JP2005010955A - Playback system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem with a playback system capable of restricting the use of content data by third parties other than a specific person with the right to use the information of a person with the right of use wherein the device is not so effective in inhibiting the use of content data having no information of the person with the right of use. <P>SOLUTION: An information registering device 12 makes a comparison to see if the information of a person with the right of use 100 extracted from content data 10 is included in a list 102 of the information of a person with the right of use recorded in a recording device 15 of the information of a person with the right of use; if the same information is not included, the information registering device passes the information 100 of the person with the right to use through a write controller 13 to see if the recording device 15 of the information of the person with the right to use has empty storage space. If there is empty storage space, the information 100 of the person with the right to use is recorded there; if there is no empty storage space, the read controller 14 selects one storage space from the storage spaces of the user recording device 15 of the information of the person with the right to use using a predetermined method and disables it from being read afterwards. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a playback apparatus and a playback method, and in particular, there is a use right person specified for each content data, and it is necessary to restrict the use of content data to other than the specific use right person. If so, the present invention relates to a playback apparatus and a playback method applied to a system in which it is not necessary to limit the playback apparatus to be used to only one.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Use right holder information including ID (identification information) unique to the playback device is added to the content data in advance and stored in the information storage device, and the use right holder extracted from the playback information reproduced from the information storage device by the playback device There is a method in which information is compared with the ID of the playback device, and playback control is performed based on the comparison result. According to this playback method, content data can be supplied by specifying a playback device in advance, which leads to prevention of unauthorized use of content data by playback devices other than the specified playback device.
[0003]
In addition, when the content data playback device plays back the content data, if the right-of-use information related to the content data is added to the content data, the connection to the playback device is performed after the right-of-use information is detected. The right-of-use right information recording unit having a storage area of a predetermined size has a function of recording right-of-use information, and if the recording is performed normally, the reproduction of the content data is permitted. If the same right holder information already exists in the right holder information recording section, new recording is not performed and playback is permitted, and the right right holder information is not present in the right holder information recording section, but the right holder In the past, the inventor has proposed a playback apparatus that does not allow recording and does not allow playback when there is no room for new recording in the information recording unit (for example, Patent Documents). Reference).
[0004]
According to this conventional reproducing apparatus, content data that is permitted to be reproduced must not have usage right owner information other than the specific usage right owner information added thereto. This specific right-of-use information is not specified in advance, and the playback device knows the right-of-use information that is expected to be added to the content data obtained by the user of the playback device. By reproducing, it is specified by being stored in an information storage unit connected to this reproducing apparatus.
[0005]
Therefore, when the user of this playback device uses the playback device for the first time, the user selects and plays back the content data that can be sufficiently predicted by the attached right-of-use information, and then the same right-of-use information is displayed. If the content data is added, the content data can be reproduced without the need to record the right-of-use information in a right-of-use information recording unit newly connected to the playback device. As a result, there is an effect that the upper limit of the number of persons who can use the reproducing apparatus can be set in advance by limiting the size of the storage area of the right-of-use information recording unit.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-011748
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, among the conventional playback devices described above, the former playback device that compares the right-of-use information including the playback device-specific ID extracted from the playback information with the playback device-specific ID that is actually played back is used for playback. Since the device is specified in advance, the data cannot be used on a playback device other than the specified playback device, the usage right is given to a specific person, and the person uses content data on a plurality of playback devices. The situation was not right.
[0008]
Further, in the latter playback device among the above conventional playback devices, for the content data to which the right-of-use information is added, a third party other than the specific right-of-use right holder of the added right-of-use information is used. The use of content data can be restricted, and the intended effect that content data can be used by multiple playback devices for specific rights holders is exhibited, but the use of other content data is suppressed. The effect is small.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and restricts the right holders who use content data for each playback device, and content data for which the right to use is given to a third party or content data whose source is unclear. It is an object of the present invention to provide a playback device and a playback method that can suppress the playback of the content and can use a large amount of content data with a plurality of playback devices if the user has a specific right.
[0010]
Another object of the present invention is to perform playback with simple system management by performing the work of initializing the playback device and limiting the right holder to use it by selecting the content to be played back by the user of the playback device. An apparatus and a reproduction method are provided.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the playback device of the present invention, when the right-of-use information related to the content data is added to the supplied content data, the right-of-use information extracted from the content data is It has a registered right-of-use information recording means, and when the right-of-use information is extracted from the content data and newly registered in the right-of-use information recording means, or the same right-of-use information already exists If registered in the information recording means, the supplied content data is reproduced, and the same use right holder information as the extracted use right owner information is not registered in the use right owner information recording means but is newly registered If there is no area, it is a playback device that prohibits playback of the supplied content data, and the same usage rights holder information as the extracted usage rights holder information is used. Selected by the selecting means and a selecting means for selecting one storage area from the right-of-use information recording means when there is no storage area to be newly registered but not registered in the user information recording means. For the right holder of the right-of-use information that can be read from the storage area of the right-of-use information recording means, having read-inhibiting means for making it impossible to read out the right-of-use information registered in the storage area. Only the reproduction of the content data is permitted.
[0012]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the reproduction method of the present invention, when the right-of-use information related to the content data is added to the supplied content data, the right-of-user information is obtained from the content data. If the extracted right-of-use information is newly registered in the right-of-use information recording means, or the same right-of-use information is already registered in the right-of-use information recording means, the supplied content data If the same right holder information as the extracted right holder information is not registered in the right holder information recording means but there is no storage area to be newly registered, playback of the supplied content data is prohibited. The same right-of-use information as the extracted right-of-use information is not registered in the right-of-use information recording means, but there is no storage area for new registration In other words, the first step of selecting one storage area by a predetermined method from the right-of-use information recording unit, and the reading of the right-of-use information registered in the storage area selected in the first step, Including a second step of disabling the content data, wherein only the right holder of the right-of-use information readable from the storage area of the right-of-use information recording means is permitted to reproduce the content data.
[0013]
The playback device and the playback method of the present invention permit the playback of the content data only to the right holder of the right-of-use information registered in the storage area of the right-of-use information recording means. When the right-of-use information is stored in the entire storage area of the means, if the content data of a third party that is not stored in the right-of-use information recording means or whose source is unknown is to be played, use Since one storage area is selected by a predetermined method from the right holder information recording means, and the use right holder information registered in the selected one storage area is made unreadable thereafter, the third party, Or, when trying to play back content data whose source is unknown, the content registered in the storage area that cannot be read out of the content data of the right-of-use right holder that can be played back originally Can prohibit subsequent playback of the content data of interest's, it is possible to reduce the rights who can use the playback device.
[0014]
Here, in order to make the selected storage area unreadable, the selected storage area is set in a read-inhibited state or is different from any of the existing right-of-use information and should not exist. The right-of-use right information is overwritten and recorded in the selected storage area.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, information to be reproduced by the reproduction apparatus of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an example of a method for obtaining information to be reproduced by the reproducing apparatus of the present invention. As shown in the figure, content data 1 to be reproduced is input to an information adding device 2, where right-of-use information (person identification information) is added to form content data 3 with right-of-use information. . The content data 3 with right-of-use information is input to the playback device via a recording medium or a transmission medium. It is desirable that the information adding device 2 adds the right-of-use information to be added by a method that is difficult to separate from the content data, such as changing the value of the content data 1 itself (embedded as digital watermark information).
[0016]
In the present embodiment, the content data 3 with use right holder information is purchased from a content data provider, and the right to use the content data is given to the purchaser. That is, with reference to FIG. 2, a transaction exchanged between the content data provider 4 and the content data user (user) 5 will be described. First, a purchase request is sent from the content data user 5 to the content data provider 4. In response to this, a request for personal information of the user is sent from the content data provider 4 to the content data user 5.
[0017]
Then, the content data user 5 sends back personal information including payment information to the content data provider 4. The content data provider 4 issues unique personal identification information corresponding to the personal information and sends it back to the content data user 5. Also, identification information is added as right-of-use information to the content data requested to be purchased, and is sent to the content data user 5 as the above-mentioned content data 3 with right-of-use information.
[0018]
Next, a transaction when purchasing content data for the second time or later from the same content provider will be described with reference to FIG. The content data user (user) 5 sends a purchase request to the content data provider 4 together with the personal identification information sent from the content data provider 4 when purchasing the initial content data. The content data provider 4 adds the personal identification information to the content data requested to be purchased as use right holder information, and sends it to the content data user 5 as the content data 3 with use right holder information described above.
[0019]
Next, a transaction at the time of purchasing content data when purchasing content data from a plurality of content data providers and using the content data with a common playback device will be described with reference to FIG. In this figure, a content data user (user) 8 provides personal information to the certification authority 9 and issues a request for issuing the identification information, and the certification authority 9 responds to the content data user with the identification data. Send back to 8. This work may be performed by the content data provider 6 or the content data provider 7.
[0020]
Next, the content data user 8 sends the personal identification information acquired from the certificate authority 9 to the content data provider 6 and makes a purchase request. The content data provider 6 requests the certificate authority 9 to confirm the received identification information. If the validity of the personal identification information is confirmed by the certificate authority 9, the content data provider 6 uses the received personal identification information as content usage right holder information in the content data requested for purchase in the same manner as in the method of FIG. This is added and sent to the content data user 8.
[0021]
Exactly the same, when the content data provider 7 receives a purchase request from the content data user together with the personal identification information, the content data provider 7 confirms the received personal identification information to the certificate authority 9 and confirms the validity of the personal identification information. Then, the identification information is added as content data use right holder information to the content data requested for purchase and sent to the content data user 8.
[0022]
Next, the playback apparatus of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the first embodiment of the reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, the input content data 10 is sent to the content data reproducing unit 16 and simultaneously supplied to the additional information detecting device 11 where it is detected whether the right-of-use information 100 is included in the content data 10. . When the input content data 10 is the content data with the right-of-use information described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the additional information detection device 11 extracts the right-of-use information 100 and supplies it to the information registration device 12.
[0023]
When the right-of-use information 100 is supplied to the information registration device 12, the information registration device 12 requests the read control device 14 to read the information already recorded in the right-of-use information recording device 15. The right-of-use information recording device 15 has a finite number of storage areas and can record one right-of-use information in one storage area. In accordance with the above read request, the read control device 14 reads all the right-of-use information already recorded in the storage area of the right-of-use information recording device 15 and sends it back to the information registration device 12 as the right-of-use information list 102.
[0024]
The information registration apparatus 12 compares whether or not the right-of-use right information 100 extracted from the content data 10 is included in the right-of-use right information list 102. A reproduction permission control signal 101 is issued to the content data reproduction unit 16. In response to this, the content data reproducing unit 16 reproduces the input content data 10.
[0025]
Further, the information registration device 12 uses the right-of-use information 100 when the right-of-use information list 102 does not have the same right-of-use information 100 extracted from the content data 10. 15 requests the write controller 13 to newly record. The writing control device 13 checks whether or not there is a free storage area in the right-of-use information recording device 15.
[0026]
If there is a free storage area, the right-of-use information 100 is recorded there to notify the information registration device 12 of the successful writing, and the storage area is made unwritable in the future. The information registration device 12 receives the above notification of successful writing and issues a reproduction permission control signal 101 to the content data reproduction unit 16. In response to this, the content data reproducing unit 16 reproduces the input content data 10. However, if there is no free storage area in the right-of-use right information recording device 15, the write control device 13 does not write the right-of-use right information 100 and informs the information registration device 12 that the writing has failed.
[0027]
Upon receiving the notification of the writing failure, the information registration device 12 requests the read control device 14 to prohibit reading of the right-of-use right information already recorded in the right-of-use right information recording device 15. The read control device 14 selects one storage area from the storage areas of the right-of-use right information recording device 15 by a predetermined method, and makes this unreadable in the future. The information registration device 12 issues a playback permission control signal 101 for prohibiting playback to the content data playback unit 16. In response to this, the content data reproducing unit 16 prohibits the reproduction of the input content data 10.
[0028]
When the right-of-use right information 100 is not detected from the input content data 10 by the additional information detection device 11, the right-of-use right information 100 is not sent to the information registration device 12. Is issued to the content data reproducing unit 16. The content data playback unit 16 receives the playback permission control signal 101 and plays back the input content data 10.
[0029]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, only the content data user (user) corresponding to the right-of-use information recorded in the entire storage area of the right-of-use information recording device 15 is used. The operation of initializing the playback device and restricting the user to give the usage right is performed by the user of the playback device selecting the content to be played back by itself, so that centralized management is not required, and system management of the playback device is performed. Since it is not necessary for the person to specify, system management becomes easy. In addition, since a plurality of users can use one playback device, one user can use content data on a plurality of playback devices.
[0030]
Also, in this embodiment, the right holders who use content data are limited for each playback device, and the playback of content data for which usage rights are given to third parties and content data whose source is unclear is suppressed. As a result, there is an effect of suppressing the use of illegal copy data. That is, there is a possibility that the right of use is given to a third party (a right of use other than the right of use right information recorded in the storage area of the right of use information recording device 15). Yes, in order to confirm this, playback is performed by the playback device of the present embodiment having a function of detecting the right-of-use information from the content data. If the third party's right of use is not added to the content data, it can be reproduced safely.
[0031]
However, in the case where a third party's right of use is added to the content data, even if this right-of-use right information is not registered, if there is no free storage area in the right-of-use right information recording device 15, the use of one storage area is used. Reading of the right holder information is prohibited, and if there is a free space in the storage area, it is written. Since the content data of the right-of-use right holder that was playable before reading is prohibited can no longer be played back, and the number of right-of-use information that can be stored in the right-of-use information recording device 15 is limited. Is disadvantageous to the user of the playback device.
[0032]
This poses a risk to the user of the playback device to play content data whose source is unclear, and as a result, the right of use is given to a third party or the source is Use of copied content data that is unclear can be suppressed. In the present embodiment, content data to which right-of-use information is not added can be reproduced.
[0033]
Next, the reproducing method according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of the reproducing method according to the present invention. First, when content data with right-of-use information is input to the playback device (step S1), additional information is detected from the input content data (step S2). Subsequently, it is determined whether the right-of-use information exists as additional information (step S3). If the right-of-use information does not exist, the reproduction of the content data input to the reproduction device is permitted (step S9).
[0034]
On the other hand, if the right-of-use information exists, the right-of-use information recording device is referred to, and a list of right-of-use information already recorded in the right-of-use information recording device is read (step S4). Next, it is compared whether or not the same usage rights information extracted from the content data exists in the usage rights information list read out from the usage rights information recording device (step S5). If the same data exists, the reproduction of the content data input to the playback device is permitted (step S9). If the same data does not exist, the right-of-use right holder information newly detected from the content data is displayed. It is confirmed whether or not recording is possible in the right-of-use information recording device (step S6).
[0035]
If there is an empty storage area in the right-of-use information recording device and new recording is possible, the detected right-of-use information is newly recorded in the right-of-use information recording device (step S7). Subsequently, the storage area where the new recording is performed by the right-of-use information recording apparatus is prohibited from being written (step S8). Finally, the reproduction of the content data input to the reproduction device is permitted (step S9).
[0036]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S6 that there is no empty recording area in the right-of-use information recording device and new recording is impossible, a predetermined method is used from the recording area of the right-of-use information recording device. After selecting one recording area (step S10), the storage area is prohibited from being read thereafter (step S11). Finally, the reproduction of the content data input to the reproduction device is prohibited (step S12). The reproduction method of this embodiment has the same features as the first embodiment of the reproduction apparatus.
[0037]
Next, regarding the state transition of the recording area of the right-of-use information recording device (corresponding to 15 in FIG. 5) connected to the playback device when the content data with the right-of-use information added is input to the playback device, This will be described with reference to the state transition diagram of FIG. Here, it is assumed that the right-of-use information recording device 15 shown in FIG. 5 has only two storage areas. In FIG. 7, the state of the recording area of the right-of-use right information recording apparatus 15 in the initial state where the content data has not yet been reproduced is shown at 33.
[0038]
In this state, when the content data 29 to which the user A's use right holder information is added is input to the playback apparatus, the use right holder information is newly recorded, and the recording area of the use right holder information recording apparatus is as shown in FIG. Transition from state 33 to state 34. Next, it is assumed that content data 30 to which user A's right-of-use information is added is input to the playback device. In this case, since the same right-of-use information is already recorded in the right-of-use information recording device, new recording is not performed, and the recording area of the right-of-use information recording device is in the state 34 as shown in state 35 in FIG. Remains the same.
[0039]
Next, when the content data 31 to which the user B's right-of-use information is added is input to the playback device, the right-of-use information is newly recorded and the recording area of the right-of-use information recording device is as shown in FIG. Then, the state transitions from the state 35 to the state 36.
[0040]
Next, when the content data 32 to which user C's right-of-use information is added is input to the playback device, the same right-of-use right information does not exist in the right-of-use information recording device, but is already stored in the two storage areas. Since the right-of-use information is written and there is no storage area where new recording can be performed, one of the storage areas is selected and cannot be read, and the storage area is substantially reduced by one, The recording area of the right-of-use information recording device transitions from state 36 to state 37 as shown in FIG.
[0041]
When the recording area of the right-of-use information recording apparatus transitions to the state 37 in FIG. 7, the content data of the regular user A that can be reproduced in the state 36 of the storage area is not reproduced. This is because the content data of the user C, who is a third party, is to be reproduced. As a result, the content data of the content data user (user) that can be reproduced by the reproduction device is reduced. It has a psychological effect to deter the reproduction of content data that is disadvantageous and obtained from the Internet, such as digital watermark information, where the right-of-use information is added in an invisible form or whose content is unknown It can be given to the user of the playback device.
[0042]
Next, a second embodiment of the playback apparatus of the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of a second embodiment of the reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. In FIG. 8, when the right-of-use information 100 is sent to the information registration device 17, the information registration device 17 requests the right-of-use information recording device 15 to read the information already recorded.
[0043]
The right-of-use information recording device 15 has a limited number of recording areas and records one right-of-use information in one storage area as described above, and all of the right-of-use information already recorded is recorded. It is read out and sent back to the information registration device 17 as the right-of-use information list 102. The information registration device 17 compares the right-of-use information list 102 with the right-of-use information 100, and if there is the same, issues a reproduction permission control signal 101 to the content data reproduction unit 16. Upon receiving the reproduction permission control signal 101, the content data reproduction unit 16 reproduces the input content data 10.
[0044]
On the other hand, if the information registration device 17 does not have the same information as the right-of-use information 100 input from the additional information detection device 11 in the right-of-use information list 102 input from the right-of-use information recording device 15, The write control device 18 is requested to newly record the right-of-use information 100 in the right-of-use information recording device 15. Upon receiving this recording request, the writing control device 18 checks whether or not there is a free storage area in the right-of-use information recording device 15, and if there is a free storage area, records the right-of-use right information 100 there. The information registration device 17 is notified of the writing success.
[0045]
When the information registration device 17 receives the notification of successful writing, it issues a reproduction permission control signal 101 to the content data reproduction unit 16. Upon receiving the reproduction permission control signal 101, the content data reproduction unit 16 reproduces the input content data 10. On the other hand, when the write control device 18 receives the recording request and checks whether or not there is a free storage area in the right-of-use information recording device 15, if there is no free storage space in the right-of-use information recording device 15. The dummy information generating device 19 is requested to issue dummy use right holder information without newly writing the use right owner information 100.
[0046]
As a result, the dummy information generation device 19 generates dummy use right owner information that is not identical to any use right owner information that may exist, and passes this to the write control device 18. The write control device 18 selects one storage area from the storage areas of the right-of-use right information recording device 15 by a predetermined method, records the dummy right-of-use right holder information in the selected storage area, and registers information. The device 17 is notified of registration of dummy user right holder information.
[0047]
Upon receiving the registration of dummy user right holder information, the information registration device 17 issues a reproduction prohibition reproduction permission control signal 101 to the content data reproduction unit 16. When the content data reproduction unit 16 receives the reproduction prohibition reproduction permission control signal 101, the content data reproduction unit 16 prohibits reproduction of the input content data 10.
[0048]
According to the present embodiment, if the right-of-use information extracted from the content data to be reproduced is unregistered in the right-of-use information recording device 15 and there is no free storage area to be newly registered, The right-of-use right holder information is written in one storage area selected by the right-of-use right information recording device 15, so that the content data whose source is unclear or third-party use right holder information is added When the reproduction is attempted, the storage area of the right-of-use right information recording device 15 is infringed, the number of storage areas into which the right-of-use right holder information can be written decreases, When the right-of-use information is written to the full, the existing legitimate right-of-use information is overwritten by the dummy right-of-use information, and the overwritten existing Content data of the use right owner information of regular will not be able to play.
[0049]
This is disadvantageous for the user of the playback device, so that the user of the playback device will not try to play back content data with an unclear source or with third-party right-of-use information added. It is possible to suppress the reproduction of content data whose origin is unclear or to which third party right-of-use information is added.
[0050]
Next, a third embodiment of the playback apparatus of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a third embodiment of a playback apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. In FIG. 9, the information registration device 21 issues a playback permission control signal 101 to the content data playback unit 16 when the right-of-use information 100 is not input. In response to this, the content data reproducing unit 16 reproduces the input content data 10.
[0051]
When the right-of-use information 100 extracted from the content data 10 is input to the information registration device 21, the information registration device 21 has already been recorded in the right-of-use information recording device 15 and the cancellation information recording device 22. Each request to read the information. Each of the right-of-use information recording device 15 and the revocation information recording device 22 has a finite number of recording areas, and can record one right-of-use information or revocation information in one storage area.
[0052]
The right-of-use information recording device 15 reads all the right-of-use information already recorded and outputs it as a temporary right-of-use information list 105. The cancellation information recording device 22 reads all the cancellation information already recorded and outputs it as a cancellation information list 106.
[0053]
The provisional use right owner information list 105 and the revocation information list 106 are respectively input to the comparison device 23, and are included in the revocation information list 106 from the use right owner information included in the provisional use right owner information list 105. When right-of-use information that is the same as any of the cancellation information is detected, the detection result is passed to the read control device 24. Based on the detection result, the read control device 24 extracts only the right-of-use information that is not the same as the revocation information from the right-of-use information included in the temporary right-of-use information list 105, and uses the right-of-use information list 102. And sent back to the information registration device 21.
[0054]
The information registration device 21 compares the right-of-use information list 102 input from the read control device 24 with the right-of-use information 100 in the content data 10 input from the additional information detection device 11. For example, the reproduction permission control signal 101 is issued to the content data reproduction unit 16. Upon receiving the reproduction permission control signal 101, the content data reproduction unit 16 reproduces the input content data 10.
[0055]
Further, the information registration device 21 compares the above-mentioned right-of-use information list 102 and right-of-use information 100, and if there is no same, the right-of-use information 100 is newly recorded in the right-of-use information recording device 15. Is requested to the write controller 18. When receiving the above recording request, the writing control device 18 checks whether or not there is a free storage area in the right-of-use information recording device 15, and if there is a free storage area, the right-of-use information 100 is stored there. Recording is performed and the information registration device 21 is notified of the successful writing. When the information registration device 21 receives this writing success, it issues a reproduction permission control signal 101 to the content data reproduction unit 16. As a result, the content data reproduction unit 16 reproduces the input content data 10.
[0056]
On the other hand, when the write control device 18 receives the above recording request and checks whether there is a free storage area in the right-of-use right information recording device 15, the free storage area in the right-of-use information recording device 15 When it is confirmed that there is no such information, the right-of-use right information 100 is not written. At the same time, one storage area is selected from the storage areas of the right-of-use right information recording device 15 by a predetermined method, and the right-of-use information recorded in the selected storage area is stored in the free storage of the revocation information recording device 22. Record sequentially in the area.
[0057]
Further, the information registration device 21 issues a reproduction prohibition reproduction permission control signal 101 to the content data reproduction unit 16. When the content data reproduction unit 16 receives the reproduction prohibition reproduction permission control signal 101, the content data reproduction unit 16 prohibits reproduction of the input content data 10. This embodiment also has the same effect as the first and second embodiments.
[0058]
FIG. 10 is a classification diagram of an example of the virtual user group of the playback apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, all of the playback devices 41 to 44 are playback devices according to the present invention, of which the playback device 41 and the playback device 43 have user A's right-of-use information already recorded. In addition, the playback device 42 has already recorded the right-of-use information of the users A and B. In addition, the playback device 44 has already recorded user B and user C right-of-use information.
[0059]
In this state, the playback device 41, the playback device 42, and the playback device 43 are considered to be playback devices that belong to the group 51 of playback devices that can be used by the user A. The playback device 42 and the playback device 44 are considered to be playback devices belonging to the group 52 of playback devices that can be used by the user B. Furthermore, the playback device 44 is considered to be a playback device belonging to the group 53 of playback devices that can be used by the user C.
[0060]
On the other hand, when the transfer of usage rights is given to a plurality of individuals belonging to one domain instead of individuals when purchasing content data, the right-of-use information added to the content data represents a domain, not an individual. Become.
[0061]
FIG. 11 shows a classification diagram of an example of the virtual domain group of the playback apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, playback devices 45 to 48 are all playback devices according to the present invention, of which the playback device 45 and the playback device 47 have already recorded domain X usage right holder information. In addition, in the playback device 46, the right holder information of the domain X and the domain Y is already recorded. In addition, the playback device 48 has already recorded use right holder information of the domain Y and the domain Z.
[0062]
In this state, the playback device 45, the playback device 46, and the playback device 47 are considered to be playback devices that belong to the group 54 of playback devices that can be used in the domain X. Further, the playback device 46 and the playback device 48 are considered to be playback devices belonging to the group 55 of available playback devices in the domain Y. Further, the playback device 48 is considered to be a playback device belonging to the group 56 of available playback devices in the domain Z.
[0063]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when content data of a third party that is not stored in the right-of-use right information recording device or whose source is unknown is to be reproduced, the right-of-use right information recording device By selecting one storage area by the above method and making the right-of-use information registered in the selected one storage area unreadable thereafter, content data of a third party or unknown origin can be obtained. The right holder who can use the playback device by prohibiting the playback of the content data of the right-of-use right registered in the storage area that cannot be read out of the right-of-use right-of-use content data that can be played back. In order to avoid such disadvantages, the player of the playback device has not been verified for the origin or illegal copy content of a third party has been obtained. The reproduction of the data and the like can be suppressed.
[0064]
In addition, according to the present invention, since the user of the playback device selects the content data to be played back by himself / herself, the work for limiting the right to use the content data played back by the playback device is performed, so centralized management is required. In addition, since it is not necessary for the system administrator of the playback apparatus to specify, system management can be simplified.
[0065]
Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the right holders of content data that can be played back for each playback device are limited, even content data of the same right holder can be played back and used by a plurality of playback devices. Further, according to the present invention, since the content data to which the right-of-use information is not added can be played back, regardless of the operation of permitting or prohibiting the playback of the content data to which the right-of-use information is added, Content data to which right-of-use information is not added can be reproduced normally.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of a method for obtaining information to be reproduced by a reproduction apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a transaction at the time of initial purchase of content data to be reproduced according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of transactions at the time of second and subsequent purchases of content data to be reproduced according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a transaction at the time of purchase from a content provider including a certificate authority of content data to be reproduced according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a playback apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a reproduction method according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a state transition diagram of the information storage device connected to the playback device of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a playback apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of a playback apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a classification diagram of an example of a virtual user group of the playback apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a classification diagram of an example of a virtual domain group of the playback device of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 10 Content data
2 Information addition device
3. Content data with right-of-use information
4, 6, 7 Content data provider
5, 8 Content data users (users)
9 Certificate Authority
11 Additional information detection device
12, 17, 21 Information registration device
13, 18 Write controller
14, 24 Read control device
15 Right-of-use information recording device
16 Content data playback unit
19 Dummy information generator
22 Cancellation information recording device
23 Comparison device
24 Information reading control device
41-48 playback device
51, 52, 53 Playback device group used by the user
54, 55, 56 Playback device group used by users belonging to the domain
100 Right-of-use information
101 Playback permission control signal
102 Right-of-use information list
105 Temporary use rights holder information list
106 Cancellation information list

Claims (3)

A right holder information recording unit for registering the right holder information extracted from the content data when the right holder information related to the content data is added to the supplied content data; When the user right holder information is extracted from the content data and newly registered in the right holder information recording means, or when the same right owner information has already been registered in the right owner information recording means Performs the reproduction of the supplied content data, and the same usage rights holder information as the extracted usage rights holder information is not registered in the usage rights holder information recording means, but there is no storage area for new registration, A playback device that prohibits playback of the supplied content data,
When the same right-of-use information as the extracted right-of-use right information is not registered in the right-of-use right information recording means, but there is no storage area for new registration, the right-of-use information recording means uses a predetermined method. Selecting means for selecting one storage area;
A usage right that can be read from the storage area of the right-of-use information recording unit, and has a read-inhibiting means that disables reading of the right-of-use information registered in the storage area selected by the selection means. A reproduction apparatus which permits reproduction of the content data only to a right holder of the user information. 2. The reproduction of the content data is permitted only to a predetermined number of right-of-use users by limiting the number of right-of-use right information that can be recorded in the right-of-use right information storage means. The reproducing apparatus as described. When the right-of-use information relating to the content data is added to the supplied content data, the right-of-user information is extracted from the content data, and the right-of-use information extracted is used as the right-of-use When newly registered in the information recording means, or when the same right-of-use information is already registered in the right-of-use information recording means, the supplied content data is reproduced and the extracted right-of-use information If the same right holder information is not registered in the right holder information recording means but there is no storage area for new registration, a playback method for prohibiting playback of the supplied content data,
When the same right-of-use information as the extracted right-of-use right information is not registered in the right-of-use right information recording means, but there is no storage area for new registration, the right-of-use information recording means uses a predetermined method. A first step of selecting one storage area;
A second step of making reading of the right-of-use right information registered in the storage area selected in the first step impossible thereafter, and being able to read from the storage area of the right-of-use right information recording means A reproduction method characterized by permitting reproduction of the content data only to a right holder of use right holder information.

Images