JPH10208385A - Information reproducing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make area information rewritable from the outside to prevent the information, which is ethically undesirable in an area from being reproduced and also to prevent the alteration of area information to illegal ones. SOLUTION: A system installment information means 14 and a reproduction time information means 15 respectively inform of the time and area of installment and the time of reproduction. A system installment renewing means 22 renews system installment information 21 if an announced time of installment has exceeded a specified time after the previous time of installment. A reproduction control means 25 reproduces data by a data reproducing means 20 when the area of installment is found to be equal to the medium area by an area comparing means 23 and the reproduction time is found to be greater than the time of installment by a time comparing means 24.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an information reproducing system for reproducing information using an information storage medium for recording an information signal including program data, audio information, and video information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, floppy disks, hard disks and CD-ROMs (Compact Disc-Read Online) have been used as information storage media for program data, audio information and video information.
y Memory) is known. In particular, CD-ROMs
It is a portable medium with a storage capacity of over 600 MB,
In addition, it has been widely used for distribution of various softwares, for example, because production costs have been reduced.

On the other hand, the performance of personal computers has been remarkably improved in recent years, and it has become possible to handle video and audio data (hereinafter referred to as AV data) on personal computers. For example, MPEG1 (Moving Pict
Applications for recording and distributing digital moving image data files using a video compression method called ure Experts Group 1) on a CD-ROM or the like are increasing. However, while the MPEG1 system has a high compression ratio, the image is significantly deteriorated. Therefore, it is not suitable for applications requiring high-quality images such as movies.

In recent years, a more advanced video compression system called the MPEG2 system and an optical disk having a large capacity close to 5 GB called a DVD have been developed. This 2
The fusion of the two technologies makes it possible for DVDs to record high-quality digital AV data for two hours or more, and is greatly expected as a next-generation AV data storage medium.

[0005] DVD playback systems can be roughly classified into two types.
Are classified into two types. One is a DVD player in the consumer field, which is a system in which a functional block for reproducing compressed AV data from a DVD and a functional block for expanding compressed AV data are integrated. The other is a computer system including what is called a DVD drive and an AV decode card in the computer field. The DVD drive has a function of reproducing compressed AV data and uncompressed control data from a DVD. The AV decode card is a compressed AV
It has a function to decompress data. These two are independent devices and are incorporated in a computer.
For example, a DVD drive is installed in an expansion bay of a computer, an AV decode card is inserted into an expansion slot of the computer, and so on. The computer converts the compressed AV data reproduced from the DVD drive based on the control data reproduced from the DVD drive,
It is expanded by an AV decode card and controlled to reproduce AV data. Similar to this relationship, a video CD player, a CD-ROM drive and an MPEG
There are computer systems that incorporate one decoder board.

However, it is also a fact that it is difficult for a system in the consumer field and a system in the computer field to reproduce the same medium, DVD, thereby protecting copyrights and the like. As a conventional example, Japanese Patent Application No. 07-261266 discloses a method of protecting copyright and a method of classifying devices according to use or region. According to this conventional example, an information storage medium that stores scrambled (or encrypted) data and key information for descrambling is used, and an information reproducing apparatus is provided with a descrambling circuit, and key information is transferred between information reproducing apparatuses. The issue of copyright protection is solved by performing mutual authentication for secure exchange. Further, scrambling is performed differently for each application or region, and information reproducing apparatuses capable of descrambling and non-descrambling are classified according to the type of descrambling circuit provided in the apparatus.

[0007] The effect of classifying information reproducing devices by region is to solve ethical problems. Ethical thinking depends on the culture, customs and religion of the country and varies from country to country. Therefore, even if there is no ethical problem in one country, there may be ethical problems in another country. Therefore, there is a need for a mechanism to prevent ethically undesirable content from being reproduced in the area.

Hereinafter, a second conventional example in which information reproducing apparatuses can be classified by region will be described. FIG. 1 is a data structure diagram of an information storage medium. Here, as the information storage medium,
Although a disk is specifically imaged, it is not limited to a disk as long as it has a similar data structure. In FIG. 1, the information storage medium is divided into information recording units called sectors, and is mainly divided into a lead-in area in which control information is recorded and a data area in which user data is mainly recorded. Each sector has a header area in which a sector ID (IDentifier) for identifying the sector is recorded, a user area in which control information and user data are recorded, and a code for correcting misreading during reproduction. (Error Correction Code) area. The feature of this information storage medium is that there is a sector having regional information in the header area. The area information is configured by a flag indicating whether or not reproduction is possible in the area divided into 0 to k. In FIG. 1, although the area information exists in the header area of the sector in the lead-in area,
This regional information may be anywhere on the information storage medium.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the information reproducing apparatus. The information reproducing device 201 such as a DVD player
It comprises a reproduction instructing means 10, an AV decompression means 11, a data reproducing means 20, an apparatus area information 213, an area comparing means 23 and a reproduction control means 215. The information storage medium 4 such as a DVD includes medium area information 30. The output device 5 is T
V. The reproduction instructing means 10 receives a request from the user and requests reproduction of the compressed AV data from the sector on the information storage medium 4 corresponding to the request. The AV expansion unit 11 expands the compressed AV data and outputs video and audio to the output device 5. The reproduction control means 215
Request the reproduction of the compressed AV data from the requested sector. The data reproducing means 20 reproduces, from the requested sector, data in a header area such as the medium area information 30 and data in a user area such as compressed AV data. When the information storage medium 4 is replaced, the area comparison means 23 compares the apparatus area information 213 with the reproduced medium area information 3.
It is determined whether or not reproduction is possible by comparing with 0. When the reproduction control unit 215 receives the determination that reproduction is impossible, the data reproduction unit 20 causes the data reproduction unit 20 to stop reproducing data.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the DVD player. The DVD player 300 includes a microcontroller 51 for controlling the optical disk player, and a program ROM 302 storing the control program and the like.
A switch 52 disposed on a front panel or the like, and a data reproducing circuit 54 for reproducing data from the optical disk 50.
And a buffer memory 55 for storing reproduced data.
And an audio / video decode circuit 56 for expanding the compressed AV data, and a decoding memory 57 for a work area for the expansion processing. The input means 210 is realized by the microcontroller 51, which has obtained the information of the switch pressing from the switch 52, interpreting the user's request and converting it into an appropriate sector reproduction request. The AV decompression means 211 is realized when the microcontroller 51 activates the audio / video decoding circuit 56. The data reproducing unit 212 is realized by using the data reproducing circuit 54 and temporarily storing and outputting the reproduced data in the buffer memory 55. Equipment area information 2
13 is stored in the program ROM 302. When the microcontroller 51 exchanges the optical disk 50, the area comparison means 214 outputs the medium area information 216 reproduced in the buffer memory 55 by the data reproduction means 212.
This is realized by accessing and comparing with the device area information 213 on the program ROM 302. The reproduction control means 215 is realized when the microcontroller 51 starts or stops the data reproduction circuit 54.

[0011]

However, in the conventional information reproducing system, systems having different specifications for each region are shipped. Peripheral devices in the computer market are common all over the world, and as in the consumer market such as DVD players, there are differences in power supply voltage between regions, and NTSC and PAL.
Due to such differences in video signals, distribution channels are not built for each region. Therefore, an apparatus having different specifications for each region has a problem that the user is disadvantageous in cost and distribution.

Another problem is that when the area information of the apparatus is made rewritable from the outside, it is impossible to prevent a new illegal area information from being changed. In view of the above, the present invention can provide an information reproduction system that can rewrite area information from the outside, prevent reproduction of ethically undesired contents in a certain area, and prevent unauthorized change to area information. It is.

[0013]

A drive device for reproducing data from an exchangeable information storage medium in which reproduction permitted area information indicating a specific area in which reproduction of content is permitted together with copyrighted digital content is recorded. An information reproducing system, an installation information generating means for generating system installation information including installation area information for specifying an area where the system is installed and installation time information for specifying an installation time, and a system using a nonvolatile memory. When the installation time information set in the system installation information generated by the installation information storage unit that stores the installation information and the installation time information that has been set by the installation information generation unit has passed a fixed time or more than the installation time information stored in the nonvolatile memory An installation information updating means for updating the system installation information stored in the nonvolatile memory only;
Area comparison means for transmitting an area match signal when a match is detected from a comparison between the reproduction permission area information read from the information storage medium and the installation area information stored in the nonvolatile memory;
Reproduction control means for reproducing the digital content from the information storage medium only when the area comparison means has transmitted the area coincidence signal.

An information reproducing system having a drive device for reproducing data from an exchangeable information storage medium in which reproduction permitted area information indicating a specific area in which reproduction of the content is permitted together with the digital content having copyright is recorded; An installation information generating means for generating system installation information including installation area information for specifying the area where the system is installed and installation time information for specifying the installation time; and Installation information storage means for storing system installation information using a current time notification means for notifying the time and a non-volatile memory,
Only when the installation time information set in the system installation information generated by the installation information generation means has passed a fixed time or more than the installation time information stored in the non-volatile memory, the system installation information stored in the non-volatile memory is used. An installation information updating means for updating; an area comparison means for transmitting an area match signal when a match is detected from a comparison between the reproduction permitted area information read from the information storage medium and the installation area information stored in the nonvolatile memory; The time comparing means for transmitting a current time confirmation signal when it is confirmed that the current time notified by the time notifying means has passed a fixed time or more than the installation time information stored in the nonvolatile memory, and the area comparing means Only when the coincidence signal is transmitted and the time comparison means transmits the current time confirmation signal, the digital content is read from the information storage medium. And a reproduction control means for reproducing.

An information reproducing system having a drive device for reproducing data from an exchangeable information storage medium in which reproduction permitted area information indicating a specific area in which reproduction of content is permitted together with copyrighted digital content is recorded, Installation for generating system installation information including mutual authentication means by which devices constituting the system authenticate each other, installation area information for specifying the area where the system is installed, and installation time information for specifying the installation time. Information generation means, installation information storage means for storing system installation information using a non-volatile memory, and installation time information set in the system installation information generated by the installation information generation means authenticated by the mutual authentication means. Nonvolatile memory only when a certain period of time has passed since the installation time information stored in the An installation information updating means for updating the system installation information stored in the memory, and a region match signal when a match is detected from a comparison between the reproduction permitted area information read from the information storage medium and the installation region information stored in the nonvolatile memory. And reproduction control means for reproducing the digital content from the information storage medium only when the area comparison means transmits the area coincidence signal.

With the above-described configuration, the information reproducing system of the present invention makes it possible to externally rewrite area information, to prevent reproduction of ethically undesired contents in a certain area, and to prevent unauthorized change to area information. it can.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the information reproducing system according to the present invention. The information reproducing system 1 includes a host computer 2, an information reproducing device 3 for reproducing an information storage medium 4, and a host interface bus 6 connecting them, and outputs video and audio to an output device 5. Here, the information storage medium 4 includes medium area information 30 indicating an area where reproduction is permitted. The output device 5 may be a computer display or a speaker, or a consumer TV. The host interface bus 6 is a bus used for communication between the host computer and peripheral devices, and is a SCSI bus.
A bus, an IDE bus, a serial bus defined by IEEE1394, and a bus similar to them.

The host computer 2 has a playback instruction means 1
0, an AV extension unit 11, a clock 12, a regional information 13, a system installation notifying unit 14, and a reproduction time notifying unit 15. The reproduction instructing means 10 transmits an AV data file requested to be reproduced from an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, application software, or the like to an OS (Operation System).
Is converted from a sector on the information storage medium 4 into a command for reproducing compressed AV data and output from the host interface bus 6. The AV decompression means 11 decompresses the compressed AV data received via the host interface bus 6 and outputs video and audio to the output device 5. The clock 12
It measures time including the date, and is a real-time clock or the like built in the host computer. The region information 13 is information on a region where the device is located, and is information on a region input by a user and country-specific information of software such as an OS. System installation notification means 14
Is for setting an information reproducing system so that AV data can be reproduced. The information reproducing system refers to the time at which the system was installed (hereinafter referred to as the installation time) from the time from the clock 12 and the local information 13 (if necessary). The area where the system is installed (after conversion) (hereinafter referred to as the installation area) is notified via the host interface 6. The reproduction time notifying means 15 notifies the current time as the reproduction time via the host interface 6 before outputting the reproduction command from the reproduction instruction means 10.

The information reproducing apparatus 3 includes a data reproducing means 20, a system installation information 21, a system installation updating means 22, an area comparing means 23, a time comparing means 24, and a reproducing control means 25.
And The data reproducing means 20 reproduces data such as the medium area information 30 in the header area and data such as compressed AV data in the user area from the requested sector. The system installation information 21 holds an installation time and an installation time. The system installation updating unit 22 determines whether a magnitude relationship between the installation time received via the host interface bus 6 and the installation time stored in the system installation information 21 is a predetermined condition (for example, the received installation time> the stored installation time). If (1 week) is satisfied, the system installation information 21 is rewritten to the installation time and installation area received via the host interface bus 6. Regional comparison means 23
Means that the information storage medium 4 is replaced or the system installation information 2
At any time whether or not 1 has been updated, the installation area held in the system installation information 21 is compared with the reproduced medium area information 30 to determine whether or not reproduction is possible. The time comparing unit 24 determines whether the magnitude relationship between the installation time held in the system installation information 21 and the reproduction time received via the host computer bus 6 is a predetermined condition (for example, reproduction time>
If it satisfies (installation time), it is determined that reproduction is possible. The playback control unit 25 performs the playback of the compressed AV data from the requested sector by the playback command received via the host interface 6 only when the playback control unit 25 receives the determination that the playback is possible from both the area comparison unit 23 and the time comparison unit 24. The data is reproduced by the data reproducing means 20.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a general circuit configuration of the information reproducing system according to the present invention. The information reproducing system 500 includes a main processor 501 and a processor bus 5.
02, bus interface circuit 503, main memory 504, system bus 505, SCSI control card 506, and AV
Decode card 507, SCSI bus 508, optical disk drive 509, hard disk 510, and clock 511
And an input I / F circuit 512. Main processor 501, bus interface circuit 503, and main memory 50
4 are interconnected via a processor bus 502. Bus interface circuit 503, SCSI control card 506, AV decode card 507, input I / F
The circuit 512 is connected to the circuit 512 via a system bus 505. The SCSI control card 506, the optical disk drive 509, and the hard disk drive 510
They are interconnected via a SCSI bus. The optical disk 50 is mounted on an optical disk drive 509.

The host computer 2 shown in FIG. 4 corresponds to a portion excluding the optical disk drive 509 in FIG. The information reproducing device 3 in FIG. 4 corresponds to the optical disk drive 509 in FIG. Hereinafter, each functional block belonging to the host computer 2 of FIG.
What is realized by the circuit block of FIG. 5 will be described.

The host computer 2 stores software including an OS and applications on a hard disk 51.
0 to the main memory 504,
01 executes the software. Playback instruction means 10
The realization of is as follows. A request from software such as an input device (for example, a keyboard or a mouse (not shown)) connected to the input I / F circuit 512 and an application is executed by the OS executed by the main processor 501.
Will be notified. The OS executed by the main processor 501 interprets that it is necessary to reproduce the AV data file to fulfill the request,
It is determined which sector on the optical disk 513 mounted on the optical disk drive 509 the data file corresponds to,
The bus interface circuit 5 sends a reproduction command specifying the start sector and the number of sectors to the optical disk drive 509.
03 and the SCSI control card 506 via the system bus 505. The SCSI control card 506 sends a playback command including a start sector and the number of sectors to the SCSI bus 50.
8 to the optical disk drive 509.

The implementation of the AV decompression means 11 is as follows. Optical disk drive 509 to SCSI bus 508
Is received by the SCSI control card 506. SCSI control card 506
Sends the compressed AV data to the AV decode card 507 via the system bus 505. The AV decode card 507 expands the compressed AV data and outputs
Output audio.

Here, A from the SCSI control card 506
The transfer of the compressed AV data to the V decode card is directly performed via the system bus 505, but may be temporarily stored in the main memory 504 via the bus interface circuit 503. The realization of the clock 12 is as follows. When the current time is requested from the OS by the application software or the like, the main processor 501 acquires the current time from the real-time clock 511 and notifies the application software or the like via the OS.

The system installation notifying means 14 is realized as follows. A user executes an installation program, which is a kind of application software, to reproduce AV data. This installation program is stored in the main memory 504 from the hard disk drive 510.
And executed by the main processor 501. The main processor 501 receives the time via the OS according to the installation program, and converts the country-specific information of the OS into appropriate regional information 13 using the conversion table of the installation program.
The OS is requested to issue a system installation command using the time and area as parameters to the optical disk drive 509. OS executed by the main processor 501
Are the processor bus 502 and the bus interface circuit 5
03 and the system bus 505, a system installation command using the time and area as parameters is sent to the optical disk drive 5.
09 is issued to the SCSI control card 506 to be issued. The SCSI control card 506 sends a system installation command using the time and area as parameters to the SCSI bus 508.
Is issued to the optical disk drive 509 via the.

Here, the regional information 13 may be input by a user in addition to converting the country-specific information held by the OS.
The installation program itself may have the regional information 13. As an example, a case where the user inputs is shown. The installation program executed by the main processor 501 requests the OS to wait for input. The OS transmits an input from a keyboard or the like to the installation program via the input I / F circuit 512. The installation program may use the input as it is as the regional information 13, or may compare it with information such as country-specific information possessed by the OS or information such as a time lag from Greenwich Mean Time to confirm the validity of the regional information. 13 may be adopted.

The realization of the reproduction time notifying means 15 is as follows. A user executes a runtime program, which is a kind of application, to reproduce AV data. This runtime program is loaded into the main memory 504 from the hard disk drive 510 and executed by the main processor 501. The runtime program executed by the main processor 501 requests the OS to wait for an input to select an AV data file. The OS transmits an input from a keyboard or the like to the runtime program via the input I / F circuit 512. After that, the runtime program gets the time from the OS,
It requests the OS to issue a playback time notification command using the time as a parameter to the optical disk drive 509. From here, the SCSI control card 506 issues a playback time notification command using the time as a parameter to the optical disk drive 509 via the SCSI bus 508 by following the same procedure as the system installation command described above.

Thereafter, the runtime program requests the reproduction instruction means 15 to reproduce the selected AV data file. FIG. 6 shows an optical disk drive 509.
3 is a block diagram of a circuit configuration of FIG. The configuration will be described below. 58 is a SCSI control circuit, 51 is a microcontroller for controlling the entire optical disk drive, 6
02 is a program ROM storing an operation program of the microcontroller, 53 is a non-volatile memory for storing system installation information including the area and time, and 54 is a device for reading data from the optical disk 50 to perform binarization, demodulation, and error correction. And 55, a work area for performing error correction and a buffer memory used as a data buffer area for temporarily storing error-corrected data.

The information reproducing device 3 in FIG. 4 corresponds to the optical disk drive 509 in FIG. Hereinafter, FIG.
Each functional block belonging to the information reproducing apparatus 3 will be described as being realized by the circuit block of FIG. The data reproducing means 20 is realized as follows. The microcontroller 51 starts the reproducing operation by designating the start sector and the number of sectors to the data reproducing circuit 54. Data reproduction circuit 5
Reference numeral 4 reads data from the optical disk 50, performs binarization, demodulation, and error correction, and stores the data in the buffer memory 55. The microcontroller 51 activates the transfer operation of the data stored in the buffer memory 55 if necessary. The data reproducing circuit 54 reads data from the buffer memory 55 and sends the data to the SCSI control circuit 58. SCS
The I transfer circuit 58 transfers the received data to the SCSI bus 508
Output to

The installation area and the installation time of the system installation information 21 are stored in the nonvolatile memory 53. The system installation updating means 22 is realized as follows. SCSI bus 5
The system installation command using the time and the area as parameters transmitted via the command 08 is received by the SCSI control circuit 58 and notified to the microcontroller 51. The microcontroller 51 determines that the magnitude relationship between the time received by the SCSI control circuit 58 and the installation time stored in the non-volatile memory 53 satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, the received time> the stored installation time + 1 week). Then, the installation area and the installation time on the nonvolatile memory 53 are updated with the area and the time received by the SCSI control circuit 58.

The area comparison means 23 is realized as follows. When detecting replacement of the optical disk 50 or updating the nonvolatile memory 53, the microcontroller 51 uses the data reproducing unit 20 to reproduce the sector where the medium area information of the optical disk 50 exists in the buffer memory 55. (No data transfer to the SCSI control circuit 58 is involved.) The microcontroller 51 accesses and compares the medium area information on the buffer memory 55 with the installation area on the nonvolatile memory 53. For example, if they match, it is determined that reproduction is possible, and if the logical product is not 0, it is determined that reproduction is possible.

The time comparing means 24 is realized as follows. The playback time notification command using the time sent via the SCSI bus 508 as a parameter is transmitted to the SCSI control circuit 58.
And is notified to the microcontroller 51. If the magnitude relationship between the time received by the SCSI control circuit 58 and the installation time stored in the non-volatile memory 53 satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, the received time> the stored installation time), the microcontroller 51 performs playback. It is determined that it is possible.

The reproduction control means 25 is realized as follows. The playback command sent with the start sector and the number of sectors sent via the SCSI bus 508 is received by the SCSI control circuit 58 and notified to the microcontroller 51. The microcontroller 51 reproduces the start sector and the number of sectors received by the SCSI control circuit 58 and transfers the data only when both the area comparison means 23 and the time comparison means 24 determine that reproduction is possible. 20. (This involves data transfer to the SCSI control circuit 58.) As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention,
A host computer that reports the area and time at which the system is installed, and an information playback device that uses the reported area, time and area of the information storage medium to prevent improper playback. It is possible to provide an information reproduction system that prevents the reproduction of contents that do not exist, and that avoids illegal acts such as changing the regional settings one after another using the installation time that is earlier than the actual time.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another functional configuration of the information reproducing system according to the present invention. In addition,
The same reference numerals are attached to the same functional blocks as in FIG. 4 and the description is omitted. The information reproducing system 701 includes a host computer 702, an information reproducing device 703 for reproducing the information storage medium 4, and a host interface bus 6 connecting them, and outputs video and audio to the output device 5.

The host computer 702 comprises a reproduction instructing means 10, an AV decompression means 11, a clock 12, an area information 13, a system installation storage means 710, a system installation information 21, an area comparison means 711, a time comparison means 712, and a decode restriction means 713. Contains. System installation storage means 71
0 indicates that the information reproducing system is installed so that the AV data can be reproduced. The time when the system is installed (hereinafter referred to as the installation time) from the time from the clock 12 and the installation time stored in the system installation information 21 are set. If the magnitude relation with the time satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, the installation time of the clock 12> the retained installation time + 1 week), the installation time of the clock 12 and the area information 13 are referred to (converted if necessary). The system installation information 21 is rewritten to an area where the system is installed (hereinafter, referred to as an installation area). The region comparison means 711 determines whether the information storage medium 4 has been replaced or the system installation information 21 has been updated, and the installation region held in the system installation information 21 and the medium region received via the host interface 6 at the time. It is determined whether or not reproduction is possible by comparing with the information 30. Prior to the output of the playback command from the playback instruction means 10, the time comparison means 712 determines the magnitude relationship between the installation time held in the system installation information 21 and the current time received from the clock 12 under a predetermined condition (for example, If (time> installation time) is satisfied, it is determined that reproduction is possible. When the decoding control unit 713 receives a determination that reproduction is impossible from either the area comparison unit 711 or the time comparison unit 712, the decoding control unit 713 prohibits the AV expansion unit 11 from expanding the AV data compressed.

The information reproducing device 703 includes the data reproducing unit 2
0, area report means 720 and reproduction control means 725. The area reporting means 720 reproduces the medium area information 30 from the information storage medium 4 and notifies the medium area information 30 via the host interface bus 6. Reproduction control means 72
5 causes the data reproducing means 20 to reproduce the compressed AV data from the requested sector in accordance with the reproduction command received via the host interface 6.

Hereinafter, it will be described that each functional block belonging to the host computer 702 in FIG. 7 and different from that in FIG. 4 is realized by the circuit block in FIG. The installation area and installation time of the system installation information 21 are
Is stored in The system installation storage unit 710 is realized as follows. A user executes an installation program, which is a kind of application software, to reproduce AV data. This installation program is stored in the main memory 5 from the hard disk drive 510.
04 and executed by the main processor 501. According to the installation program, the main processor 501 determines that the magnitude relationship between the time of the clock 511 and the installation time stored in the hard disk 510 satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, clock time> saved installation time + 1 week). The time of the clock 511 and the country-specific information of the OS are converted into appropriate area information 13 using a conversion table of the installation program, and the system installation information 21 of the hard disk 510 is updated with the time and area.

The area comparison means 711 is realized as follows. A user executes a runtime program, which is a kind of application, to reproduce AV data. Thereafter, the main processor 501 operates according to the runtime program. Main processor 501
Is the execution start of the runtime program or the optical disk 50
The OS is requested to issue an area report command requesting the medium area information 30 to the optical disk drive 509 either when the OS is notified of the replacement of the OS or when the system installation information 21 is updated. SCSI control card 50
6 issues an area report command to the optical disk drive 509 via the SCSI bus 508,
Via the media area information 30. The medium area information 30 received by the SCSI control card 506 is stored in the main memory 504 by the OS. Main processor 50
1 is an installation area of the system installation information 21 and a main memory 504.
The above medium area information 30 is accessed and compared. For example, if they match, it is determined that reproduction is possible, and if the logical product is not 0, it is determined that reproduction is possible.

The time comparison means 712 is realized as follows. A user executes a runtime program, which is a kind of application, to reproduce AV data. Thereafter, the main processor 501 operates according to the runtime program. Main processor 501
Is that the magnitude relationship between the current time acquired from the OS and the installation time of the system installation information 21 is determined by a predetermined condition (eg, the current time) when the execution of the runtime program is started or the system installation information 21 is updated. Time> Installation time)
Is satisfied, it is determined that reproduction is possible.

The decoding control means 713 is realized as follows. A user executes a runtime program, which is a kind of application, to reproduce AV data. Thereafter, the main processor 501 operates according to the runtime program. Main processor 50
1 is the area comparison means 711 or the time comparison means 712
If it is determined that the reproduction is not possible, the expansion processing of the compressed AV data by the AV decode card 507 is prohibited.

The information reproducing apparatus 703 in FIG.
Corresponds to the optical disk drive 509. Less than,
Each functional block belonging to the information reproducing apparatus 703 of FIG. 7 and different from that of FIG. 4 will be described as being realized by the circuit block of FIG. However, the nonvolatile memory 53 is not used.
The reproduction control means 725 is realized as follows. SCSI
The playback command with the start sector and the number of sectors sent via the bus 508 is received by the SCSI control circuit 58 and notified to the microcontroller 51. The microcontroller 51 uses the data reproducing means 20 to reproduce and transfer the start sector and the number of sectors received by the SCSI control circuit 58. (This involves data transfer to the SCSI control circuit 58.) The area reporting means 720 is implemented as follows. The area report command sent via the SCSI bus 508 is received by the SCSI control card 506 and notified to the microcontroller 51. The microcontroller 51 uses the data reproducing means 20 to reproduce the sector of the optical disc 50 where the media area information exists in the buffer memory 55. (No data transfer to the SCSI control circuit 58 is performed.) The microcontroller 51 stores the medium area information in the buffer memory 55
The transfer data is passed to the SI control circuit 58, and the medium area information is transferred to the SCSI control circuit 58.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the information reproducing apparatus for reporting the area of the information storage medium, and the area and time at which the reported area and the system are installed are inappropriately used. As with the first embodiment, a host computer that prevents undesired reproduction prevents the reproduction of ethically undesired contents in a certain area, and uses the installation time that is earlier than the actual time to successively change the area. It is possible to provide an information reproducing system that avoids illegal acts such as changing settings.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an AV decoding card 507 in the third embodiment of the information reproducing system according to the present invention. In the third embodiment, the system installation information 21 is stored in the AV decode card 507. The configuration will be described below. Reference numeral 59 denotes a system interface circuit, 51 denotes a microcontroller for controlling the entire AV decoding card, and 802 denotes a program R storing an operation program of the microcontroller.
OM, 53 a non-volatile memory for storing system installation information consisting of area and time, 56 an audio / video decoding circuit for expanding compressed AV data, 57
Indicates a decoding memory of a work area for decompression processing. Hereinafter, it will be described that each functional block belonging to the host computer 702 in FIG. 7 and different from that in FIG. 4 is realized by the circuit blocks in FIG. 5 and FIG.

The installation area and the installation time of the system installation information 21 are stored in the nonvolatile memory 53. The system installation storage unit 710 is realized as follows. The user has A
In order to reproduce the V data, an installation program which is a kind of application software is executed.
This installation program is loaded from the hard disk drive 510 to the main storage 504 and executed by the main processor 501. Main processor 5
01 is the clock 5 according to this installation program.
The time 11 and the country-specific information of the OS are converted into appropriate area information 13 using the conversion table of the installation program, and the AV decoding card 507 is requested to update the system installation information according to the time and the area. The process from here on is realized by the AV decode card 507. Through the system interface circuit 59, the microcontroller 5
1 receives a request for updating system installation information with time and area. If the magnitude relationship between the received time and the installation time stored in the non-volatile memory 53 satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, the received time> the stored installation time + 1 week), the microcontroller 51 determines the received time and the received time. The system installation information 21 in the nonvolatile memory 53 is updated in the area.

The area comparison means 711 is realized as follows. A user executes a runtime program, which is a kind of application, to reproduce AV data. Thereafter, the main processor 501 operates according to the runtime program. Main processor 501
Is the execution start of the runtime program or the optical disk 50
The OS is requested to issue an area report command requesting the medium area information 30 to the optical disk drive 509 either when the OS is notified of the replacement of the OS or when the system installation information 21 is updated. SCSI control card 50
6 issues an area report command to the optical disk drive 509 via the SCSI bus 508,
Via the media area information 30. The media area information 30 received by the SCSI control card 506 is transferred to the AV decode card 507 by the main processor 501. From here on, the AV decode card 507
Is realized. The microcontroller 51 receives the medium area information 30 via the system interface circuit 59. The microcontroller 51 accesses and compares the received medium area information with the installation area on the nonvolatile memory 53. For example, if they match, it is determined that reproduction is possible, and if the logical product is not 0, it is determined that reproduction is possible.

The realization of the time comparing means 712 is as follows. A user executes a runtime program, which is a kind of application, to reproduce AV data. This runtime program is loaded into the main memory 504 from the hard disk drive 510 and executed by the main processor 501. The runtime program executed by the main processor 501 requests the OS to wait for an input to select an AV data file. The OS transmits an input from a keyboard or the like to the runtime program via the input I / F circuit 512. After that, the runtime program gets the time from the OS,
The current time using the time as a parameter is notified to the AV decode card 507. From here on, AV decoding card 5
07. System interface circuit 505
, The microcontroller 51 receives the current time. The microcontroller 51 determines that reproduction is possible if the magnitude relationship between the received current time and the installation time stored in the nonvolatile memory 53 satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, the received current time> the stored installation time). I do.

Thereafter, the runtime program requests the reproduction instruction means 15 to reproduce the selected AV data file. The decoding control means 713 is realized by the AV decoding card 507 as follows. The microcontroller 51 prohibits the operation of the audio / video decode circuit 56 when either the area comparison means 711 or the time comparison means 712 determines that reproduction is impossible.

As described above, in the third embodiment of the present invention, similarly to the second embodiment, the information reproducing apparatus for reporting the area of the information storage medium, and the reported area and system are installed. A host computer that prevents inappropriate reproduction using the specified region and time, while preventing the reproduction of ethically undesired contents in a certain region, and using the installation time earlier than the actual time one after another. It is possible to provide an information reproducing system that avoids an illegal act such as changing a region setting.

Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 9 is a data structure diagram of an information storage medium having copyright protected data. Here, a disk is specifically imagined as the information storage medium, but the information storage medium is not limited to a disk as long as it has a similar data structure. In FIG. 9, the information storage medium is divided into information recording units called sectors, and is divided into a lead-in area where control information is mainly recorded and a data area where user data is mainly recorded. Each sector has a header area in which a sector ID (IDentifier) for identifying the sector is recorded, a user area in which control information and user data are recorded, and a code for correcting misreading during reproduction. ECC (E
rror Correction Code) area. This information storage medium is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 07-26126 in order to protect copyright.
As disclosed in No. 6, scrambled (or encrypted) scrambled data is stored in the user area of the sector in the data area, and key information for descrambling the scrambled data is stored in the user area of the sector in the lead-in area. , Respectively. Furthermore, a feature of this information storage medium is that there is a sector having regional information in the header area. The area information is configured by a flag indicating whether or not reproduction is possible in the area divided into 0 to k. In FIG. 9, although the area information exists in the header area of the sector in the lead-in area, this area information may be anywhere on the information storage medium.

FIG. 10 is another functional block diagram of the information reproducing system according to the present invention. Information reproduction system 1
Reference numeral 001 includes a host computer 1002, an information reproducing device 1003 for reproducing the information storage medium 1004, and a host interface bus 6 connecting them, and outputs video and audio to the output device 5. Here, the information storage medium 1004 includes scrambled AV data, key information 31 for descrambling the scrambled AV data, and medium area information 30 indicating an area where reproduction is permitted. Also, the output device 5
May be a computer display or speaker, or a consumer TV. The host interface bus 6 is a bus used for communication between a host computer and peripheral devices, and is a SCSI bus, an IDE bus, or an IE bus.
It is a serial bus defined by EE1394 or a bus similar to them. The host computer 1002 must have a descrambling function to restore the scrambled AV data. In addition, in order to securely communicate the key information for descrambling, a mutual authentication function that confirms whether or not to protect the copyright,
Both the host computer 1002 and the information reproducing device 1003 must be provided. Information reproduction system 100
1 uses the already-provided mutual authentication function to more securely communicate local information.

The host computer 1002 comprises a reproduction instructing means 10, an AV decompression means 11, a clock 12, and local information 13
And a decoder authentication means 16, a descrambling means 17, and a system installation starting means 18. The playback instructing means 10 transmits an AV data file requested to be played back from an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, application software, or the like to the information storage medium 1 by the OS (Operation System).
004 is converted into a reproduction command of the compressed AV data from the sector on 004 and output from the host interface bus 6.
The AV decompression unit 11 decompresses the compressed AV data received from the descrambling unit, and outputs video and audio to the output device 5. The clock 12 measures time including the date, and is a real-time clock or the like built in the host computer. The region information 13 is information on a region where the device is located, and is information on a region input by a user and country-specific information of software such as an OS.
The system installation activating means 18 is for installing an information reproducing system so that AV data can be reproduced.
With reference to 3 (converted if necessary), an area where the system is installed (hereinafter referred to as an installation area) is delivered to the decoder authentication means 16. The decoder authentication means 16 performs mutual authentication by exchanging authentication information via the host interface 6 using the time from the clock 12 before outputting the playback command from the playback instruction means 10, It receives the key information of the information storage medium 1004 via the bus 6 and sends the installation time, the installation area and the reproduction time to the host interface bus 6. (This will be described in detail later.) The descrambling unit 17 receives the scrambled and compressed AV data via the host interface bus 6, and receives key information for descrambling the AV data from the decoder authentication unit 16. , And sends the descrambled compressed AV data to the AV decompression means 11.

The information reproducing apparatus 1003 includes a data reproducing unit 20, a system installation information 21, and a system installation updating unit 2.
2, a region comparison unit 23, a time comparison unit 24, a reproduction control unit 25, and a drive authentication unit 26. The data reproducing means 20 reproduces, from the requested sector, data in a header area such as the medium area information 30 and data in a user area such as compressed AV data. The system installation information 21 holds an installation time and an installation time. The system installation updating unit 22 determines the magnitude relationship between the installation time received via the drive authentication unit 26 and the installation time held in the system installation information 21 under a predetermined condition (for example, received installation time> held installation time). If (+1 week) is satisfied, the system installation information 21 is rewritten to the installation time and installation area received via the drive authentication means 26. The area comparison means 23 compares the installation area held in the system installation information 21 with the reproduced medium area information 30 at the time when the information storage medium 1004 is replaced or the system installation information 21 is updated. To determine whether playback is possible. The time comparison unit 24 performs the reproduction if the magnitude relationship between the installation time held in the system installation information 21 and the reproduction time received via the drive authentication unit 26 satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, reproduction time> installation time). It is determined that it is possible. The playback control unit 25 scrambles and compresses the requested sector according to the playback command received via the host interface 6 only when it is determined that the playback is possible from both the area comparison unit 23 and the time comparison unit 24. The reproduced data is reproduced by the data reproducing means 20. The drive authentication unit 26 exchanges authentication information via the host interface bus 6 to perform mutual authentication, passes the installation area and the installation time received from the host interface bus 6 to the system installation updating unit 22, and The received reproduction time is passed to the time comparison means 24, and the key information 31 reproduced from the data reproduction means 20 is transmitted from the host interface bus 6. (This will be described in detail later.)
Each functional block belonging to the host computer 1002 in FIG. 10 and different from that in FIG. 4 will be described as being realized by the circuit block in FIG. However, AV decoding card 50
7 includes an authentication circuit and a descrambling circuit, and the optical disk drive 509 includes an authentication circuit. The optical disc 60 has the data structure shown in FIG.
The scrambled AV data and key information for descrambling the scrambled AV data are recorded.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an AV decoding card 507 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The configuration will be described below. Reference numeral 59 denotes a system interface circuit, 56 denotes an audio / video decoding circuit, 57 denotes a decoding memory for a work area for decompression processing, 60 denotes a decoder authentication circuit, and 61 denotes a descrambling circuit.

The system interface circuit 59 mediates the system bus 505 and the bus in the AV decode card 507. As a result, the main processor 501 of the information reproducing system 1001
Can be controlled. After transmitting and receiving the authentication information under the control of the main processor 501, the decoder authentication circuit 60 receives the key information 31 encrypted based on the authentication. The decoder authentication circuit 60 converts the key information 31 decrypted based on the authentication information into a descramble circuit 61.
Output to

Under the control of the main processor 501, the descrambling circuit 61 uses the key information 31 from the decoder authentication circuit 60 to de-scramble the transmitted scrambled and compressed AV data to produce an audio / video decoding circuit. Pass to 56. The audio / video decode circuit 56 expands the compressed AV data sent from the descramble circuit 61 under the control of the main processor 501, using the decoding memory 57 as a work area, and outputs video and audio.

The main processor 501 transmits the installation time, the installation area, or the reproduction time of the system between the transmission and reception of the authentication information and the reception of the encrypted key information. Therefore, the authenticity of the system is confirmed by the mutual authentication operation, so that the reliability of the system is improved. Also, since the mutual authentication operation requires knowledge of the hardware of the authentication circuit, by linking the mutual authentication operation with the time notification operation, it is possible for a system such as a hacker to perform an unauthorized act on the system. Also has the effect of protecting.

FIG. 12 is a circuit block diagram of an optical disk drive 509 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
The configuration will be described below. Note that the same reference numerals are attached to the same circuit blocks as those in FIG. 6, and detailed description is omitted. 6 differs from FIG. 6 in a drive authentication circuit 63 for performing mutual authentication with a host computer including an AV decode card 507, and a program ROM 1202 in which a control program for this circuit is stored. 58 is S
CSI control circuit, 51 a microcontroller, 1
202 is a program ROM, 53 is a non-volatile memory, 54 is a data reproducing circuit, 55 is a buffer memory, and 63 is a drive authentication circuit.

The microcontroller 51 operates according to the control program stored in the program ROM 1202.
The entire optical disk drive 509 is controlled. The SCSI control circuit 508 performs communication between the host computer and the optical disk drive 509 via the SCSI bus 508. The non-volatile memory 53 stores system installation information including an area and time. The data reproducing circuit 54 reads data from the optical disk 50 and performs processes such as binarization, demodulation, and error correction. The buffer memory 55 temporarily stores a work area for performing error correction and error-corrected data. The drive authentication circuit 63 is a SCSI
The authentication information is transmitted and received via the control circuit 58 and the control bus. Then, the drive authentication circuit 63
2 is received from the data reproducing circuit 54. Further, the drive authentication circuit 63 encrypts the key information 31 based on the authentication information and outputs the encrypted key information 31 to the SCSI control circuit 58.

The microcontroller 51 accepts the installation time, installation area, or reproduction time of the system only between the transmission and reception of the authentication information and the transmission of the encrypted key information. Therefore, the authenticity of the system is confirmed by the mutual authentication operation, so that the reliability of the system is improved. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the decoder authentication circuit 60 in the AV decode card 507.
Hereinafter, each component will be described. Reference numeral 1300 denotes an I / O control circuit which is connected to the system interface circuit 59 via a control bus and transmits / receives a control signal of an internal circuit of the decoder authentication circuit 60. 1301 is I /
A random number generator that receives a time-varying key (for example, current time) that is a value that changes over time from the O control circuit 1300 and generates a random number R1 is shown. 1302 is a random number generator 1301
Fk (R1) is calculated for the variable k from 1 to n based on the random number R1 received from, and the result is compared with fk (R1) received from the I / O control circuit 1300, and the authentication result as to whether or not they match 5 shows an fk (R1) generation / comparison circuit that outputs k and fk (R1) when the values match. 1303 is I
The random number R2 received from the / O control circuit 1300 and fk (R
1) gk based on k received from generation / comparison circuit 1302
9 shows a gk (R2) generation circuit that calculates and outputs (R2). Reference numeral 1304 denotes an fk (R1) generation / comparison circuit 1302
Gk (R2) generating circuit 130
3 shows a bus key generation circuit that receives gk (R2) from the P.3 and calculates and outputs a bus key based on them. 1305 receives the bus key from the bus key generation circuit 1304, receives the key information encrypted by the drive authentication circuit 63 of the optical disk drive 509 from the system interface circuit 59, and decrypts the key information (in the information storage medium 1004 in FIG. 10). (Equivalent to certain key information 31).

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the drive authentication circuit 63 in the optical disk drive 509. Hereinafter, each component will be described. 1400
Is an I / O control circuit for transmitting and receiving control signals to and from the microcontroller 51, and 1401 is a time-varying key (for example, built in the microcontroller 51) that is a value that changes over time from the I / O control circuit. A random number generator that receives the value of a timer that generates a random number R2. 140
2 calculates and outputs fk (R1) based on a variable k set from the I / O control circuit 1400 and a random number R1.
3 shows a k (R1) generation circuit. 1403 is a variable k set by the I / O control circuit 1400 and the random number generation circuit 140
Gk (R2) is calculated based on the random number R2 generated from 1 and gk (R2) received from the I / O control circuit 1400.
And an authentication result indicating whether they match, and gk (R
2 shows a gk (R2) generation / comparison circuit that outputs 2). 1
404 is generated by the fk (R1) generation circuit 1402 from the fk (R1)
1) shows a bus key generation circuit that receives gk (R2) from the gk (R2) generation / comparison circuit 1403, calculates a bus key based on them, and outputs the bus key. 1405 receives the bus key from the bus key generation circuit 1404,
, The key information (equivalent to the key information 31 in the information storage medium 1004 in FIG. 10) is encrypted with the bus key and output.

FIG. 15 shows that the host computer 1002 uses the system installation starting means 18 and the decoder authentication means 16, and the information reproducing apparatus 1003 uses the system installation updating means 22 and the drive authentication means 26 to execute the host computer bus 6. It is a system installation information exchange diagram which showed the exchange of the information performed above. For the sake of simplicity, the related functional blocks are attached with the same reference numerals as in FIG.

Now, a description will be given of the fact that the system installation starting means 14 shown in FIG. 15 is realized by the circuit block shown in FIG. The system installation starting means 14 is realized as follows. A user executes an installation program, which is a kind of application software, to reproduce AV data. This installation program is stored in the main memory 5 from the hard disk drive 510.
04 and executed by the main processor 501. The main processor 501 converts the country-specific information of the OS into appropriate area information 13 using the conversion table of the installation program in accordance with the installation program, and decodes the system installation instruction to the OS using the time and the area as parameters. It instructs the authentication means 16 to issue it.

Here, the regional information 13 may be input by the user in addition to the conversion of the country-specific information held by the OS.
The installation program itself may have the regional information 13. As an example, a case where the user inputs is shown. The installation program executed by the main processor 501 requests the OS to wait for input. The OS transmits an input from a keyboard or the like to the installation program via the input I / F circuit 512. The installation program may use the input as it is as the regional information 13, or may compare it with information such as country-specific information possessed by the OS or information such as a time lag from Greenwich Mean Time to confirm the validity of the regional information. 13 may be adopted.

Next, the implementation of the decoder authentication means 16 at the time of exchanging the system installation information shown in FIG.
Will be described. The decoder authentication unit 16 is supplied as a program for performing control closer to hardware, for example, as a device driver. Usually, a device driver is installed in an OS by an installation program. The decoder authentication unit 16 that has received the system installation instruction performs the following processing. (R1 transmission process) The current time is obtained from the real-time clock 511 in FIG. 5 and set in the random number generator 1301 in FIG. The random number R1 is obtained from the random number generator 1301 in FIG. 13 and transmitted to the optical disk drive 509 by the SCSI control card 506 in FIG. (Fk (R1) reception processing) SCSI control card 5 in FIG.
06 receives fk (R1) from the optical disk drive 509. Fk to the SCSI control card 506 in FIG.
(R1) is obtained and set in the fk (R1) generation / comparison circuit 1302 in FIG. (R2 reception processing) The SCSI control card 506 in FIG.
R2 is received from the optical disk drive 509. FIG.
R2 is obtained from the SCSI control card 506, and is set in the gk (R2) generation circuit 1303 in FIG. (Gk (R2) Transmission Processing) gk (R2) is obtained from the gk (R2) generation circuit 1303 in FIG. 13 and transmitted to the optical disk drive 509 by the SCSI control card 506 in FIG. (Installation information transmission processing) Real-time clock 51 in FIG.
1, the current time is obtained, the area information is obtained from the system installation starting means 16, and these are set as the installation time and the installation area.
The SCSI control card 506 shown in FIG.

The system installation updating means 22 in FIG. 15 receives the installation area and the installation time from the drive authentication means 26 instead of the host interface bus 6. Others are Fig. 4
Therefore, the description is omitted. Finally, the realization of the drive authentication means 26 at the time of system installation information exchange of FIG.
What is realized by the circuit blocks of FIGS. 12 and 14 will be described. In FIG. 12, an R1 transmission instruction, fk (R
1) Receive command, R2 receive command, gk (R2) send command,
An installation information transmission command is issued. (The transmission and reception here are expressed as viewed from the host computer.) In the optical disk drive 509, the SCSI control circuit 58 receives these commands and notifies the microcontroller 51. The drive authentication means 26 is provided by the microcontroller 5
1, the following R1 reception processing, fk (R1) transmission processing, R2 transmission processing, gk (R2) reception processing, and installation information reception processing are performed. (The transmission and reception here are expressed as viewed from the optical disk drive.) (See FIG. 14) (R1 reception processing) The SCSI control circuit 58 is caused to receive a random number R1. The variable k and the random number R1 received by the SCSI control circuit 58 are set in the fk (R1) generation circuit 1402. Here, k is a value described on the optical disk, but it is not the main subject of the present invention, and hence only k is described below. (Fk (R1) Transmission Processing) fk (R1) Generation Circuit 140
2 and fk (R1) is obtained and transmitted to the SCSI control circuit 58. (R2 Transmission Processing) An appropriate time-varying key (for example, a timer value of the microcontroller 51) is given to the random number generation circuit 1401 to generate a random number R2. The random number R2 is transmitted to the SCSI control circuit 58. (Gk (R2) reception processing) The SCSI controller 58
(R2) is received. This gk (R2) is replaced with gk (R
2) Set in the generation / comparison circuit 1403 to obtain an authentication result. (Installation information reception processing: However, this is performed only when the authentication result is successful.) The SCSI control circuit 58 is caused to receive the installation information. This installation information is passed to the system installation updating means 22.

FIG. 16 shows that the host computer 1002 uses the decoder authentication means 16 to read information from the information reproducing apparatus 1003.
Is a reproduction time information exchange diagram showing exchange of information performed on the host computer bus 6 using the time comparison means 24 and the drive authentication means 26. FIG. For the sake of simplicity, the related functional blocks are attached with the same reference numerals as in FIG.

Now, a description will be given of how the decoder authentication means 16 at the time of exchanging the reproduction time information in FIG. 16 is realized by the circuit block in FIG. This is an operation for obtaining key information for descrambling AV data. The processing of the decode authentication means 16 used at this time will be described. The process from the R1 transmission process to the gk (R2) transmission process is the same as that described above with reference to FIG. (Reproduction time transmission processing) Real-time clock 51 in FIG.
1 is obtained as the reproduction time, and is used as the reproduction time in the SCSI control card 506 in FIG.
To send to. (Key information receiving process) SCSI control card 506 in FIG.
Receives key information encrypted with the bus key from the optical disk drive 509. SCSI control card 50 of FIG.
6, the encryption key information is obtained, and the bus decryption circuit 1 shown in FIG.
At 405, the key information is changed and set in the descramble circuit 61.

The time comparison means 24 in FIG. 16 receives the reproduction time from the drive authentication means 26 instead of the host interface bus 6. The other parts are the same as those in FIG. Also, the reproduction control means 25 and the data reproduction means 20 in FIG. 16 are the same as those in FIG. Finally, a description will be given of how the drive authentication means 26 at the time of exchanging the reproduction time information in FIG. 16 is realized by the circuit blocks of FIGS. 12 and 14. The processing from the R1 reception processing to the gk (R2) reception processing is the same as that described above with reference to FIG. (Reproduction time reception processing: However, this is performed only when the authentication result is successful.) The SCSI control circuit 58 is made to receive the reproduction time. This reproduction time is passed to the time comparison means 24. (Key information transmission processing: However, this processing is performed only when the authentication result is successful.) The key information is encrypted from the data reproduction circuit 54 by the bus encryption circuit 1405 and transmitted to the SCSI control circuit 58.

As described above, in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the host computer that reports the area and time when the system is installed in accordance with the mutual authentication, and the area and time that are reported in accordance with the mutual authentication. With an information reproducing apparatus for preventing inappropriate reproduction using the area of the information storage medium,
Provides an information reproduction system that prevents the reproduction of ethically undesired content in a certain area and more reliably avoids illegal acts such as changing the regional settings one after another using the installation time that is earlier than the actual time it can.

The circuit configuration shown above is an example for realizing a function, and is not limited to this circuit configuration.

[0071]

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the host computer for reporting the area where the system is installed and the time, and the area where the reported area, time and the information storage medium are located. Using an information reproducing apparatus that prevents inappropriate reproduction by using an information reproducing apparatus, prevents the reproduction of ethically undesired contents in a certain area, and changes the regional setting one after another using the installation time that is earlier than the actual time. It is possible to provide an information reproducing system that avoids such misconduct.

As described above, in the second and third embodiments of the present invention, as in the first embodiment, the reproduction of ethically undesired contents in a certain area is prevented and the actual time It is possible to provide an information reproduction system that avoids an illegal act such as changing the region setting one after another by using a more advanced installation time. As described above, in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the host computer that reports the area and time at which the system is installed with the mutual authentication, the area, the time that is reported with the mutual authentication, and the information storage medium Information reproduction device that prevents inappropriate reproduction using the local area, prevents the reproduction of ethically undesired contents in a certain area, and sequentially uses the installation time that is earlier than the actual time to read the area. It is possible to provide an information reproducing system that more reliably avoids fraudulent acts such as changing settings.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a data structure diagram of an information storage medium.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a conventional information reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a circuit configuration block diagram of a conventional information reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a functional configuration block diagram of an information reproducing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram of an information reproducing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a circuit configuration block diagram of an optical disk drive according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another functional configuration of the information reproducing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a circuit configuration block diagram of an AV decode card according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is another data structure diagram of the information storage medium.

FIG. 10 is another functional configuration block diagram of the information reproducing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a circuit configuration block diagram of an AV decoding card according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a circuit configuration block diagram of an optical disk drive according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a configuration block diagram of a decoder authentication circuit;

FIG. 14 is a configuration block diagram of a drive authentication circuit.

FIG. 15 is a system installation information exchange diagram of the information reproduction system according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a reproduction time information exchange diagram of the information reproduction system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 information reproduction system 2 host computer 3 information reproduction device 4 information storage medium 5 output device 6 host interface bus 10 reproduction instruction means 11 AV decompression means 12 clock 13 regional information 14 system installation notification means 15 reproduction time notification means 16 decoder authentication means 17 Descrambling means 18 system installation starting means 20 data reproduction means 21 system installation information 22 system installation updating means 23 area comparison means 24 time comparison means 25 reproduction control means 26 drive authentication means 27 publication time comparison means 30 medium area information 31 key information 50 Optical disk 51 Microcontroller 52 Switch 53 Non-volatile memory 54 Data reproduction circuit 55 Buffer memory 56 Audio / video decoding circuit 57 Decoding memory 58 SCSI control circuit 5 System interface circuit 60 Decoder authentication circuit 61 Descramble circuit 62 Optical disk 63 Drive authentication circuit 201 Information reproducing device 213 Device local information 215 Reproduction control means 300 Optical disk player 302 Program ROM 501 Main processor 502 Processor bus 503 Bus interface circuit 504 Main storage 505 System Bus 506 SCSI control card 507 AV decode card 508 SCSI bus 509 Optical disk drive 510 Hard disk drive 511 Real time clock 602 Program ROM 701 Information reproduction system 702 Host computer 703 Information reproduction device 710 System installation storage means 711 Area comparison means 712 Time comparison means 713 Decode Control means 720 Reporting means 725 Reproduction control means 802 Program ROM 1001 Information reproduction system 1002 Host computer 1003 Information reproduction device 1004 Information storage medium 1202 Program ROM 1300 I / O control circuit 1301 Random number generation circuit 1302 fk (R1) generation / comparison circuit 1303 gk (R2 ) Generation circuit 1304 Bus key generation circuit 1305 Bus decryption circuit 1400 I / O control circuit 1401 Random number generation circuit 1402 fk (R1) generation circuit 1403 gk (R2) generation / comparison circuit 1404 Bus key generation circuit 1405 Bus encryption circuit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Ueda 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An information reproducing system having a drive device for reproducing data from an exchangeable information storage medium in which reproduction permitted area information indicating a specific area in which reproduction of content is permitted together with copyrighted digital content is recorded. Yes, installation information generating means for generating system installation information including installation area information specifying the area where the system is installed and installation time information specifying the installation time, and saving the system installation information using non-volatile memory The installation information storage means to be executed, and the installation time information set in the system installation information generated by the installation information generation means is stored in the non-volatile memory only when a certain time or more has elapsed from the installation time information stored in the non-volatile memory. Installation information updating means for updating the stored system installation information, and reproduction read from the information storage medium A region comparison means for transmitting a region coincidence signal when a match is detected from a comparison between the available region information and the installation region information stored in the nonvolatile memory, and an information storage medium only when the region comparison unit transmits the region coincidence signal And a reproduction control means for reproducing digital contents from the information reproduction system. 2. An information reproducing system having a drive device for reproducing data from an exchangeable information storage medium in which reproduction permitted area information indicating a specific area in which reproduction of contents is permitted together with digital contents having copyright is recorded. Installation information generating means for generating system installation information including installation area information for specifying an area where the system is installed and installation time information for specifying the installation time; and prior to reproduction of digital content from the information storage medium. Setting information storage means for storing system installation information using a current time notification means and a nonvolatile memory for notifying the current time, and installation time information set in the system installation information generated by the installation information generation means in the nonvolatile memory. Non-volatile memory only when a certain period of time has elapsed from the saved installation time information An installation information updating means for updating the stored system installation information; and transmitting a region coincidence signal when a match is detected from a comparison between the reproduction permitted region information read from the information storage medium and the installation region information stored in the nonvolatile memory. Time comparing means for transmitting a current time confirmation signal when it is confirmed that the current time notified by the current time notifying means has passed a fixed time or more than the installation time information stored in the nonvolatile memory. And information reproduction control means for reproducing digital contents from the information storage medium only when the area comparison means sends an area coincidence signal and the time comparison means sends a current time confirmation signal. system. 3. An information reproducing system having a drive device for reproducing data from an exchangeable information storage medium in which reproduction permitted area information indicating a specific area in which reproduction of content is permitted together with copyrighted digital content is recorded. Yes, generates system installation information including mutual authentication means that the devices that make up the system authenticate each other, installation area information that identifies the area where the system is installed, and installation time information that identifies the installation time. Installation information generating means, a setting information storage means for storing system installation information using a non-volatile memory, and installation time information set in the system installation information generated by the installation information generation means authenticated by the mutual authentication means. Non-volatile only when a certain time or more has passed since the installation time information stored in the non-volatile memory An installation information updating means for updating the system installation information stored in the memory; and a region match signal when a match is detected from a comparison between the reproduction permitted region information read from the information storage medium and the installation region information stored in the nonvolatile memory. An information reproducing system comprising: an area comparing unit for transmitting digital content; and a reproduction control unit for reproducing digital content from the information storage medium only when the area comparing unit transmits an area matching signal.