JP5012490B2 - Content reproduction apparatus and copyright protection method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a content reproduction apparatus and a copyright protection method.

  Conventional digital recording devices such as DAT (Digital Audio Tape) players and MD (MiniDisc) players are based on SCMS (Serial Copy Management System) rules (copyright protection control technology). In order to protect the copyright, a copy of the digital data to protect the copyright is controlled only once.

  In other words, in the SCMS technology, control is performed so as to identify what can be copied without limitation, what can be copied only once, and what cannot be copied.

  On the other hand, in recent years, audio players (content playback devices) using HDDs and flash memories have been rapidly spreading. A content playback apparatus using an HDD or a flash memory is characterized in that music distribution via a network such as the Internet and music files ripped from a CD (Compact Disc) using a PC (Personal Computer) can be performed. It has become. Regarding these contents, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-78212 “Information Processing Device and Information Processing Method, Content Identification Device and Content Identification Method, and Content Identification System” of Patent Document 1 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-277763 of Patent Document 2. Various copyright protection techniques have been proposed, such as the publication “Method and Apparatus for Creating a Database of Unauthorized Copies of Protected Material”.

  The copyright protection technology proposed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 is different from the SCMS standard realized by the conventional DAT player and MD player, and is encrypted by a key generated by complicated processing. And copyright protection information is affixed to the content, and dedicated technologies developed in the Internet and PC fields are applied to music distribution and music files by CD ripping. .

For example, the copyright protection technology of Patent Document 1 includes medium identification information for identifying a recording medium and a recording apparatus that records a content such as a music file ripped from a CD (Compact Disk) using a PC (Personal Computer). The device identification information for identifying the device is recorded in the form of a watermark by digital watermark technology as the attached information of the content. The technique of Patent Document 2 is a copyright protection technique for contents distributed on the Internet or the like, in which an identifier indicating unauthorized is embedded in the contents using a watermark or the like. .
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-78212 (page 8-10) JP 2006-277763 A (page 8-11)

  In the DAT player and MD player, the audio data is recorded using a method different from the file handled on the PC, and the copyright management flag is added to the recorded audio data as described above. The copyright protection function was realized by control based on the SCMS standard.

  On the other hand, in a content playback apparatus using an HDD or a flash memory, the file format for recording content is the same as the file format on the PC in order to enhance compatibility with the PC, so as to protect the copyright. In many cases, this technique has been realized using the technique proposed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2. These technologies are mainly used for transferring files from a PC and playing them back. What is a technology to be realized on a device that records and plays back content independently like conventional DAT players and MD players? It is a different technique and requires a fairly complicated process, and at least not for realizing the SCMS standard.

  For this reason, even in a content playback device (player) using an HDD or flash memory, when it is used as simple as possible and used like a conventional DAT player or MD player, it follows the rules of the SCMS standard as before. There is a need for technology that can operate properly.

  Further, in general, the light used for recording content by HDD or flash memory, and for digitally connecting to a PC or other devices such as a DAT player or MD player to transmit / receive content. In a content playback apparatus equipped with a digital input / output terminal, an analog input / output terminal connected to a line input / output, a speaker, and the like, it is difficult to control copyright protection.

  In other words, in the case of such a content playback device, the content to which the copyright protection technology similar to that of the conventional DAT player and MD player is applied and the content created using a completely different technology depending on the PC are mixed. Since the content recorded in the HDD or flash memory is output as digital data from the optical digital output terminal to other devices such as a DAT player or MD player, in particular, Therefore, it is difficult to control whether or not the content can be copied and a bit related to copyright.

(Object of the present invention)
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and in a content reproduction apparatus using an HDD or a flash memory, content can be digitally exchanged with other devices such as a DAT player and an MD player. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content reproduction apparatus and a copyright protection method capable of realizing simple and easy control regarding copyright protection when exchanged.

  In other words, in a content playback apparatus that exchanges content in a digital format with a PC or other device, particularly with a consumer record player that conforms to the SCMS standard such as a DAT player or MD player, For example, when content is exchanged via an optical digital input / output terminal, content that can be rewritten from the PC when connected to the PC, or content under its own management that cannot be rewritten from the PC Accordingly, in order to enable smooth exchange of contents while achieving appropriate copyright protection control conforming to the SCMS standard, an operation including a flag relating to whether or not the contents can be copied and a copyright are included. The purpose is to make this possible.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the content reproduction apparatus and copyright protection method according to the present invention employ the following characteristic configuration.

(1) In a content playback device having at least a storage device for recording content and an output terminal for outputting the content in digital format to an external device, the content output via the output terminal is recorded Depending on whether or not the storage area of the storage device is a storage area that can be rewritten from the first external device when the first external device is connected, different control is performed regarding the copyright protection of the content. And when the content recorded in the rewritable storage area is output from the first external device, the copyright protection of the content is set to a state in which further digital recording of the content is prohibited, When content recorded in a storage area that cannot be rewritten from one external device is output, With regard to copyright protected content, content playback that is set to a state in which further digital recording of content that has already been digitally recorded once is prohibited, and content that does not require copyright protection is set to a state in which digital recording is permitted apparatus.
(2) The storage device for recording the content can be rewritten from the first external device by dividing the storage device physically by separate drives or by dividing the same drive into logically separate partitions The content reproduction apparatus according to (1) above, wherein the content reproduction apparatus is configured to be separated into a storage area and a storage area that cannot be rewritten from the first external device.
( 3 ) A copyright protection method in a content playback device comprising at least a storage device for recording content and an output terminal for outputting the content in digital format to an external device, and output via the output terminal The storage area of the storage device in which the content to be recorded is recorded is a storage area that can be rewritten from the first external device when the first external device is connected. When different control is performed with respect to copyright protection and the content recorded in the rewritable storage area is output from the first external device, the digital recording of the content is prohibited with respect to the copyright protection of the content. On the other hand, when outputting content recorded in a storage area that cannot be rewritten from the first external device, Regarding the copyright protection of the content, the copyright-protected content is set to a state in which further digital recording of the content that has already been digitally recorded once is prohibited, and digital recording is permitted for the content that does not require copyright protection. The copyright protection method to set for the state .
(4) A storage device for recording content can be rewritten from the first external device by dividing the storage device physically by separate drives or by dividing the same drive into logically separate partitions The copyright protection method according to (3) above, wherein a storage area and a storage area that cannot be rewritten from the first external device are separately configured.

  According to the content reproduction apparatus and copyright protection method of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

  Regarding the HDD or flash memory of the content playback device, by placing a file relating to copyright protection conforming to the SCMS standard on a drive or partition that cannot be rewritten from the PC even when connected to the PC, the copyright by the user Tampering with protected information can be avoided.

  In addition, regarding the HDD and flash memory of the content playback device, files placed on a drive or partition that can be rewritten from the PC when connected to the PC are files whose source is not known from the PC. In consideration of the situation, when reproduction is performed via the optical digital output terminal, copyright protection can be achieved by setting the digital copy to be prohibited.

  Preferred embodiments of a content playback apparatus and copyright protection method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Features of the present invention)
Prior to the description of the embodiments of the present invention, an outline of the features of the present invention will be described first. The present invention realizes a content reproduction apparatus with a copyright protection function conforming to the SCMS standard, and particularly in a content reproduction apparatus using an HDD or a flash memory and having an input / output terminal, for example, an optical digital input / output terminal. Based on the attribute information of the storage device that records the content, the content can be rewritten from the first external device such as the PC when connected to the first external device such as the PC, or the first external device such as the first external device. It is possible to easily identify content that cannot be rewritten from a PC, and exchange content with an external device such as a DAT player or MD player via an input / output terminal, for example, an optical digital input / output terminal. In this case, based on the identification result of whether or not the content can be rewritten from the PC, It is characterized in that the easily implement a control relating to authority protection.

  In general, files transferred from a PC to a content playback device via USB or the like are not only legitimate contents protected by copyright, but also incomplete for copyright management by contents ripped from a CD or PC. Processed content may also be included. In addition, the file transferred from the PC to the content playback apparatus is basically not compliant with the SCMS standard unlike the conventional DAT player and MD player, and the generation management based on the SCMS standard. Most of the files are not formatted.

  Therefore, even if a file transferred from a PC is transferred from the optical digital output terminal to a storage device or the like, it is added to the content transferred via the optical digital output terminal between the conventional DAT player and MD player. Unlike the flag control conforming to the SCMS standard, the file format is not suitable for flag control related to copy control conforming to the generation management of the SCMS standard.

  Here, the generation management of the SCMS standard is that digital copy of copyright-protected content is permitted only once as a child copy, and grandchild copy that is the second copy is prohibited from the digitally copied data once. To do. Also, for digitally recorded data, digital copy after digitization is permitted only for one generation, but for digitally copied data here, the second and subsequent digital copies are prohibited. .

  In other words, there are two copyright protection control flags included in the file output from the optical digital output terminal: “copyright (copy prohibition) bit” and “generation bit”, and combinations thereof. Therefore, the SCMS standard is established. The application of the SCMS standard is exactly the same for not only the optical digital output terminal to which the optical cable for digital transmission is connected but also the file output from the coaxial digital output terminal to which the coaxial cable is connected.

  In the SCMS standard, basically, data protected by the “copyright (copy prohibited) bit” (data in a copy prohibited state) can be further digitally recorded by the “generation bit”. Judgment is made whether or not. In other words, when it is determined by the “generation bit” that the data input with the copyright protected by the “copyright (copy prohibited) bit” is the first generation original data that has never been copied. On the other hand, it is permitted to perform digital recording. On the other hand, if it is determined by the “generation bit” that the data is the second generation data that has already been digitally recorded, further digital recording is to be performed. It is prohibited.

  On the other hand, data that is not copyright-protected by the “copyright (copy prohibition) bit” can be digitally recorded indefinitely as data permitted to be copied.

  As the basic operation of the SCMS standard, the above-described control relating to copyright protection is performed. As described above, the recording operation related to the data by the analog input inputted from the analog input terminal such as the line input terminal is always permitted, and the digital recording from the analog recorded data is permitted. Thus, further digital recording from data once digitally recorded is prohibited.

  FIG. 1 is an external view showing the appearance of a content playback apparatus that provides copyright protection technology according to the present invention. An example of a content playback apparatus that uses an HDD or flash memory as a storage device for recording content is shown in FIG. 1 schematically shows a portable player using an optical digital input / output terminal 1 and an analog input / output terminal 2 using an HDD 3 and a reference numeral 3).

  Here, the optical digital input / output terminal 1 is a terminal for transmitting / receiving a digital signal with copyright protection information to / from other devices such as a DAT player, an MD player, and a CD player by connecting an optical cable. On the other hand, the analog input / output terminal 2 is a terminal for transmitting and receiving an analog signal for connecting to an audio cable and outputting to headphones or inputting from a line. The copyright protection information added to the content transmitted / received as a digital signal at the optical digital input / output terminal 1 includes whether or not copying is possible and flag information regarding the copyright. A flag conforming to the SCMS standard composed of “bit” and “generation bit” is added and output. Further, a USB terminal 5 is provided for connection with a PC, and a copyright protection management method is distinguished between a drive that is visible via the USB terminal 5 and a drive that is not visible.

  1 is used to record content by the HDD 3 as shown in FIG. 1 and to transmit / receive content by digitally connecting to / from a USB terminal used for transmitting / receiving information to / from a PC or other external devices. Even in a content playback device equipped with an optical digital input / output terminal, a line input / output, an analog input / output terminal connected to a speaker, etc., unlike the conventional content playback device, in the present invention, copyright protection is provided. Control related to this is simple and easy.

  That is, in the content reproduction apparatus according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1, both the content created by a PC and the like and the content to which the same copyright protection technology as that of a conventional DAT player or MD player is applied, Even if it is recorded in the HDD 3 (or flash memory), when the storage area to be recorded in the HDD 3 (or flash memory) is connected to a PC, the area that can be rewritten from the PC and the rewrite from the PC When the content recorded in the HDD 3 (or flash memory) is output from the optical digital output terminal to a PC or other device by physically or logically dividing it into an area that cannot be It is possible to control the copyright protection for the content simply and easily.

  For example, the HDD 3 (or flash memory) provided in the content reproduction apparatus according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is divided into a plurality of drives or a plurality of partitions as shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a content recording storage device of the content reproduction apparatus according to the present invention, and illustrates a case where an HDD drive is used as the content recording storage device. In the present invention, the content recording storage device may be configured using not only the HDD drive but also a flash memory.

  Here, the HDD 3 shown in FIG. 1 may be an HDD drive physically divided into a plurality of drives as shown in FIG. 2A, or a plurality of logical drives as shown in FIG. 2B. Or the HDD drive divided into partitions. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 2A, there are two physical HDD drives, the first HDD 3a and the second HDD 3b, and the drive names are drive X and drive Y, respectively. On the other hand, in the example shown in FIG. 2B, an HDD drive that is physically configured by only one HDD 4 but is logically divided into two, a first partition 4a and a second partition 4b. The drive names are drive X and drive Y, respectively.

  The HDD 3 shown in FIG. 1 can provide a copyright protection function (that is, a copy control function) related to the recorded content in a different state for each drive or each partition shown in FIG. For example, in FIG. 2, when the drive X is connected to the PC, the drive X is a drive that can be read from and written to by the PC (that is, rewritable from the PC), and the drive Y cannot be accessed from the PC, or An optimal copyright protection function (that is, a copy control function) is set for each of them as a read-only drive (that is, a drive that cannot be rewritten from a PC).

  In other words, in the present invention, like a conventional HDD player or flash memory player, it is a drive or partition that is freely readable and writable from a PC (that is, rewritable from a PC), or the content playback apparatus main body. A drive or partition that can only be written to and cannot be accessed from a PC, that is, a drive or partition that can be accessed only by the main body of the content playback apparatus (that is, cannot be rewritten from the PC). Or a drive or partition that is writable only by the content playback apparatus main body and can only be read from the PC (that is, cannot be rewritten from the PC), For each drive or partition Grant to.

  As described above, by setting the attribute of the storage area for recording content, when the content is output in digital format from the optical digital output terminal, the output content is recorded on a drive or partition that can be rewritten from the PC. Control is performed so that the setting state of the flag for copy control conforming to the SCMS standard is switched depending on whether the content is stored in a drive or partition that cannot be rewritten from the PC. .

  That is, when reproducing a file stored in a drive or partition that is freely readable and writable from a PC (that is, rewritable from a PC) with respect to the HDD and flash memory of the content playback device via the optical digital output terminal, Regarding the file output from the optical digital output terminal, a flag for copyright protection conforming to the SCMS standard is set, and the “copyright (copy prohibition) bit” and “generation bit” of the flag are set. Then, it is set so that further digital recording is impossible, and further copying is prohibited. This avoids further digital copying of files whose origins are unknown, such as when written from a PC.

  On the other hand, files stored in a drive or partition that cannot be freely read / written from a PC (that is, cannot be rewritten from a PC) with respect to the HDD or flash memory of the content playback apparatus are analog recorded files, Alternatively, a recording method management file for managing a recording method identifier indicating whether the file is a digitally recorded file is prepared. By referring to the recording method management file, copy control by a copyright protection function compliant with the SCMS standard can be performed for digital signal output during reproduction. All the files stored in the drive or partition of the content playback device that cannot be freely read and written from the PC are self-recorded by the content playback device main body, so the source management (digital recording or analog recording) Management of the recorded content history) can be performed reliably, and an accurate recording method can be stored in the recording method management file. Therefore, by referring to the recording method management file, it is possible to perform management related to copyright protection defined in the SCMS standard.

(Explanation of the effect of this embodiment)
Regarding the HDD or flash memory of the content playback device, by placing a file relating to copyright protection conforming to the SCMS standard on a drive or partition that cannot be rewritten from the PC even when connected to the PC, the copyright by the user Tampering with protected information can be avoided.

  In addition, regarding the HDD and flash memory of the content playback device, files placed on a drive or partition that can be rewritten from the PC when connected to the PC are files whose source is not known from the PC. In consideration of the situation, when reproduction is performed via the optical digital output terminal, copyright protection can be achieved by setting the digital copy to be prohibited.

  Furthermore, when connecting the content playback device and the PC, the content playback device is used as a mass storage device from the PC by connecting the PC to the content playback device through a general-purpose interface such as SB. On the other hand, a conventional DAT player or MD player can be connected by an optical digital interface or the like, and can also cope with digital copying based on the SCMS standard.

  Here, as described above, the present invention prepares a plurality of drives or partitions for the HDD and flash memory of the content playback apparatus as described above, and is freely readable and writable from the PC (that is, can be rewritten from the PC). The drive or partition and the drive or partition that cannot be accessed or read only from the PC (that is, cannot be rewritten from the PC) are divided into two types. In general, for copyright protection, it is more effective to use a drive or partition that is inaccessible or only readable from a PC (that is, it cannot be rewritten from the PC). In HDD players and flash memory players, those in which a recording file recorded by the player is once transferred to the PC side and can be edited by the PC have become widespread. For this reason, the present invention is also configured as a content playback apparatus that also includes a drive or partition that is freely readable and writable from the PC (that is, rewritable from the PC).

  As described above, digital output is most commonly performed from an optical digital output terminal. However, there is a coaxial digital output terminal or the like, and even a content reproduction apparatus having a coaxial digital output terminal is naturally used. The copyright protection function described above can be applied as it is.

  The configuration of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, it should be noted that such examples are merely illustrative of the invention and do not limit the invention in any way. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that various modifications and changes can be made according to a specific application without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is an external view which shows the external appearance of the content reproduction apparatus which provides the copyright protection technique by this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example of the memory | storage device for content recording of the content reproduction apparatus by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Optical digital input / output terminal 2 Analog input / output terminal 3 HDD
3a First HDD (drive X)
3b Second HDD (drive Y)
4 HDD
4a First partition (drive X)
4b Second partition (drive Y)
5 USB terminal

Claims (4)

In the content playback device having at least a storage device for recording content and an output terminal for outputting the content in digital format to an external device, the storage in which the content output via the output terminal is recorded Depending on whether or not the storage area of the device is a storage area that can be rewritten from the first external device when the first external device is connected, different control is performed regarding the copyright protection of the content ,
When outputting the content recorded in the rewritable storage area from the first external device, regarding the copyright protection of the content, it is set to a state in which further digital recording of the content is prohibited, while the first In the case of outputting content recorded in a storage area that cannot be rewritten from an external device, regarding the copyright protection of the content, further digital recording of the content that has already been digitally recorded once for the copyright-protected content. A content playback apparatus that is set to a prohibited state and sets a state in which digital recording is permitted for content that does not require copyright protection . The storage device for recording the content is divided by a physically separate drive, or the same drive is divided as a logically separate partition so that the storage device can be rewritten from the first external device 2. The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content reproduction apparatus is configured separately from a storage area that cannot be rewritten from the first external device. A copyright protection method in a content reproduction apparatus comprising at least a storage device for recording content and an output terminal for outputting the content in digital format to an external device, the content being output via the output terminal Copyright protection of the content depending on whether or not the storage area of the storage device in which is recorded is a storage area rewritable from the first external device when the first external device is connected It performs a different control with respect to,
When outputting the content recorded in the rewritable storage area from the first external device, regarding the copyright protection of the content, it is set to a state in which further digital recording of the content is prohibited, while the first In the case of outputting content recorded in a storage area that cannot be rewritten from an external device, regarding the copyright protection of the content, further digital recording of the content that has already been digitally recorded once for the copyright-protected content. A copyright protection method that sets a prohibited state and permits digital recording of content that does not require copyright protection. The storage device for recording the content is divided by a physically separate drive, or the same drive is divided as a logically separate partition so that the storage device can be rewritten from the first external device 4. The copyright protection method according to claim 3, wherein the copyright protection method is configured so as to be separated into a storage area that cannot be rewritten from the first external device.

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