JP2002312523A - Contents exchanging method and device, contents exchange processing program, and recording medium for the program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a contents exchanging technology for allowing a user to easily acquire desired contents without impairing the right of a person who has a right under the environment of an open network. SOLUTION: A contents request side terminal specifies a terminal possessing contents desired by the terminal itself by inquiring for the other terminal, and issues the download request of the contents to the terminal. At the time of receiving the download request, a contents provider side terminal acquires circulation constraint information to be imposed on the contents, and judges whether or not the download is permitted according to this, and executes the download. The contents request side terminal receives the downloaded contents, and acquires the contents desired by the terminal itself, and acquires the download fee and the distribution rate information of a person who has a right, and instructs the charging of the use fee and the payment of the right fee based on this.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content exchange method and apparatus for enabling a user to easily obtain desired content in an open network environment without impairing the rights of a content right holder, and the content exchange method and apparatus. The present invention relates to a content exchange processing program used for realizing an exchange technique, and a recording medium of the content exchange processing program recording the program.

[0002] In an open network environment, downloading of content such as music and video to terminals connected to a network has been widely performed. It is necessary for the user to be able to easily download such content, and also to be able to do so without impairing the rights of the content right holder.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Content such as music and video downloaded to terminals connected to an open network is provided by a server operated by a content right holder or a server operated by a company entrusted by the content right holder. Thus, a method of downloading content in response to a request from a user is used.

[0004] According to this method, the content right holder can provide content to a user who wants to use the content in accordance with the conditions presented by the user.
Be able to provide content without losing your rights.

[0005]

However, according to such a conventional technique, there is a problem that, for example, when a server for providing contents is provided overseas, a user cannot easily download contents. is there.

[0006] To solve this problem, if a method is used in which a terminal that has received content download from the content right holder is searched for and downloaded, and the desired content is downloaded from the terminal, the user can easily identify himself / herself. You can get the content you want.

However, when such a method is used, there is a problem that the right of the content right holder is spoiled by not paying the content usage fee to the content right holder.

[0008] In addition, when such a method is used, contents are transmitted and received between terminals, so that there is a problem that a content right holder is not notified of a user's request for use of contents.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has been developed to provide a new content that allows a user to easily obtain desired content in an open network environment without impairing the rights of the content right holder. The purpose is to provide content exchange technology.

[0010]

In order to achieve this object, according to the present invention, when the content is requested,
For example, first, by inquiring, directly or through one or more terminals, of other terminals connected on the network whether or not the terminal has the content of the download request, the terminal has the content of the download request. Identify the other terminal, then issue a content download request to the identified other terminal,
In response to this issuance, receiving the content of the download request returned on condition that the distribution constraint information imposed in accordance with the content information and the license information is satisfied, and subsequently receiving the received content Is stored in the storage means, and subsequently, the price information of the received content and the distribution ratio information of the right holder of the content are obtained from the server that manages the price information, and subsequently, based on the obtained information, , For servers that perform billing,
It instructs the charging of the content user and the payment of the content right fee to the content right holder, and subsequently performs processing to reproduce the content selected from the contents stored in the storage means.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, when the content is provided, for example, first, in response to an inquiry request from another terminal, it is searched whether or not the designated content is stored. If the content is stored, a reply is sent to that effect, and then a download request for content issued by another terminal, which is sent in response to the reply, is received. By inquiring the rights management server that manages the distribution restriction information imposed in accordance with the information, the distribution restriction information imposed on the content of the download request is obtained, and then the download is performed in accordance with the obtained distribution restriction information. Determines whether to allow the request, and then, if the download request is approved, the information described in the header of the content and the content By collating the information embedded in the digital watermark, and authenticate the contents of the download request, if the authentication can take, it treated so as to transmit the contents of the download request to the request issuing terminal.

In the present invention thus configured, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, first, a “content exchange device as a content requesting side” sends a download request to another content exchange device. Inquires whether the user has the content. In response to this, the "content exchange apparatus serving as the content provider" replies that it has the content of the download request.

Subsequently, the "content exchange apparatus which is the content requesting side" issues a content download request to the content exchange apparatus which is the content providing side. Upon receiving this download request, the “content exchange device serving as the content provider”
By inquiring of a rights management server that manages distribution restriction information imposed in accordance with the content information and the license information, the distribution restriction information imposed on the content of the download request is obtained.

Subsequently, the "content exchange apparatus serving as the content provider" determines whether or not to permit the download request according to the obtained distribution restriction information. The content described in the download request is authenticated by comparing the information to be described with the information embedded in the content with a digital watermark, and if the authentication is successful, the content of the download request is issued by the request issuing side (request issuing source). To the content exchange device. On the other hand, when not permitted, although not shown, a request for changing distribution restriction information is issued to the rights management server without transmitting the content.

[0015] Subsequently, the "content exchange apparatus on the content requesting side" receives the transmitted content of the download request and stores it in the storage means. And by inquiring the rights management server,
It obtains the price information of the received content and the distribution ratio information of the right holder of the content, and based on the obtained information, charges the charging server to the content user and the content to the content right holder. Direct payment of royalties.

[0016] Finally, when a content requested to be reproduced is selected from the contents stored in the storage means, the "content exchange apparatus on the request side of the content" selects information described in the header of the content, The content is authenticated by checking the information embedded in the content with a digital watermark, and if the content is authenticated, a playback tool corresponding to the file type described in the header is selected and the content is downloaded. Reproduce.

As described above, according to the present invention, in an open network environment, a user does not need to access a server operated by a content right holder or a server operated by a company entrusted by the content right holder. Also, since the user can obtain the desired content, the user can easily obtain the desired content.

According to the present invention, a content usage fee is paid to the content right holder in providing the content, so that the content can be provided without impairing the right of the content right holder. It can be realized.

If the usage method specified in the download request issued by the user does not match the distribution constraint information presented by the content right holder, the content right holder is notified to the content right holder via the right management server. The content owner will be notified of the change,
It becomes possible to know the user's request regarding the use of the content.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail according to embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows the overall configuration of a system to which the present invention is applied.

As shown in this figure, the system to which the present invention is applied is built on a communication network.
A content exchange client 100 (represented by 100A in the figure) serving as a content exchange request side, a content exchange client 100 (represented by 100B in the figure) serving as a content exchange provider, and content attribute information And a rights management server 101 for managing information such as rights information, usage condition information, and rights distribution information, and a charging server 102 for performing charging and content distribution for content exchange.

The present invention is realized by the content exchange client 100.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the content exchange client 100 of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the content exchange client 100 of the present invention includes a content exchange reproduction unit 1 and a content exchange right processing unit 2.

The content exchange / playback unit 1 includes a search unit 10 for performing various searches for content and a playback processing unit 11 (having a watermark module) for playing back the searched content.
And a content transmission / reception unit 12 (having a watermark module / one-time key confirmation module) for transmitting / receiving for exchanging content, and for a user who becomes a content user when charging is required as a result of the content exchange. And a client charging unit 13 that performs the charging processing of (1).

On the other hand, the content exchange right processing unit 2 stores a user's content holding status and searches for the content holding status (a user status processing unit DB is also provided).
A right inquiry intermediary unit 21 (having a one-time key generation module) for inquiring the right management server 101 about right information and the like; a link generation unit 22 for generating a link to a content transmission destination; And a right fee distribution processing unit 23 for inquiring the right holder about the distribution information to the right holder and using the information to distribute the right fee (content usage fee) to the right holder.

Each processing means provided in the content exchange client 100 described above can be realized by a computer program, and this computer program is installed from a recording medium such as a communication line or a portable medium and operates on a CPU. Thus, each of these processing means is realized.

In the content exchange client 100 of the present invention configured as described above, the user uses the content exchange / reproduction unit 1 to search for the content in the search unit 10 and selects the desired content.
2 to download the content. When the download of the content is completed, the client charging unit 13 performs charging, and the content stored by the download can be reproduced using the reproduction processing unit 11.

Next, each component of the content exchange client 100 of the present invention will be described.

Here, for convenience of explanation, an ID serving as a content identifier and an ID serving as an identifier for a license of the content are collectively referred to as a content ID. The usage fee of the content is determined by the two types of IDs. The two types of IDs are recorded in the header of the content (the header for content exchange) and embedded in the content with a digital watermark. Become.

(1) Search Unit 10 The search unit 10 determines whether to search for the location of the content or to refer to the attribute information of the content by interacting with the user using the input screen. When determining reference, what kind of attribute information is to be determined is determined. Then, by allocating a search request ID for uniquely identifying the search request content, a process of inputting the search request content as shown in FIG. 4A and transmitting it to the search request destination is performed.

If the search result cannot be obtained by the content exchange client 100 of the transmission destination, the search request is transferred to another content exchange client 100 so that the search request can be succeeded. I have to. From now on, a search query having a data structure as shown in FIG. 4B (in which the search request content shown in FIG. Search request ID to point
Is sent as a search request.

When searching for the location of a content, a content ID is specified and an inquiry is made to the content exchange client 100 of another user as to whether or not the content is owned. In some cases, the rights management server 101 manages the location of the content. In this case,
An inquiry to the rights management server 101 may be made. When referring to the attribute information of the content, the content ID and the type of the attribute information to be referred to are specified, and the management server 101 is inquired about the attribute information of the content.

The search result obtained here is received, and a result list of a set of a content ID and search result attribute information for the content is temporarily stored and displayed. FIG. 4C illustrates a display result item example. At this time, the contents can be sorted in ascending order using the content ID, the user, the update date, the location of the content, and the like as keys.

(2) Playback processing unit 11 The playback processing unit 11 separates the content body and the content exchange header for the content specified by the user selected from the content searched by the search unit 10 and The content ID of the digital watermark embedded in the main body (actually, it is “content ID + license ID” as described above) is read, and the read content ID and the content ID recorded in the content exchange header are read. (As described above, it is actually “content ID + license ID”), and if the match is found, a playback tool corresponding to the file type described in the content exchange header is selected. And play the content using the playback tool.

(3) Content Transmitting / Receiving Unit 12 The content transmitting / receiving unit 12 on the content request side uses the search unit 10 to determine the content location, which is the storage area of another user, from the content ID of the requested content specified by the user. Request download of the requested content. When the download of the requested content is approved by the content exchange right processing unit 2 of another user, the downloaded requested content is received.

On the other hand, in the content transmitting / receiving section 12 on the content providing side, when a download of the content stored by the user is requested, the content ID read out from the content exchange header of the content, and After checking the identity of the digital watermark embedded in the content with the content ID, the content exchange right processing unit 2 determines whether the content is transmittable using the content ID as a key. The one-time key embedded in the content exchange header is confirmed using the time key confirmation module, and if the content can be transmitted, the content is transmitted.

As shown in FIG. 5, the one-time key generation module provided in the right inquiry intermediation unit 21 includes a random number notified from a one-time key confirmation module provided in the content transmission / reception unit 12 and a unique value of the content exchange client 100. , And returns it to the one-time key confirmation module.

From this, the one-time key confirmation module provided in the content transmitting / receiving unit 12 calculates a hash value from the notified random number and the unique value of the content exchange client 100, and calculates the calculated hash value and the right inquiry mediation unit 21 The content transmission / reception unit 12 checks whether or not the content to be transmitted is the one authenticated by the right inquiry mediation unit 21 by comparing the hash value received from the content transmission / reception unit 21 with the hash value received. If so, the content is transmitted.

(4) Client Billing Unit 13 In the client billing unit 13, the content transmitting / receiving unit 12
When the reception of the content ends, the content ID of the content is specified, and the price is inquired to, for example, the right management server 101 which sets the price of the content, so that the charging information as shown in FIG. (Content download fee information) is acquired.

By passing the acquired billing information to the billing server 102, the user who downloads the content is billed and, at the same time, the user status processing unit 20 is instructed to register, and The history of the charging information is stored in the user status processing unit DB. further,
The content ID and the accounting information are passed to the right fee distribution processing unit 23 to instruct distribution of the right fee to the content right holder.

(5) User Situation Processing Unit 20 The user situation processing unit 20, as shown in FIG.
The content downloaded by the user acquired from the content transmission / reception unit 12 and information such as the user's content purchase history acquired from the client billing unit 13 are stored in the user status processing DB (using the content ID as a key, (A database that stores various information).

Further, in response to a content location inquiry (search query) from the search unit 10 of the content exchange client 100 of another user, the content name, content ID, and location of the content stored in the content exchange client 100 of the user are received. Generate and send a list of.

(6) Right Inquiry Intermediation Unit 21 When the right inquiry intermediation unit 21 receives the right inquiry information (inquiry as to whether or not download is possible) from the content transmitting / receiving unit 12, it extracts a content ID from the information and extracts the content ID. Specifying the content ID, the rights management server 10
1 is inquired of the right inquiry information.

If the content pointed to by the content ID is not registered in the right management server 101, a result of rejecting transmission of the right inquiry information (in the case of a download request, transmission of the content) is returned. If the user is a registered user of the rights management server 101, an inquiry is made as to whether to register the content. When registering content, attribute information is generated on the assumption that the content is exchanged by the content exchange client 100, and content registration is performed.

In the case where the right inquiry information is an inquiry as to whether the content can be downloaded or not, although the content indicated by the content ID is registered in the right management server 101, FIG.
When the use condition specified by the download request as shown in (a) does not fall within the range of the use condition of the distribution attribute as shown in FIG. 7B regarding the content managed by the right management server 101. For example, a notice is sent to the right holder or creator who has registered the content to request that the distribution attribute be changed, and a result of rejecting the transmission of the content is returned.

In accordance with this notification, even when the content is downloaded between the content exchange clients 100, the right holder of the content can know the user's request regarding the distribution attribute.

If the content indicated by the content ID is registered in the rights management server 101 and the distribution attribute is appropriate, the key information generated by the one-time key generation module is written in the content exchange header of the content. , And returns a result authorizing the transmission of the content.

Here, the one-time key generation module generates one-time key information (hash value) using the mechanism of the one-time password. This validity is confirmed by the one-time key confirmation module provided in the content transmitting / receiving unit 12 as described above.

(7) Link generation unit 22 The link generation process is a process of generating a link to the content exchange client 100 as the destination by setting the content exchange client 100 as the destination. The link generation unit 22 of the content exchange client 100, which is the provider of the URL, executes this link generation processing.

When the link generation unit 22 receives a search request as to whether or not the content is owned, if the content is not owned, the link generation unit 22 transmits the content to another content exchange client 100. By setting the other content exchange client 100 as a search request destination in order to inquire whether the user has the other content exchange client 100,
Generate a link to Note that even at this time, the reply destination of the search result is the content exchange client 100 that first issued the search request.

When receiving a download request for the content, the link generation unit 22 permits the download request because the user owns the content and the usage method of the content in the download request is appropriate. In this case, a link to the download request source is generated by setting the download request source as the transmission destination of the content.

(8) Right Fee Distribution Processing Unit 23 The right fee distribution processing unit 23 specifies the content ID acquired from the client charging unit 13 and inquires the right management server 101 about the right fee distribution target person. Then, a distribution ratio list as shown in FIG. 8 (a) describing the distribution targets and the distribution ratio of each distribution target is obtained.

Next, based on the content price (obtained from the rights management server 101) obtained from the client charging unit 13 and the obtained distribution rate list, calculation of the distribution fee to be paid to each distribution target (content price / Commission rate in addition to the share list)
A distribution list as shown in FIG. 8B describing the distribution target and the distribution fee to be paid to each distribution target is passed to the accounting server 102, and the payment of the distribution fee is instructed. .

In the embodiment described here, a configuration is adopted in which the rights management server 101 manages the content price (which determines the amount charged to the user) and the distribution ratio of the content right holder. The royalty fee distribution processing unit 23 creates a distribution list as shown in FIG. 8B according to the content price and the distribution rate (in addition to this, there is also a case where a commission rate is considered). However, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the rights management server 101 manages the content price and the distribution list. In this case, the right fee distribution processing unit 23
Acquires the distribution list from the rights management server 101,
Accordingly, payment of the distribution fee to the content right holder is instructed.

Next, the processing executed by the content exchange client 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

First, the processing executed by the content exchange client 100 on the content request side will be described in detail according to the processing flow shown in FIG.

This process is basically started when a user has content to be used and the user issues a content search request to the content exchange client 100.

In the content exchange client 100,
First, in step 1, by searching for stored content, it is confirmed whether or not the client has the corresponding content. This process is executed by the user status processing unit 20 searching the user status processing DB according to the instruction of the search unit 10.

If the content that the user wants to use is in the client, the content reproduction process executed in steps 16 to 20 is started.

On the other hand, if the content that the user wants to use is not in the client, the process proceeds to step 2 where the search unit 10 sends the content exchange client 1 of another user.
4B, a search query having a data structure as shown in FIG. 4B is transmitted to issue a content search request, and a search result is returned in response to the search request. In the following step 3, the search result is received and displayed.

Upon receiving the display of the search result, the user designates the content from the search result, sets the use condition and the use method, and issues a download request for the content. Then, the content transmitting / receiving unit 12 transmits a download request having a data structure as shown in FIG.

When the download request is accepted and the download permission is obtained, the content of the download request is sent as described later. By receiving the received content and requesting the user status processing unit 20 to accumulate the content in the subsequent step 6,
The received content and its storage date and time, download source, storage location, and other information are stored in the user status processing unit DB as shown in FIG. 6B.

Subsequently, control is transferred to the client billing unit 13, and in order to obtain the price of the downloaded content, the client billing unit 13 transmits a content price acquisition request to the rights management server 101 in step 7. When the content price (download fee) is returned in response to the acquisition request, the following step 8 is performed.
Then, get the download fee by receiving it.

Subsequently, in step 9, by requesting the user status processing unit 20 to accumulate, the acquired download fee is registered in the user status processing DB. At the same time,
In step 10, the accounting information (having the data structure as shown in FIG. 6A) is transmitted to the accounting server 102 to instruct the accounting to the content user, and in step 11, the accounting is performed. The information is designated, and the right fee distribution processing unit 23 is requested to perform a right fee distribution process of the charged amount (a process of paying the right fee to the content right holder).

In response to the license fee distribution processing request, subsequently, at step 12, the content ID of the downloaded content is designated from the license fee distribution processing unit 23,
It issues a request to the rights management server 101 to present a distribution rate list (a list describing rights fee distribution targets and distribution ratios possessed by those targets), and in response to the presentation request, issues a rights management server When the distribution ratio list is searched and returned in 101, the subsequent distribution ratio list having the data structure as shown in FIG.

Subsequently, in step 14, according to the received distribution rate list and the charging amount (download fee) of the charging information transmitted to the charging server 102, for example, the distribution amount of the right distribution target = the charging amount × The distribution amount to be distributed to the royalties distribution target is calculated according to the following formula: distribution ratio of royalties distribution target × (1−other commission rate).

For example, the charge amount (download fee) is 1000 yen, the other commission rate is 0.9, the distribution rate of the right fee distribution target person A is 60%, and the distribution rate of the right fee distribution target person B is 60%. Is 40%, it is calculated that the distribution amount to the right distribution target person A is 60 yen and the distribution amount to the right distribution target person B is 40 yen. It is.

Subsequently, in step 15, the result of the calculation is described in a distribution list having the data structure as shown in FIG. 8B (the right charge distribution target persons and the distribution amounts to those target persons). A list is created and transmitted to the billing server 102, thereby instructing payment of the royalty to the content right holder.

Finally, according to the processing of steps 16 to 20, the content reproduction processing shown in FIG. 10 is performed.

That is, when a content reproduction processing request is issued from the user in step 16, the reproduction processing section 11 separates the content exchange header from the content in the following step 17.

The content exchange client 10 of the present invention
0 has its own content exchange header. The content exchange header includes a file length, a header length, a file type, a content ID, a one-time key, and the like. It separates the content exchange header for retrieval.

Subsequently, at step 18, the reproduction processing unit 11
When the content ID embedded in the content body is read using the watermark reading module of the above, the read content ID of the digital watermark is compared with the content ID recorded in the separated content exchange header, and the IDs match. , The reproduction is permitted after confirming that the content is valid, and the reproduction is refused if they do not match.

If the reproduction is permitted, then in step 19, a reproduction tool is selected in accordance with the file type described in the separated content exchange header, and in step 20, the selected reproduction tool is used. Then, the reproduction of the content selected by the user is executed.

In this way, as shown in FIG. 11, the content exchange client 100 on the content request side, for example, firstly sends a download request to another content exchange client 100 connected on the network. By inquiring whether or not the content has the content of the other, the other content exchange client 100 having the content of the download request is specified.
A content download request is issued to the specified content exchange client 100.
In response to the issuance, the content of the download request, which is returned on condition that the distribution constraint information imposed in accordance with the content information and the license information is satisfied, is received. The content is stored in the user status processing DB, and subsequently, the rights management server 10
1 and obtains the price information of the received content and the distribution ratio information possessed by the right holder of the content.
Based on the acquired information, the charging server 102 is instructed to charge the user and pay the content licensing fee to the content right holder.
Processing is performed so as to reproduce the content selected from the content stored in B.

Next, the processing executed by the content exchange client 100 on the content providing side will be described in detail with reference to the processing flows shown in FIGS.

The processing on the content providing side includes processing for responding to a content search request issued by the content requesting side (processing executed in the processing flow of FIG. 12) and processing for downloading the content issued by the content requesting side. Response processing (processing executed in the processing flow of FIG. 13)
There is.

First, processing for responding to a content search request will be described with reference to the processing flow of FIG.
This process starts in response to a content search request issued by the content requesting side.

When the content exchange client 100 is issued a content search request, first, as shown in the processing flow of FIG.
A search query having a data structure as shown in (b) is received. This search query is received by the search unit 10.

Subsequently, in step 2a, in response to the received search query, the search unit 10 sends the user status processing unit 20
Is instructed to perform a search, the user status processing DB is searched, and it is determined whether or not the content of the search request has been searched.

When it is determined that the content of the search request has been successfully searched according to this determination process, step 3
Proceeding to a, the process ends by returning a search result of a successful search to the search request source (search request IP described in the search query).

On the other hand, when it is determined that the content of the search request could not be searched, the process proceeds to step 4a to determine whether or not the numerical value of the search hierarchy recorded in the content exchange header indicates “0”. Judge, "0"
Is determined, the process proceeds to step 3a, where the search result NG is returned to the search request source, thereby ending the process.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the numerical value of the search hierarchy does not indicate "0", the process proceeds to step 5a,
Generate a link to another user's content exchange client 100 to perform a further search, followed by step 6a
Then, the numerical value of the search hierarchy recorded in the content exchange header is reduced by one, the search query is transmitted to the next link destination, and the process ends.

In accordance with the search processing, the content exchange client 100 that has issued the content search request is notified of information as to which content exchange client 100 owns the content.

The reason why the search is continued by providing a search hierarchy is to ensure that the location of the content of the search request can be searched. On the other hand, by providing the search hierarchy, the search hierarchy is provided. The configuration that limits the continuation is adopted to prevent execution of unlimited continuation of the search.

Next, processing for responding to a content download request will be described with reference to the processing flow of FIG. This process is started in response to a content download request issued by the content requesting side.

When a content download request is issued, the content exchange client 100 first proceeds to step 1b as shown in the processing flow of FIG.
Then, a download request having a data structure as shown in FIG. 7A is received. This download request is received by the content transmitting / receiving unit 12.

Subsequently, in step 2b, in response to the received download request, the content transmission / reception unit 12 inquires of the right inquiry intermediation unit 21 whether the requested content can be downloaded. Ask.

Subsequently, in step 3b, the distribution information (which becomes distribution restriction information) is presented to the rights management server 101 using the content ID of the download request content as a key in accordance with the processing of the right inquiry mediation unit 21. Then, in step 4b, distribution information having a data structure as shown in FIG. 7B, which is returned in response to the presentation request, is received.

Subsequently, in step 5b, by comparing the received distribution information with the information specified in the download request, it is checked whether the usage method of the download request content is appropriate.

For example, if the download request requests the content copy permission, the rights management server 10
By checking whether or not the copying of the content is permitted by the distribution information managed by No. 1, it is checked whether or not the usage method of the download request content is appropriate.

If an inquiry result indicating that the method of use is appropriate is obtained according to this check processing, the process proceeds to step 6b, where transmission OK is returned to the content transmitting / receiving section 12, and a proof that the inquiry result is OK is obtained. The one-time key generation module of the right inquiry mediation unit 21 embeds the one-time key in the content exchange header of the content, and finally requests the link generation unit 22 to generate a link to the request source of the download request. .

Subsequently, in step 7b, the content ID
The content to be downloaded is finally checked by checking the validity of the one-time key embedded in the header for content exchange by the one-time key confirmation module of the content transmitting / receiving unit 12 while checking the validity of the one-time key.

That is, the content ID recorded in the content exchange header is compared with the content ID embedded in the content with a digital watermark.
By using the one-time key confirmation module to confirm the validity of the one-time key embedded in the content exchange header, the content to be downloaded is finally checked.

Then, when it is confirmed that the final check result of this content is OK, the following step 8b
Then, the content is transmitted (downloaded) to the link destination, and the processing ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 5b that the use method specified by the download request is not appropriate, the process proceeds to step 9b, where the content transmitting / receiving unit 12
Is returned to the request source, and in the subsequent step 10b, the content transmission refusal is returned to the request source, and the processing ends.

Then, when this transmission NG is returned, in order to reflect the request of the user, a change of the distribution attribute is requested to, for example, the right holder or the creator who has registered the content via the right management server 101 or the like. The processing for notifying that is performed.

In this way, as shown in FIG. 14, for example, first, the content exchange client 100 which is the content requesting side is specified in response to an inquiry request from another content exchange client 100. A search is made as to whether or not the content is stored. If the content is stored, a response to that effect is returned. Subsequently, another content exchange client 100 sent in response to this reply issues the content. By receiving the content download request and subsequently inquiring the rights management server 101 that manages the distribution constraint information imposed in accordance with the content information and the license information, the distribution constraint imposed on the content of the download request is obtained. Information, and then grant the download request according to the obtained distribution restriction information. If the download request is permitted, the content of the download request is authenticated by comparing the information described in the header of the content with the information embedded in the content with a digital watermark. Then, if the authentication is successful, processing is performed to transmit the content of the download request to the content exchange client 100 that issued the request.

[0100]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In an open network environment, users can access the server operated by the content right holder or the server operated by the company entrusted by the content right holder,
Because you can get the content you want,
You can easily get the content you want.

According to the present invention, a content usage fee is paid to the content right holder in providing the content, so that the content can be provided without impairing the right of the content right holder. It can be realized.

When the usage method specified in the download request issued by the user does not match the distribution restriction information presented by the content right holder, the right holder of the content is notified to the right holder of the content via the right management server. The content owner will be notified of the change,
It becomes possible to know the user's request regarding the use of the content.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary embodiment of a processing flow executed by a content requesting side.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of processing of a reproduction processing unit.

FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an exemplary embodiment of a processing flow executed on the content providing side.

FIG. 13 is an example of a processing flow executed on the content providing side according to an embodiment;

FIG. 14 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 content exchange / reproduction unit 2 content exchange right processing unit 10 search unit 11 reproduction processing unit 12 content transmission / reception unit 13 client charging unit 20 user status processing unit 21 right inquiry mediation unit 22 link generation unit 23 right fee distribution processing unit 100 content exchange Client 101 Rights management server 102 Billing server

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 15/00 330 G06F 15/00 330Z 17/30 110 17/30 110F (72) Inventor Mutseo Sano Tokyo 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F-term (reference) 5B017 AA07 BA05 CA16 5B075 KK07 KK13 KK33 KK39 ND20 ND23 PQ02 PQ04 UU40 5B085 AC04 BG07

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A content exchange method for exchanging content with another terminal connected on a network, comprising: issuing a content download request to another terminal; Receiving the download request content returned on condition that the distribution constraint information imposed in the form is satisfied, storing the received content in storage means, and receiving the content. Acquiring the price information and the distribution rate information possessed by the right holder of the content; and charging the content user and paying the content right fee to the right holder based on the obtained information. Instructing; and reproducing a content selected from the content stored in the storage means. A content exchange method characterized by the following. 2. The content exchange method according to claim 1, wherein an inquiry is made to another terminal, directly or via one or more terminals, as to whether or not the terminal has the content of the download request. A method for identifying another terminal having the content. 3. The content exchange method according to claim 1, wherein in the instruction step, if the content right fee to the right holder can be obtained in the obtaining step, the obtained content is obtained. A method of exchanging contents, characterized by instructing the right holder to pay a content royalties according to the royalties. 4. The content exchange method according to claim 1, wherein in the reproducing step, information described in a header of the content to be reproduced and an electronic watermark are embedded in the content. By authenticating the content by collating the content with the information to be reproduced and, if the authentication is successful, selecting a reproduction tool corresponding to the file type described in the header and reproducing the content. Content exchange method. 5. A content exchange method for exchanging content with another terminal connected on a network, the method comprising: receiving a download request for content issued by another terminal; Acquiring the distribution restriction information imposed on the content of the download request by inquiring the rights management server managing the distribution restriction information imposed in the form of: Deciding whether or not to permit, and, if the permission is obtained, collating the information described in the header of the content with the information embedded in the content with a digital watermark so that the content of the download request is Authenticate and if the authentication is successful, issue the download request Further comprising a step of sending to the original device, content exchange wherein. 6. The content exchange method according to claim 5, wherein in response to an inquiry request from another terminal, whether or not the designated content is stored is searched and stored. A content exchange method, characterized in that the content exchange method comprises: 7. The content exchange method according to claim 6, wherein, in the replying step, when it is determined that the content is not stored, an inquiry request from another terminal is sent to another terminal. A content exchange method characterized by transferring. 8. The content exchange method according to claim 7, wherein, in the replying step, when the numerical value indicating the depth of the search hierarchy described in the header of the content has not reached a prescribed value, A content exchange method characterized by executing transfer and updating one of the numerical values according to the execution. 9. The content exchange method according to claim 5, wherein in the transmitting step, the content to be transmitted is confirmed by confirming key information generated in the determining step. A content exchange method comprising: confirming that the content has been determined in the determination process; and transmitting the content to the terminal that issued the download request when the content can be confirmed. 10. The content exchange method according to claim 5, wherein in the deciding step, when it is determined that the download request is not permitted, the distribution restriction information is changed. Issuing a request, characterized by a content exchange method. 11. A content exchange device for exchanging content with another terminal connected on a network, comprising: a unit for issuing a content download request to another terminal; Means for receiving the content of the download request, which is returned on condition that the distribution restriction information imposed in the form is satisfied; means for storing the received content by storing; and Means for acquiring content price information and distribution rate information possessed by the right holder of the content; charging the content user based on the obtained information; and paying the content right fee to the right holder Means for instructing content, and means for reproducing content selected from the content stored in the storing means. A content exchange device comprising: 12. A content exchange device for exchanging content with another terminal connected on a network, comprising: means for receiving a content download request issued by another terminal; Means for acquiring distribution restriction information imposed on the content of the download request by inquiring the rights management server managing the distribution restriction information imposed in the form of: Means for deciding whether or not to permit, and when the permission is obtained, the information described in the header of the content is compared with the information embedded in the content with a digital watermark, so that the content of the download request is determined. Authenticate and, if the authentication is successful, request the content That and means for transmitting to the terminal of Gyomoto, content exchange apparatus characterized. 13. A content exchange processing program for causing a computer to execute a process used to implement the content exchange method according to claim 1. Description: 14. A recording medium for a content exchange processing program which records a program for causing a computer to execute a process used to implement the content exchange method according to claim 1. Description: