JP4449892B2 - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, recording apparatus, recording method, recording medium, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, a recording device, a recording method, a recording medium, and a program, and in particular, it is possible to return content even when the lent content does not exist at the lending destination. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a recording apparatus, a recording method, a recording medium, and a program.

  With the spread of digital technology, it has become possible to record or reproduce content (music and video) without degrading quality (sound quality and image quality).

  However, this causes a problem that illegal lending of content is frequently performed. Therefore, in a normal content lending system composed of a content lending source and a lending destination, in order to prevent unfair lending, the content should not be lent more than a preset number of times (hereinafter referred to as rentable number of times). Has been made.

  Specifically, each time content is lent from the lending source to the lending destination, the number of rentable times managed by the lending source is reduced. When the content lending is repeated and the number of available lending becomes zero, the content cannot be lent.

  By the way, when returning the lent content, a predetermined process for returning the content (hereinafter referred to as a conventional return process) is performed between the lending source and the lending destination, thereby existing in the lending destination. The rented content is deleted, and the rentable frequency of the renter is increased (reverted).

  However, before the conventional return process is performed, for example, if the loaned device is formatted incorrectly and the loaned content is deleted, the content to be returned does not exist at the loan destination, so the conventional return Processing is not done properly. In other words, in this case, the number of times that the lending source can be lent remains reduced at the time of renting the content (cannot be restored), and the renter loses the number of times that the content can be lent. There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and even if the content to be returned no longer exists at the lending destination before the content is returned, the content is returned and based on the number of available loans. So that it can be returned.

The information processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a content encrypted with necessary information necessary for use, a recording device that records the necessary information, and a common key that is common only to the content. Transmission means for transmitting the encrypted necessary information to the recording device, storage means for storing the number of times the content can be transmitted in association with the content, and the content encrypted by the transmission means And the encryption necessary information are transmitted to the recording device, the identification information of the recording device of the transmission destination is stored in the storage unit in association with the transmitted content, and is stored in the storage unit If by the running process to reduce the transmittable number is, the content transmitted to the recording device is returned, the content in the recording device Before performing the a process to increase the transmittable number return processing of said storage means is deleted, it is determined the recording apparatus of whether or not storing the necessary information for the content, the recording apparatus If it is determined that the necessary information about the content is not stored, the management unit deletes the identification information of the recording device from the recording unit, and executes a process of increasing the possible number of transmissions stored in the storage unit With.

  When the management unit receives data indicating that the necessary information is not stored from the recording device, the management unit can determine that the recording device does not store the necessary information.

The information processing method and the program according to the first aspect of the present invention are common only to the content encrypted with the necessary information necessary for use, the recording apparatus for recording the necessary information, and the content itself. The transmission step of transmitting the necessary information encrypted with the common key to the recording device, the storage step of storing the number of possible transmissions of the content in the storage unit in association with the content, and the processing of the transmission step When the content encrypted by the method and the encryption necessary information are transmitted to the recording device, the identification information of the recording device as a transmission destination is stored in the storage unit in association with the transmitted content. And executing the process of reducing the possible number of transmissions stored in the storage means, and returning the content transmitted to the recording device Whether case, before the a process to increase the transmittable number return processing of said storage means deletes the said content in the recording apparatus, the recording apparatus stores the necessary information for the content If the recording apparatus determines that the necessary information about the content is not stored, the identification information of the recording apparatus is deleted from the recording means, and the transmission stored in the storage means A management step of executing a process for increasing the possible number of times.

In the information processing apparatus, the information processing method, and the program according to the first aspect of the present invention, a content encrypted with necessary information necessary for use, a recording device for recording the necessary information, and the content Encryption required information encrypted with a common key that is shared only by itself is transmitted to the recording device, and the number of times that the content can be transmitted is stored in a storage unit in association with the content, and is encrypted. When the content and the encryption necessary information are transmitted to the recording device, identification information of the recording device as a transmission destination is stored in the storage unit in association with the transmitted content, and the storage unit to reduce the transmittable number stored in the process is executed, the content transmitted to the recording device is returned, in the recording device Before deletes the serial content performs the a process to increase the transmittable number return processing of said storage means, a determination the recording apparatus of whether or not storing the necessary information for the content, the When the recording apparatus determines that the necessary information about the content is not stored, the process of deleting the identification information of the recording apparatus from the recording unit and increasing the possible number of transmissions stored in the storage unit Executed.

Recording apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention is a recording apparatus for recording the content received from the information processing apparatus, the content and, before Ki必 principal that is encrypted with the required information needed to use the encrypted encryption required information in a common symmetric key only by the information processing apparatus and the recording apparatus itself information, receiving means for receiving from said information processing apparatus is encrypted received by the receiving means said contents are, storage means for storing said necessary information obtained by decoding the encrypted required information received by the receiving means, the required information in the memory means with respect to a command received from the information processing apparatus Management means for determining whether or not the necessary information is held in the storage means, and for notifying the information processing apparatus .

  The management unit can perform a process of deleting the necessary information in response to a command received from the information processing apparatus when the necessary information is held in the storage unit.

A second recording method and a program according to the present invention are a recording method of a recording device for recording content received from an information processing device, wherein the content is encrypted with necessary information necessary for use , a front Ki必 encryption necessary information essential information was encrypted with the common symmetric key only by the information processing device and the recording device itself, a receiving step of receiving from the information processing apparatus, received by the processing of the receiving step It said content being encrypted is, a storing step of storing said necessary information obtained by decoding the encrypted required information received by the processing of the receiving step in storage means, the command received from the information processing apparatus It is determined whether or not the necessary information is held in the storage means, and if the necessary information is not held in the storage means, And a management step of notifying the broadcasting processing apparatus.

The second recording device of the present invention, a recording method, and in the program, and the content that is encrypted with the required information needed to use the pre Ki必 main information processing apparatus and the recording apparatus itself Encryption required information encrypted with a common key that is common only in the information is received from the information processing apparatus, the received encrypted content, and the required decrypted received encryption necessary information information and is stored in the storage means, the necessary information to determine whether it is held in the memory means with respect to a command received from the information processing apparatus, the necessary information is not held in the storage means In this case, the information processing apparatus is notified.

  According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, it is possible to return content even when content does not exist in the recording apparatus.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a content lending system to which the invention is applied.

  The personal computer 1 and the portable device 3 are connected via the USB cord 2.

  The personal computer 1 has content (in this example, a song) that can be rented a predetermined number of times that can be lent, and manages the renting of the content based on the rentable number of times.

  Specifically, when transmitting content data to the portable device 3 (when renting content), the personal computer 1 performs processing to reduce the number of rentable times.

  When the content is returned, the personal computer 1 performs a process of increasing (returning to) the number of rentable times, but when the lent content does not exist in the portable device 3 at this time (when deleted) ) However, the process of confirming the return of the content and increasing the number of rentable times is performed.

  The portable device 3 stores the content lent out from the personal computer 1 and reproduces it as appropriate.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the personal computer 1.

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 executes various application programs and an OS (Operating System). A ROM (Read-only Memory) 12 generally stores basically fixed data out of programs used by the CPU 11 and calculation parameters. A RAM (Random-Access Memory) 13 stores a program executed by the CPU 11 and parameters that change as appropriate during the execution. The CPU 11 to RAM 13 are connected to each other by a host bus 14 composed of a CPU bus or the like.

  The host bus 14 is connected via a bridge 15 to an external bus 16 such as a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect / Interface) bus.

  The keyboard 18 is operated by the user when inputting various commands to the CPU 11. The mouse 19 is operated by the user when specifying or selecting a point on the screen of the display 20. The display 20 includes a liquid crystal display device, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), or the like, and displays various information as text and images.

  An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 21 drives hard disks and causes them to record or reproduce programs and information executed by the CPU 11.

  The drive 22 reads data or a program recorded in the magnetic disk 41, the optical disk 42 (including the CD), the magneto-optical disk 43, or the semiconductor memory 44 to be mounted, and the interface 17, the external bus 16, the bridge 15, and The data is supplied to the RAM 13 via the host bus 14.

  Data of contents lent to the portable device 3 is recorded in the HDD 21 or the magnetic disk 41 to the semiconductor memory 44.

  The portable device 3 is connected to the USB port 23 via the USB cord 2. The USB port 23 outputs the data supplied from the HDD 21, the CPU 11, or the RAM 13 to the portable device 3 via the interface 17, the external bus 16, the bridge 15, or the host bus 14.

  These keyboard 18 to USB port 23 are connected to an interface 17, and the interface 17 is connected to the CPU 11 via the external bus 16, the bridge 15, and the host bus 14.

  The communication unit 24 is connected to a network (not shown), stores data supplied from the CPU 11 in a packet of a predetermined method, transmits the packet via the network, and stores it in a packet received via the network. Can be output to the CPU 11, RAM 13, or HDD 21.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the portable device 3.

  The CPU 51 executes a program stored in the ROM 52. The RAM 53 appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 51 to execute processing.

  The power supply circuit 55 drives the entire portable device 3 by converting the power supply voltage supplied from the dry battery 54 into internal power of a predetermined voltage and supplying it to each unit.

  The operation key controller 56 supplies a signal corresponding to an operation of an operation unit (not shown) to the CPU 51. The LCD controller 57 displays the data supplied from the CPU 51 as text or images on the display unit 58 constituted by an LCD or the like.

  The flash memory controller 60 writes, for example, content data supplied from the personal computer 1 in the flash memory 59. Note that the flash memory 59 stores in advance a reproduction code for decompressing the content compressed by a predetermined compression method. The flash memory 59 can be detachably attached to the portable device 3 as a memory card.

  The DSP 61 detects an error in the CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) method based on the reproduction code transferred from the flash memory 59, reproduces it, and supplies it to the digital / analog conversion circuit 62.

  The digital / analog conversion circuit 62 converts the reproduced content into an analog audio signal and supplies it to the amplification circuit 63. The amplifying circuit 63 amplifies the audio signal from the digital / analog converting circuit 62 and supplies it to a headphone (not shown) via a headphone jack 64.

  The USB controller 66 supplies data including content transferred from the personal computer 1 via the USB connector 65 to the CPU 51 via the internal bus 67.

  In addition to the CPU 51, the flash memory controller 60, DSP 61, D / A circuit 62, amplifier circuit 63, and USB controller 66 are connected to the internal bus 67.

  Next, a processing procedure when content is lent out from the personal computer 1 to the portable device 3 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.

  In step S1, the keyboard 18 or mouse 19 of the personal computer 1 is operated, and for example, a command for lending a predetermined content (song A in this example) recorded in the HDD 21 to the portable device 3 is input. Then, the CPU 11 transmits a signal indicating that the music piece A is lent out to the portable device 3 via the USB port 23 and the USB code 2 in step S2.

  When the CPU 51 of the portable device 3 receives, through the USB code 2, the USB connector 65, and the USB controller 66, a signal indicating that the music A transmitted from the personal computer 1 is lent out in step S11, In S12, a random number (hereinafter, a random number generated by the portable device 3 is referred to as a random number X) is generated, and the USB controller 66, the USB connector 65, and the USB code 3 are stored together with the ID of the portable device 3 stored in the ROM 52. To the personal computer 1. The random number X generated here is stored in the RAM 53, for example.

  In step S3, the CPU 11 of the personal computer 1 receives the random number X transmitted from the portable device 3 and the ID of the portable device 3 via the USB code 2 and the USB port 23. In step S4, the portable device 3 The communication device key is generated by encrypting the portable device 3 ID and the random number X with the common key, and the key of the song A stored in the HDD 21 is encrypted using the communication channel key.

  Next, in step S5, the CPU 11 describes the ID of the music piece A and the ID of the portable device 3 in the lending list stored in the HDD 21 as shown in FIG.

  The lending list has a column in which the ID of the rented song is described and a column in which the ID of the lent destination is described. When one song is lent to a plurality of devices, the ID of the song Corresponding to the IDs of a plurality of devices.

  In step S <b> 6, the CPU 11 decrements the rentable number of songs A stored in the HDD 21 by one.

  Next, in step S 7, the CPU 11 portablely transmits the music key A encrypted with the communication path key in step S 4 and the music data A encrypted with the music key A via the USB code 2. Send to device 3.

  In step S <b> 13, the CPU 51 of the portable device 3 receives the data of the song A encrypted with the communication path key and the song A encrypted with the key of the song A, transmitted from the personal computer 1.

  Next, in step S14, the CPU 51 encrypts the ID of the portable device 3 and the random number X generated in step S12 using the common key, generates a communication path key, and uses it to receive in step S13. Decompress the key of the song A (encrypted with the channel key).

  In step S15, the CPU 51 writes and stores the key of the song A decompressed in step S14 and the data of the song A encrypted with the key of the song A into the flash memory 59 via the flash memory controller 60. .

  Accordingly, the portable device 3 can appropriately decompress and extract the data of the music piece A with the key of the music piece A and reproduce it.

  In the case of this example, the key of song A that encrypts the data of song A is encrypted with the common key only in the personal computer 1 that is the lending source and the portable device 3 that is the lending destination. The portable device 3 cannot lend the music piece A to other devices illegally (the other device cannot play the music piece A because it does not have a common key).

  Next, a processing procedure in the case where the song A lent to the portable device 3 from the personal computer 1 is returned to the personal computer 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S21, when the keyboard 18 or mouse 19 of the personal computer 1 is operated and a command to return the song A lent to the portable device 3 is input, the CPU 11 returns the song A in step S22. The requested signal is transmitted to the portable device 3.

  When the CPU 51 of the portable device 3 receives the signal requesting the return of the song A transmitted from the personal computer 1 in step S31, it generates a random number X in step S32 and sets the personal device 3 ID to personal. Send to computer 1

  The CPU 11 of the personal computer 1 receives the random number X transmitted from the portable device 3 and the ID of the portable device 3 in step S23. In step S24, the received random number X and the portable device 3 are received using the common key. The communication path key is generated by encrypting the ID.

  Next, in step S25, the CPU 11 generates a random number (hereinafter, a random number generated by the personal computer 1 is referred to as a random number Y), encrypts the random number Y and the key of the music piece A with a communication channel key, and creates a portable device. 3 to send.

  In step S <b> 33, the CPU 51 of the portable device 3 receives the random number Y and the song A key encrypted with the communication channel key transmitted from the personal computer 1.

  In step S34, the CPU 51 encrypts the ID of the portable device 3 and the random number X using the common key to generate a communication channel key, and uses the communication channel key to generate the random number Y and the key of the song A (communication). Unzip (encrypted with the road key).

  Next, in step S35, the CPU 51 determines whether or not the same key as the song A decompressed in step S34 is stored in the flash memory 59, and if it is determined that it is not stored, step S36. Then, the plaintext of the random number Y decompressed in step S34 is transmitted to the personal computer 1.

  Here, the CPU 11 of the personal computer 1 determines whether or not the plaintext of the random number Y has been received in step S26. If it is determined that the plaintext of the random number Y has been received, the CPU 11 proceeds to step S27 and corresponds to the ID of the song A from the lending list. The ID of the portable device 3 described in the above is deleted, and in step S28, the rentable count decremented by 1 at the time of renting the song A (step S6 in FIG. 4) is incremented by 1 (returned to the original). .

  As described above, even when the rented key of the tune A (data of the tune A) does not exist in the portable device 3, the return of the tune A is confirmed, and the rentable number of times is returned to the original. Thereby, for example, even when the portable device 3 (flash memory 59) is formatted by mistake and the song A is deleted, and the song A does not exist in the portable device 3, the song A can be returned.

  Moreover, even if the music A is deleted to secure an area for storing other data, the music A can be returned, so that the memory of the portable device 3 can be used efficiently.

  As described above, since the key of song A that encrypts the data of song A is encrypted with a common key only in the personal computer 1 that is the lending source and the portable device 3 that is the lending destination, The portable device 3 cannot illegally lend the song A to other devices. As a result, if the rented song A key (data of song A) does not exist in the portable device 3, the song A is not held by anyone other than the personal computer 1. There is no problem even if it is recognized that song A has been returned.

  By the way, when the personal computer 1 determines in step S26 that the plaintext of the random number Y has not been received, that is, the portable device 3 determines in step S35 that it holds the key for the song A, and in step S36. When the process is not performed, the personal computer 1 performs a conventional return process in step S29 and the portable device 3 in step S37. By this process, the key of song A and the data of song A held in the portable device 3 are deleted, and the number of rentable personal computers 1 is incremented by 1 (returned to the original).

  FIG. 7 shows another configuration example of the content lending system to which the present invention is applied.

  In this system, a portable device 101 is provided instead of the portable device 3 of the content lending system of FIG.

  The portable device 101 is loaded with the flash memory 59 of the portable device 3 as a memory card 201.

  The memory card 201 stores content lent out from the personal computer 1 supplied via the portable device 101. The memory card 201 manages a rights management list described later.

  FIG. 8 shows a configuration example of the portable device 101. The portable device 101 is provided with a memory card controller 211 in place of the flash memory controller 60 of the portable device 3 in FIG. 3, and is connected with a slot 212 into which the memory card 201 is inserted.

  Next, the processing procedure when the music piece A is lent out from the personal computer 1 to the memory card 201 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S <b> 51, the personal computer 1 describes the ID of the song A and the ID of the memory card 201 in the lending list stored in the HDD 21.

  Next, in step S <b> 52, the personal computer 1 communicates with the portable device 101 and acquires a rights management list managed by the memory card 201 attached to the portable device 101.

  In step S53, the personal computer 1 is obtained by encrypting the song A ID and song A management information (song A ID, viewing time limit, etc.) with the common key in the rights management list acquired in step S52. In addition to writing the signature of the song A, the entire signature is updated.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the right management list includes the ID of the memory card 201 (column 201), the entire signature (column 202), and the signature (column 203) of each song recorded (rented) on the memory card 201. ), And song management information and keys (column 204).

  That is, the personal computer 1 writes the signature of the song A obtained by encrypting the key of the song A and the management information of the song A with the common key in a predetermined place in the column 203 in step S53. Then, the personal computer 1 calculates, for example, hash values of all the signatures of the songs described in the column 203 and describes them in the column 202 as the entire signature. At this time, the personal computer 1 describes the management information of the song A and the key of the song A in the column 204 in association with the signature of the song A.

  Next, in step S54, the personal computer 1 transmits the rights management list in which the predetermined information is written in step S53 to the portable device 101, and the portable device 101 supplies the memory card 201 to store it. .

  In step S55, the personal computer 1 decrements the rentable count by 1, and in step S56 transmits the data of the music piece A encrypted with the common key to the portable device 101. Is supplied to the memory card 201 for storage. Thereafter, the process ends.

  Next, a processing procedure in the case of using the song A lent out from the personal computer 1 to the memory card 201 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S61, the portable device 101 acquires the right management list from the memory card 201, and in step S62, the management information of the song A described in the column 204 corresponding to the signature of the song A and the key of the song A Is encrypted with the common key to calculate the signature of the music piece A. The portable device 101 calculates the signatures of the other songs in the same manner, and then calculates the overall signature using all the signatures of the calculated songs.

  Next, in step S63, the portable device 101 determines whether the signature and overall signature of the song A calculated in step S62 match the signature and overall signature of the song A in the right management list, respectively. If so, the process proceeds to step S64.

  In step S64, the portable device 101 reads the data of music A (encrypted with the common key) stored in the memory card 201, and decompresses it with the common key and reproduces it in step S65. Thereafter, the process ends.

  If it is determined in step S63 that the calculated signature does not match the signature in the right management list, steps S64 and S65 are skipped, and the process ends. That is, in this case, the song A is not reproduced.

  Next, a processing procedure in the case where the song A lent to the memory card 201 from the personal computer 1 is returned to the personal computer 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S <b> 71, the personal computer 1 acquires a rights management list from the memory card 201.

  In step S72, the personal computer 1 determines whether or not the portion of the rights management list describing the signature of the song A at the time of renting the song A is empty or a different value (signature of another song) is described. If it is determined that a vacant or other song signature is described, the process proceeds to step S73.

  In step S73, the personal computer 1 deletes the ID of the memory card 201 described in the lending list corresponding to the ID of the song A, and in step S74, increments the lending possible number by 1 (returns to the original). . Thereafter, the process ends.

  If it is determined in step S72 that the signature of the song A is described as it is in the portion of the right management list in which the signature of the song A is described, the process proceeds to step S75, and the conventional return process is performed. By this processing, the management information of song A, the key of song A, and the data of song A held in the portable device 101 are deleted, and the number of rentable personal computers 1 is incremented by 1 (originally Returned).

  FIG. 13 shows another configuration example of the content lending system to which the present invention is applied.

  In this system, a server 301 and a personal computer 303 are connected via a network 302.

  The server 301 has lending software that can be lent out for a predetermined rentable number of times, and manages the renting of the software based on the lenttable number of times.

  Specifically, the server 301 performs a process of reducing the rentable number of times when renting software is transmitted to the personal computer 303 (when renting software).

  When the software is returned, the server 301 performs a process of increasing (returning to) the number of rentable times, but even when the rented software air does not exist in the personal computer 303 (when it is deleted). Confirm the return of the personal computer and increase the number of possible lending.

  Note that the personal computer 303 cannot illegally lend software borrowed from the server 301 to other personal computers. That is, if the rented software does not exist in the personal computer 303 that is the lent destination, the software is held only by the server 301, so that the software is returned at this time. Even if you handle it, there will be no problem.

  The personal computer 303 executes software lent out from the server 301 and performs predetermined processing. The personal computer 303 manages a rights management list.

  Next, a processing procedure when the software A is rented from the server 301 to the personal computer 303 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S81, the server 301 describes the ID of the software A and the ID of the personal computer 303 in the managed lending list.

  Next, in step S82, the server 301 communicates with the personal computer 303 to acquire a rights management list, and in step S83, the software A key and software A management information ( The signature of software A obtained by encrypting the ID of software A, the expiration date, etc.) with the common key common to personal computer 303 is written, and the entire signature (software described in the rights management list) is written Update all the hash values of the signature of the software (software lent to the personal computer 303).

  Next, in step S84, the server 301 transmits the right management list in which the predetermined information is written in step S83 to the personal computer 303. The personal computer 303 stores it.

  In step S85, the server 301 decrements the rentable count by 1, and transmits the software A data encrypted with the common key to the personal computer 303 in step S86. The personal computer 303 stores it. Thereafter, the process ends.

  Next, a processing procedure when using the software A lent to the personal computer 303 from the server 301 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S91, the personal computer 303 reads the right management list, and in step S92, the management information of software A described in correspondence with the signature of software A and the key of software A are encrypted with a common key. To calculate the signature of software A. The personal computer 303 also calculates signatures of other software in the same manner, and further calculates an overall signature using all of the calculated software signatures.

  Next, in step S93, the personal computer 303 determines whether the signature and overall signature of software A calculated in step S92 match the signature and overall signature of software A in the right management list, respectively. If it is determined that they match, the process proceeds to step S94.

  In step S94, the personal computer 303 reads the stored software A data (encrypted with the common key), and decompresses it with the common key and executes it in step S95. Thereafter, the process ends.

  If it is determined in step S93 that the calculated signature does not match the signature in the right management list, steps S94 and S95 are skipped and the process ends. That is, in this case, the software A cannot be executed.

  Next, a processing procedure when the software A lent to the personal computer 303 from the server 301 is returned to the server 301 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S <b> 101, the server 301 acquires a rights management list from the personal computer 303.

  In step S102, the server 301 determines whether the part of the rights management list describing the signature of the software A at the time of renting the software A is empty or whether a different value (signature of another software) is described. If it is determined that it is determined that it is available or a signature of another software is described, the process proceeds to step S103.

  In step S103, the server 301 deletes the ID of the personal computer 303 described in the lending list corresponding to the ID of the software A, and in step S104, increments the lending possible number by 1 (returns to the original). . Thereafter, the process ends.

  If it is determined in step S102 that the signature of software A is described as it is in the portion of the rights management list in which the signature of software A is described, the process proceeds to step S105, and the conventional return processing is performed. . As a result of this processing, the management information of software A, the key of software A, and the data of software A held in the personal computer 303 are deleted, and the rentable number of times of the server 301 is incremented by 1 ( Undo).

  In the above description, the case where the content is a song or software has been described as an example.

  The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware, but can also be executed by software. When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software executes various functions by installing a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware or various programs. For example, the program is installed in a general-purpose personal computer from the program storage medium.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the recording medium is distributed to provide a program to the user separately from the computer, and includes a magnetic disk 41 (including a floppy disk) on which the program is recorded, an optical disk 42 (CD- It is composed only of a package medium consisting of ROM (compact disk-read only memory), DVD (digital versatile disk), magneto-optical disk 43 (including MD (mini-disk)), or semiconductor memory 44. Rather, the program is provided with a ROM 12 or a HDD 21 that is provided to the user in a state of being pre-installed in a computer and stores a program.

  Further, in this specification, the steps for describing the program provided by the medium may be performed in parallel or individually even if not necessarily performed in time series, as well as processes performed in time series in the order described. This includes the processing to be executed.

  Further, in this specification, the system represents the entire apparatus constituted by a plurality of apparatuses.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the content rental system to which this invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the personal computer 1 of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the portable device 3 of FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a processing procedure when content is lent out from a personal computer to a portable device. It is a figure showing a rental list. It is a flowchart explaining the processing procedure in case the music A lent out to the portable device from the personal computer is returned to the personal computer. It is a figure which shows the other structural example of the content rental system to which this invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the portable device 101 of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the process sequence in case the music A is lent out to a memory card from a personal computer. It is a figure showing a rights management list. It is a flowchart explaining the process sequence in the case of using the music A lent out to the memory card from the personal computer. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a processing procedure when a song A lent to a memory card from a personal computer is returned to the personal computer 1. It is a figure which shows the other structural example of the content rental system to which this invention is applied. It is a flowchart explaining the process sequence in the case of renting out software A from a server to a personal computer. It is a flowchart explaining the process sequence in the case of using the software A lent to the personal computer from the server. It is a flowchart explaining the process sequence in case the software A lent out to the personal computer from the server is returned to the server.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Personal computer, 2 USB cord, 3 Portable device, 11 CPU, 21 HDD, 23 USB port, 51 CPU, 59 Flash memory, 60 Flash memory controller, 65 USB connector, 66 USB controller, 101 Portable device, 201 Memory card, 211 memory card controller, 212 slots, 301 server, 302 network, 303 personal computer

Claims (10)

Content that is encrypted with necessary information necessary for use, a recording device that records the necessary information, and encryption necessary information obtained by encrypting the necessary information with a common key that is shared only by itself A transmission means for transmitting to
Storage means for storing the number of times the content can be transmitted in association with the content;
When the content encrypted by the transmission unit and the encryption necessary information are transmitted to the recording device, the storage device stores identification information of the transmission destination in association with the transmitted content. And when the content transmitted to the recording device is returned , the content is deleted in the recording device, and the content is stored in the storage device. Before performing the return process, which is a process of increasing the number of times that transmission can be performed in the storage unit, it is determined whether or not the recording apparatus stores the necessary information about the content, and the recording apparatus If it is determined that the necessary information is not stored, the identification information of the recording device is deleted from the recording means and the storage The information processing apparatus and a management means for executing processing to increase the transmittable number stored in stages. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the management unit determines that the recording apparatus does not store the necessary information when receiving data indicating that the necessary information is not stored from the recording apparatus. Content that is encrypted with necessary information necessary for use, a recording device that records the necessary information, and encryption necessary information obtained by encrypting the necessary information with a common key that is shared only by itself Sending step to send to
A storage step of storing the number of times the content can be transmitted in the storage unit in association with the content;
When the content encrypted by the process of the transmission step and the encryption necessary information are transmitted to the recording device, identification information of the recording device as a transmission destination is associated with the transmitted content. When the content transmitted to the recording device is returned to the recording device, the content is deleted in the recording device. In addition, before performing a return process, which is a process for increasing the number of transmissions of the storage unit, it is determined whether or not the recording device stores the necessary information about the content, and the recording device If it is determined that the necessary information is not stored, the identification information of the recording device is deleted from the recording means. An information processing method comprising the management step of executing processing to increase the transmittable count stored in the storage means. Content that is encrypted with necessary information necessary for use, a recording device that records the necessary information, and encryption necessary information obtained by encrypting the necessary information with a common key that is shared only by itself Sending step to send to
A storage step of storing the number of times the content can be transmitted in the storage unit in association with the content;
When the content encrypted by the process of the transmission step and the encryption necessary information are transmitted to the recording device, identification information of the recording device as a transmission destination is associated with the transmitted content. When the content transmitted to the recording device is returned to the recording device, the content is deleted in the recording device. In addition, before performing a return process, which is a process for increasing the number of transmissions of the storage unit, it is determined whether or not the recording device stores the necessary information about the content, and the recording device If it is determined that the necessary information is not stored, the identification information of the recording device is deleted from the recording means. Program for executing the processing including a managing step of executing processing to increase the transmittable count stored in the storage unit to the computer.   A recording medium on which the program according to claim 4 is recorded. In a recording device for recording content received from an information processing device,
The content encrypted with necessary information necessary for use, and the information necessary for encryption obtained by encrypting the necessary information with a common key that is common only to the information processing apparatus and the recording apparatus itself. Receiving means for receiving from the processing device;
Storage means for storing the encrypted content received by the receiving means and the necessary information obtained by decrypting the encrypted necessary information received by the receiving means;
In response to a command received from the information processing apparatus, it is determined whether or not the necessary information is held in the storage unit, and if the necessary information is not held in the storage unit, the information processing apparatus is notified. A recording device. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the management unit performs a process of deleting the necessary information when the necessary information is held in the storage unit in response to a command received from the information processing apparatus. In a recording method of a recording device for recording content received from an information processing device,
The content encrypted with necessary information necessary for use, and the information necessary for encryption obtained by encrypting the necessary information with a common key that is common only to the information processing apparatus and the recording apparatus itself. A receiving step for receiving from the processing device;
A storage step of storing the encrypted content received by the process of the reception step and the necessary information obtained by decrypting the encryption necessary information received by the process of the reception step in a storage unit;
In response to a command received from the information processing apparatus, it is determined whether or not the necessary information is held in the storage unit, and if the necessary information is not held in the storage unit, the information processing apparatus is notified. A recording method comprising: In a program executed by a computer for recording processing for recording content received from an information processing device,
The content encrypted with necessary information necessary for use, and the information necessary for encryption obtained by encrypting the necessary information with a common key that is common only to the information processing apparatus and the recording apparatus itself. A receiving step for receiving from the processing device;
A storage step of storing the encrypted content received by the process of the reception step and the necessary information obtained by decrypting the encryption necessary information received by the process of the reception step in a storage unit;
In response to a command received from the information processing apparatus, it is determined whether or not the necessary information is held in the storage unit, and if the necessary information is not held in the storage unit, the information processing apparatus is notified. A program for causing a computer to execute a recording process including a management step.   A recording medium on which the program according to claim 9 is recorded.

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