JP2002163000A - Distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a distribution system which complies with various needs of users and is properly low-cost. SOLUTION: The distribution system comprises a distributing server device, an acquisition device, and a sound reproducing device and distributes a program for decoding encoded sound data. The distributing server device sends the program for decoding the encoded sound data. The acquisition device is connected to the distributing server device through a network and obtains and records the program in a portable memory part. The sound reproducing device decodes the encoded sound data by using the program recorded in the portable memory part to output a sound.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a signal processing technique for decoding a compression-encoded signal into an original signal and a technique for delivering a program for decoding.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, literary works such as music and movies have been digitally recorded on optical disks such as DVDs and used. An audio / video (AV) signal recorded on an optical disk is compression-encoded in order to secure a predetermined reproduction time within a limited recording capacity. Therefore, at the time of reproduction, a decoding process for restoring the compression-encoded signal is performed.

Next, a conventional signal processing apparatus for decoding a compression-encoded signal will be described. The signal processing device includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a detection unit, a procedure storage unit, a decoding unit, and an output terminal. The compression-coded signal is input to a first input terminal, and the attribute of the compressed signal, in other words, a signal related to the compression method is input to a second input terminal. When a signal related to an attribute is input via the second input terminal, the detection unit determines a compression method of the signal and provides the result to the procedure storage unit. The procedure storage unit stores a plurality of decoding procedures (programs) corresponding to a plurality of compression schemes. When the compressed signal is input via the first input terminal, the decoding unit performs a process of returning the signal to the original signal, that is, decoding according to a specific decoding procedure stored in the procedure storage unit. The signal decoded by the decoding unit is output to the outside via an output terminal. Here, the procedure storage unit and the decoding unit are usually configured by one decoder implemented as an LSI. The procedure storage unit stores a plurality of sets of decoding procedures corresponding to a plurality of compression schemes input to the first input terminal, and the decoding procedure is selected according to the result detected by the detection unit. Is implemented in software.

[0004]

In particular, in recent years, audio data encoded by various compression encoding schemes has been provided to users. Along with this, the types of decoding procedures (audio codecs) for decoding encoded audio have been increasing. For example, AAC, MP
3, WMA, etc. If all voice codecs are stored in advance in the procedure storage unit so as to support all voice codecs, the circuit scale of the decoder becomes large,
There is a problem that the cost increases. At this time, the user must purchase the signal processing device including the audio codec which is not required by the user.

[0005] In order to solve such problems, the present invention provides a distribution system, a distribution server device, an acquisition device, a memory medium, a sound reproduction device, and a distribution method at an appropriate cost corresponding to various needs of a user. It is an object to provide a distribution server method, an acquisition method, an audio reproduction method, a distribution program, a distribution server program, an acquisition program, an audio reproduction program, and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a delivery system for delivering a program for decoding encoded audio data, and a delivery system for transmitting a program for decoding encoded audio data. A server device, a portable memory unit having an area for storing one or more types of programs, a portable memory unit connected to the distribution server device via a network, the portable memory unit being mounted, acquiring the program, and An acquisition device for recording in the portable memory unit, the portable memory unit in which the program is recorded is mounted, and the encoded audio data is decoded by using the program recorded in the portable memory unit. And a sound reproducing device that outputs

Here, the portable memory unit stores one or more types of programs, and each program decodes encoded audio data of a different encoding type, respectively.
The audio playback device further stores a detection module in advance, the detection module is a program used to detect an encoding type of encoded audio data, and the audio playback device includes the detection module Using, to detect the encoding type of the encoded audio data,
A program for decoding the coded audio data of the detected encoding type may be read from the portable memory unit, and the coded audio data may be decoded using the read program.

[0008] Here, the distribution server device further comprises:
The acquisition device transmits permission information indicating permission of use of the program in association with the program, further acquires the permission information in association with the program, records the permission information in the portable memory unit, and Only when the permission information is recorded in the portable memory unit, the playback device uses the program associated with the permission information to decode encoded audio data and output audio. You may comprise.

Here, the distribution server device further comprises:
Transmitting condition information indicating a condition for using the program in association with the program,
Furthermore, the condition information is acquired in association with the program and recorded in the portable memory unit, and the audio playback device further includes the condition information based on the condition information recorded in the portable memory unit. It may be configured to determine whether or not the program associated with the information can be used, and to decode the coded audio data and output the voice using the program when determining that the program can be used.

Here, the condition information is period information for limiting a period during which the program can be used, the distribution server device transmits the period information as the condition information, and the acquisition device transmits the condition information. The time information is recorded in the portable memory unit as information, and the audio playback device determines that the program is usable if the current date and time is within the range of the period information as the condition information. It may be configured as follows.

Here, the condition information is frequency information indicating the remaining number of times the program can be used, the distribution server device transmits the frequency information as the condition information, and the acquisition device The number-of-times information is recorded as condition information in the portable memory unit, and the audio reproducing apparatus decodes encoded audio data and outputs audio each time.
The program may be configured to subtract 1 from the count information and determine that the program is usable if the reduced count information is 1 or more.

Here, the distribution server device further comprises:
Generating a user identifier for identifying a user of the audio playback device, storing the generated user identifier, transmitting the generated user identifier to the acquisition device, the acquisition device further comprising the user identifier May be acquired and recorded in the portable memory unit. Here, the distribution system further distributes maintenance information for updating the program, the acquisition device further reads the user identifier from the portable memory unit, and distributes the user identifier. Transmitted to a server device, the distribution server device further stores the maintenance information associated with the program in advance, receives the user identifier, and stores the received user identifier. It is determined whether or not the user identifier matches, and when it is determined that they match, the maintenance information is transmitted to the acquisition device, and the acquisition device is
The maintenance information may be received, and the program stored in the portable memory unit may be updated using the received maintenance information.

Here, the distribution server device further comprises:
Generating a permission information identifier for identifying the permission information, storing the generated permission information identifier, transmitting the generated permission information identifier to the acquisition device, the acquisition device further acquires the permission information identifier, The recording may be performed in the portable memory unit. Here, the acquisition device is:
Reading the permission information identifier from the portable memory unit, transmitting the permission information identifier to the distribution server device, the distribution server device further receiving the permission information identifier, and receiving the received permission information identifier It may be configured to judge whether or not the permission information identifier stored in the storage unit matches the information. If it is determined that the two match, the maintenance information is transmitted to the acquisition device.

Here, the distribution system further includes a billing server device, and the acquisition device is further connected to the billing server device via a network, and pays a fee as a price for acquiring the program. And transmitting the payment information to the charging server device. The charging server device is connected to the distribution server device via a network, and when the payment information is received, payment of a fee as a compensation for the acquisition of the program. Confirmation information indicating that the confirmation has been performed may be transmitted to the distribution server device, and the distribution server device may be configured to, when receiving the confirmation information, transmit the program to the acquisition device.

Here, the distribution server device further comprises:
A program used to detect the encoding type of the encoded audio data, transmitting an alternative detection module used in place of the detection module stored in the audio playback device, the acquisition device, Further, the alternative detection module is obtained and recorded in the portable memory unit, and the audio reproducing device further obtains the alternative detection module from the portable memory unit, and substitutes for the detection module. , The type of the encoded audio data may be detected using the alternative detection module.

The present invention also relates to a sound reproducing apparatus for decoding encoded sound data and outputting sound in a distribution system including a distribution server device, an acquisition device, and a sound reproducing device, The device transmits a program for decoding encoded audio data to the acquisition device via a network, a portable memory unit is mounted on the acquisition device, and the acquisition device stores the program in the portable memory unit. The portable memory unit in which the program has been written and in which the program has been written is mounted on the audio playback device, and the audio playback device uses a reading unit that reads a program recorded in the portable memory unit, Decoding means for decoding the encoded audio data to generate audio data, and audio output means for converting the audio data into audio and outputting the audio. Characterized in that it comprises.

Here, the portable memory unit stores one or more types of programs, and each program decodes encoded audio data of a different encoding type,
The audio reproduction device further includes one storage area in which a detection module is stored in advance, wherein the detection module is a program used to detect an encoding type of encoded audio data, The means uses the detection module to detect an encoding type of the encoded audio data, read a program for decoding the encoded audio data of the detected encoding type from the portable memory unit, and read the read program. It may be configured to decode the encoded audio data by using this.

Here, the portable memory unit records permission information indicating permission to use the program in association with the program, and the decoding unit records the permission information in the portable memory unit. Only when it is, by using the program associated with the permission information,
You may comprise so that encoded audio data may be decoded. Here, the audio reproduction device may further include a display unit that displays a message indicating the above when the permission information is not recorded in the portable memory unit.

Here, the portable memory unit further comprises:
Condition information indicating a condition for using the program is recorded in association with the program, and the decoding unit corresponds to the condition information based on the condition information recorded in the portable memory unit. It may be configured to determine whether or not the attached program can be used, and to decode the coded audio data using the program when determining that the program can be used.

Here, the condition information is period information for limiting a period during which the program can be used, and the decoding means, if a current date and time is within the range of the period information as the condition information, The program may be configured to determine that the program is usable. Here, the condition information is frequency information indicating the remaining number of times the program can be used, and the decoding means subtracts 1 from the frequency information each time the encoded audio data is decoded and audio is output. If the reduced count information is 1 or more, the program may be determined to be usable.

Here, the audio reproducing apparatus is further configured to include a display unit for displaying an identifier for identifying a program permitted to be used based on permission information recorded in the portable memory unit. You may. Here, the program is composed of a plurality of sub-programs, and the audio reproducing device further includes one storage area used for storing the sub-programs, and the sub-programs are sequentially stored in the storage area. Loading means for writing to an area, wherein the decoding means decodes the encoded audio data using a subprogram written to the storage area and outputs audio.

Here, the program is composed of a plurality of sub-programs, and the audio reproducing apparatus further includes two storage areas each used to store the sub-program, and Load means for alternately writing to the two storage areas, wherein the decoding means decodes the encoded audio data and decodes the audio by alternately using the subprograms written to the two storage areas. You may comprise so that it may output.

Here, the portable memory unit previously stores a unique subprogram in place of the program, and the audio reproducing apparatus further comprises one ROM storage unit and one RAM storage unit. And loading means,
The ROM storage units each include a read-only semiconductor memory and store a common subprogram in advance. The common subprogram and the unique subprogram form one program, and the program is ,
The one RAM storage unit is used for decoding encoded audio data, and the one RAM storage unit is configured by a readable and writable semiconductor memory, and has an area for storing the unique subprogram. The unique subprogram is read from the portable memory unit, written in the RAM storage unit, and the decoding unit uses a common subprogram and a unique subprogram written in the ROM storage unit and the RAM storage unit, respectively. You may be comprised so that encoded audio data may be decoded and audio may be output.

Here, the portable memory unit further comprises:
A program used to detect an encoding type of encoded audio data, wherein the program stores an alternative detection module used in place of the detection module stored in the audio reproduction device, The detection module is transmitted from the distribution server device to the acquisition device, is recorded by the acquisition device, and the audio reproduction device further includes:
Loading means for reading the replacement detection module from the portable memory unit and writing the read replacement detection module to the storage area, wherein the decoding means,
Instead of the detection module, the encoding type of the encoded audio data may be detected by using the alternative detection module.

The present invention also relates to an audio reproducing apparatus for decoding encoded audio data and outputting audio in a distribution system comprising a distribution server device, an acquiring device, and an audio reproducing device, wherein the distribution server The apparatus transmits a program for decoding encoded audio data to the acquisition apparatus via a network. The audio reproduction apparatus is connected to the acquisition apparatus, and the acquisition apparatus includes the program in the audio reproduction apparatus. Write to the program storage means,
The audio reproducing apparatus includes the program storage unit, the module storage unit, the decoding unit, and the audio output unit. The program storage unit stores one or more types of programs, and each program has a different encoding type. The module storage means stores a detection module in advance, and the detection module is a program used to detect an encoding type of the encoded audio data. The means uses the detection module to detect an encoding type of the encoded audio data, reads a program for decoding encoded audio data of the detected encoding type from the program storage unit, and uses the read program. Decoding the encoded audio data to generate audio data, and Characterized in that it converts the voice data to voice.

[0026] The present invention is also a distribution server device for transmitting a program for decoding encoded audio data to an acquisition device via a network, the program including a program for decoding encoded audio data and a program associated with the program. Storage means for storing in advance permission information indicating permission to use the program, reading means for reading the program and the permission information, and transmitting the program and the permission information to the acquisition device via a network. Transmitting means for transmitting.

[0027] The present invention is also an acquisition device for acquiring a program for decoding encoded audio data from a distribution server device, wherein the program and the use of the program are transmitted from the distribution server device connected via a network. It is characterized by comprising receiving means for receiving permission information indicating permission, and writing means for writing the received program and permission information indicating permission to use the program in a portable memory unit.

Further, the present invention relates to a portable memory medium, which stores an unauthenticated storage area storing a program for decoding encoded audio data, an access device for accessing the portable memory medium, When mutual device authentication with the portable memory medium is successful, access to the area is permitted to the access device, and permission information indicating permission to use the program is stored in association with the program. And an authentication storage area.

Here, the non-authentication storage area further includes:
You may comprise so that the detection module used for detecting the encoding type of encoded audio data may be memorize | stored.

[0030]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A distribution system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. Distribution system 1
As shown in FIG. 1, the system comprises a distribution server device 10, a billing device 20, an acquisition device for traders 30, an acquisition device for general use 40, a memory card 50, an audio player 60, and headphones 70.

[0038] The distribution server device 10, the billing device 20, and the business acquisition device 30 are connected to the Internet 80. The general-purpose acquisition device 40 is connected to the Internet 80 via a mobile phone network 81. The distribution server device 10 has a distributor for distributing the program, and stores a program for decoding the encoded audio data via the Internet 80 into the acquisition device 30 for the vendor.
To the general-purpose acquisition device 40 via the Internet 80 and the mobile phone network 81.

The acquisition device 30 for a trader is provided by a provider that provides a program to a terminal user, and the user brings the memory card 50 to the provider. Acquisition device 30 for traders
Is equipped with a memory card 50,
No. 0 receives the program from the distribution server device 10 via the Internet 80 and writes the received program to the memory card 50. The user pays the provider when the acquisition device for vendor 30 writes the program into the memory card 50.

The general-purpose acquisition device 40 is a mobile phone owned by the user. A memory card 50 is mounted on the general-purpose acquisition device 40. The general-purpose acquisition device 40 receives the program from the distribution server device 10 via the mobile phone network 81 and the Internet 80, and stores the received program in a memory card. Write to 50. General acquisition device 4
When 0 writes the program into the memory card 50, the user uses the general-purpose acquisition device 40 to perform a payment process as a compensation payment to the charging device 20 via the mobile phone network 81 and the Internet 80.

The user has the audio player 60, and the user mounts the memory card 50 on which the program is written into the audio player 60. The audio player 60 reads the program from the memory card 50, decodes the encoded music data using the read program, and outputs the decoded music data to the headphones 70 as an audio signal.

Thus, the user can play and enjoy music. 1. Configuration of Distribution Server Device 10 The distribution server device 10 includes, as shown in FIG.
01, control unit 102, information storage unit 103, display unit 104
And an input unit 105. Distribution server device 10
Specifically, a microprocessor, ROM, RA
M, hard disk unit, display unit,
This is a computer system including a keyboard, a mouse, a communication unit, and the like. A computer program is stored in the RAM or the hard disk unit. The distribution server device 10 achieves its functions by the microprocessor operating according to the computer program.

(1) Information Storage Unit 103 The information storage unit 103 is specifically composed of a hard disk unit, etc.
1. Customer information table 112 and detection program 113
I remember. (Encoding program table 111) The encoding program table 111 includes, as shown in FIG. 3, an encoding method number, an encoding method name, an authentication code, an encoding method program, a provision category, right setting availability information, a fee, and a maintenance. It is a data table having a plurality of program information including information presence / absence and maintenance information. Each piece of program information corresponds to each encoding program on a one-to-one basis.

The encoding system number is an identification number for uniquely identifying an encoding system program. The encoding method name is a name for identifying the encoding method program. The encoding method program is a computer program including a plurality of decoding instructions for decoding encoded audio data in which audio information such as music is encoded according to a specific standard.

The provision category is a category indicating whether the coding system program is provided to the user free of charge or provided for a fee. It consists of “paid” or “free”. The right setting availability information includes validity period setting information and use count setting information. The validity period setting information indicates whether or not a period during which the encoding system program can be used can be set when the provision category is “paid”. If "Yes", it indicates that the available period can be set, and "No"
Indicates that the available period cannot be set.
Further, the validity period setting information indicates a period during which the coding scheme program can be used free of charge when the provision category is “free of charge”.

In the usage count setting information, the provision category is “paid”.
Indicates whether the number of times the coding scheme program is used can be limited. When "permitted", it indicates that the restriction can be performed, and when "impossible", it indicates that the restriction cannot be performed. Further, the usage count setting information indicates the number of times the coding scheme program can be used free of charge when the provision category is “free”.

The fee indicates the price required of the user as a price for providing the coding system program when the provision category is “paid”. As shown as an example in this figure, the fee includes a fee per unit period, a fee per unit number, a fee independent of the period and the number of times, and the like. The presence / absence of maintenance information indicates whether or not maintenance information such as correction exists for the encoding system program. "Yes"
Indicates that maintenance information exists, and "No"
Indicates that no maintenance information exists.

The maintenance information is a correction program for correcting the coding system program. (Encoding scheme program) An example of the encoding scheme program is shown in FIG. The encoding system program 80 shown in FIG.
0 is composed of a subprogram 801 “A” and a subprogram 811 “B”.

The encoding system program 800 is, for example, a program for decoding audio information encoded by MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer 3). The subprogram 801 “A” is a program for decoding the Huffman code.
11 “B” stands for MDCT (modified disc)
Rete Cosine Transformatio
This is a program for performing the inverse conversion of n). In addition, about MP3, Huffman code, MDCT, etc.,
Description is omitted because it is publicly known.

For one coded audio block, subprogram 801 “A” and subprogram 811
By executing “B” in this order, the encoded audio block is decoded. Subprogram 801
"A" indicates that a plurality of decryption instructions 80
2, a load instruction 803, a plurality of decode instructions 804, and an end instruction 805. Here, the plurality of decoding instructions 802 and the plurality of decoding instructions 804 are programs for decoding Huffman codes. The B load instruction 803 is an instruction command for reading the subprogram 811 “B” into the memory area. B load instruction 803
Is located at a specific position in the subprogram 801 “A”. Here, the specific position is, for example, a position 50 microseconds before the end of the execution of the subprogram. By arranging the load instruction at this position, the end of the load and the end of the subprogram become almost simultaneously. The value of 50 microseconds is determined by actual measurement. The end instruction 805 is a subprogram 80
1 is an instruction indicating the end of “A”. Subprogram 80
Each instruction constituting 1 "A" is executed in the order described in the subprogram.

The subprogram 811 “B” is similar to the subprogram 801 “A”, and includes a plurality of decryption instructions 81.
2, a load instruction 813 for A, a plurality of decode instructions 814, and an end instruction 815. Here, the plurality of decoding instructions 812 and the plurality of decoding instructions 814 are programs for executing the inverse transform of MDCT. A load instruction 813 is an instruction instruction for reading the subprogram 801 “A” into the memory area. A load instruction 8
13 is arranged at the specific position in the subprogram 811 “B”. The end instruction 815 is an instruction indicating the end of the subprogram 811 “B”. Each instruction constituting subprogram 811 "B" is executed in the order described in the subprogram.

(Customer Information Table 112) As shown as an example in FIG.
D, a data table including a plurality of customer information including a provider ID, a right information ID, and usage right details. The user ID is an identifier for uniquely identifying the user.

The rights information ID is an identifier for identifying details of a plurality of rights provided to the user. The provider ID is an identifier for uniquely identifying the provider. The usage right details indicate the details of the right provided to the user. The rights details include a plurality of rights information including an encoding method number, a valid period, and the number of times of use, as shown as an example in FIG. The encoding system number is an identifier for identifying the encoding system program as described above,
The validity period indicates a period during which the coding system program indicated by the coding system number can be used, and the number of times of use indicates the number of times the coding system program indicated by the coding system number can be used.

(Detection Program 113) The detection program 113 detects the encoding type of the encoded audio information designated to be reproduced by the user, and thereby detects the encoding used in generating the encoded audio information. This is a program for specifying the type of the system program. The detection program 113 is a codec type of the same system, for example,
When determining the type of the encoding scheme program in the MPEG audio system, information recorded in the header section in the encoded audio information is used as described below. Also, codec types of different systems, for example, AC3 and MPE
When determining a G audio system, a sync (Syn)
c) Use a pattern.

At a specific position of the encoded audio information, information for specifying an encoding system program used for encoding the encoded audio information is stored. FIG. 6 shows an example of a header section constituting the encoded audio information. As shown in this figure, an ID, a layer, a protection bit, and the like are stored in the header from the beginning. For example, if the first bit is “1” and the second and third bits are “01”, it indicates an MPEG-1 / Audio layer 3.

As described above, since different contents are recorded in the header section depending on each encoding scheme program, the type of the encoding scheme program can be specified using the header section. The detection program 113 determines the content of the information stored in the header part, and specifies the coding scheme program. An example of the encoding method program will be described later.

(2) Control Unit 102 (Transmission of Encoding Program to Trader Acquisition Device 30) The control unit 102 transmits the encoding system number,
The usage period, the number of times of use, and the provider ID are received.

Upon receiving the encoding method number, the use period, the number of uses, and the provider ID, the control unit 102 generates a user ID for identifying the user. Next, the program information including the received encoding method number is extracted from the encoding program table 111, and the fee included in the extracted program information, the received usage period and the number of times of use are used, and the following calculation formula is used. Calculate the fee that requires the user to pay.

Payment requesting fee = charge included in extracted program information × received usage period (or received usage count) Next, the control unit 102 determines whether the received encoding method number is included in the extracted program information. Use right information including an authentication code to be received, a validity period equal to the received usage period, and a remaining usage count equal to the received usage count is generated.

Next, the control unit 102 transmits the calculated fee, the generated usage right information, and the generated user ID to the acquisition device for trader 30 via the transmission / reception unit 101 and the Internet 80. In addition, the control unit 102 controls the encoding method number, the encoding method name, the encoding method program, and the detection program 113 included in the extracted program information.
Via the transmitting / receiving unit 101 and the Internet 80,
It transmits to the acquisition device 30 for traders.

Next, the control unit 102 generates a right information ID for identifying the generated use right information, and generates the right information ID from the generated user ID, the received provider ID, the generated right information ID, and the generated use right information. Is written to the customer information table 112. (Transmission of the paid encoding program to the general-purpose acquisition device 40) The control unit 102 transmits the encoding method number, the usage period from the general-purpose acquisition device 40 via the mobile phone network 81, the Internet 80, and the transmission / reception unit 101. And the number of times of use.

Upon receiving the encoding method number, the usage period, and the number of times of use, the control unit 102 generates a user ID and calculates a fee in the same manner as described above. Next, the transmission / reception unit 101 and the Internet 8 transmit the generated user ID and fee.
0 and via the mobile phone network 81 to the general-purpose acquisition device 40. Further, the generated user ID and fee are transmitted to billing device 20 via transmitting / receiving section 101 and Internet 80.

The control unit 102 receives, via the Internet 80 and the transmission / reception unit 101, confirmation information indicating that a fee has been paid by the user from the charging device 20. When the confirmation information is received, the usage right information is generated in the same manner as described above, and the generated usage right information is transmitted to the transmission / reception unit 101,
The data is transmitted to the general-purpose acquisition device 40 via the Internet 80 and the mobile phone network 81.

Next, the control unit 102 executes
The encoding system number, the encoding system name, the encoding system program and the detection program are read, and the read encoding system number, encoding system name, encoding system program and the detection program are transmitted and received by the transmission / reception unit 101, the Internet 80, and the mobile phone. The data is transmitted to the general-purpose acquisition device 40 via the telephone network 81.

The control unit 102 generates and registers customer information in the same manner as described above. (Transmission of Free Encoding Program to General-purpose Acquisition Device 40) The control unit 102 receives an encoding method number from the general-purpose acquisition device 40 via the mobile phone network 81, the Internet 80, and the transmission / reception unit 101. . Upon receiving the encoding method number, the control unit 102 generates a user ID in the same manner as described above, generates use right information based on the setting propriety information included in the extracted program information, and generates the generated usage right. The transmitting / receiving unit 10 transmits the user ID and the generated usage right information.
1. Via the Internet 80 and the mobile phone network 81,
It is transmitted to the general-purpose acquisition device 40.

Next, the control unit 102 executes
The encoding system number, the encoding system name, the encoding system program and the detection program are read, and the read encoding system number, encoding system name, encoding system program and the detection program are transmitted and received by the transmission / reception unit 101, the Internet 80, and the mobile phone. The data is transmitted to the general-purpose acquisition device 40 via the telephone network 81.

(Transmission of Maintenance Information to General-purpose Acquisition Device 40) The control unit 102
Mobile phone network 81, Internet 80, and transmitting / receiving unit 10
1, the user ID and the right information ID are received.
Upon receiving the user ID and the right information ID, the control unit 10
2 determines whether the same user ID and right information ID exist in the customer information table 112, and if not, sends a message to that effect to the transmitting / receiving unit 101, the Internet 80, and the mobile phone network 81. Is transmitted to the general-purpose acquisition device 40 via the.

If there is, the control unit 102 extracts all the encoding system numbers included in the usage right information corresponding to the user ID and the right information ID in the customer information table 112. Next, program information having the same encoding scheme number as the extracted encoding scheme number is extracted from the encoding program table 111. Next, if the presence or absence of the maintenance information included in the extracted program information is “Yes”, the maintenance information included in the extracted program information is acquired for general use via the transmission / reception unit 101, the Internet 80, and the mobile phone network 81. Device 40
Send to

(3) Transmission / Reception Unit 101 The transmission / reception unit 101 performs transmission / reception of information between the control unit 102 and the billing device 20, the business acquisition device 30, and the general acquisition device 40. (4) Display Unit 104 and Input Unit 105 The display unit 104 and the input unit 105 are specifically composed of a display unit, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, for displaying information and operating by the administrator of the distribution server device 10. Accept.

2. As shown in FIG. 7, the acquisition device 30 for the trader includes a billing processing unit 301, a transmission / reception unit 302, an input / output unit 303, and an authentication unit 30.
4, a control unit 305, a display unit 306, an input unit 307, and an information storage unit 308. Acquisition device 30 for traders
Specifically, a microprocessor, ROM, RA
M, hard disk unit, display unit,
This is a computer system including a keyboard, a mouse, a communication unit, and the like. A computer program is stored in the RAM or the hard disk unit. When the microprocessor operates according to the computer program, the acquisition device for vendor 30 achieves its function.

(1) Information Storage Unit 308 The information storage unit 308 is specifically composed of a hard disk unit, and stores a customer information table 321 and a provider ID 322 as shown in FIG. The customer information table 321 has the same data configuration as the customer information table 112 stored in the information storage unit 103 of the distribution server device 10.

The provider ID 322 is the supplier acquisition device 3
This is an identifier for identifying a provider having 0. (2) Input Unit 307 The input unit 307 is specifically composed of a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. The administrator of the acquisition device 30 for the trader gives an encoding method number of an encoding program desired by the user, a use period. And the input of the number of times of use, and the control unit 305
Output to

(3) Control Unit 305 The control unit 305 controls the authentication unit 304 to mutually perform device authentication with the memory card 50. When the device authentication is successful, the control unit 305 operates as follows. The control unit 305 receives the coding method number, the use period, and the number of times of use from the input unit 307.

Upon receiving the coding method number, the use period, and the number of times of use, the control unit 305 reads the provider ID 322 from the information storage unit 308, and receives the received coding method number, the use period, the number of use times, The transmitting / receiving unit 302 and the Internet 80
To the distribution server device 10 via the Further, the control unit 305 receives a fee, usage right information, and a user ID from the distribution server device 10 via the Internet 80 and the transmission / reception unit 302. Further, it receives an encoding method number, an encoding method name, an encoding method program, and a detection program.

Upon receiving the fee, the usage right information, and the user ID, the control unit 305, based on the received fee,
Perform billing processing. Next, the control unit 305 controls the input / output unit 30
3, the usage right information is written into the usage right information table 522 in the secure area of the memory card 50. In addition, the control unit 305 receives, via the input / output unit 303,
The coding method number, coding method name and coding method program are written in the general area of the memory card 50.

The control unit 305 writes a detection program into the general area of the memory card 50 via the input / output unit 303. (4) Input / Output Unit 303 The input / output unit 303 writes information to the memory card 50 and reads information from the memory card 50.

(5) Authentication Unit 304 The authentication unit 304 performs a challenge-response type device authentication with the memory card 50 under the control of the control unit 305, and outputs the result to the control unit 305. (6) Billing Processing Unit 301 The billing processing unit 301 performs processing for receiving a fee from a user.

(7) Display Unit 306 The display unit 306 is specifically composed of a display unit or the like and displays information. (8) Transceiver 30
2 The transmission / reception unit 302 includes the control unit 305 and the distribution server device 1
The transmission and reception of information is carried out with respect to 0.

3. General-purpose acquisition device 40 The general-purpose acquisition device 40 includes, as shown in FIG.
02, input / output unit 403, authentication unit 404, control unit 405,
It comprises a display unit 406, an input unit 407, and an information storage unit 408. The general-purpose acquisition device 40 is, specifically, a portable mobile phone capable of performing mobile communication using a radio wave.
M, liquid crystal display unit, key operation unit, communication unit,
This is a computer system including a connection unit, an antenna, and the like. The RAM has communication, key operation,
A computer program for a mobile phone, such as a liquid crystal display and management of various data, is stored. The general acquisition device 40 achieves its functions by the microprocessor operating according to the mobile phone computer program.

(1) Input Unit 407 The input unit 407 is specifically composed of a key operation unit and the like. The input unit 407 receives, from the user of the general-purpose acquisition device 40, an input of an encoding scheme number, a use period, and the number of times of use of the encoded program desired by the user when acquiring a paid encoding program, The control unit 405 determines the encoding method number, the use period, and the number of times of use that have received the input.
Output to

The input unit 407 receives an input of an encoding system number of an encoding program desired by the user from a user of the general-purpose acquisition device 40 when acquiring a free encoding program. Is output to the control unit 405. Also, the input unit 407
When acquiring maintenance information, the general-purpose acquisition device 4
The control unit 405 receives an input of an instruction to acquire maintenance information from the user 0, and outputs the received instruction to the control unit 405.

(2) Control Unit 405 The control unit 405 controls the authentication unit 404 to mutually perform device authentication with the memory card 50. When the device authentication is successful, the control unit 405 operates as follows. (Receiving a paid encoding program) The control unit 405 receives the encoding method number, the use period, and the number of times of use from the input unit 407.

When receiving the coding method number, the use period and the number of times of use, the control unit 405 sends the received coding method number, the use period and the number of uses to the transmission / reception unit 4.
02 and the Internet 80 to the distribution server device 10. Further, the control unit 405 receives a fee and a user ID from the distribution server device 10 via the Internet 80 and the transmission / reception unit 402. When the fee and the user ID are received, payment information including the received fee and the user ID is generated. The payment information indicates that the fee is to be paid. The control unit 405 transmits the generated payment information to the charging device 20 via the transmission / reception unit 402, the mobile phone network 81, and the Internet 80.

Next, the control unit 405 controls the distribution server device 1
From 0, use right information is received via the Internet 80 and the transmission / reception unit 402. Also, the encoding method number,
It receives an encoding method name, an encoding method program, and a detection program. Next, the control unit 405
3, the usage right information is written into the usage right information table 522 in the secure area of the memory card 50.

The control unit 405 writes the coding method number, coding method name, and coding method program in the general area of the memory card 50 via the input / output unit 403. In addition, the control unit 405 outputs
The detection program is written in the general area of the memory card 50. (Reception of a free encoding program) The control unit 405 receives the encoding method number from the input unit 407.

When receiving the encoding method number, the control unit 40
5 indicates the received encoding system number as the transmission / reception unit 40
2 and the distribution server device 1 via the Internet 80
Send to 0. Further, the control unit 405 receives the usage right information and the user ID from the distribution server device 10 via the Internet 80 and the transmission / reception unit 402. Also,
It receives an encoding method number, an encoding method name, an encoding method program, and a detection program.

Next, the control unit 405 writes the usage right information in the usage right information table 522 in the secure area of the memory card 50 via the input / output unit 403. Further, the control unit 405 writes the coding method number, the coding method name, and the coding method program in the general area of the memory card 50 via the input / output unit 403. Further, the control unit 405 writes the detection program into the general area of the memory card 50 via the input / output unit 403.

(Reception of Maintenance Information) Control Unit 405
Receives an instruction to acquire maintenance information from the input unit 407. Upon receiving the instruction, the memory card 50
The user ID and the right information ID are read from the secure area of the user, and the read user ID and right information ID are
02 and the Internet 80 to the distribution server device 10.

The control unit 405 also controls the distribution server device 1
0 through the Internet 80, the mobile phone network 81 and the transmitting / receiving unit 402, the user ID and the rights information I
D receives an error message indicating that D is not registered in distribution server device 10, and outputs the received error message to display unit 406. The control unit 405 receives maintenance information from the distribution server device 10 via the Internet 80, the mobile phone network 81, and the transmission / reception unit 402, and records the maintenance information in the memory card 50 using the received maintenance information. Update the existing encoding program.

(3) Input / output unit 403 The input / output unit 403 writes information to the memory card 50 and reads information from the memory card 50. (4) Authentication Unit 404 The authentication unit 404 performs challenge-response type device authentication with the memory card 50 under the control of the control unit 405, and outputs the result to the control unit 405.

(5) Display Unit 406 The display unit 406 is specifically composed of a liquid crystal display unit or the like, receives an error message from the control unit 405, and displays the received error message. (6) Transmission / Reception Unit 402 The transmission / reception unit 402 includes the control unit 405 and the distribution server device 1
0 and the accounting device 20.

(7) Information Storage Unit 408 The information storage unit 408 stores various types of information. 4. Memory card 50 As shown in FIG.
1 and an authentication unit 502.

(1) Authentication Unit 502 The authentication unit 502 performs challenge-response type device authentication with the device in which the memory card 50 is mounted. (2) Memory Unit 501 As shown in FIG. 10, the memory unit 501 includes a secure area and a general area. The secure area is an area where access is permitted when device authentication by the authentication unit 502 is successful.

(Secure Area) The secure area is as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, an area for storing a user ID 521 and a usage right information table 522 is provided. User ID 5
Reference numeral 21 denotes an identifier for uniquely identifying a user. The use right information table 522 includes a right information ID and a plurality of use right information.

The right information ID is an identifier for uniquely identifying the plurality of use right information. The usage right information includes an encoding method number, an authentication code, a validity period, and a remaining usage count. Since these have been described above, description thereof will be omitted. (General Area) As shown in FIG. 10, the general area includes an area for storing an encoding method table 523, a music data table 524, and a detection program 525.

The coding method table 523 includes a plurality of sets each including a coding method number, a coding method name, and a coding method program. Since these have been described above, description thereof will be omitted. Music data table 524
Includes a plurality of sets of music names and encoded music data. The music name is a name for identifying music. The encoded music data is obtained by encoding music data, and includes a header section and a data section.

The detection program 525 is as described above. 5. Operation of Distribution Server Device 10, Acquisition Device for Trader 30, General Acquisition Device 40, and Billing Device 20 Operations of the distribution server device 10, acquisition device for trader 30, general acquisition device 40, and billing device 20 will be described.

(1) Operation of Acquiring Encoded Program by Acquisition Device 30 for Contractor The operation of acquiring an encoded program by acquisition device 30 for contractor will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The input unit 307 receives the encoding method number, the usage period, and the number of times of use (step S101), and the control unit 30
5 transmits the encoding method number, the usage period, the number of times of use, and the provider ID to the distribution server device 10 via the transmission / reception unit 302 and the Internet 80 (step S10).
2).

[0092] The control unit 102 receives a request from the acquisition device for trader 30 via the Internet 80 and the transmission / reception unit 101.
Encoding method number, usage period, number of uses, and provider ID
Is received (step S102). The control unit 102 generates a user ID for identifying the user (step S10).
3) calculating a charge (step S104), generating use right information, generating a right information ID for identifying the generated use right information (step S105), and calculating the calculated charge, use right information, right information ID, The user ID is transmitted to the vendor acquisition device 30 via the transmission / reception unit 101 and the Internet 80 (step S106). In addition, the control unit 102 reads out the encoding method number, the encoding method name, the encoding method program, and the detection program 113 included in the extracted program information (Step S109),
The data is transmitted to the acquisition device for trader 30 via the transmitting / receiving unit 101 and the Internet 80 (step S110).

Next, the control unit 102 transmits the generated user I
D, the customer information including the received provider ID, the generated right information ID, and the generated use right information is written into the customer information table 112 (step S112). Further, the control unit 305 receives the fee, the usage right information, the right information ID, and the user ID from the distribution server device 10 via the Internet 80 and the transmission / reception unit 302 (step S106). The control unit 305 performs a billing process based on the received fee (step S107). Next, the control unit 305 writes the usage right information in the usage right information table 522 in the secure area of the memory card 50 via the input / output unit 303 (step S108).

Further, the control unit 305 includes an encoding method number,
Receiving the encoding method name, the encoding method program and the detection program (step S110), the input / output unit 303
, The encoding method number, the encoding method name, and the encoding method program are written in the general area of the memory card 50, and the detection program is written in the general area of the memory card 50 (step S111).

(2) Operation of Acquiring a Charged Encoding Program by the General-purpose Acquisition Device 40 The operation of acquiring a paid encoding program by the general-purpose acquisition device 40 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The input unit 407 receives the encoding method number, the use period, and the number of uses (step S131), and the control unit 405 transmits the received encoding method number, the use period, and the number of uses to the transmitting / receiving unit 402 and the Internet 80. Is transmitted to the distribution server device 10 via the server (step S132).

The control unit 102 receives the coding method number, the use period, and the number of uses from the general acquisition device 40 via the mobile phone network 81, the Internet 80, and the transmission / reception unit 101 (step S132). Encoding method number,
Upon receiving the use period and the number of uses, the control unit 102
A user ID is generated (step S133), and a fee is calculated (step S134). Next, the generated user ID
And the fee are transmitted to the charging device 20 via the transmission / reception unit 101 and the Internet 80 (step S13).
5). Further, the generated user ID and fee are transmitted to the general-purpose acquisition device 40 via the transmission / reception unit 101, the Internet 80, and the mobile phone network 81 (step S13).
6).

Next, the control unit 405 operates the distribution server 1
0, the charge and the user ID are received via the Internet 80 and the transmission / reception unit 402 (step S13).
6). Upon receiving the fee and the user ID, the control unit 405
Generates payment information including the received fee and the user ID (step S137). Next, the control unit 405
The transmission / reception unit 402 and the mobile phone network 81 transmit the generated payment information.
Then, the data is transmitted to the charging device 20 via the Internet 80 (step S138).

Billing device 20 receives the payment information (step S138) and performs a billing process (step S13).
9) The confirmation information is transmitted to the distribution server device 10 via the Internet 80 (step S140). The control unit 102 receives confirmation information indicating that a fee has been paid by the user via the Internet 80 and the transmission / reception unit 101 (step S140). When the confirmation information is received, the usage right information is generated in the same manner as described above (step S141), and the generated usage right information is
1. Via the Internet 80 and the mobile phone network 81,
The data is transmitted to the general-purpose acquisition device 40 (step S142).

Next, the control unit 405 controls the distribution server device 1
From 0, use right information is received via the Internet 80 and the transmission / reception unit 402 (step S142). Next, the control unit 405 writes the usage right information into the usage right information table 522 in the secure area of the memory card 50 via the input / output unit 403 (step S14).
3).

Further, control unit 102 generates and registers customer information (step S144). Next, the control unit 102
Reads out the coding method number, coding method name, coding method program and detection program (step S14).
5) The transmitting / receiving unit 10 transmits the read encoding method number, encoding method name, encoding method program and detection program.
1. Via the Internet 80 and the mobile phone network 81,
The data is transmitted to the general-purpose acquisition device 40 (step S146).

The control unit 405 receives the coding method number, the coding method name, the coding method program and the detection program (step S146), and receives the coding method number, coding method name and Writing the encoding system program in the general area of the memory card 50,
Further, the detection program is written in the general area of the memory card 50 (step S147).

(3) Operation of Acquiring Free Encoding Program by General-purpose Acquisition Device 40 The operation of acquiring a free encoding program by the general-purpose acquisition device 40 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The input unit 407 receives the encoding method number (step S161), and the control unit 405 transmits the received encoding method number to the distribution server device 10 via the transmission / reception unit 402 and the Internet 80 (step S162). ).

The control unit 102 receives the coding system number from the general-purpose acquisition device 40 via the mobile phone network 81, the Internet 80, and the transmitting / receiving unit 101 (step S162). Upon receiving the encoding method number, the control unit 10
2 generates a user ID (step S163), generates use right information based on the setting propriety information included in the extracted program information (step S164), and generates the generated user ID and the generated use right information. Is transmitted to the general-purpose acquisition device 40 via the transmission / reception unit 101, the Internet 80, and the mobile phone network 81 (step S16).
5).

[0104] The control unit 405 receives a request from the distribution server device 10 via the Internet 80 and the transmission / reception unit 402.
Receive usage right information and user ID (step S1)
65). Next, the control unit 405 writes the usage right information in the usage right information table 522 in the secure area of the memory card 50 via the input / output unit 403 (step S166).

Next, the control unit 102 sets the encoding system number,
The encoding system name, the encoding system program and the detection program are read (step S167), and the read encoding system number, encoding system name, encoding system program and detection program are transmitted and received by the transmission / reception unit 101, the Internet 8
0 and transmitted to the general-purpose acquisition device 40 via the mobile phone network 81 (step S168).

Next, the control unit 405 determines the coding method number,
Receiving the encoding method name, the encoding method program and the detection program (step S168), the input / output unit 403
, The encoding system number, the encoding system name, and the encoding system program are written in the general area of the memory card 50, and the detection program is written in the general area of the memory card 50 (step S169).

(4) Operation of Acquiring Maintenance Information by General-purpose Acquisition Device The operation of acquiring maintenance information by the general-purpose acquisition device 40 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The input unit 407 receives an instruction to acquire maintenance information (Step S181), and the control unit 405
The user ID and the right information ID are read from the secure area of the memory card 50, and the read user ID and the right information ID are transmitted to the distribution server device 10 via the transmission / reception unit 402 and the Internet 80 (step S18).
2).

The control unit 102 receives the user ID and the right information ID from the general-purpose acquisition device 40 via the mobile phone network 81, the Internet 80, and the transmission / reception unit 101 (step S182). Next, the control unit 102 determines whether or not the same user ID and right information ID exist in the customer information table 112, and if they do not exist (step S183), a message to that effect is transmitted and received by the transmitting / receiving unit. 101, via the Internet 80 and the mobile phone network 81, to the general-purpose acquisition device 40 (step S18).
4).

Next, the control unit 405 operates the distribution server 1
0 through the Internet 80, the mobile phone network 81 and the transmitting / receiving unit 402, the user ID and the rights information I
An error message indicating that D is not registered in the distribution server device 10 is received (step S184), and the received error message is output to the display unit 406 (step S185).

If there is (step S183),
The control unit 102 extracts all the encoding system numbers included in the use right information corresponding to the user ID and the right information ID in the customer information table 112, and encodes the same encoding system as the extracted encoding system number. The program information having the number is extracted from the encoded program table 111 (step S186). If the presence or absence of the maintenance information included in the extracted program information is “Yes”, the transmission / reception unit transmits the maintenance information included in the extracted program information. 1
01, via the Internet 80 and the mobile phone network 81, to the general-purpose acquisition device 40 (step S18).
7).

Next, the control unit 405 controls the distribution server device 1
From 0, maintenance information is received via the Internet 80, the mobile phone network 81, and the transmission / reception unit 402 (step S187), and using the received maintenance information,
The encoding program recorded in the memory card 50 is updated (step S188). 6. Configuration of Audio Player 60 As shown in FIG. 15, the audio player 60 includes a detection procedure storage unit 601, an input / output unit 602, an authentication unit 603, an input unit 604, a detection unit 605, a determination unit 606, and a load unit 6.
07, display unit 608, procedure storage unit 609, decoding unit 610
And an audio output unit 611. Here, the decoding unit 610 and the procedure storage unit 609 are implemented as LSIs.

(1) Input Unit 604 The input unit 604 receives an instruction for displaying the encoding system from the user, and displays the received instruction for displaying the encoding system on the display unit 60.
8 is output. The input unit 604 receives an instruction to reproduce encoded audio data from the user and a designation of a music name indicating the encoded audio data to be reproduced, and sends the received instruction to reproduce and the music name to the detection unit 605. Output.

The input unit 604 receives an instruction to read a detection program from a user. When the instruction is received, the authentication unit 603 is controlled to perform device authentication with the memory card 50, and when the device authentication is successful, the input / output unit 602 reads the detection program from the memory card 50. To instruct. (2) Detection Procedure Storage Unit 601 The detection procedure storage unit 601 has an area for storing a detection program.

(3) Input / output unit 602 The input / output unit 602 includes the memory unit 501 of the memory card 50, the authentication unit 603, the input unit 604, and the detection unit 60.
5, the determination unit 606, the load unit 607, or the display unit 608
Sends and receives information to and from Also, the input / output unit 602
Receives an instruction to read the detection program from the input unit 604. When the instruction is received, the detection program 525 is read from the memory card 50, and the read detection program is written to the detection procedure storage unit 601.

(4) Authentication Unit 603 The authentication unit 603 receives an instruction to perform device authentication from each unit. Upon receiving the instruction, the authentication unit 603 performs device authentication as to whether the memory card 50 is a valid device. Here, the device authentication is performed using a challenge response type authentication procedure.

Next, when the device authentication fails,
Authentication failure information indicating that the device authentication has failed is output to the input / output unit 602. When the device authentication is successful, the device authentication by the memory card 50 is received. Here, when the device authentication using the memory card 50 fails, authentication failure information indicating that the device authentication has failed is output to the input / output unit 602. When the device authentication by the memory card 50 is successful, authentication success information indicating that the device authentication is successful is output to the input / output unit 602.

(5) Detecting Unit 605 The detecting unit 605 receives the reproduction instruction from the input unit 604,
And the designation of the music name. Next, the detection unit 605
Reads the header portion of the encoded music data indicated by the music name that has received the designation. Next, the detection unit 605
Reads the detection program stored in the detection procedure storage unit 601 and operates according to the read detection program to determine an encoding method based on the read header unit. Next, when an encoding method is determined, an encoding method number for identifying the encoding method is output. If the encoding method number cannot be determined, information indicating that fact is output to the display unit 608. When judging codec types of different systems,
A sync pattern is used.

Next, when the coding method number can be determined, the detecting section 605 outputs the determined coding method number to the judging section 606, and transfers the control to the judging section 606. (6) Judgment Unit 606 The judgment unit 606 operates as follows upon receiving control from the detection unit 605 and receiving the encoding method number.

[0119] The determination unit 606 searches the usage right information table 522 of the memory card 50 for the received encoding method number. The encoding method number is used right information table 5
If it does not exist, a message to that effect is output to the display unit 608, and the process ends. If the validity period and / or the remaining number is specified when the encoding method number exists in the usage right information table 522, whether the current date and time is within the validity period and / or the remaining number is greater than 0 And outputs the unusable information to the display unit 608 or sends a load instruction to the load unit 607 according to the determination result.
Output to

(7) Load Unit 607 The load unit 607 receives a load instruction from the determination unit 606. Upon receiving the load instruction, the subprogram A of the encoding scheme program indicated by the determined encoding scheme number is read from the encoding scheme table 523 of the memory card 50, and the read subprogram A is stored in the procedure storage unit. 609 is written.

The loading unit 607 receives a loading instruction of the subprogram A or B from the decoding unit 610. When receiving the instruction to load the subprogram A or B, the subprogram A or B is read from the encoding system table 523 of the memory card 50, and the read subprogram A or B is written to the procedure storage unit 609. (8) Display Unit 608 The display unit 608 receives an instruction to display the encoding method from the input unit 604.

Upon receiving the instruction for displaying the encoding method,
The display unit 608 displays the memory card 5 on the authentication unit 603.
Control is performed to perform device authentication between 0 and 0. Next, the display unit 608 receives authentication success information or authentication failure information from the authentication unit 603 via the input / output unit 602. Upon receiving the authentication success information, the display unit 608 displays the memory card 5
One encoding system number is read from the usage right information table 522 of 0. Next, the coding method name corresponding to the read coding method number is read from the coding method table 523 of the memory card 50, and the read coding method name is displayed. The display unit 608 repeats the above process for all the encoding system numbers stored in the usage right information table 522 of the memory card 50.

When receiving the authentication failure information, the display unit 608
Displays a message that authentication failed. The display unit 608 receives information indicating that the coding scheme number could not be determined from the detection unit 605, and displays a message to that effect. The display unit 608 receives a message indicating that the encoding method number does not exist in the usage right information table 522 from the determination unit 606, and displays the message.

(9) Procedure storage unit 609 The procedure storage unit 609 has an area for storing the subprogram A or B. (10) Decoding Unit 610 The decoding unit 610 has an instruction counter IC indicating the position where the instruction in the subprogram to be executed next is stored.

The decoding section 610 reads the instruction indicated by the instruction counter IC from the procedure storage section 609. If the read instruction is an end instruction, the decoding unit 610 sets a value of 0 to the instruction counter IC. If the read instruction is a decryption instruction, the decryption unit 610 performs decryption according to the decryption instruction. If audio data is obtained as a result of executing the decoding instruction, the obtained audio data is output to the audio output unit 611. When the data indicating the end of the music data is detected as a result of executing the decryption instruction, the processing is terminated.

If the read instruction is a load instruction,
The decoding unit 610 outputs a load instruction to load the subprogram A or B to the load unit 607. The decoding unit 610 adds 1 to the instruction counter IC every time one instruction is executed. (11) Audio Output Unit 611 The audio output unit 611 is specifically a speaker.

The audio output unit 611 receives audio data as an electric signal from the decoding unit 610, converts the received audio data into audio, and outputs the audio. 7. Operation of Audio Player 60 The operation of the audio player 60 will be described. (1) Operations of loading and executing subprograms Operations of loading and executing subprograms are shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the time chart shown in FIG.

The loading section 607 loads the subprogram A (step S201). When the loading of the subprogram A is completed, the decoding section 610 executes each instruction included in the subprogram A in order (step S202).
50 microseconds before the end of the subprogram A, the decoding unit 610 outputs the load instruction included in the subprogram A to the load unit 607, and the load unit executes the load instruction (Step S203). This load instruction loads the subprogram B.

When the execution of the sub-program A is completed, the decryption unit 610 executes the sub-program B (Step S204). Next, 5 minutes from the end of subprogram B
0 microseconds ago, the decoding unit 610 outputs the load instruction included in the subprogram B to the load unit 607, and the load unit executes the load instruction (Step S).
205). This load instruction loads the subprogram A.

Thus, the subprograms A and B
Are sequentially executed, and one block of encoded audio data is decoded. The decoding of the encoded audio data for one block is performed within 50 milliseconds. In a similar manner, the execution of the subprogram A, the loading of the subprogram B, the execution of the subB, and the loading of the subprogram A are repeated.

(2) Display Operation of Coding Method Display operation of the coding method will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The input unit 604 receives an instruction for displaying the encoding system from the user, outputs the received instruction for displaying the encoding system to the display unit 608, and outputs the received instruction to the display unit 608.
Receives an instruction to display the encoding method from the input unit 604 (step S220).

Next, the display unit 608 controls the authentication unit 603 to perform device authentication with the memory card 50, and the authentication unit 603 performs device authentication (step S).
221). Upon receiving the authentication failure information (step S22)
2) The display unit 608 displays a message indicating that the authentication has failed (step S223), and ends the processing.

When the authentication success information is received (step S2)
22) The display unit 608 reads one encoding method number from the usage right information table 522 of the memory card 50 (step S224). When the reading is completed (step S225), the display unit 608 ends the processing. I do.
If the reading is not completed (step S225),
The coding method name corresponding to the read coding method number is read from the coding method table 523 of the memory card 50 (step S226), the read coding method name is displayed (step S227), and the process returns to step S224. The above process is repeated.

(3) Operation of Reproducing Encoded Music Data The operation of reproducing encoded music data will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The input unit 604 receives an instruction to reproduce encoded audio data from the user and a designation of a music name indicating the encoded audio data to be reproduced (step S241), and the authentication unit 603 performs device authentication (step S242). ), If the device authentication fails (step S
243), the display unit 608 displays a message to that effect (step S244), and ends the process.

When the device authentication is successful (step S24)
3) The input unit 604 outputs the received reproduction instruction,
The music name is output to the detection unit 605, and the detection unit 605 receives the reproduction instruction and the designation of the music name from the input unit 604, and the detection unit 605 is indicated by the music name that has received the designation. Reading out the header part of the encoded music data (step S245) Next, the detecting unit 605 determines an encoding method (step S246).

If the encoding method has not been determined (step S247), the display unit 608 displays a message to that effect (step S251), and returns to step 241 to repeat the processing. When the coding method is determined (step S247), the determination unit 606 determines whether the coding method can be used (step S248). If the coding method cannot be used (step S249), the display unit 608
A message to that effect is displayed (step S251), and the process returns to step 241 to repeat the processing.

If usable (step S249),
Loading of the encoding system program and reproduction of the encoded audio data are performed (step S250), and the process returns to step S241 to repeat the processing. (4) Operation of Device Authentication The operation of device authentication will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Upon receiving an instruction to perform device authentication from each unit, the authentication unit 603 performs device authentication as described below. The authentication unit 603 performs device authentication as to whether the memory card 50 is a valid device (step S27).
1). If the device authentication fails (step S2
72), the authentication unit 603 outputs authentication failure information indicating that the device authentication has failed to the input / output unit 602 (Step S).
276), and the process ends.

If the device authentication is successful (step S272), the authentication unit 603 receives device authentication by the memory card 50 (step S273). If the device authentication by the memory card 50 has failed (step S274), the authentication unit 603 outputs authentication failure information indicating that the device authentication has failed to the input / output unit 602 (step S276). To end.

If the device authentication by the memory card 50 has succeeded (step S274), the authentication unit 603 sends authentication success information indicating that the device authentication has succeeded to the input / output unit 6.
02 (step S275), and the process ends. (5) Procedure for Determining Coding Method An operation showing a procedure for determining a coding method by the detection unit 605 will be described.

The detection section 605 reads the detection program stored in the detection procedure storage section 601 and operates according to the read detection program to determine an encoding method based on the read header section. An example of the detection program is shown in a flowchart shown in FIG. The detection program determines whether the third byte to the 10th byte of the header portion is "ABC" (step S291). If it is "ABC", the system number is set to 1 (step S292), and To end.

Next, the detection program executes the first
0 to 20 bytes correspond to “X001 Ver1.
It is determined whether or not “X” is “0” (step S293).
If “001 Ver1.0”, the system number is set to 2 (step S294), and the process ends. Next, the detection program determines whether or not the fifth to tenth bytes of the header part are “XYZ-” (Step S).
295), if it is "XYZ-", the system number is set to 3 (step S296), and the process ends.

Next, in other cases (step S295), the detection program outputs information indicating that the encoding method cannot be determined (step S297), and ends the processing. (6) Operation of Judgment of Availability of Coding Method The operation of the determination unit 606 of judging the availability of the coding method will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The determining unit 606 searches the usage right information table 522 of the memory card 50 for the received encoding method number (step S311). If the encoding method number does not exist in the usage right information table 522 (step S312), a message to that effect is displayed on the display unit 6.
08 (step S328), and the process ends.

If the coding method number exists in the usage right information table 522 (step S312), the validity period is specified (step S313), and if the remaining number of times is specified (step S319), It is determined whether or not the current date and time is within the validity period. If the current date and time is within the validity period (step S323), it is determined whether or not the remaining number is greater than zero.
When it is larger (step S324), the determination unit 606 determines
A load instruction is output (step S325), and the process ends.

When the remaining number is smaller than or equal to 0 (step S324), the judging unit 606 outputs information indicating that it cannot be used (step S326), and ends the processing. It is determined whether or not the current date and time is within the validity period. If the current date and time is not within the validity period (step S323), the determining unit 606 outputs information indicating that the current date and time is unusable (step S327) and ends the process.

If the remaining number is not specified (step S319), it is determined whether or not the current date and time is within the valid period.
If it is within the validity period (step S320), the determination unit 606
Outputs a load instruction (step S321), and ends the process. If not within the validity period (step S32
0), the judging unit 606 outputs information indicating that it is unusable (step S322), and ends the processing.

The validity period is not specified (step S
313) If the remaining number is not specified (step S)
314), the determination unit 606 outputs a load instruction (step S315), and ends the processing. If the remaining number is specified (step S314), it is determined whether the remaining number is larger than 0, and if it is larger than 0 (step S314).
316), the determination unit 606 outputs a load instruction (step S317), and ends the processing.

It is determined whether or not the remaining number is greater than zero.
If smaller or equal (step S31
6) The determining unit 606 outputs the information indicating that it cannot be used (step S318), and ends the processing. (7) Operation of the Load Unit 607 The operation of the load unit 607 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The load section 607 receives the load instruction from the determination section 606 (step S341), and encodes the subprogram A of the coding scheme program indicated by the determined coding scheme number into the memory card 50. It reads from the method table 523 and writes the read subprogram A to the procedure storage unit 609 (Step S
342).

Next, the loading section 607 receives a loading instruction of the subprogram A (or B) from the decoding section 610. Upon receiving the instruction to load the subprogram A (or B) (step S343), the subprogram A (or B) is read from the encoding system table 523 of the memory card 50, and the read subprogram A or B is stored in the procedure storage unit 609. (Step S344).

Next, the flow returns to step S343 to repeat the processing. (8) Operation of Decoding Unit 610 The operation of the decoding unit 610 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The decoding unit 610 reads the instruction indicated by the instruction counter IC from the procedure storage unit 609 (Step S361).

If the read instruction is an end instruction (step S362), the decoding section 610 sets the instruction counter IC
Is set to a value of 0 (step S368), step S368
361 and the process is repeated. Next, if the instruction is not an end instruction (step S362), and if the read instruction is a decryption instruction (step S363), the decryption unit 61
0 executes decoding in accordance with the decoding instruction (step S365). When the data indicating the end of the music data is detected as a result of executing the decryption command (step S366), the processing is terminated.

If the read instruction is a load instruction (step S363), decoding section 610 outputs the load instruction indicating that subprogram A or B is to be loaded to load section 607 (step S364). The decoding unit 610 adds 1 to the instruction counter IC each time one instruction is executed (step S367). next,
Returning to step S361, the process is repeated.

As described above, when the decoding unit 610 detects the end instruction in the subprogram, it sets the instruction counter to 0. Therefore, when the next instruction is read, the instruction arranged at the head of the subprogram is read. Can be read. 8. Modification (1) A modification of the distribution system 1 is described below.

The encoding system program is composed of an individual procedure program and a common procedure program. The individual procedure program is a program part unique to a plurality of various encoding scheme programs. For example, the procedure for decoding a compression code differs for each compression method. The common procedure program is a program part common to the plurality of encoding scheme programs. For example, data input / output processing and input / output processing to an external register are shared.

[0157] The distribution server device 10
The individual procedure program is stored in advance. The distribution server device 10 distributes the individual procedure program via the vendor acquisition device 30 or the general acquisition device, and the memory card 50 stores the individual procedure program.

The audio player 60 has a procedure storage unit 6
09, a procedure storage unit 609a shown in FIG. 24 is provided. The procedure storage unit 609a, as shown in FIG.
It comprises an individual procedure area 609b and a common procedure area 609c. The individual procedure area 609b is composed of a readable and writable semiconductor memory, and has an area for storing the individual procedure program.

The common procedure area 609c is composed of a semiconductor memory that can only be read, and stores the common procedure program in advance. The loading unit 607 reads the individual procedure program from the memory card 50 and writes the program into the individual procedure area 609b. The decoding unit 610 decodes the encoded music data by using the individual procedure program and the common procedure program stored in the individual procedure area 609b and the common procedure area 609c, respectively.

9. Modification (2) Another modification of the distribution system 1 is described below. (Encoding System Program) FIG. 25 shows another example of the encoding system program. The encoding system program 820 shown in this figure is composed of a subprogram 821 “A”, a subprogram 831 “B”, a subprogram 841 “C”, and a subprogram 851 “D”.

For one encoded voice block, subprogram 821 “A”, subprogram 831
By executing “B”, subprogram 841 “C” and subprogram 851 “D” in this order, the encoded audio block is decoded. Subprogram 8
21 "A", as shown in FIG.
22, a load instruction 823 for C and an end instruction 824. Here, the C load instruction 823 is an instruction instruction for reading the subprogram 841 “C” into the memory area. The end instruction 824 corresponds to the subprogram 8
21 is an instruction indicating the end of “A”. Subprogram 8
Each instruction constituting 21 "A" is executed in the order described in the subprogram.

The subprogram 831 “B”, like the subprogram 821 “A”, has a plurality of decryption instructions 832,
It is composed of a D load instruction 833 and an end instruction 834. The meaning of each instruction is the same as described above. The sub-program 841 “C” and the sub-program 851 “D” have the same configuration.

(Distribution Server Device 10, Trader Acquisition Device 3)
0, General-purpose acquisition device 40) The distribution server device 10 stores the above-mentioned coding scheme program and distributes it to the vendor-specific acquisition device 30 or the general-purpose acquisition device 40. The acquisition device for trader 30 or the acquisition device for general use 40 receives the coding scheme program and writes the received coding scheme program to the memory card 50.

(Audio Player 60) The audio player 60 has a procedure storage section 609d shown in FIG. Procedure storage unit 609
d, as shown in this figure, the X area 609e and the Y area 6
09f. X area 609e and Y area 6
09f is an area for storing the subprogram, which is composed of a readable and writable semiconductor memory.

When the judging section 606 judges that the use of the received encoding system number is permitted, it operates as shown in the flowchart of FIG. Judgment unit 6
06 outputs an instruction to load the subprogram A to the X area to the load unit 607, and the load unit 607 reads the subprogram A from the memory card 50 and writes it to the X area (step S501). Next, the determination unit 606 determines
An instruction to load the subprogram B into the Y area is output to the load unit 607.
Is read from the memory card 50 and written into the Y area (step S502). Next, the determination unit 606 outputs an instruction to set the flag F to 0 and an instruction to set the instruction counter IC to 0 to the decoding unit 610 (step S50).
3) Then, the decoding unit 504 is activated (step S50).
4).

The decoding section 610 has an extended instruction counter EIC as shown in FIG. Extended instruction counter EI
C indicates the position where the next instruction to be executed is stored on the procedure storage unit 609d. Extended instruction counter E
The IC has a 1-bit flag F, a 7-bit fixed part,
It is composed of an 8-bit instruction counter IC. Flag F
Takes a value of 0 or 1, where 0 indicates an X area and 1 indicates a Y area. The fixed unit stores 7-bit “00000000” (binary number). The instruction counter IC is an instruction counter that indicates an instruction storage position in the X area or the Y area.

The operation of decoding section 610 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The decoding unit 610
The flag F is set to 0, and the instruction counter IC is set to 0 (step S520). The decoding unit 610 reads the instruction indicated by the extension instruction counter EIC from the procedure storage unit 609 (Step S521).

If the read instruction is an end instruction (step S522), the decoding section 610 sets the instruction counter IC
Is set to 0 (step S528), the bit of the flag F is inverted (step S529), and the process returns to step S521 to repeat the processing. Next, if the instruction is not an end instruction (step S522), and if the read instruction is a decryption instruction (step S523), the decryption unit 610 performs decryption according to the decryption instruction (step S52).
5). When the data indicating the end of the music data is detected as a result of the execution of the decryption command (step S526), the processing is terminated.

If the read instruction is a load instruction (step S523), decoding section 610 outputs a load instruction to load the subprogram to the area indicated by flag F to load section 607 (step S5).
24). Each time the decoding unit 610 executes one instruction,
The value of 1 is added to the instruction counter IC (step S52)
7). Next, the process returns to step S521 to repeat the processing.

As described above, when the decoding unit 610 detects the end instruction in the subprogram, the flag F is bit-inverted, so that the area from which the next instruction is read can be changed. For example, during decoding by an instruction stored in the X area, when the decoding unit 610 detects an end instruction in the subprogram, the flag F is bit-inverted and the flag F
Indicates the Y area, and the decoding unit 610 reads the instruction stored in the Y area in the next instruction reading step. Thus, each time the end instruction in the subprogram is detected, the X area and the Y area can be alternately switched.

Next, the operation of loading and executing a subprogram by the loading unit 607 and the decoding unit 610 will be described.
This will be described with reference to the time chart shown in FIG. The loading unit 607 loads the subprogram A into the X area (Step S401), loads the subprogram B into the Y area (Step S402), and when the loading of the subprograms A and B is completed, the decoding unit 610 Program A
Are sequentially executed (step S40).
3).

When the execution of the subprogram A by the decoding unit 610 is completed, the loading unit 607 loads the subprogram C into the X area (step S405), and at the same time, the decoding unit 610 Are sequentially executed (step S404). When the execution of the subprogram B by the decoding unit 610 is completed, the loading unit 607 loads the subprogram D into the Y area (step S407), and at the same time, loads the subprogram D.
10 sequentially executes each instruction included in the subprogram C (step S406).

When the execution of the subprogram C by the decoding unit 610 is completed, the loading unit 607 loads the subprogram A into the X area (step S409). At the same time, the decoding unit 610 executes the subprogram D Are sequentially executed (step S408). Thus, the encoded music data for one block is decoded. In addition, decoding of encoded music data for one block is as follows.
This is done within 50 milliseconds.

10. Modification (3) Another modification of the distribution system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The audio player 60 stores a secret key in advance. The audio player 60 generates a public key from the secret key using a public key generation algorithm (step S601). Here, the public key generation algorithm is publicly known, and thus the description is omitted. Next, the audio player 60 writes the generated public key into the memory card 50 (Step S602).

The distribution server device 10 includes the general-purpose acquisition device 4
, The public key stored in the memory card 50 is obtained and stored. The distribution server device 10 stores an encryption key in advance. Next, using the encryption key, the distribution server device 10 performs an encryption algorithm E1 on the previously stored encoding scheme program to generate an encryption program (step S604). Next, using the public key, the encryption algorithm E2 is applied to the generated encryption program to generate a double encryption program (step S605). Next, the distribution server device 10 transmits the generated double-encrypted program via the general-purpose acquisition device 40 and writes the program into the memory card 50 (Step S
606), and transmit the encryption key to the memory card 50 via the general-purpose acquisition device 40 (step S60).
7).

Next, the audio player 60 applies the decryption algorithm D2 to the duplex program stored in the memory card 50 using the secret key to generate an encrypted program (step S608). Next, using the encryption key stored in the memory card 50,
Applying the decryption algorithm D1 to the generated encryption program to generate an encryption program (step S
609).

Next, the audio player 60 decodes the encoded music data by using the encoding program generated in this manner. Here, the decryption algorithm D1
Decrypts the encryption generated by the encryption algorithm E1. In addition, the decryption algorithm D2 decrypts the encrypted portion generated by the encryption algorithm E2. Since the encryption algorithm and the decryption algorithm are well known, the description will be omitted.

(11) Modification (4) In the above embodiment or modification, the encoding method program is composed of a plurality of sub-programs, and the audio player 60 executes these sub-programs alternately. The system program is composed of one program that cannot be divided, and the audio player 60 reads this one program,
It may be executed.

12. Summary of Audio Player 60 As described above, the audio player 60 is an audio playback device, and stores a plurality of sets of decoding procedures in order to restore compressed codes corresponding to a plurality of compression schemes to original signals. A procedure holding unit, a procedure storage unit for temporarily storing a specific decoding procedure among a plurality of sets of decoding procedures held in the decoding procedure holding unit, and a compression scheme of the input signal is detected. A detection load unit that selects a corresponding decoding procedure from the decoding procedure holding unit and loads the same into the procedure storage unit, and converts the input compressed code into an original signal according to the decoding procedure loaded into the procedure storage unit. And a decoding unit for returning, wherein the procedure storage unit and the decoding unit are formed on the same semiconductor chip.

Further, in order to return the compressed code corresponding to a plurality of compression schemes to the original signal, the audio reproducing apparatus holds a decoding procedure holding unit for storing a plurality of sets of decoding procedures, and holds the decoding procedure holding unit. A first procedure storage unit for temporarily storing a decoding procedure individually used for each compression scheme among a plurality of sets of decoding procedures, and a decoding procedure commonly used regardless of each compression scheme; A second procedure storage section for fixedly storing procedures, a compression scheme of the input signal is detected, and a decoding procedure corresponding to the detected compression scheme is selected from the decoding procedure holding section, and the first procedure storage section is stored. And a decoding unit that returns the input compressed code to the original signal in accordance with the decoding procedure stored in the first procedure storage unit and the second procedure storage unit. And the first and second procedure storage units and the And a part, characterized in that it is formed on the same semiconductor chip.

Further, the audio reproducing apparatus includes a decoding procedure holding unit for dividing a decoding procedure according to a predetermined rule and storing the same in order to return a compressed code corresponding to a predetermined compression scheme to an original signal; A procedure storage section for temporarily storing any of the divided decoding procedures stored in the section, a loading section for reading the divided decoding procedure from the decoding procedure holding section before decoding, and loading the procedure in the procedure storage section; A decoding unit for returning the input compressed code to the original signal in accordance with the divided decoding procedure held in the procedure storage unit, wherein the procedure storage unit and the decoding unit are formed on the same semiconductor chip. It is characterized by the following.

Further, in order to return a compressed code corresponding to a predetermined compression method to an original signal, the audio reproducing apparatus divides a decoding procedure according to a predetermined rule and stores the divided decoding procedure. A plurality of procedure storage units that temporarily and alternately store the divided decoding procedures stored in the unit, and when performing a plurality of divided decoding processes successively, perform a divided decoding procedure necessary for a new divided decoding process from the decoding procedure holding unit. A load unit for reading and loading a new divided decoding procedure into a procedure storage unit that is not used for the current divided decoding process; and a load unit that is input along the divided decoding procedure held in the procedure storage unit. A decoding unit for returning the compressed code to the original signal, wherein the plurality of procedure storage units and the decoding unit are formed on the same semiconductor chip.

Further, the procedure storage unit has a function of notifying the load unit that the next divisional decoding procedure is required at the time of a specific divisional decoding process. , The division decoding procedure is loaded in advance into the procedure storage unit that is not currently used. Further, the procedure storage unit has a function of detecting that each of the divided decoding procedures comes in a predetermined order, and notifying the loading unit that the next divided decoding procedure is necessary. Is characterized in that, in accordance with the notification from the procedure storage unit, the divided decoding procedure is pre-loaded into the procedure storage unit that is not currently used.

Further, the notification from the procedure storage unit is output by detecting the input / output of a signal in each divisional decoding procedure. In this way, when compression codes corresponding to a plurality of compression schemes are input, only the decoding procedure of the compression scheme necessary at the time of decoding is loaded into the procedure storage means, thereby reducing the scale of the procedure storage means. Can be. Therefore, a decoder composed of an LSI can be realized by a small-scale circuit, and the cost of the LSI can be reduced.
Further, the decoding procedure holding means for storing the entire decoding procedure,
Since an inexpensive device provided outside the decoder can be used, a low-cost signal processing device is realized as a whole.

13. Other Modifications Although the present invention has been described based on the above embodiment, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The following cases are also included in the present invention. (1) The end of the use of the divided decoding procedure used for decoding may be detected, for example, in advance by detecting the capacity of the divided decoding procedure, and detecting which part of the total capacity the procedure is. Further, since data input / output is involved at the end of the divisional decoding procedure, the end of use of the procedure may be detected by detecting the data input / output timing.

(2) It is assumed that the memory card 50 stores a plurality of decoding procedure programs in a divided manner. However, the memory card 50 stores decoding procedure programs corresponding to a plurality of compression methods.
Further, the decryption procedure program may be divided for each function. (3) Instead of the memory card 50, a detachable circuit board on which a memory chip is mounted may be used. A portable memory unit such as the memory card 50 or the circuit board is used.

(4) In the above embodiment, the maintenance information is a modification program for modifying the coding system program, and the audio player 60
The maintenance information is received from the distribution server device 10 via the Internet 80, the mobile phone network 81, and the transmission / reception unit 402, and the encoded program recorded in the memory card 50 is updated using the received maintenance information. However, the following may be used.

The maintenance information is a new coding system program itself, and the audio player 60
It is assumed that the maintenance information is received from the distribution server device 10 via the Internet 80, the mobile phone network 81, and the transmission / reception unit 402, and the received maintenance information is used to replace the encoding program recorded in the memory card 50. Is also good.

(5) In the above embodiment, the audio player 60 stores a detection program in advance, and uses the detection program to encode the coded audio information designated to be reproduced by the user. , The type of the encoding scheme program used when generating the encoded audio information may be specified.

At this time, the detection program is as follows:
It may be stored in a non-rewritable ROM storage area. Further, the audio player 60 is connected to the Internet 80 and the mobile phone network 8 from the distribution server device 10.
1 and a new detection program via the transmission / reception unit 402, and the received detection program may be used in place of a previously stored detection program.

(6) In the above embodiment,
The audio player 60 acquires an encoding system program, a detection program, and other information from the acquisition device via the memory card 50. The audio player 60 includes a storage area similar to that of the memory card 50 therein. The audio player 60 is connected to the acquisition device 30 for the trader or the acquisition device 40 for the general use. The acquisition device 30 for the trader or the acquisition device 40 for the general use transmits an encoding system program, a detection program, and other information to the audio player 60. May be written in the storage area.

(7) The present invention may be the method described above. Further, these methods may be a computer program that is realized by a computer, or may be a digital signal formed by the computer program. Further, the present invention provides a computer-readable recording medium for the computer program or the digital signal, for example, a flexible disk,
Hard disk, CD-ROM, MO, DVD, DVD
-It may be recorded on a ROM, DVD-RAM, semiconductor memory, or the like. Further, the present invention may be the computer program or the digital signal recorded on these recording media.

In the present invention, the computer program or the digital signal may be transmitted via an electric communication line, a wireless or wired communication line, a network represented by the Internet, or the like. The present invention may also be a computer system including a microprocessor and a memory, wherein the memory stores the computer program, and the microprocessor operates according to the computer program.

Further, by recording the program or the digital signal on the recording medium and transferring it, or by transferring the program or the digital signal via the network or the like, an independent computer system is provided. May be implemented. (8) The above embodiments and the above modifications may be combined.

[0195]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
A distribution system that distributes a program for decoding encoded audio data, a distribution server device that transmits a program for decoding encoded audio data, a portable memory unit including an area for storing one or more types of programs, An acquisition device connected to the distribution server device via a network, equipped with the portable memory unit, acquiring the program and recording the program in the portable memory unit, and the portable memory unit in which the program is recorded And an audio playback device that decodes encoded audio data and outputs audio using the program recorded in the portable memory unit.

According to this configuration, the user can acquire only the necessary decoding program and use it by the audio reproducing device. Therefore, the audio reproducing device does not need to store the decoding program unnecessary for the user. Thus, it is possible to provide a sound reproducing apparatus at an appropriate cost in response to various needs of the user. Here, the portable memory unit includes:
More than one type of programs are stored, each program decodes encoded audio data of a different encoding type, and the audio reproduction device further stores a detection module in advance, and the detection module A program used to detect an encoding type of encoded audio data, wherein the audio reproducing device detects an encoding type of the encoded audio data using the detection module, and detects the detected encoding type. A program for decoding encoded audio data of the portable memory unit,
The encoded audio data is decoded using the read program.

According to this configuration, the sound reproducing device detects the type of the program by the detection module.
Encoded audio data encoded using different types of encoding schemes can be correctly decoded. Here, the distribution server device further transmits permission information indicating permission to use the program in association with the program,
The acquisition device further acquires the permission information in association with the program, records the permission information in the portable memory unit,
Only when the permission information is recorded in the portable memory unit, the sound reproduction device decodes encoded sound data and outputs sound by using the program associated with the permission information. .

According to this configuration, the audio reproducing apparatus uses the program only when the permission information is recorded, so that the program can be prevented from being used improperly. Here, the distribution system further distributes maintenance information for updating the program, the acquisition device further reads the user identifier from the portable memory unit, and distributes the user identifier. Transmitted to a server device, the distribution server device further stores the maintenance information associated with the program in advance, receives the user identifier, and stores the received user identifier. Judge whether the user identifier matches,
When it is determined that they match, the maintenance information is transmitted to the acquisition device, the acquisition device receives the maintenance information, and is stored in the portable memory unit using the received maintenance information. Update the program.

According to this configuration, since the maintenance information is transmitted to the registered users, various services can be provided to the users. Here, the distribution server device is a program used for detecting an encoding type of encoded audio data, and is used in place of a detection module stored in the audio reproducing device. Send detection module,
The acquisition device further acquires the replacement detection module and records the replacement detection module in the portable memory unit, and the audio playback device further acquires the replacement detection module from the portable memory unit and performs the detection. Instead of a module,
The substitute detection module is used to detect the type of the encoded audio data.

According to this configuration, the audio reproducing apparatus detects the type of the program by the received detection module. Therefore, even when a new encoding system is developed and provided, the audio reproduction apparatus updates the detection module. A new decryption program can be detected. Further, the present invention is a sound reproduction device that decodes encoded sound data and outputs sound in a distribution system including a distribution server device, an acquisition device, and a sound reproduction device, wherein the distribution server device includes: A portable memory unit that transmits a program for decoding encoded audio data to the acquisition device via a network is attached to the acquisition device, and the acquisition device writes the program in the portable memory unit, The portable memory unit in which the program is written is mounted on the audio playback device, and the audio playback device reads out a program recorded in the portable memory unit, and encodes the program using the program. Decoding means for decoding audio data to generate audio data;
Voice output means for converting voice data into voice and outputting the voice.

According to this configuration, since the user decodes the encoded audio data using the program obtained from the distribution server device, it is possible to provide an audio reproducing device at an appropriate cost. Here, the program is composed of a plurality of sub-programs, and the audio reproducing device further includes one storage area used for storing the sub-programs, and the sub-programs are sequentially stored in the storage area. Loading means for writing to an area, wherein the decoding means decodes the encoded audio data using a subprogram written to the storage area and outputs audio. Further, the program is composed of a plurality of sub-programs, and the audio reproducing device further comprises two storage areas each used for storing the sub-program, Loading means for writing to the two storage areas, wherein the decoding means decodes the encoded audio data and outputs audio by alternately using the subprograms written to the two storage areas.

According to this configuration, there is an effect that a program for decoding can be executed even in an audio reproducing apparatus having a memory area with a small capacity. Thus, the circuit size of the audio reproducing apparatus can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced. Here, the portable memory unit previously stores a unique subprogram in place of the program,
The audio reproducing device further includes one ROM storage unit,
RAM storage unit and loading means, and the one R
The OM storage unit is configured from a semiconductor memory that can be read only, and stores a common subprogram in advance. The common subprogram and the unique subprogram are:
One program, wherein the program is used to decode encoded audio data, and the one RA
The M storage unit is composed of a readable and writable semiconductor memory and has an area for storing the unique subprogram. The loading unit reads the unique subprogram from the portable memory unit, and stores the unique subprogram in the RAM storage. And decoding the encoded audio data using the common subprogram and the unique subprogram written in the ROM storage unit and the RAM storage unit, respectively, and outputs audio.

According to this configuration, the common subprogram is stored in the ROM area in advance, the unique subprogram is acquired in the RAM area as necessary, and the subprogram is decoded using each subprogram stored in these areas. In addition, the data amount of the program acquired from the outside can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a distribution system 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a distribution server device 10.

FIG. 3 shows a data structure of an encoding program table 111.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an encoding system program.

FIG. 5 shows a data structure of a customer information table 112.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a header section constituting encoded audio information.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a vendor acquisition device 30.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a general-purpose acquisition device 40;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a memory card 50.

FIG. 10 shows an example of information recorded in a memory unit 501 of the memory card 50.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation of acquiring an encoding program by the vendor acquisition device 30;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation of acquiring a paid encoding program by the general-purpose acquisition device 40;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation of acquiring a free coding program by the general acquisition device 40;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an operation of acquiring maintenance information by the general acquisition device 40;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an audio player 60.

FIG. 16 is a time chart showing the operation of loading and executing a subprogram.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of displaying an encoding method.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an operation of reproducing encoded music data.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of device authentication.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a detection program.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the operation of the judging unit 606 for judging whether or not the encoding system can be used.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the operation of the loading unit 607.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the operation of the decoding unit 610.

FIG. 24 shows a configuration of a procedure storage unit 609a as a modification.

FIG. 25 shows another example of an encoding system program as a modification.

FIG. 26 shows a configuration of a procedure storage unit 609d as a modification.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a determination unit 606 as a modification.

FIG. 28 shows a structure of an extended instruction counter EIC provided in a decoding unit 610 as a modification.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing an operation of the decoding unit 610 as a modification.

FIG. 30 shows a loading unit 607 and a decoding unit 6 as a modification.
10 is a time chart showing an operation of loading and executing a subprogram according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 31 shows another modification of the distribution system 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Distribution system 10 Distribution server device 20 Billing device 30 Acquisition device for traders 40 Acquisition device for general use 50 Memory card 60 Audio player 70 Headphones 80 Internet 81 Cellular phone network 101 Transmission / reception section 102 Control section 103 Information storage section 104 Display section 105 Input section 301 Billing processing unit 302 Transmission / reception unit 303 Input / output unit 304 Authentication unit 305 Control unit 306 Display unit 307 Input unit 308 Information storage unit 402 Transmission / reception unit 403 Input / output unit 404 Authentication unit 405 Control unit 406 Display unit 407 Input unit 408 Information storage unit Reference numeral 501 memory unit 502 authentication unit 504 decryption unit 601 detection procedure storage unit 602 input / output unit 603 authentication unit 604 input unit 605 detection unit 606 determination unit 607 load unit 608 display unit 609 procedure storage unit 609a procedure storage Unit 609b individual procedure area 609c common procedure area 609d procedure storage unit 610 decoding unit 611 audio output unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification FI FI Theme Court ゛ (Reference) G10K 15/02 G10L 9/18 JM (72) Inventor Masahiro Sueyoshi 1006 Odakadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Within Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kosuke Nishio 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takeshi Fujita 1006 Oji Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Pref. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Invention Person Akihisa Kawamura 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazunori Abe 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Kadoma-shi Osaka Pref. HA08 5D045 DA20 DB10

Claims (35)

[Claims] 1. A delivery system for delivering a program for decoding encoded audio data, comprising: a delivery server device for transmitting a program for decoding encoded audio data; and an area for storing one or more types of programs. A portable memory unit, connected to the distribution server device via a network,
An acquisition device to which the portable memory unit is attached, to acquire the program and to record the program in the portable memory unit; and to attach the portable memory unit in which the program is recorded, And a sound reproduction device for decoding encoded sound data and outputting sound by using the program. 2. The portable memory unit stores one or more types of programs, each program decodes encoded audio data of a different encoding type, and the audio reproducing device further detects Module, the detection module is a program used to detect the encoding type of the encoded audio data, the audio playback device, using the detection module, the encoded audio data And reading a program for decoding the encoded audio data of the detected encoding type from the portable memory unit, and decoding the encoded audio data using the read program. The distribution system according to claim 1. 3. The distribution server device further transmits permission information indicating permission to use the program in association with the program, and the acquisition device further acquires the permission information in association with the program. Then, the audio reproduction device records the permission information only when the permission information is recorded in the portable memory unit, using the program associated with the permission information. The distribution system according to claim 2, wherein the distribution system decodes the converted audio data and outputs the audio. 4. The distribution server device further transmits condition information indicating a condition for using the program in association with the program, and the acquiring device further associates the condition with the program. Acquiring the information and recording the acquired information in the portable memory unit; and the audio playback device further uses the program associated with the condition information based on the condition information recorded in the portable memory unit. 4. The distribution system according to claim 3, wherein when the determination is made as to whether or not the content is usable, the program is used to decode the encoded voice data and output the voice. 5. 5. The condition information is period information for limiting a period during which the program can be used, the distribution server device transmits the period information as the condition information, and the acquisition device includes the condition information. Recording the period information in the portable memory unit, and if the current date and time is within the range of the period information as the condition information, the sound reproducing device determines that the program is usable. The distribution system according to claim 4, wherein: 6. The condition information is count information indicating a remaining number of times that the program can be used, the distribution server device transmits the count information as the condition information, and the acquisition device includes: The number information is recorded in the portable memory unit as information, and the audio reproducing apparatus subtracts 1 from the number information every time the encoded audio data is decoded and outputs audio, and the reduced number information is subtracted. 5. The distribution system according to claim 4, wherein if the value is 1 or more, it is determined that the program is usable. 7. The distribution server device further generates a user identifier for identifying a user of the audio reproduction device,
The generated user identifier is stored, and the generated user identifier is transmitted to the acquisition device. The acquisition device further acquires the user identifier and records the acquired user identifier in the portable memory unit. The distribution system according to claim 3. 8. The distribution system further distributes maintenance information for updating the program, the acquisition device further reads the user identifier from the portable memory unit, and reads the user identifier. Transmitting to the distribution server device, the distribution server device further stores in advance the maintenance information associated with the program, receives the user identifier, and stores the received user identifier It is determined whether or not the user identifier matches, and when it is determined that they match, the maintenance information is transmitted to the acquisition device, and the acquisition device receives the maintenance information. Updating the program stored in the portable memory unit using the received maintenance information. Distribution system according to claim 7,. 9. The distribution server device further generates a permission information identifier for identifying the permission information, stores the generated permission information identifier, transmits the generated permission information identifier to the acquisition device, The distribution system according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus further acquires the permission information identifier and records the permission information identifier in the portable memory unit. 10. The acquisition device further reads the permission information identifier from the portable memory unit, transmits the permission information identifier to the distribution server device, the distribution server device further includes the permission information identifier And determines whether or not the received permission information identifier and the stored permission information identifier match, and transmits the maintenance information to the acquisition device when determining that they match. The distribution system according to claim 9, wherein: 11. The distribution system further includes a charging server device, wherein the obtaining device is further connected to the charging server device via a network, and indicates payment of a fee as a price for obtaining the program. Transmitting the payment information to the billing server device, wherein the billing server device is connected to the distribution server device via a network, and when the payment information is received, payment of a fee as a price for acquiring the program is reduced 4. The distribution server device transmits confirmation information indicating that the confirmation has been performed to the distribution server device, and the distribution server device transmits the program to the acquisition device when the distribution server device receives the confirmation information. 5. Delivery system. 12. The distribution server device is a program used to detect an encoding type of encoded audio data, and is used in place of a detection module stored in the audio reproduction device. Transmitting an alternative detection module, the acquisition device further acquires the alternative detection module, and records the acquired alternative detection module in the portable memory unit; and the sound reproducing device further transmits the alternative detection module from the portable memory unit. The distribution system according to claim 2, wherein a detection module is acquired, and the type of the encoded audio data is detected by using the alternative detection module instead of the detection module. 13. In a distribution system including a distribution server device, an acquisition device, and an audio reproduction device, an audio reproduction device that decodes encoded audio data and outputs audio, wherein the distribution server device includes a code A portable memory unit that transmits the program for decoding the encoded voice data to the acquisition device via a network, is attached to the acquisition device, the acquisition device writes the program in the portable memory unit, and the program The portable memory unit in which is written is mounted on the audio reproducing device, the audio reproducing device reads out a program recorded in the portable memory unit, and a coded audio using the program. Decoding means for decoding the data to generate audio data; and audio output means for converting the audio data into audio and outputting the audio. And a sound reproducing apparatus. 14. The portable memory unit stores one or more types of programs, each program decodes encoded audio data of a different encoding type, and the audio reproducing device further detects The detection module is a program used to detect an encoding type of encoded audio data, and the decoding unit uses the detection module to detect an encoding type of encoded audio data. Detecting a coding type of the coded voice data, reading a program for decoding the coded voice data of the detected coding type from the portable memory unit, and decoding the voice coded data using the read program. The audio reproducing device according to claim 13, wherein 15. The portable memory unit records permission information indicating permission to use the program in association with the program, and the decoding unit records the permission information in the portable memory unit. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the encoded audio data is decoded by using the program associated with the permission information only when the permission is set. 16. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a display unit for displaying a message indicating that the permission information is not recorded in the portable memory unit. The audio playback device according to claim 1. 17. The portable memory unit further records condition information indicating a condition for using the program in association with the program, and the decoding unit records the condition information in the portable memory unit. Determining whether the program associated with the condition information is usable based on the condition information being used, and decoding the encoded audio data using the program when determining that the program is usable. The audio reproduction device according to claim 15, wherein 18. The condition information is period information for limiting a period during which the program can be used, and the decoding unit, if a current date and time is within the range of the period information as the condition information, 18. The sound reproducing device according to claim 17, wherein it is determined that the program is usable. 19. The condition information is count information indicating the remaining number of times the program can be used, and the decoding means decodes encoded audio data and outputs audio each time the audio information is output. 18. The sound reproducing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the program is determined to be usable if the reduced number information is 1 or more. 20. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a display unit for displaying an identifier for identifying a program permitted to be used, based on permission information recorded in the portable memory unit. The audio reproduction device according to claim 15. 21. The program, comprising: a plurality of sub-programs; the sound reproducing device further comprising: one storage area used for storing the sub-program; 16. Loading means for writing to the storage area, wherein the decoding means decodes encoded audio data and outputs audio using a subprogram written to the storage area. The audio playback device according to claim 1. 22. The program, comprising a plurality of sub-programs, wherein the audio reproducing apparatus further comprises two storage areas each of which is used to store the sub-program, and alternates each sub-program. And loading means for writing to the two storage areas, wherein the decoding means decodes the encoded audio data and outputs the audio by alternately using the sub-programs written to the two storage areas. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein 23. The portable memory section stores a unique subprogram in place of the program in advance, and the audio reproducing apparatus further comprises one ROM storage section,
The one ROM storage unit is composed of a readable semiconductor memory, stores a common subprogram in advance, and stores the common subprogram and the unique subprogram. Constitutes one program, the program is used for decoding encoded audio data, and the one RAM storage unit is composed of a readable and writable semiconductor memory, and stores the unique subprogram. The load unit reads the unique subprogram from the portable memory unit and writes it in the RAM storage unit; and the decoding unit writes the unique subprogram in the ROM storage unit and the RAM storage unit, respectively. Using the common subprogram and the specific subprogram, the encoded audio data is decoded to output audio. The sound reproducing device according to claim 15, wherein the sound is reproduced. 24. The portable memory unit, further comprising a program used for detecting an encoding type of encoded audio data, wherein the portable memory unit is used in place of a detection module stored in the audio reproducing device. The alternative detection module is transmitted from the distribution server device to the acquisition device and recorded by the acquisition device, and the audio reproduction device further includes: Loading means for reading an alternative detection module and writing the read alternative detection module to the storage area, wherein the decoding means substitutes for the detection module and uses the alternative detection module to perform the encoding. The audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein an encoding type of the audio data is detected. 25. In a distribution system including a distribution server device, an acquisition device, and an audio reproduction device, an audio reproduction device that decodes encoded audio data and outputs audio, wherein the distribution server device includes a code Transmitting a program for decoding the coded audio data to the acquisition device via a network, wherein the audio reproduction device is connected to the acquisition device, and the acquisition device stores the program in a program storage unit of the audio reproduction device. The audio reproducing apparatus includes a program storage unit, a module storage unit, a decoding unit, and an audio output unit. The program storage unit stores one or more types of programs, and each program has a different code. Decoding the encoded voice data of the type, and the module storage means stores the detection module in advance. The detection module is a program used to detect an encoding type of encoded audio data, and the decoding unit uses the detection module to encode the encoding type of the encoded audio data. And reads a program for decoding encoded audio data of the detected encoding type from the program storage means, decodes encoded audio data using the read program, generates audio data, and generates the audio data. An output means converts audio data into audio and outputs the audio. 26. A distribution server device for transmitting a program for decoding encoded audio data to an acquisition device via a network, comprising: a program for decoding encoded audio data; and use of the program in association with the program. Storage means for storing permission information indicating permission in advance, reading means for reading the program and the permission information, and transmission means for transmitting the program and the permission information to the acquisition device via a network A distribution server device comprising: 27. An acquisition device for acquiring a program for decoding encoded audio data from a distribution server device, wherein the program and the permission indicating use permission of the program are transmitted from the distribution server device connected via a network. An acquisition device comprising: a receiving unit that receives information; and a writing unit that writes the received program and permission information indicating permission to use the program in a portable memory unit. 28. A portable memory medium, comprising: an unauthenticated storage area storing a program for decoding encoded audio data; an access device for accessing the portable memory medium; and the portable memory medium. When mutual device authentication between the authentication devices is successful, access to the area is permitted to the access device, and authentication storage storing permission information indicating permission to use the program in association with the program. A portable memory medium characterized by comprising a region. 29. The portable memory according to claim 28, wherein the non-authentication storage area further stores a detection module used for detecting an encoding type of encoded audio data. Medium. 30. A distribution server device, a portable memory unit having an area for storing a decryption program, an acquisition device connected to the distribution server device via a network, to which the portable memory unit is attached, A distribution method for use in a distribution system for distributing a decoding program for decoding encoded audio data, the method comprising a portable memory unit mounted audio reproduction device, wherein the distribution server device decodes the encoded audio data. A distribution server step of transmitting a decryption program to be executed, an acquisition step of acquiring the decryption program by the acquisition device and recording the decryption program in the portable memory section, and the portable memory mounted by an audio reproducing apparatus. Audio decoder that decodes encoded audio data and outputs audio using the decoding program recorded in the Delivery method which comprises the steps. 31. An audio reproducing method used in an audio reproducing device for decoding encoded audio data and outputting audio, wherein the distribution server device transmits a decoding program for decoding the encoded audio data to the acquisition device, A portable memory unit is attached to the acquisition device. The acquisition device writes the program in the portable memory unit, and the portable memory unit in which the decryption program is written is attached to the audio playback device. Wherein the audio reproducing method comprises: a reading step of reading a decoding program recorded in a portable memory unit; a decoding step of decoding encoded audio data using the decoding program to generate audio data; And a sound output step of converting the sound into sound and outputting the sound. 32. A delivery server device, a portable memory unit having an area for storing a decryption program, an acquisition device connected to the delivery server device via a network, and the acquisition device to which the portable memory unit is attached, And a computer-readable recording medium comprising a distribution program used in a distribution computer system configured to distribute a decoding program for decoding encoded audio data, the recording medium comprising a portable memory unit mounted audio reproduction device. The distribution program includes: a distribution server step of transmitting a decoding program for decoding encoded audio data by the distribution server device; and the acquisition device acquiring the decoding program and recording the acquired decoding program in the portable memory unit. Acquiring, and the portable memory unit mounted by the audio reproducing device Using the decoding program recorded, a recording medium which comprises a sound reproduction step of outputting a sound by decoding the encoded speech data. 33. A computer-readable recording medium recording an audio reproduction program used in a computer that decodes encoded audio data and outputs audio, wherein the distribution server device decodes the encoded audio data. Transmitting the decryption program to the acquisition device, the portable memory unit is mounted on the acquisition device, the acquisition device writes the decryption program in the portable memory unit, and the portable type program in which the decryption program is written A memory unit mounted on the audio reproduction device; the audio reproduction program reads a decoding program recorded in a portable memory unit; and a decoding unit that decodes encoded audio data using the decoding program to generate audio. A decoding step of generating data; and an audio output step of converting audio data into audio and outputting the audio. Recording medium comprising a. 34. A distribution server device, a portable memory unit having an area for storing a decryption program, an acquisition device connected to the distribution server device via a network, and to which the portable memory unit is attached, A distribution program used in a distribution computer system configured to distribute a decoding program for decoding encoded audio data, the distribution server device comprising: an audio reproduction device to which a portable memory unit is attached; A distribution server step of transmitting a decryption program to be decrypted, an acquisition step of acquiring the decryption program by the acquisition device and recording the decryption program in the portable memory unit, and a portable type attached by an audio reproducing device. Using the decoding program recorded in the memory unit, the encoded audio data is decoded and A distribution program comprising: a voice reproduction step of outputting voice. 35. An audio reproduction program used in a computer that decodes encoded audio data and outputs audio, wherein the distribution server device transmits a decoding program that decodes the encoded audio data to the acquisition device. A portable memory unit is attached to the acquisition device, the acquisition device writes the decryption program in the portable memory unit, and the portable memory unit in which the decryption program is written is attached to the audio playback device. A reading step of reading a decoding program recorded in a portable memory unit; a decoding step of decoding encoded audio data using the decoding program to generate audio data; A sound output step of converting the sound into sound and outputting the sound.