JP4677840B2 - Content playback device, content playback control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a content reproduction apparatus, a content reproduction control method, and a program, and more particularly, to a content reproduction apparatus, a content reproduction control method, and a program that support a plurality of copyright management methods.

  Unlike traditional analog content, digital content such as music content can be copied multiple times without quality degradation. Therefore, in recent years, with the spread of the Internet and the increase in the speed and capacity of PCs (Personal Computers), illegal content distribution / exchange without the permission of the author has increased.

  In order to prevent these illegal acts, copyright management systems using DRM (Digital Rights Management) technology that restricts the distribution and use of contents are becoming widespread. In such a copyright management system, as proposed by SDMI (Secure Digital Music Initiative), etc., content usage (playback, copying, etc.) is restricted based on usage conditions described in a license (right information). Therefore, a method for managing the copyright of content (hereinafter referred to as “check-in / check-out method”) is generally used.

  Also, as a content playback device, PD (Portable Device) having excellent portability is widespread. In a conventional SDMI-compliant PD, only copyright management is performed in accordance with the above check-in / check-out method, such that content accompanied with a license checked out from a PC or the like is controlled based on the license. Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-321211 A

  However, the above-mentioned conventional PD is compatible only with a single copyright management method, and there is a problem that it is impossible to control reproduction of content created by a plurality of different copyright management methods.

  For this reason, when the copyright management system differs between Japan and overseas, it was necessary to design and develop a different model of PD. In particular, outside Japan, a PD corresponding to a user-friendly copyright management method with a higher degree of freedom of content use than the above-mentioned SDMI-compliant check-in / check-out method is desired according to the intention of the user.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a novel content reproduction control that can execute a plurality of different copyright management methods. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved content reproduction apparatus, content reproduction control method, and program.

In order to solve the above-described problem, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a source ID list indicating a provider of content permitted to be reproduced, method identification information indicating a content reproduction control method by the content reproduction device, and , A storage unit for storing a MAC value for checking the validity of the content reproduction processing by the content reproduction device ; and reproduction for determining a content reproduction control method by the content reproduction device based on the method identification information Whether the source ID list added to the content to be played back is included in the source ID list when the playback mode judgment unit judges that the playback mode is the first playback control mode A first reproducibility determination unit that determines whether or not the content is reproducible based on whether or not the content is reproducible; Accordingly, when it is determined that the second reproduction control method different from the first reproduction control method, based on the utilization condition information of the license accompanying the content to be reproduced, whether the content is reproducible A second reproducibility determination unit that determines whether or not; a reproduction execution unit that reproduces content determined to be reproducible by the first reproducibility determination unit or the second reproducibility determination unit; And when the reproduction control method determination unit determines that the first reproduction control method is selected, the first reproduction availability determination unit stores the valid source stored as the MAC value in the storage unit. By comparing the MAC value of the ID list with the MAC value of the source ID list read from the storage unit, the validity of the source ID list read from the storage unit is verified. When the reproduction control method determination unit determines that the second reproduction control method is selected, the second reproduction availability determination unit stores the valid value stored as the MAC value in the storage unit. A content reproduction apparatus is provided that checks the validity of the license attached to the content by comparing the MAC value of the license with the MAC value of the license attached to the content.

  The source ID may include a group ID that is uniquely generated for each user registered in the group management server. Furthermore, the group ID corresponding to the user who requested the distribution may be added to the content distributed from the content distribution server to the content processing apparatus.

  The source ID may include a recorder ID that is uniquely generated for each content processing apparatus having a ripping unit for ripping content from a storage medium. Furthermore, the content processing apparatus having the ripping unit may add a recorder ID corresponding to the content processing apparatus itself to the content ripped from the storage medium.

  The use condition information may include content reproduction frequency limit information, and the use condition information may include content reproduction time limit information.

  A communication unit that communicates with the content processing apparatus may be further provided, and the method identification information may be updated by the content processing apparatus.

  The display unit further includes a display unit that displays title information of one or more contents held by the content playback apparatus, and the display unit can be played back by the first playback permission determination unit or the second playback permission determination unit. The title information of the determined content and the title information of the content determined to be unplayable may be displayed in an identifiable manner.

  A content selection unit that selects at least one of the title information of the reproducible content displayed on the display unit, and the storage unit associates the title information of the content with the storage location information of the content; The content management information may be stored, and the reproduction execution unit may read and reproduce the content corresponding to the title information selected by the content selection unit based on the content management information.

  Further, the display unit displays a title list that represents the title information of the content determined to be reproducible and the title information of the content determined to be unreproducible by different color / luminance information. You may do it.

  Further, the display unit may display a title list in which title information of content determined to be reproducible and title information of content determined to be unreproducible are separately displayed. Good.

  Further, the display unit displays a title list in which different icons are added to the title information of the content determined to be reproducible and the title information of the content determined to be unreproducible. It may be.

  In addition, when a device is registered in the same device group as the content processing device with respect to the group management server via the content processing device, the communication unit is provided for communication connection with the content processing device. The source ID list stored in the storage unit may be updated based on the source ID list.

  The content playback device may be a portable content playback device having a hard disk drive.

In order to solve the above problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling the reproduction of content in a content reproduction apparatus is provided. In this content providing method, method identification information indicating a content reproduction control method by the content reproduction device is read from a storage unit of the content reproduction device, and content reproduction control by the content reproduction device is performed based on the method identification information. A reproduction control method determination step for determining a method; a source ID list indicating a content providing source that is permitted to be reproduced when it is determined that the reproduction control method determination step is the first reproduction control method; Read the MAC value of the source ID list from the storage unit, and read from the storage unit by comparing the MAC value of the source ID list read from the storage unit with the MAC value of the valid source ID list and check the validity of the source ID list, the content to be reproduced Source ID being pressurized is, based on whether or not included in the source ID list read from the storage unit, and the first playback permission determination step of the content to determine whether it is possible to reproduce When the reproduction control method determination step determines that the second reproduction control method is different from the first reproduction control method, the MAC value of the valid license is read from the storage unit, and the valid license The validity of the license associated with the content to be reproduced is checked by comparing the MAC value of the license with the MAC value of the license associated with the content to be reproduced , and use of the license associated with the content to be reproduced A second reproducibility determination step for determining whether the content is reproducible based on the condition information; Including; a reproduction step of reproducing a content that is determined to be reproduced in the first reproduction permission judgment step or said second inhibition decision step.

  The source ID may include a group ID that is uniquely generated for each user registered in the group management server.

  The source ID may include a recorder ID that is uniquely generated for each content processing apparatus having a ripping unit for ripping content from a storage medium.

  Further, the use condition information may include content reproduction frequency limit information. The use condition information may include content reproduction time limit information.

  In addition, the method may further include a step of updating the method identification information by a content processing device connected to the content reproduction device.

  Further, the display device further includes a display step of displaying title information of one or more contents held by the content playback device, and in the display step, playback is possible in the first playback permission determination step or the second playback permission determination step. The title information of the content determined to be and the title information of the content determined to be unplayable may be displayed in an identifiable manner.

  Further, the content management method further includes a selection step of selecting at least one of the displayed title information of the reproducible content, and in the reproduction step, content management in which the title information of the content and the storage location information of the content are associated with each other Based on the information, the content corresponding to the title information selected in the selection step may be read and reproduced.

  In the display step, a title list is displayed in which the title information of the content determined to be reproducible and the title information of the content determined to be unreproducible are represented by different color / luminance information. You may do it.

  Further, in the display step, a title list that displays the title information of the content determined to be reproducible and the title information of the content determined to be unreproducible is displayed. Good.

  Further, in the display step, a title list in which different icons are added to the title information of the content determined to be reproducible and the title information of the content determined to be unreproducible is displayed. May be.

  A step of registering the content playback device in the same device group as the content processing device with respect to the group management server via the content processing device connected to the content playback device; and a source possessed by the content processing device Updating the source ID list held by the content reproduction apparatus based on the ID list.

In order to solve the above-described problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, a content playback apparatus performs: storing content identification information indicating a playback control system of content by the content playback apparatus; A reproduction control method determination process for determining a content reproduction control method by the content reproduction device based on the method identification information ; and determining that the reproduction control method determination process is the first reproduction control method. A source ID list indicating a provider of content permitted to be reproduced and a MAC value of a valid source ID list are read from the storage unit, and the MAC value of the source ID list read from the storage unit is The source ID read from the storage unit by comparing with the MAC value of the valid source ID list Check the validity of the strike, the source ID added to the content to be played back, based on whether or not included in the source ID list read from the storage unit, whether the content is reproducible A first reproduction permission / inhibition determination process for determining whether or not a valid license is determined when it is determined in the reproduction control method determination process that the second reproduction control method is different from the first reproduction control method . The MAC value is read from the storage unit, and the validity of the license attached to the playback target content is checked by comparing the MAC value of the valid license with the MAC value of the license attached to the playback target content. and, based on the utilization condition information of the license accompanying the content of the reproduction object, whether the content is reproducible A second reproduction permission determination process of determining, a reproduction process for reproducing content that is determined to be reproduced in the first reproduction permission determination process or the second reproduction permission determination process; to execute the program Is provided.

  As described above, according to the present invention, content reproduction control corresponding to two different copyright management methods can be realized in the content reproduction apparatus. This not only improves user convenience, but also eliminates the need to design and develop a content playback device of a different model, thereby improving the efficiency of development work and reducing costs.

  In addition to the conventional check-in / check-out method, the content playback device can also support a copyright management scheme based on a group management method that controls playback based on the source ID and source ID list added to the content. It becomes. Accordingly, the user can use the content management scheme with a high degree of freedom in using the content, and a more user-friendly copyright management scheme.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

(First embodiment)
The content sharing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention and its components will be described below.

<1. Overview of copyright management for group management method>
First, an outline of a content sharing system corresponding to the copyright management of the group management method according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The content sharing system according to the present embodiment is configured as a copyright management system that manages the use of content among a plurality of devices (such as a content processing device or a content playback device) and protects the copyright of the content. That is, this content sharing system limits content sharing between devices owned by different users in order to reliably prevent illegal use of content such as mass distribution of content through the Internet or the like.

  On the other hand, this content sharing system includes a plurality of devices owned by the same user (for example, not only a single user but also a limited range of user groups such as family members, friends, company colleagues, etc.). It is also configured as a system that realizes a content sharing service that allows content to be freely shared to some extent.

  As described above, the content sharing system according to the present embodiment allows the sharing of content within the scope of private use while performing copyright management, and the convenience of content sharing among a plurality of devices owned by the same user. , Adopts a copyright management system that can increase the degree of freedom (a copyright management scheme of a “group management system” described later).

  As described above, in a conventional copyright management system that supports only the SDMI-compliant “check-in / check-out method”, content is “unit-by-content” based on the license that is the right information that determines the right to use the content. By restricting the number of copies (number of check-ins / check-outs), illegal use of content was restricted. In such a system, the copyright management process must be performed every time content is copied (checked in / checked out) between multiple content processing devices, resulting in a complicated system configuration and slow processing. There was a drawback that the degree of freedom of content usage within the range of use was low and lacked convenience. Further, in such a conventional check-in / check-out type copyright management system, the user must always use the system in consideration of the content copy source and the number of copies. In addition, the original purpose of the copyright management system, “prevention of copying content to devices owned by others” has not been realized.

  On the other hand, the content sharing system according to the present embodiment is characterized in that it can execute not only the conventional check-in / check-out method but also the group management method of copyright management. In this group management-type copyright management system, the content usage management unit is the “content source (source)” unit (specifically, “the first user who owns the content” or “creating the content”). Copyright management in which the reproduction of content on each device is permitted / not permitted according to the content provider.

  More specifically, in this group management-type copyright management system, a plurality of devices owned by each user are group-registered in the group management server in units of users, and the content provider is set in each group-registered device. The reproduction of the content is controlled based on the source ID to be represented and the source ID list. As a result, the contents of the same provider can be freely copied and reproduced between the devices registered in the device group of the same user.

  Note that the content is, for example, audio (Audio) content such as music, lectures, radio programs, etc., and video (Video) composed of still images or moving images constituting movies, television programs, video programs, photographs, paintings, charts, etc. The content may be any content such as a content, an electronic book (E-book), a game, and software. Hereinafter, examples of audio contents, particularly music contents distributed from a distribution server or ripped from a music CD, will be described as contents. However, the present invention is not limited to such examples.

  Next, an outline of group registration in the content sharing system 100 according to the present embodiment for performing copyright management of the group management method as described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of group registration of the content sharing system 100 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the content processing devices (PC) 10-1, 2 and the content playback devices (PD) 20-1, 2 are, for example, a device group owned by the user A (content processing device 10-1, content). Reproduction device 20-1) and device groups owned by user B (content processing device 10-2, content reproduction device 20-2). Such grouping of devices is achieved by registering the content processing device 10 and the content reproduction device 20 in the group management server 32 in units of users.

  This group registration will be specifically described with reference to an example of the content processing apparatus (PC) 10-1 owned by the user A. First, the user A accesses the group management server 32 using the content processing apparatus 10-1 owned by the user A, performs user authentication processing, and manages the device ID (for example, terminal ID) of the content processing apparatus 10-1 in the group management. Send to server 32. Next, the group management server 32 stores the device ID of the content processing device 10-1 in association with the user A, and registers the content processing device 10-1 in the user A device group as a group. Furthermore, the group management server 32 transmits user identification information (for example, a leaf ID described later) representing the user A to the content processing apparatus 10-1, and the content processing apparatus 10 uses the received user identification information as its own. Stored in the storage means. Similarly, other content processing apparatuses 10 are also registered as a group. Further, group registration of the content reproduction device (PD) 20 is performed via the content processing device (PC) 10, which will be described in detail later.

  In such a group registration, one device (the content processing device 10 and the content reproduction device 20) can be registered only in a device group of a single user, and cannot be registered in a device group of different users at the same time. Can not. Accordingly, when the owner of the content processing apparatus 10-2 is changed from the user A to the user B, the group registration of the content processing apparatus 10-2 is changed, that is, the registration cancellation from the device group of the user A and It is necessary to re-register user B with the device group.

  Further, for example, when the user A newly purchases the content processing apparatus 10-3, the content processing apparatus 10-3 is in a group unaffiliated state. -3 can be registered in the user A device group. On the other hand, the content processing apparatus 10-1 that has already been registered in the device group of the user A can be released from the group registration so that it does not belong to the group.

  Thus, in the content sharing system 100, each device is registered in the group management server 32 in units of users who own the devices. As a result, content can be freely shared between devices registered in the device group of the same user. On the other hand, content cannot be shared between devices registered in device groups of different users.

  Here, an outline of such a content sharing management method will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing main components of the content sharing system 100 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the content sharing system 100 according to the present embodiment includes a source ID adding unit 1, a content reproduction unit 2, and a list management unit 3 as main components.

  The source ID adding unit 1 is provided, for example, in the content processing apparatus 10 and has a function of adding a source ID representing a content providing source to the content. Note that “adding a source ID to content” means associating the source ID with the content. For example, a process of adding data of the source ID in a file (content file) including content data, or the above content This includes processing for associating the file with the file containing the data of the source ID.

  The “content provider” is the source of the content shared within the content sharing system 100 at the individual user level. Specifically, the content provider is, for example, (1) a user who has acquired (purchased) content using a content distribution service, or (2) a content created by ripping or self-recording. The processing apparatus 10 or the like. The source ID is an identifier uniquely assigned to each content provider. By adding this source ID to the content, the provider of the content distributed in the system can be specified.

  In the present embodiment, for example, a recorder ID and a group ID are used as the source ID. The recorder ID is a source ID when the content processing apparatus 10 is a content provider, and the group ID is a source ID when a user is a content provider.

  The recorder ID is an identifier uniquely assigned to each content processing apparatus 10 (such as a PC) having a content ripping function. The recorder ID is generated based on the device ID of the content processing apparatus 10 by the content processing apparatus 10 having the ripping function, and is safely stored in the content processing apparatus 10. When content is ripped from a removable storage medium such as a music CD, the content processing apparatus 10 adds the recorder ID of the content processing apparatus 10 itself to the ripped content (hereinafter referred to as “ripped content”). . Therefore, the content processing apparatus 10 that is the creation source of the ripped content (that is, the content providing source) can be specified by the recorder ID.

  The group ID is an identifier uniquely assigned to each user who owns the content processing apparatus 10 and / or the content reproduction apparatus 20. Specifically, this group ID is assigned for each user account of the content sharing service provided by the content sharing system 100 according to the present embodiment. By such group ID, the device group to which the content processing apparatus 10 or the content reproduction apparatus 20 belongs and their owners can be identified.

  In the present embodiment, the group ID is generated based on the leaf ID (leaf ID) by the content processing device 10 when the content processing device 10 registers a group or receives distribution content, for example. The leaf ID is an identifier assigned to each user, and is generated by the group management server 32 at the time of user registration with the group management server 32, for example. The leaf ID is configured as an example of user identification information, and is notified from the group management server 32 to the content processing apparatus 10 at the time of group registration or content distribution of each device.

  The content processing apparatus 10 generates a group ID based on the leaf ID and service ID notified from the group management server 32. This service ID is a unique ID for each content distribution service or ripped content sharing service implemented in the content sharing system 100. Here, the content distribution service is a service for distributing content from the content distribution server to the content processing apparatus 10. The ripped content sharing service is a service that allows the ripped content to be shared between a plurality of content processing apparatuses 10 and content reproduction apparatuses 20 owned by the same user by performing the above group registration.

For example, when the content distribution service and the ripped content sharing service are not separately managed and a common service ID is used for both services, the service ID and the leaf ID are combined as follows, Group IDs are generated.
“Group ID” = “Service ID” + “Leaf ID”

On the other hand, when the content distribution service and the ripped content sharing service are managed separately, a unique content distribution service ID for each content distribution service and a unique ripped content sharing service ID for each ripped content sharing service are generated. . Therefore, the service ID and the leaf ID of each service are combined as follows to generate two types of group IDs corresponding to each service.
“First group ID” = “content distribution service ID” + “leaf ID”
“Second group ID” = “Ripping content sharing service ID” + “Leaf ID”

  Among these, the first group ID is added to the distribution content in order to identify the user who purchased the distribution content distributed from the content distribution server. Further, the second group ID is a reference for determining whether or not addition is possible when a recorder ID is added to a source ID list, which will be described later, since the ripped content is shared between the content processing device 10 and the content reproduction device 20. .

  In the present embodiment, for example, the latter method of generating the first group ID and the second group ID is adopted. However, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the first group ID and the second group ID are distinguished below. Instead, both will be described as group IDs.

  Such a group ID is added to the distribution content distributed from the content distribution server by the content processing apparatus 10, for example. By adding the group ID to the distribution content in this way, it becomes possible to identify the user who purchased the distribution content (that is, the content provider).

  As described above, the content to which the source ID (recorder ID, group ID) is added by the content adding unit 1 of the content processing apparatus 10 can be freely copied between the content processing apparatus 10 and the content reproduction apparatus 20. . That is, in a group management type copyright management system, when a content with a source ID added (that is, a content subject to copyright management) is copied, a conventional check-in / check-out type copyright management system, There is no restriction on the number of copies.

  Next, the content playback unit 2 is configured by a content playback device or playback software, and is provided in the content processing device 10 or the content playback device 20. The content reproduction unit 2 has a source ID list L to which source IDs permitted to be reproduced by the content reproduction unit are added. This source ID list L is provided for each content reproduction unit 2, and if the content reproduction unit 2 is different, the source ID included in each source ID list L is also different.

  When reproducing the content to which the source ID is added, the content reproduction unit 2 checks the source ID list L to enable / disable the reproduction of the content. That is, when the source ID added to the content is included in the source ID list L, the content reproduction unit 2 can reproduce the content, while the source ID added to the content is If it is not included in the source ID list L, the content cannot be reproduced. As described above, the content reproduction unit 2 controls the reproduction of content in units of source IDs, that is, in units of content providers.

  Furthermore, the content reproduction unit 2 can request the list management unit 3 to add a new source ID to the source ID list L held by the content reproduction unit 2, for example. That is, the content reproduction unit 2 adds the new source ID to the source ID list L in order to reproduce the content with the new source ID not included in the source ID list L owned by the content reproduction unit 2. There is a need. Therefore, the content reproduction unit 2 requests the list management unit 3 that permits the update of the source ID list L to permit addition of the new source ID.

  For example, the list management unit 3 is provided in the content processing apparatus 10 and updates the source ID list L held by the content reproduction unit 2. Here, the update of the source ID list L is addition or deletion of the source ID with respect to the source ID list L. By adding / deleting the source ID to / from the source ID list L, the list management unit 3 can enable / disable playback of the content to which the source ID is added in the content playback unit 2.

  The list management unit 3 acquires a group certificate (Group Certificate) G that is shared information in which the group ID and the recorder ID are associated with each other, and updates the source ID list L based on the group certificate G. Specifically, if the group ID included in the group certificate G is the same as the group ID included in the source ID list L, the list management unit 3 records the recorder ID included in the group certificate G. Is added to the source ID list L. Thus, the recorder ID of the content processing apparatus 10 registered in the same user's device group is added to the source ID list L so that the ripped content ripped by the content processing apparatus 10 can be reproduced. it can.

  As described above, in the content sharing system 100 according to the present embodiment, the reproduction of content in each content processing device 10 and the content reproduction device 20 is controlled by the source ID adding unit 1, the content reproduction unit 2, and the list management unit 3. Thus, the copyright of the content copied between the content processing apparatuses 10 is managed. The content sharing system 100 is configured to execute not only the copyright management of the group management system as described above but also the copyright management of the conventional check-in / check-out system. To do.

<2. System configuration>
Next, the overall configuration of the content sharing system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of the content sharing system 100 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the content sharing system 100 according to the present embodiment may be collectively referred to as a plurality of content processing devices 10-1, 2,..., N (hereinafter “content processing device 10”). ), A plurality of content reproduction apparatuses 20-1, 2,..., M, n (hereinafter may be collectively referred to as “content reproduction apparatus 20”), the server 30, and these apparatuses are connected to each other. Network 5 and local line 9, and storage medium 7. The server 30 includes, for example, a WWW (World Wide Web) server 31, a group management server 32, a content distribution server 34, a certificate management server 36, a charging server 38, and the like.

  The content processing device 10 is a device capable of recording and reproducing content. More specifically, the content processing apparatus 10 is configured by a computer apparatus (a notebook type or a desktop type) such as a personal computer (PC), but is not limited to this example, and the network 5 For example, a device having a communication function can be configured by a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a home game machine, an information home appliance, or the like.

  The content processing apparatus 10 can be connected to the server 30 via the network 5, for example. The content processing apparatus 10 can install, for example, software for content distribution service and software for ripping content sharing service. As a result, the content processing apparatus 10 can receive the content distribution from the content distribution server 34 and record the distribution content in a recording unit such as the storage device or the storage medium 7.

  In addition, the content processing apparatus 10 can newly create content by, for example, self-recording (self-recording, recording, etc.) or ripping, and record it in the storage device or the storage medium 7. Note that self-recording means recording video / audio or the like captured / collected by the imaging device / sound collecting device of the content processing apparatus 10 itself as video / audio digital data. Ripping is a file format that can be extracted by digital content data (audio data, video data, etc.) recorded on a storage medium such as a music CD, video DVD, or software CD-ROM, and can be processed by a computer. Is recorded in the storage device or the storage medium 7.

  The content processing apparatus 10 compresses and encodes the distribution content and the ripped content using a predetermined compression encoding method such as an ATRAC3 (Advanced Transform Acoustic Coding) method or an MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer-3) method. Data can be recorded after being encrypted by an encryption method such as Data Encryption Standard.

  Furthermore, the content processing apparatus 10 transmits / receives the distribution content and the ripped content to / from other content processing apparatus 10 or the content reproduction apparatus 20 via the network 5 or the local line 9, or via the storage medium 7. Can communicate with each other. Accordingly, the content can be provided / acquired and shared by the plurality of content processing apparatuses 10 and the content reproduction apparatus 20.

  Further, the content processing apparatus 10 is registered as a group in the group management server 32 connected via the network 5. Furthermore, the content processing apparatus 10 includes components corresponding to, for example, the source ID addition unit 1, the content reproduction unit 2, and the list management unit 3 as described above. As described above, the content processing apparatus 10 is configured to be compatible with the copyright management system of the group management system. Further, the content processing apparatus 10 is configured so as to be compatible with, for example, a conventional check-in / check-out copyright management method, which will be described in detail later.

  The content reproduction apparatus 20 is a portable device (PD) that is a portable content reproduction apparatus. More specifically, the content reproduction apparatus 20 is configured by a portable audio player having a hard disk drive (HDD) having a storage capacity of several tens GB, for example, but is not limited to such an example. / Various portable devices such as a voice player, PDA, mobile phone, PHS may be used. In addition, the storage medium in the content reproduction apparatus 20 or the external storage medium 7 that can be loaded is not limited to the HDD, but a storage medium that can be randomly accessed, such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a flash memory, an FeRAM, and a magnetic memory. If it is okay. The content playback apparatus 20 may be a content playback dedicated machine.

  For example, the content reproduction apparatus 20 can be locally connected to the content processing apparatus 10 via the local line 9 and can communicate various data with the content processing apparatus 10. The local line 9 is configured by, for example, a wired cable such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable or a SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) cable. Note that the content processing apparatus 10 and the content reproduction apparatus 20 may be configured to be capable of data communication by wireless communication.

  The content reproduction device 20 can reproduce the content transferred from the content processing device 10 via the local line 9 or the content provided by the storage medium 7.

  In addition, the content reproduction apparatus 20 is registered as a group with the group management server 32 via the content processing apparatus 10. In addition, the content reproduction device 20 has a configuration corresponding to the content reproduction unit 2 described above, for example. As described above, the content reproduction apparatus 20 is configured to be compatible with the copyright management system of the group management system. Furthermore, the content playback apparatus 20 also supports a copyright management system of a check-in / check-out system, and can switch between a group management system and a check-in / check-out system according to the setting by the content playback apparatus 20. The details will be described later.

  The server 30 is composed of a computer device having a server function. The server 30 includes, for example, a WWW server 31, a group management server 32, a content distribution server 34, a certificate management server 36, a charging server 38, and the like.

  The WWW server 31 establishes communication with the content processing apparatus 10 connected via the network, and performs user registration processing, user authentication processing, and the like. When the user authentication is completed, the WWW server 31 connects the content processing apparatus 10 to the group management server 32 or the content distribution server 34.

  As described above, the group management server 32 performs group registration of the content processing device 10 and the content reproduction device 20 in units of users in response to a registration request from the content processing device 10 owned by the user registered as a user.

  The content distribution server 34 is a server that provides a content distribution service, and distributes content to the content processing apparatus 10 via the network 5 in response to a distribution request from the content processing apparatus 10 owned by the user. The content distribution server 34 is, for example, an EMD server that provides an electronic music distribution (EMD) service. The content distribution server 34 compresses and encodes the music content to be distributed using, for example, a compression encoding method such as the ATRAC3 method or the MP3 method, and encrypts the music content using an encryption method such as DES. To deliver. Further, the content distribution server 34 encrypts a content key for decrypting the distribution content together with the encrypted distribution content, and transmits the encrypted content key to the content processing apparatus 10.

  The certificate management server 36 acquires and manages the group certificate G issued by each content processing device 10 and distributes it to the content processing devices 10 belonging to the same device group. Accordingly, the content processing apparatus 10 can share the ripped content by adding the recorder ID of another content processing apparatus 10 belonging to the same device group.

  The billing server 38 performs billing processing for the user who purchased the content in accordance with the content distribution by the content distribution server 34.

  These WWW server 31, group management server 32, content distribution server 34, certificate management server 36, and accounting server 38 may be all or partly integrated as hardware, or may be individually separated. You may comprise with a server apparatus.

  The network 5 is a communication line network that connects the content processing apparatus 10 and the server 30 so as to be capable of bidirectional communication. This network 5 is composed of, for example, a public line network such as the Internet, a telephone line network, a satellite communication network, etc., or a dedicated line network such as WAN, LAN, IP-VPN, etc., regardless of wired or wireless.

  Further, the network 5 includes a private network. This private network is a network that connects a plurality of content processing apparatuses 10 that share content within the scope of private use from the viewpoint of copyright management. Specific examples of such a private network include, for example, a network connecting a plurality of content processing devices 10 used by the same user, a home network connecting a plurality of content processing devices 10 used in the same home, Examples include a LAN that connects a plurality of content processing apparatuses 10 used in a small limited group (company, friend, etc.).

  The storage medium 7 is a removable medium that can store various data such as content, group certificate G, and programs. For example, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, CD-R, CD-RW , Various optical disks 3 such as magneto-optical disks, magnetic disks such as flexible disks and hard disks, and various semiconductor memories. Note that the storage medium 7 may be a storage medium with a copyright management function that restricts copy and reproduction of content using an encryption key, for example.

  The storage medium 7 functions as a content provision / acquisition medium between the content processing apparatuses 10. For example, the storage medium 7 on which the content is written by the content processing apparatus 10-1 is loaded into the content processing apparatus 10-2 and the content is read, so that the content processing apparatus 10-1 transfers the content processing apparatus 10-2 to the content processing apparatus 10-2. Content can be provided. Further, the content processing apparatus 10-1 can provide / acquire content via the storage medium 7 even with the content reproduction apparatus 20 that cannot be connected to the network 5. This storage medium 7 also functions as a provision / acquisition medium for the group certificate G between the content processing apparatuses 10. Further, the storage medium 7 is inserted into a content sales terminal (not shown) provided at the store front of the store, stores the content purchased in response to a user operation, and provides it to the content processing apparatus 10. You can also

<3. Content Processing Device (PC)>
Next, the configuration of the content processing apparatus (PC) 10 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

  First, a hardware configuration of the content processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of the hardware configuration of the content processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the content processing apparatus 10 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103, a host bus 104, a bridge 105, and the like. , External bus 106, interface 107, input device 108, output device 110, storage device (HDD) 111, drive 112, connection port 114, and communication device 115.

  The CPU 101 functions as an arithmetic processing device and a control device, operates according to various programs, and controls each part in the content processing device 10. The ROM 102 stores programs and calculation parameters used by the CPU 101. The RAM 103 temporarily stores programs used in the execution of the CPU 101, parameters that change as appropriate during the execution, and the like. These are connected to each other by a host bus 104 including a CPU bus.

  The host bus 104 is connected to an external bus 106 such as a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect / Interface) bus via a bridge 105.

  The input device 108 includes, for example, operation means such as a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, a button, a switch, and a lever, and an input control circuit that generates an input signal and outputs it to the CPU 101. A user of the content processing apparatus 10 can input various data and instruct a processing operation to the content processing apparatus 10 by operating the input device 108.

  The output device 110 includes, for example, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display device, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, a display device such as a lamp, and an audio output device such as a speaker. For example, the output device 110 outputs reproduced content. Specifically, the display device displays various information such as reproduced video data as text or images. On the other hand, the audio output device generates reproduced audio data and the like.

  The storage device 111 is a data storage device configured as an example of a storage unit of the content processing device 10 according to the present embodiment, and is configured by, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The storage device 111 drives a hard disk and stores programs executed by the CPU 101 and various data. The storage device 111 also stores a source ID list L, a content database 116, a self ID database 117, a content management information database 118, and the like shown in FIG.

  The drive 112 is a storage medium reader / writer, and is built in or externally attached to the content processing apparatus 10. The drive 112 records / stores various data such as contents, group certificates G, and programs on a removable storage medium 7 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory loaded in the content processing apparatus 10. Reproduce.

  Specifically, the drive 112 reads data recorded in the removable storage medium 7 and supplies the data to the RAM 103 connected via the interface 107, the external bus 106, the bridge 105, and the host bus 104. The CPU 101 stores these data in the ROM 102 or the storage device 111 as required. On the other hand, the drive 112 receives data stored in the ROM 102 or the storage device 111, newly generated data, or data acquired from an external device from the CPU 101 and writes it to the removable storage medium 7.

  The connection port 114 is a port for connecting an external peripheral device such as the content reproduction device 20 and has connection terminals such as USB and IEEE1394. The connection port 114 is connected to the CPU 101 and the like via the interface 107, the external bus 106, the bridge 105, the host bus 104, and the like. With this connection port 114, the content processing apparatus 10 can communicate various data via the content reproduction apparatus 20 and the local line 9.

  The communication device 115 is a communication interface configured with, for example, a communication device for connecting to the network 5. The communication device 115 transmits / receives various data such as content, source ID list L, group certificate G, and control signal to / from external devices such as other content processing devices 10 and servers 30 via the network 5. To do.

  Next, main functions of the content processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing functions of the content processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the content processing apparatus 10 includes, for example, a data communication unit 120, a group registration unit 130, a list management unit 140, a certificate issuance unit 150, a distribution service use unit 152, and a source ID addition. A unit 154, a content processing unit 160, an ICV data management unit 190, a content database 116, a self ID database 117, and a content management information database 118.

  The data communication unit 120 transmits / receives various data between the content processing apparatus 10 and the external apparatus. For example, the data communication unit 120 transmits and receives data between the content processing apparatus 10 and another content processing apparatus 10 or the server 30 via the network 5 using the communication apparatus 115. In addition, the data communication unit 120 transmits and receives data between the content processing apparatus 10 and the content reproduction apparatus 20 via the local line 9 using the connection port 114.

  The group registration unit 130 performs user registration processing and group registration processing (device registration processing) of the content processing apparatus 10 on the group management server 32. In this group registration process, the group registration unit 130 transmits group registration request information (for example, group registration request notification, user ID, password, terminal ID, recorder ID, etc.) to the group management server 32. Here, the terminal ID is an ID for uniquely identifying the content processing apparatus 10 configured by a PC or the like. The terminal ID and the recorder ID are uniquely generated by each content processing apparatus 10 based on, for example, a random number generated independently, a device ID of each content processing apparatus 10, or the like.

  The group registration unit 130 receives service data (leaf ID, service common key, etc.) notified from the group management server 32 in response to group registration of the content processing apparatus 10. Further, for example, the group registration unit 130 outputs the received leaf ID to the list management unit 140 and outputs the received service common key to the content processing unit 160. The service common key (secret key) is a key necessary for decrypting the encrypted content data, and is securely stored so as not to be tampered with.

  In addition, the group registration unit 130 performs group registration cancellation request processing of the content processing apparatus 10 on the group management server 32. Also in this case, group registration cancellation request information (for example, group registration cancellation request notification, user ID, password, terminal ID, etc.) is transmitted to the group management server 32 as in the registration. When the registration is canceled, the group registration unit 130 notifies the list management unit 140 to that effect.

  In addition, the group registration unit 130 can also perform group registration of the content reproduction device 20 connected to the content processing device 10 in the group management server 32. Details of such group registration processing and deregistration processing of the content processing device 10 and the content reproduction device 20 by the group registration unit 130 will be described later.

  The list management unit 140 is a component corresponding to the list management unit 3 shown in FIG. For example, the list management unit 140 has a function of updating the source ID list L held by the content processing apparatus 10.

  For example, at the time of group registration, the list management unit 140 adds a service ID to the leaf ID received from the group registration unit 130, converts the leaf ID to which the service ID is added into a group ID, and converts the group ID. Is added to the source ID list L. When the list management unit 140 acquires the group certificate G distributed from the group management server 32 or another content processing apparatus 10, the list management unit 140 includes the group ID included in the group certificate G and the source ID list L. If the included group ID matches, the recorder ID included in the group certificate G is added to the source ID list L. When expiration date information is set in the source ID such as the group ID or the recorder ID, the list management unit 140 adds the expiration date information of the source ID when the source ID is added to the source ID list L. Is also described in the source ID list L.

  Further, the list management unit 140 deletes all source IDs in the source ID list L when canceling group registration. Furthermore, the list management unit 140 can also update the source ID list L of the content reproduction device 20 connected to the content processing device 10. Details of the list update processing by the list management unit 140 will be described later.

  The source ID list L is safely stored in the storage device 111 or the ROM 102 of the content processing apparatus 10. This source ID list L is stored, for example, in an encrypted state with a digital signature in order to prevent unauthorized tampering by the user.

  In the present embodiment, the group ID generated based on the leaf ID at the time of group registration is stored in the content processing apparatus 10 so as to be included in the source ID list L as described above. This is because, as described above, the group ID is used as a source ID for enabling reproduction of the distribution content to which the group ID is added, and reproduction control of the distribution content is performed based on the group ID. is there. For example, when the group ID is used not only as a source ID but only as a source ID for adding a recorder ID to the source ID list L in the ripping content sharing service (the second group ID), The group ID is not necessarily stored in the source ID list L. In this case, for example, the group ID may be stored in another storage area in the storage device 111, for example, the self ID database 117, or may be stored in the other ROM 102 or the like.

  For example, the certificate issuing unit 150 has a function of issuing a group certificate G to certify a device group to which the content processing apparatus 10 itself belongs. Specifically, the certificate issuing unit 150, for example, in the state where the content processing apparatus 10 is group-registered and holds the group ID-A as described above, the recorder ID 1 corresponding to the content processing apparatus 10, A group certificate G associated with the group ID-A is issued. With such a group certificate G, it can be proved that the content processing apparatus 10 corresponding to the recorder ID1 belongs to the user-owned device group specified by the group ID-A. The group certificate G is added with a digital signature for falsification detection, for example, a MAC (Message Authentication Code). Thereby, falsification of the group certificate G can be prevented.

  When issuing the group certificate G, the certificate issuing unit 150 reads out the recorder ID and group ID corresponding to the content processing apparatus 10 itself from the storage device 111, and uses the read recorder ID and group ID as the digital ID. A group certificate G is generated and issued by performing encryption processing with a signature.

  The certificate issuing unit 150 can issue a group ID at an arbitrary timing after the group registration of the content processing apparatus 10, for example. For example, the certificate issuing unit 150 receives a group certificate corresponding to its own content processing apparatus 10 in response to a user input of the content processing apparatus 10 or in response to a certificate request from another content processing apparatus 10. G may be issued. The certificate issuing unit 150 may issue a group certificate G and transmit it to the certificate management server 36 after group registration of the content processing apparatus 10.

  The certificate issuing unit 150 may add validity period information to the group certificate G to be issued. As a result, the content processing apparatus 10 that has acquired the group certificate G uses the recorder ID included in the group certificate G as a source only within the validity period represented by the validity period information included in the group certificate G. It can be added to the ID list L.

  In addition, the certificate issuing unit 150 can arbitrarily set the path for distributing the group certificate G issued as described above to other content processing apparatuses 10, for example, via the certificate management server 36. You may make it distribute to the other content processing apparatus 10. FIG. As a result, the certificate management server 36 can centrally manage the group certificate G of each content processing apparatus 10 and distribute it to other content processing apparatuses 10 belonging to the same device group.

  Also, the distribution method of the group certificate G can be arbitrarily set. For example, sending the group certificate G directly via the network 5 or the local line 9, sending the group certificate G attached to an e-mail, or pasting the group certificate G on the homepage Also good. Further, it may be provided to the content processing apparatus 10 via the storage medium 7 on which the group certificate G is recorded. Further, the group certificate G may be distributed via the storage medium 7 in which the group certificate G is recorded together with the content. Thereby, for example, the recorder ID added to the ripped content and the group ID of the ripped content processing device 10 can be distributed together with the ripped content. For this reason, if the content processing device 10 belongs to the same device group , The ripped content can be played immediately.

  The group certificate G distributed in this way is used for share registration, that is, for adding a recorder ID to the source ID list L in the other content processing apparatuses 10. As a result, the other content processing device 10 that has received the distribution of the group certificate G from the content processing device 10 belonging to the same device group obtains the recorder ID of the device having the same group ID, and the source ID list L Can be added to.

  In this way, by issuing and distributing the group certificate G in which the group ID and the recorder ID are associated with each other, the content processing apparatuses 10 belonging to the same device group do not directly connect to each other. Recorder ID can be shared.

  The group certificate G issued by the certificate issuing unit 150 and the group certificate G acquired from another content processing apparatus 10 or the certificate management server 36 are stored in the certificate database (not shown). A certificate management unit (not shown) for management may be provided. As a result, the certificate management unit can read the group certificate G acquired in the past from the certificate database and distribute it to other content processing apparatuses 10 and the like.

  The distribution service using unit 152 performs processing related to the content distribution service with the content distribution server 34.

  Specifically, the distribution service using unit 152 receives, for example, various information such as user authentication information (user ID, password, etc.), billing information, and content distribution request information necessary for using the content distribution service. It transmits / receives to / from the content distribution server 34 and supports input / output of these information.

  The distribution service using unit 152 receives the distribution content transmitted from the content distribution server 34 and the license of the distribution content via the network 5 and the communication device 115. That is, when the user of the content processing apparatus 10 purchases content using the content distribution service, the distribution service using unit 152 sends a file of distribution content from the content distribution server 34 and a license that defines the use conditions of the distribution content. The file is downloaded as a separate file, for example. In the case of content that is subject to group management copyright management, the distribution content license describes the leaf ID assigned to the user by the group registration. On the other hand, in the case of content for which copyright management of the check-in / check-out method is performed, the license includes usage condition information (Usage Rule), which is a check-in / check-out limit, a playback count limit, Information such as the playback deadline is described.

  The distribution service utilization unit 152 processes the distribution content data and the license data received in this way, and creates a content file in which the content and the license are the same file, for example.

  At this time, for the distribution content of the group management method, the group ID is added to the content data of the distribution content by the source ID adding unit 154. The source ID adding unit 154 is a component corresponding to the source ID adding unit 1. The source ID adding unit 154 adds a group ID to the distribution content. Specifically, the source ID adding unit 154 executes processing for converting the leaf ID described in the license corresponding to the distribution content into a group ID. The conversion process from the leaf ID to the group ID is performed, for example, by adding the service ID of the content distribution service to the leaf ID, for example. As a result, the group ID representing the user and service that purchased the distribution content is associated with the distribution content.

  In this way, the distribution service using unit 152 and the source ID adding unit 154 create a content file that combines the distributed content file and the license file.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6A, the group management type content file F1 can be handled only by, for example, the content ID, the content data encrypted with the content key, and the content sharing system 100. It includes a content key encrypted with a system common key and a license in which a source ID such as a group ID is described.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, the content file F2 of the check-in / check-out method is encrypted with the content ID, content data encrypted with the content key, and the system common key, for example. It includes a content key and a license describing usage condition information. The licenses in such content files F1 and F2 are encrypted so that tampering can be detected. Thereby, the source ID or usage conditions can be safely associated with the content. Further, the content processing apparatus 10 holds common secret information so that, for example, decryption of an encrypted content key and tampering check of a license can be performed. For this reason, even if the content is shared in the content sharing system 100, it is possible to suitably prevent the source ID added to the content and the usage conditions from being falsified.

  The distribution service using unit 152 records the content file created in this way, for example, in the content database 116 in the storage device 111. In the present embodiment, as described above, the corresponding content and license are managed in the same file and stored in the content database 116, but the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, content and license may be managed as separate files. In this case, the content file may be stored in the content database 116, the license file may be stored in the license database, and the content and license may be associated with each other by the content ID included in both files.

  The distribution service using unit 152 receives distribution content attribute information from the content distribution server 34 during content distribution. This distribution content attribute information includes, for example, distribution content title information (for example, song name, artist (singer) name, album name, genre, playback time, etc.), content ID, distribution date, data size, data format, copyright management. The type of method, etc. The distribution service using unit 152 records the distribution content attribute information, the recording location of the distribution content (for example, an address in the content DB 116), and the like in the content management information database 118 as content management information.

  The distribution service using unit 152 as described above is configured, for example, by installing content distribution service software corresponding to the content distribution service to be used in the content processing apparatus 10. Note that a plurality of distribution service using units 152 may be provided for each of a plurality of content distribution services used by the user.

  Further, the source ID adding unit 154 adds the group ID of the content processing apparatus 10 itself to the content (the ripped content) ripped from the music CD 7a or the like by the ripping unit 184 described later. Specifically, the source ID adding unit 154 reads the recorder ID of the content processing apparatus 10 stored in the self ID database 117, creates a license including the recorder ID, and uses the license as content data of the ripped content. Associate with. That is, the source ID adding unit 154 has a license in which the content ID, the content data of the encrypted ripped content, the encrypted content key, and the recorder ID are described as shown in FIG. Is created. The source ID adding unit 154 records the ripped content to which the recorder ID is added in this way in the content database 116.

  The recorder ID addition timing is preferably, for example, the time when ripping of the content is completed. Thus, by immediately adding the recorder ID to the ripped content, the recorder ID can be surely added before the ripped content requiring copyright management is distributed in the system 100. Note that the recorder ID addition timing is not limited to such an example, and may be, for example, when the ripped content is reproduced for the first time or when it is copied to another content processing apparatus 10.

  The self ID database 117 stores IDs corresponding to the content processing apparatus 10 itself, such as the device ID, recorder ID, and terminal ID of the content processing apparatus 10.

  The device ID is an identifier that is uniquely assigned to each device (such as the content processing device 10 and the content reproduction device 20). This device ID is assigned, for example, when the content processing apparatus 10 is shipped from the factory, and is stored safely in the self ID database 117.

  The terminal ID (Terminal ID) is an ID uniquely assigned to each content processing apparatus 10 such as a PC. In addition, the recorder ID is an identifier uniquely given to each content processing apparatus 10 having a ripping function as described above. These terminal IDs and recorder IDs are generated by the content processing apparatus 10 so as to be unique for each content processing apparatus 10 based on the device ID and random number, in order to prevent unauthorized tampering. It is encrypted and stored securely in the self ID database 117.

  The content processing unit 160 performs various processes on the content. The content processing unit 160 is configured, for example, by installing an application program for using (for example, playing, transferring, etc.) the content and a DRM module for managing the copyright of the use in the content processing apparatus 10. The content processing unit 160 includes, for example, a content reproduction unit 170, a content providing unit 180, a content acquisition unit 182 and a ripping unit 184.

  The content reproduction unit 170 is a component corresponding to the content reproduction unit 2 shown in FIG. The content playback unit 170 is configured by, for example, a playback device having a content playback function or content playback software installed in the content processing device 10 and can play back various types of content. The content data reproduced by the content reproduction unit 170 is output from the output device 110.

  In addition, the content playback unit 170 can handle, for example, both group management content and check-in / check-out content, and performs group management playback control and check-in / check-out playback control. It is feasible. Specifically, when playback control is performed using the group management method, the content playback unit 170 determines whether the source ID added to the playback target content is included in the source ID list L or not. Controls playback of content to be played. On the other hand, when playback control is performed using the check-in / check-out method, the content playback unit 170 determines whether the content to be played back is based on whether or not the license usage condition information corresponding to the content to be played is satisfied. Control playback. Details of the content reproduction unit 170 will be described later.

  Two or more content reproduction units 170 may be provided in one content processing apparatus 10. For example, one content processing can be performed by installing two or more types of content playback software in one content processing device 10, providing two or more playback devices, or using content playback software and a playback device together. Two or more content playback units 170 corresponding to each content distribution service and each copyright management method may be configured in the apparatus 10.

  The content providing unit 180 provides content to other content processing devices 10 or content playback devices 20. Further, the content acquisition unit 182 acquires content from another content processing apparatus 10 or the content reproduction apparatus 20. The content providing unit 180 and the content obtaining unit 182 may execute the content provision / acquisition processing by, for example, transmission / reception processing via the network 5 or the local line 9 or via the storage medium 7. May be.

  Note that at the time of reproduction, provision, and acquisition of such content, the content processing unit 160 may control the above processing based on the content management information in the content management information database 118, and the content management information It may be displayed on the output device 110.

  The ripping unit 184 rips content recorded on a recording medium 7a such as a CD or DVD on which music content or video content is recorded. Specifically, for example, the ripping unit 184 can control the drive 112 in accordance with a user input to take out music / video data from the storage medium 7a and process the music / video data in the content processing apparatus 10. A content converted into a different format (for example, ATRAC3 format) is created. The recorder ID of the content processing apparatus 10 is added to the ripped content by the source ID adding unit 154.

  In addition to the ripping unit 184, a self-recording unit (not shown) for newly creating content by self-recording / recording may be provided. This self-recording unit collects sound around the content processing apparatus 10 and images a subject to generate audio data or video data, and performs predetermined data processing on the data to newly create content. Alternatively, new content may be created by converting video / audio data such as a television program and a radio program received via the communication device 115 into a recordable format. By adding a recorder ID to the content created by the self-recording unit, it is possible to manage the copyright of the content by the group management method.

  The ICV data management unit 190 manages ICV (Integrity Check Value) data of the content processing apparatus 10 and ICV data of the content reproduction apparatus 20 connected to the content processing apparatus 10. The ICV data is data for checking the legitimacy of the processing when processing the content.

  In the copyright management processing of the group management method, this ICV data includes the MAC value (hash value with key) of the source ID list L. Therefore, the ICV data management unit 190 detects whether or not the source ID list L is legitimate, that is, whether or not the source ID list L has been tampered with based on the ICV data. On the other hand, in the copyright management process of the check-in / check-out method, the ICV data includes the MAC value (a hash value with a key) of the content license. Therefore, the ICV data management unit 190 detects whether the license is valid, that is, whether the license has been tampered with based on the ICV data.

  As a result, when it is determined to be valid, the ICV data management unit 190 permits the processing of the content processing unit 160. On the other hand, when it is determined that it is not valid, the ICV data management unit 190 performs the content processing. The processing of the unit 160 is not permitted.

  Further, this ICV data includes a flag which is an example of method identification information indicating whether the copyright management method is a group management method or a check-in / check-out method. For example, if this flag is “0”, it indicates a group management method, and if it is “1”, it indicates a check-in / check-out method. Therefore, the content processing unit 160 can determine which copyright management method should be used to process the content based on this flag.

  Further, the ICV data management unit 190 can similarly manage not only the ICV data related to the content processing apparatus 10 but also the ICV data of the content reproduction apparatus 20 connected to the content processing apparatus 10. Thereby, the content processing apparatus 10 sets the value of the flag (system identification information) in the ICV data of the connected content reproduction apparatus 20, thereby setting the copyright management system of the content reproduction apparatus 20. Can do. At this time, the setting of the copyright management method of the content reproduction apparatus 20 may be executed based on region information representing a region where the system 100 is used. For example, when the content reproduction apparatus 20 is used in the United States, the group management method may be set, and when used in Japan, the check-in / check-out method may be set.

  Although not shown, the content processing apparatus 10 may include a transfer control unit that controls transfer of content between the content processing apparatus (PC) 10 and the content reproduction apparatus (PD) 20. For example, in response to a transfer request based on a user input, the transfer control unit transfers the content stored in the content processing device 10 to the content playback device 20 or the content of the content stored in the content playback device 20. Controls transfer to the processing apparatus 10.

  In addition, this transfer control unit not only controls the transfer of content subject to copyright management (content to which a source ID is added) but also content that is not copyright-managed (for example, raw content to which no source ID is added). Transfer control can be performed. For example, when a transfer request from the content processing apparatus 10 to the content reproduction apparatus 20 or a transfer request from the content reproduction apparatus 20 to the content processing apparatus 10 is input with respect to content that is not copyright-managed. The group ID in the source ID list of the content processing apparatus 10 is compared with the group ID in the source ID list of the content reproduction apparatus 20. As a result of the comparison, the transfer control unit permits the transfer when both group IDs match, and does not permit the transfer when both group IDs do not match. As a result, it is possible to restrict the use of content not copyright-protected (unlimited copying between devices) as well as content that is copyright-managed by the group management method.

  Heretofore, each component of the content processing apparatus 10 has been described. The data communication unit 120, group registration unit 130, list management unit 140, certificate issuance unit 150, distribution service utilization unit 152, source ID addition unit 154, content processing unit 160, ICV data management unit 190, transfer control unit, etc. For example, it may be configured as hardware having each of the above functions, or may be configured by installing a program for causing the computer to realize the above functions in the content processing apparatus 10.

  Next, the content playback unit 170 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically showing functions of the content reproduction unit 170 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the content playback unit 170 includes, for example, a playback permission determination unit 172, a playback execution unit 174, and a list update request unit 176.

  The reproduction permission / inhibition determining unit 172 controls the reproduction of the content requested to be reproduced. The playability determination unit 172 can execute both the group management playback control and the check-in / check-out playback control.

  In the case of performing group management playback control, the playback permission determination unit 172 determines the playback based on the source ID (recorder ID or group ID) added to the playback requested content and the source ID list L. It is determined whether or not the content can be reproduced.

  Specifically, for example, when the reproduction permission determination unit 172 receives a reproduction request for content specified by the user from the input device 108, for example, the content that has received the reproduction request is read from the content database 116, and the content is changed to the content. It is determined whether or not the source ID is added, that is, whether or not the source ID is described in the license in the content file. If the source ID is not added to the content, the playback permission determination unit 172 determines that the content does not require copyright management, permits playback of the content, and instructs the playback execution unit 174 to execute the content. The playback instruction signal is output. On the other hand, when the source ID (recorder ID or group ID) is added to the content, the playability determination unit 172 determines that the content requires copyright management, and performs the following processing.

  First, the playability determination unit 172 reads (extracts) the source ID from the license in the content file, and reads and interprets the source ID list L. Next, the playability determination unit 172 compares the source ID read from the content with the source ID included in the source ID list L, and whether the source ID read from the content is included in the source ID list L. Judge whether or not. As a result of this comparison, if the source ID read from the content is included in the source ID list L, the expiration date of the source ID is checked, and if the expiration date is loved, The reproduction of the content is permitted, and a content reproduction instruction signal is output to the reproduction execution unit 174. On the other hand, when the source ID read from the content is not included in the source ID list L, or when the source ID has expired, the playback permission determination unit 172 prohibits playback of the content and plays back the playback instruction signal. Is not output. For this reason, the reproduction execution unit 174 cannot reproduce the content. In this case, an error notification indicating that the reproduction condition is not satisfied may be displayed.

  As described above, the reproduction possibility determination unit 172 according to the present embodiment performs reproduction restriction to completely prohibit reproduction of content to which a source ID not included in the source ID list L is added. However, the content playback restriction is not limited to this example. For example, the playback permission determination unit 172 permits playback by limiting playback of the content to a part of the time or content, such as image quality, sound quality, and the like. It is also possible to perform playback restrictions such as permitting playback by lowering or reducing playback for the first predetermined number of times (for example, once) and prohibiting playback thereafter.

  In addition, for example, when the source ID added to the content is not included in the source ID list L as described above, the reproduction possibility determination unit 172 outputs the source ID to the list update request unit 176.

  On the other hand, in the case of performing check-in / check-out playback control, the playback permission determination unit 172 determines the usage condition information (reproduction count limit, playback expiration date) in the license corresponding to the content requested to be played back. , It is determined whether or not the content can be reproduced. As a result, when it is determined that the license usage condition is satisfied, the reproduction permission determination unit 172 permits the reproduction of the content, and outputs a content reproduction instruction signal to the reproduction execution unit 174. On the other hand, when it is determined that the license usage condition is satisfied, the playback permission determination unit 172 prohibits playback of the content and does not output a playback instruction signal.

  The reproduction execution unit 174 reproduces the designated content in accordance with the reproduction instruction signal from the reproduction availability determination unit 172. Specifically, the playback execution unit 174 first decrypts the encrypted content key using the service common key, and then decrypts the encrypted content using the decrypted content key. Further, the decrypted content is decoded, reproduced, and output from the output device 110.

  The list update request unit 176 requests the list management unit 140 to add a recorder ID to the source ID list L. This addition request process is performed, for example, by outputting an ID addition request signal indicating the recorder ID to be added to the list management unit 140.

  Specifically, for example, when a source ID that is not included in the source ID list L is input from the playability determination unit 172, the list update request unit 176 determines whether the source ID is a recorder ID or a group ID. It is judged whether it is. If it is determined that the recorder ID is the record ID, the list management unit 140 is requested to add the recorder ID to the source ID list L. The list update request unit 176 may perform this addition request processing automatically or after confirming whether or not the user wishes to add a recorder ID. On the other hand, if the result of the determination is that it is a group ID, no additional request processing is performed. This is because the content processing apparatus 10 can be registered only in a single user device group.

  Next, the list management unit 140 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail based on FIG. FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the list management unit 140 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the list management unit 140 includes, for example, a certificate request unit 141, a certificate acquisition unit 142, a recorder ID update unit 144, a list synchronization unit 146, a self ID addition unit 148, a group ID update unit 149.

  The certificate request unit 141 transmits a certificate request signal to another content processing apparatus 10 or the certificate management server 36 in response to a user input or automatically, and transmits other certificate belonging to the same device group. The group certificate G issued by the content processing apparatus 10 is requested. For example, the certificate request unit 141 notifies the specific content processing apparatus 10 or the certificate management server 36 of the recorder ID requested to be added from the content reproduction unit 170, and the group certificate G including the recorder ID. May be requested. In addition, the certificate request unit 141 transmits the group ID owned by the content processing apparatus 10 itself to another content processing apparatus 10 or the certificate management server 36 at an arbitrary timing, and associates it with the group ID. One or more group certificates G including the recorded recorder ID (that is, the recorder ID of another content processing apparatus 10 belonging to the same device group) may be requested.

  The certificate acquisition unit 142 acquires the group certificate G from another content processing apparatus 10 or the certificate management server 36. Specifically, the certificate acquisition unit 142 can receive and acquire the group certificate G from the external content processing device 10 or the certificate management server 36 via the network 5 and the communication device 115. Further, the certificate acquisition unit 142 can read and acquire the group certificate G recorded in the storage medium 7 provided from another content processing apparatus 10 by using the drive 112. The certificate acquisition unit 142 outputs the group certificate G acquired in this way to the recorder ID update unit 144.

  The recorder ID update unit 144 adds a recorder ID to the source ID list L based on the group certificate G input from the certificate acquisition unit 142. Specifically, first, the recorder ID update unit 144 reads the group ID included in the group certificate G and also reads the group ID in the source ID list L. Next, the recorder ID updating unit 144 determines whether or not both group IDs match. If both group IDs match as a result of this determination, the recorder ID corresponding to the other content processing apparatus 10 included in the group certificate G is read out and added to the source ID list L. On the other hand, if the two group IDs do not match, the recorder ID included in the group certificate G is not added to the source ID list L.

  Thereby, only the recorder ID corresponding to the content processing apparatus 10 registered in the same device group can be added to the source ID list L. Note that the recorder ID updating unit 144 may limit the addition of recorder IDs by setting an upper limit on the number of recorder IDs that can be added to the source ID list L.

  The list synchronization unit 146 has a function of synchronizing a plurality of source ID lists L. The synchronization of the source ID list L here means merging a plurality of different source ID lists L. The synchronized source ID list L includes a plurality of original source ID lists L. All of the recorder IDs included in are included without duplication.

  The synchronization process of the source ID list L can be executed only between the content processing apparatuses 10 having the same group ID. Specifically, the list synchronization unit 146 acquires the source ID list L held by the other content processing apparatus 10 or the content reproduction apparatus 20, and the group ID included in the source ID list L and its own content. Only when the group IDs included in the source ID list L of the processing apparatus 10 match, both the source ID lists L are synchronized.

  With this synchronization processing, the recorder IDs included in the source ID list L of the plurality of devices registered in the same device group can be made the same. Therefore, the ripped content can be shared between the content processing apparatuses 10 and can be reproduced mutually.

  Note that this synchronization processing may be performed automatically by the list synchronization unit 146 between the content processing apparatuses 10 in the private network, for example, periodically or at an arbitrary timing, or designated according to a user instruction. It may be performed with the specified content processing apparatus 10. In addition, such synchronization processing is performed not only between the content processing devices 10 connected via the private network and between the content processing devices 10 connected via the local line 9, but also remotely connected via the network 5. Even the processing apparatus 10 can be executed.

  The self ID adding unit 148 adds a recorder ID corresponding to the content processing apparatus 10 itself to the source ID list L unconditionally, for example. Specifically, the self ID adding unit 148 reads out the recorder ID corresponding to the content processing apparatus 10 itself from the self ID database 117 and writes it in the source ID list L, for example. As a result, the content processing apparatus 10 can reproduce the ripped content that has been ripped by itself, regardless of whether or not the group is registered. The group ID may be generated by the self ID adding unit based on a random number or the like and recorded in the self ID database 117.

  For example, when a group ID is input from the group registration unit 130 at the time of group registration of the content processing apparatus 10, the group ID update unit 149 adds the group ID to the source ID list L. Thereby, the content processing apparatus 10 can reproduce the distribution content to which the group ID is added.

  In addition, when a group registration cancellation notification is input from the group registration unit 130, the group ID update unit 149 deletes all source IDs (recorder ID, group ID) included in the source ID list L. However, only the recorder ID corresponding to the content processing apparatus 10 itself is not deleted from the source ID list L. As a result, the content processing apparatus 10 can reproduce only the ripped content created by itself and the content that is not copyright-managed.

  Note that the recorder ID update unit 144 and the group ID update unit 149 can update the source ID list L received from the content reproduction apparatus 20 and send it back.

  The list management unit 140 according to the present embodiment has been described above. As described above, the list management unit 140 adds the group ID obtained by the group registration to the source ID list L, and uses other content belonging to the same device group based on whether or not the group ID is the same. The recorder ID of the processing device 10 is added to the source ID list L. As a result, the copied distribution content and ripped content can be freely reproduced between the content processing apparatuses 10 registered in the same device group. On the other hand, between the content processing apparatuses 10 registered or unregistered in different device groups, reproduction of the copied content can be restricted and illegal use of the content can be prevented.

  Regarding a plurality of content processing devices 10 and content playback devices 20 in a private network, only one representative list management unit 140 is provided in a certain content processing device 10, and the representative list update unit 140 includes each content processing device 10. The source ID list L of the processing device 10 and the content reproduction device 20 may be updated in a batch. In this case, the representative list management unit 140 is preferably provided, for example, in a connection server device of a private network.

<4. Content Processing Device (PD)>
Next, the configuration of the content reproduction apparatus (PD) 20 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

  First, the hardware configuration of the content reproduction apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram schematically showing an example of the hardware configuration of the content reproduction apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the content playback device 20 includes, for example, a main control device 201, a flash memory 202, a RAM 203, a data processing device 204, a bus 206, an input device 208, a display device 210, and a storage. A device (HDD) 211, a decoder 213, a communication device 215, an audio output circuit 216, a remote controller 218, and a headphone 219 are provided.

  The main control device 201 functions as a control device and controls each part of the content reproduction device 20. The flash memory 202 stores, for example, a program that defines the operation of the main control device 201 and various data. The RAM 203 is constituted by, for example, an SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM), and temporarily stores various data related to processing of the main control device 201.

  The data processing device 204 is configured by a system LSI or the like, and processes data transferred in the content reproduction device 20. The bus 206 connects the main control device 201, flash memory 202, RAM 203, data processing device 204, input device 208, display device 210, storage device (HDD) 211, decoder 213, communication device 215, audio output circuit 216, and the like. Data line.

  The input device 208 and the remote controller 218 are, for example, an input control circuit that generates an input signal according to an operation means such as a touch panel, a button key, a lever, and a dial, and a user's operation on the operation means and outputs the input signal to the main control device 201. Etc. The user of the content reproduction device 20 can input various data and instruct processing operations to the content reproduction device 20 by operating the input device 208 and a remote controller 218 described later.

  The display device 210 includes, for example, an LCD panel and an LCD control circuit. The display device 210 displays various information as text or images in accordance with the control of the main control device 201. For example, as will be described later, it is possible to display the title information of the content held in the content playback device 20 so as to be able to determine whether or not the playback is possible.

  The storage device 211 is a data storage device configured as an example of a storage unit of the content reproduction device 20 according to the present embodiment. The storage device 211 is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) having a storage capacity of several tens of GB, and stores various data such as compressed content, a program of the main control device 201, and processing data.

  The decoder 213 performs decryption processing of the encrypted content data, decoding processing, surround processing, conversion processing to PCM data, and the like.

  The communication device 215 includes a USB controller, a USB terminal, and the like, and with the content processing device 10 connected via the local line 9 such as a USB cable, content, source ID list L, ICV data, content management information, Send and receive various data such as control signals.

  The audio output circuit 216 amplifies the analog audio data decoded by the decoder 213 and DA-converted by the CPU, and outputs the amplified analog audio data to the remote controller 218. The analog audio data is output from the remote controller 218 to the headphones 219 and output from a speaker built in the headphones 219.

  Here, a main data flow in the content reproduction apparatus 20 having such a hardware configuration will be described.

  First, a data flow when the content reproduction device (PD) 20 receives content from the content processing device (PC) 10 will be described. When the content playback device 20 and the content processing device 10 are connected by a local line 9 such as a USB cable, the content processing device 10 recognizes the content playback device 20 as a removable HDD. In this state, when the content processing apparatus 10 transmits control information such as content data and ICV data to the content reproduction apparatus 20, the communication apparatus 215 receives these data. Next, the received content data is directly stored in the storage device 211 by the communication device 215. On the other hand, the control information received by the communication device 215 is input to the main control device 201 via the data processing device 204 and stored in a predetermined storage area.

  Next, a data flow when the content reproduction device (PD) 20 reproduces content will be described. First, when a content playback request is input to the main control device 201 and the main control device 201 permits the content playback, the data processing device 204 reads the content data to be played back from the storage device 211. , The content data transferred to the RAM 203 is transferred to the decoder 213 in parallel with the transfer to the RAM 203. Next, the decoder 203 performs decryption processing, decoding processing, surround processing, conversion processing to PCM data, and the like on the encrypted content data, and transfers them to the main control device 201. Further, the main controller 201 adjusts the volume of the input PCM data by a DA converter (not shown), converts it to analog audio data, and transfers it to the amplifier of the audio output circuit 216. The audio output circuit 216 outputs this analog audio data from the headphones 219 via the remote controller 218.

  Next, main functions of the content reproduction apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a block diagram schematically showing functions of the content reproduction apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the content processing apparatus 10 includes, for example, a data communication unit 220, a storage unit 230, a reproduction control method determination unit 240, a reproduction availability determination unit 242, a reproduction execution unit 244, and a title list creation. A section 250 and a content selection section 252.

  The data communication unit 220 transmits / receives data to / from the content processing device 10 via the local line 9 using the communication device 215.

  The storage unit 230 includes, for example, the storage device 211 and the flash memory 202, and stores various data in the content processing device 10. The storage unit 230 stores, for example, ICV data 231, a source ID list L, a content database 234, and a content management database 236.

  The ICV data 231 is generated by the ICV data management unit 190 of the content processing apparatus 10 and transferred to the content reproduction apparatus 20, and is used to check the validity of the content reproduction process in the content reproduction apparatus 20. . The ICV data 231 includes, for example, a 1-bit flag 232 added to the header portion and a MAC value 233.

  The flag 232 is an example of system identification information indicating a playback control system (copyright management system) in the content playback apparatus 20. For example, when the playback control system of the content playback apparatus 20 is set to the group management system by the content processing apparatus 10, the flag 232 is “0”, while the playback control system is the check-in / check-out system. Is set to “1”, the flag 232 is “1”.

  Further, when the content processing device 10 sets the reproduction control method of the content reproduction device 20 to the group management method, the MAC value 233 is the MAC value of the source ID list L. On the other hand, when the playback control method is set to the check-in / check-out method, the MAC value 233 is a MAC value generated based on a license including usage condition information of each content.

  Further, the source ID list L in the storage unit 230 is substantially the same as the source ID list L of the content processing apparatus 10. When the content reproduction device 20 is registered as a group, a group ID is added, and a recorder ID of the content processing device 10 belonging to the same device group is also added. In the present embodiment, the source ID list L is updated by the list management unit 140 of the content processing apparatus 10, but a list management unit is provided in the content reproduction apparatus 20, and the content reproduction apparatus 20 has its own source ID list. L may be updated.

  The content database 234 stores content transferred from the content processing apparatus 10. When the playback control system of the content playback apparatus 20 is set to the group management system, the content database 234 contains contents with a license including a source ID as shown in FIG. When the playback control method is stored and the check-in / check-out method is set, content with a license including usage condition information as shown in FIG. 6B is stored.

  In the content management information database 236, as with the content management database 118 of the content processing apparatus 10, the content ID, content title information (song title, artist name, album name, etc.) regarding the content stored in the content DB 234, etc. Content attribute information, recording location information (for example, an address in the content DB 234), and the like are recorded.

  Further, for example, the device ID of the content reproduction apparatus 20 is safely stored in a self ID database (not shown) in the storage unit 230. This device ID is an ID uniquely assigned to each content reproduction apparatus 20 at the time of factory shipment or the like, and is used at the time of group registration of the content reproduction apparatus 20.

  The reproduction control method determination unit 240 reads the flag 232 of the ICV data 231 when, for example, reproducing content, and determines the reproduction control method of the content reproduction device 20 set by the content processing device 10 based on the flag 232. to decide. Specifically, for example, when the flag 232 is “0”, the reproduction control method determination unit 240 determines that the reproduction control method is the group management method (first reproduction control method), and sets the flag When 232 is “1”, it is determined that the reproduction control method is a check-in / check-out method (second reproduction control method). The reproduction control method determination unit 240 outputs the determination result to the reproduction availability determination unit 242.

  The playability determination unit 242 determines whether or not the content requested to be played can be played back according to any of the playback control methods determined by the playback control method determination unit 240. The reproduction permission / inhibition determination unit 242 includes a first reproduction permission / inhibition determination unit 242a that performs reproduction control according to the copyright management scheme of the group management method, and reproduction control according to the copyright management scheme of the check-in / checkout method. A second reproducibility determination unit 242a is provided.

  If the playback control method determination unit 240 determines that the playback control method of the content playback device 20 is set to the group management method (first playback control method), the playback permission determination unit 242 Is operated to determine whether or not the content can be reproduced based on the source ID added to the content to be reproduced and the source ID list L. If an expiration date is set for the source ID in the source ID list L, content reproduction is permitted when the source ID is within the expiration date.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the playback control method of the content playback device 20 is set to the check-in / check-out method (first playback control method), the playback permission determination unit 242 The determination unit 242b is operated to determine whether or not the content can be reproduced based on license usage condition information (reproduction count limit, reproduction expiration date, etc.) added to the content to be reproduced. Note that the playability determination unit 242 has substantially the same function as the playability determination unit 172 of the content processing apparatus 10 and thus will not be described in detail.

  The reproduction executing unit 244 reproduces the content determined to be reproducible by the reproducibility determining unit 242 and performs an audio output circuit. Note that the reproduction execution unit 244 has substantially the same function as the reproduction enable / disable execution unit 174 of the content processing apparatus 10, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The title list creation unit 250 reads the title information of all or a part of the content stored in the content database 234 from the content management information database 236, and displays a list of content title information (hereinafter, “title list”). "). The title list is, for example, a list of song names of music contents, and includes accompanying information such as artist names, album names, playback times, and the like of the music contents. Further, the title list creation unit 250 causes the display device 210 to display the created title list. As a result, the user browses the title list, selects content desired to be reproduced, operates the input device 208 to designate title information of the content, and makes a reproduction request. As described above, the title list creation unit 250 and the display device 210 in the present embodiment are configured as an example of a display unit that displays title information of one or more contents held by the content reproduction apparatus 20.

  The content selection unit 252 selects the content to be played based on the user input to the input device 208, and outputs the selection result to the playability determination unit 242. Specifically, the content selection unit 252 reads the content ID and storage location of the content corresponding to the text information of the content requested to be reproduced by the user from the content management information database 236, and reproduces the information as to whether the information can be reproduced. Output to. As a result, the playability determination unit 242 makes a playability determination regarding the selected content to be played back, and only the playable content is played back by the playback execution unit 244.

  The title list creation unit 250 can also create and display a title list so that the title information of reproducible content and the title information of non-reproducible content can be discriminated. In this case, the title list creation unit 250 first requests the reproduction permission determination unit 242 to determine whether or not each content to be displayed can be reproduced, and based on the determination result, the reproduction is performed. Create a title list that can distinguish between possible content and non-reproducible content. Thus, the user can select and specify the content desired to be reproduced from the contents that can be reproduced. As described above, when the title information of the content desired by the user is selected from the reproducible content displayed on the display device 210, the content selection unit 252 displays the content corresponding to the selected title information. The content ID and storage location are output to the playability determination unit 242, and the playability determination unit 242 causes the content to be played back without determining whether or not playback is possible.

  Heretofore, the functional configuration of the content reproduction apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment has been described. The content playback apparatus 20 can selectively execute group management playback control and check-in / check-out playback control according to the settings made by the content processing apparatus 10. For this reason, not only the convenience of the user of the content reproduction apparatus 20 is improved, but it is not necessary to design and develop a different model of the content reproduction apparatus 20 corresponding to each reproduction control method, so that the efficiency and cost of development work are increased. Reduction can be achieved.

  Further, the content playback apparatus 20 supports copyright management of a group management system in which playback of content is controlled based on the source ID added to the content and the source ID list L. For this reason, the user can freely download and reproduce the content from the content processing apparatus 10 owned by the user to the content reproduction apparatus 20, and thus the degree of freedom of content use by the user as compared with the conventional check-in / check-out method. Higher and more user friendly.

  The data communication unit 220, the reproduction control method determination unit 240, the reproduction availability determination unit 242, the reproduction execution unit 244, the title list creation unit 250, the content selection unit 252 and the like are configured as hardware having the above functions, for example. Alternatively, it may be configured by installing in the content reproduction apparatus 20 a program that causes a computer to realize the above functions.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the source ID is not added to the content, the playback permission determination unit 242 of the content playback device 20 determines that the content does not require copyright management, and The reproduction of the content is permitted, and a reproduction instruction signal for the content is output to the reproduction execution unit 244. That is, the content playback apparatus 20 is configured to freely play back content that is not copyright-protected, such as content without a source ID. Such use restriction of content that is not copyright-protected can be realized by the above-described group management method. The method is shown below.

  First, when a transfer control unit (not shown) of the above-described content processing apparatus 10 receives a request to transfer content not protected by copyright stored in the content database 116 to the content reproduction apparatus 20, the local line 9 The source ID list L in the content playback apparatus 20 connected in step S1 is acquired (step 1).

  Next, the transfer control unit compares the acquired group ID in the source ID list L of the content reproduction apparatus 20 with the group ID in the source ID list L held by itself (step 2).

  If the two group IDs match as a result of the comparison, the transfer control unit transfers the content that has not been copyright-protected in response to the transfer request from the content processing apparatus 10 to the content reproduction apparatus 20. If they do not match, the transfer is prohibited (step 3).

  In addition, the transfer of content that is not copyright-protected from the content playback device 20 to the content processing device 10 is basically prohibited, but is configured to permit partial transfer by the above-described group management method. It is also possible to do. The method is shown below.

  First, the transfer control unit of the content processing apparatus 10 transfers, from the content reproduction apparatus 20 connected by the local line 9, content that is not copyright-protected stored in the content reproduction apparatus 20 to the content processing apparatus 10. When the request is received, the source ID list L in the content reproduction apparatus 20 is acquired (step 1).

  Next, the transfer control unit compares the acquired group ID in the source ID list L of the content reproduction apparatus 20 with the group ID in the source ID list L held by itself (step 2).

  If the two group IDs match as a result of the comparison, the transfer control unit transfers the content that has not been copyright-protected in response to the transfer request from the content reproduction device 20 to the content processing device 10. If they do not match, the transfer is prohibited (step 3).

  As described above, in the copyright management system of the group management system according to the present embodiment, content that is not copyright-managed can be copied by controlling the transfer between the content processing apparatus 10 and the content reproduction apparatus 20. You can restrict the use by restricting the transfer.

<5. Server>
Next, the configuration of the server 30 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail based on FIG. FIG. 11 is a block diagram schematically showing functions of the server 30 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the server 30 includes a WWW server 31, a group management server 32, a content distribution server 34, a certificate management server 36, and a charging server 38.

  Among these, the WWW server 31, the group management server 32, and the certificate management server 36 constitute a content sharing service execution unit, register a plurality of content processing devices 10 and content playback devices 20 owned by the same user as a group, A content sharing service for sharing content between the devices registered in the group is executed. In addition, the WWW server 31, the content distribution server 34, and the accounting server 38 constitute a distribution service execution unit, and perform a content distribution service that distributes content, for example, for a fee to the user of the content processing apparatus 10.

  Hereinafter, the functional configuration of each of the servers 31, 32, 34, 36, and 38 will be described individually. The hardware configuration of each server 31, 32, 34, 36, 38 according to this embodiment is the same as the hardware configuration of the content processing apparatus (PC) 10 described with reference to FIG. Is omitted.

  First, the WWW server 31 will be described. The WWW server 31 receives a request from the content processing apparatus 10 accessed via the network 5 and controls communication between the content processing apparatus 10 and the server 30. The WWW server 31 includes a user registration unit 312 and a user authentication unit 314.

  The user registration unit 312 is a process for registering a new user who desires to use a content sharing service and / or a content distribution service, a registration change process, a deregistration process, and managing user account information (user ID, credit number, password, etc.), etc. I do. A unique leaf ID is assigned to each user registered as a service. Various user account information and leaf IDs determined by such registration processing by the user registration unit 312 are stored in the group registration database 324. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and a user registration database may be provided in the WWW server 31, and the user account information and leaf ID may be managed in the user registration database.

  For example, the user authentication unit 314 may receive a connection request (a registration request, a deregistration request, a content distribution request, a content distribution request, a content distribution service and / or a content distribution service from the content processing apparatus 10 owned by a user) In response to a certificate request, a user account information change request, or the like, user authentication processing for authenticating a user who owns the requesting content processing apparatus 10 is performed. This user authentication processing is performed based on, for example, user account information input by the user and user account information in the group registration database 324. The authenticated user is permitted to log in to the group management server 32, the content distribution server 34, the certificate management server 36, or the like, for example.

  Next, the group management server 32 will be described. The group management server 32 registers a plurality of content processing apparatuses 10 and content reproduction apparatuses 20 owned by the same user as a group. The group management server 32 includes a device registration unit 322 and a group registration database 324.

  The group registration database 324 is stored in a storage device (not shown) such as an HDD provided in the group management server 32. As shown in FIG. 12, the group registration database 324 includes, for example, user account information (user ID 3241, credit card number 3242) of a user who is provided with a content sharing service and a content distribution service, a leaf ID 3243 corresponding to the user, a group The device ID 3244 of the registered content processing device 10 or the content reproduction device 20 and the recorder ID 3245 of the device having the ripping function among the group registered content processing devices 10 are stored in association with each other.

  For example, one leaf ID 3243 is assigned to one user ID (user account) 3241. Furthermore, for each user's leaf ID 3243, the device ID 3244 (terminal ID or device ID) of one or more content processing devices 10 and content playback devices 20 registered in the user device group represented by the leaf ID. Is associated. Here, the terminal ID is registered as the device ID 3244 of the content processing device (PC) 10, and the device ID is registered as the device ID 3244 of the content reproduction device (PD) 20. Furthermore, the recorder ID of the content processing apparatus 10 having a ripping function is associated with this terminal ID.

  The device registration unit 322 performs group registration of the content processing device 10 or the content reproduction device 20 that is a registration request source in a device group owned by the user authenticated by the user authentication unit 314. In this group registration process, for example, after the user authentication process is performed, group registration request information (for example, registration request notification, terminal ID or device ID, recorder ID, etc.) is received from the group registration unit 130 of the content processing apparatus 10. Performed when received. When group-registering devices, the device ID (terminal ID or device ID, recorder ID, etc.) of the content processing device 10 or content playback device 20 that is the registration request source is stored in the device ID 3244 column of the group registration database 324. Write in the location corresponding to the authenticated user. Thereby, the device ID of the device registered in the group is associated with the leaf ID (device group) assigned to the authenticated user.

  In addition, the device registration unit 322 prohibits registration of the same content processing apparatus 10 in different device groups. For this purpose, the device registration unit 322 searches the group registration database 324, and if the device ID of the content processing device 10 that is the registration request source is already stored, the content processing device 10 or the content playback device. The registration of 20 is rejected so that the device ID is not newly written in the group registration database 324. As a result, one content processing apparatus 10 or content reproduction apparatus 20 can belong to only one device group.

  In addition, the device registration unit 322 is capable of associating with the upper limit number of content processing devices 10 or content reproduction devices 20 that can be registered in the same device group, specifically, the leaf IDs of the same user. You can also set an upper limit for. For example, the device registration unit 322 sets the upper limit number of content processing apparatuses (PCs) 10 that can be registered in the same device group, for example, to a predetermined number (for example, three units), and sets the terminal ID to a predetermined upper limit. You may make it relate only to a number (for example, three). In this case, when the registration request exceeding the upper limit number is received from the content processing apparatus (PC) 10 having the terminal ID as the device ID, the device registration unit 322 rejects the registration. As a result, the number of content processing devices (PCs) 10 that can be registered in the same device group can be limited to, for example, three or less, so that the content processing devices (PC) 10 that can receive distribution content within the same device group. You can limit the number.

  As another example of the upper limit number, for example, the device registration unit 322 may set an upper limit number (for example, 10) of recorder IDs that can be associated with the same group ID. In this case, if a registration request exceeding the upper limit is received from the content processing apparatus (PC) 10 having the recorder ID, the registration is rejected. As a result, the number of content processing devices 10 having a ripping function that can be registered in the same device group can be limited. Therefore, the number of content processing devices 10 that can be provided in the same device group and can be shared with ripped content is reduced. Can be limited.

  In addition, when the content processing device 10 is registered in a predetermined device group as described above, the device registration unit 322 notifies the group-registered content processing device 10 of service data. This service data includes, for example, a leaf ID corresponding to the authenticated user (registered device group) and a service common key for using the content. As a result, the content processing apparatus 10 registered as a group can receive the leaf ID, convert it into a group ID, and add it to its own source ID list L.

  Instead of notifying the content processing apparatus 10 of the leaf ID from the device registration unit 322 of the group management server 32 in this way, the device registration unit 322 generates a group ID in advance based on the leaf ID and the like. The group ID may be notified to the content processing apparatus 10. In this case, the content processing apparatus 10 does not have to generate the group ID itself, and can add the group ID notified from the group management server 32 to the source ID list L as it is.

  In addition, the device registration unit 322 cancels the registration of the content processing apparatus 10 that is the registration cancellation request source from the device group owned by the authenticated user. This group deregistration process is performed, for example, after the above-described user authentication process is performed, from the group registration unit 130 of the content processing apparatus 10 to group deregistration request information (for example, group deregistration request notification, terminal ID or device ID, recorder ID etc.) is received. When canceling the group registration of the device, the device ID (terminal ID, device ID) of the content processing device 10 or the content playback device 20 that is the request for canceling the registration is deleted from the column of the device ID 3244 of the group registration database 324. . However, the recorder ID is not deleted even if the corresponding content processing apparatus (PC) 10 is deregistered. As a result, once the content processing apparatus 10 having the ripping function is group-registered up to the predetermined upper limit number (for example, 10), even if some of the content processing apparatuses 10 are subsequently deregistered, A new content processing apparatus 10 cannot be additionally registered. Therefore, the number of registrations of the content processing apparatus 10 that can create sharable ripped content can be suppressed, and the copyright management of the ripped content can be strict.

  Next, the certificate management server 36 will be described. The certificate management server 36 collects and manages the group certificate G issued by each content processing device 10 and distributes the group certificate G to other content processing devices 10 belonging to the same user device group. The certificate management server 36 includes a certificate management unit 362 and a certificate database 364.

  The certificate database 364 is stored in a storage device (not shown) such as an HDD provided in the certificate management server 36. The certificate database 364 stores the group certificate G issued by each content processing apparatus 10 in association with the user (leaf ID) of each content processing apparatus 10.

  The certificate management unit 362 acquires the group certificate G issued by each content processing apparatus 10 via the network 5, and stores the acquired group certificate G in the certificate database 364 in association with the user. Also, the certificate management unit 362 reads the group certificate G of one or more content processing apparatuses 10 belonging to a certain user's device group from the certificate database 364, and other contents belonging to the same device group. Distribute to the processing apparatus 10 or the like.

  For example, when the content processing apparatus 10 is registered as a group by the group management server 32, the certificate management unit 362 associates the recorder ID and group ID of the content processing apparatus 10 from the registered content processing apparatus 10. The obtained group certificate G is acquired and stored in the certificate database 364. Further, when another content processing device 10 is newly registered in the same device group, the certificate management unit 362 has already registered in the same device group for the newly registered content processing device 10. The group certificate G of the content processing apparatus 10 is distributed. Thus, the newly registered content processing apparatus 10 can share the ripped content by acquiring the recorder ID of the registered content processing apparatus 10 and adding it to the source ID list L.

  Also, when there is a certificate distribution request from the registered content processing apparatus 10 or when the content processing apparatus 10 accesses the server 30, the certificate management unit 362 sends the certificate to the content processing apparatus 10. Thus, the group certificate G of another content processing apparatus 10 belonging to the same device group may be distributed.

  In addition, when the content processing apparatus 10 is deregistered, the certificate management unit 362 deletes the group certificate G of the deregistered content processing apparatus 10 from the certificate database 364.

  In this way, the certificate management unit 362 of the certificate management server 36 centrally manages the group certificate G issued by each content processing device 10 and distributes it to other content processing devices 10 belonging to the same device group. . As a result, the content processing apparatus 10 can acquire the group certificate G of another content processing apparatus 10 without directly connecting the content processing apparatuses 10 to each other. Furthermore, by performing unified management of the group certificate G by the certificate management server 36, the content processing apparatus 10 can always obtain the latest group certificate G. For example, the content processing apparatus 10 can acquire the group certificate G of all the content processing apparatuses 10 belonging to the same user's device group, and add the recorder ID of the content processing apparatus 10 to the source ID list L.

  Next, the content distribution server 34 will be described. The content distribution server 34 distributes content, for example, for a fee to the user's content processing apparatus 10 registered as a user in the content distribution service. The content distribution server 34 is configured to be able to distribute both content corresponding to the copyright management scheme of the group management method and content corresponding to the copyright management scheme of the check-in / check-out method.

  The content distribution server 34 includes, for example, a license issuing unit 342, a content distribution unit 344, a license database 346, and a content database 348.

  The license database 346 and the content database 348 are stored in a storage device (not shown) such as an HDD provided in the content distribution server 34. The license database 346 is a database that stores licenses issued along with content distribution. The content base 348 is a database of a plurality of contents to be distributed by the content distribution service.

  For example, the content distribution unit 344 allows a user who has been authenticated to browse a list of contents that can be distributed and to select distribution contents desired to be distributed. Further, the content distribution unit 344 distributes the selected distribution content via the network 5 to the content processing apparatus 10 used by the user. This distribution process is subject to, for example, a charging process as described later.

  The content distribution unit 344 also associates information related to distribution content (content ID, title information (song title, artist name, album name, playback time, etc.)) stored in the content base 348 and the like with the distribution content, for example. To send.

  The license issuing unit 342 issues a license (right information; Usage Right) of the content distributed by the content distribution unit 344. The license issuing unit 342 can issue different types of licenses depending on the type of copyright management method.

  For example, when performing group management-type copyright management, the license issuing unit 342 issues a license including a leaf ID corresponding to the user who purchased the distribution content in association with the distribution content. At this time, the license issuing unit 342 may acquire the leaf ID corresponding to the user from the group registration database 324 or the user authentication unit 314.

  When the license issuing unit 342 issues the license in this way, the content distribution server 34 associates the distribution content file with the license file including the leaf ID corresponding to the user who purchased the distribution content, and the content processing apparatus 34 10 to send. As a result, the content processing apparatus 10 that has received the distribution content and the license converts the leaf ID into a group ID, adds the group ID to the distribution content, and causes the group ID to function as a source ID for the distribution content. Execute copyright management of the management method.

  On the other hand, when performing copyright management of the check-in / check-out method, the license issuing unit 342 describes usage condition information (Usage rule) such as a check-in / out count limit, a playback count limit, and a playback deadline. A license is issued in association with distribution contents. At this time, the license issuing unit 342 may create a license of the usage condition type desired by the user based on the license model information in the license database 346.

  When the license issuing unit 342 issues a license in this way, the content distribution server 34 associates the distribution content file with the license file including the use condition information, and transmits it to the content processing apparatus 10. As a result, the content processing apparatus 10 that has received the distribution content and the license including the use condition information executes copyright management using the check-in / check-out method based on the license.

  The license issuing unit 342 stores and manages the issued license in the license database 346.

  As described above, the content distribution server 34 transmits the distribution content and its license as one set when distributing the content to the content processing apparatus 10. At this time, the content distribution server 34 includes the leaf ID in the license when distributing the content of the group management method, and uses the usage condition information in the license when distributing the content of the check-in / check-out method. Include.

  In the above description, the content distribution server 34 transmits the distribution content and the license as separate files, but both may be transmitted as the same file. In the above, at the time of group management type content distribution, the content distribution server 34 notifies the content processing apparatus 10 of the leaf ID, and the content processing apparatus 10 generates a group ID based on the notified leaf ID. However, it is not limited to such an example. For example, the content distribution server 34 may generate a group ID in advance based on the leaf ID and notify the content processing apparatus 10 of the generated group ID.

  Next, the accounting server will be described. The accounting server 38 performs accounting processing according to the content distribution by the content distribution server 34. The charging server 38 includes, for example, a charging processing unit 382 and a charging information database 384.

  The accounting information database 384 is a database including accounting information for each user, and is stored in a storage device (not shown) such as an HDD provided in the accounting server 38.

  For example, the billing processing unit 382 performs billing processing for requesting the user who received the content distribution to pay the amount corresponding to the content to be distributed. Billing information such as the billing amount, settlement method, and settlement date generated by this billing process is stored in the billing information database 384, for example.

<6. Content sharing method>
Next, a basic flow of a content sharing method using the content sharing system 100 as described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a timing chart showing a basic flow of the content sharing method according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 13, first, a new user uses the content management apparatus (PC) 10-1 owned by the new user to the WWW server 31 of the server 30 for the copyright of the group management method. A user registration request for a content sharing service using the management scheme is made (S2). Then, the WWW server 31 performs a user authentication process for the user, assigns a new leaf ID to the user, and registers the user (S4). The user registration for the content sharing service may also serve as the user registration for the content distribution service. Further, the user registration process may be performed by the group management server 32 instead of the WWW server 31.

  Next, the user makes a registration request for each device to the server 30 using the content processing devices (PC) 10-1 and 10-2 owned by the user (S8, S12). Then, in response to the device registration request, the group management server 32 registers the content processing devices 10-1 and 10-2 in the device group of the user and assigns the leaf ID corresponding to the user to the content processing device. 10-1 and 10-2 are notified (S10, S14). The content processing apparatuses 10-1 and 10-2 convert the notified leaf IDs into group IDs and add them to their own source ID lists L, respectively. Note that such device group registration of each content processing apparatus 10 does not have to be performed at the same time, and may be performed at an arbitrary timing.

  Next, the content processing apparatus 10-2 issues a group certificate G in which a group ID corresponding to the content processing apparatus 10-2 itself and a recorder ID are associated with each other, and transmits the group certificate G to the certificate management server 36 of the server 30 ( S16). Further, the certificate management server 36 distributes the group certificate G of the content processing apparatus 10-2 to the content processing apparatus 10-1 (S18). The distribution of the group certificate G may be directly performed from the content processing apparatus 10-2 to the content processing apparatus 10-1 without going through the certificate management server 36. Similarly, the group certificate G of the content processing apparatus 10-1 may be distributed to the content processing apparatus 10-2.

  When the content processing apparatus 10-1 acquires the group certificate G distributed as described above, the content processing apparatus 10-1 performs an update process of the source ID list L possessed by the content processing apparatus 10-1 (S20). In this list update process, when the content processing apparatuses 10-1 and 10-2 are registered in the same device group in the group registration, both devices have the same group ID. The processing device 10-1 can add the recorder ID of the content processing device 10-2 included in the group certificate G to its source ID list L. On the other hand, when the content processing apparatuses 10-1 and 10-2 are registered in different device groups, both the devices have different group IDs. Cannot be added to its own source ID list L.

  Hereinafter, a case will be described in which the content processing apparatus 10-1 acquires and shares the content provided from the content processing apparatus 10-2 in such a state.

  First, the case of sharing created content such as ripped content will be described. The content processing device 10-2 creates content by ripping, self-recording, etc. (S22), and adds a recorder ID corresponding to the content processing device 10-2 to the created content (S24). Next, the content processing apparatus 10-2 provides the created content with the added recorder ID to the content processing apparatus 10-1 via the network 5, the local line 9, the storage medium 7, or the like (S26).

  Next, the content processing apparatus 10-1 acquires the created content (S28), and executes a reproduction control process for the created content in response to a user's reproduction request, for example (S30). In this case, when the recorder ID added to the created content is included in the source ID list L of the content processing apparatus 10-1, the content processing apparatus 10-1 can reproduce the created content. On the other hand, if the recorder ID is not included in the source ID list L, the content processing apparatus 10-1 cannot reproduce the created content.

  Next, a case where distribution content data is shared will be described. First, the content processing apparatus 10-2 makes a content distribution request to the group management server 32 (S32). Then, the group management server 32 distributes the content requested for distribution and the license including the leaf ID corresponding to the content processing apparatus 10-2 to the content processing apparatus 10-2 (S34). Next, the content processing apparatus 10-2 converts the leaf ID in the received license into a group ID, and adds the group ID to the distribution content (S36). Next, the content processing device 10-2 provides the distribution content to which the group ID is added to the content processing device 10-1 in the same manner as described above (S38), and the content processing device 10-1 supplies the distribution content. Earn income (S40). Next, the content processing apparatus 10-1 executes a reproduction control process for the distributed content in response to, for example, a user's reproduction request (S42). In this case, when the group ID added to the distribution content is included in the source ID list L of the content processing apparatus 10-1, the content processing apparatus 10-1 can reproduce the distribution content. On the other hand, if the group ID is not included in the source ID list L, the content processing apparatus 10-1 cannot reproduce the distribution content.

  Further, when the content processing apparatuses 10-1 and 10-2 make a registration cancellation request (S44 and S48), the group management server 32 responds to the registration cancellation request with the content processing apparatuses 10-1 and 10-. 2 group registration is canceled respectively (S46, S50).

  In the content sharing method using the content sharing system 100 as described above, if a plurality of content processing devices 10 owned by the same user are registered in the same device group, the created content and distribution between these content processing devices 10 are performed. Share content relatively freely.

<7. Group registration / cancellation processing>
Next, a process for registering / deregistering the content processing apparatus (PC) 10 or the content reproduction apparatus (PD) 20 to the group management server 32 will be described in detail. In the following processing flow, it is assumed that the user registration of the content sharing service with respect to the group management server 32 has already been completed and a leaf ID is assigned to the user who owns the content processing apparatus 10.

  First, a process (group registration process) for registering the content processing apparatus (PC) 10 according to the present embodiment in the group management server 32 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a timing chart showing group registration processing of the content processing apparatus (PC) 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 14, first, in steps S60 to S70, a communication connection via the network 5 is securely established between the content processing apparatus 10 as the registration request source and the server 30, and user authentication is performed. The processes of S60 to S70 are performed between the browser of the content processing apparatus 10 and the WWW server 31 of the server 30.

  Specifically, first, the content processing apparatus 10 as the registration request source transmits a user ID and a password to the WWW server 31 in response to a user input (S60). Then, the WWW server 31 compares the received user ID and password with the user ID and password registered in the group registration database 324, and performs user authentication processing (S62). As a result, if the user authentication is not established, the WWW server 31 does not permit login and ends the registration process. On the other hand, when the user authentication is established, the WWW server 31 permits login, and transmits a notification that the user authentication is established and session information for performing secure communication to the content processing apparatus 10 ( S64). Next, the content processing apparatus 10 transmits a registration request notification to the WWW server 31 (S66). By this registration request notification, the WWW server 31 recognizes that the content processing apparatus 10 has accessed for the registration request. Next, the WWW server 31 generates a transaction ID (S68), and transmits the generated transaction ID and a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) which is an example of address information of the group management server 32 to the content processing apparatus 10. (S70). As a result, the content processing apparatus 10 can access the group management server 32 based on the received URL.

  In the next steps S72 to S86, processing for actually registering the content processing apparatus 10 in the group management server 32 is performed. The processes in S72 to S86 are performed between the copyright management unit of the content processing apparatus 10 and the group management server 32 of the server 30.

  Specifically, first, the content processing apparatus 10 requests service data from the group management server 32 (S72). Then, the group management server 32 returns service data to the content processing apparatus 10 (S74). This service data includes a leaf ID corresponding to the authenticated user and the service common key described above. Next, the content processing apparatus 10 transmits the transaction ID received in S70 and the terminal ID and recorder ID corresponding to the content processing apparatus 10 itself to the group management server 32, and requests registration to the group management server 32. (S76). The terminal ID and recorder ID are generated by the content processing apparatus 10. The information exchanged in S74 and S76 can be safely transmitted and received because the session information prevents falsification from the outside.

  Next, the group management server 32 determines whether or not the content processing apparatus 10 can be registered (S78). This registration permission determination is based on, for example, the upper limit number of content processing apparatuses 10 that can be registered in the same device group (for example, the upper limit number of terminal IDs (for example, three) and the upper limit number of recorder IDs (for example, ten)). It is done. More specifically, if, for example, three content processing apparatuses 10 having different terminal IDs have already been registered in the device group of the authenticated user, the group management server 32 determines that the new content processing apparatus 10 registrations are prohibited. In the case where, for example, 10 content processing apparatuses 10 having different recorder IDs have been registered in the device group of the user in the past (regardless of whether or not they are currently registered), the group management server 32 prohibits registration of a new content processing apparatus 10.

  If the registration is not permitted as a result of the registration permission determination in S78, the group management server 32 transmits an error notification indicating that registration is impossible to the content processing apparatus 10. On the other hand, if the registration is permitted as a result of the registration permission determination in S78, the group management server 32 performs the registration process of the content processing apparatus 10 that is the registration request source (S80). Specifically, the group management server 32 writes the terminal ID and recorder ID received from the content processing apparatus 10 as the registration request source in the record of the authenticated user in the group registration database 324 for registration. Furthermore, the group management server 32 transmits a registration completion notification to the registered content processing apparatus 10 (S82).

  Next, when receiving the registration completion notification, the content processing apparatus 10 validates the service data received in S74 (S84). Further, the content processing apparatus 10 generates a group ID (both the first group ID and the second group ID) based on the leaf ID in the activated service data, and uses this group ID as its source ID. It is additionally stored in the list L (S86). As a result, the content processing apparatus 10 can reproduce the distribution content to which the group ID is added, and can add the recorder ID of the group certificate G including the group ID to its own source ID list L.

  After such registration processing of the content processing apparatus 10, the following certificate issuance and distribution processing may be performed. That is, first, the content processing apparatus 10 issues a group certificate G including a group ID and a recorder ID corresponding to itself, and transmits this group certificate G to the certificate management server 36 (S88). Then, the certificate management server 36 stores the received group certificate G in the certificate database 364 (S90). As a result, when another content processing apparatus 10 is registered in the same device group, the group certificate G can be distributed and the recorder ID can be shared.

  Further, if there is one or more other content processing apparatuses 10 that are already registered in the same device group, the certificate management server 36 has a group certificate of the other registered content processing apparatuses 10. G is distributed to the registered content processing apparatus 10 (S92). Then, the registered content processing apparatus 10 reads the recorder ID in the received group certificate G and adds it to its own source ID list L (S94). As a result, the content processing apparatus 10 can reproduce the ripped content ripped by another content processing apparatus 10 belonging to the same device group.

  Next, based on FIG. 15, a process for deregistering the content processing apparatus (PC) 10 according to the present embodiment from an already registered device group (group deregistration process) will be described. FIG. 15 is a timing chart showing group registration cancellation processing of the content processing apparatus (PC) 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 15, first, in steps S100 to S110, a communication connection via the network 5 is securely established between the content processing apparatus 10 that is the registration cancellation request source and the server 30, and user authentication is performed. The processes of S100 to S110 are performed between the browser of the content processing apparatus 10 and the WWW server 31 of the server 30. The processing of S100 to S110 is the same as the group registration processing of the content processing apparatus 10 described with reference to FIG. 14 except that a registration cancellation request notification is made from the content processing apparatus 10 to the WWW server 31 in S106. Are substantially the same as S60 to S70 of FIG.

  In the next steps S112 to S120, processing for actually canceling registration of the content processing apparatus 10 is performed. The processes in S112 to S120 are performed between the copyright management unit of the content processing apparatus 10 and the group management server 32 of the server 30.

  Specifically, first, the content processing apparatus 10 invalidates service data acquired from the group management server 32 and held in the content processing apparatus 10 at the time of group registration (S112). Specifically, the content processing apparatus 10 deletes the group ID and the recorder ID included in its own source ID list L. As a result, the content processing apparatus 10 cannot reproduce the content to which these source IDs are added.

  Next, the content processing apparatus 10 transmits the transaction ID received in S110 and the terminal ID and recorder ID corresponding to the content processing apparatus 10 itself to the group management server 32, and deregisters from the group management server 32. A request is made (S114). Note that the information transmitted in 114 can be safely transmitted because the session information prevents falsification from the outside.

  Next, when receiving the registration cancellation request, the group management server 32 determines whether or not the content processing apparatus 10 can be deregistered (S116). For example, the group management server 32 does not permit deregistration when the content processing apparatus 10 that is the deregistration request source is unregistered or when it is an illegal deregistration request.

  If the registration cancellation is not permitted as a result of the registration permission determination in S116, the group management server 32 transmits an error notification to the content processing apparatus 10 that the registration cancellation is impossible.

  On the other hand, if the registration cancellation is permitted as a result of the registration permission determination in S116, the group management server 32 performs the registration cancellation processing of the content processing apparatus 10 that is the registration cancellation request source (S118). Specifically, the group management server 32 deletes the terminal ID of the content processing apparatus 10 that is the request for deregistration from the record of the authenticated user in the group registration database 324. At this time, the recorder ID of the content processing apparatus 10 that is the registration cancellation request source remains without being deleted from the group registration database 324. As a result, when the ripped content sharing service is provided, the content processing device 10 having an excessively large number of ripping functions is registered, and the inconvenience that the ripped content from the many content processing devices 10 can be shared is prevented. it can.

  Next, the group management server 32 transmits a registration cancellation completion notification to the deregistered content processing apparatus 10 (S120).

  As described above, in the deregistration process of the content processing apparatus 10, after the service data is first invalidated (S112) on the content processing apparatus 10, the deregistration process (S118) is performed on the group management server 32 side. . As a result, regarding the content processing device 10 whose registration is canceled by the group management server 32, the service data held by the content processing device 10 can be reliably invalidated, and the group ID and the like can be deleted from the source ID list L. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the service data is not actually invalidated on the content processing apparatus 10 even though the registration is canceled on the group management server 32.

  The group registration process and registration cancellation process of the content processing apparatus (PC) 10 have been described above. In order to re-register the content processing apparatus 10 that has already been registered, it cannot be registered again unless the registration is once canceled.

  Next, a process (group registration process) for registering the content reproduction apparatus (PD) 20 according to the present embodiment in the group management server 32 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a timing chart showing group registration processing of the content reproduction apparatus (PD) 20 according to the present embodiment.

  When group registering the content playback device (PD) 20, the content playback device (PD) 20 to be registered is connected to the content processing device (PC) 10 already registered in the group via the local line 9. The content processing device (PD) 20 is registered as a group in the group management server 32 by the content processing device (PC) 10.

  As shown in FIG. 16, first, in steps S132 to S142, the communication connection via the network 5 is secured between the registration request source content processing apparatus 10 connected to the registration target content reproduction apparatus 20 and the server 30. And establish user authentication. The processes of S132 to S142 are performed between the browser of the content processing apparatus 10 and the WWW server 31 of the server 30. Note that the processing of S132 to S142 is the same as that of the content processing apparatus 10 described with reference to FIG. 14 except that the registration request notification of the content reproduction apparatus 20 is sent from the content processing apparatus 10 to the WWW server 31 in S138. This is substantially the same as S60 to S70 of the group registration process of FIG.

  In the next steps S144 to S164, processing for actually registering the content reproduction device 20 in the group management server 32 is performed by the content processing device 10. The processing in S144 to S164 is performed among the content reproduction device 20, the copyright management unit of the content processing device 10, and the group management server 32 of the server 30.

  Specifically, first, the content processing apparatus 10 acquires the device ID of the content reproduction apparatus 20 from the registration target content reproduction apparatus 20 via the local line 5 (S144). Next, the content processing apparatus 10 transmits the transaction ID received in S142, the terminal ID of the content processing apparatus 10 itself, and the recorder ID of the content reproduction apparatus 20 to the group management server 32, and the group management server 32 32, a registration request for the content reproduction apparatus 20 is made (S146). Note that the information exchanged in S144 can be safely transmitted and received because the session information prevents falsification from the outside.

  Next, when receiving the registration request, the group management server 32 determines whether or not the content reproduction apparatus 20 to be registered can be registered (S148). In the present embodiment, since there is no limit on the number of registered content playback devices 20, registration is permitted unconditionally. Good. In addition, when the content processing apparatus 10 as the registration request source is unregistered, the group management server 32 does not permit registration of the content reproduction apparatus 20 to be registered.

  If the registration is not permitted as a result of the registration permission determination in S148, the group management server 32 transmits an error notification indicating that registration is impossible to the content processing apparatus 10.

  On the other hand, if the registration is permitted as a result of the registration permission determination in S148, the group management server 32 performs a registration process for the content reproduction device 20 to be registered (S150). Specifically, the group management server 32 identifies the authenticated user record in the group registration database 324 based on the terminal ID of the content processing apparatus 10 that is the registration request source, and registers the registration target in the record. The device ID of the content reproduction apparatus 20 is written. Furthermore, the group management server 32 transmits a registration completion notification to the content processing apparatus 10 that is the registration request source (S152).

  Next, when receiving the registration completion notification, the content processing apparatus 10 receives a group ID (the first group ID and the second group ID) based on the leaf ID included in the service data acquired at the time of registration of the content processing apparatus 10 itself. (Both group IDs) are generated (S154).

  Next, the content processing apparatus 10 acquires the source ID list L and ICV data of the content reproduction apparatus 20 from the registered content reproduction apparatus 20 (S156).

  Furthermore, the content processing apparatus 10 checks the validity of the acquired source ID list L based on the ICV data acquired in S156 (S158). As described above, in the copyright management scheme of the group management method, since the ICV data includes the MAC value that is the hash value of the source ID list L, the content processing apparatus 10 acquires the content from the content processing apparatus 10. By obtaining the MAC value of the source ID list L and collating it with the MAC value of the ICV data, it is possible to detect whether or not the source ID list L has been tampered with.

  As a result of the validity check in S158, if it is determined that the source ID list L is not valid (tampered), an error occurs and the source ID list L is not updated.

  On the other hand, as a result of the validity check in S158, if it is determined that the source ID list L is valid, the content processing apparatus 10 updates the source ID list L of the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S160). . Specifically, the content processing apparatus 10 adds the group ID generated in S154 to the source ID list L acquired from the content reproduction apparatus 20. At this time, the recorder ID included in the source ID list L of the content processing apparatus 10 itself may be added to the source ID list L acquired from the content reproduction apparatus 20.

  Further, the content processing apparatus 10 updates the ICV data of the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S162). Specifically, the content processing apparatus 10 obtains the MAC value of the source ID list L of the content reproduction apparatus 20 updated in S160, and generates new ICV data.

  Thereafter, the content processing apparatus 10 transmits the source ID list L updated in S160 and the ICV data updated in S162 to the content reproduction apparatus 20, and writes them in the storage unit of the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S164). In S156 and S164, the ICV data is transmitted / received between the content processing apparatus 10 and the content reproduction apparatus 20 using the session information without being falsified.

  As a result of the group registration processing of the content reproduction device 20 as described above, the content reproduction device 20 can reproduce the distribution content to which the group ID is added because the group ID is added to its own source ID list L.

  Next, based on FIG. 17, a process of deregistering the content reproduction apparatus (PD) 20 according to the present embodiment from an already registered device group (group deregistration process) will be described. FIG. 17 is a timing chart showing group registration cancellation processing of the content reproduction apparatus (PD) 20 according to the present embodiment.

  Similar to the group registration process of the content playback device (PD) 20, the content playback device (PD) 20 is locally connected to the content processing device (PC) 10 in the group registration cancellation processing of the content playback device (PD) 20. The content processing apparatus (PC) 10 makes a registration cancellation request to the server 30.

  As shown in FIG. 17, first, in steps S170 to S180, a communication connection via the network 5 is securely established between the content processing apparatus 10 that is the registration cancellation request source and the server 30, and user authentication is performed. The processing of S170 to S180 is performed between the browser of the content processing apparatus 10 and the WWW server 31 of the server 30. Note that the processing of S170 to S180 is the same as the content processing apparatus described with reference to FIG. 14 except that in S176, the content processing apparatus 10 sends a registration cancellation request notification to the WWW server 31. Since it is substantially the same as S60 to S70 of the ten group registration processing, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the next steps S182 to S198, processing for actually canceling registration of the content processing apparatus 10 is performed. The processing in S182 to S198 is performed between the copyright management unit of the content processing apparatus 10 that is the registration cancellation request source and the group management server 32 of the server 30.

  Specifically, first, the content processing apparatus 10 acquires the source ID list L and ICV data of the content reproduction apparatus 20 from the content reproduction apparatus 20 to be deregistered (S182).

  Further, the content processing apparatus 10 checks the validity of the acquired source ID list L based on the ICV data acquired in S182 in the same manner as in S158 (S184). As a result of checking the validity in S184, if it is determined that the source ID list L is not valid (tampered), an error occurs and the source ID list L is not updated.

  On the other hand, as a result of the validity check in S184, when it is determined that the source ID list L is valid, the content processing apparatus 10 updates the source ID list L of the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S186). . Specifically, the content processing apparatus 10 deletes the group ID from the source ID list L acquired from the content reproduction apparatus 20. At this time, the recorder ID included in the source ID list L may be deleted. As a result, the content playback apparatus 20 cannot play back the content to which these source IDs are added.

  Further, the content processing apparatus 10 updates the ICV data of the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S188). Specifically, the content processing apparatus 10 obtains the MAC value of the source ID list L of the content reproduction apparatus 20 updated in S186, and generates new ICV data.

  Thereafter, the content processing apparatus 10 transmits the source ID list L updated in S186 and the ICV data updated in S188 to the content reproduction apparatus 20 and writes them in the storage unit of the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S190).

  Next, the content processing apparatus 10 requests the group management server 32 to cancel the registration of the content playback apparatus 20 to be deregistered (S192). Specifically, the content processing apparatus 10 sends the transaction ID received in S180 to the group management server 32, the terminal ID corresponding to the content processing apparatus 10 itself, and the device ID of the content playback apparatus 20 to be deregistered. And request for deregistration. The information transmitted in 192 can be safely transmitted because the session information prevents falsification from the outside.

  Next, when receiving the registration cancellation request, the group management server 32 determines whether or not the content reproduction apparatus 20 can be deregistered (S194). For example, in the case of an invalid registration cancellation request, the group management server 32 does not permit registration cancellation.

  If the registration cancellation is not permitted as a result of the determination as to whether or not registration is possible in S194, the group management server 32 transmits an error notification to the content processing apparatus 10 that registration cancellation is impossible.

  On the other hand, when the registration cancellation is permitted as a result of the determination as to whether or not registration is possible in S194, the group management server 32 performs a registration cancellation process for the content playback device 20 to be deregistered (S196). Specifically, the group management server 32 specifies the record of the authenticated user in the group registration database 324 based on the terminal ID of the content processing apparatus 10 that is the registration request source, and from the record, The device D of the content reproduction apparatus 20 to be deregistered is deleted.

  Thereafter, the group management server 32 transmits a registration cancellation completion notification to the content processing apparatus 10 that is the registration cancellation request source (S198).

  As described above, in the deregistration process of the content reproduction device 20, the content processing device 10 side first deletes the group ID from the source ID list L of the content reproduction device 20 (S186), and then the group management server 32 side. Then, a registration cancellation process (S196) is performed. As a result, regarding the content playback device 20 whose registration is canceled by the group management server 32, the group ID can be reliably deleted from the source ID list L of the content playback device 20. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the group ID remains in the actual source ID list L of the content reproduction apparatus 20 even though the registration is canceled on the group management server 32.

  The basic flow of the group registration processing and group registration cancellation processing of the content processing device (PC) 10 and the content reproduction device (PD) 20 has been described above. With this process, even when the owner of the same content processing apparatus 10 or content reproduction apparatus 20 is changed, the group of the content processing apparatus 10 can be changed by performing deregistration and re-registration.

  Even when a new group is registered or changed in the content processing apparatus 10 having the ripping function, the recorder ID of the content processing apparatus 10 remains unchanged. For this reason, the content ripped by the content processing apparatus 10 before new group registration or group change can be freely assigned to devices in the device group to which the content processing apparatus 10 belongs even after new group registration or group change. It is reproducible. Thereby, the convenience of the user of the content processing apparatus 10 having the ripping function is improved, and the purchase merit is increased.

<8. Group management playback control processing>
Next, based on FIG. 18, the content reproduction control process of the group management method in the content processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a group management type content reproduction control process in the content processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. The group management playback control process is a process for controlling the playback of content based on the source ID added to the content and the source ID list L.

  As shown in FIG. 18, first, in step S202, for example, a reproduction request is made by the user (step S202; reproduction request step). The user operates the input device 108 of the content processing apparatus 10 to select desired content and instruct the content reproduction unit 170 to reproduce the selected content.

  Next, in step S204, the source ID added to the content is read (step S204). The reproduction permission / inhibition determination unit 172 of the content reproduction unit 170 first reads out the content requested to be reproduced from the content database 116 or the recording medium 7, and then reads out the source ID included in the license attached to the content. Interpret.

  Furthermore, in step S206, it is determined whether or not the source ID read from the content is included in the source ID list L of the content processing apparatus 10 (step S206). Specifically, the playability determination unit 172 of the content playback unit 170 reads the source ID list L from the storage device 111 and interprets it, for example. Next, the playability determination unit 172 compares the source ID read from the content with the source ID included in the source ID list L, and the source ID read from the content is included in the source ID list L. Determine whether or not.

  As a result of the determination, if the source ID read from the content is included in the source ID list L, the playback permission determination unit 172 permits playback of the content, and proceeds to step S208. On the other hand, if the source ID read from the content is not included in the source ID list L, the playback permission determination unit 172 does not permit playback of the content and ends the playback control process.

  In step S208, the current time is acquired (step S208). The playability determination unit 172 acquires the current time from a time measuring device (not shown) built in the content processing apparatus 10.

  Thereafter, in step S210, it is determined whether or not the acquired current time is within the expiration date of the source ID read from the content (step S210). Specifically, the playability determination unit 172 first reads the expiration date information corresponding to the source ID read from the content from the source ID list L. The expiration date information corresponding to the source ID read from the content is recorded in the source ID list L in association with the source ID, for example.

  Next, the playability determination unit 172 determines whether or not the acquired current time exceeds the expiration date of the source ID. As a result of this determination, when the current time exceeds the expiration date of the source ID, the source ID has expired. For this reason, the playability determination unit 172 does not allow the content to be played, and ends the playback control process.

  On the other hand, if the current time is within the expiration date of the source ID, the playability determination unit 172 allows the content to be played, and proceeds to step 212. As a result, in step S212, the reproduction execution unit 174 reproduces the content (step S212).

  As described above, the content reproduction control process of the group management method according to the present embodiment is executed based on the source ID in the source ID list L added to the content and the expiration date information of this source ID. The According to such playback control, it is possible to permit / disallow playback of content by setting an expiration date for playback of content in units of source IDs. Note that the expiration date of the source ID is not necessarily set.

<9. Update processing of source ID list of group management method>
Next, update processing of the source ID list L in the content processing apparatus (PC) 10 according to the present embodiment will be described based on FIG. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the update processing of the source ID list L in the content processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. In this list update process, the content processing apparatus 10 acquires the distributed group certificate G, and based on the group certificate G, the content processing apparatus 10 itself has a source ID list L or a locally connected content playback apparatus. This is an example of updating 20 source ID lists L.

  As shown in FIG. 19, first, in step S220, the content processing apparatus 10 acquires the group certificate G distributed from another content processing apparatus 10 or the certificate management server 36 (step S220). The content processing apparatus 10 can acquire the group certificate G by receiving the group certificate G via the network 5 or the local line 7 or by reading the group certificate G recorded in the storage medium 7. is there.

  Next, in step S222, it is determined whether or not the acquired group certificate G is within the validity period (step S222). Specifically, the list update unit 184 of the content processing apparatus 10 first reads the expiration date information included in the group certificate G, and obtains the current time information from the timing device built in the content processing apparatus 10. get. Next, the list update unit 184 determines whether or not the current time is within the validity period of the group certificate G. As a result of this determination, if the group certificate G is within the validity period, the process proceeds to S224. On the other hand, if the group certificate G has expired, the list update is rejected and the list update process is terminated.

  In step S224, the list updating unit 184 reads the group ID included in the acquired group certificate G (step S224).

  Thereafter, in step S226, the list update unit 184 reads the group ID held by the content processing apparatus 10 itself (step S226). In the present embodiment, since the group ID is stored in the source ID list L in each content processing apparatus 10, the list update unit 184 reads the group ID corresponding to the content processing apparatus 10 from the source ID list L.

  In step S228, the list updating unit 184 determines whether the group ID read from the acquired group certificate G matches the group ID corresponding to the content processing apparatus 10 itself (step S228). ). As a result of the determination, if both group IDs match, the list update is permitted and the process proceeds to S230. On the other hand, if the two group IDs are different, the list update is rejected and the list update process is terminated.

  Furthermore, in step S230, the recorder ID included in the group certificate G is added to the source ID list L by the list updating unit 184 (step S230). Specifically, the list updating unit 184 reads the recorder ID from the acquired group certificate G and writes the recorder ID in the source ID list L. Thereby, the content processing apparatus 10 can reproduce the ripped content to which the recorder ID is added. Thus, the update process of the source ID list L based on the group certificate G is completed.

  The basic configuration of the content sharing system 100 according to the present embodiment and the content sharing method using the content sharing system 100 has been described above. The content sharing system 100 can implement a group management type copyright management and an SDMI-compliant check-in / check-out type copyright management system.

  Among these, in the case of performing group management copyright management in the content sharing system 100, content shared among a plurality of devices is managed in units of content providers (providing user units or device units). Content reproduction management is performed by restricting the reproduction of content by the processing device 10 according to the content provider. That is, it is possible to permit / disallow content sharing between devices on a content provider basis.

  For this reason, when the content provider is an unauthorized content provider, the content processing apparatus 10 on the content acquisition side collectively prohibits the reproduction of all the content acquired from the unauthorized content provider. Can do. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively prevent illegal acts such as an act of distributing a large amount of ripped contents to an unspecified number of users and an act of publishing distributed contents for download on the Internet.

  On the other hand, if the content provider is a valid content provider, once the content provider's source ID is added to the source ID list L and content sharing is permitted, then the content is permitted. Any other content can be freely played back as long as it is provided by the provided content provider. For this reason, content can be freely copied between multiple devices within the scope of private use. Therefore, it is possible to realize copyright management similar to a conventional analog content distribution system that allows unlimited copying only for private use.

  Therefore, the content sharing system 100 according to the above embodiment includes (1) a copyright management function that restricts the act of illegally using content without paying a reasonable price for the content distribution service, and (2) It is possible to achieve both of increasing the degree of freedom of content use within the scope of private use for which a reasonable price has been paid.

  Also, in such group management-type copyright management processing, as a rule, processing for adding the source ID of the source ID list L only once, for example, when registering a content distribution service or ripping content sharing service. . Therefore, as compared with the case where the copyright management processing is executed every time the content is copied (check-in / check-out) as in the conventional copyright management processing of the check-in / check-out method, the copyright management processing is performed. The efficiency of the rights management process can be improved.

  Furthermore, by registering and grouping each device in units of owners (users) of the content processing device 10 or the content playback device 20, the content can be freely copied between devices registered in the same device group. Can be used. For this reason, a legitimate user for private use can freely copy content between his / her own devices, and does not need to be aware of the content's copy source or number of copies. It is hard to feel existence. Therefore, within the range of private use, the degree of freedom and convenience of content use by the user can be further increased, and user-friendly copyright management can be executed.

<10. About local registration>
Here, local registration in the copyright management system (content sharing system 100) of the group management method according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of local registration according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 20, as a premise of local registration, first, only one recorder ID can be registered in the source ID list L of the content reproduction apparatus 20. That is, the content reproduction device 20 can identify only one content processing device 10 and can reproduce content data (or content) ripped by the content processing device 10, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 20A, when the content processing apparatus 10 whose recorder ID is “recorder ID1” and the content reproduction apparatus 20 are connected via a local line 9 (cable) via an interface such as USB, the content reproduction apparatus 20 Recorder ID 1 is added to the source ID list L. That is, the content reproduction device 20 can be locally registered in the content processing device 10 with the recorder ID1.

  Although a series of local registration processes according to this embodiment will be described later, since only one recorder ID can be registered in the content reproduction apparatus 20 as described above, other recorder IDs are already registered. In the case where the content data related to another recorder ID has already been stored in the content reproduction apparatus 20, the local registration cannot be performed.

  As shown in FIG. 20 (a), by describing the recorder ID1 in the source ID list L held by the content reproduction device 20, the content reproduction device 20 has recorded the content data recorded by the content processing device 10 with the recorder ID1 by ripping or the like. Can be regenerated. Note that, as shown in FIG. 20A, a recorder ID 1 is assigned to the content data recorded by the content processing apparatus 10 by ripping or the like.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 20B, the content playback device 20 and the content processing device 10b of recorder ID2 are locally registered from the state in which the content playback device 20 is registered locally with respect to the content processing device 10a of recorder ID1. When the content data of the recorder ID2 is acquired by connecting through the line 9, and the reproduction is attempted, the recorder ID registered in the source ID list L of the content reproduction apparatus 20 is the recorder ID1, and cannot be reproduced.

  Further, even if the recorder ID 2 is to be registered in the source ID list L, since the recorder ID 1 is already registered, the recorder ID 2 cannot be described in the source ID list L held by the content reproduction device 20 and the content processing device 10 b of the recorder ID 2 You cannot register locally.

  In order for the content reproduction apparatus 20 to reproduce the content data of the recorder ID2, the recorder ID1 already described in the source ID list L is deleted and the content data of the recorder ID1 is deleted. That is, it is necessary to cancel the local registration of the content reproduction apparatus 20.

  The cancellation of the local registration is to delete the recorder ID described in the source ID list L held by the content reproduction apparatus 20. The recorder ID can be deleted from any content processing apparatus 10 including the content processing apparatus 10 to which the recorder ID has been added by connecting to the content reproduction apparatus 20 via the local line 9.

  The recorder ID may be deleted when the recording unit such as the HDD of the content reproduction apparatus 20 is subjected to an initialization process for deleting all data including the source ID list L. If the recorder ID is deleted, You can cancel local registration.

  When the recorder ID 1 is deleted from the source ID list L and the content data of the recorder ID 1 is deleted, the content processing device 10 b of the recorder ID 2 can add its own recorder ID 2 to the source ID list L of the content playback device 20. . In other words, it can be registered locally.

  When the content playback apparatus 20 that has already been locally registered performs local registration with respect to the other content processing apparatus 10, the recorder ID held by the content playback apparatus 20 and the content data to which the recorder ID is added are stored as described above. The case where deletion is necessary has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, it may be configured to allow other content processing apparatuses 10 to perform local registration by deleting only the recorder ID held by the content reproduction apparatus 20 from the source ID list L as cancellation of local registration. .

  As shown in FIG. 20 (c), by deleting the recorder ID1 described in the source ID list L held by the content reproduction apparatus 20 and making it a recorder ID2, the content reproduction apparatus 20 is a content processing apparatus of the recorder ID2. The content data to which the recorder ID 2 held by 10b is added can be acquired, and the content data of the recorder ID 2 can be reproduced.

  Next, the source ID list L held by the content processing apparatus 10 or the content reproduction apparatus 20 when the above-described group registration or local registration is performed will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 21A, it is assumed that there is a content processing device 10a with recorder ID1, a content processing device 10b with recorder ID2, and a content reproduction device 20 that has been registered locally. Note that the content reproduction device 20 performs local registration with respect to the content processing device 10a with the recorder ID1 and holds the content data with the recorder ID1.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 21B, when the content processing apparatus 10a with recorder ID1 performs service registration of group IDA (or may be described as group registration), the content processing apparatus 10b with recorder ID1 A group IDA is added to the held source ID list L. Recorder ID1 is already described because it is its own recorder ID.

  Similarly, when the group IDA service is registered for the content processing apparatus 10b with the recorder ID2, the group IDA is described in the source ID list L of the content processing apparatus 10b with the recorder ID2.

  Furthermore, devices having the same group ID can form a group and can be registered as a group, and the recorder ID of the device having the same group ID is added to the source ID list L.

  As shown in FIG. 21B, the recorder ID of the content processing apparatus 10 of the recorder ID1 to which the same group IDA is added is added to the source ID list L of the content processing apparatus 10b of the recorder ID2, and the content of the recorder ID1 Recorder ID2 is also added to the source ID list of the processing apparatus 10a.

  As shown in FIG. 21 (b), as the timing at which the content processing apparatus 10 adds the recorder ID to the source ID list L, for example, when the content processing apparatus 10 accesses the group management server 32, the group management server 10 Although the timing etc. which received the group certificate G transmitted from 32 can be mentioned as an example, it is not limited to this example. Also, by receiving the group certificate G, the content processing apparatus 10 can add all the recorder IDs belonging to the group ID including the newly added recorder ID to the source ID list L.

  Access is a general term for information processing that processes information via the communication network (network 5), such as system use, connection to a server, file browsing, file saving, file deletion, or file modification. Say it.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 21 (c), in addition to the content processing apparatus 10a that has already been registered with the group IDA, the content reproduction apparatus 20 that is locally registered in the content processing apparatus 10a with the recorder ID1 is also included. When the service is registered in the group with the group IDA, the group IDA is registered in the source ID list L held by the content reproduction apparatus 20, and the recorder ID2 is also added.

  Therefore, when the content reproduction device 20 registers the service with the group IDA, the content reproduction device 20 can reproduce the content data recorded by the content processing devices 10a and 10b of the recorder ID1 and the recorder ID2 by ripping or the like.

  By registering the content playback device 20 as a service, the group IDA is first added to the source ID list L of the content playback device 20, and the recorder ID belonging to the group IDA such as recorder ID2 is the source ID list L. For example, there is a case where the content is added to the content processing apparatus 10b of the recorder ID 2 via the local line 9, but the timing is not limited to this example.

  Next, components provided in the group registration unit of the content processing apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the group registration unit of the content processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the group registration unit in the content processing apparatus 10 includes an acquisition unit 401, a detection unit 403, a recorder ID addition unit 405, a registration request information transmission unit 407, and a registration completion reception unit 409. , A notification unit 411 and a group ID addition unit 413 are provided.

  The acquisition unit 401 acquires a source ID list L (second source ID list) held by the content reproduction apparatus 20 at the connection destination. The acquired source ID list L is ICV-calculated, the MAC value is obtained, checked against the MAC value included in the tampering detection data acquired separately, and it is confirmed that the source ID list L has not been tampered with. The falsification detection data is generated based on the source ID list L.

  The detection unit 403 detects whether or not the content reproduction device 20 of the source ID list L acquired by the acquisition unit 401 is registered as a service, and further, the source ID list of the content reproduction device 20 acquired by the acquisition unit 401 It is detected whether or not the recorder ID of the content processing apparatus 10 (own content processing apparatus 10) of the acquisition source is described in L. The own content processing device 10 is synonymous with the content processing device 10 itself.

  The recorder ID adding unit 405 adds the recorder ID of the content processing apparatus 10 to the source ID list L acquired by the acquiring unit 401, and adds the source ID added to the content reproduction apparatus 20 from which the source ID list L is acquired. The ID list L is stored in a storage device or the like.

  As a condition for the recorder ID adding unit 405 to add a recorder ID to the source ID list L, the content reproduction apparatus 20 from which the source ID list L is acquired is unregistered, and the source ID list L It can be exemplified on the condition that the detection unit 403 detects that no recorder ID other than the recorder ID of the content processing apparatus 10 itself (own content processing apparatus 10) is described in the content source apparatus 10 itself.

Note that the recorder ID adding unit 405 has been described by taking as an example the case where the recorder ID is added to the source ID list L of the content reproduction apparatus 20, but is not limited to such an example. For example, the recorder ID adding unit 405 includes: For example, a recorder ID may be added to the source ID list L held by the content processing apparatus 10.
List management unit (list update unit) 140
When the input unit such as a mouse is operated by the user and the request for registering the content processing device 10 or the content reproduction device 20 is received by the user, the registration request information transmission unit 407 Registration request information is sent to. The transmitted registration request information is transmitted to the group management server 32 through the network via the transmission unit.

  The registration completion receiving unit 409 receives registration completion information notifying the completion of registration from the group management server 32 to which the registration request information is transmitted via the network. If the service registration process of the content reproduction apparatus 20 or the content processing apparatus 10 does not end normally from the group management server 32, registration abnormality information is transmitted instead of registration completion information.

  The notification unit 411 displays a notification or the like recommending service registration on the display screen of the content processing apparatus 10. In addition, a notification or the like recommending that the content data of the recorder ID not corresponding to the content processing device 10 stored in the content reproduction device 20 be deleted (initialized) is displayed on the display screen. Note that the present invention is not limited to the case of displaying on the display screen of the content processing apparatus 10, and can be implemented even when a notification or the like recommending service registration is displayed on the display screen of the content reproduction apparatus 20.

  When the registration completion receiving unit 409 receives the registration completion information, the group ID adding unit 413 uses the group ID described in the source ID list L held by the content processing apparatus 10 as the source ID list held by the content reproduction apparatus 20. Add to L. At that time, the group ID adding unit 413 adds a group ID to the source ID list L acquired by the acquiring unit 401.

  Moreover, even when the group ID update unit 149 described above with reference to FIG. 8 has substantially the same function as that of the above-described group ID addition unit 413, the group ID update unit 149 can execute the source ID list. A group ID may be added to L.

  Next, a series of registration processes including an automatic local registration process for the content reproduction apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, as shown in FIG. 23, when the content reproduction apparatus 20 connects the cable (local line 9) to the content processing apparatus 10 (S301), the acquisition unit 401 provided in the content processing apparatus 10 sets the connection destination of the cable (local line 9). The source ID list L held by the content reproduction apparatus 20 is acquired.

  When the acquisition unit 401 acquires the source ID list L, the detection unit 403 detects whether or not the acquisition destination content reproduction apparatus 20 has been registered based on the source ID list L (S302). For example, the detection unit 403 determines whether the group ID is described in the source ID list L held by the content reproduction device 20 or whether the recorder ID of the content processing device 10 (own content processing device 10) as the acquisition source is described. Is detected.

  For example, when the group ID is described in the source ID list L, the detection unit 403 detects that the content reproduction apparatus 20 has already registered the service (or group registration), and the recorder ID is described in the source ID list L. If so, the content reproduction apparatus 20 detects that it has been registered locally.

  As a result of the detection, if the content reproduction apparatus 20 has been registered in some way, such as local registration or service registration (S302), then the detection unit 403 detects whether or not the content reproduction apparatus 20 has been locally registered ( S303), if the detection result is not locally registered, it is next detected whether or not the content processing apparatus 10 is registered as a service (S304). Whether or not the content processing apparatus 10 is registered as a service is determined based on whether or not a group ID is described in the source ID list L (first source ID list) held by the content processing apparatus 10. be able to.

  As a result of detection by the detection unit 403, if the content processing device 10 is not registered (S304), that is, the content playback device 20 connected to the cable (local line 9) is not locally registered, and the content processing device 10 is not serviced. In the case of registration, the notification unit 411 generates service registration recommendation information for prompting the group management server 32 to register the service for the content processing apparatus 10 and displays it on the display screen of the content processing apparatus 10 (S305).

  Next, when the service registration of the content processing apparatus 10 is registered by the user viewing the service registration recommendation information by the notification unit 411 via the display screen (S305), a registration screen for service registration is displayed on the display screen. (S306).

  When the user operates an input unit such as a mouse according to the registration screen displayed on the screen and the registration request information transmission unit 407 accepts an instruction for service registration, the registration request information transmission unit 407 groups the registration request information into a group. It transmits to the management server 32.

  The content processing apparatus 10 receives registration completion information (registration completion information) indicating service registration completion from the group management server 32, generates a group ID based on the leaf ID, and the group ID addition unit 413 generates the source ID of the content processing apparatus 10. Service registration is completed by adding a group ID to the list L (S307). Along with the addition of the group ID, recorder IDs belonging to the group ID are also added to the source ID list L of the content processing apparatus 10.

  On the other hand, when the service registration of the content reproduction apparatus 20 is not performed (S305), a warning screen as shown in FIG. 26 is displayed on the display screen of the content processing apparatus 10 (S308). By displaying the warning screen shown in FIG. 26, it is possible to make the user recognize that the content reproduction apparatus 20 is not correctly registered.

  When the content processing apparatus 10 is already registered as a service (S304), for example, the group ID registered in the source ID list L of the content processing apparatus 10 and the source ID list L of the content reproduction apparatus 20 are registered. When the detection unit 403 detects that the group ID is the same (S309), the content processing apparatus 10 stores the content data to which the group ID stored in the content processing apparatus 10 is assigned. It can be transferred to the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S310).

  When the group IDs described in the source ID list L possessed by the content processing apparatus 10 and the content reproduction apparatus 20 are not the same (S309), as described above, the warning screen shown in FIG. 26 is displayed on the screen (S311). As a result, for example, the content processing apparatus 10 cannot transfer the content data distributed from the content distribution server 34 to the content reproduction apparatus 20.

  Next, in step S302, if no content reproduction device 20 has been registered, first, service registration recommendation information by the notification unit 411 is displayed on the user via the display screen of the content processing device 10, as shown in FIG. When the service is registered for the content reproduction device 20 (S312), the detection unit 403 detects whether the content processing device 10 connected to the cable (local line 9) is registered as a service (S313). .

  As a result of the detection by the detection unit 403, if the content processing apparatus 10 is registered as a service (S313), a registration screen for service registration of the content reproduction apparatus 20 is displayed on the display screen of the content processing apparatus 10 (S314).

  Next, when the user operates an input unit such as a mouse in accordance with the registration screen displayed on the screen and the registration request information transmission unit 407 receives an instruction for service registration with respect to the content reproduction apparatus 20, the registration request information transmission is performed. The unit 407 transmits registration request information to the group management server 32.

  When the content processing apparatus 10 receives registration completion information (registration completion information) indicating completion of service registration of the content reproduction apparatus 20 from the group management server 32, the content processing apparatus 10 is added to the source ID list L of the content reproduction apparatus 20. The group ID adding unit 413 adds the group ID of the group to which the service belongs, thereby completing service registration (S315). Along with the addition of the group ID, a recorder ID belonging to the group ID is also added to the source ID list L of the content reproduction apparatus 20.

  When the service registration of the content reproduction device 20 is completed (S315), the content processing device 10 may transfer the content data to which the same group ID stored in the content processing device 10 is assigned to the content reproduction device 20. Yes (S316).

  On the other hand, as a result of detection by the detection unit 403, if the content processing apparatus 10 is not registered as a service (S317), registration for registering the content reproduction apparatus 20 and the content processing apparatus 10 as services on the display screen of the content processing apparatus 10 A screen is displayed (S318).

  When the user operates an input unit such as a mouse according to the registration screen displayed on the screen and the registration request information transmission unit 407 accepts an instruction for service registration, the registration request information transmission unit 407 groups the registration request information into a group. It transmits to the management server 32.

  In S318, service registration of the content reproduction device 20 and the content processing device 10 is performed. For example, each of the content reproduction device 20 and the content processing device 10 receives an input of a user ID, a password, and the like, and registers each of them. When request information is generated or when service registration is performed for each of the above devices, for example, if input of common information such as a user ID or password is accepted, if either information is accepted, the registration request is automatically issued. For example, information may be generated. According to the latter case, the information input process by the user can be simplified and the generation time of the registration request information can be shortened.

  The content processing apparatus 10 receives registration completion information (registration completion information) indicating completion of service registration of the content processing apparatus 10 and the content reproduction apparatus 20 from the group management server 32, generates a group ID based on the leaf ID, and generates a group ID. The adding unit 413 adds the group ID to the source ID list L of the content processing apparatus 10 and the content reproduction apparatus 20, whereby the service registration is completed (S318). Along with the addition of the group ID, recorder IDs belonging to the group ID are also added to the source ID list L of the content reproduction device 20 and the content processing device 10.

  When the service registration of the content processing device 10 and the content reproduction device 20 is completed (S318), the content data stored in the content processing device 10 is the same as the group ID added to the source ID list L held by the content processing device 10. Can be transferred to the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S319).

  Furthermore, when the service registration recommendation information generated by the notification unit 411 is displayed on the display screen and the user visually recognizes the service registration recommendation information (S312), that is, the content playback device 20 When no registration is made and no service registration is made, the recorder ID adding unit 405 of the content processing apparatus 10 adds the recorder ID of the content processing apparatus 10 itself to the acquired source ID list L of the content reproduction apparatus 20. At the same time, falsification detection data including the MAC value obtained by ICV calculation from the updated source ID list L is generated, and the added source ID list L and falsification detection data are stored in the content reproduction device 20 (S320).

  When the local registration is completed (S320), the content data (ripped content data) to which the recorder ID is added among the content data held by the content processing apparatus 10 can be transferred to the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S321).

  Therefore, when the content reproduction apparatus 20 is not registered in any way, the content processing apparatus 10 automatically registers the content reproduction apparatus 20 locally. By such local registration, for example, even if there is no function to communicate with a network such as the Internet, the content reproduction device 20 can acquire content data held by the content processing device 10 and reproduce the content data. Note that content data distributed from the content distribution server 34 cannot be reproduced by the content reproduction device 20 unless service registration is performed, for example.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 23, the content playback apparatus 20 is registered in some way (S302), of which the content playback apparatus 20 is locally registered (S303). Further, as shown in FIG. It is determined whether the content reproduction apparatus 20 and the locally registered content processing apparatus 10 are actually the content processing apparatus 10 connected by a cable (local line 9) (S322).

  That is, when the detection unit 403 detects that the same recorder ID as the recorder ID corresponding to the content processing apparatus 10 itself is described in the source ID list L of the content reproduction apparatus 20, the content reproduction apparatus 20 and the local ID It can be determined that the registered content processing apparatus 10 is actually connected to the cable (local line 9).

  As a result of the detection, when the recorder IDs described in the source ID list L of the content playback device 20 and the content processing device 10 are different (S322), a warning screen is displayed on the screen of the content processing device 10 (S323), and further the content playback It is confirmed whether or not content data exists in the storage device of the device 20 (S324).

  If the content data does not exist (S324), the notification unit 411 generates service registration recommendation information for prompting the group management server 32 to register the service for the content playback device 20, and displays it on the display screen of the content processing device 10. It is displayed (S325).

  If content data exists in the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S324), a screen for prompting initialization as shown in FIG. 27 is displayed on the screen of the content processing apparatus 10 (S326). When the “initialize” button is pressed by the operation of the input unit by the user via the screen shown in FIG. 27, all data stored in the storage device of the content reproduction device 20 is deleted, and physical initialization processing is performed. Is executed (S327).

  When the initialization process for the content reproduction apparatus 20 is completed (S327), the recorder ID adding unit 405 of the content processing apparatus 10 executes a local registration process (S328). Specifically, the recorder ID adding unit 405 adds the recorder ID of the content processing apparatus 10 itself to the acquired source ID list L of the content reproduction apparatus 20 and performs ICV calculation from the updated source ID list L. The falsification detection data including the MAC value obtained in the above is generated, and the added source ID list L and the falsification detection data are stored in the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S328).

  Therefore, by executing the initialization process for the content reproduction device 20 (S327), the local registration registered in the other content processing device 10 having a different recorder ID is canceled and the cable (local line 9) is connected. Local registration can be automatically performed with the recorder ID of the content processing apparatus 10 (S328).

  Next, as a result of the detection, when the recorder ID described in the source ID list L of the content reproduction apparatus 20 is the same as the recorder ID described in the source ID list L of the content processing apparatus 10 (S322), the notification is made. The service registration recommendation information by the unit 411 is displayed on the screen. If the user does not register the content playback device 20 as a result of viewing the display (S329), for example, the content to which the recorder ID is added among the content data stored in the storage device of the content processing device 10 Only data (ripped content data) can be transferred to the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S330).

  Further, when the content reproduction device 20 is registered as a service (S329), and as a result of detection by the detection unit 403, the content processing device 10 is registered as a service (S331), the content is displayed on the display screen of the content processing device 10. A registration screen for service registration of the playback device 20 is displayed (S332).

  Next, when the user operates an input unit such as a mouse in accordance with the registration screen displayed on the screen and the registration request information transmission unit 407 receives an instruction for service registration with respect to the content reproduction apparatus 20, the registration request information transmission is performed. The unit 407 transmits registration request information to the group management server 32.

  When the content processing apparatus 10 receives registration completion information (registration completion information) indicating completion of service registration of the content reproduction apparatus 20 from the group management server 32, the content processing apparatus 10 is added to the source ID list L of the content reproduction apparatus 20. The group ID adding unit 413 adds the group ID of the group to which the service belongs, thereby completing service registration (S333).

  When the service registration of the content reproduction device 20 is completed (S333), the content processing device 10 adds the group ID added to the source ID list L held by the content processing device 10 out of the content data stored in the content processing device 10. Can be transferred to the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S334).

  On the other hand, if the content processing apparatus 10 is not registered as a service (S331), a registration screen for service registration of the content reproduction apparatus 20 and the content processing apparatus 10 is displayed on the display screen of the content processing apparatus 10 (S335).

  When the user operates an input unit such as a mouse according to the registration screen displayed on the screen and the registration request information transmission unit 407 accepts an instruction for service registration, the registration request information transmission unit 407 groups the registration request information into a group. It transmits to the management server 32.

  The content processing apparatus 10 receives registration completion information (registration completion information) indicating service registration completion of the content processing apparatus 10 and the content reproduction apparatus 20 from the group management server 32, generates a group ID based on the leaf ID, and performs content processing. The group ID adding unit 413 adds the group ID to the source ID list L of the device 10 and the content reproduction device 20, whereby the service registration is completed (S336). Along with the addition of the group ID, recorder IDs belonging to the group ID are also added to the source ID list L of the content reproduction device 20 and the content processing device 10.

  When the service registration of the content processing device 10 and the content reproduction device 20 is completed (S336), the content processing device 10 stores the content data stored in the content processing device 10 in the source ID list L held by the content processing device 10. The content data to which the same group ID as the added group ID is added can be transferred to the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S337).

  In the present embodiment, the transfer of content data has been described by taking the case of transfer from the content processing apparatus 10 to the content reproduction apparatus 20 as an example, but the present invention is not limited to such an example, and the content reproduction apparatus 20 to the content processing apparatus 10 It can also be carried out in the case of transfer to.

  In the present embodiment, the acquisition unit 401, the detection unit 403, the recorder ID addition unit 405, the registration request information transmission unit 407, and the registration completion reception unit 409 included in the group registration unit of the content processing apparatus 10 The notification unit 411 and the group ID addition unit 413 have been described by way of examples of hardware, but the present invention is not limited to such examples. For example, at least one part among the above-described units may be a program composed of one or two or more modules or components.

  Next, the series of processes described above can be performed by dedicated hardware or software. When a series of processing is performed by software, a program constituting the software is installed in the content processing device 10, the content reproduction device 20, the server 30, or the like.

  Here, in the present specification, the processing steps describing a program for causing a computer such as the content processing apparatus 10, the content reproduction apparatus 20, or the group management server 32 to perform various processes are not necessarily in the order described in the flowchart. Need not be processed in chronological order, and includes processes executed in parallel or individually (for example, parallel processing or object processing).

<11. Registration of content processing apparatus or content reproduction apparatus in the case of the same ID>
Next, a service registration process of the content processing apparatus 10 or the content reproduction apparatus 20 when the user ID is the same will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of an input screen at the time of service registration processing according to the present embodiment. FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a group management unit according to the present embodiment. FIG. 30 is a sequence diagram showing an outline of service registration of the content reproduction apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 31 is a sequence diagram showing an outline of service registration of the content processing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment. FIG.

  First, as described above, when the content processing apparatus 10 or the content reproduction apparatus 20 is registered as a service, the content processing apparatus 10 accesses the group management server 32 via the network, and stores information necessary for the service registration process. It transmits to the management server 32 (management server concerning this embodiment).

  Access is a general term for information processing that processes information via a communication network, such as system use, connection to a server, file reference, file storage, file deletion, or file modification.

  Further, the group management server 32 transmits the leaf ID to the content processing apparatus 10, the content processing apparatus 10 generates a group ID based on the leaf ID, and the source ID list L of the content processing apparatus 10 or the content playback apparatus 20 As described above, the service registration is performed by adding to the source ID list L.

  As shown in FIG. 28, the display screen of the content processing apparatus 10 displays an input screen for requesting a user ID (user ID) and password from the group management server 32 side when registering a service. It is necessary to input a user ID and a password on the input screen by operating the input unit. However, even when registering the content processing apparatus 10 or the content reproduction apparatus 20 having the same user ID, the user ID and password must be transmitted to the group management server 32, and the efficiency of the service registration process Is bad.

  Therefore, a service registration process capable of executing service registration without transmitting a user ID and password from the content processing apparatus 10 to the group management server 32 will be described below.

  As illustrated in FIG. 29, the group management unit of the content processing apparatus 10 includes at least a user information transmission unit 430, a registration request information transmission unit 433, and a list management unit (list update unit) 140. Although not shown, an acquisition unit 401, a detection unit 403, and the like that have appeared when explaining the configuration of the group management unit may be provided.

  The user information transmission unit 430 receives user information including a user ID and a password input by operating the input unit by the user, and transmits the user information to the group management server 32 through the transmission unit.

  The registration request information transmission unit 433 generates registration request information for requesting the group management server 32 for service registration including the device ID or terminal ID, and transmits the registration request information to the group management server 32 through the transmission unit.

  The registration request information transmission unit 433, when performing service registration of the content reproduction apparatus 20 connected to the local line 9 to the content processing apparatus 10, registration request information including the device ID of the content reproduction apparatus 20 acquired by the acquisition unit 401. Is generated.

  In addition, the registration request information transmitting unit 433 generates registration request information including a terminal ID generated by the content processing apparatus 10 when performing service registration of the content processing apparatus 10.

  When the list management unit 140 receives the leaf ID returned from the group management server 32 after transmitting the registration request information to the group management server 32, the list management unit 140 generates a group ID based on the leaf ID and becomes a target of service registration. The content is added to the source ID list L held by the content processing apparatus 10 or the content reproduction apparatus 20.

  Next, a case where the content reproduction apparatus 20 is registered as a service will be described with reference to FIG. As a precondition, the content processing apparatus 10 has already been registered with the group management server 32.

  When the content playback device 20 is connected to the content processing device 10 via the local line 9, the content processing device 10 acquires the source ID list L of the content playback device 20 as described above, thereby the content playback device 20. Detects whether the service is registered.

  When the content processing apparatus 10 detects that the content reproduction apparatus 20 is not registered as a service, the content processing apparatus 10 first notifies the server 30 of a registration request for the content reproduction apparatus 20 via the network, as shown in FIG. (S340).

  In particular, the content processing apparatus 10 notifies the registration request by accessing the WWW server 31 provided in the server 30 (S340). When receiving the registration request notification, the WWW server 31 transfers the registration request notification to the group management server.

  Next, when a registration request is notified from the content processing apparatus 10, the server 30 transmits registration activation information including information necessary for executing the registration process to the content processing apparatus 10 (S341). The registration activation information includes information such as a URL indicating a location where a transaction ID necessary for data retransmission, a leaf ID necessary for generating a group ID, and the like are stored. The leaf ID is user identification information managed by the group management server 32.

  When the content processing apparatus 10 receives the registration activation information, the acquisition unit 401 of the content processing apparatus 10 acquires a device ID from the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S342).

  When the device ID is acquired (S342), the terminal ID held by the content processing apparatus 10 itself is acquired (S343).

  Next, the registration request information transmitting unit 433 of the content processing apparatus 10 generates registration request information including the transaction ID, terminal ID, and device ID, and transmits the registration request information to the server 30 (S344).

  The user registration unit (registration unit) 312 of the WWW server 31 of the server 30 acquires a record (registration record) of the already registered content processing apparatus 10 based on the terminal ID, and checks whether registration is possible. , A new device ID is added to the registration record (S345). Note that, for example, user information such as a user ID and a password is associated with a terminal ID or the like in the registration record of the content processing apparatus 10. Normally, the group management server 32 uniquely identifies the record in which the content processing apparatus 10 is registered by first receiving the user ID and password from the content processing apparatus 10, but if the terminal ID is received, , Because the record can be uniquely identified, the service registration process can be performed quickly and efficiently.

  Although the registration record has been described in the group registration DB 324 shown in FIG. 12, the registration records (record 3241 to record 3245) are generated when a device such as the content processing apparatus 10 is registered in the group management server 32. It is a record. As already described, the registration record includes information such as a user ID, a password, a terminal ID, a device ID, and a recorder ID.

  The WWW server (management server) 31 first receives user information including a user ID and a password from the content processing apparatus 10, and the user authentication unit (authentication unit) 314 of the WWW server 31 authenticates the user information. , Authentication permission notification information is transmitted to the content processing apparatus 10. If the content processing apparatus 10 does not receive the authentication permission notification information, the registration request information cannot be transmitted to the WWW server 31 of the server 30. However, the server 30 does not receive the user information but receives the terminal ID. For example, since a record can be uniquely identified, a quick and efficient service registration process can be performed.

  When the device ID of the content reproduction apparatus 20 is added to the group registration DB 324 managed by the group management server 32 (S345), the server 30 provides registration completion information for notifying the content processing apparatus 10 that the registration is completed. Transmit (S346).

  When the content processing apparatus 10 receives the registration completion information, the acquisition unit 401 of the content processing apparatus 10 acquires the source ID list L of the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S347). Note that the acquisition unit 401 performs ICV calculation of the source ID list L in order to detect falsification when acquiring the source ID list L, and the obtained MAC value and falsification detection data (ICV data acquired together with the source ID list L). ) Is confirmed to match with the MAC value included.

  When the source ID list L is acquired (S347), the list management unit 140 adds the group ID of the content processing apparatus 10 already registered to the source ID list L (S348). Further, the list management unit 140 generates falsification detection data from the updated source ID list L, and stores the falsification detection data together with the source ID list L in the storage device of the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S349).

  This completes the service registration process of the content reproduction apparatus 20. If the content processing apparatus 10 has already been registered as a service, it is efficient even if the user does not bother to input user information such as a user ID and a password when registering the content reproduction apparatus 20 owned by the same user. Service registration can be performed.

  Next, a case where the content processing apparatus 10 is registered as a service will be described with reference to FIG. As a precondition, it is assumed that the content reproduction apparatus 20 has already been registered in the group registration DB 324 of the group management server 32.

  When the content playback device 20 is connected to the content processing device 10 via the local line 9, the content processing device 10 acquires the source ID list L of the content playback device 20 as described above, thereby the content playback device 20. Detects whether the service is registered.

  Further, whether or not the content processing apparatus 10 itself is registered as a service is determined by detecting whether or not a group ID or the like is described in the source ID list L as in the case of the content reproduction apparatus 20.

  Here, if the content processing apparatus 10 detects that the content processing apparatus 10 is not registered as a service, as shown in FIG. 31, first, the content processing apparatus 10 transmits the content processing apparatus 10 itself to the server 30 via the network. A service registration request is notified (S350).

  Next, when a registration request is notified from the content processing apparatus 10, the server 30 transmits registration activation information including information necessary for executing the registration process to the content processing apparatus 10 (S351). The registration activation information includes information such as a URL indicating a location where a transaction ID necessary for data retransmission, a leaf ID necessary for generating a group ID, and the like are stored. The transaction ID is managed by, for example, the WWW server 31, and the leaf ID is managed by the group management server 32.

  When the content processing apparatus 10 receives the registration activation information, the acquisition unit 401 of the content processing apparatus 10 acquires a device ID from the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S352).

  When the device ID is acquired (S352), the terminal ID held by the content processing apparatus 10 itself is acquired (S353).

  Next, the registration request information transmission unit 433 of the content processing apparatus 10 generates registration request information including the transaction ID, terminal ID, and device ID, and transmits the registration request information to the server 30 (S354).

  Upon receiving the registration request information, the user registration unit 312 of the WWW server 31 acquires a record (registration record) of the content reproduction apparatus 20 that has already been registered based on the device ID, and can register the content processing apparatus 10. If registration is possible, a new terminal ID is added to the registration record (S355). In the registration record of the content reproduction apparatus 20, user information such as a user ID and a password is associated with a device ID or the like. Normally, the server 30 uniquely identifies the registration record in which the content reproduction apparatus 20 is registered by further receiving the user ID and password from the content processing apparatus 10, but if the device ID is received, Since registration records can be uniquely identified, service registration processing can be performed quickly and efficiently.

  When the terminal ID of the content processing apparatus 10 is added to the corresponding registration record in the group registration DB 324 of the group management server 32 (S355), the server 30 registers to notify the content processing apparatus 10 that the registration has been completed. The completion information is transmitted (S356).

  When the content processing apparatus 10 receives the registration completion information, the acquisition unit 401 of the content processing apparatus 10 acquires the source ID list L of the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S357). Note that the acquisition unit 401 performs ICV calculation of the source ID list L in order to detect falsification when acquiring the source ID list L, and the obtained MAC value and falsification detection data (ICV data acquired together with the source ID list L). ) Is confirmed to match with the MAC value included.

  When the source ID list L is acquired (S357), the group ID of the already registered content reproduction device 20 described in the source ID list L is acquired, and the list management unit 140 has the source ID list of the content processing device 10 itself. The group ID is written into L (S358).

  This completes the service registration process of the content processing apparatus 10. If the content reproduction apparatus 20 has already been registered with a service (for example, a device ID has already been stored in the corresponding registration record), the user ID is purposely registered when the service is registered for the content processing apparatus 10 owned by the same user. Service registration can be performed efficiently without inputting user information such as a password.

  Next, the series of processes described above can be performed by dedicated hardware or software. When a series of processing is performed by software, a program constituting the software is installed in the content processing device 10, the content reproduction device, the server 30, or the like.

  Here, in this specification, the processing steps for describing a program for causing a computer to perform various processes do not necessarily have to be processed in time series in the order described in the flowchart, but in parallel or individually. This includes processing to be executed (for example, parallel processing or processing by an object).

  In addition, the user information transmission unit 430, the registration request information transmission unit 433, and the list management unit 140 included in the content processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment are programs each composed of one or more modules or components. Although the case has been described as an example, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the user information transmission unit 430, the registration request information transmission unit 433, and the list management unit 140 provided in the content processing apparatus 10 are each configured from hardware. Even if it is configured, it can be implemented.

<12. How to create a list of title information based on whether content can be played back>
Next, a method for creating a list of title information based on whether or not content can be reproduced will be described with reference to FIGS. 32 to 32 to 44.

  The content processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment determines whether or not the content stored and saved in the content processing apparatus 10 can be reproduced by the content processing apparatus 10 for copyright management, and can determine the content. In this way, a list of content title information (hereinafter also referred to as a title list) is created. In addition, the content processing apparatus 10 displays the created title list on a display that is one of output devices included in the content processing apparatus 10. Furthermore, the content processing apparatus 10 can also delete from the content processing apparatus 10 content that the content processing apparatus 10 has determined that cannot be reproduced due to copyright management.

  In addition, the content processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment determines whether or not the content stored in the content playback apparatus 20 connected to the content processing apparatus 10 can be played back by the content playback apparatus 20 for copyright management. A content title list is created so that the determination is possible. In addition, the content processing apparatus 10 displays the created title list on a display that is one of output devices included in the content processing apparatus 10. Furthermore, the content processing apparatus 10 can also delete from the content reproduction apparatus 20 the content that the content reproduction apparatus 20 has determined that cannot be reproduced due to copyright management. Hereinafter, the functional configuration of the content processing apparatus 10 for realizing the above functions will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 32, the content processing apparatus 10 has, for example, a plug-in 502, a content acquisition unit 504, a source ID list acquisition unit 506, a content management information acquisition unit 508, in order to realize the above functions. It further includes a title list display unit 510, a title list creation unit 512, a playability determination unit 172, a deletion unit 516, and the like. The storage device 111 of the content processing apparatus 10 stores a content management information DB 118, a content DB 116, and a source ID list L.

  The plurality of plug-ins 502 are a plurality of plug-in modules included in the data communication unit 120. By installing a plurality of plug-in modules corresponding to the type of content playback device 20 (for example, PC, PDA, portable video player, MP3 player, IC player, CD player, MD player, etc.) in the content processing device 10 The content processing apparatus 10 can detect connection of various content reproduction apparatuses 20 and transmit / receive data via each plug-in module.

  Each plug-in module causes each content playback device 20 that detects communication and communicates with each plug-in module to perform copyright management using a group management method or to perform copyright management using a check-in / check-out method. Is set. Therefore, when a plug-in module in which the type of the group management method is set operates, the content processing apparatus 10 determines whether or not the content in the content reproduction device 20 can be reproduced by the group management method using the source ID. To do. On the other hand, when a plug-in module in which the type of the check-in / check-out method is set operates, the content processing apparatus 10 uses the license corresponding to the content to determine whether or not the content in the content reproduction apparatus 20 can be reproduced. The check-in / check-out method was used.

  The content management information acquisition unit 508 has a function of acquiring content management information held by the content reproduction device 20 from the content reproduction device 20 via the plug-in 502. The content management information includes a content ID, a content address corresponding to the content ID, content title information, and the like. The title information includes, for example, a song title or artist name when the content is music content.

  The content acquisition unit 504 is provided with the content ID and address of the content held by the content playback device 20 from the playback permission determination unit 172, and the content acquisition unit 504 receives the content based on the content ID or address from the content playback device 20 via the plug-in 502. It has the function to acquire.

  The source ID list acquisition unit 506 has a function of acquiring the source ID list L held by the content playback apparatus 20 from the content playback apparatus 20 via a plug-in module in which the type of group management method is set.

  The source ID list L that is referenced by the content processing apparatus 10 for determining whether or not the content can be played back is a source ID list that the content processing apparatus 10 holds that indicates a content provider that allows the content processing apparatus 10 to play back the content. There are two types, L and a source ID list L possessed by the content reproduction device 20 that indicates a content provider that allows the content reproduction device 20 to reproduce. The former is an example of a first source ID list, and the latter is an example of a second source ID list.

  The playability determination unit 172 has a function of determining whether or not the content stored in the content DB 116 of the content processing apparatus 10 can be played back by the content processing apparatus 10 in terms of copyright management. In addition, the playability determination unit 172 also has a function of determining whether the content held by the content playback device 20 can be played back by the content playback device 20 in terms of copyright management. The former function will be described first.

  The reproducibility determination unit 172 acquires the content ID of the content that is the determination target of reproducibility from the title list creation unit 512, and acquires the content from the content DB 116 based on the content ID. In addition, the playability determination unit 172 acquires the source ID list L stored in the storage device or the like of the content processing apparatus 10. The playability determination unit 172 reads the source ID added to the content acquired from the content DB 116, checks whether the read source ID is included in the source ID list L, and if included, the source ID It is determined that the content to which the ID is added is reproducible content. On the other hand, if it is not included, it is determined that the content with the source ID added is content that cannot be reproduced.

  In the above description, the content is acquired from the content DB 116 and the source ID added to the content is referred to. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, if the content ID and the source ID are associated with each other and recorded in the content management information DB 118 or the like in advance, the playability determination unit 172 does not acquire the content from the content DB 116, but uses the content management information DB 118 based on the content ID. The source ID can be acquired by referring to it.

  Next, the latter function of determining whether or not the content held by the content playback device 20 can be played back by the content playback device 20 for copyright management will be described. Depending on whether the connected content reproduction apparatus 20 performs copyright management of the group management method or copyright management of the check-in / check-out method, the processing performed by the reproduction possibility determination unit 172 differs. Therefore, we will explain separately. First, the case of the group management method will be described.

  The playability determination unit 172 acquires the content ID or address of the content in the content playback device 20 from the title list creation unit 512, and acquires the corresponding content from the content playback device 20 to the content acquisition unit 504 based on the content ID or address. Let In addition, the playability determination unit 172 causes the source ID list acquisition unit 506 to acquire the source ID list L held by the content playback apparatus 20. The playability determination unit 172 acquires the source ID list L from the source ID list L acquisition unit 12, acquires the content from the content acquisition unit 504, acquires the source ID added to the content, and the source ID is the source It is checked whether it is included in the ID list L. If it is included, it is determined that the content to which the source ID is added is reproducible content. If not, the content to which the source ID is added is content that cannot be played back. Judge that there is.

  In the above description, the content is acquired from the content reproduction device 20 and the source ID added to the content is referred to. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, if the content playback apparatus 20 includes a database in which a content ID and a source ID are stored in association with each other, the playback permission determination unit 172 obtains the database, so that the playback permission determination unit 172 determines a source necessary for determining whether the content can be played back. You can refer to the ID.

  Next, the check-in / check-out method will be described. The playability determination unit 172 acquires the content ID or address of the content in the content playback device 20 from the title list creation unit 512, and acquires the corresponding content from the content playback device 20 to the content acquisition unit 504 based on the content ID or address. Let The reproduction permission / inhibition determination unit 172 acquires content from the content acquisition unit 504, reads out reproduction restriction information set in a license attached to the content, and determines whether the content can be reproduced. Specifically, for example, if the license includes the number of reproducible times as reproduction restriction information, it is checked whether the number of reproducible times remains (remaining number> 0). Judge as content. Further, when the playable period is included as the play restriction information, it is checked whether or not the playable period is missed by comparing the system time of the content processing apparatus 10 with the playable period, for example. If not, it is determined that the content is reproducible.

  In the above description, the license is added to the content, and the content is acquired from the content reproduction device 20 and the license included therein is referred to. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, if the license is not added to the content but managed in the content reproduction device 20 by being associated with the content ID in another database, for example, the content processing device 10 does not acquire the content but licenses it. It is possible to determine whether or not the reproduction is possible by acquiring.

  The deletion unit 516 has a function of deleting, from the content DB 116, content that is determined to be unreproducible by the content processing apparatus 10 by the reproducibility determination unit 172. Further, the deletion unit 516 has a function of deleting, from the content reproduction device 20, the content that is determined to be unreproducible by the content reproduction device 20 by the reproduction possibility determination unit 172. Specifically, the deletion unit 516 determines whether the content to be deleted is content in the content processing device 10 according to an input from the input device 108 such as pressing a “collective delete” button, for example. Determine if it is content. Based on the determination, a request for determining whether or not the content in the content processing apparatus 10 or the content playback apparatus 20 can be played back is sent to the playback permission determination section 172, and a response is obtained from the playback permission determination section 172. The answer includes, for example, the content ID of the content determined to be unplayable by the playability determination unit 172.

  The deletion unit 516 is based on the content ID of the non-reproducible content acquired from the reproducibility determination unit 172 and the deletion target determined by itself (whether it is in the content processing device 10 or the content reproduction device 20). Thus, the corresponding content is deleted from the content DB 116 or the content playback device 20. When deleting content from the content DB 116, for example, the content to which the content ID is added is deleted based on the content ID. In the case of deleting content from the content playback device 20, for example, a content ID and a deletion request are transmitted to the content playback device 20 via the plug-in 502, and the content is stored in the content playback device 20 itself. The content to which the ID is added is deleted.

  In the content management information DB 118, a content ID uniquely assigned to each content stored in the content DB 116, a content address, and title information of the content are stored in association with each other.

  The title list creation unit 512 has a function of creating a content title list based on an input from the input device 108. The title list includes information for identifying the content. For example, when the content is music content, the title list includes a song name, an artist name, and the like. Specifically, for example, when the user instructs to display a list of a plurality of contents included in a certain group (album) via the input device 108, the title list creation unit 512 performs content management. The content ID of the content included in the group is read from the information DB 118, and the read content ID is provided to the playability determination unit 172 to determine whether the content can be played back by the content processing apparatus 10. After that, the title list creation unit 512 obtains the determination result from the playability determination unit 172, and uses the title information included in the content management information DB 118 to create a content title list so that the content playability can be distinguished. To create a content title list so that whether or not content can be reproduced can be created, specifically, for example, different luminance information is set for different contents that can be reproduced or different icons are displayed. It is done by making it correspond. Or, you can group by playable content and non-playable content

  The title list display unit 510 has a function of displaying the title list created by the title list creation unit 512 on a display that is one of the output devices 110. With this display, for example, a user who has instructed via the input device 108 to display a list of a plurality of contents included in a certain group (album) can determine whether or not each content can be reproduced by the content processing apparatus 10. You can see a list of title information including

  When the user gives an instruction via the input device 108 to display a list of contents in the content reproduction device 20, the title list creation unit 512 sends a content management information from the content reproduction device 20 to the content management information acquisition unit 508. Request to get information. The content management information acquisition unit 508 provides the acquired content management information to the title list creation unit 512. The title list creation unit 512 provides the content ID or the address of the content included in the content management information to the reproduction availability determination unit 172, and determines whether the content in the content reproduction apparatus 20 corresponding to the content ID or address can be reproduced. . The playability determination unit 172 acquires content from the content playback device 20 via the content acquisition unit 504 based on the provided content ID or address. Thereafter, the playability determination unit 172 determines whether the acquired content can be played, and provides the result to the title list creation unit 512. The result includes at least a content ID and information on whether or not playback is possible. The title list creation unit 512 determines whether or not playback is possible based on the content ID included in both the content management information and the determination result, the title information included in the content management information, and the determination result on whether or not playback is included in the determination result. Create a distinct title list. The distinction of whether or not playback is possible is as described above.

  Next, based on FIG. 33, a flow of processing for displaying a list of contents in the content processing apparatus 10 so as to determine whether or not playback is possible will be described.

  First, in step S410, a list display of contents in the content processing apparatus 10 is instructed (S410). Specifically, as described above, in response to an instruction from the user via the input device 108, the title list creation unit 512 designates the content to be displayed, and requests the playability judgment unit 172 to judge whether or not to play. . Next, in step S412, the playability determination unit 172 acquires the source ID list L of the content processing apparatus 10 (S412). Subsequently, the playability determination unit 172 selects the top content of the display target content specified by the title list creation unit 512 (S413). Specifically, the playability determination unit 172 acquires one or more content IDs from the title list creation unit 512, and acquires content corresponding to each content ID from the content DB 116 in the acquired order or in an arbitrary order ( S413, S419).

  In step S414, the reproduction permission / inhibition determining unit 172 that has acquired the content reads the source ID added to the acquired content (S414). Thereafter, the playability determination unit 172 checks whether or not the read source ID is included in the source ID list L (S415). If included, the process proceeds to step S417, and the content to which the source ID is added is found. The title list creation unit 512 is notified that playback is possible. On the other hand, if the source ID is not included in the source ID list L in step S415, the process proceeds to step S416, and the title list creating unit 512 is notified that the content to which the source ID is added cannot be reproduced. To do. The title list creation unit 512 creates a title list based on the notification from the playability determination unit 172, and the title list display unit 510 sets the content as playable or non-playable content based on the created title list. It is displayed (S416, S417). The above process is performed for all the display target contents (S418).

  The flow of processing for displaying a list of contents in the content processing apparatus 10 so as to be able to determine whether playback is possible has been described above. Next, based on FIG. 34, the flow of processing for deleting content that cannot be reproduced in copyright management from within the content processing apparatus 10 will be described.

  First, in step S420, for example, a “batch delete” button is pressed by the user (S420). When the button is pressed, the deletion unit 516 requests the playability determination unit 172 to determine whether or not the content stored in the content DB 116 of the content processing apparatus 10 can be played. Upon receiving this request, the reproduction permission / inhibition determining unit 172 first acquires the source ID list L of the content processing apparatus 10 in step S421 (S421). Thereafter, the playability determination unit 172 sequentially reads the content stored in the content DB 116 (S422, S427), and acquires the source ID added to each content (S423). Subsequently, the playability determination unit 172 checks whether or not the acquired source ID is included in the source ID list L (S424). If not included, the content with the source ID added cannot be played back. This is notified to the deletion unit 516, and the deletion unit 516 deletes the content from the content DB 116 based on the notification (S425). The above process is performed for all the contents stored in the content DB 116 (S426).

  The flow of processing for deleting content that cannot be reproduced in copyright management from the content processing apparatus 10 has been described above. Next, based on FIG. 35, a flow of processing for displaying a list of contents in the content reproduction apparatus 20 that performs copyright management in the group management system so as to determine whether or not reproduction is possible will be described.

  First, in step S430, a list display of contents in the content reproduction apparatus is instructed (S430). Specifically, as described above, the title list creation unit 512 requests the content management information acquisition unit 508 to acquire content management information from the content playback device 20 in response to an instruction from the user via the input device 108. . Based on the content management information acquired by the content management information acquisition unit 508, the title list creation unit 512 requests the playback permission determination unit 172 to determine whether playback of the content in the content playback device 20 is possible.

  Next, in step S431, the playability determination unit 172 acquires the source ID list L from the content playback apparatus 20 via the source ID list acquisition unit 506 (S431). Subsequently, the playability determination unit 172 selects the first content of the display target content specified by the title list creation unit 512 (S432). Specifically, the playability determination unit 172 acquires one or more content IDs from the title list creation unit 512, and the content corresponding to each content ID in the acquired order or in an arbitrary order via the content acquisition unit 504. Is acquired from the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S432, S438).

  In step S433, the reproduction permission / inhibition determining unit 172 that has acquired the content reads the source ID added to the acquired content (S433). Thereafter, the playability determination unit 172 checks whether or not the read source ID is included in the source ID list L (S434). If included, the process proceeds to step S436, and the content to which the source ID is added is found. The title list creation unit 512 is notified that playback is possible. On the other hand, if the source ID is not included in the source ID list L in step S434, the process proceeds to step S435, and the title list creating unit 512 is notified that the content to which the source ID is added cannot be reproduced. To do. The title list creation unit 512 displays the content as reproducible or non-reproducible content based on the notification from the reproducibility determination unit 172 (S435, S436). The above process is performed for all the display target contents (S437).

  If the source ID list L includes the expiration date information of the source ID, the playback permission determination unit 172 determines that the content with the source ID that has passed the expiration date cannot be played back. To do.

  The flow of processing for displaying a list of contents in the content reproduction apparatus 20 so as to be able to determine whether reproduction is possible has been described above. Next, a flow of processing for deleting content that cannot be played back by the content playback device 20 for copyright management from the content playback device 20 that performs copyright management by the group management method will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S440, for example, a “batch delete” button is pressed by the user (S440). When the button is pressed, the deletion unit 516 requests the playability determination unit 172 to determine whether or not the content in the content playback device 20 can be played. In response to this request, the reproduction permission / inhibition determining unit 172 first acquires the source ID list L of the content reproduction apparatus 20 via the source ID list acquisition unit 506 in step S441 (S441). Thereafter, the playability determination unit 172 sequentially reads the content from the content playback device 20 via the content acquisition unit 504 (S442, S447), and acquires the source ID added to each content (S443). Subsequently, the playability determination unit 172 checks whether the acquired source ID is included in the source ID list L (S444). If not included, the content to which the source ID is added cannot be played back. And the deletion unit 516 transmits a deletion request to the content reproduction device 20 so as to delete the content from the content reproduction device 20 based on the notification. (S445). The above processing is performed for all contents in the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S446).

  The flow of processing for deleting content that cannot be reproduced from the content management apparatus 20 due to copyright management has been described above. Next, based on FIG. 37, a flow of processing for reproducing content in the content reproduction device 20 from the content processing device 10 will be described.

  First, in step S450, the content reproduction apparatus 20 is connected to the content processing apparatus 10 (S450). When the user instructs display of a list of contents in the content reproduction apparatus 20 via the input apparatus 108 (S451), the content processing apparatus 10 acquires the source ID list L, content management information, and content from the content reproduction apparatus 20 ( S45), the process described with reference to FIG. 35 is performed to determine whether or not each content can be reproduced (S453), and a title list is displayed so that reproducible content and non-reproducible content can be distinguished (S454). The user selects a reproducible content from the displayed title list (S455). At this time, content that cannot be reproduced may not be selected. When the user selects content, the content processing apparatus 10 instructs the content reproduction apparatus 20 to reproduce the content (S456). Since it is already determined whether or not reproduction is possible based on the source ID and the source ID list L, it is not necessary to perform again here. The content reproduction device 20 reproduces the instructed content (S457).

  The flow of processing for reproducing content in the content reproduction device 20 from the content processing device 10 has been described above. Next, a flow of processing for displaying a list of contents in the content reproduction apparatus 20 that performs copyright management of the check-in / check-out method so that reproduction can be discriminated can be described based on FIG.

  First, in step S460, a list display of contents in the content reproduction apparatus is instructed (S460). Specifically, as described above, the title list creation unit 512 requests the content management information acquisition unit 508 to acquire content management information from the content playback device 20 in response to an instruction from the user via the input device 108. . Based on the content management information acquired by the content management information acquisition unit 508, the title list creation unit 512 requests the playback permission determination unit 172 to determine whether playback of the content in the content playback device 20 is possible.

  Next, in step S461, the playability determination unit 172 selects the top content of the display target content specified by the title list creation unit 512 (S461). Specifically, the playability determination unit 172 acquires one or more content IDs or addresses from the title list creation unit 512, and acquires content corresponding to each content ID or address in the acquired order or in an arbitrary order. It is acquired from the content reproduction apparatus 20 via the unit 504 (S461, S468).

  In step S463, the reproduction permission / inhibition determining unit 172 that has acquired the content reads the reproduction restriction information from the license included in the acquired content (S463). Thereafter, the playability determination unit 172 determines whether the content can be played based on the read playback restriction information. Specifically, for example, as described above, when a reproducible period is set in the reproduction restriction information, it is checked whether or not the reproducible period is missed by comparing with the system time of the content processing apparatus 10 or the like. (S464). If the reproducible period has not passed, the process proceeds to step S466 to notify the title list creation unit 512 that the content corresponding to the license is reproducible. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S464 that the reproducible period has passed, the process advances to step S465 to notify the title list creation unit 512 that the content corresponding to the license cannot be reproduced. The title list creation unit 512 displays the content as reproducible or non-reproducible content based on the notification from the reproducibility determination unit 172 (S465, S466). The above process is performed for all the display target contents (S467).

  The flow of processing for displaying a list of contents in the content playback apparatus 20 that performs copyright management of the check-in / check-out method so as to determine whether playback is possible has been described above. Next, a display example of the title list displayed on the display of the content processing apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 39 is a display example of a title list related to content in the content processing apparatus 10. In the title list 520, the title name, artist name, performance time, genre, etc. are displayed as title information. As shown in the figure, reproducible content and non-reproducible content are displayed at the head of each title information, such as a reproducible icon 522 and a non-reproducible icon 524, which are different in color, shape, size, etc. Are distinguished by

  FIG. 40 is a display example of a title list related to content in the content reproduction apparatus 20. As shown in the figure, for example, the title list 530 of the content reproduction apparatus 20 can be displayed on a part of the display screen. As shown in the figure, reproducible content and non-reproducible content are distinguished by displaying different icons such as a reproducible icon 532 and a non-reproducible icon 534 at the head of each title information.

  41, 42 and 43 are other examples in which reproducible content and non-reproducible content are displayed separately. In FIG. 41, reproducible content and non-reproducible content are distinguished by being displayed in different colors or different luminances. For example, as shown in the figure, an area 540 in which title information of reproducible content is displayed and an area 542 in which title information of non-reproducible content is displayed are displayed in different colors and luminances, whereby the user Can distinguish between reproducible content and non-reproducible content. Further, according to such display, when contents that can be reproduced and contents that cannot be reproduced are mixed in one album, the user can reproduce contents in the album and which contents are reproduced. Can recognize if it is impossible.

  In FIG. 42, contents that cannot be reproduced are distinguished by being displayed together. For example, as shown in the figure, non-reproducible content is grouped and displayed as a reproducible NG song, so that the user can distinguish reproducible content from non-reproducible content. In addition, according to such display, non-reproducible content in the content processing device or content playback device is displayed together, so that the user can collectively check the content that cannot be played back on the content processing device or content playback device. Can do.

  In FIG. 43, distinction is made by displaying different icons as in FIGS.

  FIG. 44 is an example of a screen display when content that cannot be reproduced is deleted by a user operation. When the user presses the batch delete button 550 on the display using the input device 108, the unreproducible content is deleted from the content processing device 10 or the content playback device 20, and is also deleted from the title list 520 or 530 on the display screen. The title information about the contents disappears.

  The functional configuration, processing flow, and screen display example of the content processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment have been described above. According to the content processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, it is displayed so that it can be determined whether or not the content can be reproduced in terms of copyright, so that the user does not have to actually reproduce the content. Whether or not playback is possible can be known. In addition, since the title information of the content that cannot be reproduced is also displayed, the user can know the information of the content that cannot be reproduced.

<13. Content transfer method>
Next, a content transfer method in the content processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 45 to 53. The content processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment transfers content to and from the content reproduction apparatus 20 in a corresponding format according to the copyright management method of the content reproduction apparatus 20 connected to the content processing apparatus 10. Specifically, when the content reproduction apparatus 20 performs copyright management by the group management method, the content processing apparatus 10 receives content held by the content reproduction apparatus 20 from the content reproduction apparatus 20. In addition, the content processing apparatus 10 transmits the content held by the content processing apparatus 10 to the content reproduction apparatus 20. On the other hand, when the content reproduction apparatus 20 performs copyright management using the check-in / check-out method, the content processing apparatus 10 performs check-in and check-out with the content reproduction apparatus 20. Hereinafter, the functional configuration of the content processing apparatus 10 for realizing the above functions will be described in detail.

  In order to realize the above function, the content processing apparatus 10 includes, for example, a first display unit 602, a second display unit 604, a first operation display unit 606, a second operation display unit 608, and a plurality of plug-ins. A selection unit 610, a request unit 612, a transfer mode detection unit 616, a transfer control unit 614, a first transfer processing unit 618, a second transfer processing unit 622, a third transfer processing unit 620, A 4 transfer processing unit 624 and a checkout log storage unit 626 are further provided.

  The first display unit 602 has a function of displaying content title information stored in the connected content reproduction device 20 on a display which is one of output devices included in the content processing device 10. The second display unit 604 has a function of displaying content title information stored in the content DB 116 of the content processing apparatus 10 on the display. The first display unit 602 and the second display unit 604 can display each display target on the same screen as in a screen layout described later. Therefore, the user can confirm both the title information of the content in the content processing apparatus 10 and the title information of the content in the content reproduction apparatus 20 connected to the content processing apparatus 10 on the same screen. is there.

  The selection unit 610 selects a content ID corresponding to the title information specified by the user via the input device from the title information of the content in the content processing device 10 or the title information of the content in the content playback device 20. Is provided to the request unit 612. Specifically, the content ID corresponding to the title information specified by the user is retrieved and acquired from the content management DB, and the content ID is provided to the request unit 612.

  The first operation display unit 606 has a function of causing the display to display an operation unit for allowing the user to perform the first operation. The first operation is an operation for instructing transfer of content from the content reproduction device 20 to the content processing device 10. The first operation display unit 606 displays an icon or the like on the display as an operation unit, for example, and when the user performs an operation on the operation unit via the input device, for example, clicks on the icon with a mouse. , The request unit 612 is notified that the operation has been performed.

  The second operation display unit 608 has a function of causing the display to display an operation unit for allowing the user to perform the second operation. The second operation is an operation for instructing transfer of content from the content processing apparatus 10 to the content reproduction apparatus 20. The second operation display unit 608 displays an icon or the like on the display as an operation unit, for example, and when the user performs an operation on the operation unit via the input device, for example, clicks on the icon with a mouse. , The request unit 612 is notified that the operation has been performed.

  The request unit 612 acquires the content ID from the selection unit 610, receives the above notification from the first operation display unit 606, and transfers the transfer of the content corresponding to the content ID from the content reproduction device 20 to the content processing device 10. Request to the control unit 614. Specifically, for example, a content ID acquired from the selection unit 610, a flag indicating a transfer request from the content reproduction device 20 to the content processing device 10, and the like are provided to the transfer control unit 614.

  Further, when the request unit 612 receives the notification from the second operation display unit 608, the request unit 612 transfers the content corresponding to the content ID acquired from the selection unit 610 from the content processing apparatus 10 to the content reproduction apparatus 20. Request to the transfer control unit 614. Specifically, for example, the transfer control unit 614 is provided with a content ID acquired from the selection unit 610, a flag indicating a transfer request from the content processing apparatus 10 to the content reproduction apparatus 20, and the like.

  Upon receiving the content transfer request from the request unit 612, the transfer control unit 614 requests the transfer mode detection unit 616 to detect the transfer mode of the connected content playback device 20. The transfer mode detection unit 616 detects a plug-in module that is operating from a plurality of plug-in modules, and acquires a copyright management method set for the operating plug-in module. Specifically, for example, a file in which an identifier of each plug-in module and a copyright management method set in the plug-in module are associated with each other may be stored in advance in a storage device of the content processing apparatus 10 or the like. The transfer mode detection unit 61626 can acquire the copyright management method set in the operating plug-in module by referring to the file. The content reproduction apparatus 20 corresponding to the plug-in module manages the copyright of the content according to the copyright management method set for the plug-in module. Accordingly, the transfer mode detection unit 616 detects the copyright management method set in the operating plug-in module, so that the copyright management method of the connected content playback apparatus 20 is the group management method. Or check-in / check-out method.

  The transfer control unit 614 acquires the detection result from the transfer mode detection unit 616, and in response to the detection result and the request from the request unit 612, the first transfer processing unit 618, the second transfer processing unit 622, and the third transfer processing. Either the unit 620 or the fourth transfer processing unit 624 performs the transfer process.

  The notification from the request unit 612 is the transfer of content from the content reproduction device 20 to the content processing device 10, and the detection result by the transfer mode detection unit 616 is the check-in / check-out method (first mode). If there is, the transfer control unit 614 causes the first transfer processing unit 618 to perform transfer processing.

  When the notification from the request unit 612 is the transfer of content from the content processing apparatus 10 to the content reproduction apparatus 20, and the detection result by the transfer mode detection unit 616 is a check-in / check-out method, transfer The control unit 614 causes the third transfer processing unit 620 to perform transfer processing.

  When the notification from the request unit 612 is the transfer of content from the content reproduction device 20 to the content processing device 10, and the detection result by the transfer mode detection unit 616 is the group management method (second mode). The transfer control unit 614 causes the second transfer processing unit 622 to perform transfer processing.

  When the notification from the request unit 612 is the transfer of content from the content processing apparatus 10 to the content reproduction apparatus 20 and the detection result by the transfer mode detection unit 616 is a group management method, the transfer control unit 614 Causes the fourth transfer processing unit 624 to perform transfer processing. Hereinafter, transfer processing of each transfer processing unit will be described.

  The third transfer processing unit 620 performs content check-out processing from the content processing apparatus 10 to the content reproduction apparatus 20. In the checkout process, a copy of content held in the content DB 116 by the content processing device 10 is transferred from the content processing device 10 to the content reproduction device 20 with a license in which right information for the content copy is set. Instead of enabling the content playback device 20 to play back the content, the content processing device 10 restricts the right to transfer the content to another information processing device.

  The third transfer processing unit 620 acquires a content ID from the transfer control unit 614 and searches the content DB 116 for content corresponding to the content ID. The third transfer processing unit 620 refers to the remaining number of checkouts set in the license assigned to the corresponding content. If the remaining number of checkouts is greater than 0, the third transfer processing unit 620 can check out the content. Therefore, a copy of the content and a license are created, and the content reproduction apparatus 20 is connected via the transfer control unit 614. Assign the created license to the created content and send it. In addition, the third transfer processing unit 620 performs a process of reducing the remaining number of checkouts set in the content license stored in the content DB 116 that is a copy source of the content transmitted to the content reproduction device 20. Also, the third transfer processing unit 620 acquires the device ID set in the content reproduction apparatus 20 that is the content transmission destination via the transfer control unit 614, and associates the content ID of the transmitted content with the device ID. And stored in the checkout log storage unit 626 as a checkout log.

  The first transfer processing unit 618 performs content check-in processing from the content reproduction device 20 to the content processing device 10. In the check-in process, for the content checked out from the content processing apparatus 10 to the content reproduction apparatus 10 as described above, the right to reproduce the content from the content reproduction apparatus 20 is deprived, and instead the content processing apparatus 10 is informed. This process restores the right to check out the content to another information processing apparatus.

  The first transfer processing unit 618 acquires the content ID from the transfer control unit 614. Further, the device ID of the content reproduction apparatus 20 is acquired from the content reproduction apparatus 20 via the transfer control unit 614. Based on the acquired content ID and device ID, the first transfer processing unit 618 searches the checkout log storage unit 626 for a checkout log associated with the content ID and device ID. As a result of the search, if the corresponding checkout log is stored in the checkout log storage unit 626, the content corresponding to the content ID is the content checked out from the content processing apparatus 10 to the content reproduction apparatus 20. It can be seen that it is. In this case, the first transfer processing unit 618 performs a check-in process for the content. Specifically, a request to delete the license assigned to the content corresponding to the content ID is transmitted from the content reproduction device 20 to the content reproduction device 20 to cause the content reproduction device 20 to delete the corresponding license. Similarly, the content corresponding to the content ID may be deleted. In addition, the third transfer processing unit 620 searches the content DB 116 of the content processing apparatus 10 for the content corresponding to the content ID acquired from the transfer control unit 614, and checks out the license set for the corresponding content. Process to increase the remaining number of times. Further, the third transfer processing unit 620 deletes the checkout log retrieved above from the checkout log storage unit 626.

  The second transfer processing unit 622 performs content transfer processing from the content reproduction device 20 to the content processing device 10. Specifically, the second transfer processing unit 622 acquires the source ID list L (second source ID list L) held by the content reproduction device 20 from the content reproduction device 20 via the transfer control unit 614. Further, the second transfer processing unit 622 reads the group ID from the source ID list L (first source ID list L) of the content processing apparatus 10, reads the group ID from the acquired second source ID list L, and 2 It is checked whether or not two group IDs match. If they match, the content processing apparatus 10 and the content reproduction apparatus 20 are registered in the management server as the same group, so that transfer of content from the content reproduction apparatus 20 to the content processing apparatus 10 is permitted. Therefore, when the group IDs included in the first source ID list L and the second source ID list L match, the second transfer processing unit 622 uses the content corresponding to the content ID via the transfer control unit 614. Is transferred to the content reproduction apparatus 20, and the transferred content is stored in the content DB 116. When a plurality of group IDs are included in the first source ID list L or the second source ID list L, one of the group IDs included in the first source ID list L is the second one. If it is included as a group ID in the source ID list L, transfer is permitted. Further, the second transfer processing unit 622 receives the content ID from the transfer control unit 614 before requesting the content reproduction device 20 to transfer the content in order to avoid the same content being stored in the content DB 116 in duplicate. It is also possible to search for whether the content corresponding to the content ID is stored in the content DB 116, and to request transfer only when the content is not stored.

  The fourth transfer processing unit 624 performs content transfer processing from the content processing apparatus 10 to the content reproduction apparatus 20. Specifically, the fourth transfer processing unit 624 acquires the source ID list L (second source ID list L) held by the content reproduction device 20 from the content reproduction device 20 via the transfer control unit 614. Further, the second transfer processing unit 622 acquires the content ID of the content to be transferred from the transfer control unit 614, and searches the content DB 116 for the content corresponding to the content ID. The second transfer processing unit 622 acquires the source ID added to the searched corresponding content, and the acquired source ID is included in the source ID list L (second source ID list L) acquired from the content reproduction device 20. Find out if it is. As a result, if the content ID is included, the content playback apparatus 20 can play back the content with the source ID added, so the fourth transfer processing unit 624 plays the content through the transfer control unit 614. Transfer to device 20. Note that a copy of the content may be created and transmitted.

  The functional configuration of the content processing apparatus 10 has been described above. Next, a flow of content transfer or check-in from the content reproduction device 20 to the content processing device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, in step S502 of FIG. 46, the user selects the desired content title information from the content title information in the content reproduction device 20 displayed on the display of the content processing device 10, and presses the “←” button. (S502). The “←” button is an example of an operation unit. When the “←” button is pressed via the input device, the content processing device 10 generates a transfer request for the selected content from the content reproduction device 20 to the content processing device 10.

  Next, in step S504, the content processing apparatus 10 detects the transfer mode of the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S504). The detection process will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, in step S512, the content processing apparatus 10 acquires an identifier of an operating plug-in module (S512). Based on the acquired identifier, the copyright management method set for the operating plug-in module is acquired (S514). Specifically, as described above, for example, the copyright management method set in the plug-in module is acquired by referring to a file in which the identifier and the copyright management method are associated in advance.

  Referring back to FIG. 46, in step S504, the content processing apparatus 10 acquires the transfer mode (copyright management method) of the content reproduction device 20, and if the transfer mode is the group management method, the process proceeds to step S508, and the transfer process by the group management method Is started (S508). On the other hand, if the transfer mode is the check-in / check-out method, the process proceeds to step S510 to start the check-in / check-out process (S510).

  With reference to FIG. 48, the flow of content transfer processing from the content reproduction apparatus 20 to the content processing apparatus 10 according to the group management method will be described.

  First, in step S520, the content processing apparatus 10 acquires the source ID list L (second source ID list L) from the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S520). Thereafter, a group ID is acquired from the source ID list L (first source ID list L) of the content processing apparatus 10, and it is checked whether the group ID is included in the second source ID list L (S522). If it is not included as a result, an error message indicating that the content cannot be transferred is displayed (S524). On the other hand, if it is included, the content processing apparatus 10 checks whether the content processing apparatus 10 already holds the content to be transferred based on the content ID of the content selected by the user (S526). As a result, when the content processing apparatus 10 already has the content to be transferred (S528), the user is notified by displaying a message indicating that the content already exists in the content processing apparatus 10 or the like. (S530).

  On the other hand, when the content processing apparatus 10 does not have the content to be transferred (S528), the content reproduction apparatus 20 transfers the content to the content processing apparatus 10 (S532).

  Next, content transfer processing (check-in processing) from the content reproduction device 20 to the content processing device 10 using the check-in / check-out method will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S540, the content processing apparatus 10 searches the checkout log based on the content ID of the content to be transferred and the device ID of the content reproduction apparatus 20 as described above (S540), and uses the content as the content reproduction apparatus. Check whether there is a log checked out for 20. As a result, when there is no corresponding checkout log (S542), an error indicating that the check-in cannot be performed such as “the content is not checked out from the content processing apparatus” is displayed (S544).

  On the other hand, if there is a corresponding checkout log (S542), the remaining number of checkouts set in the license assigned to the content in the content processing apparatus 10 corresponding to the content ID of the content to be checked in is calculated. It is increased by 1 (S546). Thereafter, the content to be checked in and the license assigned to the content are deleted from the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S548). Note that step S546 and step S548 may be performed in the reverse order.

  The flow of content transfer or check-in from the content reproduction device 20 to the content processing device 10 has been described above. Next, a flow of content transfer or checkout from the content processing apparatus 10 to the content reproduction apparatus 20 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, in step S550 of FIG. 50, the user selects the desired content title information from the content title information in the content processing apparatus 10 displayed on the display of the content processing apparatus 10, and presses the “→” button. (S550). The “→” button is an example of an operation unit. When the “→” button is pressed via the input device, the content processing device 10 generates a transfer request for the selected content from the content processing device 10 to the content reproduction device 20.

  Next, in step S552, the content processing apparatus 10 detects the transfer mode of the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S552). The detection process is the same as the process described with reference to FIG. As a result of the detection, if the transfer mode is the group management method, the process proceeds to step S556 to start the transfer process by the group management method (S556). On the other hand, if the transfer mode is the check-in / check-out method, the process proceeds to step S558 to start the check-in / check-out process (S558).

  With reference to FIG. 51, the flow of content transfer processing from the content processing apparatus 10 to the content reproduction apparatus 20 according to the group management method will be described.

  First, in step S560, the content processing apparatus 10 acquires the source ID list L (second source ID list L) from the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S560). Thereafter, the source ID added to the content selected by the user is acquired (S562), and it is checked whether the source ID is included in the second source ID list L (S564). As a result, if it is not included, an error message indicating that the content is not transferred, such as “content cannot be played back by the content playback device” is displayed (S572). On the other hand, if it is included, the content to be transferred is transferred from the content processing apparatus 10 to the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S570).

  Next, content transfer processing (checkout processing) from the content processing apparatus 10 to the content reproduction apparatus 20 using the check-in / check-out method will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S580, the content processing apparatus 10 refers to the license assigned to the transfer target content in the selected content processing apparatus 10 (S580). If the remaining number of checkouts set in the license is 0 (S582), an error indicating that the checkout cannot be performed is displayed (S592). On the other hand, if the remaining number of checkouts is greater than 0, a license in which the content playback restriction information or the like is set in the content playback apparatus 10 is created (S584), and the created license is assigned to the copy of the content. It transmits to the content reproduction apparatus 20 (S586).

  Thereafter, the content processing apparatus 10 reduces the number of checkouts set in the license assigned to the content in the content processing apparatus 10 that is the copy source of the content transmitted to the content reproduction apparatus 20 by one (S588). Then, the content processing apparatus 10 creates a checkout log by associating the content ID of the content that has been checked out with the device ID of the content reproduction apparatus 20 that is the checkout destination (S590).

  The flow of content transfer or checkout from the content processing apparatus 10 to the content reproduction apparatus 20 has been described above. Next, an example of a screen layout displayed on the display of the content processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  The title list 630 is an example of content title information in the content processing apparatus 10 displayed by the second display unit 604. The title list 632 is an example of content title information in the content reproduction apparatus 20 displayed by the first display unit 602.

  The “→” button 634 is an example of an operation unit displayed by the second operation display unit 608. The “←” button 636 is an example of an operation unit displayed by the first operation display unit 606.

  The user can transfer desired content from the content processing apparatus 10 to the content reproduction apparatus 20 by selecting desired title information from the title list 630 and pressing the “→” button 634. At that time, according to the copyright management method of the content reproduction apparatus 20 as a transfer destination, the content transfer by the group management method or the check-out of the content by the check-in / check-out method is selectively performed.

  Further, the user can transfer desired content from the content reproduction device 20 to the content processing device 10 by selecting desired title information from the title list 632 and pressing the “←” button 636. At that time, according to the copyright management method of the content reproduction apparatus 20 as a transfer source, the content transfer by the group management method or the check-in of the content by the check-in / check-out method is selectively performed.

  The example of the screen layout displayed on the display of the content processing apparatus 10 has been described above.

  The functional configuration, processing flow, and screen display example of the content processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment have been described above. According to the content processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, according to the copyright management system of the connected content reproduction apparatus 20, the content can be transferred by a method corresponding to the system. Even if the operation is performed on the same operation unit, the content processing device 10 detects the copyright management method of the content reproduction device 20 and distinguishes the transfer method. There is no need to consciously select a transfer method.

<14. Content Playback Control Method in Content Playback Device (PD)>
Next, content reproduction control processing in the content reproduction apparatus (PD) 20 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  As described above, the content playback apparatus (PD) 20 according to the present embodiment is compatible with both the group management type copyright management scheme and the check-in / check-out type copyright management scheme. For this reason, the content playback apparatus (PD) 20 performs group-based playback control based on the source ID added to the content and the source ID list L, and check-in / check based on license usage condition information corresponding to the content. Any of the out-type reproduction controls can be selectively executed.

  The content processing device (PC) 10 sets the playback control method of the content playback device (PD) 20 connected via the local line 9 to either the group management method or the check-in / check-out method. The content control device (PC) 10 acquires the ICV data 231 of the content playback device (PD) 20 from the content playback device (PD) 20 and sets the playback control method in the method identification information in the ICV data 231. After updating (flag 232, see FIG. 10), the ICV data 231 is transferred to the content reproduction device (PD) 20 and written. For example, when the flag 232 in the ICV data 231 is described as “0”, the playback control method of the content playback device (PD) 20 is set to the group management method, and the flag 232 is described as “1”. The playback control system of the content playback apparatus (PD) 20 is set to the check-in / check-out system.

  In the present embodiment, the ICV data 231 of the content playback device (PD) 20 can be updated only by the locally connected content processing device (PC) 10, and the content playback device (PD) 20 itself can update the ICV data. 231 cannot be updated. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the content playback apparatus (PD) 20 itself can be configured to update the ICV data 231 based on user input or the like, and the playback control system of the content playback apparatus (PD) 20 is configured. May be switched by itself.

  Next, an example of content reproduction control processing in the content reproduction apparatus (PD) 20 according to the present embodiment will be described based on FIG. 54 and FIG. FIG. 54 is a flowchart showing an example of content reproduction control processing in the content reproduction apparatus (PD) 20 according to the present embodiment.

  In this content reproduction control process, after the user selects a content to be reproduced from all the contents stored in the content reproduction device 20, it is determined whether or not the selected content to be reproduced is reproducible. This is a processing flow for playback control.

  As shown in FIG. 54, first, in step S600, the content reproduction apparatus 20 is activated (step S600). For example, when the user presses a power button (such as a playback key) of the content playback device 20, the content playback device 20 is activated. Note that at the time of activation, the content reproduction device 20 and the content processing device (PC) 10 do not need to be connected.

  Next, in step S602, the playback control system determination unit 240 of the content playback apparatus 20 determines a playback control system of the content playback apparatus 20 that is set in advance based on the system identification information. (Step S602).

  Specifically, after the content playback device 20 is activated, the playback control method determination unit 240 reads the ICV data 231 stored in the storage unit 230 of the content playback device 20 and checks the flag 232 in the ICV data 231. To do. This flag 231 is an example of method identification information indicating a content reproduction control method. Based on the value of the flag 231, the playback control method determination unit 240 determines whether the playback control method of the content playback device 20 is a group ID management method (first playback control method) or a check-in / check-out method (first It is determined which of the playback control methods is set. For example, if the flag 232 is “0”, the playback control method determination unit 240 determines that the playback control method of the content playback device (PD) 20 is set to the group management method, and the process proceeds to step S604. move on. On the other hand, when the flag 232 is “1”, the playback control method determination unit 240 determines that the playback control method of the content playback device (PD) 20 is set to the check-in / check-out method, The process proceeds to step S606.

  Next, in step S604, the validity of performing group management playback control is checked by the playback permission determination unit 242 of the content playback device 20 (step S604). Specifically, the playability determination unit 242 checks the validity of the source ID list L stored in the storage unit 230 based on the ICV data 231 stored in the storage unit 230, that is, the source ID Check whether the list L has been tampered with illegally. As described above, the ICV data 231 of the group management method includes the MAC value 233 of the valid source ID list L. For this reason, the playability determination unit 242 compares the MAC value of the current source ID list L read from the storage unit 230 with the MAC value 233 of the ICV data 231 read from the storage unit 230 to thereby determine the source ID. The presence or absence of falsification of the list L can be detected.

  On the other hand, in step S606, the reproducibility determination unit 242 of the content playback apparatus 20 checks the validity of performing the check-in / check-out playback control (step S606). Specifically, the playability determination unit 242 checks the validity of the license of each content stored in the storage unit 230 based on the ICV data 231 stored in the storage unit 230, that is, the license is Check for unauthorized tampering. As described above, the check-in / check-out ICV data 231 includes the MAC value 233 based on the license of each content. Therefore, the playability determination unit 242 can detect whether the license has been tampered with by comparing the license of each content with the MAC value 233 of the ICV data 231.

  If unauthorized tampering is detected as a result of the validity check in steps S604 and S606, the reproduction of the content is not permitted, an error is notified, and all the processes are terminated. On the other hand, if unauthorized tampering is not detected and the validity is confirmed, the process proceeds to step S608.

  Next, in step S608, content management information is read from the content management information database 236 to the RAM 203 (step S608). This content management information includes content attribute information such as content ID, content title information (song title, artist name, album name, playback time, etc.) and recording location information (for example, content related to the content stored in the content database 234). Address in the content DB 234).

  In step S610, the title list is displayed on the display device 210 of the content reproduction device 20 (step S610). The title list creation unit 250 of the content playback device (PD) 20 creates a content title list based on the content title information read from the content management information database 236. The title list is, for example, a list of song names of music contents, and includes accompanying information such as artist names, album names, playback times, and the like of the music contents. Further, the title list creation unit 250 causes the display device 210 to display the created title list.

  Thereafter, in step S612, the content to be reproduced is selected by the user (step S612). As described above, when the title list is displayed on the display device 210, the user browses the title list, selects one or more contents desired to be reproduced, and operates the input device 208 to operate the title list. Specify content title information.

  Further, in step S614, a reproduction instruction is given by the user (step S614). The user designates the title information of the content desired to be reproduced as described above, and then presses the reproduction key of the input device 208 or the remote controller 218 to instruct to start the reproduction process. Then, the content selection unit 252 selects the content corresponding to the title information specified by the user as the content to be played back, and determines whether or not the information (content ID, storage location information, etc.) regarding the content to be played back can be played back. To the unit 242.

  Further, in step S616, the selected content to be reproduced first is read from the content database 234 (step S616). Specifically, the playability determination unit 242 searches the content database 242 based on the information regarding the content to be played input from the content selection unit 252 and reads the first content file to be played.

  Thereafter, in step S618, a preset playback control method for the content playback apparatus 20 is determined in the same manner as in step S602. (Step S618). As a result, if the group management method is determined, the process proceeds to step S620. If the check-in / check-out method is determined, the process proceeds to step S622. Since the reproduction control method is determined in step S602, the present step S618 for determining the same reproduction control method can be omitted.

  Next, in step S620, the first playability determination unit 242a determines whether or not the content to be played can be played based on the playback control method of the group management method (step S620). Specifically, the first playback permission determination unit 242a determines whether the source ID added to the playback target content is included in the source ID list L stored in the storage unit 230 of the content playback device 20. Whether or not the content can be reproduced is determined based on whether or not the content is valid.

  As a result, when the source ID added to the content to be played is included in the source ID list L, the first playability determination unit 242a permits the play of the content, and step S624. Proceed to On the other hand, if the source ID added to the content to be played is not included in the source ID list L, the first playability determination unit 242a does not permit the play of the content, and step S626 is performed. Proceed to

  When an expiration date is set for the source ID included in the source ID list L, in step S620, the first playback permission determination unit 242a adds to the playback target content in addition to the above determination. If the source ID is within the expiration date, the content is allowed to be played back. If the source ID is expired, the content is played back. Is not allowed.

  On the other hand, in step S622, the second playback permission determination unit 242b determines whether the playback target content can be played based on the check-in / check-out playback control method (step S622). Specifically, the second playability determination unit 242b determines whether or not the content to be played can be played based on the license usage conditions (reproduction count limit, play time limit, etc.) associated with the content to be played. to decide.

  As a result, when the usage condition of the license is satisfied (for example, when it is within the reproduction time limit or when the past number of reproductions has not reached the upper limit of the number of reproductions), the second reproduction possibility determination unit 242b , The reproduction of the content is permitted, and the process proceeds to step S624. At this time, for example, when the number of times of reproduction is set in the license usage condition, the number of times of reproduction is increased by one. On the other hand, when the license usage conditions are not satisfied (for example, when the playback period has expired or when the past number of playbacks has reached the upper limit of the number of playbacks), the second playback permission determination unit 242b The reproduction of the content is not permitted, and the process proceeds to step S626.

  After that, in step S624, the reproduction target content permitted to be reproduced in step S620 or S622 is reproduced by the reproduction execution unit 524 (step S624). On the other hand, the content to be reproduced that is not permitted to be reproduced in step S620 or S622 is not reproduced. In this case, error notification may be performed.

  Next, in step S626, it is determined whether or not the reproduction control in S618 to S624 has been performed for all the reproduction target contents selected in S612 (step S626). If there is any selected content that has not been subjected to playback control yet, the process proceeds to step S628, and the next playback target content is read out from the content database 234 (step S628), and then the next playback target. In the same manner as described above, the reproduction control of S618 to S624 is performed. When this process is repeated for all the contents to be reproduced selected in S612, all the process flows are completed.

  Next, another example of content reproduction control processing in the content reproduction apparatus (PD) 20 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 55 and 10. FIG. 55 is a flowchart showing another example of content reproduction control processing in the content reproduction apparatus (PD) 20 according to the present embodiment.

  In this content reproduction control process, for example, first, the title information of all the contents stored in the content reproduction apparatus 20 is displayed in a list so that the reproducible content and the non-reproducible content can be discriminated. In this processing flow, the user who browses the title list selects the playback target content from the playable content, and then plays back the selected playback target content.

  As shown in FIG. 55, first, pre-processing similar to steps S600 to S608 described in FIG. 54 is performed (steps S600 to S608).

  In the next steps S650 to S664, a title list display process for displaying a title list that can distinguish reproducible content and non-reproducible content on the display device 210 of the content reproduction device 20 is performed.

  Specifically, first, in step S650, the first display target content is read from the content database 234 (step S650). Specifically, the playability determination unit 242 searches the content database 242 based on information related to the content (content ID, storage location information, etc.) in the content management information read in step S508, and first Read the content file to be displayed.

  In the present embodiment, all the contents stored in the content database 234 of the content reproduction apparatus 20 are the contents to be displayed. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and part of the contents is based on a predetermined selection criterion. Only the content may be the display target content. The selection criteria include, for example, the artist, album, genre, release date, latest playback time, and designation by the user of the music content.

  Next, in step S652, a preset playback control method for the content playback apparatus 20 is determined in the same manner as in step S602. (Step S652). As a result, if the group management method is determined, the process proceeds to step S654. If the check-in / check-out method is determined, the process proceeds to step S656. Since the regeneration control method is determined in step S602, the present step S652 for determining the similar regeneration control method can be omitted.

  Further, in step S654, the first reproduction possibility determination unit 242a determines whether or not the content to be displayed can be reproduced based on the reproduction control method of the group management method (step S654). Specifically, the first playback permission determination unit 242a determines whether the source ID added to the content to be displayed is included in the source ID list L stored in the storage unit 230 of the content playback device 20. Whether or not the content can be reproduced is determined based on whether or not the content is valid.

  As a result, when the source ID added to the content to be displayed is included in the source ID list L, the first playability determination unit 242a determines that the content is playable content. Determination is made and the process proceeds to step S658. On the other hand, when the source ID added to the content to be displayed is not included in the source ID list L, the first playback permission determination unit 242a determines that the content cannot be played back. Determination is made and the process proceeds to step S660.

  On the other hand, in step S656, the second playability determination unit 242b determines whether or not the content to be played can be played based on the check-in / check-out playback control method (step S656). Specifically, the second playability determination unit 242b determines whether or not the content to be played can be played based on the license usage conditions (reproduction count limit, play time limit, etc.) associated with the content to be displayed. to decide.

  As a result, if the license usage condition is satisfied, the second playback permission determination unit 242b determines that the content is playable, and the process proceeds to step S658. On the other hand, if the license usage condition is not satisfied, the second playback permission determination unit 242b determines that the content is a content that cannot be played back, and the process proceeds to step S660.

  In step S658, the display target content determined to be reproducible in step S654 or S656 is displayed as reproducible content (step S658). Specifically, the title list creation unit 250 displays the title information of the display target content determined to be reproducible in such a manner that the user can recognize that the content can be replayed. 210 is displayed.

  On the other hand, in step S660, the display target content determined to be unreproducible in step S654 or S656 is displayed as unreproducible content (step S660). Specifically, the title list creation unit 250 is configured so that the user can recognize the title information of the content to be displayed that has been determined to be unreproducible, that the content is unreproducible, It is displayed on the display device 210.

  Thereafter, in step S662, it is determined whether or not the reproduction allowance determination and display processing in S652 to S660 have been performed on all display target contents (step S662). If there is a content to be displayed that has not yet been subjected to the playability determination and display processing, the process proceeds to step S664, where the next content to be displayed is read from the content database 234 (step S664), and then the next Regarding the content to be displayed, the reproduction permission judgment and display processing in S652 to S660 are performed in the same manner as described above. If this process is repeated for all display target contents, the process proceeds to step S666.

  At the time of proceeding to step S666, a title list that can distinguish reproducible content and non-reproducible content is displayed on display device 210. A display example of this title list is shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 56, in the title list 610 displayed on the display device 210 of the content reproduction device 20, for example, the titles A to E (song names) of music contents related to a certain artist A are displayed for each of albums A and B. Has been. The title list 610, titles A and C of reproducible content, and titles B, D, and E of non-reproducible content are displayed separately.

  Specifically, in the example of the title list 610 shown in FIG. 56A, the titles A and C of the reproducible content and the titles B, D, and E of the non-reproducible content are different colors or different. It is distinguished by being displayed with brightness. For example, as shown in the drawing, an area 612 in which titles A and C of reproducible contents are displayed and an area 614 in which titles B, D, and E of non-reproducible contents are displayed have different colors and brightness. By being displayed, the user can discriminate between reproducible content and non-reproducible content. In addition, according to such display, when content that can be played back and content that cannot be played back are mixed in one album, the user can play back which content in the album and which content cannot be played back. It is possible to recognize whether it is possible.

In the example of the title list 610 shown in FIG. 56 (b), the reproducible content titles A and C have a note mark reproducible icon 616 added thereto, while the nonreproducible content titles. B, D, and E are added with an X mark non-reproducible icon 618. In this way, by displaying icons with different colors, shapes, designs, sizes, etc., by adding them to the titles of each content, it is possible to distinguish reproducible content from non-reproducible content. In the example of the title list 610 shown in FIG. 56 (c), the titles A and C of the unreproducible content and the titles B, D, and E of the unreproducible content are displayed in divided areas. Has been. That is, the titles A and C of the contents that cannot be reproduced are displayed in the reproduction OK area 620, and the titles B, D, and E of the contents that cannot be reproduced are displayed in the reproduction NG area 622. As a result, the user can discriminate between reproducible content and non-reproducible content. Further, according to such a display example, the contents that can be reproduced / cannot be reproduced in the content reproduction apparatus 20 are displayed together, so that the user can collectively check the contents that can be reproduced / cannot be reproduced on the content reproduction apparatus 20. can do.

  Next, returning to FIG. 55, in step S666, the content to be reproduced is selected from the reproducible content by the user (step S666). As described above, when a title list is selected on the display device 210, the user browses the title list, selects one or more contents desired to be reproduced, and operates the input device 208 to operate the title list. Specify content title information. At this time, as shown in FIG. 56, in the title list, reproducible content and non-reproducible content are displayed so as to be distinguishable, so that the user can reproduce from the reproducible content. The desired content can be selected.

  Thereafter, in step S668, a reproduction instruction is given by the user (step S668). The user designates the title information of the content desired to be reproduced as described above, and then presses the reproduction key of the input device 208 or the remote controller 218 to instruct to start the reproduction process. Then, the content selection unit 252 selects the content corresponding to the title information specified by the user as the content to be played back, and determines whether or not the information (content ID, storage location information, etc.) regarding the content to be played back can be played back. To the unit 242.

  Next, in step S670, the selected content to be reproduced first is read from the content database 234 (step S670). Specifically, the playability determination unit 242 searches the content database 242 based on the information regarding the content to be played input from the content selection unit 252 and reads the first content file to be played. Then, the reproduction execution unit 244 is instructed to reproduce the content without determining whether the content can be reproduced. This is because the contents selected by the user in S666 are all reproducible contents, and there is no need to make a reproducibility determination again.

  Further, in step S672, the reproduction execution unit 524 reproduces the content to be reproduced (step S672).

  Next, in step S674, it is determined whether or not all the content to be reproduced selected in S666 has been reproduced (step S674). If there is unselected content that has been selected, the process proceeds to step S676, where the next content to be reproduced is read from the content database 234 (step S676), and then the next content to be reproduced is reproduced. (Step S672). When this reproduction process is repeated for all the reproduction target contents selected in S666, all the process flows are completed.

  The content playback control method in the content playback apparatus (PD) 20 according to the present embodiment has been described above. In the content playback control process of the content playback device (PD) 20, it is determined after determining whether the playback control method of the content playback device 20 is a group management method or a check-in / check-out method. In accordance with the playback control method, the content is controlled to be played back (playback availability determination). For this reason, the content reproduction apparatus 20 can selectively execute two types of reproduction control methods, a group management method and a check-in / check-out method. For this reason, not only the convenience for the user is improved, but it is not necessary to design and develop a content reproduction apparatus (PD) 20 of a different model for each reproduction control method, so that the efficiency of development work and cost reduction can be achieved.

  The content playback apparatus (PD) 20 is not limited to a conventional check-in / check-out system, but also a copyright management scheme based on a group management system that controls playback based on a source ID and a source ID list added to the content. Can also be supported. Accordingly, the user can use the content management scheme with a high degree of freedom in using the content, and a more user-friendly copyright management scheme.

  In addition, when an application that manages a copyright management scheme that is different for each region is installed in the content processing apparatus 10, system identification information (flag 232 or the like) corresponding to each copyright management scheme (reproduction control system) is stored. Only by setting in the content reproduction apparatus 20, reproduction control of the content transferred from the content processing apparatus (PC) 10 in which the application is installed can be performed.

  In addition, the content reproduction apparatus 20 can display the title list of the content held so that reproducible content and non-reproducible content can be distinguished. As a result, the user can browse the title list, understand reproducible content and non-reproducible content, and can select content desired to be replayed from reproducible content.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the example which concerns. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

  For example, in the above embodiment, each content processing apparatus (PC) 10 generates a group ID based on user identification information (leaf ID) received from the server 30, but the present invention is not limited to such an example. For example, the server 30 may generate a group ID for each user. In this case, the group management server 32 notifies the content processing apparatus 10 of the group ID instead of the leaf ID when registering each device, and the content processing apparatus 10 sends the received group ID to the source ID list. May be stored. Further, the content distribution server 34 may transmit the distribution content in association with the group ID instead of the leaf ID. At this time, the content distribution server 34 can also add the group ID in advance to the distribution content file and transmit it to the content processing apparatus 10.

  The present invention is applicable to a content reproduction apparatus, a content reproduction control method, and a program used in a system that supports a plurality of copyright management methods.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the group registration of the content sharing system concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the main components of the content sharing system concerning the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows roughly the whole structure of the content sharing system concerning the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows roughly the example of the hardware constitutions of the content processing apparatus concerning the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows roughly the function of the content processing apparatus concerning the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows roughly the structure of the content of the group management system concerning the embodiment, and the content of a check-in / check-out system. It is a block diagram which shows roughly the function of the content reproduction part concerning the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows roughly the structure of the list management part concerning the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows roughly the example of the hardware constitutions of the content reproduction apparatus concerning the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows roughly the function of the content reproduction apparatus concerning the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows roughly the function of the server concerning the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure of the group registration database concerning the embodiment. It is a timing chart which shows the basic flow of the content sharing method concerning the embodiment. It is a timing chart which shows the group registration process of the content processing apparatus (PC) concerning the embodiment. It is a timing chart which shows the group registration cancellation | release process of the content processing apparatus (PC) concerning the embodiment. It is a timing chart which shows the group registration process of the content reproduction apparatus (PD) concerning the embodiment. It is a timing chart which shows the group registration cancellation | release process of the content reproduction apparatus (PD) concerning the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the content reproduction control process of the group management system in the content processing apparatus (PC) concerning the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the source ID list update process in the content processing apparatus concerning the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the local registration concerning the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the source ID list | wrist in the local registration or service registration concerning the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the schematic structure of the group registration part of the content processing apparatus concerning the embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing an outline of registration processing for the content reproduction apparatus or content processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 4 is a flowchart showing an outline of registration processing for the content reproduction apparatus or content processing apparatus according to the embodiment; 4 is a flowchart showing an outline of registration processing for the content reproduction apparatus or content processing apparatus according to the embodiment; It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of the warning screen concerning the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of the warning screen concerning the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of the input screen in the case of the service registration process concerning the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the schematic structure of the group management part with which the content processing apparatus concerning the embodiment is equipped. It is a sequence diagram which shows the outline which carries out service registration of the content reproduction apparatus concerning the embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the outline which carries out service registration of the content processing apparatus concerning the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the content processing apparatus concerning the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process which displays the title list of the content in the content processing apparatus in the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the deletion process of the non-reproducible content in the content processing apparatus in the embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing a process for displaying a title list of content in the content reproduction apparatus in the embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing a process for deleting non-reproducible content in the content reproduction apparatus according to the embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing processing for reproducing content in a content reproduction device from a content processing device in the embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing a process for displaying a title list of content in the content reproduction apparatus in the embodiment. 4 is a screen layout showing a display example of a content title list in the content reproduction apparatus according to the embodiment. 4 is a screen layout showing a display example of a content title list in the content reproduction apparatus according to the embodiment. It is a screen layout which shows another display example of the title list in the embodiment. It is a screen layout which shows another display example of the title list in the embodiment. It is a screen layout which shows another display example of the title list in the embodiment. 6 is a screen layout showing a screen display example when a non-reproducible content deletion process is performed in the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the content processing apparatus concerning the embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing content transfer processing from the content reproduction device to the content processing device in the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the judgment process of the transfer mode of the content reproduction apparatus in the embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing content transfer processing from a content reproduction device to a content processing device in the group management method in the embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing a check-in process from a content reproduction device to a content processing device in a check-in / check-out method according to the embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing content transfer processing from the content processing device to the content reproduction device in the embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing a content transfer process from a content processing apparatus to a content reproduction apparatus in the group management method in the embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing a check-out process from a content processing apparatus to a content reproduction apparatus in a check-in / check-out method according to the embodiment. It is an example of a layout of a screen displayed in order to make a user transfer content in the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the content reproduction | regeneration control processing in the content reproduction apparatus (PD) concerning the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows another example of the content reproduction | regeneration control processing in the content reproduction apparatus (PD) concerning the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates the title list displayed on the display apparatus of the content reproduction apparatus (PD) concerning the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Source ID addition part 2 Content reproduction part 3 List management part 5 Network 7 Storage medium 10 Content processing apparatus (PC)
20 Content playback device (PD)
30 server 31 WWW server 32 group management server 34 content distribution server 36 certificate management server 38 charging server 130 group registration unit 140 list management unit 150 certificate issuing unit 152 distribution service using unit 154 source ID adding unit 160 content processing unit 170 content Playback unit 172 Playback permission determination unit 190 ICV data management unit 240 Playback control method determination unit 242 Playback permission determination unit 314 User authentication unit 322 Device registration unit 324 Group registration database 342 License issue unit 344 Content distribution unit 362 Certificate management unit 382 Billing Processing part L Source ID list G Group certificate

Claims (28)

A source ID list indicating a content provider permitted to reproduce, method identification information indicating a content reproduction control method by the content reproduction device , and a MAC for checking the validity of the content reproduction processing by the content reproduction device A storage unit for storing values ;
A reproduction control method determination unit for determining a content reproduction control method by the content reproduction device based on the method identification information;
Based on whether or not the source ID list added to the content to be played back is included in the source ID list when the playback control mode judging unit judges that it is the first playback control mode, A first reproducibility determination unit that determines whether the content is reproducible;
When the reproduction control method determination unit determines that the second reproduction control method is different from the first reproduction control method, the content is determined based on the license usage condition information attached to the content to be reproduced. A second reproducibility determination unit that determines whether or not the reproducibility is reproducible;
A playback execution unit that plays back the content that is determined to be playable by the first playback permission determination unit or the second playback permission determination unit;
Equipped with a,
When the reproduction control method determination unit determines that the first reproduction control method is selected, the first reproduction availability determination unit stores a valid source ID list stored as the MAC value in the storage unit. By comparing the MAC value of the source ID list read from the storage unit with the MAC value of the source ID list read from the storage unit,
When the reproduction control method determination unit determines that the reproduction control method is the second reproduction control method, the second reproduction availability determination unit stores the MAC of a valid license stored as the MAC value in the storage unit. A content reproduction apparatus that checks the validity of the license attached to the content by comparing the value with the MAC value of the license attached to the content. The source ID includes a group ID generated unique user units that are users registered in the group management server, the content reproducing apparatus according to claim 1. From the content distribution server to a content to be distributed to the content processing apparatus, the group ID corresponding to the user who requested the distribution is added, the content reproducing apparatus according to claim 2. The source ID includes a recorder ID generated uniquely by the content processing apparatus unit having a ripping section for ripping content from the storage medium, the content reproducing apparatus according to claim 1. The content processing apparatus having a ripping section causes the content ripped from the storage medium, adds the recorder ID corresponding to the content processing apparatus itself, the content reproducing apparatus according to claim 4. The use condition information includes a reproduction count limit information of the content, the content playback apparatus according to claim 1. The use condition information includes a reproduction time limit information of the content, the content playback apparatus according to claim 1. A communication unit for communicating with the content processing apparatus;
The method identifying information can be updated by the content processing apparatus, content reproduction apparatus according to claim 1. A display unit for displaying title information of one or more contents held by the content reproduction apparatus;
The display unit includes title information of content determined to be reproducible by the first reproducibility determination unit or the second reproducibility determination unit, and title information of content determined to be unreproducible. preparative the identifiably displayed, the content playback apparatus according to claim 1. A content selection unit that selects at least one of the title information of the reproducible content displayed on the display unit;
The storage unit stores content management information in which title information of content and storage location information of the content are associated with each other,
The reproduction execution section, the content corresponding to the selected title information by the content selection unit reads and reproduced based on the content management information, content reproduction apparatus according to claim 9. The display unit displays a title list that represents the title information of the content determined to be reproducible and the title information of the content determined to be unreproducible by different color / luminance information. the content reproduction apparatus according to claim 9. The display unit displays the title information of contents determined to the is reproducible, and title information of contents determined to the be unplayable, a title list representing are classified, according to claim 9 Content playback device as described in The display unit displays a title list in which different icons are added to the title information of the content determined to be reproducible and the title information of the content determined to be unreproducible ; The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 9. A communication unit for communication connection with the content processing device;
When the device is registered in the same device group as the content processing device with respect to the group management server via the content processing device, the storage unit is based on the source ID list held by the content processing device. source ID list stored in is updated, the content reproducing apparatus according to claim 1. It is a portable content reproduction apparatus having a hard disk drive, a content reproducing apparatus according to claim 1. A method for controlling content playback in a content playback device, comprising:
The method identification information indicating the reproduction control method of the content by the content reproduction apparatus reads out from the storage unit of the content playback apparatus, the method based on the identification information, the reproduction control to determine the reproduction control method of the content by the content reproduction apparatus A method determination step;
When it is determined in the reproduction control method determining step that the reproduction control method is the first reproduction control method, the storage unit stores a source ID list indicating a provider of content permitted to be reproduced and a MAC value of a valid source ID list. The validity of the source ID list read from the storage unit is checked by comparing the MAC value of the source ID list read from the storage unit with the MAC value of the valid source ID list. , first the source ID added to the content to be reproduced, based on whether or not included in the source ID list read from the storage unit, the content is determined whether it is possible to reproduce Reproducibility judgment step;
If it is determined in the reproduction control method determination step that the second reproduction control method is different from the first reproduction control method, the MAC value of the valid license is read from the storage unit, and the valid license By comparing the MAC value with the MAC value of the license attached to the content to be played back, the validity of the license attached to the content to be played back is checked, and the license usage conditions attached to the content to be played back are checked. A second reproducibility determination step for determining whether the content is reproducible based on the information;
A playback step of playing back the content determined to be playable in the first playback propriety determination step or the second playback propriety determination step;
Including, content reproduction control method. The source ID includes a group ID generated unique user units that are users registered in the group management server, content reproduction control method according to claim 16. The source ID includes a recorder ID generated uniquely by the content processing apparatus unit having a ripping section for ripping content from the storage medium, content reproduction control method according to claim 16. The use condition information includes a reproduction count limit information of the content, the content reproduction control method according to claim 16. The use condition information includes a reproduction time limit information of the content, the content reproduction control method according to claim 16. Wherein the content reproducing apparatus and connected to the content processing apparatus further includes updating the system identification information, content reproduction control method according to claim 16. A display step of displaying title information of one or more contents held by the content reproduction device;
In the display step, the title information of the content determined to be reproducible in the first reproducibility determination step or the second reproducibility determination step and the title of the content determined to be unreproducible identifiably displaying the information, content reproduction control method according to claim 16. A selection step of selecting at least one of title information of the displayed reproducible content;
Wherein the reproducing step, on the basis of the content management information associating the storage location information of the title information and the content of the content, reads the content corresponding to play the selected title information in the selecting step, to claim 22 The content reproduction control method described. In the display step, a title list representing the title information of the content determined to be reproducible and the title information of the content determined to be unreproducible by different color / luminance information is displayed. the content reproduction control method according to claim 22. Wherein in the display step displays the title information of contents determined to the is reproducible, and title information of contents determined to the be unplayable, a title list representing are classified, according to claim 22 The content reproduction control method described in 1. In the display step, a title list in which different icons are added to the title information of the content determined to be reproducible and the title information of the content determined to be unreproducible is displayed . Item 23. The content playback control method according to Item 22. Registering the content reproduction device in the same device group as the content processing device with respect to a group management server via a content processing device connected to the content reproduction device;
Updating the source ID list held by the content playback device based on the source ID list held by the content processing device;
The content reproduction control method according to claim 16 , further comprising : With a content playback device:
The method identification information indicating the reproduction control method of the content by the content reproduction apparatus reads out from the storage unit of the content playback apparatus, the method based on the identification information, the reproduction control to determine the reproduction control method of the content by the content reproduction apparatus Method decision processing;
When it is determined in the reproduction control method determination process that the reproduction control method is the first reproduction control method, the storage unit stores a source ID list indicating a provider of content permitted to be reproduced and a MAC value of a valid source ID list. The validity of the source ID list read from the storage unit is checked by comparing the MAC value of the source ID list read from the storage unit with the MAC value of the valid source ID list. , first the source ID added to the content to be reproduced, based on whether or not included in the source ID list read from the storage unit, the content is determined whether it is possible to reproduce Reproducibility judgment processing of;
In the reproduction control method determination process, when it is determined that the second reproduction control method is different from the first reproduction control method, the MAC value of the valid license is read from the storage unit, and the valid license By comparing the MAC value with the MAC value of the license attached to the content to be played back, the validity of the license attached to the content to be played back is checked, and the license usage conditions attached to the content to be played back are checked. A second reproducibility determination process for determining whether the content is reproducible based on the information;
A reproduction process for reproducing the content determined to be reproducible in the first reproduction availability determination process or the second reproduction availability determination process;
To the execution, program.

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