JP2005293138A - Content playback device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To play back a content after confirming that a person who plays back the content is the purchaser of the content and that conditions of its playback meet terms of a contract. <P>SOLUTION: The content purchased from a content provider via a communication network, the licensing conditions for playback and identification note information sent at the same time are stored in an HDD. For playback, the ID of the content to be played back, the method of playback, and identification information are inputted. The inputted information is collated with the information stored in the HDD, and the content is played back only when there is a match. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a content playback apparatus for music, video, etc., and more particularly to a content playback apparatus that allows only the purchaser of the content to play back the purchased content.

  In-car terminal devices such as car navigation devices and telematics devices in recent years include mass storage devices such as HDDs, (Hard Disk Drives), DVDs (Digital Versatile Disks), communication devices that can be connected to the Internet, audio devices, video devices, etc. Is often provided as a built-in device or as an accessory device connected to the in-vehicle LAN. These terminal devices can obtain contents such as music, video, etc. by downloading from a content provider via the Internet and play them in the car for enjoyment.

However, these contents such as music and video are protected by copyright, unfair competition prevention law, etc., and unauthorized use must be prevented. At present, illegal copying is the most regarded problem. The act of simply viewing a copyrighted work such as music or video is not subject to copyright in the current copyright law.
However, some downloaded contents have a condition that only the downloaded person (purchaser himself) can play back. In addition, there are cases where conditions for the number of times of reproduction and a period of time for reproduction are attached. If such a reproduction condition is imposed at the time of purchase, reproduction that violates the condition is illegal. In addition, it is expected that the protection of viewing acts by copyrights itself will be legislated in the future depending on international trends, distribution of copyrighted works, etc. and changes in utilization forms.

In the case of a vehicle, there is no problem when the vehicle is privately owned, but when the vehicle is sold or a person who is strictly different from the owner is driving, the original owner, that is, someone other than the content purchaser. Can watch or copy.
In addition, the demands on the user side for content purchase are also diversified. “I want to watch it only once”, “I need to watch it three times”, “I want to watch it as many times”, “I just need to watch it this month. And so on.

As technologies for preventing illegal copying, various technologies including SCMS (Serial Copy Management System) and CGMS (Copy Generation Management System) have been developed, proposed, and put into practical use. However, regarding the viewing, there is hardly disclosed a technique for determining whether or not the viewer is the purchaser of the content and protecting it. In addition, there is hardly disclosed a technique for determining whether or not the viewing is compatible with the various purchase conditions (reproduction permission conditions) corresponding to the various requests of the user as described above.
JP 2004-13564 A JP 2000-90039 A

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems of the prior art, and the problem is that the player of the content such as music and video is the purchaser of the content and the reproduction of the content. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content reproduction apparatus that reproduces content by determining whether or not the conditions match the reproduction permission conditions determined in the purchase contract.

The invention according to claim 1 for achieving the above object is a content reproduction apparatus for acquiring and reproducing contents such as music and video from a content provider in a digital format via a communication network,
Identity authentication deduction information that is a deduction of the user authentication information for confirming that the content, the reproduction permission condition of the content via the communication network, and the player of the content have the license to reproduce the content A license acquisition means for acquiring
License storage means for storing the content acquired by the license acquisition means, the reproduction permission condition relating to the content, and the personal authentication certificate information;
Playback content designating means for designating the content to be played during playback and the playback method;
A user authentication information input means for inputting the user authentication information;
The content authentication method specified by the playback content specifying means matches the playback permission condition stored in the license storage means corresponding to the content, and the personal authentication input by the personal authentication information input means A determination unit that determines that the reproduction of the specified content is permitted when the information matches the personal authentication certificate information stored in the license storage unit corresponding to the content and the reproduction permission condition;
A content reproduction apparatus comprising: reproduction means for reproducing specified content by a specified method when the determination means determines that reproduction is possible.

  According to the content playback apparatus having such a configuration, the specified content is stored in the license storage unit, the specified playback method matches the playback permission condition stored, and playback is performed. Confirmation is made before reproduction that the user is the purchaser of the content. As a result, reproduction by a person other than the purchaser who has the license to reproduce the content and reproduction different from the reproduction permission condition are prevented, and the profit of the content provider is protected.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the content reproduction device according to the first aspect, the personal authentication information is a user password.
If a password is used as the personal authentication information, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the purchaser has a reproduction license.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the content reproduction device according to the first aspect, the personal authentication information is a user's fingerprint or voiceprint.
If confirmation is performed using fingerprints or voiceprints as the personal authentication information, reproduction by a person other than the purchaser can be effectively prevented.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the content reproduction apparatus according to the first aspect, the reproduction permission condition includes key data for decrypting the encrypted content, and the reproduction means includes the key. The content encrypted using data is decrypted and reproduced.
If content data is encrypted and stored in this way and decrypted using key data during reproduction, it is effective in preventing illegal copying and unauthorized reproduction.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the content reproduction apparatus according to the first aspect, a reproduction permission condition input means for inputting the reproduction permission condition is further provided, and the determination means further includes the reproduction permission condition in addition to the determination. It is determined that the reproduction of the content is permitted by confirming that the reproduction permission condition input by the permission condition input means matches the reproduction permission condition stored in the license storage means.
With such a configuration, it is possible to more effectively prevent unauthorized reproduction.

Further, the invention according to claim 5 uses the IC card, the memory card, the car key, the mobile phone, or the RF tag as the reproduction permission condition input means in the content reproduction apparatus according to claim 1. It is characterized by doing.
These devices have a memory function and can store reproduction permission conditions. Further, since the stored contents can be easily read by the control circuit, it is suitable as a simple reproduction permission condition input means.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a content reproduction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The content playback device 1 of this embodiment includes a control circuit 2, a communication device 3, a display device 4, an audio output device 5, a hard disk device (hereinafter referred to as HDD) 6, an operation switch group 7, a personal authentication information input means 8, The reproduction permission condition input means 9 is provided.

  The control circuit 2 has a function of controlling the overall operation of the content reproduction apparatus 1 and is configured mainly with a microcomputer. That is, the control circuit 2 includes a CPU 10, a RAM 11, a ROM 12, an I / O interface (not shown), a bus for connecting them, and a power supply device. The control circuit 2 functions as a determination unit, which will be described later, and also functions as part of a license acquisition unit, a license storage unit, a personal authentication information input unit, and a reproduction unit, which will be described later.

The communication device 3 is for connecting to the server of the content provider 13 via the Internet and acquiring content desired by the user and a license for reproducing the content. When the content reproduction apparatus 1 is configured for in-vehicle use, the communication apparatus 3 can be connected to the Internet wirelessly.
The display device 4 is for informing the user of information from the control circuit 2 and displaying video content such as movies and games, and is constituted by a color liquid crystal display, for example. The audio output device 5 is a device for outputting sound accompanying music content or video content, and is, for example, a speaker. The HDD 6 is for storing various contents, reproduction permission conditions (license conditions) related to the contents, personal authentication certificate information to be described later, various programs for operating the content reproduction apparatus 1, and the like. The operation switch group 7 includes a remote control switch, a touch switch formed on a color liquid crystal display, and the like, and is used for inputting various information to the control circuit 2.

  The user authentication information input means 8 is a means for inputting user authentication information for confirming whether or not the user who desires to reproduce the content is a purchaser himself (licensee) who has a license to reproduce the content. is there. Passwords, fingerprints, voiceprints, and the like can be used as the personal authentication certificate information. The fingerprint input device 14 is used when fingerprints are used, and the voiceprint input device 15 is used when voiceprints are used. Further, when a password is used as the personal authentication information, the operation switch group 7 can be used as the personal authentication information input means 8.

  The reproduction permission condition input means 9 is means for storing a reproduction permission condition (license condition) of the content desired to be reproduced and inputting the condition to the control circuit 2 prior to reproduction. As the reproduction permission condition input means 9, for example, a memory card 16, an IC card 17, a car key 18 with a built-in memory, a cellular phone 19, an RF tag 20, or the like can be used. An RF tag is an ID tag that includes an IC chip and an antenna and communicates with an information processing device in a non-contact manner. These input means are connected to the control circuit 2 via an interface circuit (not shown) that each has.

  In terms of the correspondence between the various means described in the claims of the present invention and the components of the content reproduction apparatus 1 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the license acquisition means is the communication device 3, the control circuit 2, and the operation. The switch group 7 and the display device 4 are included, and the license storage unit is configured by the HDD 6 and the control circuit 2. Further, the reproduction content designation means is constituted by the operation switch group 7, the control circuit 2, and the display device 4, the determination means is constituted by the control circuit 2 and the HDD 6, and the content reproduction means is the audio output device 4, the display device 4, and the control circuit. 2 and the HDD 6. The personal authentication information input means 8 is a fingerprint input device 14, a voice print input device 15, an operation switch group 7, etc., and the reproduction permission condition input means 9 is a memory card 16, an IC card 17, a car key 18, a mobile phone 19, an RF Tag 20 or the like.

  Next, an operation and a processing flow of the control circuit 2 when a user reproduces content under such an apparatus configuration will be described. Prior to the content reproduction, the user needs to purchase the desired content from the content provider and download it into his content reproduction apparatus 1. This content is purchased and downloaded via the Internet. The operation and processing flow will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the user operates the operation switch group 7 to access the home page provided by the content provider 13 via the communication device 3 and the Internet (step S1). Then, the content desired to be purchased is designated on the home page (step S2). Next, in order to purchase a license that matches the desired condition for reproducing the content, the content reproduction condition is input (step S3). The playback conditions are, for example, only playback on the content playback device 1 used for purchase is possible, playback count is 5 times, playback limit is May 31, 2006, copy is not allowed, copy is allowed only once, limited to the number of copies It is possible to make purchases in various playback modes desired by the user. In this way, if the types of licenses are increased in accordance with the playback mode, there is an advantage that the user can purchase the content cheaply only by paying the fee required for the desired playback mode.

  Subsequently, the name of the person and the payment method of the price are input (step S4). In subsequent step S5, the personal authentication information is input. The content reproduction apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is intended to allow reproduction only to the person who purchased the content, that is, the person who has acquired a license to reproduce the content. Accordingly, the user authentication information for confirming that the user to be reproduced is the content purchaser himself / herself is required, and this is transmitted to the content provider 13. As the personal authentication information, a password, a fingerprint, a voiceprint, or the like is used. The password is input from the operation switch group 7, the fingerprint is input from the fingerprint input device 14, and the voice print is input from the voice print input device 15.

After completing the above input, a purchase decision is input (step S6). Then, the information input so far is transmitted to the content provider 13 side, and necessary processing is performed to establish a purchase contract (step S7).
When the content purchase contract is established, the purchased content can be downloaded. The downloaded content is stored in the HDD 6 by the control circuit 2 (step S8). Simultaneously with the download of the content, the content provider 13 side transmits a reproduction permission condition regarding the reproduction of the content and the personal authentication certificate information. The control circuit 2 receives the information and stores it in the HDD 6 (steps S9 and S10).

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the reproduction permission condition for one content. The reproduction permission condition of the present embodiment includes a content name, a content ID, a user (licensee) name, a user registration number, a content reproduction device, a license number, a license issuer, and key information. The content reproduction device is the device number of the content reproduction device 1 and is automatically read by the content provider 13 when the purchase contract is established. A license number is given for each reproduction condition. Since the purchased content is encrypted and distributed and stored as it is, the key information is for decrypting the encrypted content during reproduction.

FIG. 4 shows an example of personal authentication deduction information. The personal authentication certificate information is stored in correspondence with the license number. As the personal authentication information, any one or a combination of a password, a fingerprint, and a voiceprint is used.
In the final step S 11, a copy of the reproduction permission condition stored in the HDD 6 is created by the control circuit 2 in the reproduction permission condition input means 9. Thus, the operation at the time of content purchase and the processing by the control circuit 2 are completed.

Next, an operation for reproducing the content stored in the HDD 6 and a process performed by the control circuit 2 at that time will be described with reference to the flow of FIG.
The user first sets the reproduction permission condition input means 9 in the control circuit 2 (step B1). Subsequently, the operation switch group 7 is operated to display a screen for selecting the content stored in the HDD 6 on the display device 4 (step B2), and the content desired to be reproduced is designated from the screen (step B3). Subsequently, the playback mode (playback method) of the selected content is designated by operating the operation switch group 7 or by selection on the display screen. This playback mode refers to playback such as playback on the content playback apparatus 1 and copying to a connected DVD.

  When the reproduction content is designated and the reproduction form is designated, the control circuit 2 determines whether or not the designated content is stored in the HDD 6, and if so, whether a license suitable for the reproduction form is registered. It is checked whether or not (step B5). Whether or not this license is registered is checked against the contents of the license number in the reproduction permission condition illustrated in FIG. In the case of a license with a limited number of playbacks or a license with a playback time limit, it is also checked whether or not the current playback matches that condition.

If the designated content is not saved and there is no corresponding license even though it is saved, the fact that there is no license is displayed (step B11), and the process ends. If the content and its license are stored in the HDD 6, the process proceeds to step B6.
In step B6, it is checked whether or not the content specified in steps B3 and B4 and the license information of the playback mode are stored in the playback permission condition input means 9. The reason for checking whether or not the license is stored in the reproduction permission condition input means 9 in addition to the HDD 6 is to perform the check strictly. Therefore, the check in step B6 is not necessarily required. If this check is not performed, the operations and processes of steps B1 and B6 can be omitted. If no license is stored in the reproduction permission condition input means 9, it is displayed that there is no license (step B11), and the process ends.

If the designated content exists and there is a license, the control circuit 2 requests input of personal authentication information (step B7). In accordance with the instruction, the user inputs passwords, fingerprints, voiceprints, and the like, which are predetermined personal authentication information (step B8).
The control circuit 2 determines whether or not the person is the person by comparing the inputted person authentication information with the person authentication information as illustrated in FIG. 4 stored in the HDD 6 corresponding to the license ( Step B9). If the entered user authentication information does not match the user authentication information, the fact that there is no license is displayed (step B11), and the process is terminated.

Only when the input user authentication information matches the user authentication information, the specified content is played back in the specified playback mode (step B10). In this case, since the content data stored in the HDD 6 is encrypted, the content data is decrypted using the key information and reproduced.
As described above, in the content reproduction apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the content reproduction apparatus 1 stores the reproduction permission condition for the content and the personal authentication certificate information for confirming the identity of the purchaser. Upon playback, the playback mode of the designated content matches the playback permission condition stored, and playback is performed after confirming that the user who plays back is the purchaser of the content. . Accordingly, it is possible to prevent reproduction by a person other than the purchaser who has the license to reproduce the content, and reproduction different from the reproduction permission condition, thereby protecting the profit of the content provider.

It is an example of the whole structure of the content reproduction apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart explaining operation at the time of content purchase and processing of the control circuit. It is an example of the reproduction permission conditions of purchased content. It is an example of identification authentication information. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement at the time of content reproduction | regeneration, and the process of a control circuit.

Explanation of symbols

In the drawings, 1 is a content reproduction device, 2 is a control circuit, 3 is a communication device, 4 is a display device, 5 is an audio output device, 6 is an HDD, 7 is an operation switch group, 8 is an authentication information input means, and 9 is Reproduction permission condition input means, 13 is a content provider, 16 is a memory card, 17 is an IC card, 18 is a car key, 19 is a mobile phone, and 20 is an RF tag.

Claims (6)

A content playback apparatus that acquires and plays back content such as music and video from a content provider in digital format via a communication network,
Identity authentication deduction information that is a deduction of the user authentication information for confirming that the content, the reproduction permission condition of the content via the communication network, and the player of the content have the license to reproduce the content A license acquisition means for acquiring
License storage means for storing the content acquired by the license acquisition means, the reproduction permission condition relating to the content, and the personal authentication certificate information;
Playback content designating means for designating the content to be played during playback and the playback method;
A user authentication information input means for inputting the user authentication information;
The content authentication method specified by the playback content specifying means matches the playback permission condition stored in the license storage means corresponding to the content, and the personal authentication input by the personal authentication information input means A determination unit that determines that the reproduction of the specified content is permitted when the information matches the personal authentication certificate information stored in the license storage unit corresponding to the content and the reproduction permission condition;
A content reproduction apparatus comprising: reproduction means for reproducing specified content by a specified method when the determination means determines that reproduction is possible.   The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the personal authentication information is a user password.   The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the personal authentication information is a fingerprint or a voiceprint of a user.   The reproduction permission condition includes key data for decrypting encrypted content, and the reproduction means decrypts and reproduces the encrypted content using the key data. 2. The content reproduction apparatus according to 1.   2. The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising reproduction permission condition input means for inputting the reproduction permission condition, wherein the determination means further includes the reproduction permission condition input by the reproduction permission condition input means in addition to the determination. Confirms that the reproduction permission condition stored in the license storage means is satisfied and determines that the content can be reproduced. 6. The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 5, wherein any one of an IC card, a memory card, a car key, a mobile phone, and an RF tag is used as the reproduction permission condition input unit.

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