JP2002049377A - Viewing and hearing contents reproducing device and viewing and hearing contents distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a viewing and hearing contents reproducing device and a viewing and hearing contents distribution system which slove the problem related to the amount of data of viewing and hearing contents and promote the circulation of the viewing and hearing contents among the customers. SOLUTION: The viewing and hearing contents reproducing device is provided with a key information acquisition means which obtains key information, that unlocks viewing limitation of a distributed viewing and hearing contents storage medium, from a contents information server using a prescribed acquisition method and a reproducing means which unlocks the viewing limitation of the viewing and hearing contents using the medium and the key information and reproduces the contents of the medium.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an audiovisual contents reproducing apparatus and an audiovisual contents distribution system, and more particularly to an audiovisual contents reproducing apparatus and an audiovisual contents distribution system capable of freely distributing audiovisual contents while protecting the copyright of the audiovisual contents. It relates to a content distribution system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional sales formats for viewing contents are record, cassette tape, video tape, CD (Compact).
Disk), MD (Mini Disk), DVD (Digital Video)
A typical format is that the content is recorded on a package medium such as a disc, and sold from a viewing content supplier to a consumer via a CD store or the like.

In recent years, the rapid spread of the Internet and the JPEG (Joint Photographic Image coding Expe
rts Group), MPEG (Moving Picture coding Experts)
Group), MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer-3), AAC (Ad
With the advancement of image and audio compression technology represented by vanced Audio Codec), systems that sell viewing content by compressing the viewing content and distributing it electronically to consumers via the Internet are receiving attention.

[0004] A conventional viewing content distribution system currently in practical use will be described below with reference to FIG. It should be noted that since music content is currently mainly put into practical use, distribution of music content will be particularly described.

[0005] In the conventional viewing content distribution system, a distribution server 501 that distributes viewing content includes a distribution viewing content storage unit 502 that stores encrypted distribution viewing content, and an encrypted distribution viewing content storage unit 502. A key information database 503 storing key information capable of decrypting content, a charging information database 504 storing charging information corresponding to the key information, and a trial viewing database storing trial viewing content. A viewing / listening content reproducing device 507 connected via a network (Internet) 506 and a viewing / listening content storage unit 508 for storing viewing / listening content to be distributed via the network 506; , And similarly the network 506
Key information storage means 50 for storing key information distributed via
9 and reproduction means 510 for reproducing the distribution viewing content by using the distribution viewing content stored in the viewing content storage means 508 and the key information stored in the key information storage means 509. You.

[0006] In the above-mentioned conventional viewing content distribution system, a consumer who wishes to test-view the viewing content,
The target content stored in the trial content storage unit 505 is connected to the distribution server 501 via the network 506 by the viewing content reproducing device 507 through a network 506. Listen to content for Here, the stream reproduction is a method in which the viewing content can be reproduced only when the viewing content reproducing apparatus 507 is connected to the distribution server 501.

[0007] However, trial viewing contents distributed by the distribution server 501 as the stream are often limited to only rusting of music due to the problem that the data amount of the viewing contents is large.

[0008] When the consumer decides to purchase the viewing / listening content for distribution corresponding to the trial / listening content, payment processing is performed with a credit card, electronic money, or the like based on the charging information in the charging information database 504. Do. After performing the payment processing, the consumer sends the encrypted viewing content for distribution corresponding to the trial viewing content and the key information corresponding to the encrypted viewing content for distribution via the network 506. The content is downloaded from the distribution viewing content storage unit 502 and the key information database 503, respectively.

[0009] Thus, the viewing content for distribution,
The consumer who has obtained the key information corresponding to the viewing content for distribution, decrypts and reproduces the viewing content for distribution encrypted using the key information by the reproducing means 510.

[0010] The distribution (sales) of the viewing contents by this viewing contents distribution system is different from the selling of the viewing contents by a CD shop or the like. Can be provided to consumers, including viewing content of artists who cannot expect the content, and in an environment where the user can connect to a network, the viewing content can be obtained when the consumer likes.

[0011]

However, the following problems arise in the trial viewing and selling form by the network distribution described above.

That is, it takes time for the consumer to download the viewing content. The environment in which many consumers are currently connected to the Internet is not a constant connection but a dial line or a line that is charged at a low speed and time, such as ISDN. In such an Internet connection environment, the above-mentioned M
It is necessary to perform compression at a bit rate of about 128 kbps in stereo using a content compression technique represented by P3 or AAC. By the way, the stereo viewing content of about 3 to 5 minutes compressed at this bit rate has a file capacity of about 3 to 5 MB. In the connection environment as described above, it takes about 5 to 10 minutes to download one song. For example, to download one CD album, it takes 30 to 1 minute.
It will take time. Furthermore, considering that a telephone charge is generally imposed on the connection to the Internet, it can be said that the economic burden on the consumer is greater than the convenience of distributing the viewing content.

Further, considering that the consumer has a large economic burden, it is not possible to determine whether there is a desired song (that is, a consumer likes) regardless of whether there is already a target viewing content, and It is unlikely that consumers will voluntarily search the Internet for viewing content for which they do not know whether or not to purchase it, and take time to test-view it. In other words, especially in the viewing content distribution using the Internet, the trial viewing is not the original meaning of the trial viewing, but is mostly used only for confirming the viewing content. It is hard to be there.

[0014] There is also a problem that a consumer cannot satisfy a desire to view a trial through one song. This is due to the problem that the data amount of the viewing content is large as described above. For example, songs that are relatively popular for consumers to preview (in this case, listening) through all types of media, such as hit songs, are not a problem, but the viewing content or sales volume of lesser-known artists is not a problem. In general, there are not enough opportunities for promotion for viewing contents of artists who cannot be expected. in spite of,
If the consumer can only perform the trial viewing limited to the rust of the music or the like, there is a possibility that the information for judging whether or not the viewing content is worth the purchase by the consumer may not be sufficiently provided.

Further, when a consumer purchases and downloads a specific song from the Internet and recommends the downloaded song to another consumer, the user can copy the viewing content held by the other consumer. Unless the corresponding key information is obtained, the encrypted viewing content cannot be heard. This is because, in the conventional viewing content distribution system, the trial viewing content and the encrypted viewing content are different things, and only the encrypted viewing content can be downloaded.
In addition, copying of the viewing content between consumers is not allowed, or even if it is allowed, only the encrypted viewing content allows another consumer to receive a copy of the recommended song and listen to it Therefore, it is necessary to connect to the Internet and download the viewing contents for trial listening again. This limits the places and times at which consumers can view the content for trial viewing, thereby reducing opportunities for trial viewing.

Although the above description has been made with respect to the compressed viewing content, no compression is performed. For example, in the case of distributing data with the sound quality of a CD as it is in the distribution of music, if the data is to be distributed as it is in a CD, the amount of compressed data is reduced. Because it is several times to ten and several times larger, it is not practical at all in the current network (Internet) environment. Nevertheless, in reality, there is a need for uncompressed viewing content while maintaining the sound quality of CDs by consumers having high-performance audio equipment.

Accordingly, the present invention solves the problem associated with the data amount of the viewing content by independently providing the viewing content with the viewing restriction and the key information for canceling the viewing restriction. It is an object of the present invention to provide a viewing content reproduction device and a viewing content distribution system that promote distribution of viewing content among consumers by using a general promotion activity that is performed.

[0018]

The present invention has the following means to achieve the above object.

That is, in a viewing content reproducing apparatus which acquires and reproduces key information necessary for reproducing the viewing content from the content information server, the key information for releasing the viewing restriction of the distributed viewing content storage medium is transmitted to the content information server. Key information acquisition means for acquiring the content using a predetermined acquisition method, and playback means for releasing the viewing restriction of the viewing content and playing back the content using the distributed viewing content storage medium and the key information.

By using the distributed viewing content storage medium as a reproduction medium, a large amount of information can be easily provided to consumers, and problems associated with the data amount can be solved.

Further, the viewing content storage medium is configured to allow trial viewing, to include management information for releasing viewing restrictions, and to have the function of connecting the viewing content reproducing apparatus to a network. There is.

By making the viewing content storage medium available for trial viewing, it is possible to provide consumers with sufficient information for purchase, and to have management information and a network connection function so that consumers can purchase keys. Time work can be automated.

[0023] The viewing content distribution system includes:
It is composed of the viewing content reproduction device and the content information server.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention.
It should be noted that the following embodiments are merely examples embodying the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

(Embodiment 1) First, an outline of a viewing content distribution system 101 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, viewing content reproducing apparatuses 107 and 111 each include a reading unit 108, a key information obtaining unit 109, and a reproducing unit 110, and are distributed to an unspecified large number of viewing / listening viewing / playing content storage media 10.
5 can be reproduced. Here, the distributed viewing content storage medium 105 is, for example, distributed or sold to a consumer (a person who plays the viewing content using the viewing content playback device 107) at a CD shop, a convenience store, a street, or the like. A viewing content storage medium or the like distributed or sold as an appendix to a magazine or transferred or lent between consumers, etc., and the storage medium is a CD, MD, DVD, semiconductor memory (memory card) , A hard disk or the like. Further, the viewing content storage medium 105 includes management information for managing the viewing content storage medium 105, and the viewing content reproduction device 107 can read the management information.

The viewing content reproducing apparatus 107 specifically reproduces the distributed viewing content 105 such as a CD player (CD deck), a DVD player (DVD deck), a portable reproducing apparatus, a personal computer, and a mobile phone. Anything can be used. Instead of directly playing back the viewing content, information stored in the viewing content 105 may be copied once and the copied information may be played back.

Further, the viewing content stored in the viewing content storage medium specifically refers to image information, moving image information, audio information, text information (electronic books), and the like.

By connecting to the network (Internet) 106, the key information acquiring means 109 can communicate with the content information servers 102 and 112 also connected to the network 106.

The above content information servers 102 and 112
Comprises a key information database 103 and a billing information database 104, and performs a billing process and a key distribution process based on the management information stored in the viewing content storage medium in response to a request from the viewing content reproducing device.

Next, the details of the reproducing method of the viewing content reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

Here, viewing restrictions such as deterioration of image quality and sound quality, reproduction range restriction, reproduction frequency restriction, reproduction period restriction and the like are performed on the viewing content storage medium that can be trial-viewed by using a predetermined recording method. I have.

For the deterioration of image quality and sound quality, there are methods such as adding noise and echo, limiting color information, reproducing monaural sound, and reproducing only the minimum band necessary for reproducing music contents. is there. The noise is noise,
There are tones that do not relate to the original music signal and announcements that prompt key information. The addition of the noise or the like includes, for example, a method of embedding a digital watermark at a level that can be reproduced as a sound or an image. As the reproduction range restriction, there is a method in which the range in which reproduction is permitted is set in the same format as the conventional reproducible data, and the data is encrypted in the range in which reproduction is not permitted. In the number-of-reproductions restriction and the reproduction period restriction, the number of reproducible times or the reproducible period is stored as restriction information in the viewing content storage medium, and the number of reproductions or the reproduction period is controlled by the viewing content reproduction apparatus in accordance with the restriction information. There is such a method.

The consumer who has obtained the viewing content storage medium 105 loads the viewing content storage medium into the reading means 108 of the viewing content reproduction apparatus 107. The reading means 108 is a tray when the viewing content storage medium is, for example, a CD, DVD, or MD, and is an insertion port or the like when a memory card is used.

In FIG. 2, the viewing content reproducing apparatus 1
07, when the viewing content storage medium 105 is arranged in the reading means 108, first, the management information 401 stored in the viewing content storage medium 105 is read by the management information reading means 201 constituting the key information acquisition means 109. Is read. The management information 401 includes IS
RC (International Standard Recording Code) and the like. FIG. 4 shows an example of the management information 401 used in the first embodiment.

In FIG. 4, a medium ID 402 is an ID given for each type of distributed viewing content storage medium.
In the same viewing content storage medium, the same ID is stored. The content ID 403 is a number assigned to each of the viewing contents stored in the viewing content storage medium 105, and the content distribution server 102 can determine what the viewing content is based on the content ID 403. I can do it. The restriction contents 404 store the type and method of the viewing restriction applied to the viewing content storage medium and, if necessary, the number of times of restriction, the range of restriction, the period of restriction, and the like. It is used for management of reproduction range restriction, reproduction frequency restriction, reproduction period restriction and the like. The key database address 405 stores the location information of the key information corresponding to the content ID 403, and here is an Internet address (URL). The management information 401 is stored as a header of each viewing content or a digital watermark.

Next, when the consumer reproduces the viewing content stored in the viewing content storage medium 105, the management information 401 read by the management information reading means 201 becomes the key information search means 202. The key information search means 202 searches the key information storage means 203 for key information corresponding to the content ID 403 based on the content ID 403 of the reproduced viewing content.

Here, the key information corresponding to the content ID 403 is information for canceling the viewing restriction of the viewing content having the content ID 403. By having the corresponding key information, the deterioration of the image quality and sound quality can be achieved. Restrictions on the reproduction range, the number of times of reproduction, the restriction on the reproduction period, and the like can be released. The key information is managed for each content ID, and is independently managed for each viewing content when the viewing content storage medium is reproduced. Further, by providing the key information storage unit 203 in an area accessible only by a special device, it is possible to prevent the key information from being copied. For example, in a hard disk such as a personal computer, it is difficult for a consumer to easily access the key information, so that it is difficult to prevent the key information from being copied. In such a case, for example, special hardware is separately connected, the key information is stored in the hardware, and the hardware is not easily accessed by the consumer. This may prevent consumers from copying the key information.

If the key information storage means 203 has key information corresponding to the content ID 403, the key information search means 202 stores the key information in the parental level management means 2.
05 to the reproducing means 110. The reproducing means 110 releases the various viewing restrictions imposed on the viewing contents by using the key information and reproduces them.

If there is no key information corresponding to the content ID 403 in the key information storage means 203, the fact is notified to the consumer via the input / notification means 209 and the viewing and listening performed for each viewing content is performed. Play without removing restrictions. If the viewing restriction is the deterioration of the image quality or the sound quality, and if the viewing content subjected to the image quality or the sound quality deterioration processing is already stored, the viewing content reproducing apparatus 107 reproduces the viewing content storage medium 105 as it is. You only need to do it. If it is necessary to perform a process of deteriorating the image quality or the sound quality, the viewing restriction management unit 205 sends a signal to the reproducing unit 110 to perform the degrading process and reproduce the signal. If the viewing restriction stored in the restriction contents 404 means the restriction on the number of reproductions, the number of reproductions of the content ID 403 is counted by the viewing restriction management means 205, and the information is stored in the parental level storage means 20.
6 for management. In this case, the number of times of reproduction is also stored in the restriction contents 404. Playback period restrictions,
The same applies to the reproduction range restriction and the like.

The method by which the input / notification means 209 notifies the consumer when the key information does not exist is not particularly limited, and may be a predetermined warning lamp, a display on a display, a sound announcement, or the like. .

Next, the details of the key information obtaining method according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4. FIG.

The above-mentioned input / notification means 209 turns on a predetermined warning lamp, displays on a display,
When the consumer is notified that there is no key information corresponding to the viewing content to be played back by voice announcement or the like,
The consumer can purchase key information for releasing the viewing restriction. First, the consumer enters the input / notification means 20.
9, when the input / notification means 209 performs a predetermined operation (pressing a button, etc.), the viewing / listening content reproduction apparatus 107 is notified of the purchase of the key information. Notice. When the predetermined operation is performed, the input / notification unit 209 notifies the key information search unit 202 of the fact, and the key information search unit 202 transmits the content information server 102 via the network 106.
(Or 112) (FIG. 3: S301).

Here, the viewing content reproducing apparatus 10
7 is connected to the network 106, the viewing content reproducing apparatus 107 may have a communication function of independently performing communication with the network. For example, a terminal having a separate communication function, specifically, a personal computer or a mobile phone By connecting to the network 106
May be connected. The viewing content reproducing device 107
The connection between the terminal and the communication terminal may be made by a cable or the like, but in the case of a small communication terminal such as a mobile phone, the connection may be made directly to the trial listening content reproducing device 107. Further, the key information is stored in a portable storage medium once connected to a mobile phone or a personal computer, and the key information is obtained by replacing the portable storage medium storing the key information with the viewing content reproducing apparatus 107. Good.

At the time of the connection, the address of the content information server 102 is stored in the management information reading means 201.
Are identified using the read key database address 405. Further, the content ID 403 of the viewing content desired to be purchased and read by the management information reading means 201 is transmitted to the content information server 102 (FIG. 3: S302). Since the mobile phone or the personal computer does not include the management information reading means 201, it cannot automatically connect to the content information server 102 using the key database address 405 and the content ID 403.
For this reason, the viewing content reproducing apparatus 107 transmits the key database address 405 and the content ID 4
03 is displayed to the consumer, and the consumer inputs the key database address 405 and the content ID 403 to a predetermined portion (a dedicated software, a browser, or the like) of the mobile phone or personal computer based on the display. Thus, the content ID 403 can be transmitted to the content information server 102. In addition, the consumer can perform the predetermined operation (pressing a button, etc.)
When notifying that the key information has been purchased, the portable storage medium 114 inserted in the viewing content reproducing apparatus 107 in advance.
Alternatively, the key database address 405 and the content ID 403 may be copied. In this case, the consumer replaces the portable storage medium 114 with, for example, the mobile phone 113 (dashed arrow 115), and the mobile phone 113 uses the key database address 405 stored in the portable storage medium 114. It can automatically connect to the content information server 102 and transmit the content ID 403 (dashed arrow 11)
6).

Now, the viewing content reproducing apparatus 107 described above.
Has a communication function, the content ID 40
The content information server 102 that has received No. 3 selects charging information from the charging information database based on the content ID 403, and transmits it to the content reproducing device 107 (FIG. 3: S303). The key information search means 202
Informs the consumer of the purchase price by displaying the billing information on a display or the like (FIG. 3: S
304).

Next, the consumer decides to purchase key information based on the displayed purchase price (FIG. 3: S30).
4).

Here, if the consumer does not purchase the key information, the above-mentioned input / input indicates that the consumer will not purchase the key information by a predetermined operation.
The content information server 1
02 is disconnected. In this case, since the key information is not purchased, the viewing content is reproduced with the viewing restriction imposed (FIG. 3: No-S308 of S305).

When the consumer purchases key information,
The input / notification means 209 inputs that purchase is to be performed by a predetermined operation. The above-mentioned input / notification means 2 to the effect of the purchase
09, the key information search means 202 receives
Payment processing is performed between the viewing content reproduction apparatus 107 and the content information server 102 (FIG. 3: S305).
Yes-S306). Here, the payment process is, for example, credit card, electronic money, bank debit,
A prepaid card or the like is used.

If there is no problem in the payment processing, the content information server 102 transmits the content ID 40
The key information is selected from the key information database 103 on the basis of No. 3 and transmitted to the viewing content reproducing apparatus 107. Key information search means 20 of the viewing content reproducing apparatus 107
When receiving the key information, the key information storage means 2
03, the key information and the corresponding content ID 403 are stored (FIG. 3: S307). Further, the received key information is transmitted to the playback unit 110 via the parental level management unit 205.
The playback means 110 releases the various viewing restrictions imposed on the viewing content using the key information, and plays the content. Further, upon receiving the key information, the key information search means 202 disconnects the connection with the content information server 102 (FIG. 3: S308). Here, when the key information is obtained by using the personal computer or the mobile phone 113, the consumer replaces the portable storage medium 114 storing the key information with the viewing content reproducing device 107, thereby obtaining the key information. The information retrieval means 202 can acquire the key information (broken arrow 117). At this time, the key information search means 202 of the trial content reproduction apparatus 107 may automatically detect the key information of the inserted portable storage medium 114 and move to the key information storage means 203.

The key information search means 202 stores the key information and the corresponding content ID 40 in the key information storage means 203.
3 is stored, and after that, the various viewing restrictions imposed on the viewing content are released using the key information, and the content is reproduced. Note that, instead of acquiring the key information based on the content ID 403, the key information is acquired using the medium ID 402, so that the parental control for all of the viewing content storage media may be released.

As described above, by distributing the viewing content storage medium on which the management information is stored and which can be viewed on a trial basis, the consumer can trial-view the viewing content and purchase the key information of only the favorite viewing content. Consumers will be able to obtain viewing content without going through a network where the line speed is slow and billing is generally required. In addition, since it is possible to perform trial viewing without connecting to a network, there is no burden on consumers for charging, and there is no restriction on the place and time for trial viewing.
For this reason, the opportunity for consumers to test-view various viewing contents increases, and it is expected that the distribution of the viewing contents by the test-viewing will be promoted.

[0052] In addition, since a predetermined viewing restriction is applied to the data of the viewing content, a trial viewing is enabled.
The same data can be used for the viewing content and the trial viewing content. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately prepare content for trial viewing, so that even if trial listening is possible through one song, the data capacity of the viewing content storage medium will not be squeezed. That is, in the case of music content as an example, it is possible to test-view all of a song without squeezing the data capacity of the viewing content storage medium, so that consumers can receive information for determining whether the content is worth viewing. Can give enough. It is needless to say that the number of contents that can be stored in the viewing content storage medium can be increased because the data capacity is not pressed.

The above-mentioned viewing contents provider can efficiently provide a large amount of music contents to consumers by using a large-capacity storage medium such as a CD or a DVD. For example, when storing compressed music data on a CD that is currently generally used, it is possible to store data of 100 to 200 songs in music of 3 minutes to 5 minutes, and furthermore, by using a DVD, 10 times or more music data can be stored, and the promotion of the viewing content becomes more efficient. Naturally, by distributing uncompressed high-quality data, it is possible to meet the needs of consumers having high-performance audio equipment.

Further, since the copying of the key information is prevented in a hardware manner, it is possible to prevent the unauthorized copying of the viewing content (ie, the copying of the key information) without hindering the free distribution of the viewing content.

(Embodiment 2) Next, an overview of a viewing content reproducing apparatus according to Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, in addition to the first embodiment, a viewing content storage unit 204 is provided. Since the second embodiment has many points in common with the first embodiment, the description of the common points will be omitted.

In the first embodiment, the reading means 108
And the content information stored in the viewing content storage medium 105 is directly reproduced. In the second embodiment, however, the content information stored in the viewing content storage medium 105 and The management information is temporarily stored in the viewing content storage unit 20.
4 and play it.

That is, the viewing content storage medium 105 arranged in the reading means 108 is temporarily copied to the viewing content storage means 108 automatically or by a consumer's operation. The copied contents are viewing content information and management information. However, each piece of viewing content information to be copied can be selected by the consumer, and the viewing content storage unit 204 is not unnecessarily squeezed. When copied to the viewing content storage means 204, at the time of reproduction, the management information reading means 201 reads management information from the viewing content storage means 204 (dashed arrow 207), and searches for key information as in the first embodiment. Management of viewing restrictions is performed. The information of the viewing content is stored in the viewing content storage unit 204 in the reproduction unit 1.
10 (dashed arrow 208).

That is, the consumer can test-view the copied viewing content without the viewing content storage medium 105. Of course, it is also possible to release the trial viewing restriction by purchasing key information.

As described above, by permitting the consumer to copy the viewing content that can be trial-viewed, not only can the intended viewing content be reproduced without the viewing content storage medium, but also the consumer can view the viewing content. For example, the storage medium can be transferred or lent to another consumer (broken arrow 112). Naturally, the consumer (user of the viewing content reproducing apparatus 111) who has received the viewing content storage medium can also view the viewing content on a trial basis. You can also expect to promote your viewing content in.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a viewing content distribution system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the viewing content reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for obtaining key information.

FIG. 4 is an example of management information.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a conventional viewing content distribution system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101-viewing content distribution system 102, 112-content information server 103-key information database 104-charging information database 105-viewing content storage medium 106-network 107, 111-viewing content reproducing device 108-reading means 109-key information acquisition Means 110-Playback means 113-Mobile phone (an example of a terminal having a communication function) 114-Portable storage medium

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04L 9/08 H04N 7/173 640Z H04N 7/167 H04L 9/00 601B 7/173 640 H04N 7/167 Z (72) Inventor Mitsuhiko Serikawa 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture F-term in Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. AA01 AA16 EA01 EA04 NA02 PA07

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A viewing content distribution system including a viewing content playback device that plays back viewing content by acquiring key information necessary for playback of the viewing content from a content information server, wherein the viewing content playback device is distributed. Key information obtaining means for obtaining, from the content information server, key information for canceling the viewing restriction of the viewing content storage medium capable of trial viewing, the viewing content storage medium, and the key information obtaining A viewing content distribution system, comprising: a playback unit that releases viewing restriction of the viewing content and plays back the viewing content using the key information obtained by the means. 2. A viewing content reproducing apparatus for reproducing viewing content by acquiring key information necessary for reproducing viewing content from a content information server, wherein key information for releasing viewing restriction of a distributed viewing content storage medium is transmitted to a viewing content reproducing apparatus. A key information acquisition unit that acquires from the content information server using a predetermined acquisition method, and a viewing restriction of the viewing content is released using the key information acquired by the viewing content storage medium and the key information acquisition unit. An audiovisual content reproducing apparatus, comprising: reproducing means for performing reproduction. 3. The viewing content reproduction apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the viewing content storage medium is capable of trial viewing. 4. The viewing content storage medium further stores management information for identifying the storage medium, and the key information obtaining means obtains the key information from the content information server based on the management information. The viewing content reproducing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein 5. The viewing content reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising viewing content storage means for copying information stored in the viewing content storage medium. 6. The viewing content reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined acquisition method communicates with the content information server via a network to download the key information. 7. The viewing content reproducing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the content information server communicates with the content information server by connecting a terminal having a communication function. 8. The predetermined acquisition method according to claim 1, wherein a terminal having a communication function downloads the key information from the content information server to a portable storage medium via a network, and stores the key information in the portable content reproduction apparatus. 6. The viewing content reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein