JP2003256597A - Resellable copyright protected content delivery method and system, copyright protection management method, copyright protection management terminal, program and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a copyright protected delivery system suitable for P2P (peer-to-peer) content circulation. <P>SOLUTION: This system comprises a content sales terminal 11 for selling a digital content through a network, a content resales terminal 17 for reselling a digital content obtained through the network within a sales condition permitted by a content seller, and a copyright protection management terminal 15 for monitoring an illicit act in the digital content circulation on the network. The content sales terminal 11 has a reselling content capsulation execution part 69 for giving, in receipt of the permission of capsulation from the copyright protection management terminal 15 and the permission of resales from the content sales terminal 11, reseller information and a new sales condition to the capsule of a designated content to execute the recapsulation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copyright-protected digital content distribution system, and more particularly to a P2P (Peer-To-Peer) file exchange that has recently emerged, that is, for the primary distribution of content. The present invention relates to a copyright protection digital content distribution method and system adapted to a content distribution mode in which secondary distribution also exists.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various content distribution systems have been proposed for distributing various digital contents such as digitized moving images, still images, voices, documents and code information via a network. As a content distribution system having a copyright protection function for contents, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-296437, "Content management system with expiration date, management method, and recording medium recording information". Generally, the following methods are used.

When the content seller sells the content by distributing the content on the network, the content sales terminal passes the corresponding content to the copyright protection server and encapsulates the content in the copyright protection server. Request and store the content in the form of capsule in the content distribution server. The content distribution server may be located on a different node or the same node as the copyright protection server in the network. Also, here, encapsulation refers to a content ID (identification number) with respect to the content.
Information is added, and information about usage conditions such as price, usage time, usage period, usage deadline, usage quality, usage-permitted terminal ID, usage-permitted user ID, etc. set by the content seller is also provided. , Issuer, copyright date, etc., and at least a part of the data is encrypted by an encryption method that can be decrypted by a predetermined reproduction application, and a digital watermark is added, and the content is used (reproduction). ) When checking the content usage conditions,
It means that the capsule control program is made available only when the condition is satisfied, and is made unavailable when the condition is not satisfied, and they are always integrated into an indivisible file.

In the content distribution system having such a content distribution server, the content is always distributed to the content users in the form of this capsule. The distributed content can be reproduced by a predetermined reproduction application on the terminal (content use terminal) of the content user. The content stored in this capsule cannot be played back or decrypted by any application other than a predetermined playback application. On the content use terminal, it is not possible to take out only the content from the capsule and save it.

In this system, after the content user downloads the desired content in the form of a capsule from the content distribution server to the content usage terminal, the content user requests the content usage (playback) at the content usage terminal. Then, the capsule control program included in the capsule operates, and the program controls the copyright protection server to display the usage time, usage period, usage deadline, usage quality, usage-permitted terminal ID, usage-permitted user ID, etc. Inquiries will be made as to whether the usage conditions are met. When the copyright protection server obtains the approval that the usage conditions are satisfied, the specified playback-only application and the capsule control program included in the capsule work together to operate the content in the encrypted capsule. Decrypt and play the content. If you receive a usage refusal notification from the copyright protection server because it does not meet the usage conditions, the content usage terminal will not play the content, or if necessary, rewrite the content (erasure / expiration date). Embedding of completed display etc.) is performed.

[0006] Further, the fee is charged to the user based on the use of the content by the copyright protection server accessing the billing settlement center based on the usage status grasped by the copyright protection server.

In such a conventional content distribution system having a copyright protection function, all encapsulation is performed on the copyright protection server, and all capsules to be distributed are placed on the content distribution server. Therefore, the content is distributed from the content distribution server to the content utilization terminal in the client / server format. In addition, the copyright protection server operates the authentication database, and all content sellers
And if necessary, it is necessary to prepare accounts for the authentication database in advance for all content users.

By the way, as a form of data distribution in a network, P2P (peer-to-peer; Peer) is used.
-To-Peer) form has spread. Distribution of P2P type content, that is, P2P content distribution is
This is a technology that enables distribution of content in a network without installing a content distribution server in the network in a state where the content is distributed and arranged in the network. A typical example is Gnutel.
There are la (Gnutella) and Napster (Napster). In P2P content distribution, the content to be transmitted is placed in each user terminal, and from the user terminal (peer) holding the content to the user terminal (peer) seeking the content without passing through the server,
Moreover, the content is directly delivered without passing through a third party user terminal. Further, as a feature of P2P content distribution, in addition to a distribution form in which contents are distributed from content authors to content users (hereinafter referred to as primary distribution), distribution in which contents users distribute contents to other content users. There is a form (hereinafter referred to as secondary distribution).

The general advantages of P2P content distribution are: (1) Since content distribution is performed without the intervention of a server, there is no need for a server that requires a large amount of storage devices (such as a hard disk) and a high-performance CPU. Yes,
The cost for introducing the server can be reduced, (2) the labor and management cost for managing the server can be reduced, and (3) the content is distributed without the intervention of the server, so that the processing is concentrated in the network. (So-called bottleneck) does not occur, scalability is high with respect to an increase in the number of user terminals on the network and an increase in content distribution volume. (4) Since content can be transmitted without requesting the server, Rapidly,
In addition, the content can be sent without requiring registration procedures such as an account on the server. In addition, it is possible to respond more quickly and flexibly to the change of the content, and (5) the content is not limited to the content delivery source, but the content on another user terminal located closer to the network can be downloaded, so that the network delivery can be performed. The cost can be reduced and the network resources can be effectively used.

On the other hand, the general disadvantages of P2P content distribution are: (1) The content subject to copyright protection may be secondarily distributed in the network without the permission of the author / seller. (2) It is difficult to detect the above copyright infringement, and (3) it is difficult to grasp the distribution status and usage status of the content.

[0011]

Since the conventional copyright-protected content distribution system is premised on that the content to be distributed is centrally stored in the server, it is not adapted to the P2P content distribution as described above. Absent.

In order to construct a copyright protected content distribution system suitable for P2P content distribution, P2P
Due to the characteristics of content distribution, (1) there is a distribution form in which content is secondarily distributed from a content usage terminal to another content usage terminal, (2) a trusted specific account having an account in a copyright protection server Not a user
An unspecified number of untrusted users may encapsulate the content. (3) An unspecified number of untrusted users who do not have an account in the copyright protection server use (play) the content. obtain,
It is necessary to deal with such points. In addition, in realizing a copyright protected content distribution system adapted to P2P content distribution, there is no processing concentration point (bottleneck) in the network, because "a server is not involved in the content distribution processing in P2P content distribution. , The scalability is high, the cost of the server and the man-hours for server management can be reduced, and the disadvantage of P2P content distribution that "it is difficult to monitor the files distributed on the network" is solved. Is required.

In particular, since anyone can encapsulate the content, care must be taken not to falsely obtain the copyright fee by encapsulating the content by falsely presuming that the content subject to copyright protection of another person is the content that was originally written. Must.

From the aspect of authenticating users, etc., user accounts of all content users and content sellers are added to the copyright protection server as in the conventional client / server type content distribution system. It is impossible to register the content users and content sellers because it will be unspecified.
Different authentication methods need to be applied.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is that "the server does not intervene in the content distribution processing of P2P content distribution, so that no processing concentration point occurs in the network, the scalability is high, and the cost of the server and the server management are improved. A copyright that can be resold without adapting to P2P content distribution and solving the disadvantage of P2P content distribution that "it is difficult to monitor files distributed on the network" without compromising the merit of "reducing man-hours". (EN) Provided are a copyright protection content distribution method and system capable of realizing management, a copyright protection management method and a copyright protection management terminal.

[0016]

A copyright-protected content distribution method of the present invention is a content sales terminal for selling digital content via a network, and a content seller licenses the digital content obtained via the network. Copyright-protected content distribution in a re-saleable content distribution system that includes a content resale terminal for resale under the sale conditions and a copyright protection management terminal for monitoring fraud in digital content distribution on the network In the method, in the content sales terminal, the copyright protection management terminal is inquired about the possibility of encapsulation, and when the copyright protection management terminal permits encapsulation,
A content ID, a sales condition, and copyright information are given, and a capsule control program is added to check the content use condition when using the content and use the content only when the condition is satisfied. , The sales conditions, the copyright information, and the capsule control program are encapsulated as an inseparable capsule, and the capsule is converted to the requesting content use terminal or content resale terminal via the network based on the request from the content use terminal or content resale terminal. When the content is transferred and a query is made from the content usage terminal as to whether or not the capsule can be used, the availability of the capsule is determined based on the usage conditions, the determination result is notified to the content usage terminal, and the capsule from the content resale terminal is used. Inquiries about whether or not to resell In this case, the content resale terminal determines whether capsule resale is possible based on the desired usage conditions, notifies the content resale terminal of the determination result, and the content resale terminal notifies the copyright protection management terminal whether encapsulation is possible. If the content sales terminal inquires about whether or not the capsule can be resold, and the copyright protection management terminal permits the encapsulation and the content sales terminal authorizes the capsule resale, the capsule of the specified content is displayed. On the other hand, it is re-encapsulated with reseller information and new sales conditions, and the re-encapsulated capsule is transferred to the content use terminal via the network based on the request from the content use terminal, When the inquiry about the availability of capsules is made, the availability of capsules is determined based on the usage conditions. The content protection terminal notifies the content usage terminal, and if the content sales terminal inquires about the content encapsulation availability at the copyright protection management terminal, the content encapsulation availability is determined and the result is sold. When the content resale terminal makes a content encapsulation availability inquiry, the content resale terminal determines whether content encapsulation is possible and notifies the content resale terminal of the result.

The copyright-protected content distribution system of the present invention is a content sales terminal for selling digital contents via a network, and resale the digital contents obtained via the network under the sales conditions licensed by the content seller. It is possible to resell digital content by providing a content resale terminal for managing the content and a copyright protection management terminal for monitoring fraud in the distribution of digital content on the network. A content use terminal for reproducing or using digital content can be connected, and the content selling terminal has a means for inquiring the copyright protection management terminal whether encapsulation is possible and a permission for encapsulation from the copyright protection management terminal. If there is, the specified content A content ID, a sales condition, and copyright information, and a capsule control program for checking the content usage condition when using the content and allowing the content to be used only when the content is satisfied. , A means for encapsulating the content ID, sales conditions, copyright information and capsule control program as an inseparable capsule, and a content use terminal or content resale source of the capsule based on a request from the content use terminal or the content resale terminal. A means for transferring to the terminal, a means for notifying whether or not the capsule can be used based on the usage conditions when a query is made as to whether or not the capsule can be used from the content using terminal, and means for notifying the content using terminal of the determination result, Content encapsulation by content resale terminal If the absence query was made, to determine the content encapsulated availability has a means for notifying the result to the content resale terminal, a
The content resale terminal has a means for inquiring the copyright protection management terminal whether or not encapsulation is possible, a means for inquiring the content sale terminal whether or not the capsule can be resold, and a content encapsulation license from the copyright protection management terminal. Based on the request from the content usage terminal, a method of re-encapsulating the capsule of the specified content with reseller information and new sales conditions when the resale of the capsule is permitted from the sales terminal. Means for transferring the re-encapsulated capsule to the content using terminal via the network, and if the content using terminal inquires about whether or not the capsule can be used The copyright protection management terminal has means for determining whether the content is available and notifying the content use terminal of the result of the determination. When a content encapsulation availability inquiry is input from the database that stores information about the target content and the content sales terminal or content resale terminal, the database is referenced to determine the content encapsulation availability, and the result is the content of the inquiry source. Means for notifying the sales terminal or the content resale terminal.

According to the copyright protection management method of the present invention, a content sales terminal for selling digital contents via a network and digital contents obtained via the network are resold within the sales conditions permitted by the contents seller. A content resale terminal for playback and a content use terminal for playing or using digital content obtained via a network, and the content is distributed by a capsule, and is a resale-enabled copyright protection management method in a content distribution system. Therefore, if a content encapsulation availability inquiry is made by the content sales terminal, the content encapsulation availability is determined, the result is notified to the content sales terminal, and the content resale terminal inquires about the resale of the capsule. If the The content resale terminal determines whether capsule resale is possible based on the desired usage conditions, notifies the content resale terminal of the determination result, and the capsule gives the content ID, sales conditions, and copyright information to the content. However, when the content is used, the content use condition is checked, and a capsule control program that enables the content to be used only when the condition is satisfied is added, and the content, its content ID, sales conditions, copyright information, and a capsule control program. Is an integral part of the product and is re-encapsulated with reseller information and new sales conditions added when resale.

The copyright protection management terminal of the present invention resells the digital content obtained through the network and the content sales terminal for selling the digital content through the network, under the sale conditions licensed by the content seller. Content resale terminal and a content use terminal for reproducing or using digital content obtained via a network, the content is distributed by a capsule, and the copyright protection is used in a re-saleable content distribution system. A management terminal,
When a content encapsulation availability inquiry is entered from a database that stores information about content subject to copyright protection and a content sales terminal or content resale terminal, the database is referenced to determine whether content encapsulation is possible, and the result is inquired. A means for notifying the original content sales terminal or the content resale terminal, and the capsule gives the content ID, the sales condition and the copyright information to the content, and checks the content usage condition when using the content. A capsule control program that allows the content to be used only when the conditions are met is made into an integral part of the content, content ID, sales conditions, copyright information, and capsule control program. Information and new sales conditions added It is intended to be re-encapsulated been.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a content distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, in this content distribution system, a content selling terminal 11 for selling digital content via the network 10 and a digital content obtained via the network 10 are provided to the network 10. A content use terminal 13 for reproducing or using, a content resale terminal 17 for reselling digital content obtained via the network within the sales conditions permitted by the content seller, and digital content distribution on the network 10. Copyright protection management terminal 1 for monitoring fraud in
5 and a billing settlement center 16 for performing billing settlement between a user and a seller are connected. Here, only one content sales terminal 11 and one content usage terminal 13 are shown, but in reality, there are many content sales terminals 11 for each content seller or each content. It may be connected to the network 10 according to each user, or there may be a large number of content use terminals 13 for each user or each content and connected to the network 10. Similarly, a large number of content resale terminals 17 will exist for each reseller or each content, and will be connected to the network 10. Normally, only one copyright protection management terminal 15 exists on the network 10, but a plurality of copyright protection management terminals 15 may exist. A plurality of copyright protection management terminals 1
There may be a method of selectively using 5 for each content type (for example, moving image, still image, etc.) or for each content, and a method of operating all copyright protection management terminals 15 in the same manner in consideration of fault tolerance. There is also a possibility.

The billing settlement center 16 is, for example, a user,
In the case where settlement is performed between the reseller and the seller with not a real currency but a community currency, a community currency settlement center may be used. In addition, although the content itself is free, if you need copyright protection to limit the use to a finite number of times or a finite period of time, or to grasp the usage status and distribution status of the content, etc. In some cases, the billing settlement center 16 does not exist.

Here, an IP (internet protocol) network such as the Internet or a semantic information network is assumed as the network 10, but any other network may be used. In this content distribution system, the content sales terminal 11 and the content use terminal 1
3, content resale terminal 17, copyright protection management terminal 15
Communication and data exchange between the billing and settlement centers 16 and distribution of capsules, which will be described later, are all performed via the network 10.

Next, regarding the content sales terminal 11,
This will be described with reference to FIG.

The content sales terminal 11 is used by the content seller 12, and has a content input section 21 into which the content to be distributed by the content seller 12 is input, and an encapsulation for storing the input content. The previous content storage unit 22, the encapsulation request input unit 23 for inputting the encapsulation request from the content seller 12, and the sales conditions (hereinafter, also referred to as usage conditions) from the content seller 12, that is, the price, the usage time, and the usage. Period, usage deadline, usage quality, usage-permitted terminal I
D, a licensed user ID, a resale license condition, and other sales condition input section 24, and the contents stored in the pre-encapsulation content storage section 22 based on the input encapsulation request and sales conditions. Only when the content encapsulation executing unit 25 that executes encapsulation and the copyright protection management terminal 15 inquire about the encapsulation of the content when encapsulating the content, and the consent is obtained from the copyright protection management terminal 15. Content encapsulation availability inquiry unit 26, which allows the content encapsulation execution unit 25 to execute encapsulation, and content encapsulation execution unit 2
Capsule storage unit 27 for storing the capsule formed in 5.
A capsule search response unit 28 that receives a capsule search request from the content use terminal 13 or the content resale terminal 17, searches the capsule storage unit 27, and returns the search result to the content use terminal 13 or the content resale terminal 17, and a content use terminal 13 or a capsule delivery unit 29 that delivers the capsule requested by the content resale terminal 17 to the content use terminal 13 or the content resale terminal 17.

Here, the content encapsulation executing unit 25
Is the content ID (identification number) information, the sales condition information set by the content seller 12, and the copyright for the content designated by the encapsulation request among the content stored in the pre-encapsulation content storage unit 22. While adding information, etc., at least a part of the content is encrypted and a digital watermark is added to the content by an encryption method that can be decrypted by a predetermined playback application, and a capsule control program is added.
These forms an inseparable capsule as an integral part. Here, the capsule control program checks the content usage condition at the time of content usage (playback) by making a capsule usage availability inquiry to the content generation source terminal (the content sales terminal 11 or the content resale terminal 17) and confirms the condition. It is a program that enables the use (reproduction) of the content only when the condition is satisfied, and disables the use (reproduction) when the condition is not satisfied.

The content sales terminal 11 also refers to the user authentication database (DB) 31 and the usage authentication database 31 in order to respond to the inquiry about the availability of the capsule from the content use terminal 13 or the content resale terminal 17. User authentication unit 32 for authenticating users
A capsule availability determination unit 33 and a resale availability determination unit 3
8 and. When the capsule is transferred to the content use terminal 13 and the content use terminal 13 makes a content use (playback) request of the content user, the content use terminal 13 is controlled by the capsule control program included in the capsule, as described later. In some cases, the content sales terminal 11 may make an inquiry as to whether or not the capsule can be used. In such a case, the capsule availability determining unit 33 causes the user authenticating unit 32 to authenticate the user and the user authentication database 31.
The user information is acquired from the user, the availability of the capsule is determined based on the usage condition for the user, and the result is notified to the content use terminal 13. Similarly, when the capsule is transferred to the content resale terminal 17 and the content reseller attempts to resell the content, the content resale terminal 17 sends a resale permission inquiry to the content sale terminal 11. The resale availability determination unit 37 receives the resale availability inquiry, causes the user authentication unit 32 to authenticate the reseller, and the user authentication database 31.
The user information of the reseller is acquired from the content reseller and the usage conditions (sales conditions,
(Including further resale conditions), content sales terminal 11
In step S1, it is determined whether resale can be permitted based on the usage conditions (including sales conditions and resale conditions) set at the time of sale, and the result is notified to the content use terminal 13.

Further, the content sales terminal 11 is triggered by the capsule availability determination based on the above-mentioned content usage request, or by receiving the resale capsule generation notification from the content resale terminal 17, as a trigger. The content use / resale license status management unit 34 for notifying the copyright protection management terminal 15 of the content usage status and the content resale license status as needed, and correcting the content usage status and the content usage status By accessing the content settlement / resale license status management database (DB) 35 that stores the situation and the content resale license status, and the billing settlement center 16 as necessary based on the grasped content usage status and content resale license status. Content users and And billing and settlement center access unit 36 for charging the content resellers, content resale terminal 17
And a resale capsule generation notification receiving unit 38 that receives the resale capsule generation notification from The resale capsule generation notification is output from the content resale terminal 17 as a result of permitting resale to the content resale terminal 17 and generating the resale capsule in the content resale terminal 17. Capsule availability determination unit 3 described above
In 3, the content usage status stored in the content usage status management database 35 may be referred to when determining whether or not the capsule can be used according to the history such as the usage time and the number of times of usage.

Next, regarding the content sales terminal 17,
This will be described with reference to FIG.

The content sales terminal 17 is used by the content reseller 18, and searches for a capsule storage unit 61 for storing capsules containing the content and a capsule (content) that the content reseller 18 wants to resell. In order to do so, the capsule search condition input unit 62 in which the capsule search condition from the content reseller 18 is input, and the capsule search in which the input search condition is transmitted to the content sales terminal 11 and the search result from the content sales terminal 11 is received. A part 63, a capsule search result display part 64 for displaying the obtained search result to the content reseller 18, a capsule download request input part 65 for receiving a capsule download request from the content reseller 18, and a capsule download request. Specified capsule (con Content download terminal 66 from the content sales terminal 11 and stores it in the capsule storage unit 61, an encapsulation request input unit 67 into which a resale encapsulation request from the content reseller 18 is input, and a content reseller. A sales condition input unit 68 for inputting the usage conditions, that is, price, usage time, usage deadline, usage quality, usage-permitted terminal ID, usage-permitted user ID, further resale conditions, whether or not content can be changed for resale from 18 A resale content encapsulation execution unit 69 that generates a resale capsule from the capsules stored in the capsule storage unit 61 and stores the resale capsule in the capsule storage unit 61 based on the input resale encapsulation request and sales conditions. , Encapsulating the copyright protection management terminal 15 when creating a resale capsule A content encapsulation availability inquiry unit 70 that inquires about availability, a resale availability inquiry unit 71 that inquires at the content sales terminal 11 that is the download source of the target capsule when creating a resale capsule, whether resale is possible, and a resale When the capsule is generated, the content sales terminal 1 issues a resale capsule generation notification.
1 and, if necessary, the resale capsule generation notification unit 72 that also transmits the resale capsule generation notification to the copyright protection management terminal 15. Resale availability inquiry section 7
First, the content reseller 18 inquires the content sales terminal 11 whether resale is possible under the usage conditions (sales conditions, further resale conditions) desired to be set by the content reseller 18. Here, only when the encapsulation approval is obtained from the copyright protection management terminal 15 and the resale approval is obtained from the content sales terminal 11, the resale capsule encapsulation execution unit 69 generates the resale capsule. Is acceptable.

Here, the resale content encapsulation executing unit 69 selects the content ID (identification number) information and the content for the content of the capsule designated by the resale encapsulation request among the capsules stored in the content storage unit 61. Information about usage conditions set by the reseller 18, copyright information set by the content seller 12, reseller information set by the content reseller 18, and the like can be added and decrypted by a predetermined reproduction application. At least a part of the content is encrypted by an encryption method and a digital watermark is added to the content, and a capsule control program is added to form a capsule in which these are inseparably included. Here, the capsule control program checks the content usage condition at the time of content usage (playback) by making a capsule usage availability inquiry to the content generation source terminal (the content sales terminal 11 or the content resale terminal 17) and confirms the condition. It is a program that enables the use (reproduction) of the content only when the condition is satisfied, and disables the use (reproduction) when the condition is not satisfied.
The resale content encapsulation execution unit 69, for example, changes the quality in response to a request from the content reseller 18 when the content is permitted to be modified under the usage conditions set by the content sales terminal 11. It has been necroticized so that you can make changes to the content, such as making minor changes, and then create a capsule for resale of that content.

The content resale terminal 17 receives the capsule search request from the content use terminal 13, searches the capsule storage unit 27, and returns the search result to the content use terminal 13. The capsule search response unit 73 and the content use terminal 13 A capsule distribution unit 74 that distributes the resale capsule requested by the content use terminal 13 to the content use terminal 13, and in order to respond to the inquiry of the capsule use availability from the content use terminal 13, the user authentication database (D
B) 75, a user authentication unit 76 that authenticates a user by referring to the usage authentication database 75, and a capsule availability determination unit 77. The resale capsule is transferred to the content use terminal 13 and the content use terminal 13
When the content user makes a content use (playback) request in step 2, the content use terminal 13 inquires of the content resale terminal 17 whether or not the capsule can be used by the capsule control program included in the capsule, as described later. It may be done. In such a case, the capsule utilizability judging unit 77 determines that the user authenticating unit 76
User authentication is performed, user information is acquired from the user authentication database 75, the availability of capsules is determined based on the usage conditions for the user, and the content usage terminal 13 is notified of the result.

Furthermore, the content resale terminal 17 grasps the content usage status or corrects it as necessary, triggered by the above-mentioned capsule usage availability judgment based on the content usage request, and edits the content usage status as necessary. A content usage status management unit 78 for notifying the right protection management terminal 15, a content usage status management database (DB) 79 for storing the content usage status that has been grasped, and a charge settlement as necessary based on the content usage status that has been grasped. A charging / settling center access unit 80 that charges the content user by accessing the center 16. It should be noted that when the capsule availability determining unit 77 described above determines the availability of the capsule according to the history such as the usage time and the number of times of use, the content usage status stored in the content usage status management database 79 is referred to. You can do it like this.

Next, regarding the content use terminal 13,
This will be described with reference to FIG.

The content use terminal 13 stores the capsule distributed from the content sales terminal 11 or the content resale terminal 17, reproduces the content in the capsule, and outputs (presents) it to the content user 14. is there. The content use terminal 13 is a capsule (content) that the content user 14 desires to reproduce.
A capsule search condition input unit 41 to which the capsule search condition from the content user 14 is input,
The entered search conditions are transmitted to the content sales terminal 11 or the content resale terminal 13, and the content sales terminal 1
1 or a capsule search unit 42 that receives a search result from the content resale terminal 13, a capsule search result display unit 43 that displays the obtained search result to the content user 14, and a capsule download from the content user 14. The capsule download request input unit 44 that receives the request, and the capsule (content) specified by the capsule download request are sent to the content sales terminal 11
Alternatively, a capsule download unit 45 that downloads from the content resale terminal 13, a capsule storage unit 46 that stores the downloaded capsules, a capsule use request input unit 47 that receives a capsule use request (reproduction request) from the content user 14, A capsule reproduction output unit 48 that includes predetermined application software necessary for reproduction, reproduces the content in the capsule and outputs the content to the content user 14, and a predetermined decoding application program. And a capsule control program execution unit 49 that executes the encapsulated capsule control program.
The capsule control program execution unit 49 executes the capsule control program to make a capsule availability inquiry to the content generation source terminal (content sales terminal 11 or content resale terminal 13), and uses the capsule based on the inquiry result. Restriction, and if necessary, when the content is used, the copyright protection management terminal 15 is notified of the content usage status.

Next, regarding the copyright protection management terminal 15,
This will be described with reference to FIG.

The copyright protection management terminal 15 includes a copyright protection target content database (DB) 51 that stores information related to content subject to copyright protection, and content encapsulation from the content sales terminal 11 or the content resale terminal 17. When an inquiry is made, whether or not the content can be encapsulated is determined by referring to the copyright-protected content database 51, and the result is notified to the content sales terminal 11 or the content resale terminal 17 whether or not the content can be encapsulated. Judgment unit 52
And the content usage status notification sent from the content sales terminal 11 or the content usage terminal 13 or the content resale terminal 17, and the content resale permission notification sent from the content sales terminal 11 or the content resale terminal 17, All content use / resale license status management unit 53 in the network that grasps the content resale permission status, and all content usage status management database (D in the network that stores the grasped content use status and the content resale permission status)
B) 54 and the grasped content usage status and content resale permission status are analyzed, and there is no unauthorized content usage or unauthorized charging due to falsification of content usage status information within the network, or unauthorized content resale. And a fraudulent billing / unauthorized use / illegal resale inspection unit 55 for detecting whether fraudulent billing due to falsification of content resale license status is not performed in the network.
The copyright protection target content database 51 is a database of characteristics such as file names and contents of copyright protection target content distributed in the city, and sale conditions licensed by the author.

Next, the operation of this content distribution system will be described.

First, the processing when the content seller 12 encapsulates the content in the content sales terminal 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

The content seller 12 uses the content input unit 21 to input the content to be distributed in the content sales terminal 11 (see FIG. 2) (step 10).
1). At this time, assuming that the content is stored in advance in the storage device of the content sales terminal 11, the content content indicating the content of the content as an input parameter,
A content encoding type indicating how the content is encoded, a content storage directory name indicating a directory in which the content is stored, and a content name that is the name of the content are input. The input content is stored in the pre-encapsulation content storage unit 22. Since it is necessary to perform encapsulation when delivering the content, the content seller 12 next inputs an encapsulation request through the encapsulation request input unit 23 (step 102). The encapsulation request is transmitted to the content encapsulation execution unit 25. The content encapsulation execution unit 25 informs the content seller 12 of the price, the usage time, the usage period, the usage deadline, the usage quality, the usage-permitted terminal ID, the usage-permitted user ID, and the resale condition (resale content modification permission, reseller Upon requesting the input of usage conditions (sales conditions) such as content quality changeability, the contents seller 12 inputs the sales conditions from the sales condition input unit 24 (step 103). This sales condition is sent to the content encapsulation execution unit 25. In addition to the sales conditions described above, when a content encapsulation request is made, the content name, license agreement, copyright information, encapsulation password, etc. are input as parameters.

In the content distribution system of the present embodiment, the content encapsulation itself is executed in the content sales terminal 11, but in the P2P content distribution, unspecified unspecified large number of people encapsulate the content. To prevent false encapsulation of content not created by a seller and created by another person as content created by itself, the content encapsulation execution unit 25 determines whether content encapsulation is possible before executing encapsulation. Via the inquiry unit 26, the copyright protection management terminal 1
5 (see FIG. 4) is inquired whether the content can be encapsulated (step 104). In the content encapsulation availability inquiry, as parameters, own user ID, content name, content content, sales conditions, license agreement,
Send copyright information. The content encapsulation availability inquiry is transmitted to the content encapsulation availability determination unit 51 of the copyright protection management terminal 15, and the content encapsulation availability determination unit 51 determines the copyright protection target content database 5
With reference to 2, it is determined whether the content encapsulation has no problem in terms of copyright and sales conditions. As a result of the determination, if the encapsulation is possible, an encapsulation possible notification is notified, and if the encapsulation is not possible, an encapsulation impossible notification is notified to the content sales terminal 11 (step 105).

Now, a method of judging whether or not the content encapsulation is possible in the copyright protection management terminal 15 will be described.

Considering a case where Mr. A, who is a contents seller, desires to encapsulate contents, the contents sales terminal 11 of Mr. A makes a content encapsulation availability inquiry to the copyright protection management terminal 15. As described above, in the copyright protection target content database 52 of the copyright protection management terminal 15, with respect to the copyright protection target content (the music of the label, the video, etc.), the actual content of the content and the allowable sales conditions (price range, The number of times that the content can be used), copyright information (author name, work name, date of creation), and a keyword group used to determine the content as a violation are stored. Then, in determining whether or not the content can be encapsulated, for example, (1) for each copyright protection target content included in the database 52, a comparison is made with a keyword group used for determining that the content is a violating content, Check if the keywords of the content to be encapsulated include those keywords, (2) Judgment using acoustic fingerprint technology,
Alternatively, by embedding a digital watermark in the content subject to copyright protection, the substance of the content desired to be encapsulated does not match the content subject to copyright protection contained in the database, or the sound quality of them has been changed. Check if it is not a product, or if it is not a cutout of a part of it, or if it is not a cutout of a part of it, (3) Desired sales conditions are in the range of allowable sales conditions It is sufficient to use one of the checks such as checking whether it is inside or a combination thereof.

The content sale terminal 11 sends the encapsulation enable / disable notification from the copyright protection management terminal 15 to the content sales terminal 11.
It is transmitted to the content encapsulation execution unit 25 via the content encapsulation availability inquiry unit 26. If the content can be encapsulated, the content encapsulation is executed (step 106), and the generated capsule is stored in the capsule storage unit 27 (step 107). If the content cannot be encapsulated, the content is not encapsulated. At the time when the content encapsulation is executed, the content seller 14 is presented with the content name, the content ID, and the capsule ID to notify that the content encapsulation is completed.
As parameters, own user ID, content name, content content, sales conditions, license agreement, copyright information,
It is preferable to send a content encapsulation end notification including the content ID and the capsule ID to the copyright protection management terminal 15.

Further, when encapsulating the content, it is desirable that the file name of the capsule is a name including the file name of the original content. Because the content search in P2P content distribution is
This is because it is generally performed depending on whether or not the file name includes a predetermined keyword.

Next, the capsule is loaded into the content sales terminal 11
A process for directly delivering content from the content usage terminal 13 to the content usage terminal 13 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the content use terminal 13 (see FIG. 4), the content user 14 inputs the search condition for the desired content using the capsule search condition input unit 41 (step 111). As the search condition, for example, a keyword that should be included in the capsule name is used. This search condition is notified to the capsule search unit 42, and the capsule search unit 42 notifies the content sales terminal 11 of the search request (step 112). Content sales terminal 1
In No. 1, the capsule search response unit 28 receives this search request, and the capsule search response unit 28 searches the capsules stored in the capsule storage unit 27 under the search condition specified in the search request. When a capsule matching the search condition is found, the capsule search response unit 28
The capsule user search result is notified to the content use terminal 13 which is the search request source (step 113). This capsule search result corresponds to the number of capsules hit by the search (the number of search results) and for each hit capsule, for example, a capsule name, a capsule ID, which is necessary when the content use terminal 13 downloads the capsule. Information such as the IP address of the content sales terminal 11 and the port number for downloading (port number in TCP (transmission control protocol)) is included.

In the content use terminal 13, the capsule search result is received by the capsule search unit 42 and displayed to the content user 14 via the capsule search result display unit 43 (step 114).
The content user 14 selects a capsule to download from the displayed capsule search results, and inputs a capsule download request by designating a capsule name to the capsule download unit 45 through the capsule download request input unit 44 ( Step 11
5). The capsule download unit 45 sends a capsule download request including a capsule name and a capsule ID as parameters to the content sales terminal 11 based on the IP address of the content sales terminal 11 holding the selected capsule and the download port number. Notify (step 116). The content sales terminal 11 holding the selected capsule receives the capsule download request at the capsule distribution unit 29, the capsule distribution unit 29 reads the corresponding capsule from the capsule storage unit 27, and transmits the capsule to the content use terminal 13. To do. The content use terminal 13 receives the capsule by the capsule download unit 29 and stores the capsule in the capsule storage unit 46 (step 118).

After that, the content user 14 uses (plays back) the capsules stored in the capsule storage unit 46.
The process will be described later. Further, in this content distribution system, the capsule is distributed from the content resale terminal 17 to the content use terminal 13 at the request of the content user 14,
Distribution of the capsule from the content resale terminal 17 to the content use terminal 13 is performed in exactly the same way as the processing flow shown in FIG.

Next, the capsule is loaded into the content sales terminal 11
The process of delivering from the content to the content resale terminal 17 will be described with reference to FIG.

At the content resale terminal 17 (FIG. 3), the content reseller 18 specifies the search condition for the desired content from the capsule search condition input section 62 (step 121). As the search condition, for example, a keyword that should be included in the capsule name is used. This search condition is notified to the capsule search unit 63, and the capsule search unit 6 is notified.
The capsule search request is notified from 3 to the content sales terminal 11 (step 122). In the content sales terminal 11 (see FIG. 2), the capsule search response unit 28 receives this search request, and the capsule search response unit 28 receives the search request.
Searches for capsules stored in the capsule storage unit 27 under the search condition specified in the search request. When a capsule matching the search condition is found, the capsule search response unit 28 causes the content resale terminal 1 that is the search request source.
7 is notified of the capsule search result (step 12)
3). In addition to the number of search results, the capsule search result includes, for example, the IP address of the corresponding content sales terminal 11, the download port number, the capsule name, and the capsule ID, which are necessary when the content resale terminal 17 downloads the capsule. Information is included.

At the content resale terminal 17, this capsule search result is received by the capsule search unit 63,
It is displayed to the content reseller 18 via the capsule search result display unit 64 (step 124). The content reseller 18 selects a capsule to download from the displayed capsule search results, and notifies the capsule download request to the capsule download section 66 by designating the capsule name via the capsule download request input section 65 ( Step 125). The capsule download unit 66 sends a capsule download request including a capsule name and a capsule ID as parameters to the content sales terminal 11 based on the IP address of the content sales terminal 11 holding the selected capsule and the download port number. Notify (step 126). The content sales terminal 11 holding the selected capsule receives the capsule download request at the capsule distribution unit 29, and the capsule distribution unit 2 receives the capsule download request.
9 reads the corresponding capsule from the capsule storage unit 27 and sends the capsule to the content resale terminal 17 (step 127). The content resale terminal 17 receives the capsule by the capsule download unit 66 and stores it in the capsule storage unit 61 (step 12).
8).

Next, the content reseller 18 encapsulates the content at the content resale terminal 17 for the purpose of reselling (generally, setting different sales conditions and different usage conditions from the content seller). The processing when it is performed will be described with reference to FIG.

The content reseller 18 inputs a resale encapsulation request from the resale encapsulation request input unit 67 in the content resale terminal 17 (see FIG. 3) (step 131). In the encapsulation request for resale, the content reseller 18 selects one of the capsules acquired from the content sales terminal 11 and accumulated in the capsule storage unit 61.
Specify the capsule you want to resell. The resale encapsulation request is accepted by the resale content encapsulation execution unit 69, and thereby the specified capsule is retrieved from the capsule storage unit 61. The resale content encapsulation executing unit 69 informs the content reseller 18 of the price, the usage time, the usage period, the usage deadline, the usage quality, and the usage permission terminal I.
The content reseller 18 is requested to input the usage conditions (sales conditions) such as D, the licensed user ID, further resale license conditions, and whether or not the contents can be changed for further resale.
Inputs the sales conditions from the sales condition input unit 68 (step 132). These sales conditions are sent to the resale content encapsulation execution unit 69. In addition to the sales conditions described above, when requesting re-encapsulation of content, the content name, license agreement, reseller information, encapsulation password, etc. are input as parameters.

The resale encapsulation itself is performed in the content resale terminal 17, but in the P2P content distribution, unreliable unspecified majority encapsulates the content, and therefore the seller of the original capsule to be resold. In order to prevent false encapsulation of content that has not been created by a completely other person, the resale content encapsulation execution unit 69 asks whether or not content encapsulation is possible before executing resale encapsulation. Via the unit 70, the copyright protection management terminal 15 (see FIG. 5) is queried for content encapsulation availability (step 133). In the content encapsulation availability inquiry, as a parameter,
It sends its own user ID, content name, content content, sales conditions, license agreement, copyright information, reseller information, etc. This content encapsulation availability inquiry is transmitted to the content encapsulation availability determination unit 51 of the copyright protection management terminal 15, and the content encapsulation availability determination unit 51.
Refers to the copyright protection content database 52, which is a database of characteristics such as file names and contents of copyright protection content distributed in the city, and sales conditions licensed by the author. , Determine whether there is no problem in terms of copyright and sales conditions. As a result of the determination, if the encapsulation is possible, the encapsulation possible notification is sent to the content resale terminal 17 and if the encapsulation is not possible, the content resale terminal 17 is notified (step 134). The determination as to whether content encapsulation is possible in the copyright protection management terminal 15 here is performed in the same procedure as the determination as to whether content encapsulation is possible in the copyright protection management terminal 15 in the example shown in FIG.

The notice of encapsulation possible (impossible) from the copyright protection management terminal 15 is sent by the content resale terminal 17.
The content is transmitted to the resale content encapsulation executing section 69 via the content encapsulation availability inquiry section 70. If the content encapsulation is possible, the resale encapsulation processing is further continued as described below, and if the content encapsulation is not possible, the resale encapsulation processing is interrupted here.

Next, the content resale terminal 17 confirms with the content sale terminal 11 (see FIG. 2) whether or not the content can be sold under the sale conditions desired by the content reseller. From the resale content encapsulation executing unit 69, the resale availability inquiry is made via the resale availability inquiring unit 71.
(Step 135). Content sales terminal 1
When receiving the resale permission inquiry, the resale permission determination unit 37 determines whether or not the content sale terminal 11 can be licensed against the usage conditions (including sales conditions and resale conditions) set at the time of sale. The result is notified to the content resale terminal 17 (step 136). In the content resale terminal 17, if resale is possible, resale encapsulation processing is executed (step 137). If resale is not possible, the resale encapsulation process is interrupted here. When executing the resale encapsulation process, it is necessary to confirm whether or not the capsule can be used by the terminal that generated the capsule (in this case, the capsule sales terminal 11), as in the case of using the capsule by the content use terminal 13 described later. is necessary.
This process may be performed at the same time as the resale availability inquiry, or as in the case of using the capsule in the content use terminal,
It may be in the form of a capsule availability inquiry.

When executing the resale encapsulation process,
First, the content of the encrypted capsule is decrypted by linking with a predetermined application required for playback or by executing the capsule control program contained in the capsule, and the content is once extracted internally. Be done. After that, encapsulation is performed under the usage conditions set by the reseller. At this time, the content sales terminal 1
Only when the content can be modified under the sales conditions set by 1, the quality of the content is changed or the content is slightly modified as necessary (at the request of the content reseller 18). May be changed.

When the encapsulation for resale is completed, the generated capsule is stored in the capsule storage unit 61 in the content resale terminal 17 (step 143). At this time, a resale capsule generation notification indicating that a capsule for resale has been generated is transmitted to the content sales terminal 11 by the resale capsule generation notification unit 72 (step 138). This resale capsule generation notification is one that includes, for example, its own user ID, content name, content content, sales conditions, license agreement, copyright information reseller information, content ID, and capsule ID as parameters. In response, the resale capsule generation notifying unit 72 also notifies the copyright protection management terminal 15 (step 142). Also, when the content is re-encapsulated, the content name and content ID are sent to the content reseller 18.
Also, it is preferable to present the capsule ID to notify that the encapsulation of the content is completed. When the content sales terminal 11 receives the resale capsule generation notification at the resale capsule notification receiving unit 38, the content use / resale license status management unit 34 recognizes the content resale license status. This content resale license status information is available in the content usage / resale license status management database 3
5 and updates the data in this database as needed. Furthermore, the content sales terminal 11
Based on the resale permission status information stored in the content usage / resale permission status management database 35, the billing and settlement center access unit 36 requests the billing and settlement center 16 to bill the content reseller 18 (step 14).
0). From the billing settlement center 16, a billing settlement request acceptance notification indicating that the billing settlement request has been received is sent to the content sales terminal 11 (step 141). Also,
If necessary, the content sales terminal 11 transfers a resale capsule generation notification to the copyright protection management terminal 15 (step 139). As a result, the copyright protection management terminal 15
Can manage notification of resale license status from both the reseller right approver (contents seller 12) and the resale right beneficiary (contents reseller 18), which facilitates fraudulent discovery.

Next, the processing when the content user 14 uses (reproduces) the capsule downloaded from the content sales terminal 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

The content user 14 notifies the content use terminal 13 of the capsule use request by inputting the capsule name and the desired use condition through the capsule use request input unit 47 (step 15).
1). When the capsule use request input unit 47 receives the capsule use notification, the corresponding capsule is taken out from the capsule storage unit 46, and if necessary, in cooperation with a predetermined reproduction application, the capsule control program execution unit 49.
Thus, the capsule control program contained in the capsule is executed.

Here, the capsule control program confirms with the content sales terminal 11 whether the capsule usage condition is satisfied, based on the content sales terminal address information which is included in the capsule in advance.
A capsule availability inquiry is performed (step 152). In the capsule availability inquiry, the user user ID, user terminal ID, capsule name, capsule ID,
The content ID, the used time, the user user account password, and the desired use condition are used. In the content sales terminal 11, the capsule availability determining unit 33 receives the capsule availability inquiry. Then, the capsule availability determining unit 33 performs user authentication as necessary and acquires user information. In this case, the user account for user authentication is the content sales terminal 11
Need to issue. It should be noted that in this authentication mechanism, a plurality of content sales terminals 1 are connected to the network 10.
Note that if there is 1, each content sales terminal 11 may use its own authentication mechanism to issue its own user account.

The capsule availability determining unit 33 then
The sale condition (usage condition) set in the capsule and the user information acquired from the user authentication database 31 are collated to determine whether or not the capsule can be used. When the number of times of use and the time of use are defined in the sales conditions, the capsule availability determining unit 33 also refers to the content usage status accumulated in the content usage / resale license status management database 35 to refer to the capsule usage status. Determine availability. If encapsulation is available, a capsule availability notification is sent to the content use terminal (step 153). At the same time, the content use / resale license status management unit 34 may use the content usage / resale license status management database 34 as needed (for example, when the usage condition is defined by the number of times of use, and the number of times of use up to now is the content usage / resale license status management database). The content usage / resale license status management database 35 is updated when the number of times of usage needs to be incremented by the current usage). The content use / resale license status management unit 34 further notifies the copyright protection management terminal 15 of the content usage status as necessary (step 154). When the charge should be made, that is, the usage fee should be collected from the user, the content use / resale license status management unit 34 charges the charge settlement center 16 through the charge settlement center access unit 36 based on the content use situation. Request payment (step 155). At this time, user user ID, seller user I
D, billing amount, etc. as billing settlement request Billing settlement center 1
6 will be notified. The billing settlement center 16 transmits a billing settlement request acceptance notification to the content sales terminal 11 (step 156).

Here, a method of determining whether or not the capsule can be used will be described. Mr. A, who is the content seller 12, creates a capsule that can play a certain music twice and has no usage restrictions other than the number of playbacks.
Assume that D is 2256 and that this capsule is sold.

First, assuming that this capsule is delivered to Mr. B (contents user), Mr. B makes a capsule availability inquiry. At this time, in the content use / resale license status management database 35 in Mr. A's content sales terminal, a use count counter is provided for each capsule ID, and the use count counter of capsule ID = 2256 is incremented to 1. . For the number of times the capsule can be used, the content encapsulation execution unit 25
It is judged that the information is available because it is 2 or less. As a result, from Mr. A's content sales terminal 11
A capsule availability notification is sent to Mr.'s content usage terminal 13.

Next, it is assumed that the content user, Mr. C, makes a capsule availability inquiry. As a result, the usage counter of the capsule ID = 2256 is incremented to 2. Since the number of times the capsule can be used is 2 or less, it is determined that the capsule can be used in this case as well, and the content sales terminal 11 of Mr. A to the content usage terminal 1 of Mr. C.
3, the capsule availability notification is sent.

Next, it is assumed that the content user, Mr. D, makes a capsule availability inquiry. As a result, the number-of-uses counter of capsule ID = 2256 is incremented to 3. Since the number of times the capsule can be used is 2 or less, in this case, it is determined that the capsule cannot be used, and the content sales terminal 11 of Mr. A sends a capsule unusable notification to the content use terminal 13 of Mr. D.

In this way, it is determined whether or not the capsule can be used.

When the content utilization terminal 13 receives the content availability notification from the content sales terminal 11, the encrypted content contained in the capsule is decrypted in cooperation with a predetermined reproduction application. . Then, the content is reproduced and displayed to the content user 14 through the capsule reproduction output unit (predetermined reproduction application) 48 (step 158). At this time, the content use terminal 13 also notifies the content protection status to the copyright protection management terminal 15 by the capsule control program based on the copyright protection management terminal address contained in the capsule (step 157).

The content usage status notification sent from the content sales terminal 11 and the content usage terminal 13 to the copyright protection management terminal 15 is the copyright protection management terminal 1.
Use of all contents in network within 5 / Resale license status management unit 53
It is stored in the resale permission status management database 54. Unauthorized billing / unauthorized use / unauthorized resale inspection unit 55 inspects the usage status of all contents in this network / data consistency in resale license management database, and informs the user of unauthorized use of contents and falsification of usage information. It is checked whether the fraudulent billing of is not performed. In this case, the content usage status notification has parameters such as a user user ID, a user terminal ID, a capsule name, and a capsule I.
D, content ID, used time, desired use condition, etc. are included.

On the other hand, when the capsule availability determination unit 33 of the content sales terminal 11 determines that the capsule cannot be used, the content availability terminal 13 is notified of the capsule unavailable. In this case, the content use terminal 13
Capsule use processing is interrupted and the capsule cannot be used. Further, the content in the capsule is rewritten by the capsule control program as necessary (for example, when it is desired to modify the content contents when the time limit has expired). Further, in the content sales terminal 11, the content usage / resale license status management database 35 is rewritten at the same time as the capsule unusable determination is made, if necessary.

Now, a procedure performed by the copyright protection management terminal 15 to detect illegal use of contents will be described.

As described above, when the content is used, the content use terminal 13 notifies the copyright protection management terminal 15 by the capsule control program, and the content sales terminal 11 is inquired of the capsule availability. No, content sales terminal 1
1. The content utilization status notification is sent to the copyright protection management terminal 15 upon the inquiry of the availability of the capsule. The copyright protection management terminal 15 can detect illegal use and fraudulent charge by comparing these two contents usage status notifications. Specifically, when there is no content usage status notification from the content usage terminal 13 but only the content usage status notification from the content sales terminal 11, it is detected that the content sales terminal 11 is fraudulently charged. There is no content usage status notification from the content sales terminal 11, and the content usage terminal 1
If there is a content usage status notification only from 3,
Encapsulated content is an unexpected technique (for example,
It is detected that the encapsulated content has been successfully reproduced and has been improperly used by, for example, creating a spoofing packet by forging a content capsule availability notification packet. Furthermore, if the content usage status notification from the content usage terminal 13 and the content usage status notification from the content sales terminal 11 do not match, it is detected that either one or both has falsified the information. Next, regarding the processing when the content user 14 uses (plays) the capsule downloaded from the content resale terminal 17,
This will be described with reference to FIG. The processing here is the same as the processing shown in FIG. 10 when using (reproducing) the capsule downloaded from the content sales terminal 11.

That is, the content user 14 inputs the capsule use request input unit 4 to the content use terminal 13.
When a capsule usage request (capsule name and desired usage conditions) is notified via step 7 (step 161), the corresponding capsule is retrieved from the capsule storage section 46, and if necessary, in cooperation with a predetermined playback application, the capsule is stored. The control program execution unit 49 executes the capsule control program contained in the capsule. The capsule control program makes a capsule availability inquiry to the content resale terminal 17 based on the content resale terminal address information contained in advance in the capsule, as in the case shown in FIG. 10 (step 162).
In the content resale terminal 17, the capsule availability determining unit 77 receives the capsule availability inquiry, performs user authentication as necessary, and acquires user information. In this case, the user account for user authentication needs to be issued by the content resale terminal 17. Network 1
If there are a plurality of content resale terminals 17 on 0,
It should be noted that each content resale terminal 17 may issue its own user account using its own authentication mechanism.

The capsule availability determining unit 77 then
The sales conditions (usage conditions) set in the capsule are compared with the user information acquired from the user authentication database 75, and the content usage status accumulated in the content usage status management database 79 is also referred to as necessary. Then, it is determined whether or not the capsule can be used. If the encapsulation is available, the content utilization terminal is notified of the encapsulation availability (step 163). At the same time, the content usage status management unit 78 updates the content usage status management database 79 as necessary. The content usage status management unit 78 further notifies the copyright protection management terminal 15 of the content usage status as necessary (step 164). When the fee should be charged, the content usage status management unit 78 is based on the content usage status, as shown in FIG.
As in the case shown in 0, the charging and settlement center access unit 80
Through the, the bill settlement center 16 is requested for bill settlement (step 165). The billing settlement center 16 transmits a billing settlement request acceptance notification to the content resale terminal 17 (step 166). The procedure for determining the availability of capsules at this time is the same as in the case of the example shown in FIG.

When the content use terminal 13 receives the content use permission notification from the content resale terminal 17, the content is decrypted as in the case shown in FIG. Are reproduced and displayed (step 168). At that time, the content usage status notification is also sent from the content usage terminal 13 to the copyright protection management terminal 15 (step 167).

The content usage status notification sent from the content resale terminal 17 and the content usage terminal 13 to the copyright protection management terminal 15 is the copyright protection management terminal 1.
Use of all contents in network within 5 / Resale license status management unit 53
It is stored in the resale permission status management database 54. The fraudulent billing / unauthorized use / illegal resale inspection unit 55 inspects the consistency of data in the entire network content usage status / resale license management database, and as in the example shown in FIG. Use of
It is checked whether illegal charges have been made to the user due to falsification of the usage information. Here again, the content user status notification includes parameters such as the user user ID,
A user terminal ID, a capsule name, a capsule ID, a content ID, an already used time, a desired use condition, and the like are included.

On the other hand, when the capsule availability determining unit 77 of the content resale terminal 17 determines that the capsule is unavailable, the content using terminal 13 is notified of the capsule unavailable. In this case, the content use terminal 13
Capsule use processing is interrupted and the capsule cannot be used. Further, the content in the capsule is rewritten by the capsule control program as necessary (for example, when it is desired to modify the content contents when the time limit has expired). Further, in the content resale terminal 17, the content usage status management database 79 is rewritten at the same time as the capsule unusable determination is made, if necessary.

The content distribution system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. In this system, the content sales terminal 11, the content use terminal 13, the content resale terminal 17, the copyright protection management terminal 15, and the charge described above are used. The settlement center 16 can also be realized by causing a computer such as a server computer or a personal computer (personal computer) to read a computer program for realizing it and executing the program on the computer. For example, the content sales terminal 11 executes the content sales terminal program and the copyright protection management terminal 15 executes the copyright protection management terminal program on a computer. These programs are read into a computer by a recording medium such as a magnetic tape or a CD-ROM, or via a network such as the Internet.

Such a computer generally inputs a central processing unit (CPU), a hard disk device for storing programs and data, a main memory, a keyboard and a mouse, and further, contents as necessary. An input device such as an image scanner, a display device such as a CRT, a liquid crystal display, an audio speaker, a reading device for reading a recording medium such as a magnetic tape or a CD-ROM, and an interface unit for connecting to the network 10. ,,. The hard disk device, main memory, input device, display device, reading device, and interface unit are all logically connected to the central processing unit. In this computer, a recording medium storing a computer program that executes any one of the functions of each of the terminals and the charging and settlement center described above is attached to a reading device, and the program is read from the recording medium and stored in a hard disk device, or an interface is provided. Such a program is read through the storage unit and stored in the hard disk device, and the program stored in the hard disk device is executed by the central processing unit, whereby the above-mentioned functions as terminals and billing settlement centers are realized. It will be.

The present invention has been specifically described above based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Of course there is.

[0082]

As described above, according to the present invention, P
Adapted to 2P content distribution, that is, the feature of P2P content distribution (1) Secondary distribution of content,
(2) Considering the possibility of encapsulation by an unspecified number of untrusted users and (3) the possibility of using (reproducing) content by an unspecified number of untrusted users, and distributing the content. At the same time as being server-free, the copyright protection function secures the merit of P2P content distribution that has high scalability by making the server non-intermediation in most of the processing to eliminate processing concentration points in the network as much as possible, and By implementing unauthorized monitoring of files distributed on the network, it is possible to construct a content distribution system that eliminates the disadvantages of P2P content distribution.

Further, this content distribution system enables the author / seller to collect a copyrighted material usage fee from the user in P2P content distribution.
It is possible to develop a 2P content distribution business.

Further, according to the present invention, resale can be performed during the secondary distribution, and therefore, when the capsule acquired by the reseller is used in the network up to that point, the remaining number of available times is reduced. , It is possible to lower the price than the purchase price for resale by that amount, and it is also possible to lower the price for resale instead of lowering the content quality of the acquired content, and under various usage conditions As the content can be distributed, the content market becomes more attractive and more users can be acquired, which is further effective in developing the content distribution business.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a content distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a content sales terminal in the system shown in FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a content resale terminal in the system shown in FIG.

4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a content use terminal in the system shown in FIG.

5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a copyright protection management terminal in the system shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an inter-terminal sequence diagram showing processing when a capsule is generated by the content sales terminal.

FIG. 7 is an inter-terminal sequence diagram showing a process when a capsule is distributed from a content selling terminal to a content using terminal.

FIG. 8 is a terminal-to-terminal sequence diagram showing processing when a capsule is distributed from a content sales terminal to a content resale terminal.

FIG. 9 is an inter-terminal sequence diagram showing a process when content re-encapsulation is performed by a content resale terminal.

FIG. 10 is an inter-terminal sequence diagram showing processing when using a capsule downloaded from a content sales terminal.

FIG. 11 is an inter-terminal sequence diagram showing a process when using a capsule downloaded from a content resale terminal.

[Explanation of symbols] 10 network 11 Content sales terminal 12 Content sellers 13 Content usage terminal 14 Content users 15 Copyright protection management terminal 16 Billing settlement center 17 Content Resale Terminal 18 Content Reseller

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06F 12/14 320 G06F 12/14 320F (72) Inventor Kiyoshi Ueda 2-3 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. 1 Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Hiroshi Fujii No. 3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo F-Term of Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (reference) 5B017 AA03 BB10 CA16 5B082 GA12 GA13

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A content sales terminal for selling digital content via a network, and a content resale terminal for reselling the digital content obtained via the network under sales conditions licensed by the content seller. A copyright protection content distribution method in a resaleable content distribution system, comprising: a copyright protection management terminal for monitoring fraud in distribution of digital content on the network; If the entitlement of encapsulation is inquired to the right protection management terminal and encapsulation is permitted from the copyright protection management terminal, the content ID for the specified content
And a sales condition and copyright information are added, and when a content is used, the content use condition is checked, and a capsule control program is added to make the content available only when the condition is satisfied. The sales condition, the copyright information, and the capsule control program are encapsulated as an inseparable capsule, and the content is used as a request source of the capsule via the network based on a request from the content use terminal or the content resale terminal. Transfer to the terminal or the content resale terminal, when the content use terminal inquires about the availability of capsules, determine the availability of capsules based on the usage conditions, the determination result to the content use terminal Notify from the content resale terminal When an inquiry is made as to whether or not the capsule can be resold, the content resale terminal determines whether the capsule resale is possible based on the usage conditions desired to be set, and notifies the content resale terminal of the determination result, and the content resale In the terminal, the copyright protection management terminal is inquired whether the encapsulation is possible, the content sales terminal is inquired whether the capsule can be resold, the copyright protection management terminal has permission for encapsulation, and the content sales terminal If the capsule resale is approved by the
Re-encapsulating with reseller information and new sales conditions, transferring the re-encapsulated capsule to the content using terminal via the network based on a request from the content using terminal, When the inquiry about the availability of capsules is made from the terminal, the availability of capsules is determined based on the usage conditions, the determination result is notified to the content usage terminal, and in the copyright protection management terminal, the content is When content encapsulation availability is inquired by the sales terminal, the content encapsulation availability is determined, the result is notified to the content sales terminal, and the content encapsulation availability is inquired by the content resale terminal. Determine whether the content can be encapsulated, and send the result to the content resale terminal. To knowledge, copyright protected content delivery method. 2. The copyright protection management terminal, according to a content usage status notification sent from at least one of the content sales terminal, the content resale terminal, and the content usage terminal, makes unauthorized use of the content, fraudulent billing, or fraudulent use. The copyright-protected content distribution method according to claim 1, wherein resale is detected. 3. The content is modified within the sales conditions set by the content sales terminal when re-encapsulating in the content resale terminal.
Alternatively, the copyright-protected content distribution method described in 2. 4. The content resale terminal transmits a resale capsule generation notification to a corresponding content sale terminal when re-encapsulation is performed, and the content sale terminal relates to content resale based on the resale capsule generation notification. The copyright-protected content distribution method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein charging is performed. 5. A content sales terminal for selling digital content via a network, and a content resale terminal for reselling the digital content obtained via the network under sales conditions licensed by the content seller. A copyright protection management terminal for monitoring fraud in the distribution of digital contents on the network, and the digital contents can be resold, and the digital contents obtained via the network are reproduced on the network. Alternatively, a content use terminal for use can be connected, and the content selling terminal has means for inquiring of the copyright protection management terminal as to whether or not encapsulation is possible, and encapsulation permission from the copyright protection management terminal. The specified content , Content ID
And a sales condition and copyright information are added, and when a content is used, the content use condition is checked, and a capsule control program is added to make the content available only when the condition is satisfied. Means for encapsulating the sales condition, the copyright information, and the capsule control program as an inseparable capsule; and the content use terminal that requests the capsule based on a request from the content use terminal or the content resale terminal. Or, a means for transferring to the content resale terminal and, when an inquiry about the availability of the capsule is made from the content using terminal, the availability of the capsule is determined based on a use condition, and the determination result is the content using terminal. And a content resale terminal When content encapsulation availability is inquired, means for determining content encapsulation availability and notifying the result to the content resale terminal, wherein the content resale terminal is the copyright protection management terminal. Means for inquiring whether or not encapsulation is possible, means for inquiring whether or not the capsule can be resold for the content sales terminal, encapsulation permission is given from the copyright protection management terminal, and capsule resale is permitted from the content sales terminal If there is, for the capsule of the specified content,
Means for re-encapsulating with reseller information and new sales conditions, and transferring the re-encapsulated capsule to the content using terminal via the network based on a request from the content using terminal. Means for determining whether or not the capsule can be used based on the usage condition when the inquiry about the availability of the capsule is made from the content using terminal, and notifying the determination result to the content using terminal. However, the copyright protection management terminal refers to the database that stores information about the content subject to copyright protection, and refers to the database when the content encapsulation permission inquiry is input from the content sales terminal or the content resale terminal. Determine whether the content can be encapsulated, and sell the content as the referral result. Powder or and means for notifying the content resale terminal, copyrighted content distribution system. 6. The content resale terminal has means for transmitting a resale capsule generation notification to a corresponding content sale terminal when re-encapsulation is performed, and the content sale terminal receives the resale capsule generation notification. The copyright-protected content distribution system according to claim 5, further comprising means for grasping the resale license status. 7. The copyright-protected content distribution system according to claim 6, wherein the content sales terminal further includes means for requesting a charge processing to a charge settlement center via the network according to the resale permission status. . 8. The content sales terminal grasps the usage status of the content triggered by an inquiry as to whether or not the capsule can be used from the content usage terminal, and sends a content usage status notification to the copyright protection management terminal. The content resale terminal includes means for grasping the usage status of the content triggered by the inquiry of the availability of the capsule from the content usage terminal, and sending a content usage status notification to the copyright protection management terminal, The copyright protection management terminal is the content sales terminal,
The copyright protection according to claim 5, further comprising means for detecting illegal use, illegal charging, or illegal resale of the content by a content use status notification notified from at least one of the content resale terminal and the content use terminal. Content distribution system. 9. The content use terminal includes means for downloading the capsule and means for executing the capsule control program, and by executing the capsule control program, the content use terminal or the content resale. 9. The copyright protection according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the inquiry about whether or not the capsule can be used is made to the terminal, and the use of the capsule is restricted according to the result of the inquiry as to whether or not the capsule is used. Content distribution system. 10. A content sales terminal for selling digital content via a network, and a content resale terminal for reselling the digital content obtained via the network under sales conditions licensed by the content seller. A copyright protection management method in a content distribution system, comprising: a content use terminal for reproducing or using digital content obtained via the network, wherein the content is distributed by a capsule and can be resold. When the content encapsulation availability is inquired by the terminal, the content encapsulation availability is determined, the result is notified to the content sales terminal, and the content resale terminal inquires about the resale of the capsule. In case the content The sales terminal determines whether the capsule resale is possible or not based on the usage condition desired to be set, and notifies the content resale terminal of the determination result, and the capsule stores the content ID, the sales condition, and the copyright information for the content. When a content is used, content usage conditions are checked, and a capsule control program that makes the content available only when the condition is satisfied is added, and the content, the content ID, the sales condition, the copyright information, and A copyright protection management method in which the capsule control program is inseparably integrated and is re-encapsulated by adding reseller information and new sales conditions at the time of resale. 11. The unauthorized use, unauthorized billing, or unauthorized resale of the content is detected by a content usage status notification sent from at least one of the content sales terminal, the content resale terminal, and the content use terminal. 10. The copyright protection management method described in 10. 12. A content sales terminal for selling digital content via a network, and a content resale terminal for reselling digital content obtained via the network under sales conditions licensed by the content seller. A copyright protection management terminal used in a content distribution system, which comprises a content utilization terminal for reproducing or utilizing digital content obtained via the network, wherein the content is distributed by a capsule and can be resold. When a database that stores information about content subject to copyright protection and a content encapsulation permission inquiry is input from the content sales terminal or the content resale terminal,
Means for determining whether or not content encapsulation is possible by referring to the database and notifying the result to the content sales terminal or the content resale terminal that made the inquiry, wherein the capsule stores a content ID and a content ID for the content. A sale condition and copyright information are added, and when the content is used, a content use condition is checked, and a capsule control program that makes the content available only when the condition is satisfied is added to the content, the content ID, and the content ID. A copyright protection management terminal in which sales conditions, the copyright information, and the capsule control program are inseparable and is re-encapsulated by adding reseller information and new sales conditions upon resale. 13. The copyright protection management terminal uses the content usage status notification notified from at least one of the content sales terminal, the content resale terminal, and the content use terminal to illegally use or illegally charge the content. The copyright protection management terminal according to claim 12, further comprising means for detecting illegal resale. 14. A content sales terminal for selling digital content via a network, and a content use terminal for reproducing or using the digital content obtained via the network, wherein the content is distributed by a capsule. A computer-executable program used in a content distribution system, wherein the capsule gives a content ID, a sales condition, and copyright information to the content, and checks the content usage condition when using the content. A capsule control program that enables the content to be used only when the conditions are satisfied is added, and the content, the content ID, the sales condition, the copyright information, and the capsule control program are inseparably integrated. On the occasion Re-encapsulation is given with reseller information and new sales conditions, and copyright protection is performed when a content encapsulation permission inquiry is made to the computer by the content sales terminal or the content resale terminal. A program for executing a process of determining whether or not content encapsulation is possible by referring to a database that stores information about target content, and a process of notifying the content sales terminal or the content resale terminal of the inquiry source of the result of the determination . 15. Unauthorized use, unauthorized billing, or unauthorized resale of the content according to a content usage status notification sent to the computer from at least one of the content sales terminal, the content resale terminal, and the content use terminal. The program according to claim 14, which causes a process of detecting 16. A computer-readable recording medium, which stores the program according to claim 14 or 15.