unit for setting a viewing time limit, and a control unit,
When the control unit writes the content to the replaceable medium by the replaceable medium read / write unit before reproducing the content, the control unit writes the viewing license of the content to the replaceable medium, and When the viewing time limit of the content is undecided, the license invalidation validating unit invalidates the viewing license of related content belonging to the same predetermined content group as the content,
When playing back the content recorded on the interchangeable medium, the content player sets the current time limit for the content by setting the current time as the start time if the content time limit is not yet determined. A viewing time limit determining unit to be confirmed, and a viewing license writing unit for recording the viewing license of the content in which the determined viewing time limit is set in the replaceable medium,
When the content recorded on the replaceable medium is played back by the content player and the replaceable medium is attached to the content receiver, the control unit causes the viewing time limit setting unit to store the related content. In the content use system, the viewing deadline is set to the same deadline as the content viewing deadline, and the license invalidation validating unit validates the viewing license of the related content.

The seventh aspect of the present invention
A content use system comprising: a content receiver that receives content whose viewing deadline is managed from a content server and writes the content to a replaceable medium; and a content player that reproduces the content recorded on the replaceable medium Is a method for determining the viewing deadline of the content of
When the content receiver writes the content to the replaceable medium before playing the content, the content receiver writes the content viewing license together with the replaceable medium, and the viewing time limit of the content is uncertain A content writing step of invalidating a viewing license of related content belonging to the same predetermined content group as the content;
When the content player reproduces the content recorded on the interchangeable medium, if the viewing time limit is not yet determined, the viewing time limit is determined by setting the current time as the start time, and the determination is made. Recording a viewing license for the content set with the viewing deadline, and recording the viewing license on the replaceable medium;
After the content player reproduces the content, when the replaceable medium is attached to the content receiver, the related content viewing deadline is set to the same deadline as the content viewing deadline and the related content And a viewing deadline synchronization step for validating the viewing license.

In addition, the eighth aspect of the present invention
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, when the content receiver writes the content to the replaceable medium before playing the content, the content viewing license is written to the replaceable medium when the content receiver writes the content to the replaceable medium. In addition, when the viewing time limit of the content is uncertain, the content writing step of invalidating the viewing license of the related content belonging to the same predetermined content group as the content, and the content player, After playing the content, when the replaceable medium is loaded in the content receiver, the viewing time limit of the related content is set to the same time limit as the viewing time of the content and the viewing license of the related content is valid A program for causing a computer to execute the viewing deadline synchronization step It is a non.

The ninth aspect of the present invention provides
A content receiver that receives content managed from a viewing time limit from a content server, stores the content, and copies the content to a replaceable medium,
A license invalidation validating unit for invalidating and validating the viewing license of the stored content, and copying the stored content to the replaceable medium, and a viewing license for the copied content on the replaceable medium A removable medium read / write unit that reads at least the viewing license written in the replaceable medium, a viewing time limit setting unit that sets a viewing time limit, and a control unit,
The controller is
When the stored content is copied to the replaceable medium by the replaceable medium read / write unit before the stored content is reproduced, the viewing license of the copied content is also written to the replaceable medium. And when the viewing time limit of the copied content is undecided, the license invalidation validating unit invalidates the stored content viewing license,
The interchangeable medium on which the viewing license of the copied content in which the viewing time limit determined by the content player reproducing the copied content written on the interchangeable medium is reproduced is loaded. In this case, the viewing time limit of the stored content is set to the same time limit as the viewing time of the copied content by the viewing time limit setting unit, and the viewing license of the stored content is set by the license invalidation validating unit. This is a content receiver to be activated.

The tenth aspect of the present invention is
The controller is
When the stored content is played back when the exchangeable medium in which the viewing license of the copied content whose viewing time limit has not been determined is loaded is stored by the license invalidation validating unit. Validating the viewing license of the content, confirming the viewing time limit of the stored content by the viewing time limit setting unit, and setting the viewing time limit of the copied content to the same time limit as the confirmed viewing time limit, It is a content receiver of 9th this invention.

The eleventh aspect of the present invention is
The license invalidation validating unit invalidates the viewing license of the stored content whose viewing deadline is undecided is to discard the viewing license of the stored content,
When the control unit validates the viewing license for the stored content that has been discarded, the license invalidation validation unit reacquires the viewing license for the stored content from a license server. Is a content receiver.

The twelfth aspect of the present invention is
A content receiver that receives content managed from the viewing deadline from a content server, stores the content and copies it to a replaceable medium, and a content player that plays back the copied content recorded on the replaceable medium A content use system comprising:
The content receiver invalidates and validates a viewing license of the stored content, copies the stored content to the replaceable medium, and copies the copy on the replaceable medium A viewable license for a content that has been written to the replaceable medium, read at least the viewable license written in the replaceable medium, a view limit setting unit for setting a view deadline, and control And
When the stored content is copied to the replaceable medium by the replaceable medium read / write unit before the stored content is reproduced, the control unit also combines the viewing license of the copied content with the viewable license. In addition to writing to a replacement medium, if the viewing time limit of the copied content is unconfirmed, the license invalidation validating unit invalidates the stored content viewing license,
The content player, when reproducing the copied content recorded on the interchangeable medium, sets the current time as the start time if the viewing time limit of the copied content is uncertain A viewing time limit determining unit for determining a viewing time limit for the copied content, and a viewing license writing unit for recording a viewing license for the copied content in which the determined viewing time limit is set on the replaceable medium,
When the replaceable medium is attached to the content receiver after the copied content recorded on the replaceable medium is played back by the content player, the control unit sets the viewing time limit by the viewing time limit setting unit. A content use system that sets a viewing time limit for stored content to the same time limit as a viewing time limit for the copied content, and enables a license for validating the stored content by the license invalidation validating unit. .

The thirteenth aspect of the present invention is
A content receiver that receives content managed from the viewing deadline from a content server, stores the content and copies it to a replaceable medium, and a content player that plays back the copied content recorded on the replaceable medium A method for determining the viewing deadline of content in a content usage system comprising:
When the content receiver copies the stored content to the replaceable medium before reproducing the stored content, the content receiver writes the viewing license for the copied content to the replaceable medium. A content writing step of invalidating the viewing license of the stored content when the viewing time limit of the copied content is uncertain;
When the content player reproduces the copied content recorded on the replaceable medium, if the viewing time limit of the copied content is uncertain, the current time is set as the start time. A viewing time limit determining step for determining a viewing time limit of the copied content, and recording a viewing license of the copied content in which the confirmed viewing time limit is set on the replaceable medium;
When the replaceable medium is loaded in the content receiver after the content player reproduces the copied content, the viewing time limit of the stored content is the same as the viewing time limit of the copied content. A viewing deadline determination method including a viewing deadline synchronization step for setting a deadline and validating a viewing license for the stored content.

The fourteenth aspect of the present invention is
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, when the content receiver copies the stored content to the replaceable medium before reproducing the stored content, the content receiver The content writing step of writing a viewing license together with the interchangeable medium, and invalidating the viewing license of the stored content when the viewing time limit of the copied content is uncertain, and the content After the reproducing device reproduces the copied content, when the replaceable medium is loaded into the content receiver, the viewing time limit of the stored content is set to the same time limit as the viewing time of the copied content. The viewing deadline synchronization process for setting and validating the viewing license for the stored content Tsu is a program to be executed by the up to a computer.

The fifteenth aspect of the present invention provides
A recording medium on which the program of the eighth or fourteenth aspect of the present invention is recorded, and is a recording medium that can be processed by a computer.

According to the present invention, even when a part of a plurality of contents that should have the same viewing time limit is written on a replaceable medium before the viewing time limit is determined, the viewing time limits of the plurality of contents can be synchronized. , A content receiver, a content use system, a viewing time limit determining method, and the like can be provided.

The block diagram of the content utilization system of each embodiment of this invention (A) A schematic diagram showing a viewing license with a viewing time limit including information on a confirmed viewing time limit in each embodiment of the present invention. (B) Information on an undecided viewing time limit in each embodiment of the present invention. (C) A schematic diagram showing a viewing license with a viewing time limit including information on a confirmed viewing time limit in each embodiment of the present invention, (d) a schematic diagram showing a viewing license with a viewing period included, and (d) each embodiment of the present invention. Schematic diagram showing an export license with a viewing period including information on an undecided viewing period The figure showing the download content list on HDD of a download terminal of each embodiment of this invention The figure showing the download content list on SD card of each embodiment of the present invention Flowchart of viewing license registration processing when acquiring viewing licenses of content stored in the download terminal in the download terminal of each embodiment of the present invention The flowchart of the process which writes the pack content to an SD card in the download terminal of Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 of this invention The flowchart showing the process at the time of a viewing start at the time of reproducing | regenerating the content accumulate | stored in the download terminal in the download terminal of each embodiment of this invention The flowchart showing the process at the time of the reproduction | regeneration start of the content on an SD card in the viewing terminal of each embodiment of this invention The flowchart showing the process at the time of the viewing license request with a viewing time limit reception in the license server of each embodiment of this invention The flowchart showing the process at the time of reception of the writing license request in the license server according to each embodiment of the present invention. Flowchart of viewing time limit synchronization processing when an SD card is inserted in the download terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Flowchart of viewing time limit synchronization processing when an SD card is inserted in the download terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Schematic diagram showing the format of the viewing time limit notification in the second embodiment of the present invention The flowchart showing the process when the license server according to the second embodiment of the present invention receives a viewing time limit confirmation notice. Flowchart of processing for copying and writing content to an SD card in the download terminal according to the third embodiment of the present invention Flowchart of viewing time limit synchronization processing when an SD card is inserted in the download terminal according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Sequence diagram showing content movement between terminals in conventional content download Sequence diagram showing divided viewing of pack content in a conventional content download system

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a content use system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

A download terminal 903 is connected to the content server 901 and the license server 902 via the Internet (not shown).

The network IF 904 of the download terminal 903 downloads the encrypted content from the content server 901 connected via the Internet, stores the content in the storage medium 915 such as an HDD as the content 905 and 906, and downloads the content 905 and 906. Are downloaded from the license server 902 and stored as a download content list 800.

When an instruction (not shown) from the user instructs the reproduction of any of the contents stored in the storage medium 915, the control unit 916 controls the reproduction unit 907 to download the license of the target content to the download content list The content is read from 800, the viewing condition is confirmed, the content decryption key is set in the decryptor 908, and the encrypted content 905 and 906 are read and decryption / reproduction is started.

When confirming the viewing conditions, the playback unit 907 obtains the viewing deadline of the target content from the download content list 800 and compares it with the current time obtained from the clock 919 to determine whether the viewing deadline has been exceeded. If the time limit has not been exceeded, the content is determined to be reproducible and decrypted / reproduced.

In addition, the control unit 916 controls the SD card read / write unit 910 in accordance with an instruction (not shown) from the user to record a part or all of the accumulated contents 905 and 906 on the SD card 911, and The download content list 801 related to the content of the file is recorded on the SD card 911, or data is read from the SD card 911.

The download terminal 903 corresponds to an example of the content receiver of the present invention, and the SD card 911 corresponds to an example of a replaceable medium of the present invention. The network IF 904 corresponds to an example of the transmission / reception unit of the present invention, and the SD card read / write unit 910 corresponds to an example of the exchangeable medium read / write unit of the present invention.

The SD card 911 in which the content 906 is written by the download terminal 903 is inserted into the viewing terminal 960, and the playback control unit 923 selects any of the contents 906 on the SD card 911 according to an instruction (not shown) from the user. When such reproduction is instructed, the download content list 801 is read from the SD card 911 into the time limit determining unit 921. Then, the playback control unit 923 acquires the content decryption key from the download content list 801 and sets it in the decrypter 924 according to the determination result acquired from the time limit determination unit 921, and also stores the encrypted content 906 in the SD card. Reading / reading by the read / write unit 920 starts decoding / playback.

The time limit determining unit 921 acquires the viewing time limit information of the target content from the download content list 801 and compares it with the current time acquired from the clock 922 to determine whether the viewing time limit has been exceeded. If the viewing time limit has not been exceeded, it is determined that the content is reproducible. If the viewing time limit has been exceeded, it is determined that the content is not reproducible, and the determination result is notified to the playback control unit 923.

Note that the viewing terminal 960 corresponds to an example of the content player according to the present invention. Further, the time limit determining unit 921 is an example of the viewing time limit determining unit of the present invention, and the SD card read / write unit 920 is an example of the viewing license writing unit of the present invention.

In the license server 902, when the request reception unit 912 receives a license request from the download terminal 903, the license transmission unit 913 returns a license corresponding to the designated content to the download terminal 903. At that time, when the request receiving unit 912 receives a license request including a request for determining the viewing time limit (request for a license with a viewing time limit), the viewing time limit setting / determining unit 914 determines the viewing time limit of the specified content. Then, the license transmission unit 913 returns a license in which the confirmed viewing time limit is set to the download terminal 903.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a viewing license and a writing license that the license server 902 supplies to the download terminal 903 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 2A shows a viewing license 700 with a viewing time limit, which includes information on the confirmed viewing time limit. FIG. 2B shows a viewing license with a viewing period 701, which includes information on an undetermined viewing time limit. FIG. 2C shows a writing license 710 with a viewing time limit, which includes information on the confirmed viewing time limit. FIG. 2D shows a writing license 712 with a viewing period, which includes information on an undetermined viewing time limit.

The viewing license with viewing deadline 700 is a license type 713 indicating that the license has a viewing deadline, a content ID 705 that is an identifier of the target content, a pack ID 714 that is a group identifier of the pack content, and a decryption key 702 for decrypting the encrypted content. A viewing period 703 that indicates a period during which the target content can be viewed, and a viewing period 704 that indicates a confirmed period during which the target content is allowed to be viewed, as indicated by a viewing deadline start date and time and a viewing deadline end date and time indicated by an absolute date It consists of.

Also, the viewing license with viewing period 701 has the same configuration, but there is a difference in whether or not significant values are entered in the viewing period 703, the viewing period start and the viewing period end.

The media type 711 indicating the media that can be written with this license is added to the export license with viewing time limit 710 and the export license with viewing period 712.

The same pack ID 714 is assigned to each pack content belonging to the same content group. As described above, since the same viewing time limit must be set for pack contents belonging to the same content group, the same viewing time limit must be set for content assigned with the same pack ID 714.

In FIG. 1, content 905 and content 906 are content having the same pack ID 714. In the first embodiment, among the contents having the same pack ID, the contents 906 are written to the SD card 911 and the contents 905 are left in the download terminal 903.

Note that the content 906 in the first embodiment is an example of content to be written on a replaceable medium of the present invention, and the content 905 is an example of related content of the present invention. Further, the contents 905 and 906 having the same pack ID correspond to an example of contents belonging to the same predetermined content group of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a download content list 800 which is a specific form of the viewing license stored in the download terminal 903 in the first embodiment.

In the download content list 800, information included in the viewing license acquired when content is downloaded from the content server 901 is described for each content.

The valid / invalid flag 808 of the download content list 800 is a flag indicating whether or not the viewing license is available. Note that the viewing license state setting unit 917 sets the validity / invalidity of the valid / invalid flag 808 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 916. The viewing license state setting unit 917 corresponds to an example of a viewing license invalidation validating unit of the present invention.

In the contents shown in

entry numbers

1 and 3 in FIG. 3, significant numerical values are described in the viewing deadline start and the viewing deadline end indicating the viewing deadline 704, and indicate that the viewing deadlines of these contents are fixed. Yes. On the other hand, the contents indicated by the

entry numbers

2 and 4 are not described with significant numerical values at the start of the viewing deadline and at the end of the viewing deadline, and are described with significant values only in the viewing period 703. Although these contents are contents whose viewing time limit is managed, since they have not been played on the download terminal 903 after being downloaded from the content server 901, it is indicated that the viewing time limit is undetermined.

FIG. 4 shows a download content list 801 which is a specific form of the viewing license written in the SD card 911 in the first embodiment. The download content list 801 is the same as the download content list 800 except for the presence / absence of the valid / invalid flag 808.

Note that the download content list 801 is an example of a viewing license written on the exchangeable medium of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of viewing license registration processing when the download terminal 903 of the first embodiment acquires viewing licenses for the contents 905 and 906 stored in the storage medium 915.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the writing process when the download terminal 903 of the first embodiment writes the pack content 906 stored in the storage medium 915 to the SD card 911.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the viewing start process when the pack content 905 stored in the storage medium 915 is played on the download terminal 903 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the viewing start process when the viewing terminal 960 views the pack content 906 recorded on the SD card 911 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the viewing license grant process in the license server 902 of the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the writing license grant process in the license server 902 of the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of viewing time limit synchronization processing when the SD card 911 is inserted into the download terminal 903 in the first embodiment.

The operation of the content use system according to the first embodiment in the case of handling downloaded content whose initial viewing deadline is not yet confirmed and whose viewing deadline is fixed by the first viewing start will be described below.

In the following description, the content having the same pack ID is written on the SD card 911 after being played back on the download terminal 903, and the pack ID is not played back on the download terminal 903. Each operation when a part of the content is written to the SD card 911 will be described in order with reference to FIGS.

First, the operation when the content having the same pack ID is written to the SD card 911 after being played back by the download terminal 903 will be described.

In the download terminal 903, after the download of the encrypted contents 905 and 906 is completed, a viewing license registration process for the contents 905 and 906 is performed according to the flow of FIG.

The control unit 916 acquires the viewing license with viewing period 701 from the license server 902 using the network IF 904 (step S821), and pack ID 714, viewing period 703, and the like described in the obtained viewing license with viewing period 701. The decryption key 702 is added as an entry of the download content list 800 together with the content ID 705 (step S822), and the valid / invalid flag 808 of the entry is set to “valid” (step S823).

When the content 905 downloaded from the content server 901 and stored in the storage medium 915 is played on the download terminal 903 before being written to the SD card 911, the control unit 916 of the download terminal 903 follows the flow shown in FIG. Control playback.

Here, it is assumed that after downloading pack content to the download terminal 903, none of the pack content having the same pack ID has been played back, and the content 905 having that pack ID is played back for the first time.

When receiving a playback instruction for the content 905 downloaded and stored in the storage medium 915 (not shown) from the user, the control unit 916 first searches the download content list 800 by the viewing license state setting unit 917, The setting of the valid / invalid flag 808 is confirmed (step S861). In this case, since the content having the same pack ID has not been written to the SD card 911, the valid / invalid flag 808 remains set to “valid” in step S823 in FIG. 5, and then the process in step S863 is performed. Is called.

Next, the control unit 916 causes the viewing time limit setting unit 918 to search the download content list 800 and confirms whether or not the viewing time limit of the content has been determined (step S863). In this case, since the content is viewed for the first time, the viewing time limit has not been determined, and the process of step S864 is performed next.

The control unit 916 acquires the viewing license 700 with the viewing time limit of the content from the license server 902 using the network IF 904 (step S864), and describes the viewing license 700 with the viewing time limit obtained by the viewing time setting unit 918. The values of the viewing deadline start and the viewing deadline end set as the viewing deadline 704 are entered in the corresponding area of the download content list 800.

Also, the viewing time limit setting unit 918 searches the download content list 800 for content having the same pack ID as the content, and performs the same processing for all corresponding content. That is, the same viewing time limit 704 value is set for all contents having the same pack ID as the content (step S865). In this case, since the viewing license 700 with the viewing time limit of the content 905 is acquired and the viewing time limit of the content 905 is determined, the viewing time limit of the content 906 having the same pack ID as the content 905 is the same as the determined content 905. A viewing time limit is set.

Since a valid value in which the current time is set at the start of the viewing time limit is set by the license server 902 in the viewing time limit 704 of the viewing license 700 with a viewing time limit acquired in step S864, the control unit 916 includes the playback unit 907. Thus, the content 905 is decrypted and reproduced using the viewing license (step S868).

Next, the operation for determining the viewing time limit in the license server 902 that has received the viewing license request with the viewing time limit transmitted by the download terminal 903 in step S864 will be described.

The license server 902 that has received the request for the viewing license with viewing time limit confirms and confirms the viewing time limit of the requested content according to the flow shown in FIG. 9, and includes the viewing time limit information (viewing time limit 704). The viewing license 700 is returned to the download terminal 903.

When the request receiving unit 912 receives a viewing license request with a viewing time limit from the download terminal 903, the viewing time limit setting / determining unit 914 requests to confirm the viewing time limit for the content specified in the viewing license request with the viewing time limit. It is checked from its own history information (not shown) based on the content ID whether or not the viewing license request including “” is received for the first time (step S840).

In this case, since the target content 905 has not been reproduced on the download terminal 903, the viewing license request with a viewing time limit at this time is reception of a license request including a request for finalizing the viewing time limit for the first time. In step S840, it is determined that it is the first reception, and then it is searched from its own history information (not shown) whether or not the viewing time limit of the target content has already been determined (step S844).

Even if a viewing license request with a viewing deadline for the target content is received for the first time, if a viewing license request with a viewing deadline for content having the same pack ID as the target content has been received before, Since the viewing time limit of the target content is also determined (step S842), the viewing time limit of the target content may already be determined.

If it is determined in step S844 that the viewing deadline of the target content 905 has not yet been finalized, the viewing deadline setting / determining unit 914 sets the current time as the viewing deadline start time and viewing at the viewing deadline start time. By adding the period and calculating the viewing deadline end time, the viewing deadline for the content is determined (step S841). At this time, the same viewing time limit is similarly determined for all contents having the same pack ID as the content (step S842).

Then, the license transmission unit 913 returns the viewing license 700 with the viewing time limit including the confirmed viewing time limit 704 to the download terminal 903 (step S843).

If the viewing time limit of the target content has already been confirmed in step S844, the viewing license with viewing time limit 700 including the confirmed viewing time limit 704 is returned to the download terminal 903 (step S843).

When the content 906 having the same pack ID as the content 905 is written to the SD card 911 after being played on the download terminal 903 as described above, the control unit 916 of the download terminal 903 reads / writes the SD card according to the flow shown in FIG. The writing by the unit 910 is controlled.

The control unit 916 first determines whether or not the viewing time limit of the target content to be written has been determined (step S857). The control unit 916 causes the viewing time limit setting unit 918 to determine whether or not the viewing time limit has been determined based on the information on the viewing period 703 and the viewing time limit 704 of the download content list 800. In this case, since the content 905 having the same pack ID as the target content 906 to be written is reproduced on the download terminal 903, the viewing time limit of the target content 906 to be written is determined in step S865 in FIG. Then, the write license is acquired from the license server 902 using the network IF 904 (step S858).

Then, the control unit 916 causes the SD card reading / writing unit 910 to perform writing processing to the SD card 911 using the writing license (step S853). At this time, the value of the download content list 800 is copied to each area of the download content list 801 written to the SD card 911.

Next, the content 906 written to the SD card 911 by the download terminal 903 in this way is viewed on the viewing terminal 960.

The viewing terminal 960 performs playback control of the content 906 on the SD card 911 according to the flow shown in FIG.

When the reproduction control unit 923 is instructed to reproduce the content 906 recorded on the SD card 911 by an instruction (not shown) from the user, first, the expiration date determining unit 921 determines whether the viewing time limit of the target content is determined. Whether or not is determined (step S871). The time limit determining unit 921 reads the download content list 801 recorded on the SD card 911 by the SD card read / write unit 920, and the viewing time limit is determined based on the information on the viewing period 703 and the viewing time limit 704 of the target content. Determine whether or not.

In this case, since the viewing time limit of the target content 906 is determined by playing the content 905 having the same pack ID on the download terminal 903 (step S865), the time limit determining unit 921 next exceeds the viewing time limit. It is determined whether it is not (step S874). The time limit determining unit 921 compares the determined viewing time limit 704 of the target content acquired from the download content list 801 with the current time acquired from the clock 922, determines whether the viewing time limit has already been exceeded, and the determination result Is notified to the reproduction control unit 923. When it is determined that the viewing time limit has already exceeded, the playback control unit 923 deletes the content 906 (step S875). If the viewing time limit has not been exceeded, the playback control unit 923 starts decoding / playback of the content 906 (step S876).

As described above, when the content 906 having the same pack ID is written on the SD card 911 after the content 905 is reproduced on the download terminal 903, the same pack ID is obtained when the content 906 is reproduced on the download terminal 903. Since the same viewing deadline as the content 905 reproduced as the viewing deadline of the content 906 is set (step S865), the viewing deadline of the content 906 written to the SD card 911 can be synchronized thereafter.

Next, an operation in the case where some contents 905 and 906 having the same pack ID are not reproduced on the download terminal 903 and a part of the contents 906 having the pack ID is written to the SD card 911 will be described.

The viewing license registration process for the contents 905 and 906 performed after the download is completed is the same as the process described using the flow of FIG.

The content is downloaded from the content server 901 and stored in the storage medium 915. Any content 905, 906 having the same pack ID at the download terminal 903 has not been played yet, and has the same pack ID. When the content 906 of the copy is written to the SD card 911, the control unit 916 of the download terminal 903 controls the writing according to the flow shown in FIG.

When the control unit 916 receives a pack content write request instruction from the user (not shown), the control unit 916 first determines whether or not the viewing time limit of the target content 906 to be written is fixed (step S857). In this case, since the contents 905 and 906 having the same pack ID as the target content 906 to be written have not been played on the download terminal 903 yet, the viewing time limit of the content 906 is unconfirmed, and then in step S850. Process.

In the download content list 800, the control unit 916 sets the valid / invalid flag 808 of the target content 906 to be written to “invalid” by the viewing license state setting unit 917 (step S850), and among the contents that are not to be exported, The valid / invalid flag 808 of the content 905 having the same pack ID as the target content 906 to be written is also set to “invalid” (step S851).

Then, the control unit 916 sends a write license request for the content to be written 906 to the license server 902, obtains a write license from the license server 902 (step S852), and writes to the SD card 911 using the write license. Take control.

When the export license acquired in step S852 is the export license with viewing period 712 (step S854), the control unit 916 uses the SD card read / write unit 910 to change the target content without changing the download content list 800. Control is performed to write to the SD card 911 (step S853).

If the export license acquired in step S852 is the export license 710 with a viewing time limit (step S854), the confirmed viewing time limit 704 is set, so the control unit 916 creates a target to be written in the download content list 800. The valid / invalid flag 808 of the content 906 is changed to “valid” by the viewing license status setting unit 917 (step S855), and the valid / invalid flag 808 of the content 905 having the same pack ID 714 as the target content 906 to be written is also “ It is changed to “valid” (step S856). Further, the control unit 916 uses the viewing time limit setting unit 918 to set the viewing time limit 704 of the content 905 having the same pack ID 714 as the target content 906 to be written to the confirmed viewing time limit set in the writing license 710 with a viewing time limit. The same viewing time limit as that of 704 is set (step S859).

Here, the operation of the license server 902 when the download terminal 903 requests a license for writing to the license server 902 in step S852 and step S858 of FIG. 6 will be described.

When the license server 902 receives a write license request from the download terminal 903, the license server 902 performs a write license grant process according to the flow of FIG.

When the request receiving unit 912 receives the request for the writing license from the download terminal 903, the viewing time limit setting / determining unit 914 retrieves from its own history information (not shown) whether or not the viewing time limit of the content has already been confirmed. (Step S845).

If the viewing time limit for the content has already been confirmed, the license transmission unit 913 returns the write license 710 with viewing time limit in which the confirmed viewing time limit is set to the download terminal 903 (step S846), and the viewing time limit has not been reached. If confirmed, the writing license with viewing period 712 with the viewing deadline being unconfirmed is returned to the download terminal 903 (step S847).

In the following description, it is assumed that the export license acquired in step S852 is the export license with viewing period 712, that is, the content 906 written to the SD card 911 has been written without being confirmed.

When the content 905 stored in the storage medium 915 having the same pack ID is to be played back on the download terminal 903 after some pack content 906 is written to the SD card 911, the control unit 916 displays the flow in FIG. First, the setting of the valid / invalid flag 808 of the content to be played 905 is confirmed (step S861).

Since the valid / invalid flag 808 of the reproduction target content 905 remains set to “invalid” in step S851, the control unit 916 ends without permitting reproduction of the reproduction target content 905 (step S862).

When the reproduction control unit 923 is instructed to reproduce the content 906 recorded on the SD card 911 by an instruction (not shown) from the user, first, the expiration date determining unit 921 first displays the content column of the download content list 801. To determine whether or not the time limit for viewing the content 906 has been determined (step S871).

In this case, since the target content 906 is written to the SD card 911 with the viewing deadline being undetermined, it is determined in step S871 that the viewing deadline is undetermined.

Since the viewing time limit of the content 906 is unconfirmed, the time limit determining unit 921 acquires the current time from the clock 922, sets the current time as the viewing time limit start time, and adds the viewing time period 703 to the viewing time limit start time. Then, the viewing deadline 704 is determined by calculating the viewing deadline end time, and these numerical values are written in the download content list 801 (step S872), and the content having the same pack ID 714 as the content 906 is downloaded. The above search is performed, and the same processing is performed for all corresponding contents (step S873).

Then, the reproduction control unit 923 starts decrypting / reproducing the content 906 using the decryption key 702 described in the download content list 801 (step S876).

Next, the operation of the download terminal 903 when the viewing terminal 960 inserts the SD card 911 into the download terminal 903 after reproducing the content 906 written to the SD card 911 will be described.

When the SD card 911 is inserted, the download terminal 903 performs viewing time limit synchronization processing according to the flow shown in FIG.

When the control unit 916 receives notification from the SD card read / write unit 910 that the SD card 911 has been inserted, the viewing time limit setting unit 918 refers to the download content list 801 on the SD card 911 and sets the pack ID 714. Content (hereinafter referred to as content CA) is extracted (step S881). In this case, content 906 is extracted as content CA.

If the viewing deadline 704 is set for the content CA (step S882), the viewing deadline setting unit 918 refers to the download content list 800 and whether there is content having the same pack ID 714 (content CB). Is confirmed (step S883). In this case, content 905 is extracted as content CB.

When the content CB exists, the control unit 916 causes the viewing license state setting unit 917 to confirm the state of the valid / invalid flag 808 of the content CB (step S884).

When the valid / invalid flag 808 of the content CB is “invalid”, the control unit 916 sets the viewing deadline set for the content CA by the viewing deadline setting unit 918 as the viewing deadline for the content CB (downloaded content list) 800 (step S885). Then, the viewing license status setting unit 917 changes the valid / invalid flag 808 of the content CB to “valid” (step S886).

As described above, when the contents 905 and 906 having the same pack ID are not reproduced on the download terminal 903 and a part of the contents 906 having the pack ID is written to the SD card 911, the SD card 911 is mounted. If not, playback of the content 905 having the same pack ID as the content 906 taken out on the SD card 911 in the download terminal 903 is prohibited, and the same as the content 906 on the SD card 911 when the SD card 911 is attached. Since the viewing deadline is set and reproduction is permitted, the viewing deadlines of the contents 905 and 906 having the same pack ID on the download terminal 903 and the SD card 911 can be synchronized.

In the above description, when the content 905 stored in the storage medium 915 is played back, the case where the valid / invalid flag 808 is “invalid” and the viewing deadline has not been explained in the flow of FIG. However, if the viewing time limit has been determined in step S863, the processing from step S866 is performed. Since the viewing time limit is set in step S864 at the time of the first playback, for example, in the case of the second or subsequent playback of the same content, it is determined in step S863 that the viewing time limit has been fixed.

In this case, in step S866, the playback unit 907 compares the viewing time limit 704 of the download content list 800 with the current time acquired from the clock 919, and deletes the content if the viewing time limit has passed (step S867). ). If the viewing time limit has not been exceeded, decryption / playback of the content is started (step S868).

As described above, when writing pack content whose viewing deadline has not been determined to the SD card, the content in the download terminal having the same pack ID as the content is set to the non-viewable state, and the SD card is inserted into the download terminal. Packs that are stored separately on the download terminal and the SD card by setting the viewing deadline for the content having the same pack ID as the content whose viewing deadline is confirmed and canceling the viewing disabled state. Since the viewing time limit is set for the content based on the time when the user first viewed one of the pack contents, the time synchronization of the pack content can be guaranteed.

In the first embodiment, the SD card read / write unit 910 records the license (download content list 801) related to the content 906 on the SD card 911. However, instead of recording the license, other copyrights are recorded. It may be converted into the parameter format of the protection method and written. The content can be flexibly used by writing in a copyright protection system that is easy to process by the viewing terminal 960, such as a low CPU processing load, a small memory usage, and a high reproduction compatibility.

Further, in the first embodiment, the viewing license and the writing license shown in FIG. 2 are merely examples, and do not prescribe the content description and configuration of the license.

Further, in the first embodiment, it has been described that the viewing license registration process is performed after the content is downloaded. However, the same applies even if the viewing license with viewing period 701 is acquired and registered before the content is downloaded. It goes without saying that the effect of can be obtained.

Further, in the first embodiment, it has been described that the viewing license registration process is performed after the content download is completed. However, when viewing is started during the content download, by obtaining the viewing license 700 with a viewing time limit, Needless to say, the effect of enabling viewing while downloading is obtained.

In the first embodiment, it has been described that an entry including the pack ID 714 and the decryption key 702 described in the viewing license with viewing period 701 is registered in the download content list 800 in the viewing license registration process. If a valid pack ID or decryption key is not described in the viewing license 701 (the field value is empty or the like), it may not be registered.

Also, in the first embodiment, when writing to the SD card 911, if the viewing time limit has not been determined in step S857 in FIG. 6, the same pack ID as the first target content 906 and the target content 906 to be written is set. Although it has been described that the valid / invalid flag 808 of the content 905 that is held is “invalid” (steps S850 and S851), the valid / invalid flag 808 is temporarily “invalid” for content that is written using the export license 710 with a viewing time limit. Needless to say, the same effect can be obtained without changing to "".

Further, in the first embodiment, when viewing the content on the download terminal 903, if the valid / invalid flag 808 is “invalid” in the flow shown in FIG. 7, the reproduction ends without starting (step S862). However, when the user selects a viewable content, the same effect can be obtained even if the content in which the valid / invalid flag 808 is “invalid” is made invisible or cannot be selected. Needless to say.

Further, in the first embodiment, it has been described that if the valid / invalid flag 808 is “invalid” in the flow shown in FIG. 7, the reproduction is not started and the process is terminated (step S862). Is inserted, and the content having the same pack ID as the content to be played back and all the content having the pack ID written out by the download terminal 903 are included on the SD card 911 Even if the viewing time limit of the content having the pack ID on the SD card 911 is unconfirmed, the valid / invalid flag 808 of the content to be reproduced is changed to “valid” and reproduced. Also good.

That is, in the configuration of the first embodiment, when the content 906 in which the viewing deadline is undetermined is written to the SD card 911 and the content 905 in the storage medium 915 is to be reproduced, the valid / invalid flag 808 of the content 905 is displayed. Is set to “invalid”, but if the SD card 911 to which the content 906 has been written is inserted into the download terminal 903 at this time, the content 906 has not yet been played back and the viewing time limit has not yet been determined. Alternatively, the valid / invalid flag 808 of the content 905 may be changed to “valid” and the process may proceed to step S863 in FIG.

In this case, the viewing time limit of the content 906 remains undecided, but the content having the same pack ID as the content 905 has not yet been played back, and the viewing time limit does not differ for the same pack content. The content 905 may be reproducible. By starting the reproduction of the content 905 at this time, the viewing time limit of the pack content is determined, and the same date and time is set for the viewing time limit of each pack content, so that the viewing time limit of the pack content is synchronized.

In the first embodiment, when the download terminal 903 reproduces the content 905 in which the viewing license availability state is “valid” and the viewing deadline is undetermined, as shown in the flow of FIG. The viewing deadline is determined by acquiring the attached viewing license 700 (step S864). Instead of requesting the viewing license 700 with the viewing deadline, the download terminal 903 itself views the content 905 by referring to the current time. You may make it fix a time limit.

In the first embodiment, the license availability state is set and confirmed by the valid / invalid flag 808. However, instead of using the valid / invalid flag 808, the license is not usable. The viewing license may be temporarily deleted. In this case, in order to validate the viewing license once discarded, the viewing license is acquired again from the license server 902. Then, the content is decrypted and reproduced using the decryption key 702 included in the viewing license 700 with the viewing time limit acquired again at this time.

In the first embodiment, when viewing content on the SD card 911, the content column of the download content list 801 is referred to. If the viewing time limit 704 is not set, the viewing time limit 704 is determined from the current time and the viewing time period 703. However, if a content with the same pack ID 714 as that content is searched in the download content list 801 and a viewing deadline 704 is set for any of them, the value is set as the viewing deadline for the content. May be.

Further, in the first embodiment, it has been described that, when viewing a content on the download terminal 903 or the viewing terminal 960, if the viewing time limit 704 of the content is set, playback is started after confirming that the viewing time limit has been exceeded. However, the content having the same pack ID may be searched before the reproduction is started, and if the content exists, the same viewing expiration date start and viewing expiration date values may be entered for the viewing expiration date 704 of all the contents. With this process, an effect can be obtained in which a unified viewing time limit can be set for pack contents additionally stored in the download terminal 903 or written to the SD card 911.

Further, in the download terminal 903 and the viewing terminal 960, when the viewing time limit between the contents having the same pack ID does not match, the reproduction of the content may not be started. By this process, another effect is obtained that it is possible to prevent the content that is sold in packs from being viewed in an irregular state.

Also, in the download terminal 903 and the viewing terminal 960, if the viewing deadlines between contents having the same pack ID do not match, the viewing deadlines are compared and the most recent viewing deadline is regarded as the viewing deadline in the pack. May be. This process also has the effect of unifying the viewing time limit of the contents sold in packs.

In addition, the content on the SD card 911 is made unviewable at the time of writing, and when the SD card 911 is inserted into the download terminal 903, the same pack ID as the content made unviewable on the SD card 911 is set. If the viewing time limit of the content on the download terminal 903 that the user has has been confirmed, the content synchronization of the pack content can be synchronized even if the viewing time limit of the content on the SD card 911 side is updated and the viewing disabled state is released. Needless to say, it can be guaranteed.

In addition, in the viewing terminal 960, when deleting the content 906 on the SD card 911 due to reasons such as the viewing time limit being exceeded, only the entity of the content 906 is deleted, and the entry corresponding to the content 906 is deleted from the download content list 801 You don't have to. In addition, when the SD card 911 is inserted into the download terminal 903, viewing deadline synchronization processing may be performed if there is no actual content 906 on the SD card 911 and there is an entry in the download content list 801. With this process, even if the content 906 on the SD card 911 is deleted due to the expiration of the viewing time limit or the like, when the SD card 911 is inserted into the download terminal 903, the content having the same pack ID as the content 906 is The effect that the viewing deadline can be synchronized is obtained.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, the operation of the content use system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The configuration of the content usage system of the second embodiment is the same as that of the content usage system of the first embodiment, and the configuration block diagram thereof is as shown in FIG.

In the content use system of the second embodiment, the operation when the SD card is inserted into the download terminal 903 and the operation of the license server 902 are different from those in the first embodiment. The download terminal 903 and the license server 902 perform the same processing as the download terminal 903 and the license server 902 in the first embodiment, except that the processing described in FIGS. 12 and 14 is performed.

The operation of the download terminal 903 and the license server 902 when the SD content 906 is written to the SD card 911 at the download terminal 903 and then the SD card 911 is inserted into the download terminal 903 again will be described.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining viewing time limit synchronization processing in the download terminal 903 when the SD card 911 is inserted into the download terminal 903 in the second embodiment.

The processing from step S881 to step S885 is the same as the processing of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

After setting the viewing time limit for the content CB having the same pack ID on the storage medium 915 (step S885), the control unit 916 of the download terminal 903 then sends the content ID 705 of the content CB to the license server 902. A viewing time limit notification 810 including the viewing time limit 704 (viewing time limit start and viewing time limit end) is transmitted using the network IF 904 (step S887). Then, the control unit 916 causes the viewing license state setting unit 917 to set the valid / invalid flag 808 of the content CB to “valid”.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a format of the viewing time limit notification 810 in the second embodiment.

The viewing time limit confirmation notification 810 transmitted from the download terminal 903 to the license server 902 includes at least a content ID 705 and a viewing time limit 704 (viewing time limit start and viewing time limit end).

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the viewing time limit synchronization process of the license server 902 when the viewing time limit notification 810 arrives at the license server 902 from the download terminal 903 in the second embodiment.

When the request reception unit 912 receives the viewing time limit confirmation notice 810 from the download terminal 903, the viewing time limit setting / confirmation unit 914 determines whether or not the viewing time limit of the content has been confirmed based on the content ID 705. A check is made from information (not shown) (step S890).

If the viewing time limit of the content is not confirmed, the viewing time limit 704 included in the viewing time limit confirmation notification 810 is extracted and set as the viewing time limit for the content (step S891), and the same pack as the content Similarly, the same viewing time limit is determined for all contents having IDs (step S892).

As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the pack content 906 whose viewing deadline has not been determined is written to the SD card 911, the content 905 in the download terminal 903 having the same pack ID as the content 906 cannot be viewed. When the SD card 911 is inserted into the download terminal 903 again, the viewing deadline is set for the content 905 having the same pack ID as the content 906 on the SD card 911 for which the viewing deadline is fixed, The license server 902 is notified that the viewing time limit of the pack content 905 has been confirmed, and the pack content 905 and 906 are stored separately on the download terminal 903 and the SD card 911 by releasing the viewing-disabled state. The time when you first watched any of the content Viewing time limit, which was to have been set, and, even for new content to be downloaded, you can guarantee deadline synchronization of the pack content.

In the second embodiment described above, when the control unit 916 of the download terminal 903 sets the viewing time limit for the content CB having the same pack ID on the storage medium 915 (step S885), the viewing time limit is determined. The notification 810 is transmitted to the license server 902 (step S887). However, when all contents having the same pack ID have been downloaded, the same pack ID is not transmitted without transmitting the viewing time limit notification 810. The viewing time limit notification 810 may be transmitted only when there is content that has not yet been downloaded among the pack content that is held.

In the second embodiment, the license server 902 that has received the viewing time limit notification 810 from the download terminal 903 has been notified that the viewing time period of the content has already been determined and is held by itself. If the viewing deadline does not match, an error notification including the content ID 705 of the content and the viewing deadline held by itself may be transmitted to the download terminal 903.

In addition, when the download terminal 903 receives an error notification including the viewing time limit from the license server 902, the download terminal 903 sets the viewing time limit included in the error notification for the content having the content ID 705 included in the error notification. Also good.

In the second embodiment, the viewing time limit notification shown in FIG. 13 is merely an example, and does not prescribe the content description and configuration of the notification.

As described above, when the content utilization system of the present invention is used, the viewing time limit synchronization with the pack content remaining on the content receiver is performed even for the pack content partially written on the interchangeable medium. It is possible to realize this, and there is an advantage that the pack rental content can be viewed even by a content player having no communication function with the license server.

(Embodiment 3)
In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the deadline synchronization of the distributed contents in the pack content has been described. Even in the case where the rental content is copied, the viewing time limit of the content in the download terminal 903 and the viewing time limit of the content on the SD card 911 can be synchronized by the same method.

In the third embodiment of the present invention, in the content usage system described in the first embodiment, the viewing time limit of the rental content left in the download terminal 903, and the content of the content copied and written to the SD card 911 are written out. A method for synchronizing the viewing deadline will be described.

The configuration of the content usage system according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the content usage system according to the first embodiment, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. The basic operation of each block shown in FIG. 1 is the same as the operation of each block in the first embodiment.

In the third embodiment, it is assumed that each viewing license, each writing license, and each download content list is of the same format as that of the first embodiment shown in FIGS.

In the third embodiment, in FIG. 1, the content 905 is a single rental content to which no pack ID 714 is assigned, and the content 906 is content that is copied and written to the SD card 911. The description will be made assuming that the content 905 is left in the download terminal 903 and the content 906 is written to the SD card 911. Since the content 905 and the content 906 are the same content, the viewing time limit of these contents must be set to the same date and time.

Note that the content 906 in the third embodiment is an example of the copied content of the present invention, and the content 905 is an example of the stored content of the present invention.

3 is the pack content to which the pack ID 714 is assigned, and the content of the entry number 1 is a single content to which the pack ID 714 is not assigned. In the third embodiment, a single content such as entry number 1 will be described.

The flowchart of the viewing license registration process when the download terminal 903 of the third embodiment acquires the viewing license of the content 905 stored in the storage medium 915 is as shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the writing process when the download terminal 903 of the third embodiment copies and writes to the SD card 911 while the content 905 stored in the storage medium 915 remains in the download terminal 903.

In the third embodiment, a flowchart of the viewing start process when the content 905 stored in the storage medium 915 is played back by the download terminal 903 is as shown in FIG.

In the third embodiment, the flowchart of the viewing start process when the viewing terminal 960 views the copy content 906 recorded on the SD card 911 is as shown in FIG.

The flowchart of the viewing license grant process in the license server 902 of the third embodiment is as shown in FIG.

The flowchart of the writing license grant process in the license server 902 of the third embodiment is as shown in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of viewing time limit synchronization processing when the SD card 911 is inserted into the download terminal 903 in the third embodiment.

In the following, the operations of when the copy content 906 is written to the SD card 911 after the content 905 is played back by the download terminal 903 and when the copy content 906 is written to the SD card 911 before the content 905 is played back. Will be described in order.

First, the operation when the copy content 906 is written to the SD card 911 after the content 905 is played back by the download terminal 903 will be described.

In the download terminal 903, for example, after the download of the encrypted content 905 is completed, a viewing license registration process for the content 905 is performed according to the flow of FIG.

When performing the viewing license registration process for the content 905, the valid / invalid flag 808 of the content 905 is set to “valid” (step S823).

When the content 905 downloaded from the content server 901 and stored in the storage medium 915 is reproduced on the download terminal 903 before being copied and written to the SD card 911, the control unit 916 of the download terminal 903 follows the flow shown in FIG. Therefore, the reproduction of content is controlled.

When receiving a playback instruction for the content 905 downloaded and stored in the storage medium 915 (not shown) from the user, the control unit 916 first searches the download content list 800 by the viewing license state setting unit 917, The setting of the valid / invalid flag 808 is confirmed (step S861). In this case, since the copied content 906 has not been written to the SD card 911, the valid / invalid flag 808 remains set to “valid” in step S823 in FIG. 5, and then the process in step S863 is performed.

Next, the control unit 916 causes the viewing time limit setting unit 918 to search the download content list 800 and confirms whether or not the viewing time limit of the content 905 is fixed (step S863). In this case, since the content 905 is viewed for the first time, the viewing time limit is undetermined, and the process of step S864 is performed next.

The control unit 916 acquires the viewing license 700 with the viewing time limit of the content 905 from the license server 902 using the network IF 904 (step S864), and the viewing time setting unit 918 obtains the viewing license 700 with the viewing time limit obtained. The viewing deadline start and the viewing deadline end values set as the viewing deadline 704 are entered in the corresponding area of the download content list 800.

Since the content 905 is a single content that is not a pack content, the process of step S865 is skipped.

Since a valid value in which the current time is set at the start of the viewing time limit is set by the license server 902 in the viewing time limit 704 of the viewing license 700 with a viewing time limit acquired in step S864, the control unit 916 In step S907, the content 905 is decrypted and reproduced using the viewing license (step S868).

In step S864, the operation for determining the viewing time limit in the license server 902 that has received the viewing license request with the viewing time limit transmitted from the download terminal 903 is the same as that in the first embodiment, and is performed according to the flow shown in FIG.

In this case, since the target content 905 has not yet been played on the download terminal 903, it is determined in step S840 that it is the first reception, and the viewing time limit of the target content 905 has not yet been determined. In step S844, the viewing time limit setting / determining unit 914 calculates the viewing time limit end time by setting the current time as the viewing time limit start time and adding the viewing time period to the viewing time limit start time. Thus, the viewing time limit for the content is determined.

In this case, since the target content 905 for which a viewing license with a viewing time limit is requested is not a pack content, the process of step S842 in FIG. 9 is skipped.

In step S844, if the viewing time limit of the target content 905 has already been determined, that is, if a request for a viewing license with a viewing time limit for the content 905 has been received in advance, the determined time limit is determined. The viewing license with viewing deadline 700 including the viewing deadline 704 is returned to the download terminal 903 (step S843).

When the copy content 906 is written to the SD card 911 after the content 905 is reproduced on the download terminal 903 as described above, the control unit 916 of the download terminal 903 writes the SD card read / write unit 910 according to the flow shown in FIG. Control.

Upon receiving a copy content write request instruction from the user (not shown), the control unit 916 first determines whether or not the viewing time limit of the copy source content 905 has been determined (step S830). The control unit 916 causes the viewing time limit setting unit 918 to determine whether or not the viewing time limit has been determined based on the information on the viewing period 703 and the viewing time limit 704 of the download content list 800. In this case, since the copy source content 905 has been reproduced on the download terminal 903, the viewing time limit has been determined in step S864 in FIG. 7, and the control unit 916 then writes from the license server 902 using the network IF 904. A license is acquired (step S832).

Then, the control unit 916 causes the SD card read / write unit 910 to write the copy content 906 to the SD card 911 using the writing license (step S833). At this time, the value of the download content list 800 is copied to each area of the download content list 801 written to the SD card 911.

Note that the process of writing the copied content 906 to the SD card 911 in step S833 may be a process of temporarily creating the content 906 obtained by copying the content 905 in the download terminal 903 and then moving the content 906 to the SD card 911. Alternatively, the content 906 may be directly copied to the SD card 911 without writing the content 906 in the download terminal 903, and the content 906 may be written on the SD card 911.

When viewing the content 906 written to the SD card 911 by the download terminal 903 in this way on the viewing terminal 960, the viewing terminal 960 follows the flow shown in FIG. Playback control of the above content 906 is performed.

When the reproduction control unit 923 is instructed to reproduce the content 906 recorded on the SD card 911 by an instruction (not shown) from the user, first, the expiration date determining unit 921 determines whether the viewing time limit of the target content is determined. Whether or not is determined (step S871). The time limit determining unit 921 reads the download content list 801 recorded on the SD card 911 by the SD card read / write unit 920 and determines the time limit for viewing based on the information on the viewing period 703 and the viewing time limit 704 of the target content 906. Determine whether or not.

In this case, since the viewing time limit is determined by playing the copy source content 905 on the download terminal 903 (step S864), the time limit determining unit 921 next refers to the download content list 801 to view the content. It is determined whether the time limit has been exceeded (step S874). If the time limit determining unit 921 determines that the viewing time limit has already exceeded, the playback control unit 923 deletes the content 906 (step S875), and if the viewing time limit has not been exceeded, the content 906 is deleted. Starts decoding / reproducing (step S876).

In this way, when the copy content 906 is written to the SD card 911 after the content 905 is reproduced on the download terminal 903, the viewing time limit of the content 905 is determined when the copy content 906 is reproduced on the download terminal 903 (step S864), it is possible to synchronize the viewing time limit of the content 906 that is subsequently copied and written to the SD card 911.

Next, the operation when the content 905 copied from the content 905 is written to the SD card 911 in a state where the copy source content 905 has not been reproduced on the download terminal 903 has been described.

When the content server 901 is downloaded from the content server 901 and stored in the storage medium 915 and the content 905 is copied to the SD card 911 in a state where the content 905 has not been reproduced at the download terminal 903, the download terminal 903 The control unit 916 controls writing according to the flow shown in FIG.

Upon receiving a copy content write request instruction from the user (not shown), the control unit 916 first determines whether or not the viewing time limit of the copy source content 905 has been determined (step S830). In this case, since the copy source content 905 has not been played on the download terminal 903 yet, the viewing time limit is undetermined, and the process of step S831 is performed next.

The control unit 916 sets the valid / invalid flag 808 of the copy source content 905 in the download content list 800 to “invalid” by the viewing license state setting unit 917 (step S831).

Then, the control unit 916 sends a request for a write license for copying and writing the content 905 to the license server 902, acquires the write license from the license server 902 (step S832), and uses the write license to create an SD card. Copy / write control to the card 911 is performed.

In this case, since the content 905 has not yet been reproduced and the viewing time limit has not yet been determined, in step 832, the writing license 712 with a viewing period is received.

Here, in step S832 in FIG. 15, the operation of the license server 902 when the download terminal 903 requests the license license to be written to the license server 902 is the same as that in the first embodiment, and the license server 902 follows the flow in FIG. Therefore, the writing license grant process is performed.

When the request receiving unit 912 receives the request for the writing license from the download terminal 903, the viewing time limit setting / determining unit 914 retrieves from its own history information (not shown) whether or not the viewing time limit of the content has already been confirmed. If the viewing time limit for the content has already been confirmed, the license transmission unit 913 returns the writing license 710 with a viewing time limit in which the confirmed viewing time limit is set to the download terminal 903 (step S846). If the viewing deadline is not confirmed, the writing license 712 with the viewing period with the viewing deadline being undecided is returned to the download terminal 903 (step S847).

In the following description, it is assumed that the export license acquired in step S832 is the export license with viewing period 712, that is, the content 906 written to the SD card 911 is written without being confirmed.

When the copied content 906 is written on the SD card 911 and then the copy source content 905 stored in the storage medium 915 is to be reproduced on the download terminal 903, the control unit 916 follows the flow of FIG. First, the setting of the valid / invalid flag 808 of the reproduction target content 905 is confirmed (step S861).

Since the valid / invalid flag 808 of the reproduction target content 905 remains set to “invalid” in step S831, the control unit 916 terminates without permitting reproduction of the reproduction target content 905 (step S862).

Since the viewing time limit of the content 906 is unconfirmed, the time limit determining unit 921 acquires the current time from the clock 922, sets the current time as the viewing time limit start time, and adds the viewing time period 703 to the viewing time limit start time. Then, the viewing deadline 704 is determined by calculating the viewing deadline end time, and these numerical values are written in the download content list 801 (step S872).

Note that since the content 906 is not a pack content and is not assigned a pack ID 714, the process of step S873 is skipped.

Upon receiving a notification that the SD card 911 has been inserted from the SD card read / write unit 910, the control unit 916 causes the viewing time limit setting unit 918 to search the download content list 801 on the SD card 911 and store it in the storage medium 915. The content having the same content ID 705 as the current content is extracted (step S834). In this case, content 906 that is the same content as content 905 stored in storage medium 915 is extracted.

Next, the control unit 916 causes the viewing time limit setting unit 918 to search the download content list 801 and confirms whether or not the viewing time limit of the extracted content 906 is fixed (step S835). In this case, when the content 906 on the SD card 911 is reproduced on the viewing terminal 960, the viewing time limit of the content 906 is determined and set in step S872.

Next, the control unit 916 causes the viewing license state setting unit 917 to check the state of the valid / invalid flag 808 of the copy source content 905 that is the same content as the content 906 (step S836).

When the valid / invalid flag 808 of the copy source content 905 is “invalid”, the control unit 916 sets the viewing deadline set for the content 906 by the viewing deadline setting unit 918 as the viewing deadline for the content 905 (download) The content list 800 is entered) (step S837). Then, the viewing license state setting unit 917 changes the valid / invalid flag 808 of the content 905 to “valid” (step S838).

As described above, when the content 906 copied without reproducing the copy source content 905 on the download terminal 903 is written to the SD card 911, the copy source content 905 in the download terminal 903 is loaded when the SD card 911 is not attached. Playback is prohibited, and when the SD card 911 is inserted, the same viewing time limit as the copy content 906 on the SD card 911 is set and playback is permitted, so the same on the download terminal 903 and the SD card 911 The viewing deadlines of the contents 905 and 906 can be synchronized.

As described above, when copying and writing content whose viewing deadline has not yet been confirmed to the SD card, the content of the copy source in the download terminal is set to the non-viewable state, and the SD card is inserted into the download terminal. The same content stored separately on the download terminal and the SD card by setting the same viewing deadline as the copy content whose viewing deadline is determined for the copy source content and canceling the viewing disabled state On the other hand, since the viewing time limit is set based on the time when any one of the contents is first viewed, it is possible to guarantee the time synchronization of the copied content and the copied content.

Note that each configuration of the modification described in the first embodiment can be applied to the configuration of the third embodiment.

For example, in the above description, when the content 905 in the storage medium 915 is to be played after the copy content 906 whose viewing deadline has not been determined is written to the SD card 911, the valid / invalid flag 808 of the content 905 is set to “invalid”. If the SD card 911 that has written out the copy content 906 is inserted into the download terminal 903 at this time, the copy is performed even if the content 906 has not been played back and the viewing time limit has not yet been determined. The valid / invalid flag 808 of the original content 905 may be changed to “valid”, and the process may proceed to step S863 in FIG. At this time, when the reproduction of the content 905 is started, the viewing time limit of the content 905 is determined, and the confirmed same date and time is set as the viewing time limit of the copy content 906 on the SD card 911, and the viewing time limits of the content 905 and 906 are set. Be synchronized.

Also, for example, in the above description, the license availability state is set and confirmed by the valid / invalid flag 808. However, instead of using the valid / invalid flag 808, when the license is not usable, the viewing license is used. May be deleted once. In this case, in order to validate the viewing license once discarded, the viewing license is acquired again from the license server 902. Then, the content is decrypted and reproduced using the decryption key 702 included in the viewing license 700 with the viewing time limit acquired again at this time.

The configuration of the present invention can be realized by hardware, but can also be realized by software by causing a CPU to execute a program.

In particular, the configuration of the control unit 916, viewing license status setting unit 917, viewing time limit setting unit 918, and the like can be easily implemented by software to cope with changes or additions of license information, changes or additions of license formats, etc. can do.

Note that the program according to the present invention is configured so that when the content receiver writes the content to the replaceable medium before the content is reproduced, the content viewing license is combined with the content viewing license. The content writing step of invalidating the viewing license of the related content belonging to the same predetermined content group as the content when the content viewing time is unconfirmed and writing to the exchange medium; and After the content player reproduces the content, when the replaceable medium is attached to the content receiver, the viewing time limit of the related content is set to the same time limit as the viewing time limit of the content. The operation of the viewing deadline synchronization step for activating the viewing license A program to be executed by the computer, a computer in cooperation with a program that works.

In the recording medium of the present invention, when the content receiver writes the content to the replaceable medium before reproducing the content, the content expiration license determination method described above is combined with the content viewing license. The content writing step of invalidating the viewing license of the related content belonging to the same predetermined content group as the content, when the content is written to the exchangeable medium and the viewing time limit of the content is unconfirmed; and After the content player reproduces the content, when the replaceable medium is attached to the content receiver, the related content viewing deadline is set to the same deadline as the content viewing deadline and the related content The operation of the viewing deadline synchronization step for activating the viewing license of A recording medium recording a program for executing a computer, readable and by a computer, a recording medium in which the program is utilized in cooperation with the computer read.

In addition, the program of the present invention is copied when the content receiver copies the stored content to the replaceable medium before reproducing the stored content in the above-described viewing time limit determining method. The content writing step, wherein the viewing license for the content that has been copied is written to the replaceable medium, and the viewing license for the stored content is invalidated if the viewing time limit of the copied content is uncertain, And when the replaceable medium is loaded in the content receiver after the content player reproduces the copied content, the viewing time limit of the stored content is the viewing time limit of the copied content. Set the same deadline and activate the viewing license for the stored content Wherein a program for executing the operation of the viewing time limit synchronization step by a computer that is a program that operates in cooperation with the computer.

Further, the recording medium of the present invention may be configured such that when the content receiver copies the stored content to the replaceable medium before reproducing the stored content in the above-described viewing time limit determining method, the copy is performed. The content writing step of writing together the viewing license for the copied content to the replaceable medium, and invalidating the viewing license for the stored content when the viewing time limit of the copied content is uncertain And when the replaceable medium is attached to the content receiver after the content player reproduces the copied content, the viewing time limit of the stored content is set as the viewing time limit of the copied content. And set the same deadline as the above and activate the viewing license for the stored content Wherein a recording medium recording a program for executing a viewing time limit computer operation of the synchronization step, readable and by a computer, a recording medium in which the program is utilized in cooperation with the computer read.

Also, the “step operation” of the present invention means all or part of the operation of the step.

Further, one usage form of the program of the present invention may be an aspect in which the program is recorded on a recording medium such as a ROM readable by a computer and operates in cooperation with the computer.

Further, one use form of the program of the present invention may be an aspect in which the program is transmitted through a transmission medium such as the Internet or a transmission medium such as light / radio wave, read by a computer, and operates in cooperation with the computer. .

The content receiver, the content use system, the viewing time limit determining method, etc. according to the present invention, even when a part of a plurality of contents that should have the same viewing time limit is written on a replaceable medium before the viewing time limit is determined. The encrypted content whose viewing deadline is managed can be synchronized and copied from the content receiver to a replaceable medium and taken out by the player of the replaceable medium. It is useful as a content receiver, a content use system, a viewing time limit determining method, and the like for reproduction.

600 server 601 download terminal 602 viewing terminal 605 HDD
606 SD card 700 Viewing license with viewing period 701 Viewing license with viewing period 702 Decryption key 703 Viewing period 704 Viewing period 705 Content ID
710 Export license with viewing period 711 Media type 712 Export license with viewing period 713 License type 714 Pack ID
800 Downloaded content list 801 Downloaded content list 808 Valid / invalid flag 810 Viewing time limit notification 901 Content server 902 License server 903 Download terminal 904 Network IF
905 content 906 content 907 playback unit 908 decoder 910 SD card read / write unit 911 SD card 912 request reception unit 913 license transmission unit 914 viewing time limit setting / determination unit 915 storage medium 916 control unit 918 viewing license state setting unit 918 viewing time limit setting unit 919 Clock 920 SD card read / write unit 921 Time limit determination unit 922 Clock 923 Playback control unit 924 Decoder 960 Viewing terminal

Claims

A content receiver that receives content managed for a viewing time limit from a content server and writes the content to a replaceable medium,
A license invalidation validating unit for invalidating and validating a viewing license; and writing / reading the content and the viewing license of the content to the replaceable medium and reading at least the view license written in the replaceable medium A viewing deadline setting unit for setting a viewing deadline, and a control unit,
The controller is
When the content is written to the replaceable medium by the replaceable medium read / write unit before the content is played, the content viewing license is written to the replaceable medium together with the content viewing time limit. Is invalidated, the license invalidation validating unit invalidates the viewing license of the related content belonging to the same predetermined content group as the content,
When the replaceable medium on which the viewing license of the content in which the viewing time limit determined by the content player reproducing the content written on the replaceable medium is recorded is loaded, the viewing time limit setting is performed. A content receiver configured to set a viewing deadline for the related content to be the same as the viewing deadline for the content, and a license invalidation validating unit for validating the viewing license for the related content.
A transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives data to / from a license server that supplies the viewing license;
The content according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the transmission / reception unit to notify the license server of the set viewing time limit when the viewing time limit of the related content is set by the viewing time limit setting unit. Receiving machine.
The control unit causes the transmission / reception unit to notify the license server of the set viewing deadline only when there is content belonging to the predetermined content group that has not yet been downloaded from the content server. The content receiver described in 1.
The controller is
When the related content is played when the exchangeable medium in which the viewing license for the content whose viewing deadline has not yet been confirmed is loaded, the license invalidation validating unit validates the viewing license for the related content In addition, the viewing time limit of the related content is determined by the viewing time limit setting unit, and the viewing time limit of the content recorded on the exchangeable medium is set to the same time limit as the determined viewing time limit of the related content. The content receiver according to claim 1.
The license invalidation validating unit invalidates the viewing license of the related content whose viewing deadline has not yet been determined, is to discard the viewing license of the related content,
The content receiver according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit validates the viewing license of the related content that has been discarded, the license invalidation validation unit reacquires the viewing license of the related content from a license server. .
A content use system comprising: a content receiver that receives content whose viewing deadline is managed from a content server and writes the content to a replaceable medium; and a content player that reproduces the content recorded on the replaceable medium Because
The content receiver includes a license invalidation validating unit that invalidates and validates a viewing license, writes the content and the viewing license of the content to the replaceable medium, and at least the view license written in the replaceable medium An exchangeable medium read / write unit for reading the content, a viewing time limit setting unit for setting a viewing time limit, and a control unit,
When the control unit writes the content to the replaceable medium by the replaceable medium read / write unit before reproducing the content, the control unit writes the viewing license of the content to the replaceable medium, and When the viewing time limit of the content is undecided, the license invalidation validating unit invalidates the viewing license of related content belonging to the same predetermined content group as the content,
When playing back the content recorded on the interchangeable medium, the content player sets the current time limit for the content by setting the current time as the start time if the content time limit is not yet determined. A viewing time limit determining unit to be confirmed, and a viewing license writing unit for recording the viewing license of the content in which the determined viewing time limit is set in the replaceable medium,
When the content recorded on the replaceable medium is played back by the content player and the replaceable medium is attached to the content receiver, the control unit causes the viewing time limit setting unit to store the related content. A content use system in which a viewing deadline is set to the same deadline as the content viewing deadline, and the license invalidation validating unit validates the viewing license of the related content.
A content use system comprising: a content receiver that receives content whose viewing deadline is managed from a content server and writes the content to a replaceable medium; and a content player that reproduces the content recorded on the replaceable medium Is a method for determining the viewing deadline of the content of
When the content receiver writes the content to the replaceable medium before playing the content, the content receiver writes the content viewing license together with the replaceable medium, and the viewing time limit of the content is uncertain A content writing step of invalidating a viewing license of related content belonging to the same predetermined content group as the content;
When the content player reproduces the content recorded on the interchangeable medium, if the viewing time limit is not yet determined, the viewing time limit is determined by setting the current time as the start time, and the determination is made. Recording a viewing license for the content set with the viewing deadline, and recording the viewing license on the replaceable medium;
After the content player reproduces the content, when the replaceable medium is attached to the content receiver, the related content viewing deadline is set to the same deadline as the content viewing deadline and the related content And a viewing deadline synchronization step for validating the viewing license.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein when the content receiver writes the content to the interchangeable medium before reproducing the content, the content viewing license is also written to the replaceable medium. In addition, when the viewing time limit of the content is uncertain, the content writing step of invalidating the viewing license of the related content belonging to the same predetermined content group as the content, and the content player, After playing the content, when the replaceable medium is loaded in the content receiver, the viewing time limit of the related content is set to the same time limit as the viewing time of the content and the viewing license of the related content is valid A program for causing a computer to execute the viewing time synchronization step Grams.
A content receiver that receives content managed from a viewing time limit from a content server, stores the content, and copies the content to a replaceable medium,
A license invalidation validating unit for invalidating and validating the viewing license of the stored content, and copying the stored content to the replaceable medium, and a viewing license for the copied content on the replaceable medium A removable medium read / write unit that reads at least the viewing license written in the replaceable medium, a viewing time limit setting unit that sets a viewing time limit, and a control unit,
The controller is
When the stored content is copied to the replaceable medium by the replaceable medium read / write unit before the stored content is reproduced, the viewing license of the copied content is also written to the replaceable medium. And when the viewing time limit of the copied content is undecided, the license invalidation validating unit invalidates the stored content viewing license,
The interchangeable medium on which the viewing license of the copied content in which the viewing time limit determined by the content player reproducing the copied content written on the interchangeable medium is reproduced is loaded. In this case, the viewing time limit of the stored content is set to the same time limit as the viewing time of the copied content by the viewing time limit setting unit, and the viewing license of the stored content is set by the license invalidation validating unit. Enable content receiver.
The controller is
When the stored content is played back when the exchangeable medium in which the viewing license of the copied content whose viewing time limit has not been determined is loaded is stored by the license invalidation validating unit. Validating the viewing license of the content, confirming the viewing time limit of the stored content by the viewing time limit setting unit, and setting the viewing time limit of the copied content to the same time limit as the confirmed viewing time limit, The content receiver according to claim 9.
The license invalidation validating unit invalidates the viewing license of the stored content whose viewing deadline is undecided is to discard the viewing license of the stored content,
10. The license invalidation validating unit re-acquires the stored content viewing license from a license server when the control unit validates the discarded viewing license of the stored content. Content receiver.
A content receiver that receives content managed from the viewing deadline from a content server, stores the content and copies it to a replaceable medium, and a content player that plays back the copied content recorded on the replaceable medium A content use system comprising:
The content receiver invalidates and validates a viewing license of the stored content, copies the stored content to the replaceable medium, and copies the copy on the replaceable medium A viewable license for a content that has been written to the replaceable medium, read at least the viewable license written in the replaceable medium, a view limit setting unit for setting a view deadline, and control And
When the stored content is copied to the replaceable medium by the replaceable medium read / write unit before the stored content is reproduced, the control unit also combines the viewing license of the copied content with the viewable license. In addition to writing to a replacement medium, if the viewing time limit of the copied content is unconfirmed, the license invalidation validating unit invalidates the stored content viewing license,
The content player, when reproducing the copied content recorded on the interchangeable medium, sets the current time as the start time if the viewing time limit of the copied content is uncertain A viewing time limit determining unit for determining a viewing time limit for the copied content, and a viewing license writing unit for recording a viewing license for the copied content in which the determined viewing time limit is set on the replaceable medium,
When the replaceable medium is attached to the content receiver after the copied content recorded on the replaceable medium is played back by the content player, the control unit sets the viewing time limit by the viewing time limit setting unit. A content usage system that sets a viewing time limit for stored content to the same time limit as the viewing time limit for the copied content, and that enables the viewing license for the stored content by the license invalidation validating unit.
A content receiver that receives content managed from the viewing deadline from a content server, stores the content and copies it to a replaceable medium, and a content player that plays back the copied content recorded on the replaceable medium A method for determining the viewing deadline of content in a content usage system comprising:
When the content receiver copies the stored content to the replaceable medium before reproducing the stored content, the content receiver writes the viewing license for the copied content to the replaceable medium. A content writing step of invalidating the viewing license of the stored content when the viewing time limit of the copied content is uncertain;
When the content player reproduces the copied content recorded on the replaceable medium, if the viewing time limit of the copied content is uncertain, the current time is set as the start time. A viewing time limit determining step for determining a viewing time limit of the copied content, and recording a viewing license of the copied content in which the confirmed viewing time limit is set on the replaceable medium;
When the replaceable medium is loaded in the content receiver after the content player reproduces the copied content, the viewing time limit of the stored content is the same as the viewing time limit of the copied content. A viewing deadline determination method comprising: a viewing deadline synchronization step for setting a deadline and validating a viewing license for the stored content.
14. When the content receiver copies the stored content to the replaceable medium before reproducing the stored content according to the viewing deadline determination method according to claim 13, about the copied content. The content writing step of writing a viewing license together with the interchangeable medium, and invalidating the viewing license of the stored content when the viewing time limit of the copied content is uncertain, and the content After the reproducing device reproduces the copied content, when the replaceable medium is loaded into the content receiver, the viewing time limit of the stored content is set to the same time limit as the viewing time of the copied content. Setting and validating the viewing license for the stored content. Program for executing the steps on a computer.
15. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 8 or 14 is recorded, which can be processed by a computer.