JP6039977B2 - Information processing apparatus, method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that uses content, and more particularly, to a technique for preventing unauthorized use of content.

  In recent years, a user can use various contents by causing an information processing apparatus to acquire contents through a network. The user acquires, for example, games, music, applications, educational video content, and the like from the content distribution platform.

  Information processing apparatuses for using these contents have been reduced in size and performance. Accordingly, information processing devices owned by users are diversified. For example, a user has a plurality of devices such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a notebook PC (Personal Computer), and a desktop PC, mainly uses the desktop PC at home, and uses the smartphone or tablet terminal while moving or going out. .

  In this way, the user can use the information processing apparatus properly according to the situation. Therefore, if the same content can be easily used by a plurality of information processing apparatuses, it is convenient for the user.

  For example, the content distribution platform authenticates the user using identification information (account name) for identifying each user, and associates the account with the account name to hold a history of content acquired by the user by purchase or the like. The user can acquire the content acquired in another terminal again by authenticating the content distribution platform based on the account name in each of the plurality of terminals.

  For example, when a user purchases video content for education from a content distribution platform and holds it on a tablet terminal and a desktop PC, the user views the content on the tablet terminal while out and on the desktop PC at home. can do. In this way, the user can easily use the content using a plurality of devices.

  As described above, various techniques are known for using the same content in a plurality of terminals. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-67332 (Patent Document 1) discloses a technology that can authenticate the same user even in different terminals and can use the content in different terminals. The terminal described in Patent Document 1 performs authentication based on terminal-specific information and user-specific information to determine whether content can be used in each terminal.

JP 2001-67332 A

  However, when a plurality of persons share an account name with malicious intent, a plurality of persons can use the same content using a plurality of terminals, which may be disadvantageous for the content provider.

  Therefore, there is a need for a technique for preventing unauthorized use of content.

  An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment has a communication function, and communicates with a storage unit that stores account information for identifying a user, apparatus specific information unique to the apparatus itself, and a distribution server that distributes content. A reception processing unit that receives authentication of the distribution server based on the account information and receives content from the authenticated distribution server, and another information processing apparatus that receives authentication of the distribution server with the same account information as the stored account information The presence or absence of a user operation performed for use of content in the device is acquired based on the device-specific information, and based on the acquired presence or absence of a user operation in the other information processing device, at least the own device or another information processing device And a control unit that restricts the use of content in either one of them.

  Preferably, the distribution server stores device-specific information of each information processing device sharing the account information, and the control unit is specific to the device of another information processing device sharing the account information through communication with the distribution server. By acquiring information and establishing communication connection with other information processing devices indicated in the acquired device-specific information to acquire the presence / absence of user operations performed for use of content in other information processing devices Also good.

  Preferably, the control unit determines whether or not there is a user operation of the own device when receiving an inquiry process of the presence or absence of a user operation performed for use of content in the own device from another information processing device. The presence / absence of a user operation of the own apparatus may be transmitted to another information processing apparatus.

  Preferably, the control unit includes an input monitoring unit that acquires a point in time when the user's operation is received in the own device, and the operation determination unit is based on the user's operation point acquired by the input monitoring unit. It is good also as determining the presence or absence of.

  Preferably, the storage unit stores a content management application for executing a process of acquiring content from the distribution server and a process of using the content acquired from the distribution server. The use of content may be restricted by restricting execution.

  According to another embodiment, a method is provided for an information processing apparatus having a communication function to manage content usage. The information processing device stores account information for identifying the user and device unique information unique to the device itself. In this method, an information processing device communicates with a distribution server that distributes content, receives authentication of the distribution server based on account information, and receives content from an authenticated distribution server; Based on the device-specific information, the information processing device acquires the presence / absence of a user operation performed for content use in another information processing device that receives authentication of the distribution server by the same account information as the acquired account information. And restricting the use of content in at least one of the information processing apparatus and another information processing apparatus based on the presence / absence of a user operation.

  According to another embodiment, a program for controlling an operation for managing content use by an information processing apparatus having a communication function is provided. The information processing device includes a memory for storing account information for identifying a user, device unique information unique to the device itself, and a processor. This program communicates with a distribution server that distributes content to a processor, receives authentication of the distribution server based on account information, and receives content from an authenticated distribution server, and is the same as stored account information Based on the device-specific information, the presence / absence of a user operation performed for use of content in another information processing device that is authenticated by the distribution server based on the account information is acquired. Based on this, the step of restricting the use of content in at least one of the own apparatus or another information processing apparatus is executed.

According to the one embodiment, unauthorized use of content can be suppressed.
The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

It is a figure which shows the outline of the whole structure of the network containing the information processing apparatus of embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows each function of the server 800 comprised by a some server. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing apparatus 100. FIG. It is a figure which shows the user management information 86. It is a figure which shows the other terminal information 24. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing in which the information processing apparatus 100 activates a content management application and restricts activation of the content management application in accordance with a user operation status in another information processing apparatus. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing for establishing a direct communication connection with another information processing apparatus sharing an account after the information processing apparatus 100 is authenticated by the server 800. It is a figure which shows the process which determines whether the information processing apparatus 100 communicates with another information processing apparatus, and the other information processing apparatus detected a user's operation. It is a flowchart which shows the process which determines whether the information processing apparatus 100 has started the content management application and the user's operation is performed within predetermined time.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

<1.1 Network configuration overview>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an overall configuration of a network including an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the network includes an information processing device 100A, an information processing device 100B, an information processing device 100C, a wireless router 200, a wireless base station 300, a network 700, and a server 800. The information processing apparatus 100A, the information processing apparatus 100B, and the information processing apparatus 100C (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “information processing apparatus 100”) include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), A RAM (Random Access Memory), a display, a communication interface, and the like are provided and operate according to a program.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 100 is connected to the Internet through a wireless router 200, a wireless base station 300, and the like, and the information processing apparatus 100A, the information processing apparatus 100B, and the information processing apparatus 100C pass through a network 700. Etc. can communicate with each other. The information processing apparatus 100 can communicate with the server 800 and download an application from the server 800.

  The server 800 is a server group including a plurality of servers such as the server 800A and the server 800B. The server 800 distributes digital content to the information processing apparatus 100. The digital content distributed by the server 800 is, for example, an application operating on the information processing apparatus 100, a game program, music data, moving image data, an electronic book, or the like. The server 800 functions as a content distribution platform for distributing digital content. The content provider provides content to the content distribution platform.

  The server 800 receives access from the information processing apparatus 100, authenticates the user who uses the content, and transmits the content desired by the user to the information processing apparatus 100 of the authenticated user. The server 800 distributes the content to the information processing apparatus 100 in various formats such as streaming data or a data file.

  The information processing apparatus 100 stores, for example, a content acquired by a user through a content distribution platform and an application for using the acquired content (hereinafter, this application may be referred to as a “content management application”). The information processing apparatus 100 executes processing for receiving the authentication of the content distribution platform by executing this application, processing for acquiring a list of content through the content distribution platform, processing for purchasing content through the content distribution platform, user Various processes for acquiring and using the content, such as a process of displaying a list of contents acquired by purchase, a process of reproducing the content by the user, and the like are executed.

  The user has a plurality of information processing apparatuses, and can use the same content in each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses. For example, the user operates the information processing apparatus 100A to communicate with the server 800, receives authentication of the server 800 by an account name for identifying the user, and receives content (for example, music data, educational video content, etc.). The content is purchased and received by the information processing apparatus 100A. Thereafter, when the user operates information processing apparatus 100B and information processing apparatus 100C, each information processing apparatus communicates with server 800 and receives authentication of server 800 using the above account name. The user also receives content that has already been purchased at the information processing apparatus 100A, at the information processing apparatus 100B and the information processing apparatus 100C.

  When the information processing apparatus 100 is authenticated by the server 800, the server 800 is associated with an account name for each information processing apparatus 100 and identifies device information (for example, the information processing apparatus 100). Device-specific information such as the IP (Internet Protocol) address, the MAC (Media Access Control) address of the information processing apparatus 100, the device name set in the information processing apparatus 100, the login user name of the information processing apparatus 100, etc. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a user uses content received from a server 800 using an information processing apparatus 100A (note PC (Personal Computer)) at home (for example, playing music data), The content is used by using the information processing apparatus 100B (tablet terminal) and the information processing apparatus 100C (smart phone).

  Thus, the content distribution platform (server 800) of this embodiment permits one user to use content on a plurality of terminals. The user purchases and receives the content from the content distribution platform after receiving authentication based on the account name using any of the information processing devices that the user has, so that the content can be displayed on other information processing devices owned by the user. It can be received and used.

  However, if multiple users share the same account name with malicious intent, multiple users will pretend to be one user and use the content, which may be disadvantageous for the content owner (right holder, etc.) There is. Therefore, the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment restricts the use of content by the user when there is a possibility that a plurality of users operate the information processing apparatus 100 using the same account name. Thereby, the content owner's disadvantage can be prevented.

<1.2 Configuration of Server 800>
Next, the configuration of the server 800 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating each function of the server 800 including a plurality of servers. As shown in FIG. 2, the server 800 includes a communication unit 81, a control unit 82, and a storage unit 83.

  The communication unit 81 includes a communication interface for communicating with other devices, and receives a connection request from the information processing device 100 and transmits various contents to the information processing device 100 under the control of the control unit 82.

  The control unit 82 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and controls the operation of the server 800 according to a program. For example, the control unit 82 transmits a connection request from the information processing apparatus 100, a process of transmitting a list of contents to the information processing apparatus 100, a payment process for the user of the information processing apparatus 100 to acquire the content, and information processing Processing for transmitting content to the apparatus 100 is performed.

  The storage unit 83 constitutes a storage area for storing various data used by the server 800, and is realized by a hard disk or the like. The storage unit 83 stores user management information 86 and content 87 (content 87A, content 87B,...). The user management information 86 is information including an account name (user ID) for identifying a user of the information processing apparatus 100 and unique information of the information processing apparatus, and a plurality of pieces used by a certain user for use of content. The information of the device is shown.

The content 87 shows various contents provided from the content owner.
<1.3 Configuration of Information Processing Device 100>
Next, the configuration of the information processing apparatus 100 will be described. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating the configuration of the information processing apparatus 100. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the information processing apparatus 100 includes a communication unit 10, a storage unit 20, an operation unit 30, a display unit 40, and a control unit 50. The control unit 50 includes an input monitoring unit 51, an own terminal operation determination unit 52, an other terminal operation determination unit 53, and an application process execution unit 54.

  The communication unit 10 is a communication interface for communicating with an external device. Evolution) and a LAN port for Ethernet (registered trademark).

  The storage unit 20 forms a storage area for storing various programs and data, and is realized by a flash memory, a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), a hard disk, or the like. The storage unit 20 stores account information 21, terminal specific information 22, input time information 23, and other terminal information 24.

  The account information 21 is information related to an account (user ID) issued from the server 800 to the user so that the user can use the content distribution platform provided by the server 800. The account information 21 includes information for the user to log into the server 800 by operating the information processing apparatus 100. The server 800 authenticates the user when the information processing apparatus 100 acquires content through the content distribution platform. For example, the server 800 authenticates the user of the content distribution platform by a combination of an account name and a password.

  The terminal specific information 22 is information specific to the information processing apparatus 100 (for example, the IP address of the information processing apparatus 100, the MAC address of the information processing apparatus 100, the device name set in the information processing apparatus 100, the information processing apparatus 100). Login user name, etc.). The information processing apparatus 100 communicates with the server 800 and transmits the terminal specific information 22 to the server 800 when using the content distribution platform. The server 800 stores an account name and device-specific information in the user management information 86, and manages an information processing device used by a certain user to use content.

  The input time information 23 stores the last input time when the user performed an input operation on the information processing apparatus 100. The elapsed time from the user's last input time indicates a period during which the user has not performed an input operation on the information processing apparatus 100.

  The other terminal information 24 indicates an information processing apparatus other than the own apparatus, which shares an account (account information 21) for using the content distribution platform. The server 800 manages an information processing apparatus associated with an account. Therefore, the information processing apparatus 100 receives authentication of the server 800 using the account indicated in the account information 21, and receives information on the other information processing apparatus from the server 800 in order to establish a communication connection with the other information processing apparatus. get.

  The operation unit 30 is an input member for receiving a user operation, and is realized by, for example, a touch panel, operation keys, and a pointing device. The operation unit 30 outputs the user operation content to the control unit 50 in accordance with the user operation.

  The display unit 40 has a display function for displaying content, and is realized by, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (Electroluminescence). The display unit 40 displays an image according to the control of the control unit 50.

  The control unit 50 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and controls operations (content reproduction processing, communication processing, etc.) of the information processing apparatus 100 by reading and executing a program. The control unit 50 includes an input monitoring unit 51, an own terminal operation determination unit 52, an other terminal operation determination unit 53, and an application process execution unit 54.

  The input monitoring unit 51 monitors a user input operation on the operation unit 30 and acquires the system time of the information processing apparatus 100 when the user input operation is performed. The input monitoring unit 51 causes the storage unit 20 to store the system time acquired at the time of user operation as the input time information 23.

  The own terminal operation determination unit 52 determines whether or not the own device is operating the content management application and a user operation is performed within a predetermined time. The control unit 50 receives an inquiry from another information processing apparatus whether the own apparatus operates the content management application and the user's operation is performed, and determines the determination result of the own terminal operation determination unit 52 Notify the information processing device.

  The other terminal operation determination unit 53 inquires of the other information processing apparatus whether the other information processing apparatus is operating the content management application and the user's operation is performed within a predetermined time. The other terminal operation determination unit 53 receives the response result from the other information processing apparatus, and determines whether the other information processing apparatus is operating the content management application and a user operation is performed. .

  The application processing execution unit 54 executes a content management application and performs processing such as communication with the content distribution platform to receive user authentication, acquisition of content through the content distribution platform, and use / playback of the acquired content. Do. As described above, the application process execution unit 54 functions as a content reception processing unit for receiving content from the server 800. For example, when the information processing apparatus 100 operates the content management application to cause the information processing apparatus 100 to function as an electronic book reader, the application processing execution unit 54 performs processing for acquiring an electronic book from the content distribution platform, and the acquired electronic Processing for displaying the book on the display unit 40 is performed. In addition, when the online processing software is acquired from the content distribution platform, the application processing execution unit 54 performs original processing of the game such as display control on the display unit 40.

  Further, the application processing execution unit 54 restricts the execution of the content management application according to the determination result of whether or not another information processing apparatus is operated for content use during the execution of the content management application. As described above, the application process execution unit 54 functions as a usage control unit for restricting the use of content under a certain condition.

<2 data>
Next, each data used by the server 800 and the information processing apparatus 100 will be described.

<2.1 Server side data>
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the user management information 86. The server 800 uses the user management information 86 to manage information processing apparatuses that use the content distribution platform for each account. As shown in FIG. 4, one record of the user management information 86 includes an account name 61, a device identifier 62, an address 63, and a content type 64.

  The account name 61 indicates a user account. The device identifier 62 indicates an identifier of an information processing apparatus used in each account. The address 63 indicates the address of each information processing apparatus for the server 800 to communicate with each information processing apparatus indicated by the device identifier 62. The content type 64 indicates the type of content used by each information processing apparatus indicated by the device identifier 62. Examples of content types include music, moving images, games, and applications.

<2.2 Data Used in Information Processing Apparatus 100>
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the other terminal information 24. The information processing apparatus 100 uses the other terminal information 24 to communicate with other information processing apparatuses that share the account that the information processing apparatus 100 uses to use the content distribution platform. As shown in FIG. 5, one record of the other terminal information 24 includes a device identifier 41, an address 42, and a content type 43.

  The device identifier 41 indicates an identifier of another information processing apparatus that shares an account for the information processing apparatus 100 to use the content distribution platform. The address 42 indicates an address for communication between each information processing apparatus indicated by the device identifier 41 and the information processing apparatus 100. The content type 43 indicates the type of content used by each information processing apparatus.

<3 operation>
Next, the operation of the information processing apparatus 100 will be described.

<3.1 Overall Operation of Information Processing Device 100>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing in which the information processing apparatus 100 activates the content management application and restricts activation of the content management application in accordance with a user operation status in another information processing apparatus.

  The information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment acquires a user operation status in another information processing apparatus that shares an account for using the content distribution platform after the authentication processing by the server 800 is completed. Through 800, direct communication (Peer to Peer) is established with another information processing apparatus. After establishing the direct communication, the information processing apparatus 100 inquires about other user information processing apparatuses about the operation status of the user, and restricts activation of the content management application based on the response result.

  Thereby, when there is a possibility that an account for using the content distribution platform is illegally used by a plurality of users, this illegal use can be prevented. This will be specifically described below.

  In step S61, the application process execution unit 54 activates the content management application, communicates with the server 800, and receives authentication of the server 800 using the account information 21 and the like. As a result of the authentication of the server 800, when the use of the content distribution platform provided by the server 800 becomes possible, the application process execution unit 54 executes the process of step S63.

  In step S <b> 63, the application processing execution unit 54 acquires information of other information processing apparatuses that share the account from the server 800 and stores the information in the account information 21, and shares the account based on the information indicated in the account information 21. A direct communication connection is established with another information processing apparatus. Details of the processing in step S63 will be described later.

  In step S65, the application processing execution unit 54 inquires of the other information processing apparatus that has established the direct communication connection about the operation status of the user for using the content distribution platform and using the content. Based on the response result from, it is determined whether or not another information processing apparatus has detected an operation for use of the content by the user within a predetermined time. When the determination result indicates that the user operation for using the content has been performed in another information processing apparatus within the predetermined time (YES in step S65), the application process execution unit 54 executes the process of step S69. To do. When the determination result indicates that the user operation for using the content is not detected in another information processing apparatus within the predetermined time (NO in step S65), the application process execution unit 54 performs the process of step S67. Run.

  In step S67, the application process execution unit 54 continues to start the content management application. Accordingly, the user can use the content distribution platform and also performs processing such as content reproduction. Thereafter, the application process execution unit 54 repeats the process of step S65.

  In step S69, the application process execution unit 54 interrupts the activation of the content management application. Thereby, the user is limited in the process of acquiring the content through the content distribution platform, the process of reproducing the content acquired through the content distribution platform, and the like.

  As described above, in the processing of step S65 described above, when it is detected that another information processing apparatus sharing an account has received a user operation for using the content within a predetermined time, a plurality of persons share the account. There is a possibility. Note that the length of the predetermined time may be set based on the time required to switch the information processing apparatus to be operated, for example, when the user uses a plurality of information processing apparatuses.

  For example, when a user uses a notebook PC and a tablet terminal at the same time, it takes about several seconds to switch from an input operation to the notebook PC to an input operation to the tablet terminal. In this case, the information processing apparatus 100 sets the length of the predetermined time based on the length of time for switching the input operation.

<3.2 Establishing Direct Communication Between Information Processing Devices 100>
Next, details of the processing in step S63 will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process for establishing a direct communication connection with another information processing apparatus sharing an account after the information processing apparatus 100 is authenticated by the server 800. In the example of FIG. 7, after the information processing apparatus “terminal A” is authenticated by the server 800, processing for establishing a direct communication connection with another information processing apparatus is executed, and then the information processing apparatus “terminal B”. Will be described as executing processing for establishing a direct communication connection with another information processing apparatus. Therefore, a direct communication connection is established between terminal A and terminal B. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the information processing apparatus 100 establishes P2P (Peer two Peer) communication with another information processing apparatus via the server 800.

  In step S71, after receiving the authentication of the server 800 (refer to FIG. 6 again, step S61 in FIG. 6), the application processing execution unit 54 establishes a direct communication connection with another information processing apparatus. The account name for using the platform, the device unique information unique to the information processing device 100, and the address of the information processing device 100 are read from the storage unit 20 and transmitted to the server 800. In the example of FIG. 7, the account name “user_1”, the device identifier “termid_A”, and the address “ip_A” are transmitted from the terminal A to the server 800.

  In step S <b> 81, the server 800 registers the account name, device identifier, and address transmitted from the information processing apparatus 100 in the user management information 86.

  In step S83, the server 800, based on the account name transmitted from the information processing apparatus 100, the identifier and address (device identifier 62) of the other information processing apparatus indicated in the account name managed in the user management information 86. And address 63) are read from the user management information 86 and transmitted to the information processing apparatus 100. In step S83 in the example of FIG. 7, since there is no information processing apparatus registered in the user management information 86 other than “terminal A”, other information processing registered from the server 800 to the information processing apparatus 100 is performed. You will be notified that there is no device.

  In step S <b> 73, the information processing apparatus 100 receives information about other information processing apparatuses sharing the account name from the server 800 and registers the received information in the other terminal information 24. In step S73 of the example of FIG. 7, no information processing apparatus other than the terminal A is registered in the user management information 86, and the response from the server 800 indicates that there is no other information processing apparatus registered. It is a response.

  Here, it is assumed that the information processing apparatus “terminal B” is newly authenticated by the server 800 (refer to FIG. 6 again, step S61 in FIG. 6). The information processing apparatus “terminal B” performs the following processing shown in FIG. 7 in order to establish a direct communication connection with another information processing apparatus.

  In step S91, the application process execution unit 54 of the terminal B, like the terminal A, sets the account name for using the content distribution platform, the information processing apparatus 100 to establish a direct communication connection with another information processing apparatus. The unique device unique information and the address of the information processing device 100 are read from the storage unit 20 and transmitted to the server 800. In the example of FIG. 7, the account name “user_1”, the device identifier “termid_B”, and the address “ip_B” are transmitted from the terminal B to the server 800.

  In step S <b> 85, the server 800 registers the account name and the like transmitted from the information processing apparatus 100 that is “terminal B” in the user management information 86.

  In step S <b> 87, the server 800 identifies the other information processing apparatus indicated by the account name managed in the user management information 86 based on the account name transmitted from the information processing apparatus 100 that is “terminal B”. And the address (device identifier 62 and address 63) are read from the user management information 86 and transmitted to the information processing apparatus 100. In step 87 of the example of FIG. 7, since there is another information processing apparatus “terminal A” registered in the user management information 86, the server 800 refers to the user management information 86 and stores “terminal A”. The identifier and the address are transmitted to the information processing apparatus 100 of “terminal B”. 7, the server 800 transmits “termid_A” as the device identifier of the terminal A and “ip_A” as the address of the terminal A to the information processing apparatus 100 of “terminal B”.

  In step S <b> 93, the information processing apparatus 100 of “terminal B” receives information about the other information processing apparatuses sharing the account name from the server 800 and registers the received information in the other terminal information 24. In the example of FIG. 7, the application process execution unit 54 of the terminal B receives the device identifier of the terminal A and the address of the terminal A from the server 800 and registers them in the other terminal information 24.

  In step S95, the information processing apparatus 100 of the terminal B acquires information about the other information processing apparatus from the server 800, thereby requesting to establish direct communication with the other information processing apparatuses sharing the account. Send. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the application process execution unit 54 of the terminal B transmits a request for establishing direct communication by transmitting the device identifier (termid_B) of the terminal B and the address (ip_B) of the terminal B to the terminal A. .

  In step S75, the application process execution unit 54 of the terminal A receives the device identifier and address of the terminal B from the terminal B. The application process execution unit 54 of the terminal A establishes a direct connection with the terminal B based on the received address of the terminal B (accept). The application process execution unit 54 of the terminal A registers the received device identifier (termid_B) of the terminal B and the address (ip_B) of the terminal B in the other terminal information 24 of the terminal A.

<3.3 Processing in which the information processing apparatus 100 detects another information processing apparatus being operated simultaneously>
Next, details of the processing in step S65 will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating processing for determining whether or not the information processing apparatus 100 communicates with another information processing apparatus and the other information processing apparatus detects a user operation for using the content.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, the information processing apparatus 100 inquires of another information processing apparatus that has established a direct communication connection whether or not a user operation has been performed within a predetermined time, and receives a response result thereof. . In the following description, it is assumed that “terminal A” executes the above inquiry to other information processing apparatuses (“terminal B”, “terminal C”, “terminal D”).

  In step S101, the other-terminal operation determination unit 53 of the terminal A issues a query to inquire whether another user operation has been performed within a predetermined time with respect to another information processing apparatus that has established a direct communication connection. This query includes an account name shared with other information processing apparatuses, an identifier of the information processing apparatus as the transmission destination, and an address of the information processing apparatus as the transmission source.

  For example, in FIG. 8, terminal A issues a query “query (user_1, termid_B, ip_A)” to terminal B. This query indicates that the shared account name is “user_1”, the identifier of the destination information processing device is “termid_B”, and the address of the source information processing device is “ip_A”. Terminal A issues similar queries to terminal C and terminal D as well. Here, it is assumed that the terminal D is turned off after establishing a direct communication connection with the terminal A. Terminal B uses a content management application, and terminal C does not use a content management application.

  In step S111, the terminal B receives the query from the terminal A, and the own terminal operation determination unit 52 determines the presence / absence of the user's operation for using the content in the own terminal. Note that it is assumed that the user of the terminal B is using the content management application and that the user's operation is performed within a predetermined time when the query from the terminal A is received.

  In step S113, the terminal B transmits the determination result (indicating that the user is operating) of the own terminal operation determination unit 52 to the terminal A. In FIG. 8, the response result of step S113 is shown as “response (during operation)”.

  In step S121, the terminal C receives the query from the terminal A, and the own terminal operation determination unit 52 determines the presence / absence of the user's operation for using the content in the own terminal. It is assumed that the user of the terminal C does not use the content management application.

  In step S123, the terminal C transmits the determination result of the own terminal operation determination unit 52 (indicating that the user is not operating) to the terminal A. FIG. 8 shows the response result of step S123 as “response (not in operation)”.

  In step S103, after issuing a query to the terminal D, the terminal A does not receive a response from the terminal D, and performs a timeout process so that the response result from each terminal is accepted as a response result from each terminal. Based on the processing. Based on the response result from the other information processing apparatus, if the user is operating on the other information processing apparatus, the terminal A determines that the user operation is detected on the other information processing apparatus. Further, when the user is not operating in any of the other information processing apparatuses, the terminal A determines that the user operation is not detected in the other information processing apparatus based on the response result.

<3.4 Determination of User Operation>
Next, details of the processing of the own terminal operation determination unit 52 of the information processing apparatus 100 will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating processing for determining whether or not the information processing apparatus 100 has activated the content management application and a user operation has been performed within a predetermined time.

  In step S131, the own terminal operation determination unit 52 determines whether or not the content management application is being executed. For example, the own terminal operation determination unit 52 refers to a process list managed by an OS (Operating System) of the information processing apparatus 100 and determines whether the content management application is activated or not activated. When the content management application is activated (step S131: YES), the own terminal operation determination unit 52 executes the process of step S133, and when the content management application is not activated (step S131: NO), the own terminal. The operation determination unit 52 executes the process of step S139.

  In step S133, the own terminal operation determination unit 52 reads the input time information 23 and acquires the last input time when the input operation by the user was performed.

  In step S135, the own terminal operation determination unit 52 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the last input time read in step S133 (whether the user has not been operated for a predetermined time or more). . When the state in which the user has not been operated continues for a predetermined time or longer (step S135: YES), the own terminal operation determination unit 52 executes the process of step S139. When the user has not operated for a predetermined time or longer (step S135: NO), the own terminal operation determination unit 52 executes the process of step S137.

  In step S137, the own terminal operation determination unit 52 determines that the user has started the content management application and is operating.

  In step S139, the own terminal operation determination unit 52 determines that the user is not operating the content management application.

<4 Modification>
Although the information processing apparatus 100 of the embodiment has been described, it can be modified as follows. In the description of the above embodiment, when the information processing apparatus 100 responds to an inquiry about whether or not a user operation has been performed from another information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus 100 notifies whether or not the user operation has occurred within a predetermined time (FIG. 8). reference). Here, in step S113 in the example of FIG. 8, when the information processing apparatus 100 starts the content management application and responds to another information processing apparatus when a user operation is performed, the content used by the content management application May be included in the response content. The information processing apparatus 100 that has received the response result can determine the type of content that the user is using in another information processing apparatus.

  For example, in the example of FIG. 8, a situation where the same user uses different contents on a plurality of terminals, such as when terminal B is playing music as content and terminal A is displaying an electronic book, There is also. Therefore, when the types of content used by each information processing device are different, or when the content used by each information processing device is a specific combination (for example, when displaying an electronic book on a tablet terminal and playing music on a notebook PC) In this case, the information processing apparatus 100 may continue the activation of the content management application. In addition, in order to determine the type of content being used by the user in another information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus 100 tells the server 800 the type of content used by the information processing apparatus sharing the account. It may be inquired.

  In this case, the server 800 manages the content type used by the information processing apparatus in the content type 64 of the user management information 86 in response to a request from the information processing apparatus. Further, in response to the inquiry from the information processing apparatus 100, the server 800 transmits the type of content used by the information processing apparatuses sharing the account to the information processing apparatus 100.

  Note that the information processing apparatus 100 detects whether or not a user operation has been performed for a certain period of time by using a resident module in order to reduce power consumption and the like. When it is detected by the resident module that no user operation is performed, the information processing apparatus 100 performs processing such as turning off the display on the display. Therefore, in the configuration of the information processing apparatus 100 described above, the determination as to whether or not the user has not operated the information processing apparatus 100 for a certain time or more may be realized by a resident module of the information processing apparatus 100.

  In the description of the above embodiment, the information processing apparatus establishes a direct communication connection with another information processing apparatus that shares an account name via the server 800 and directly communicates with the other information processing apparatus. The user's operation status in another information processing apparatus is acquired. Not limited to this, the information processing apparatus 100 may query the server 800 about the operation status of the user of another information processing apparatus, and thereby acquire the operation status of the user of the other information processing apparatus from the server 800. Good. In this case, whenever the information processing apparatus 100 accepts a user operation, the information processing apparatus 100 notifies the server 800 that the user operation has been accepted.

  In the description of the above embodiment, in order to restrict the use of content, the activation of the content management application of the own device is restricted when there is a possibility that an operation using the content is performed in another information processing device. In the above description, the use of content in the own device is restricted. The present invention is not limited to this, and the use of content may be restricted in other information processing apparatuses.

  For example, the information processing apparatus 100 notifies the other information processing apparatus that has established a communication connection that the application process execution unit 54 restricts the activation of the content management application in its own apparatus. The other information processing apparatus receives the notification that the activation of the content management application is restricted, and restricts the use of the content. Thereby, when there is a possibility that a plurality of users share an account, the use of content can be restricted not only in the own device but also in other devices. Further, the use of content may be permitted for either the own device or another device. That is, when an account name is shared by a plurality of information processing apparatuses, the use of content is permitted for one information processing apparatus.

  As described in the above embodiment, when a plurality of information processing apparatuses are operated together within a predetermined time using the same account, the information processing apparatus determines that content is illegally used by a plurality of users. , Restrict the use of content. The content management application has a function of determining whether or not the content management application is being used by a device other than the device itself, thereby detecting unauthorized use of the content by the plurality of users. Here, when the following conditions are satisfied, the content management application determines that a plurality of information processing terminals are operated almost simultaneously. The conditions are: (1) the content management application running using the same account in another information processing apparatus (existing as a process), (2) within a predetermined time In addition, an input operation (key operation, pointing device input, touch operation, etc.) is performed by the user. For example, when a user goes out while starting a content management application with a PC at home, the user may want to start the content management application even when the user is away from home. Therefore, the present embodiment is described as determining whether the user simultaneously uses a plurality of information processing apparatuses using (2) as well as (1).

  Thus, according to the information processing apparatus of the above-described embodiment, it is possible to automatically detect a situation in which the same user account is shared by a plurality of users against the specification intended by the application. By restricting the operation of the application in these cases by the information processing device, the right holder and the like regarding the content can avoid the disadvantage.

  The information processing apparatus of the present invention includes a processor such as a CPU, and is realized by the CPU executing a program. The program for realizing the present invention can be stored in a computer-readable recording medium, for example, a semiconductor memory, a hard disk, an optical disk, or the like, provided by being recorded on these recording media, or a network via a communication interface. Provided by sending and receiving using.

  As mentioned above, the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say. The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  10 communication unit, 20 storage unit, 21 account information, 22 terminal specific information, 23 input time information, 24 other terminal information, 30 operation unit, 40 display unit, 41 device identifier, 42 address, 43 content type, 50 control unit, 51 Input monitoring unit, 52 Own terminal operation determination unit, 53 Other terminal operation determination unit, 54 Application process execution unit, 61 Account name, 62 Device identifier, 63 Address, 64 Content type, 81 Communication unit, 82 Control unit, 83 Storage Part, 86 user management information, 87 content, 100 information processing device, 200 wireless router, 300 wireless base station, 700 network, 800 server.

Claims (5)

An information processing apparatus having a communication function,
A storage unit that stores account information for identifying a user and device-specific information unique to the device;
A reception processing unit that communicates with a distribution server that distributes content, receives authentication of the distribution server based on the account information, and receives content from the authenticated distribution server;
A control unit for restricting the use of the content,
The controller is
Including an operation determination unit that determines the presence / absence of a user operation of the own device when receiving an inquiry process of the presence / absence of a user operation performed for use of content in the own device from another information processing device;
Receiving, from the distribution server, device-specific information of another information processing apparatus that has been authenticated by the distribution server with the same account information as the stored account information;
Queries the other information processing apparatus indicated in the received apparatus specific information about the presence or absence of the user operation,
An information processing apparatus that restricts use of the content in at least one of the own apparatus and the other information processing apparatus when a determination result indicating that the user operation is present is received from the other information processing apparatus. The control unit includes an input monitoring unit that acquires a time point when a user operation is received in the own device,
The operation determination unit determines whether or not there is a user operation of the own device based on a user operation time acquired by the input monitoring unit.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The storage unit stores a content management application for executing processing for acquiring content from the distribution server and processing for using content acquired from the distribution server;
The control unit restricts use of the content by restricting execution of the content management application.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. An information processing apparatus having a communication function is a method for managing content use,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Stores account information for identifying a user and device-specific information unique to the device itself,
In the method, the information processing apparatus
Communicating with a distribution server that distributes content, receiving authentication of the distribution server based on the account information, and receiving content from the authenticated distribution server;
A step of determining the presence / absence of a user operation of the own device when receiving an inquiry process of the presence / absence of a user operation for use of content in the own device from another information processing device;
Receiving, from the distribution server, device-specific information of another information processing apparatus that has been authenticated by the distribution server with the same account information as the stored account information;
The information processing apparatus inquires of the other information processing apparatus indicated by the received apparatus specific information about the presence or absence of the user operation;
When the information processing apparatus receives a determination result indicating that the user operation is performed from the other information processing apparatus, the use of the content in at least one of the own apparatus and the other information processing apparatus is restricted. Including steps,
Method. An information processing apparatus having a communication function is a program for controlling operations for managing content use,
The information processing apparatus includes account information for identifying a user, memory for storing device-specific information unique to the device itself, and a processor.
The program is stored in the processor.
Communicating with a distribution server that distributes content, receiving authentication of the distribution server based on the account information, and receiving content from the authenticated distribution server;
A step of determining the presence / absence of a user operation of the own device when receiving an inquiry process of the presence / absence of a user operation for use of content in the own device from another information processing device;
Receiving, from the distribution server, device-specific information of another information processing apparatus that has been authenticated by the distribution server with the same account information as the stored account information;
Inquiring about the presence or absence of the user operation to another information processing apparatus indicated in the received apparatus specific information;
When the determination result that the user operation is present is received from the other information processing apparatus, the step of restricting the use of the content in at least one of the own apparatus and the other information processing apparatus is executed.
program.

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