JP5040736B2 - Content utilization apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a content use device and a program that allow regular use of content that is allowed only for trial use. In particular, the present invention relates to a content use apparatus and program that allow trial use up to the use start date and time even though regular use is prohibited until the official use start date and time of content.

Conventionally, a content distribution server (hereinafter simply referred to as a server) is accessed via a wired or wireless communication network typified by the Internet, and user-desired content can be purchased and used at any time from the accessed server. There is known a content utilization apparatus capable of performing the above. In this type of content utilization apparatus, trial content that is only allowed for trial use is acquired in advance from a server or the like, and trial playback of content such as trial listening of a partial range of a song is performed based on this trial content. After that, it is described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 shown below that the regular use is permitted by determining the purchase of the content via the communication network, and the user can use the content normally. It is disclosed in the invention.
JP 2004-220357 A JP 2006-042237 A

  In the invention described in Patent Document 1, in order to achieve both trial use and regular use of content, the management information including information indicating “trial” or “purchase” is included in the content. The trial or regular use is controlled based on the information. The content that the user first obtains is the content for which the management information is “trial” (trial content), that is, the content that has been restricted in function such as the playable time being restricted by the management information. However, when the user performs a content purchase procedure, the “trial” management information is replaced with the “purchase” management information acquired from the server. Users will be able to use the content for regular use instead of trial. Note that the management information of “purchase” is encrypted based on information (for example, a device ID) unique to each content utilization apparatus that has undergone the purchase procedure so that the content is not illegally used.

  On the other hand, the invention described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2 is based on the fact that the purchase reservation is accepted in response to making a purchase reservation before the official use start date of the content such as a predetermined content release date. While encrypted content is sent, the key necessary to decrypt the encrypted content is distributed from the server by e-mail etc. when the release date is reached, and the content can be used regularly after the release date I am doing so. An example is also disclosed in which not only the key but also the encrypted content itself is sent on the release date.

  This is a method called “Purchase Reservation” in order to avoid inconvenience due to the flooding of purchase procedures from a large number of users on the content release date (the official use start date of content) in the invention of Patent Document 1 above. Is adopted. For example, you might have a sales promotion before your content is officially released, so that users can try out the content before it is released (for example, listening to a part of a song) On the other hand, trial contents may be distributed in advance. In such a case, according to the prior art disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, if the purchase procedure is completed before the official release date, the content can be used normally from that point, which is inconvenient. It needs to be restricted so that it can be done after a few days. However, simply restricting the purchase procedure to be possible after the official release of the content flooded the server with purchase procedures from many users at the same time as the release date, causing the server to go down beyond the processing capacity of the server. Or the purchase procedure may be crowded and some users may wait for a considerable time until the content can be used normally. Therefore, as an example of a technique for preventing a purchase procedure from being inundated at the same time, a technique for “purchase reservation” as disclosed in Patent Document 2 is conventionally known.

  However, according to the invention of Patent Document 2, the content encrypted with the key distributed on the release date (or later) is sent in advance of the release date according to the purchase reservation. There was an inconvenience that the content could not be tried. In addition, since the decryption key is distributed to many users who have made a reservation at the same time on the release date, the server that distributes the key will eventually be heavily burdened. It takes a lot of time to complete the distribution of the content, and there is a problem that some users may not be able to enjoy the content by regular use at the same time as the release, as with the invention of Patent Document 1. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and prohibits the regular use of content until the use start date and time, without flooding the purchase procedure at the official use start date and time of the content, and after the purchase procedure. Even if it is, the user can try the content until the use start date and time, and appropriately control the trial use of the content before the predetermined start date and the regular use of the content after the use start date. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content use device and a program that can be used.

The content utilization apparatus according to the present invention acquires content for trial use that includes content data, license information that permits only trial use, and first management information that includes use restriction information that enables trial use of the content data. An acquisition means, a purchase procedure means for sending a purchase request to a predetermined server device connected to a communication network, when the user wishes to use the acquired content data properly based on a user purchase procedure operation; In response to a request, the license data includes license information permitting regular use of the content data, use start date / time information specifying the use start date / time of regular use of the content data, and usage restriction information enabling trial use of the content data. 2 Receive management information from the server device via the communication network. A signal unit, by replacing the first management information included in the acquired sample content to the second management information to the received, the trial content, license information and said permitting normal use of the content data and the content data storage means for storing change in the use restriction information and regular use regular content comprising a specified usage start date and time information to usage start date and time of the of the content data that allows trial of the content data, the content of the user Time acquisition means for acquiring a time when the user operation is performed according to a data use operation, and the content subject to use restriction based on the use restriction information when the acquired time is before the use start date and time. While allowing trial use of data, if the acquired time is after the use start date and time Comprising a content utilizing unit for permitting the normal use of the never subjected to usage restriction based on serial use restriction information the content data.

According to the present invention, a trial content including first management information including content data and license information that permits only trial use and usage restriction information that enables trial use of the content data is sent to a server in response to a purchase request by a user. As the second management information is received from the apparatus, the first management information is replaced with the received second management information and stored in a predetermined storage unit. The second management information includes license information that permits regular use of the content data, use start date and time information that specifies a use start date and time of regular use of the content data, and use restriction information that enables trial use of the content data. Become. Therefore, by replacing the first management information with the second management information, the trial content includes content data, license information that permits regular use of the content data, and usage restriction information that enables trial use of the content data. It is changed to the normal content comprising a specified usage start date and time information to initial use time of the normal use of the content data with. When an operation using the content data is performed by the user, the time when the user operation is performed is acquired by the time acquisition unit. Then, when the acquired time is before the use start date and time, the content use means permits trial use of the content data subject to use restriction based on the use restriction information. On the other hand, when the acquired time is after the use start date and time, regular use of the content data that is not subject to use restrictions based on the use restriction information is permitted. In this way, the purchase procedure can be completed before the official start date of use of the predetermined content such as the release date of the content, so that the purchase procedure is not flooded on the start date of use. In addition, after the purchase procedure, the trial use and the regular use of the content are managed according to the use start date to prohibit the regular use of the content from the purchase procedure to the use start date, and after the purchase procedure. In addition, the user can try out the content until the use start date, thereby appropriately controlling the trial use of the content before the official use start date and the regular use of the content after the use start date. .

  The present invention can be constructed and implemented not only as a device invention but also as a method invention. Further, the present invention can be implemented in the form of a program of a processor such as a computer or a DSP, or can be implemented in the form of a storage medium storing such a program.

  According to the present invention, the purchase procedure is not inundated on the official use start date of the predetermined content, and the regular use of the content is prohibited until the use start date, and even after the purchase procedure. Until the use start date, it is possible to properly control the trial use of the content before the official use start date and the regular use of the content after the use start date while making it possible for the user to try the content. An effect is obtained.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration block diagram showing the overall configuration of an electronic music apparatus to which a content utilization apparatus according to the present invention is applied. The electronic music apparatus shown in this embodiment is controlled by a microcomputer comprising a microprocessor unit (CPU) 1, a read only memory (ROM) 2, and a random access memory (RAM) 3, such as an electronic musical instrument or a personal computer. is there.

  The CPU 1 controls the operation of the entire electronic music apparatus. ROM 2, RAM 3, detection circuits 4 and 5, display circuit 6, sound source / effect circuit 7, storage device 8, and communication interface (I / F) 9 are connected to the CPU 1 via a data and address bus 1D. ing. Further, the CPU 1 is connected to a timer 1A for measuring the interrupt time and various times in the timer interrupt process (interrupt process). For example, the timer 1A generates a clock pulse, and gives the generated clock pulse to the CPU 1 as a processing timing command or to the CPU 1 as an interrupt command. The CPU 1 executes various processes according to these instructions.

  The ROM 2 stores various programs executed by the CPU 1 and various data. The RAM 3 receives various data such as a content package (described later) from a server computer (content server) connected via a communication interface 9 (not shown), for example, and temporarily receives the various data such as the received content package. To remember. The RAM 3 is used as a working memory for temporarily storing various data generated when the CPU 1 executes a program, or as a memory for storing a program currently being executed and related data. A predetermined address area of the RAM 3 is assigned to each function and used as a register, flag, table, memory, or the like. In this embodiment, decrypted content data and the like are temporarily stored.

  The performance operator 4A is, for example, a keyboard provided with a plurality of keys for selecting the pitch of a musical tone, and has a key switch corresponding to each key. A keyboard or the like) can be used not only for musical performances but also as input means for inputting pitches and rhythms used for automatic performances. The detection circuit 4 generates a detection output by detecting the pressing and release of each key of the performance operator 4A.

  A setting operator (such as a switch) 5A is an operator that inputs various types of information necessary for acquiring content from a content server such as user information and content designation information, and plays back the acquired content (for example, starting or This is a switch for stopping / ending). Of course, in addition to these, a numeric keypad for inputting numeric data, a keyboard for inputting character data, and a predetermined pointing device displayed on the display 6A, which are used for selecting, setting and controlling the pitch, tone color, effect, etc. Various operators such as a mouse used for operation may be included. The detection circuit 5 detects the operation state of the setting operator 5A and outputs information corresponding to the operation state to the CPU 1 via the data and address bus 1D. The display circuit 6 obtains various information related to a large number of contents stored in the accessed content server A on a display 6A composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display panel (LCD) or a CRT. Various information related to the content, various information used when reproducing the content (for example, parameters relating to musical sound generation), the control state of the CPU 1, and the like are displayed.

  The tone generator / effect circuit 8 can simultaneously generate musical sound signals on a plurality of channels, and provides performance information (for example, MIDI data generated based on a keyboard operation by the user, contents ( MIDI data generated in response to the playback of the music playback data) is input, and a musical tone signal is generated by synthesizing a musical tone based on the performance information. The sound source / effect circuit 8 gives an effect to the generated musical sound signal. A musical sound signal generated from the sound source / effect circuit 8 is generated from a sound system 8A including an amplifier and a speaker. Any conventional configuration may be used for the configuration of the sound source / effect circuit 8 and the sound system 8A. For example, the tone generator / effect circuit 8 may employ any of various tone synthesis methods such as FM, PCM, physical model, formant synthesis, etc., or may be configured with dedicated hardware, or by software processing by the CPU 1. It may be configured.

  The storage device 8 stores the original content package received from the content server, a key for decrypting the received content package (see FIG. 3 described later), data related to control such as various control programs executed by the CPU 1, and the like. It is something to remember. When no control program is stored in the ROM 2, the control program is stored in the storage device 8 (for example, a hard disk) and read into the RAM 3 to store the control program in the ROM 2. A similar operation can be performed by the CPU 1. In this way, control programs can be easily added and upgraded. The storage device 8 is not limited to a hard disk (HD), but may be a flexible disk (FD), a compact disk (CD-ROM / CD-RAM), a magneto-optical disk (MO), or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). Any storage device may be used as long as it uses a storage medium in the form. Alternatively, a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory may be used.

  A communication interface (I / F) 9 is a music-only MIDI input / output interface for transmitting and receiving data in MIDI format between an external device (not shown) and the electronic music device, or data and control programs other than MIDI format. It is a general-purpose data input / output interface such as RS-232C, USB (Universal Serial Bus), IEEE1394 (Eyetripe 1394), Bluetooth (trademark), infrared transmitter / receiver. In addition, an electronic music device and an external device on the network (for example, a content server that operates a content sales site) are connected via a wired or wireless communication network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), the Internet, or a telephone line. The network interface may be capable of transmitting and receiving various information such as a content package, other data, or a control program between the connected electronic music apparatus and the server. One or a plurality of such communication interfaces 9 may be provided, and both of them may be provided, not wired or wireless.

In the electronic music apparatus described above, the performance operator 4A is not limited to the form of a keyboard instrument, but may be any form such as a stringed instrument, a wind instrument, or a percussion instrument. Further, the electronic music apparatus is not limited to one in which the performance operator 4A, the display 6A, the tone generator circuit 7 and the like are built in one apparatus main body, but each is configured separately and using communication means such as a MIDI interface or various networks. Needless to say, each device may be configured to be connected. In addition, the device to which the content utilization device according to the present invention is applied is not limited to an electronic musical instrument, and may be any device / equipment such as a portable communication terminal such as a personal computer or a mobile phone, a karaoke device, or a game device. You may apply.
The content server connected to the electronic music apparatus via the communication interface will be described as having substantially the same hardware configuration as the above-described electronic music apparatus except for the performance operator 4A and the sound source / effect circuit 7. Since it is possible, the description is omitted.

  An electronic music apparatus to which the content utilization apparatus according to the present invention is applied can access a content server that operates a content sales site via a communication network such as the Internet. Then, by executing a dedicated application program necessary for performing processing according to the present invention, various processing such as content download, content purchase procedure, content trial listening and regular use (content reproduction, etc.) can be performed. it can. On the other hand, the content server is a server device that provides (sells) content, accepts content distribution requests from users via a communication network, and transmits content that can only be listened to (contents with usage restrictions) to electronic music. Deliver to the device. In addition, when a content purchase request (data regular use request) is received from a user via a communication network, regular use of the content is permitted to the electronic music apparatus that has undergone the purchase process. This will become clear from the following description.

  Next, a data format of content used in the electronic music apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 to which the content utilization apparatus according to the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a data format of content. As will be described in detail later, in the electronic music apparatus to which the content use apparatus according to the present invention is applied, the content that is restricted in use (trial content) is first distributed and only the trial listening is possible. What can only be done is that the use restriction of the content is lifted according to the fact that the regular use is permitted by performing the purchase process, and the content is used as normal content as the content with no use restriction (regular content) Playback is possible. Therefore, the contents used in the electronic music apparatus have different data contents before and after the purchase process, and only the audition provided free of charge to the electronic music apparatus before the content purchase process as shown in the upper part of FIG. There are two types of forms: “trial content” that can be used, and “regular content” that is provided to an electronic music device that has been subjected to content purchase processing as shown in the lower part of FIG.

  As can be understood from FIG. 2, both “trial content” and “regular content” are contents in which usage management information (“trial” or “purchase”) and content data (substance data) are packaged together. It consists of a data format in the form of a package and is encrypted using a double key method. The entire content package is encrypted with a predetermined first key. The first key used for encryption (or decryption) is, for example, a common key (generally given to all electronic music devices (regardless of manufacturer, model, device type, etc.) that can use the content) Is a secret key.

  The content data stores, for example, actual data for reproduction constituting the content such as MIDI data, audio data, and moving image data. Of course, the content data may be configured to include a plurality of types of data, and in this case, a plurality of entity data may be stored in the content data. The content data is encrypted with a predetermined second key before being combined with the usage management information and generated as a content package. The second key used for encryption (or decryption) is the same, for example, among all electronic music devices that can use the content, the manufacturer, model, type of device, etc. that are attached to the electronic music device in advance. If there is, it is a key generated based on a predetermined management number or the like that is the same number (generally a secret key, which is different from the first key).

  The usage management information is information for identifying the content as either “trial content” that has not been purchased or “regular content” that has been purchased, and the content is largely classified as “purchase / trial license information”. ”,“ Usage start date / time information (time limit information) ”, and“ Usage restriction information for trial use ”. “Purchase / trial license information” is “trial” (for example, indicated by flag “0”) in the content before the purchase procedure, and “purchase / trial license information” is “trial”. The content can be used (reproduced) only within the range of usage restrictions defined in “Usage Usage Restriction Information”. An example of the range of usage restrictions stipulated in “Usage restriction information for trial use” will be shown later. On the other hand, “purchase / trial license information” is “purchase” (for example, represented by flag “1”) in the content after the purchase procedure, and “purchase / trial license information” is “purchase”. After the date and time (corresponding to the official start date of content use) specified in “Use start date and time information (time limit information)”, restrictions such as the range of use restrictions specified in “Usage restriction information for trial use” The content can be used (played back) freely, but before the date and time specified in “Usage start date and time information (time limit information)”, it is specified in “Usage restriction information for trial use”. The content can be used (reproduced) only within the range of usage restrictions. Even if the content can be used freely without restrictions on use, it is of course prohibited to use one form of content usage, such as illegal content copying that may conflict with violations such as copyright. Needless to say, there are basic restrictions.

  The usage management information is also encrypted with a predetermined key before being combined with the content data and generated as a content package. The keys used for encryption (or decryption) differ depending on whether “purchase / trial license information” is “trial” or “purchase”. In the case of “trial use”, the same second key used when the content data is encrypted is used. On the other hand, in the case of “purchase”, for example, a third key generated based on a unique ID that is a unique number unique to each device attached in advance to each electronic music device that can use the content is obtained. Use.

  The content data (substance data) included in each of the “trial content” and “regular content” content packages may be any type of data. For example, if this electronic music device is an electronic musical instrument, in addition to music playback data such as audio, MIDI, and moving images, waveform data and parameters such as timbre data for electronic musical instruments, or electronic musical instrument registration data and automatic accompaniment styles It may be data. Of course, for each data type of such content data, it is needless to say that the usage form (restriction form) of content such as data reproduction is different between trial content with use restriction and regular content without use restriction.

  An example of content usage mode (restricted mode) is, for example, in the case of music playback data, the trial content is “playback for a predetermined time”, “playback only for a specific part”, “degraded sound quality (image quality)” "Playback" (determined by the range of usage restrictions specified in "Usage restriction information for trial use" described above, the same applies hereinafter), etc. "," Highest sound quality (image quality) playback ". In the case of timbre data of electronic musical instruments, trial content is “only pronunciation”, “simultaneous pronunciation limit”, etc., but regular content is “not only pronunciation but also timbre editing”, “unlimited simultaneous pronunciation” Etc. In the case of registration data for electronic musical instruments, “Only setting” and “Only play the registration sequence from the beginning” are used for trial content, whereas “Registration data can be edited in addition to setting” for regular content. ”,“ Make the resist sequence reproducible from a free position (for example, repeat a certain section) ”, etc. In the case of the style data for automatic accompaniment of electronic musical instruments, the trial content is set to “pitch conversion only for specific codes”, “only the main section can be played”, etc. "Pitch conversion is possible", "All sections can be played", etc.

  In the electronic music apparatus to which the content usage apparatus according to the present invention is applied, the trial content acquired by the user from the server is converted into the purchased regular content by performing a purchase procedure, but until the predetermined usage start date As with the trial content, the content can be used only within a limited range of use, and the content can be used without any special procedure by the user after a predetermined use start date and time. Can be enjoyed without any usage restrictions.

  First, “trial content acquisition processing” for downloading trial content from the server to the electronic music apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the “trial content acquisition process”. In this embodiment, a series of processing for acquiring trial content is realized by independently executing content acquisition processing on the electronic music device side and content distribution processing on the server side. Each process is performed in parallel while transmitting and receiving. Therefore, here, in order to make the explanation easy to understand, the operation of each of the above processes will be described along a series of processes from the start of server access to the end of trial content distribution.

  The electronic music apparatus accesses a content server that sells user-desired music content, and from among many contents distributed (sold) by the accessed server, for example, in response to a user operation such as a content search operation The content desired to be specified is specified (step C1). When the content is specified, a content acquisition request is transmitted to the server (step C2). At this time, together with the content acquisition request, for example, a predetermined management number assigned in advance to electronic music apparatuses of the same model is transmitted to the server.

  When the server receives the content acquisition request and the management number from the electronic music device, it transmits “trial content” to the electronic music device (step S1). That is, using the second key generated based on the received management number, etc., identifying the corresponding content data from a large number of stored content data based on the acquisition request, the usage management information prepared for each content data in advance Each of the specified content data is encrypted. Further, an electronic music device is obtained by encrypting a content package in which these are combined into one with a first key (different from the second key) common to all electronic music devices prepared in advance (trial content). Send to. Of course, it is also possible to prepare trial content that has been encrypted in advance and only transmit it. At this time, the server registers in a predetermined user management database (not shown) whether or not each user has acquired trial content for each content. When the electronic music apparatus acquires the content package (trial content) from the server, it stores (stores) it in the storage device 8 or the like (step C3).

  Note that a user who has acquired trial content from the server can freely distribute the acquired trial content to others. In other words, trial contents are not limited to being acquired by distribution from a server via a communication network, but are also flexible disks (FD), compact disks (CD-ROM / CD-RAM), magneto-optical disks (MO), DVDs ( It may be obtained from various types of storage media such as a digital versatile disk) or a semiconductor memory. However, the others who can use the trial content distributed by the user are limited to users who use the electronic music apparatus in which the second key and the first key used at the time of encryption are the same. Needless to say.

  Next, a “content purchase (license purchase) process” for performing a purchase procedure on the acquired trial content will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of “content purchase processing”. Also in this process, the operation will be described along a flow of a series of processes for content purchase executed independently on the electronic music apparatus side and the server side.

  The electronic music device accesses the server to which the trial content is acquired, transmits a purchase request for the content that the user desires to purchase to the server in accordance with a user operation, and is given to the electronic music device in advance. Information unique to each device (unique ID) such as a unique ID is transmitted to the server (step C11).

  When the server receives the purchase request and the unique ID from the content use device, the server performs a billing process for charging the user for the content acquisition based on the purchase request (step S11). Since the accounting process may be any known method, the description thereof is omitted here. Note that the content server itself is not limited to the one that performs the billing process, and may be performed by a dedicated server. In step S12, use start date / time information determined in advance corresponding to the content requested for purchase is acquired from the date / time database. The date / time database (not shown) is a database prepared in the server in advance, and stores the formal use start date / time of the content such as the release date and the announcement date for each content. The official use start date and time of content can be registered in the date and time database by a content provider, a server operator, or the like. Even if the content starts using the same date and time, there is a high charge for charging the user depending on the country or region where the electronic music device that accesses the server is installed (ie, the access region) or for the content. The date may be set differently depending on whether the price is low.

  Step S13 generates usage management information for purchase based on the usage start date and time acquired from the date and time database, encrypts the generated usage management information with a third key generated based on the acquired unique ID, This is transmitted to the electronic music apparatus. In this case, since the usage management information for purchase is encrypted by the unique ID attached to each electronic music device, it is assumed that another person has illegally acquired the usage management information for purchase in the distribution route. However, since it is impossible for such another person to acquire the unique ID, the acquired content cannot be decrypted. Therefore, the other person who has illegally acquired the usage management information for purchase cannot use the content.

In addition, without acquiring the usage start date / time database from the date / time database and generating the usage management information for purchase, the usage management information for purchase with the usage start date / time registered in advance is prepared, and this is used with the third key. You may make it transmit after encrypting.
If the user has not acquired trial content from the server, a content package (regular content) in which usage management information for purchase and content data are collected may be transmitted. In this case, in addition to encrypting the usage management information for purchase with the third key, the corresponding content data is encrypted with the second key, and further the content package in which the data is collected is encrypted with the first key. It goes without saying that you send what you did. However, if the trial content is not obtained from the server but is obtained from a storage medium or the like, and the user is a registered user in the server with respect to the trial content acquisition, the user is a user who has obtained the trial content on the server side. Therefore, it is only necessary to transmit only the usage management information for purchase encrypted with the third key.

  The electronic music device decrypts the content package received from the server with the first key (step C12). Thus, one content package (trial content) is divided into trial usage management information and content data that are both encrypted with the second key. In step C13, the trial use management information is replaced with the purchase use management information encrypted with the received third key. In step C14, the content package in which the replaced usage management information and content data are combined is encrypted again with the first key and stored (stored) in the storage device 8. In other words, when the “trial content” is taken into the electronic music device, the content itself (content data) is already stored in the electronic music device, but this can be used for trial listening by restricting the usage based on the trial usage management information. The content data of When the content purchase procedure is performed, the electronic music apparatus simply obtains purchase management information from the server, and obtains “regular content” that allows normal data reproduction without usage restrictions. . According to this, the content data (substance data) itself needs to be downloaded only once when “trial content” is acquired.

  Next, “content use processing” using content (trial content or regular content) stored in the electronic music apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of “content use processing”. This process is executed when data playback is instructed in the electronic music apparatus, and each of the processes is performed in parallel while transmitting / receiving predetermined information to / from the server as in the other processes described above. This is not a type of processing, but is a processing executed solely by the electronic music apparatus.

  Step C21 decrypts the content package with the first key. Thus, one content package can be used for content data encrypted with the second key and trial use management information encrypted with the second key or for purchase encrypted with the third key. Divided into management information. In step C22, the usage management information is decrypted using the second key or the third key generated based on information unique to each device (unique ID). That is, since trial content or regular content is double-encrypted by combining the first key, the second key, and the third key, it is used when the content is encrypted in order to make it usable. Decryption must be performed according to the key provided. Therefore, the information included in the content package is decrypted using a key corresponding to the encryption. Step C23 determines whether or not the license information of the decrypted usage management information is “purchase”. This determination may be made simply by determining that the license information of the usage management information is “purchase” if the usage management information is successfully decrypted with the third key. On the contrary, if the usage management information is successfully decrypted with the second key, it may be determined that the license information of the usage management information is not “purchase” (that is, “trial”). Of course, it goes without saying that the license information of the decrypted usage management information may be confirmed to be “purchase” or “trial”.

  When the license information of the decrypted usage management information is not “purchase” (NO in step C23), it is determined that the content package is “trial content”, and the content data is decrypted with the second key. Is temporarily stored in the RAM 3 or the like to allow trial use (step C31). For example, the user can only listen to the content by restricting the playback function of the content data (music playback data) temporarily stored in the RAM 3 or the like according to the usage restriction based on the usage restriction information. After the process of step C31, the process of step C28 is executed. On the other hand, when the license information of the decrypted usage management information is “purchase” (YES in step C23), it is determined that the content package is “regular content”, and the current time is set to a predetermined time server (content It may be obtained from the server itself or another dedicated server (step C24). Step C25 determines whether or not the current time has been acquired from the time server. If the current time cannot be acquired from the time server (NO in step C25), the user is notified that the time cannot be acquired and cannot be used normally (step C29). In this case, the user can only listen to the content in accordance with the process of step C31.

  If the current time can be acquired from the time server (YES in step C25), it is determined whether or not the acquired current time is after the use start date / time information (step C26). If the acquired current time is not after the use start date and time information (NO in step C26), the user is notified by displaying that the regular use is not possible until the use start date and time (step C30). In this case as well, the user can only listen to the content according to the process of step C31. If the acquired current time is after the use start date / time information (YES in step C26), the content data is decrypted with the second key and authorized use is permitted (step C27). Step C28 erases the decrypted content data decrypted in step C27 or C31 and temporarily stored in the RAM 3 in response to a content use end instruction in response to a user operation such as a playback end operation.

  As described above, according to the electronic music apparatus which can only be listened to by receiving content with restricted usage, the regular use is permitted by performing the purchase procedure (license purchase). The use restriction of the content is released, and normal data reproduction or the like (in the case of music reproduction data) can be performed without using the content. However, unlike the conventional case, if the user has already purchased the content, the content cannot be used immediately without any usage restrictions, and must be after the usage start date and time determined in advance by the server side (content provider or distributor). This content cannot be used (reproduced or the like) without use restrictions, and only trial listening can be continued until the use start date and time. This will be described below.

  FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the content use restriction before and after the purchase procedure and the use start date and time. FIG. 6A shows content usage restrictions when no purchase procedure is performed. In this case, since the purchase procedure is not performed at all, the trial use management information and the purchase use management information are not replaced (see step C13 in FIG. 4). Therefore, the trial content cannot become regular content indefinitely (regular use is not permitted), and there are restrictions on the use of the trial content after the use start date and time as well as the use start date and time after acquisition from the server. The content can be used only within the range.

  FIG. 6B shows content use restrictions when a purchase procedure is performed before the use start date and time. In this case, since the purchase procedure is performed before the use start date and time, the trial content acquired from the server becomes the regular content before the use start date and time. However, if the purchase procedure is performed before the use start date and time, the period from the purchase procedure until the use start date and time arrives is a regular content, but the range of use restrictions is the same as for trial content The content can only be used within the Internet (regular use is not allowed). As the use start date and time arrives, regular content can be used without any usage restrictions, and after the use start date and time, the content can be used without any usage restrictions (regular use). Is allowed). As described above, the use restriction of the regular content based on the use start date / time is performed by the use start date / time information (time limit information) included in the use management information.

  FIG. 6C shows content use restrictions when a purchase procedure is performed after the use start date and time. In this case, since the purchase procedure is performed after the use start date and time, the trial content acquired from the server becomes the regular content after the purchase procedure. In this case, the trial content cannot be a regular content after the trial content is acquired until the purchase procedure is performed. Therefore, the content can be used only within a limited range of trial content until it is purchased from the server until the use start date and after the use start date. After that, it becomes regular content immediately, and since the use start date and time has already passed when the purchase procedure is done, the content can be used without restriction at any time after the purchase procedure (regular use is allowed) .

  As described above, the content before the purchase procedure is always used as a trial, while the content after the purchase procedure is set with the information indicating that the purchase has been completed (“purchase” license information) and the use start date / time information is set. Based on what is done, it will be officially used after the use start date and time, and it will be a trial before use start. As described above, in the content use device according to the present invention, not only the license information (included in the use management information) indicating whether or not the use of the content has been purchased, but also the use start date / time information (use management information). Included). In other words, in addition to controlling whether or not to allow regular use / trial use of content before and after purchase, it has become possible to manage timely whether or not regular use / trial use can be performed on the content after purchase. The regular use of the content is prohibited until the use start date and time until the use start date and time even after the purchase procedure without flooding the purchase procedure at the formal use start date and time of the predetermined content. It is possible to appropriately control the trial use of the content before the official start date of use and the regular use of the content after the start date and time of use while making it possible for the user to try the content.

In the above-described embodiment, when the acquired current time is not after the use start date / time information, the user is notified that the regular use is not possible until the use start date / time (see step C30 in FIG. 5). However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the remaining period until the use start date and time may be notified to the user. When the remaining period to be notified at this time is a short period (for example, 5 minutes or less), when the timer for executing the countdown of the remaining period is started (reproduction standby state), the time when the use start date and time is reached (That is, the timer remaining time is 0), the regular use of the content may be started. For example, if the content is data for music playback, if a content usage instruction is given 5 minutes before the usage start date and time, the remaining time from that point to the usage start date and time is counted down, and music playback is performed when the usage start date and time is reached The data for reproduction may be automatically started (in a reproduction standby state until the use start date and time is reached).
If the current time is after the use start date and time (step C26 in FIG. 5 is YES), the use start date and time information may be invalidated (for example, the use start date and time information is set to “no restriction”). Good. In this way, even if the time cannot be acquired from the time server after the use start date and time, the content can be used without use restrictions.

  The usage restriction information is set so that the usage restrictions on the “trial content” before the purchase procedure are different from the usage restrictions on the “regular content” after the purchase procedure and before the use start date and time. As such, the range of usage restrictions may be divided into a plurality of levels. For example, if the content is data for music playback, after the purchase procedure, the usage restrictions such as increasing the length of time that can be auditioned are relaxed, or after purchase procedure, the bonus content included in the content in advance can be auditioned. It is better to divide the scope of usage restrictions before and after the purchase procedure.

1 is a hardware configuration block diagram showing an overall configuration of an electronic music apparatus to which a content utilization apparatus according to the present invention is applied. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the data format of a content. It is a flowchart which shows one Example of a trial content acquisition process. It is a flowchart which shows one Example of a content purchase process. It is a flowchart which shows one Example of a content utilization process. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating content utilization restrictions.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... CPU, 2 ... ROM, 3 ... RAM, 4, 5 ... detection circuit, 4A ... performance operator, 5A ... setting operator, 6 ... display circuit, 6A ... display, 7 ... sound source / effect circuit, 7A ... sound System 8 ... Storage device 9 ... Communication interface 1D ... Communication bus (data and address bus)

Claims (4)

Content acquisition means for acquiring trial content including content data, license information that permits only trial use, and first management information that includes usage restriction information that enables trial use of the content data;
Purchasing procedure means for sending a purchase request to a predetermined server device connected to a communication network when the user wishes to use the acquired content data properly based on the purchase procedure operation of the user;
In response to the purchase request, from license information permitting regular use of the content data, use start date and time information specifying the use start date and time of regular use of the content data, and use restriction information enabling trial use of the content data Receiving means for receiving the second management information from the server device via the communication network;
By replacing the first management information included in the acquired trial content with the received second management information, the trial content is used as content data, license information permitting regular use of the content data, and trial use of the content data. Storage means for changing to and storing regular content including usage restriction information that enables the use of the content data and usage start date and time information that identifies the usage start date and time of regular use of the content data;
Time acquisition means for acquiring a time at which the user operation was performed in response to a user's use operation of the content data;
When the acquired time is before the use start date and time, the trial use of the content data subject to use restriction based on the use restriction information is permitted, while the acquired time is after the use start date and time. A content use device comprising: content use means for permitting regular use of the content data that is not subject to use restrictions based on the use restriction information. The content use apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first management information and the second management information are encrypted with different key data. The content utilizing unit, when could not get time by the time obtaining means, to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that only allow the trial of the content data subject to usage restrictions based on the use restriction information The content use device described. On the computer,
A procedure for acquiring trial content including content data, license information that permits only trial use, and first management information that includes usage restriction information that enables trial use of the content data;
A procedure for sending a purchase request to a predetermined server device connected to a communication network when the user wishes to use the acquired content data properly based on the user's purchase procedure operation;
In response to the purchase request, from license information permitting regular use of the content data, use start date and time information specifying the use start date and time of regular use of the content data, and use restriction information enabling trial use of the content data Receiving the second management information from the server device via the communication network;
By replacing the first management information included in the acquired trial content with the received second management information, the trial content is used as content data, license information permitting regular use of the content data, and trial use of the content data. A procedure for changing to regular content including usage restriction information enabling the use of the content data and usage start date and time information specifying the usage start date and time of regular use of the content data;
In accordance with a user's use operation of the content data, a procedure for acquiring a time when the user operation was performed;
When the acquired time is before the use start date and time, the trial use of the content data subject to use restriction based on the use restriction information is permitted, while the acquired time is after the use start date and time. Is a program for executing a procedure for permitting regular use of the content data that is not subject to usage restrictions based on the usage restriction information.

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