JP2003337585A - Content usage system, content usage apparatus, and content recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem, that the use of the contents is insufficient only by a contents-usage licensed apparatus, while preventing contents from being unauthorizedly used. <P>SOLUTION: In the content usage system, the contents including a licensed machine ID, lending information formed by lendable/non-leandable information, time information and authorized/lend information are treated. When the contents held in a contents usage apparatus A are used by a content usage apparatus B, the machine ID of the apparatus B is obtained (A1), and the obtained machine ID is compared with the licensed machine ID of the contents (A2). If a match is found between both the IDs (A2→NO), then the contents may be used on the contents usage apparatus (B) without restriction (A3→B3). If no match is found between both the IDs (A2→YES), then the contents are transferred to the contents usage apparatus (B) with authorized/lend information 'lendable' only when the lendable/non-lendable information is indicative of 'lendable', thereby making the contents usable within the time limit indicated by the time information (A6→B6). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content use system that enables limited use of content sold through a communication network or the like while preventing unauthorized use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Contents such as sample tone waveform data that can be used in electronic music devices such as samplers are stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or purchased from an actual store, or , Can be downloaded and purchased from content sales sites on communication networks such as the Internet. The content thus purchased can be used not only in the electronic music apparatus owned by the user, but also in the electronic music apparatus owned by another person. Further, when the user owns a plurality of electronic music devices, any electronic music device can be used.

However, since the purchased content can be used in a large number of electronic music devices, an illegal copy is easily made, which is not preferable in terms of copyright protection. Therefore, it is conceivable to add usage permission information to the purchased content so that the content can be used only in a specific electronic music apparatus that is licensed. If the content processing capability is insufficient, a situation occurs in which the content cannot be fully used.

For example, in a content use system in which a plurality of samplers are connected as a network as an electronic music apparatus, the number of sounds and the number of multiparts of the sampler for the content stored in a sampler,
Processing may stop because of limited capacity such as memory size. In that case, the content needs to be processed by the second sampler, but if the second sampler is not licensed, this content cannot be fully utilized.

[0005]

In view of such circumstances, the present invention can prevent illegal use of content and can cope with the case where the use of the content is insufficient only with the content use licensed device. The purpose is to provide a content usage system that can be used.

[0006]

According to the main feature of the present invention, a device information acquisition unit (A) for acquiring a device ID of a content using device (B) that intends to use a content.
1) and detection means (A2, A5, B40) for detecting a licensed device ID (licensed device ID) from the content.
And a comparing means (A2) for comparing the detected licensed device ID with the acquired device ID, and both compared IDs.
If they match (A2 → NO), the content can be used without restriction on the content using device (B) (A2).
7 → B3), if both IDs do not match (A2 → YE
S), the content using device (B) can use the content with a time limit (A3 → A6 → B4 = B).
40-B49) Usage determining means (A3, B3; A4-A)
6, B4), a content utilization system [claim 1] is provided. Note that parentheses represent reference symbols or terms in Examples described later, and the same applies below.

In this content use system, the detection means (A2, A5, B40) detect the time limit information (ILb) from the content (B40), and use decision means (A).
3, B3; A4 to A6, B4) make the content available within the time limit indicated by the time limit information (ILb) when both IDs do not match (A2 → YES) (A).
6, B4) (claim 2).

Further, in this content utilization system, the detection means (A2, A4, B40) uses the availability information (A2, A4, B40) indicating whether or not the content can be used by the content-using device that does not have the licensed device ID. ILa), and use determination means (A3, B
3; A4 to A6, B4) do not match both IDs (A2 →
Only when (YES) and the availability information (ILa) indicates availability (A5 → YES), the content can be configured to be available with a time limit (A6, B4) (claim 3). .

Further, the use determining means (A3, B3; A4 to A6, B4) of this content use system duplicates the content which is available (A6) with a time limit and stores it in a recording medium. Alternatively, a prohibiting means (B42 to B45) for prohibiting transfer to a content using device other than the content using device can be provided [claim 4].

According to another feature of the present invention, a transfer destination designating means (A1) for designating a content utilizing device (B) which is a content transfer destination, and licensed device designation information (licensed device ID) are detected from the content. Detection means (A2),
When the device information (device ID) for specifying the content using device (B) specified as the transfer destination is not included in the licensed device specifying information (A2 → YES), it can be used within the content with a predetermined restriction. A writing unit (A6) for writing loan information (ILc) to that effect, and a transfer unit (A6) for transferring the content in which the loan information (ILc) is written to the content use device (B) designated as the transfer destination. A content utilization device (A) [claim 5] provided is provided.

According to still another feature of the present invention, a transfer destination designating means (A1) for designating a content utilizing device (B) which is a destination of content transfer, a device ID permitted to use the content, and a use time limit are attached. The detection means (A2, A5) for detecting the availability information (ILa) and the device ID of the content use device (B) designated as the transfer destination do not match the licensed device ID (A2 → YES), and The availability information (ILa) indicates availability (A5
Only when YES, transfer means (A) for transferring the content to the content use device (B) designated as the transfer destination.
6) and a content using device (A) [claim 6] are provided.

Further, the content utilization device (A) according to the present invention has a transfer destination designating means (A1) for designating a content utilization device (B) which is a transfer destination of the content, and a licensed device ID and the number of times of use from the content. Detection means (A2, which detects the restriction information (ILa: number of times usable)
A51), the content use device designated as the transfer destination is a non-licensed device having a device ID that does not match the licensed device ID (A2 → YES), and the number-of-uses limitation information (ILa) indicates that the device is usable. Yes (A51 → YE
At the time of S), a transfer means (A6) for transferring the content to the content using device (B) designated as the transfer destination, and a use for updating the number-of-uses limitation information corresponding to the transfer of the content to the non-licensed device Regarding the number of times updating means (A52) and the content indicating that the updated usage time restriction information indicates unusable, when a non-licensed device is newly designated as the transfer destination (A51 → NO), the function of the transfer means (A6) And a transfer prohibiting means (A7) for prohibiting the transfer.

Further, the content using device (A) according to the present invention has a transfer destination designating means (A1) for designating a content using device (B) which is a transfer destination of the content, and a device ID and a use time for which the content has been licensed. The detection means (A2, A55) for detecting the restriction information (ILd) and the usage-unlicensed device having the device ID in which the content-used device designated as the transfer destination does not match the licensed device ID (A2 → YES) And usage time restriction information (ILd)
Indicates that the content is available (A55 → YES), depending on the transfer means (A6) for transferring the content to the content using device designated as the transfer destination, and the use time of the content transferred to the non-licensing device. Use time limit information (I
Regarding the usage time updating means (A61) for updating Ld) and the content in which the updated usage time restriction information indicates that the usage is prohibited, when the non-licensed device is newly designated as the transfer destination (A55 → NO), the transfer is performed. A transfer inhibiting means (A7) for inhibiting the function of the means (A6) is provided [claim 8].

According to another feature of the present invention, content acquisition means (B40) for acquiring the content transferred from another content utilization device (A) to which the content usage permission is given, and the content can be used from the acquired content. A detection unit (B40) that detects information (ILa) and a connection confirmation unit (B) that checks the connection state with another content utilization device (A) according to the detection of the available information (ILa).
47) and the use determining means (B) that makes the content available only while the connection confirming means confirms that the content is connected to another content using device (A).
48 → B41) is provided, and a content using device (content using device B for which “A2 → YES”) is provided [claim 9].

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a content entity and a licensed device ID (licensed device ID) for specifying a content-usable device that can use the content.
And a content recording medium readable by an information processing apparatus that stores content availability information (ILa) indicating whether content can be used with a time limit in a content using device that does not have the licensed device ID. [Claim 10], a content entity, a licensed device ID (licensed device ID) that identifies a content-usable device that can use the content, and a time limit in the content-used device that does not have this licensed device ID. There is provided a content recording medium (claim 11) that can be read by an information processing device that stores time limit information (ILb) when using attached content.

[Operation of the Invention] According to the content use system of the present invention, a content use permitted device (A2 → N) that has a device ID that matches the use permitted device ID included in the content and is permitted to use the content.
Only in O), the content (A3) can be normally used (B3), and thus illegal use can be prevented. Furthermore, the device ID that matches the licensed device ID
Even if the content-use-unlicensed device (“A2 → YES” for content-use device B) that does not have the permission to use the content is not permitted, the content (A6) can be temporarily used ( B4). For example, in a content use device such as a sampler, even if the number of simultaneous pronunciations of the content (waveform data) or the number of parts is insufficient in the content use licensed device (A), the shortage may occur temporarily in the content use non-licensed device. Can be supplemented.

In this content utilization system, the content is provided with the time limit information (ILb) in response to the above-described time-limited content use, so that the time limit is represented by the time limit information (ILb). Content can be made available (B41 to B4
9).

In this content utilization system, in response to the above-described time-limited content utilization, whether or not the content can be time-limited in the content utilization device that does not have the licensed device ID is determined from the content. By including the availability information (ILa) to be expressed in the content, the content can be used with a time limit only when the availability information (ILa) indicates availability (A5 → YES) ( B41-
B49).

In this content use system,
Means to prohibit copying, saving or transferring of contents (B4
2 to B45), when the content is used with a time limit (A6), it is impossible to copy the content, store it in a recording medium, or transfer it to another content using device. .

Content-use device (A) according to the present invention
In the above, the content is transferred to the content use non-licensed device (the content use device B for which “A2 → YES” is satisfied) whose device information is not included in the licensed device designation information, and is lent,
At this time, the content is processed (writing of loan information) and transferred so as to indicate that the content is loan content. Therefore,
The content is transferred from the content-usage-licensed device (A) to the content-use-unlicensed device and rented with a predetermined limitation. In the content-use-unlicensed device that received the loan, the content is a loan content. It is possible to identify the fact and use the corresponding content.

Content-utilizing device (A) according to the present invention
, The device ID does not match the licensed device ID of the content.
When the content use device B) is “YES”, the content use information (ILa) included in the content indicating whether or not the content can be used with time limitation is “available” indicates “available”. The content can be transferred only to. Therefore, when transferring the content from the content-use permitted device (A) to the content-use-unlicensed device and lending the content, it is possible to transfer the content only when it is “loanable”, and the non-loanable content is erroneously used as the content-use-disabled content. It is possible to prevent lending to a licensed device.

In the present invention, the number-of-uses limitation information (ILa: available number of times) is written in the content, and the content-use device (A) of the lender is the content-use device (B) of the lender. Is a content-use-unlicensed device (A2 → YES), the number-of-uses limitation information (ILa) is updated each time the content is transferred to the use-unlicensed device and used (reproduced) by using a calculation method such as subtraction. However, since the updated content time restriction information indicates that the content cannot be used, the content cannot be transferred thereafter [A51 (NO) → A7],
The lending source (A) can control the number of times the content is used (the number of times of reproduction).

Further, according to the present invention, the usage time restriction information (ILd) is written in the content, and the content utilization device (A) of the lender is not used by the content utilization device (B) of the lender. In case of licensed device (A
2 → YES), the usage time limit information (ILd) is updated according to the usage time of the content by a calculation method such as subtraction according to the elapsed content usage (playback) time (A
52) Since the content whose updated usage time restriction information (ILd) indicates that it cannot be used is not transferable thereafter [A55 (NO) → A7], the total usage time (playback time) of the content is It can be controlled by the lender (A).

In the content use device according to the present invention, when the content is loaned from the content use permitted device (A) to the content use non-permitted device (content use device B for which "A2 → YES"), the content use is permitted. In the non-licensed device, the connection state with the content usage permitted device (A) is checked, and the content can be used only while connected to the content usage permitted device (A). Therefore, in the content-licensed device to which the content has been lent, the content can be used only while the content-licensed device (A) is connected, and the content lending is being used by the content-licensed device (A). Can be limited to.

The content recording medium according to the present invention includes the content entity, the licensed device ID and the availability information (ILa), and the availability information (IL).
By a), it is indicated whether or not it is possible to use the content with a time limit in the content use non-licensed device (the content use device B for which “A2 → YES”) does not have the use-permitted device ID. Therefore, in the content using device (A, B), the usability information (ILa) of the content stored in this content recording medium.
It is possible to prevent the rentable content from being used with a time limit, and prevent the rentable content from being rented to the content use non-licensing device by mistake.

The content recording medium according to the present invention contains the licensed device ID and the time limit information (ILb) together with the content entity, and the time limit information (IL
By b), the time limit for using the content with the time limitation in the content use non-licensing device that does not have the use permitted device ID (the content using device B for which “A2 → YES”) is indicated. Therefore, the content use non-licensing device can use the content stored in the content recording medium within the time limit indicated by the use time information (ILb).

[0027]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are merely examples, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[System Overview] FIG. 1 is a schematic network configuration diagram of a content using system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the system includes a content sales site 1, a wide area communication network 2 such as the Internet, a relay device (router) 3, a local communication network 4 such as a LAN, a plurality of content utilizing devices (electronic music devices) 5, and the like. , Content usage equipment 5
Can partially or entirely function as a content purchase device.

The content sales site 1 uses electronic music information (music content) such as sound waveform data (sound data), MIDI data, electronic musical score data, incoming melody, karaoke data, video data with music, etc. used in each content utilizing device 5. It has the function of delivering Note that the content sales site 1 is not limited to a content distribution site dedicated to music information, but may also function as a distribution site for text information such as news and images such as a standby screen, or may be a shopping site, or information search. It can be a site.

The local communication network 4 is constructed by a protocol suitable for transmitting and receiving music data. For example, it is constructed by mLAN (registered trademark of Yamaha Corporation) based on the IEEE 1394 standard. Other than this, it may be constructed by a protocol such as Ethernet (registered trademark of Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.), or a plurality of protocols may be mixed. For example, there is a method in which mLAN is used for real-time transmission of music data and Ether Net is used for file transmission.

The content utilizing device 5 includes an electronic music apparatus 5a dedicated to music information processing such as a sampler and an electronic musical instrument.
And a personal computer (PC) 5b having a music information processing function. In this system, in addition to the dedicated electronic music apparatus 5a and the PC 5b, the content utilizing apparatus 5 further includes a music game machine, a karaoke apparatus, a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone, and a portable music information storage medium. Also included are electronic music devices such as sales terminals, and so on. In addition, these content utilization devices 5 have unique device IDs, and a nickname can be set by the user.

The above-mentioned dedicated electronic music apparatus 5a and PC 5b
Content-use device 5 including various electronic music devices such as
Can use (use) the contents sold on the contents selling site 1, and each unique device ID is used as the contents using device ID. Of these content utilization devices 5, devices that can communicate with the content sales site 1 have a function as a “content purchase device”, and the licensed device I distributed from the content sales site 1
The D-embedded content can be downloaded to the storage medium by the content purchase device. Further, the storage medium in which the licensed device ID embedded content is recorded has a content using device ID that matches the licensed device ID.
Through, a plurality of content utilization devices (including the content purchase device) can be accessed.

Here, an example of purchasing content in this content utilization system will be described. Among a plurality of content use devices 5 (5a, 5b) communicatively connected via the local communication network 4, a certain content use device (content purchase device) is one of a plurality of content use devices that are licensed to use the content. The device ID is registered in the content sales site 1, and the content use device for which a license for the desired content is desired is designated. The content sales site 1 distributes to the content purchase apparatus the content in which one or more licensed device IDs representing the device IDs of all the instructed content use devices are embedded, and at this time, the already sold content is already licensed. The content used on the content-using device is sold at a discount. The distributed content has a licensed device ID embedded in the header part or a digital watermark in the actual data part, and can be freely used by a content utilization device having this licensed device ID.

Note that the content purchase apparatus is a content sales site 1 like a general personal computer.
The device may be a purchase-dedicated device that communicates with and receives the distribution of the music content but does not have the music information utilization function.
Further, the content use device 5 that can use the content purchased from the content sales site 1 is not only the content use device connected to the local communication network 4 but also another content use device individually connected to the content purchase device. Or device ID by content purchase device
Other content utilization devices that can use the storage medium in which the embedded content has been downloaded are included.

[Hardware Configuration of Each Content Utilizing Device] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the content utilizing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a dedicated electronic music apparatus such as a sampler is used as the content using apparatus 5, and a central processing unit (CPU) 5A, read only memory (ROM) 5B, random access memory (RAM) 5C, External storage device 5
D, A / D converter 5E, detection circuit 5F, display circuit 5
G, tone generator circuit 5H, effect circuit 5J, communication interface (communication I / F) 5K, MIDI interface (M
IDI / I / F) 5L and the like, and these devices 5A to
5L are connected to each other via a bus 5M.

The CPU 5A uses the clock of the timer 5N in accordance with a predetermined software program to perform music information processing such as sound waveform sampling, and various processing related to content such as content purchase, usage, transfer, and type information rewriting. Performs various controls including RO
For this purpose, the M5B stores a control program such as a music information processing program, various processing programs related to purchase and use of contents, and control parameters. The RAM 5C includes a DRAM and is used as a work area for storing data and parameters necessary for various types of processing, and temporarily storing various types of data being processed.

The external storage device 5D is a compact disk read / write device in addition to the hard disk drive (HDD).
The content utilization device 5 is composed of a device using a portable storage medium such as an only memory (CD-ROM), a flexible disk (FD), a magneto-optical (MO) disk, a digital multipurpose disk (DVD), and a semiconductor memory.
The music information (content) used in (5a, 5b) can be stored, and other data regarding the purchase of the content, the content purchase processing program, and the like can be recorded.

The A / D converter 5E converts an analog audio waveform signal from the audio input source device 5P connected to the A / D converter 5E into digital audio waveform data and converts it into sound waveform sampling data (sound data). Take in.

The detection circuit 5F detects the content of the setting / control operation by the panel operator 5Q such as a switch connected to the detection circuit 5F and introduces it into the content utilizing device 5. The panel operator 5Q is an operator that inputs various kinds of information on the operation panel in order to set the operation state of the content utilizing device 5 or to communicate with the content sales site 1. When a PC is used as the electronic music apparatus, a pointing device such as a keyboard or a mouse is used as the panel operator 5Q. The display circuit 5G controls the display contents of the display device 5R connected thereto according to the instruction from the CPU 5A, and the display device 5R has a display (display).
And various indicators are included.

An effect circuit 5J including a DSP is connected to the sound source circuit 5H, and a sound system 5S including a D / A converter, an amplifier and a speaker is connected to the effect circuit 5J. These devices 5H, 5J, and 5S form a musical sound generation unit that generates a musical sound based on music data such as sound data input or stored in the system and distribution contents. It should be noted that this system can be provided with a sound emitting means (not shown), if necessary.

The communication I / F 5K is connected to the other device 6 via a local communication network 4 such as a LAN, and the other device 6 is connected to another electronic music apparatus, PC, relay device (router) 3 or the like. Etc. are included. Therefore, this electronic music device is not only capable of communicating with other electronic music devices and PCs, but as shown in FIG. 1, through this relay device (router) 3 and wide area communication network (Internet etc.) 2, It is possible to communicate with the content sales site 1. Furthermore, in this example, MIDI I / F3
1 is connected to another electronic music apparatus 38 capable of handling MIDI format music information, which enables MI
DI music information can be exchanged.

Although not shown in particular, the content sales site 1 is composed of a server computer having substantially the same components as in FIG. 2, and sound wave data (sound data), MIDI data, electronic musical score data, incoming melody, karaoke. Data, electronic music information (contents) such as video data with music, etc. on a hard disk (HD)
Is recorded in a large-capacity storage medium of an external storage device such as
Under the control of the CPU, according to a control program such as a content sales processing program stored in a storage device such as a ROM, content sales processing related to the sales of these contents is executed. It should be noted that the content sales site 1 has an A / D converter 5E connected to the audio input section 5P, a musical sound generating means (5H, 5J, 5S), and M.
The IDI / I / F 5L need not be provided as an essential component.

[Content Storage Format] In one embodiment of the present invention, the content stored in the storage medium is licensed so that the content can be used only in the licensed content use device (electronic music apparatus). The content use device ID that identifies one or more of the obtained content use devices is embedded in a predetermined format as a “license device ID”. FIG. 3 shows an example of a content storage format according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the content transmitted from the content sales site 1 and stored in the storage medium of the content using device 5 includes a header portion in which header data including the name and number of the content is recorded, and substantial data such as sample waveform data. The recorded content entity part and the licensed device ID and lending information I
L is embedded in the header part or the content entity part in a predetermined format.

The licensed device ID specifies one or a plurality of content-using devices (referred to as "contents-licensed devices" or simply "licensed devices") that are licensed to use the information of the content entity. The content-use device ID is recorded. The loan information is, as shown on the right side of FIG.
a, lending time information ILb, and type information ILc.

The lending permission / non-permission information ILa indicates whether or not the content can be loaned to a content using device (“content use non-licensing device” or simply “non-licensing device”) that does not have a licensed device ID. That is, it indicates whether or not the device can be used by the content use non-licensing device, and is also called “usability information”. Loan time information I
Lb represents the time limit for content use when the loan allowance / non-allowance information ILa is loanable, and is also called “time limit information”. That is, the content for which the lending availability / unavailability information ILa indicates that the lending is “available” can be used within the time limit indicated by the lending time information ILb even if it is an unlicensed device.

The type information ILc indicates whether the content is a legitimate content (“legal”) or a content lent from another content utilization device (“lending”), and is “regular / lending”. Also called "information". The original content purchased by downloading from the content sales site 1 to the content utilization device 5 is
The type information ILc is set to “regular” (that is, regular content).

The method of embedding the licensed device ID in the content is as follows. 1. The licensed device ID is directly embedded in the header part of the content (FIG. 3A). 2. A predetermined operation such as encryption is added to the licensed device ID, and this is embedded in the header part of the content (FIG. 3A). The licensed device ID
The digital watermark embedding means WB embeds the digital watermark as it is in the actual part of the content (FIG. 3B).
4. There is a method in which a predetermined operation is added to the licensed device ID, and the digital watermark embedding means WB embeds it in the actual part of the content as a digital watermark (FIG. 3B).

In the format example (1) shown in FIG. 3A, the licensed device ID and the lending information IL described above are embedded in the header part, and the header data representing the name and number of the content is "other data". It is recorded in the header part. Further, in the format example (2) shown in FIG. 3B, header data is recorded in the header part, and a plurality of licensed device IDs and lending information IL of the content are recorded in the content entity part as digital watermark embedding means. W
By B, it is embedded as a digital watermark in the content entity (the contents of the lending information IL is the same as the right side of FIG. 3A).

[Operation Flow of Content Utilization] FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing an operation example of content utilization in the content utilization system according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, the outline of the content use of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the content use system according to the present invention, the licensed device ID and the loan approval / disapproval information IL
a, time information ILb and type (regular / loan) information ILc
Content including the loan information IL composed of is handled. When the content in the content-licensed device A is to be used by the content-using device B, the device ID of the device B is acquired (A1), and this device ID is compared with the licensed device ID of the content (A2). Where both I
When D matches (A2 → NO), the content can be used in the content using device (B) without restriction (A3 → B3). On the other hand, if both IDs do not match (A
(2 → YES), the type information ILc is set to “lending” and the content is transferred to the device (B) only when the lending approval / disapproval information ILa indicates lending “possible”, and used within the time limit indicated by the time information ILb. Yes (A6 → B4).

Now, according to the operation flow example shown in FIG.
The operation of this content usage system will be explained in detail. Now, when the content using device A has a licensed device ID of a certain content and is permitted to use the content, when the content is to be transferred from the content using device A to another arbitrary content using device B, The system works as follows.

When the content using device A acquires the device ID of the content using device B to which the content is to be transferred and designates the content using device B as the transfer destination of the content (step A1), the content is
It is determined whether or not the content use device B of the transfer destination is not permitted (step A2). That is, it is checked whether the device ID of the content using device B is included in the licensed device ID of the content.

Here, the device ID of the content using device B
Matches the licensed device ID of the content, and it is determined that the content using device B is a licensed device (A2
→ NO), immediately perform a process of transferring the content to the content using device B (step A3), and then
The operation on the content utilizing device A side ends. That is,
If the content-using device B is a licensed device, the content is transferred to the device B as it is, and can be used without any restriction on the device B side as described later (B3).

On the other hand, when it is determined that the content using device B is a content use non-licensing device that does not have a device ID matching the licensed device ID of the content (A2
→ YES), check the loan allowance / impossible information ILa included in the content (step A4), and subsequently determine whether the loan allowance / impossible information ILa indicates loan “OK” (step A5). .

Here, when the lending permission / non-permission information ILa indicates that the lending is “permitted” (A5 → YES), the type information ILc of the content is changed from “regular” to “lending” and the content is used. Transfer to device B (step A
6) After that, the operation on the side of the content using device A ends. That is, when the content using device B is a non-licensed device, the content is set to type information ILa = “lending” and transferred, and as described later, the device B side limits the time based on the lending time information ILb. Is attached to enable use (B4).

On the other hand, when the lending permission / non-permission information ILa indicates that the lending is “not permitted” (A4 → NO), the content utilization device is displayed on the screen (5R) of the display (5R) or the sound emitting means to the effect that “the lending is impossible”. The user A is warned (step A7), and after this warning, the operation on the side of the content utilizing device A ends. That is, loanable / unavailable information ILa =
When the loan is “not permitted”, the content cannot be used by the content use non-licensing device B.

When the content is transferred from the content using device A to the content using device B (A3, A6),
When the content-using device B receives the content and receives a D
The data is stored in the RAM (5C) or HD (5D) (step B1). Next, it is determined whether or not the type information of the received content indicates “loan”, and the type information = “regular”
If (B2 → NO), the content can be used normally without any restriction (the time limit of the lending time information ILb is not considered) (step B3). The operation on the device B side ends.

On the other hand, when the type information of the received content = “lending” (B2 → YES), the operation of “content usage for lending” (step B4) is started, and lending time information I
The content can be used under the time limit of Lb. When this "use of contents by loan" is completed,
The operation on the content using device B side ends.

FIG. 5 shows a detailed operation flow of "content usage for lending". "Use of contents by lending"
In (step B4), first, at the start or end of receiving the content, a timer (5N) is set in accordance with the lending time information ILb to start measuring the content use time (step B40). After the timer starts counting, the content can be used (step B41).
For example, when the content utilizing device is a sampler or the like, the device B executes a sounding process for a sound channel or a part lacking on the device A side.

However, the above-mentioned content usage does not include transfer of the content to another content-using device, duplication of the content or storage in the external storage medium (5D). That is, it is determined whether or not there is a transfer instruction to another content using device (step B4).
2) If there is a transfer instruction to another device (B42 → YE
S), and warns the user of the content using device B via the display (5R) or the sound emitting means that the transfer cannot be performed (step B43). Further, after the warning that transfer is impossible or when there is no transfer instruction (B42 → NO), it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to copy or save to an external storage medium (step B44), and such a copy is made. Alternatively, if there is a save instruction (B44 → YES), the user is similarly warned that the copy or save cannot be performed (step B45).

Next, after the warning of copying or saving, or when there is no instruction of copying or saving (B44 → NO), whether or not the lending time set based on the lending time information ILb has elapsed at present. Is determined by a timer (5N) (step B4)
6). Here, when the lending time has not elapsed, the connection state with the content-using device A of the lender that has transferred the content is checked (step B47), and the content-using device B is now the lender-source device A. Connection (direct cable, wireless, local communication network 4,
Etc.) is checked (step B48).

When the lending source device A is connected (B48 → NO), the lending time does not elapse (B48 → NO).
46 = NO), the operation (B41 to B46) regarding the use of the content and the transfer / copy / save instruction is continued. Then, when it is no longer connected to the lending source device A (B48 → YE
S), and the content is DRAM (5C) or HD (5
It is erased from D) (step B49), and the "content use for lending" ends.

Even when the connection with the lending source device A is maintained (B48 = NO), when the lending time elapses (B4
6 → YES), the content is DRAM (or HD)
Delete from (B49), "Use content for loan"
Ends.

[Limitation on Number of Uses of Content] In the embodiment according to the operation example of FIG. 4, the loan availability information ILa has been described as adopting a binary value of loan “available” or “not available”, but the loan availability information ILa. May be implemented as a value that can take three or more values. In this case, the lending approval / disapproval information ILa can be treated as indicating the number of times the content can be reproduced (the number of times the content can be used), and the number of times the content can be used by the content-use-unlicensed device can be limited. In this embodiment, the content lending permission / prohibition information ILa is expressed by a numerical value such as “0”, “1”, “2”, ... Is the number of reproducible times, which indicates that the number of reproducible times is a value of "1" or more, which indicates that the loan is "allowable", and the value of "0" indicates that the loan is "unavailable".

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing another operation example of content use in the content use system according to the embodiment of the present invention. This "operation flow example [2]" realizes the management of the number-of-times limitation according to the above-described embodiment in the content using device A that is the lender's device, and in step A5 in comparison with the operation flow example of FIG. Instead, step A51 in which the same determination as this is performed
In response to the affirmative output (YES) of No., the number of times of content use can be managed by a simple configuration change of adding step A52 for subtracting the number of times each time content is transferred.

More specifically, in the case where the content use device B, which is the transfer destination (lending destination) of the content, is an unlicensed device for the use of the content (A2 →
YES), the lending / non-lending information of the content, that is, the reproduction count information ILa is checked (A4), and it is determined whether the value of this information ILa exceeds "0" (is "1" or more) (A51). ). Here, if the value of the number-of-times information ILa is not “0” and the lending is possible (A51 → Y)
ES), after subtracting the value of the number-of-times information ILa (“−1”) and consuming the number of reproducible times for this content (A
52), processing is performed so that the content is transferred to the lending device B with the type = “lending” (A6). The subtraction of the number of times (A51) may be performed after the transfer step (A6). If the value of the number-of-times information ILa is “0” (A5
(1 → NO), the content transfer is prohibited, and the process proceeds to the warning step (A7) of “unable to lend”.

By the above-described processing, the lending / non-lending information ILa is expanded in the number of reproducible times information, and the number of reproduction (use) times when the lending destination device is a content use non-licensed device is determined for each content. Can be managed.

[Total Time Limit of Content Usage] As another embodiment, the lending time information I that defines the time limit for each time the non-licensed device uses the content.
In addition to Lb, "remaining loan time information ILd" representing the maximum time when the content can be used may be added to the header of each content. FIG. 7 is another example of a storage format of content stored in a storage medium on the side of a content using device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is another example of a content using device system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart showing the operation example of is shown. That is, as shown in the data structure of the content shown in FIG. 7, the remaining lending time information ILd indicating the “remaining lending time” in which the loaned content can be used is added to the content header, and the operation flow example of FIG. 3], the remaining lending time ILd of the content is set to the lending source device (A).
It is possible to realize the above-mentioned other embodiment by managing with.

As for FIG. 8, steps A1 to A
7, B1 to B3 have the same functions as the steps with the same symbols in the operation flow example of FIG. 4, of which steps A1 to A4 and B1 to B3 are simplified and displayed. Further, step B4 ′ shows a routine of “content usage in loan (2)” processing which is executed in place of “content usage in loan” processing step B4 in FIG. 4, and is a component of this processing. B40 to B49 have the same functions as the steps with the same symbols in the operation flow example of FIG. 5, of which steps B40 to B48 are simplified and displayed.

In this embodiment, the lending source device is
For each content, the value of the remaining lending time information ILd is decremented during the period of lending the content to the non-licensed device so that the value of the remaining lending time information ILd becomes “0”, or the lending destination. The remaining loan time information ILd is repeatedly decremented until "contents deleted" information indicating that the contents have been deleted is received from the device. Then, the content in which the remaining lending time information ILd is set to "0" or less is controlled so as to be treated as a content that cannot be loaned to other non-licensed devices.

Hereinafter, a more detailed description will be given according to the operation flow example [3] of FIG. 8 in which the remaining loan time information ILd is managed in the content utilizing device A which is the lending source device. The content-using device B, which is about to transfer the content, is a non-licensing device regarding the use of the content (A2 → YES), and by checking the lending / non-lending information ILa of the content (A4), the lending is “OK”.
When it is determined that (A5 → YES), the remaining lending time represented by the remaining lending time information ILd of the content is larger than “0”, and the content can be played back by the lending destination device, that is, the content using device B. It is checked whether or not (step A55).

If it is determined that the remaining lending time is "0" or less (A55 → NO), the transfer is prohibited and the content is not rented (A7). On the other hand, when the remaining time is larger than “0” and it is determined that the content can be played back on the lending destination device (A55 → YES), the content is transferred with the type = “lending” (A6) and then transmitted. The decrement of the remaining lending time information ILd value of the content and the updating process of the remaining lending time information ILd of the content are started (step A61).

Then, it is judged whether or not the content erased information is received from the lending device B (step A6).
2) When this information is received (A62 → YES), the process ends. On the other hand, when the content erased information is not received from the lending device B (A62 → N
O), it is determined whether or not the connection with the lender's device B is broken (step A63). Here, when the connection with the lender device B is disconnected (A62 → YES), the content is erased in the lender device B, and thus the lender device A also ends the process. On the other hand, when the connection is made with the lender's device B (A63 → N
O), the result of decrementing the remaining loan time information ILd,
It is determined whether or not the value has become “0” (step A
64).

When the value of the remaining lending time information ILd is determined to be "0" (A64 → YES), it means that the content cannot be loaned. After instructing to erase (step A65), the process ends. On the other hand, the remaining lending time information I
When Ld is greater than 0 (A65 → NO), the process is returned to the remaining loan time subtraction / update step (A61) at a predetermined timing (for example, after 1 ms has elapsed).
The above loop processing (A6 is sequentially performed until one of the three determination steps (A61 to A63) described above is satisfied.
1 to A64) are repeatedly executed.

By the processing in the lending source device A as described above, the remaining lending time information ILd added to the content lent to the unlicensed device (B) is sequentially decremented or updated during the lending period. Then, the remaining lending time information ILd at the time when the lending ends is held in the content.

On the other hand, in the case of the licensed device B, if it is a licensed device (B2 → NO), the normal contents can be used as in the operation flow of FIG. 4 (B3), but if it is a non-licensed device. In the case (B2 → YES), the process proceeds to “content use in loan (2)” processing routine B4 ′. In this processing routine B4 ′, steps B41 to B48 in FIG.
Similar to (NO), after the timer starts counting (B4
0), [B46 (NO) → B during connection with the lender's equipment A]
47 → B48 (NO)] Loop processing (B41 to B48)
If the loan time is consumed (B46 → YES) and the loan source A is disconnected (B48 → YES), the content is deleted (B49). At this time, in the routine B4 ′, as shown in FIG. 8, step B4A for judging the reception of the content deletion instruction for this loop processing (B41 to B48)
Is inserted, and when the process exits from the loop processing, step B4B for transmitting content erased is added.

That is, in the case where the lending destination device B is a non-licensed device, it is determined whether or not a content erasing instruction from the lender source A is received after the processing operations of steps B40 to B45 shown in FIG. The process is executed (B4A). Here, when it is determined that the content erasing instruction is received from the lender A (B4A → YES), the content erasing process is performed (B49), and then the process ends. On the other hand, while the content deletion instruction is not received (B4A → N
O), similar to the operation flow of FIG. 5, during the connection to the lender A, loop processing [B41 to B48 (NO)] is repeatedly executed.

When it is determined that the content available time (rental time) has elapsed (B46 → Y)
ES), the content erased information is transmitted to the lending source device A (B4B), and then the content is stored in the DRAM.
(Or HD) is erased (B49), and "content use for lending" ends.

By the above-described processing, the total reproduction (use) time when the lending destination device is a content use non-licensing device can be managed for each content. The lending time information ILb may be used as the above-mentioned remaining lending time information ILd, and in this case, “remaining lending time information ILd” in steps A55, A61, and A64 may be read as “lending time information ILb”. .

[Various Embodiments] The present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, but the present invention can be implemented in various embodiments. For example, although detailed description has not been given in detail regarding the purchase and use of content in the embodiments, for example, when selling content including loan information from the content selling site 1 to the content using device 5, the corresponding consideration is naturally paid. Charge the content utilization device user. For such billing, the sold content can be loaned (loanable / unavailable information = loanable)
The selling price of the content may be changed depending on whether the loan is not possible or the loan is impossible (loanable / unavailable information = loan “unavailable”). Further, the selling price may be changed according to the length of the content lending time (the time limit indicated by the time information).

Regarding the transfer instruction of the acquired content, as in the embodiment, the licensed device I is included in the licensed device ID including the device ID in the licensed device ID.
The transfer is not limited to the instruction to transfer the content to the content use non-licensing device in which the device ID does not exist in D, and the transfer may be requested from the content use non-licensing device to the content use permitted device.

Further, the content acquired by the content-usage-licensed device is not limited to being transferred to another content-usage device via a communication network such as a LAN as in the embodiment, but may be transferred via a storage medium to another. Alternatively, the content may be transferred to and used by the content using device. In this case, the time when the content is written may be recorded together on the recording medium, and the time count may be started from the time when the content is recorded on the recording medium. Alternatively, the timer may start counting from the time when the content is read from the recording medium by another content using device.

Further, in the embodiment, the lending source device (A)
The lending can be used only when the device is connected to the lending destination device (B), but the lending can be used even if the lending device (B) is not connected during the lending time.

In the lending destination device, the use of the content may be terminated in accordance with, for example, a user's instruction without waiting for the lapse of the lending time (consumption).

Further, it is desirable that the content to be lent (at least the content entity) is transmitted to another device while being encrypted or scrambled.

[0085]

As described above, according to the present invention, the licensed device ID (licensed device I) is included in the content.
D) is included in the content-using device (B), device I
If D matches the licensed device ID, the content can be used without restriction, and if the IDs do not match,
Content is available for a limited time. Therefore, the content can be normally used only when the device is a content licensed device, and illegal use can be prevented. Furthermore, even a content-use-unlicensed device can temporarily use the content. In this case, the content can be used within the time limit represented by the time limit information (ILb) in the content.
Further, the content can be made available with a time limit only when the availability information (ILa) in the content indicates availability. Further, when the content is used with a time limit, it is possible to make it impossible to copy the content, store it in a recording medium, or transfer it to another content using device.

According to the present invention, the content is transferred from the content-usage-licensed device (A) to the content-use-unlicensed device and rented, and at this time, the content is processed so as to indicate that the content is a loaned content. Since the content is transferred, the content is transferred from the content-usage-licensed device (A) to the content-use-unlicensed device and rented with a predetermined restriction. It is possible to identify that the content is a loan content and use the corresponding content.

According to the present invention, use permission information (ILa) indicating whether or not time-limited content use is possible is given to a content use-unlicensed device whose device ID does not match the device use-permitted device ID. When the content is stored, and the content is licensed by transferring the content from the content-licensed device (A), the content can be transferred only when the availability information (ILa) indicates that the content is available. Therefore, when the content is transferred from the content-licensed device (A) to the content-unlicensed device and rented, the content can be transferred only when the “lending is possible”, and the content that cannot be loaned is wrong. It is possible to prevent the content from being loaned to a non-licensed device.

In the present invention, the number of times of use and the limitation information on the time of use are written in the content, and the content use device (A) of the lender is the content use device of which the lender (B) is not content use licensed. , The restriction information is updated according to the usage (reproduction) of the content, and the updated restriction information indicates that the content cannot be used,
After that, since the transfer is disabled, the loan source (A) can control the number of times the content is used (the number of times of reproduction) and the total usage time (reproduction time).

According to the present invention, when content is loaned from the content-use-permitted device (A) to the content-use-unlicensed device, the content-use-unlicensed device is connected to the content-use-licensed device (A). Since the state is checked so that the content can be used only while connected to the content-use permitted device (A), the content-use-permitted device ( The content can be used only while the device is connected to A), and the content lending can be restricted during the use of the content use permitted device (A).

According to the present invention, the licensed device ID
At the same time, the content including the usability information (ILa) is stored in the recording medium, and the usability information (ILa) indicates whether or not the content use-unlicensed device can use the content with a time limit. Therefore, in the content using device (A, B), the availability information (IL) of the content stored in this content recording medium is used.
By referring to the content of a), it is possible to use the non-loanable content with a time limit and prevent the non-loanable content from being rented to the content use non-licensing device by mistake.

According to the present invention, the licensed device ID
At the same time, the content including the time limit information (ILb) is stored in the recording medium, and the availability information (ILb) indicates the time limit for using the content with a time limit in the content use non-licensing device. . Therefore, the content use non-licensing device can use the content stored in the content recording medium within the time limit indicated by the time limit information (ILb).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic network configuration diagram of a content use system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a content using apparatus (electronic music apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an example of a storage format of content stored in a storage medium on the content utilizing device side according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation example in the content using device system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a “contents utilization by lending” in a contents utilization equipment system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a flow chart showing an example of operation at the time.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another operation example [2] in the content using device system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is another example of the storage format of the content stored in the storage medium of the content using device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another operation example [3] in the content using device system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

IL lending information, ILa lending availability information (usability information), lending time information indicating time limit for ILb and ILd content usage and remaining lending time information (time limit information), type indicating ILc content regular / lending type Information (regular / loan information).

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G10K 15/02 G10K 15/02

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A device information acquisition unit for acquiring a device ID of a content-using device that intends to use a content, a detection unit for detecting a licensed device ID from the content, and a detected licensed device ID. Acquired device ID
If the comparing means for comparing with the compared IDs match, the content can be used without restriction on the content using device. If the IDs do not match, the content can be played on the content using device for a certain period of time. A content use system comprising: a use determining unit that enables use with a limitation. 2. The detecting means detects time limit information from the content, and the use determining means can use the content within the time limit represented by the time limit information when both IDs do not match. The content use system according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The detecting means detects, from the content, availability information indicating availability of the content in a content using device that does not have a licensed device ID. The content use system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the content is available with a time limit only when the content does not match and the availability information indicates availability. 4. The use determining means may copy the content that can be used with a limited time, store it in a recording medium, or transfer it to another content using device other than the content using device. The content use system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a prohibition unit for prohibiting. 5. A transfer destination designating unit for designating a content using device as a content transfer destination, a detecting unit for detecting licensed device designating information from the content, and a device for identifying the content using device designated as the transfer destination. When the information is not included in the licensed device designation information, a writing unit that writes loan information indicating that the loan information can be used in the content with a predetermined limitation, and a content in which the loan information is written is set as a transfer destination. A content using device, comprising: a transfer unit for transferring to a specified content using device. 6. A transfer destination designating means for designating a content using device as a content transfer destination, a detecting device for detecting a licensed device ID and availability information having a usage time limit from the content, and a transfer destination. Only when the device ID of the content using device specified in No. does not match the licensed device ID and the availability information indicates availability, the content is transferred to the content using device designated as the transfer destination. A content utilization device comprising a transfer means for transferring. 7. A transfer destination designating unit for designating a content utilizing device as a destination of content transfer, a detecting unit for detecting a licensed device ID and use count limitation information from the content, and a content designated as a transfer destination. When the usage device is a non-licensed device having a device ID that does not match the licensed device ID and the usage count restriction information indicates that the usage is permitted, the content is designated as the transfer destination and the contents are stored in the contents usage device. A transfer means for transferring the content, a usage count updating means for updating the usage count restriction information in response to the transfer of the content to a non-licensed device, and content for which the updated usage time restriction information indicates unusable When a use-unlicensed device is newly designated as a transfer destination, it is provided with transfer prohibiting means for prohibiting the function of the transfer means. A content utilization device characterized by the above. 8. A transfer destination designating means for designating a content using device as a content transfer destination, a detecting device for detecting a licensed device ID and use time restriction information from the content, and a content designated as a transfer destination. When the usage device is a non-licensed device having a device ID that does not match the licensed device ID and the usage time restriction information indicates that the content is available, the content is designated as a transfer destination and the content is stored in the content usage device. And a usage time updating means for updating the usage time restriction information according to the usage time of the content transferred to the usage-unlicensed device, and the updated usage time restriction information indicating that the content is unavailable. Regarding the above, when a non-licensed device is newly designated as a transfer destination, a transfer prohibiting means for prohibiting the function of the above-mentioned transfer means is provided. Content usage apparatus characterized by comprising. 9. Content acquisition means for acquiring content transferred from another content utilization device to which content usage permission has been granted, detection means for detecting availability information from the acquired content, and detection of availability information. According to, connection confirmation means for checking the connection state with the other content-using device, and only while the connection confirmation means confirms that the device is connected with the other content-licensed device,
A content utilization device comprising: a utilization determining unit that enables utilization of the content. 10. A content entity, a licensed device ID for identifying a content-usable device that can use the content, and whether or not the content-using device that does not have the licensed device ID can use the content with a time limit. A content recording medium readable by an information processing device, wherein the content recording medium stores the availability information indicating that. 11. A content entity, a licensed device ID for identifying a content-usable device that can use the content, and time limit information when a time-limited content is used in a content-used device that does not have this licensed device ID. A content recording medium that can be read by an information processing device, which stores: