JP2000207340A - Method and device for contents reproduction and storage medium stored with contents reproducing program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To protect the copyright, to enable users to freely distribute contents directly to one another, and to secure the collection of charges by adding the charge included in a charge increase order to a previously stored charge and storing the resulting increased charge. SOLUTION: A user pays a charge to a contents provider by using an account settlement device 13. A charge increase order is transferred to a contents reproducing device 1. A charge increase order check part 11 increases the charge stored in a charge information management part 12 by the accounting amount written into the charge increase order. The user specifies desired contents to be purchased by using a user input device 15. A command processing part 2 subtracts the price of the contents from the charge stored in the charge information management part 12. The user specifies desired contents to be reproduced by using the user input device 15. A command processing part 2 generates the reproduction right by a reproduction right generation part 7 and decodes and reproduces the specified contents by a contents reproduction part 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content reproducing method and apparatus, and a storage medium storing a content reproducing program. More particularly, the present invention relates to digital contents such as graphics, images, music, and books purchased by a user. The present invention relates to a content reproducing method and apparatus for storing and reproducing content and a storage medium storing a content reproducing program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been provided a service that purchases content via the Internet or the like and makes it possible to reproduce the content on a user terminal. In order to realize this, it is necessary to pay for the content and purchase it, and then to make the content playable. In order to realize this, the following has been proposed.

[0003] As a conventional first method, there is a method of downloading content to a user terminal after payment of the content is completed. This method allows the content to be freely reproduced after downloading. Conventional second
As a method, there is a method in which a set of contents is encrypted in advance on a CD-ROM or the like and distributed free or at a low price. When the payment of the specific content is completed, a key for decrypting the content is distributed, and thereafter, the content can be freely reproduced on a user terminal having the key. This method is described in "Soneoka, et al., Information Sharing Platform Infoket, NTT Technical Journal, 199
May 1995, pp. 52-55, 1997 ".

As a third conventional method, there is a method of encrypting and distributing contents in advance. Distribution is free and can be done freely between users. When reproducing the content, dedicated software or hardware is used, and at that time, usage information on who used which content is obtained. This usage information is collected via the network,
Later the user is charged. Further, the copyright fee is distributed to the copyright owner based on the usage information. This method
"Mori et al., Super Distribution: Electronic Technology for Intellectual Property Rights Processing,
Information Processing, Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 155-161, 199
6 ".

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. First, the above first information has a problem that a copyright infringement problem occurs because the content can be copied freely after downloading. Further, in the second method, the copyright can be protected, but the direct distribution between the users of the content is required because the condition for reproduction is to directly purchase and have a key for each content from the copyright holder. And it takes time to spread the content.

[0006] On the other hand, in the third method, the copyright can be protected and the contents can be directly distributed between users. However, if the users do not have the ability to pay, the usage information is collected. Since it becomes clear at the stage of charging, there is a possibility that the fee will not be collected. Also, since the fact that the user bought the content is fixedly stored in the content playback device used by the user at the time of purchase, there is a problem that the purchased content cannot be played back by another content playback device. is there.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and protects copyrights, makes it possible to freely distribute contents directly between users, makes it possible to reliably collect charges, and provides a fact that the contents are purchased. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content reproducing method and a content reproducing apparatus which can be carried around independently of a content reproducing apparatus and reproduced by a plurality of content reproducing apparatuses, and a storage medium storing a content reproducing program.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention. According to the present invention (claim 1), in a content reproducing method for paying a fee for a digitized content and reproducing the content, a fee increase order for increasing the fee is received from a user (step 1). Using the authentication information, it is confirmed whether the charge increase order is valid (Step 2). If the charge increase order is valid (Step 3), the charge included in the charge increase order is stored in the charge stored in advance. The fee is increased (step 4), and the increased fee is stored (step 5).

According to the present invention (claim 2), upon receiving a command for reproducing the content designated by the user, the validity of the reproduction right for the content is confirmed, and if the command is valid, the content is stored. From the amount of money
A reproduction right for reproducing the designated content is generated, and the reproduction right is held.

According to the present invention (claim 3), upon receiving a command for reproducing the specified content from the user, it is determined whether or not the reproduction right exists, and the reproduction right is authenticated. The authenticated content is authenticated, and if the reproduction right and the content are valid, the content itself is decrypted and reproduced.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in a content reproducing method for purchasing a digitized content by paying a fee and reproducing the content, when a fee increase order for increasing the fee is received, the authentication information is transmitted. make use of,
It confirms that the charge increase order is legitimate, and if it is legitimate, increases the charge amount to the charge stored in advance, and accepts a reproduction right purchase request for reproducing the content. Confirms the validity of the content using the authentication information, and when the validity is confirmed, reduces the accumulated fee, generates a reproduction right to reproduce the content, accumulates the content, and accumulates the content. Upon receiving the reproduction request, if the existence of the reproduction right and the validity of the reproduction right can be confirmed, and if the content is valid, the content is read, and the content itself is decrypted and reproduced.

According to the present invention (claim 5), when a charge increase order for increasing a charge amount is received from a user, it is confirmed whether the charge increase order is legitimate, and if the charge increase order is legitimate, it is determined in advance. When the charge included in the charge increase order is added to the stored charge, the increased charge is stored, and when a command for reproducing the content specified by the user is received from the user, the validity of the reproduction right for the content is determined. The content, if it is legitimate, reduce the stored fee amount, generate a reproduction right to reproduce the specified content, hold the reproduction right, and specify the reproduction right. When a command to reproduce the content is received, it is determined whether or not the reproduction right exists, the reproduction right is authenticated, the specified content is authenticated, and the reproduction right and the content are valid. If that decodes the content body, to play.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention. The present invention (Claim 6) is a content reproducing apparatus for reproducing digitized content purchased by paying a fee, comprising: an authentication information managing means 10 for storing authentication information; and a fee increasing order for increasing a fee. Is received from the user, using the authentication information of the authentication information management means 10 to check whether or not the charge increase order is valid. If the charge increase check means 11 is valid, And a charge information management means 12 for increasing the charge included in the charge increase order to the charge stored in advance and storing the increased charge.

According to the present invention (claim 7), when a command for purchasing a reproduction right for reproducing the content specified by the user is received, the validity of the reproduction right for the content is determined by the authentication information management means. First reproduction right check means for confirming using the authentication information, charge information management means for reducing the stored charge amount and storing the same if the reproduction right check means is valid; Reproduction right generation means for generating a reproduction right for reproducing
Reproduction right management means for holding the generated reproduction right.

According to the present invention (claim 8), when receiving a command for reproducing the content designated by the user from the content management means for storing and managing the content, the content is reproduced by using the authentication information of the authentication information management means. Second reproduction right check means for confirming that the reproduction right exists and the validity of the reproduction right; and content check means for confirming the validity of the content designated by using the authentication information of the authentication information management means. Content reproducing means for reading the content from the content management means, decoding the content main body, and reproducing the content.

The present invention (claim 9) relates to a content reproducing apparatus for reproducing digitized contents purchased by paying a fee, and authentication information management for managing authentication information necessary for checking contents and reproduction right. Means, a command processing means for processing a command, an increased order checking means for checking an increased order of a charge amount, a charge information management means for storing a charge amount required to purchase a reproduction right for content, and a reproduction right Reproduction right checking means for checking for forgery or falsification of the content, content checking means for checking for forgery or falsification of the content, reproduction right generating means for generating the reproduction right, and indicating that the specific content has been purchased. Playback right management means for managing playback right, content management means for managing encrypted content, and content When the command processing means receives a charge increase order for increasing the charge amount as a command, the charge order checking means uses the authentication information stored in the authentication information management means. Then, it is confirmed that the charge increase order is valid, and if the charge increase order is valid, the charge amount stored in the charge information management means is increased, and the command processing means has a reproduction right for reproducing the specified content. When the purchase command is accepted, the reproduction right check unit confirms the existence of the reproduction right, and the content check unit verifies the validity of the content using the authentication information stored in the authentication information management unit. ,
The charge amount is reduced from the charge amount stored in the charge information management means, a reproduction right for reproducing the specified content is generated in the reproduction right generation means, the reproduction right is stored in the reproduction right management means, and the specified content is reproduced in the command processing means. Upon receiving a command to reproduce the content, the reproduction right checking means uses the authentication information stored in the authentication information management means to confirm that the reproduction right exists and the validity of the reproduction right. Confirms the validity of the content by using the authentication information stored in the authentication information management means. If the content is valid, the content reproduction means reads the content from the content management means and decrypts and reproduces the content itself. I do.

[0017] The present invention (claim 10) is a storage medium storing a content reproduction program for purchasing digitized content for a fee and reproducing the content, wherein the fee increase order for increasing the fee amount is provided. Is received from the user, the authentication information is used to confirm whether the charge increase order is valid, and if the charge increase check process is valid, the charge stored in advance is reduced. A charge information management process for increasing the charge included in the charge increase order and storing the increased charge in the storage means.

According to the present invention (claim 11), upon receiving a command for purchasing a reproduction right for reproducing the content specified by the user, the validity of the reproduction right for the content is determined by using the authentication information. A first reproduction right check process for confirming, a charge information management process for reducing the stored charge amount and storing it in the storage means if the first reproduction right check process is valid, It has a reproduction right generation process for generating a reproduction right for reproducing contents, and a reproduction right management process for storing the reproduction right in the storage means.

According to the present invention (claim 12), upon receiving a command for reproducing a content designated by a user, the authentication information is used to confirm the existence of the reproduction right and the validity of the reproduction right. A second reproduction right check process;
It has a content check process for confirming the validity of the content specified using the authentication information, and a content reproduction process for reading the content, decrypting the content body, and reproducing the content.

[0020] The present invention (claim 13) is a storage medium storing a content reproduction program for purchasing digitized content for a fee and reproducing the content, wherein the fee increase order increases the fee amount. Is received as a command, the authentication information is used to confirm that the charge increase order is valid, and if so, an increase order check process of increasing the charge amount to the charge stored in advance in the storage means. Upon receiving a reproduction right purchase command for reproducing the specified content, the reproduction right check process for confirming the existence of the reproduction right and the validity of the content using the authentication information are confirmed, and the validity is confirmed. In the case, a content check process for reducing the charge amount stored in the storage means and a reproduction for reproducing the designated content A reproduction right generation process of generating and accumulating, upon receiving a command for reproducing the specified content, the reproduction right checking process, if the validity of the presence and the reproduction rights reproduction right is confirmed, and,
If the content is valid in the content check process, the content reading process is performed to read the content, decrypt the content body, and reproduce the content.

As described above, according to the present invention, when a fee is paid, after the fee is paid from the user to the content provider, the fee is presented as an increased order, and the increased order is forged or falsified. After confirming that there is no fee, the fee amount stored in the storage means is increased. When purchasing a certain content, when the content to be purchased is presented, it is confirmed that the content is not falsified or falsified, and then the fee amount described in the content is stored in the storage means. After that, the reproduction right that records that the user has purchased the content is stored in the storage means.

At the time of content reproduction, when the content to be reproduced is presented, it is confirmed that the reproduction right exists and that the content is not forged or falsified. Next, it is confirmed that the content is not forged or falsified. After confirmation, the content is decrypted and played.

[0023]

FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a content reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. Content playback device 1 shown in FIG.
Is a command processing unit 2 for processing commands, a content check unit 3 for checking for forgery or falsification of content, a content management unit 4 for managing encrypted content, a content transfer unit 5 for transferring content, and A content reproduction unit 6 for decoding and reproducing, a reproduction right generation unit 7 for generating a reproduction right, a reproduction right check unit 8 for checking for forgery or falsification of the reproduction right, and a reproduction right indicating that a specific content has been purchased. A reproduction right management unit 9 for managing, an authentication information management unit 10 for managing authentication information necessary for checking the content and the reproduction right, an increase order check unit 11 for checking an increase order of the fee amount, and a purchase of the content reproduction right The charge information management unit 12 stores a charge amount required for the service.

[0024] The content reproducing apparatus 1 is a settlement apparatus 1 for transferring an increased order to the content reproducing apparatus 1.
3. Content transfer device 1 that transmits content (content transfer command) to content reproduction device 1
4 and a user input device 15 for sending an instruction from the user as a command (content purchase command, content reproduction command) to the content reproduction device 1.

As an operation of the content reproducing apparatus having the above-described structure, a process in the case of a fee increase will be described first. FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing an operation when a fee is increased in the content reproducing apparatus of the present invention. Step 101) The user first pays the fee to the content provider using the payment device 13, and as a result, the increase order is transferred from the content provider to the content reproduction device 1 via the payment device 13. Is done.

Step 102) When the transferred increase order is presented to the command processing section 2 of the content reproducing apparatus 1, the increase order check section 11 confirms whether the increase order is valid. Step 103) If it is confirmed that there is no problem with the increase order, the charge amount stored in the charge information management unit 12 is increased by the charge amount described in the increase order.

Step 104) Finally, the information described in the increase order is accumulated. Next, the operation at the time of content transfer will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of content transfer in the content reproducing apparatus of the present invention. Step 201) First, the user transfers the content to be transmitted to the content reproduction device 1 to the content transfer device 1.
4, the content transfer apparatus 14 presents a content transfer command to the command processing unit 2 using the content ID of the specified content as data.

Step 202) Content transfer unit 5
Receives the designated content from the content transfer device 14 and takes it into the content reproduction device 1. Step 203) The content checker 3 confirms that the header of the content has not been falsified. Step 204) The content check unit 3 confirms that the content itself has not been tampered with.

As a result of these confirmations, if it is confirmed that the content has not been tampered with, the content is stored in the content management unit 4. Next, the operation at the time of purchasing the reproduction right will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of purchasing a content reproduction right in the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention.

Step 301) When the user specifies the content to be purchased using the user input device 15, the user input device presents a reproduction right purchase command to the command processing unit 2 using the ID of the content to be purchased as data. . Step 302) The reproduction right check unit 8 checks the reproduction right management unit 9 to determine whether the reproduction right of the specified content already exists.

Step 303) Next, for the specified content 20, the content check unit 3 confirms that the header of the content is not falsified. Step 304) The content check unit 3 confirms that the content has not been falsified. Step 305) Check whether the charge amount stored in the charge information storage unit 12 is sufficient.

Step 306) The content price is reduced from the fee amount stored in the fee information management unit 12. Step 307) The reproduction right generation unit 7 generates a reproduction right. Step 308) Finally, the reproduction right generated is stored in the reproduction right management unit 9. Finally, the operation at the time of content reproduction will be described.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation at the time of purchasing the reproduction right in the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention. Step 401) When the user specifies the content to be reproduced by using the user input device 15, the user input device 15 presents a content reproduction command to the command processing unit 2 using the ID of the content to be reproduced as data.

Step 402) The command processing section 2
First, it is confirmed that there is a reproduction right corresponding to the specified content ID. Step 403) If there is a reproduction right, confirm that the reproduction right is valid. Step 404) For the specified content, the content check unit 3 checks whether the header of the content has been falsified.

Step 405) The content check unit 3 confirms that the content itself has not been tampered with and determines whether the content header and the reproduction right match. Step 406) If the number of valid times is set for the reproduction right in the reproduction right generation unit 7, the reproduction right is generated and stored in the reproduction right management unit 9. If the valid number of reproduction rights is 0, the reproduction right is deleted.

Step 407) The designated content is decrypted in the content reproducing section 6 and then reproduced.

[0037]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] FIG. 8 shows an information structure of contents according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Content 20 shown in FIG.
Is composed of a header 21 that describes the content of the content, a signature 27 made by a content provider to prove that the content header 21 has not been tampered with, and an encrypted content body 28. The content header 21 includes a content ID 22 for identifying the content, a content price 23, a content validity period 24, a valid number of times 25 indicating the number of times the content can be reproduced, and the content itself is not falsified or forged. It is composed of a content body signature 27 made by a content provider to prove the fact. In this embodiment, if no value is set for the validity period 24,
If the expiration date is infinite and the value is not set in the validity count 25, the validity count is interpreted as unlimited.

FIG. 9 shows reproduction right information according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The reproduction right 30 is the content 20 that can be reproduced.
Content ID 31, a user ID 32 for identifying a user who can perform reproduction, an expiration date 33 of the reproduction right, an effective number 32 representing the number of reproductions by the reproduction right, and reproduction for proving that the reproduction right has not been tampered with. It consists of a signature 35 made by the content reproduction device 1 of the user who purchased the right.

FIG. 10 shows the information structure of the authentication information according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The authentication information 40 includes a user secret key 42 used for signature by the content reproducing apparatus for identifying the user, a user public key 43 for verifying the signature, and a signature by an authentication organization that certifies the validity of the user public key. User public key certificate 44, a content provider public key certificate 45 signed by a certification authority that certifies the validity of the content provider key, and a user public key authentication certificate and a content provider public key It consists of the public key 46 of the certification authority used for signing the certificate.

FIG. 11 shows the information structure of the increase order according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The increase order 50 includes an increase order ID 51 for identifying the increase order, a user ID 52 indicating to which user the increase order is created, a charging amount 53 indicating a charge amount to be increased, and an issuance date and time 54 of the increase order. , And a signature 55 made by the content provider to prove that the increased order has not been tampered with.

FIG. 12 shows the information structure of the fee information according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The charge information 60 is composed of a charge amount 61 that can be used to purchase the reproduction right 30, a latest increase order ID 62 that identifies the increase order 50 that was processed last, and a latest increase order issue date and time 63 that indicates the issue date of the increase order. You. However, the information structure of the header 21 of the content is not limited to this, and it is possible to add an arbitrary information item that defines a use condition. Similarly, the information structure of the reproduction right is not limited to this, and it is possible to add an arbitrary information item that defines a reproduction condition.

Next, the operation of the content reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 3 will be described. First, FIG. 4 described above will explain the detailed operation when the fee is increased. The user first pays a fee to the content provider using the payment device 13, and as a result, the increased order 50 is transferred from the content provider to the content reproduction device 1 via the payment device 13. (Step 101). When the increase order is presented to the command processing unit 2, the increase order check unit 11 confirms whether the increase order is valid (step 10).
2).

More specifically, first, it is confirmed that the additional order has not been tampered with the signature 55 of the additional order, and the authentication information management unit 10 confirms that the key of the content provider used in the signature is valid. The content provider public key certificate 45 included in the certification authority public key certificate 45 is used to confirm that the content provider public key certificate 45 is correct.
Confirm with. Also, to confirm that the increased order has been issued to the correct user, the increased order 50
It is checked whether the user ID 52 of the authentication information 40 matches the user ID 41 of the authentication information 40. Further, it is confirmed that the same increase order is not used more than once. This confirmation stores the increase order ID 51 and the issue date and time 54 of the increase order that was processed last in the charge information management unit 12, and confirms that the increase order ID 51 and the issue date and time 54 described in the increase order are newer than the values. Perform by confirming.

Next, if it is confirmed that there is no problem with the increase order, the charge amount 6 stored in the charge information
1 is increased by the charge amount 53 described in the increase order (step 103). Finally, the increase order ID 51 and the issue date 54 written in the increase order are updated to the latest increase order ID 62 and the latest increase order
3 (step 104).

Next, the operation at the time of content transfer in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, when the user designates a content to be sent to the content reproduction device 1 in the content transfer device 14, the content transfer device 14 sets the content ID of the designated content.
Is presented as data to the command processing unit 2 (step 201).

The content transfer section 5 receives the designated content 20 from the content transfer apparatus 14 and takes it into the content reproduction apparatus 1 (step 202). Next, the content check unit 3 checks the content header 2
1 that the content header signature 27 has not been tampered with
And the content provider public key certificate 45, and the validity of the content provider public key certificate 45 with the certification authority public key 46 (step 2).
03).

Next, the content check section 3 confirms that the content main body 28 has not been tampered with the content main body signature 26 and the content provider public key certificate 45 (step 204). As a result of these confirmations, if it is confirmed that the content has not been tampered with, the content is stored in the content management unit 4.

Next, the operation at the time of purchasing the reproduction right will be described with reference to FIG. When the user specifies the content to be purchased using the user input device 15, the user input device 1
5 presents a reproduction right purchase command to the command processing unit 2 using the content ID to be purchased as data (step 301). The reproduction right check unit 8 checks the reproduction right management unit 9 to determine whether the reproduction right 30 of the specified content already exists (step 302).

Next, for the specified content 20, the content check unit 3 sets the content header 2
1 that the content header signature 27 has not been tampered with
And the content provider public key certificate 45, and the validity of the content provider public key certificate 45 with the certification authority public key 46 (step 3).
03).

Next, the content check unit 3 confirms that the content main body 28 has not been tampered with the content main body signature 26 and the content provider public key certificate 45 (step 304). Next, the charge information management unit 12
It is confirmed that the charge amount 61 stored in the is equal to or more than the content price 23 (step 305).

Next, the content price 23 is subtracted from the fee amount 61 stored in the fee information management unit 12 (step 306). Next, the reproduction right generation unit 7 generates the reproduction right 30. Here, the content ID 31 of the reproduction right is the value of the content ID specified by the command,
Is the value of the user ID 41 in the authentication information, the expiration date 33 is a value obtained by adding the current date and time to the value of the validity period 24, and the validity number 34 is the value of the validity number 25. User signature 35
Is generated using the user secret key 42 included in the authentication information (step 307).

Finally, the generated reproduction right is transferred to the reproduction right management unit 9.
(Step 308). Next, the operation during content reproduction will be described with reference to FIG. When the user specifies the content to be reproduced using the user input device 15, the user input device 15 presents a content reproduction command to the command processing unit 2 using the ID of the content to be reproduced as data (step 401).

First, the command processing section 2 confirms that there is a reproduction right 30 corresponding to the specified content ID (step 402). Next, if there is a reproduction right, it is confirmed that the reproduction right is valid (step 40).
3). This is the user signature 3 assigned to the reproduction right.
5 and the user public key 43, and confirms that the user public key certificate 44 is valid.
Perform by confirming with.

Next, for the specified content, the content check unit 3 confirms that the header 21 of the content has not been tampered with the content header signature 27 and the content provider public key certificate 45, The validity of the content provider public key certificate 45 is confirmed using the certification authority public key 46 (step 40).
4). Here, when the value of the expiration date 33 is set in the reproduction right, it is also confirmed that the present time is within the range of the expiration date.

Next, the content check unit 3 confirms that the content main body 28 has not been tampered with the content main body signature 26 and the content provider public key certificate 45 (step 405). Here, if the value of the validity number 34 is set in the reproduction right, the reproduction right generation unit 7 creates a new reproduction right by subtracting 1 from the validity number and stores it in the reproduction right management unit 9. However, if the number of valid times becomes 0 as a result of the subtraction, the reproduction right is deleted (step 40).
6).

After the last designated content is decrypted by the content reproducing section 6, the content is reproduced (step 40).
7). It is assumed that the key for decrypting the content is distributed to the content reproducing unit 6 in advance and is protected from being stolen. The operations of increasing the fee, transferring the content, purchasing the content reproduction right, and reproducing the content have been described above.

If the fee information 60 or the authentication information 40 is falsified or forged, a security problem arises.
The charge information management unit 2 and the authentication information management unit 10 need to be stored in a tamper-resistant device that cannot illegally refer to or update information. When the processing procedure is changed, the charge order check unit 11, the reproduction right generation unit 7, the reproduction right check unit 8, the content check unit 3, and the content reproduction unit 6 change the processing procedure. 30 and the content 20 may be falsified or counterfeited, causing a security problem. Therefore, it is necessary to protect the processing procedure using an existing technology so that the processing procedure cannot be changed. Examples of such techniques include ROMization, program authentication, and storing in an IC card. On the other hand, since the contents of the reproduction right management unit 9 and the content management unit 4 are always checked for tampering immediately before use, it is not always necessary to put them in a tamper-resistant device.

The reproduction right management unit 9 and the charge information management unit 1
2. Increased order check unit 11 and authentication information management unit 1
By removing the “0” and realizing it on a portable device, for example, an IC card, portability is enhanced, and even if there is only an IC card other than one's own content reproducing device, the purchased content can be reproduced. . [Second Embodiment] Next, as a second embodiment of the present invention,
An example is shown in which the user ID 41 shown in the above-described first embodiment, and the user ID 32 of the reproduction right and the user ID 51 of the increase order request generated based on the user ID 41 are given to the content reproduction apparatus 1. In this case, the user secret key 42, the user public key 43, and the user public key certificate 44 included in the authentication information 40 are respectively stored in the content reproduction device 1.
Is changed to a private key, a public key, and a public key certificate generated for.

[Third Embodiment] Next, as a third embodiment of the present invention, a case where a plurality of content providers exist will be described. In the above-described first embodiment, the description has been made on the assumption that there is only one content provider. However, in this embodiment, when there are a plurality of content providers,
It is necessary for the content provider to allocate the fee that was paid when the fee was paid. Regarding this method, the conventional third
(Mori et al., Superdistribution: Electronic technology for processing intellectual property rights, Information processing, Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 155 to 161;
1996)), it is possible to calculate and distribute based on user information collected via a network. It is also possible to adopt a method of estimating from the number of times of downloading to the content reproducing apparatus first.

Although the above embodiment has been described based on the configuration of FIG. 3, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the components of the content reproduction apparatus of FIG. Disk device connected to the computer used, floppy disk, C
The present invention can be easily realized by storing it in a portable storage medium such as a D-ROM and installing it when implementing the present invention.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified and applied within the scope of the claims.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is necessary to purchase the reproduction right in order to use the content.
The copyright can be protected, and the encrypted content can be distributed directly between users without charge. Payment is made in advance and a value corresponding to the fee is set in the content reproducing apparatus of the present invention. There is no issue of uncollected charges because they are stored securely.

Further, by inserting the charge information, the authentication information, and the reproduction right into a portable device, for example, an IC card, any content reproduction device can reproduce the content as long as the content is stored in advance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a content reproduction device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation when a fee is increased in the content reproducing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of content transfer in the content reproduction device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of purchasing a content reproduction right in the content reproduction device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of purchasing a reproduction right in the content reproduction apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an information structure of content according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an information structure of a reproduction right according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an information structure of authentication information according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an information structure of an increase order according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an information structure of fee information according to the first embodiment of this invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 content playback device 2 command processing unit 3 content check unit 4 content management unit 5 content transfer unit 6 content playback unit 7 playback right generation unit 8 playback right check unit 9 playback right management unit 10 authentication information management unit, authentication information management unit 11 Increased order check means, Increased order check unit 12 Charge information management means, Charge information management unit 13 Payment device 14 Content transfer device 15 User input device 20 Content 21 Header 22 Content 23 Price 24 Valid period 25 Effective count 26 Content signature 27 Content header signature 28 Content main body 30 Reproduction right 31 Content ID 32 User ID 33 Expiration date 34 Valid times 35 User signature 40 Authentication information 41 User ID 42 User secret key 43 User public key 44 User public key certificate Book 45 content provider's public key certificate 46 certificate authority public key 50 increase the order 51 Increase order ID 52 user ID 53 billing amount 54 issue date 55 signature 60 fee information 61 Rate Amount 62 latest increase order ID 63 latest increase order issue date

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Susumu Nomura 3-19-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo F-term within Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (reference) 5B017 AA06 BA05 BA07 BB10 CA07 CA08 CA09 CA14 CA16 5B049 AA01 AA02 AA05 BB11 CC10 CC36 DD05 FF03 FF06 GG06 GG10 5B089 GA23 GB02 JA33 JB15 KA13 KA15 KC58

Claims (13)

[Claims] In a content reproducing method for paying a fee for a digitized content and reproducing the content, when a fee increase order for increasing a fee is received from the user, using the authentication information, Confirming whether the charge increase order is legitimate, and if so, increasing the charge included in the charge increase order to a previously stored charge and storing the increased charge. Content playback method. 2. Upon receipt of a command for reproducing the content specified by the user, the validity of the reproduction right for the content is confirmed. If the command is valid, the fee is reduced from the stored fee. 2. The content reproduction method according to claim 1, wherein a reproduction right for reproducing the designated content is generated, and the reproduction right is held. 3. Upon receiving a command to reproduce the specified content from the user, determine whether or not the reproduction right exists, authenticate the reproduction right, and authenticate the specified content. If the reproduction right and the content are valid,
3. The content according to claim 1, wherein the content is decrypted and reproduced.
Content playback method described. 4. In a content reproducing method for purchasing a digitized content by paying a fee and reproducing the content, when a fee increasing order for increasing the fee is received, the fee increasing order is used by using authentication information. Is valid, and if it is valid, the fee is increased to the pre-stored fee, and when a request for the purchase of a reproduction right for reproducing the content is received, the existence of the reproduction right is confirmed and authentication is performed. The validity of the content is confirmed using the information. If the validity is confirmed, the fee is reduced from the accumulated fee, a reproduction right for reproducing the content is generated and stored, and a request for reproducing the content is received. If the existence of the reproduction right and the validity of the reproduction right can be confirmed, and if the content is valid, the content is read and the content itself is decrypted. A content reproducing method characterized by reproducing. 5. When a charge increase order for increasing the charge amount is received from a user, it is confirmed whether the charge increase order is legitimate. When the fee included in the fee increase order is increased, the increased fee is stored, and when a command for reproducing the specified content is received from the user, the validity of the reproduction right for the content is confirmed, and the validity is confirmed. In the case of, the fee is reduced from the stored fee, a reproduction right for reproducing the specified content is generated, the reproduction right is held, and the content specified by the user is reproduced. Upon receiving the command, it is determined whether or not the reproduction right exists, and the reproduction right is authenticated, the specified content is authenticated, and if the reproduction right and the content are valid, Claim decrypts the content body, playing 4
Content playback method described. 6. A content reproducing apparatus for reproducing digitized content purchased by paying a fee, comprising: authentication information management means for storing authentication information; and a fee increase order for increasing a fee from said user. Upon receipt, using the authentication information of the authentication information management means, an increase order check means for confirming whether the charge increase order is valid, and if the charge increase order check means is valid, the charge increase order is stored in advance. A fee information management unit for increasing a fee included in the fee increase order to the fee and storing the increased fee. 7. Upon receiving a command for purchasing a reproduction right for reproducing the content designated by the user, the validity of the reproduction right for the content is determined by using the authentication information of the authentication information management means. First reproduction right checking means for confirming the content, if the reproduction right checking means is valid, a fee information managing means for reducing the stored fee amount and storing the same, and reproducing the specified content. 7. The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: reproduction right generation means for generating a reproduction right for performing the reproduction right; and reproduction right management means for holding the generated reproduction right. 8. A content management means for storing and managing the content, and upon receiving a command for reproducing the content specified by the user, a reproduction right exists using the authentication information of the authentication information management means. A second reproduction right check unit for confirming the validity of the reproduction right; a content check unit for confirming the validity of the content designated by using the authentication information of the authentication information management unit; 8. The content reproducing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: content reproducing means for reading the content from the management means, decoding the content body, and reproducing the content. 9. A content reproducing apparatus for reproducing digitized contents purchased for a fee, comprising: authentication information management means for managing authentication information necessary for checking contents and reproduction rights; and processing commands. Command processing means, increase order checking means for checking the increase order of the charge amount, charge information management means for storing the charge amount required to purchase the reproduction right of the content, presence or absence of forgery or falsification of the reproduction right Playback right checking means, content checking means for checking for forgery or falsification of content, playback right generating means for generating playback right, and playback for managing the playback right indicating that a particular content has been purchased Right management means, content management means for managing encrypted content, and decryption of the content And when the command processing means receives a charge increase order for increasing the charge amount as a command, the increase order check means checks the authentication stored in the authentication information management means. Using the information, it is confirmed that the charge increase order is valid, and if it is, the charge accumulated in the charge information management means is increased, and the specified content is reproduced in the command processing means. Receiving a renewal right purchase command to
The reproduction right check means confirms the existence of the reproduction right,
In the content check unit, the validity of the content is confirmed using the authentication information stored in the authentication information management unit. If the content is valid, the fee is reduced from the fee amount stored in the fee information management unit. In the reproduction right generation means, a reproduction right for reproducing the specified content is generated and stored in the reproduction right management means. When the command processing means receives a command for reproducing the specified content, the reproduction right The check unit uses the authentication information stored in the authentication information management unit to confirm that the reproduction right exists and the validity of the reproduction right. Using the authentication information stored in the means, the validity of the content is confirmed.
A content reproducing apparatus, wherein the content reproducing means reads the content from the content management means, and decrypts and reproduces the content itself. 10. A storage medium storing a content reproduction program for paying a fee for a digitized content and reproducing the content, and receiving a charge increase order for increasing the charge amount from the user. An additional order check process for confirming whether the charge increase order is valid using authentication information, and, if the charge increase order is valid in the additional order check process, the charge increase order is added to the charge stored in advance. A charge information management process for increasing the included fee and storing the increased fee in the storage means. 11. Receiving a command for purchasing a reproduction right for reproducing the content specified by the user, a first reproduction for confirming the validity of the reproduction right for the content by using authentication information. A right check process; a charge information management process for reducing the stored charge amount when the first play right check process is legitimate; and storing the reduced content in a storage unit; and reproducing the specified content. 11. A storage medium storing a content reproduction program according to claim 10, further comprising: a reproduction right generation process for generating a reproduction right for the reproduction right management process for storing the reproduction right in a storage unit. 12. Receiving a command to play back the content designated by the user, using authentication information,
A second reproduction right check process for confirming the existence of the reproduction right and the validity of the reproduction right, a content check process for confirming the validity of the content designated by using the authentication information, 12. A storage medium storing a content reproduction program according to claim 10, further comprising: a content reproduction process for decrypting and reproducing a content main body. 13. A storage medium storing a content reproduction program for purchasing digitized content by paying a fee and reproducing the content, and accepting, as a command, a charge increase order for increasing the charge amount. The information is used to confirm that the charge increase order is legitimate, and if it is, an increase order check process of increasing the charge amount to the charge stored in the storage means in advance, and reproducing the designated content When a playback right purchase command is received, a playback right check process for confirming the existence of the playback right is performed, and the validity of the content is confirmed using the authentication information. When the validity is confirmed, the content is stored in the storage unit. A content check process of reducing the accumulated fee amount, and a reproduction right for reproducing the specified content. When a reproduction right generation process to generate and accumulate and a command to reproduce the designated content are received, the reproduction right check process confirms the existence of the reproduction right and the validity of the reproduction right, and If the content is valid in the check process, a storage medium storing a content reproduction program having a content reproduction process for reading the content, decoding the content main body, and reproducing the content.