KR20020081842A - system for charging for multimedia streaming service and guaranteeing security of the service and the method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A security and billing system and method is provided to encode multimedia streaming contents, to enable an approved user to decode and use the multimedia streaming contents and to bill the offered charged multimedia streaming contents based on a time rate or a packet rate billing method. CONSTITUTION: The method comprises steps of a client computer accessing a streaming server over the internet(S201), the client computer passing a user authentication procedure(S202), the streaming server transmitting an instruction for activating a security/billing layer to the client computer, the client computer activating the security/billing layer according to the instruction and loading the security/billing layer at a memory(S203), the client computer requesting a usage of streaming contents to the streaming server(S204), the streaming server transmitting the streaming contents to the client computer in response to the request(S205), the security/billing layer, loaded at the client computer, decoding the streaming contents, transferring the decoded contents to an application software, and notifying a billing server of a billing start point(S206), the application program regenerating the streaming contents, and the security/billing layer sensing a regeneration completion of the application program or a transmission completion of the streaming contents from the streaming server and notifying the billing server of a billing completion point(S207, S208).

Description

Security / billing system of multimedia streaming service and method thereof {system for charging for multimedia streaming service and guaranteeing security of the service and the method

The present invention relates to an authentication security and billing method and system for multimedia streaming content, and more particularly, to support the security of various multimedia streaming content provided through a wired or wireless communication network such as the Internet, and to use the multimedia streaming content service of clients. The present invention relates to a method and a system for enabling the charging of a packet amount and a packet amount of time.

In recent years, the increasing speed of the Internet has made it possible to view and listen to multimedia data online combined with audio or video on the Internet. A representative example is the multimedia streaming service. Streaming does not download and execute all the audio or video data (video data) that is large in size, but rather divides it into several files and transmits them in real time. This service can be provided through such multimedia streaming. There are real-time broadcast services such as sports, news, live concerts, and video on demand (VOD) services. There are also Internet stations and internet cinemas using streaming technology.

Currently, in order to protect copyrights from illegal use of multimedia contents created at high production costs, a method of hiding or encrypting URLs or digital watermarking technology is used. Digital watermarking is a technology that inserts copyright information such as audio and video images into multimedia files such as text and texts indistinguishable from the human eye or hearing. You can check the presence of watermarking to cover the application.

However, sites that apply security to URLs have the disadvantage that it is difficult to prevent illegal use when the URLs are exposed, and when digital watermarking is used, service providers as well as users must bear the inconvenience of installing a separate application.

On the other hand, since the billing for the existing streaming service is made only in units of one movie, one song, etc., it is impossible to charge the bill by differentiating between watching the movie for 10 minutes and the end. In other words, it is not a strictly pay-as-you-go bill.

Therefore, there is a need for a technology that can protect multimedia streaming contents from illegal users without additional application and further allow billing based on time or packet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for protecting multimedia streaming contents from illegal users without having to install a separate application, and for paying in the amount of time or packets.

1 is a system configuration diagram according to the present invention.

2 is a flowchart showing the operating principle of the present invention.

3 is a diagram illustrating transmission and reception of data between system components shown in FIG. 1;

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: client computer

110: application software

120: security / billing layer

200: streaming server

300: billing server

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention encrypts and provides multimedia streaming content, and enables the encrypted content to be used by activating a layer capable of interpreting and billing only to authenticated users. Enables security and charging of paid content. Since there is encrypted multimedia content in the streaming server, even if the URL is exposed, unauthorized users cannot use the content.

The present invention provides a method for receiving a streaming content from a streaming server by a client computer including a security layer and a streaming application, wherein after the user authentication is performed, the security layer is activated by a command of the streaming server; Requesting, by the security layer, the streaming server to transmit streaming content according to an application's request, receiving encrypted streaming content from the streaming server, and decrypting the encrypted streaming content by the security layer. And transmitting to the streaming application, and the streaming application playing the streaming content.

In addition, the system of the present invention is activated by authentication of the streaming server, the client computer including a charging layer for decrypting the encrypted streaming content received from the streaming server, and transmits the charging start information and the charging end information to the charging server. And a streaming server for transmitting encrypted streaming content according to a request of the client computer, and a charging server for performing charging according to charging start and charging end information transmitted from the client computer.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the authentication security and billing system for multimedia streaming content according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the authentication security and billing system according to the present invention includes a client computer 100 connected through the Internet, a streaming server 200 for providing a multimedia streaming service, and a billing server 300. .

The streaming server 200 stores the encrypted multimedia streaming content 210, and by encrypting different encryption keys for each multimedia streaming content, it is preferable to maintain security even if the encryption logic is exposed.

The client computer 100 includes a streaming application software 110 such as a real player of RealNetwork or a Windows media player of Microsoft in order to reproduce multimedia streaming content transmitted from the streaming server 200 in a stream manner.

In addition, the client computer 100 decrypts the encrypted streaming content 210 transmitted from the streaming server 200 to the application software 110, and starts charging to the charging server 300 at the start of the decryption operation. And a security / billing layer 120 that detects when the application software 110 is terminated or the transmission of the encrypted streaming content 210 is finished and notifies the end of the charging to the billing server 200.

The security / billing layer 120 is automatically installed on the client computer 100 when the encrypted streaming content 210 of the streaming server 200 is first used, and data received and received by the client computer 100 and the client computer 100. All data transmitted by will pass through this layer.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing how the system shown in FIG. 1 operates.

Referring to Figure 2 describes the operation principle of the present invention.

When the client computer 100 accesses the streaming server 200 through the Internet (S201), the client computer 100 undergoes a user authentication process (S202). User authentication may be various authentication methods currently used on the Internet, and user authentication may be performed by another server other than the streaming server 200.

When the user authentication is completed, the streaming server 200 transmits an activation command of the security / billing layer 120 to the client computer 100, and the security / billing layer 120 is activated according to the transmitted command. It is loaded into the memory of 100 (S203).

If the client computer 100 uses streaming content of the streaming server 200 for the first time, the client computer 100 must go through a process of automatically installing the security / billing layer 120.

Next, when the client computer 100 requests the streaming server 200 to use the streaming content (S204), the streaming server 200 transmits the encrypted streaming content in response to the request (S205).

The security / charging layer 120 of the client computer 100 decrypts the encrypted streaming content 210 transmitted from the streaming server 200 to the application software 110 and transfers the charge to the charging server 300. Inform the start (S206).

After the playback of the streaming content is performed by the application software 110 of the client computer 100, the application software 110 is terminated, or when the transmission of the streaming content from the streaming server 200 is finished (S207), the security / billing layer 120 detects this and transmits the information that the charging is terminated to the charging server 300 (S208).

When the authentication is no longer valid, i.e., when logged out, the security / charging layer 120 is removed from the memory of the client computer 100 (S209).

FIG. 3 illustrates in more detail the transmission and reception of data between system components after step S203 of FIG. 2.

After the security / charging layer 120 of the client computer 100 is activated through steps S201-S203 of FIG. 2, if the user of the client computer 100 wants to use the streaming content service, the client computer ( The application software 110 of 100 requests a streaming content to the security / billing layer 120 (S301), and the security / billing layer 120 transmits this request to the streaming server 200 (S302).

In response to the request, the streaming server 200 transmits the encrypted streaming content 210 to the client computer 100 (S303), and the security / charging layer 120 of the client computer 100 encrypts the streaming content ( After decrypting 210, it is transmitted to the application software 110 (S304). As a result, playback of the streaming content on the client computer 100 starts.

Meanwhile, for charging, the security / charging layer 120 notifies the charging server 300 of the start of charging at the same time as the decryption (S304). If necessary, the security / billing layer 120 may periodically transmit billing data (use bytes, use time) to the billing server 300. With this, the user can only watch the movie for 30 minutes, for example.

When the application software 110 is terminated in the client computer 100, the application software 110 notifies the security / billing layer 120 of the end of the use of the streaming content (S305). In response to the notification, the security / charging layer 120 transmits information to the charging server 300 that the charging is terminated (S306).

Even when the transmission of the streaming content from the streaming server 200 is finished, the security / charging layer 120 detects this and transmits information that the charging is terminated to the charging server 300 (S306).

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using the Example, this invention is not limited to this Example, A various deformation | transformation is possible in the range which does not deviate from the essence of this invention.

By constructing an environment in which multimedia streaming contents can be provided only to authenticated users without installing additional digital authentication related software on the user's computer side, there is an effect of protecting intellectual property rights from illegal use on the Internet.

In addition, the streaming content can be charged in time and packet units, so that a fairer fee can be charged, thereby increasing user satisfaction.

Claims (8)

A method of receiving a streaming content from a streaming server via a communication network by a client computer including a security layer and a streaming application, the method comprising: After the user authentication, the security layer is activated by a command of the streaming server; Requesting, by the security layer, the streaming server to transmit streaming content according to a request of the streaming application; Receiving encrypted streaming content from the streaming server; Transmitting, by the security layer, the encrypted streaming content to the streaming application; Playing the streaming content by the streaming application. In the charging method for using the streaming content of the client computer, Requesting the streaming content from the streaming server; Receiving encrypted streaming content from the streaming server; Delivering charging start information to a charging server when the encrypted streaming content starts to be decrypted and played; And charging the charging end information to the charging server when the transmission of the streaming content is terminated. 3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of periodically transmitting data including usage bytes or usage time to the charging server. In the streaming content using method of a client computer comprising a layer for decrypting the encrypted streaming content, After the user authentication, the decryption layer is activated; Receiving encrypted streaming content from the streaming server; And decrypting the encrypted streaming content by the activated decryption layer. A client computer including a charging layer that decrypts the encrypted streaming content received from the streaming server and transmits charging start information and charging end information to the charging server; A streaming server for transmitting encrypted streaming content at the request of the client computer; A billing server configured to perform billing according to billing start and billing end information transmitted from the client computer; And the client computer, the streaming server and the charging server are connected through a communication network. The method of claim 5, The client computer further comprises streaming application software for playing the streaming content. A method for providing streaming content to a client computer by a server comprising encrypted streaming content, the method comprising: Activating the decryption layer in response to a streaming content request from a client computer including a decryption layer and having user authentication completed; And transmitting the encrypted content that can be decrypted by the decryption layer. 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of transmitting a decryption layer when the streaming content request of the client computer is first.