Digital data distribution system

• US 20020091643A1
• Filed: 01/11/2001
• Published: 07/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sovereign Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Sovereign Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Inventors: Kozuka, Masayuki, Minami, Masataka, Okamoto, Ryuichi, Inoue, Mitsuhiro
• Application Number:
  US09/757,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20020091643A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/53
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

An object of the invention is to provide a digital data distribution system in which profits can be properly allocated to digital data provider companies and right holders of digital data, where the digital data distribution system offers subscription services.

The profit sharing means 314 refers to the profit sharing database 313, and allocates profits.

Claims

1. A distribution server for distributing digital data, comprising:

a history database storing information regarding digital data that have been distributed to users in the past;

a profit sharing database storing information regarding amounts to be allocated in order to allocate fees collected from the users to right holders of the digital data that are distributed by said distribution server; and

profit sharing means for calculating the amounts to be allocated to the right holders based on the information in said history database and said profit sharing database, and conducting a closing process.

2. A digital data distribution system, comprising:

a distribution server that distributes digital data;

a receiving device that receives the digital data sent from said distribution server;

a storage media in which the digital data that said receiving device has received is written; and

an adapter that writes in said storage media the digital data that said receiving device has received, wherein

said receiving device includes

communication means for accessing said distribution server,

browsing means for browsing and responding to information sent from said distribution server, and

adapter connection control means for controlling connection with said adapter,

said storage media includes

a media ID, which is information specific to said storage media and cannot be tampered with, said media ID being able to uniquely identify said storage media,

said adapter includes

secure communication means,

an adapter ID that uniquely identifies said adapter,

adapter ID detecting means for extracting said adapter ID and sending said adapter ID to said distribution server,

media ID detecting means for extracting said media ID from said storage media and sending said media ID to said distribution server,

encryption conversion means,

key encryption means,

storage media access means for writing and reading data in and from said storage media, and

media access process control means for controlling the writing and reading in and from said storage media by said storage media access means,

said distribution server includes

secure communication means,

sending and receiving means for sending and receiving information and the digital data to and from said receiving device,

a distribution front end for creating information to be sent to the user and processing accesses by the user,

a user administration database that stores user IDs and account information of related users,

a digital data administration database that stores storage location information and use conditions of digital data to be distributed,

an obtained rights administration database that stores information regarding a right to receive distribution of digital data that each user has obtained,

a history database that stores information regarding digital data that has been distributed to the users in the past,

an adapter administration database that stores adapter IDs of adapters that each user uses,

a storage media administration database that stores media IDs of storage medias that each user uses,

a profit sharing database that stores information regarding amounts to be allocated when fees collected from the users are allocated to right holders of the digital data that are distributed by said distribution server,

profit sharing means for calculating the amounts to be allocated to each of the right holders based on the information in said history database and said profit sharing database, and conducting a closing process based on the calculation,

distribution digital data storage means for storing digital data that are encrypted with a first encryption system and decryption keys for decrypting the digital data that are encrypted with the first encryption system, and

digital data distribution means for sending to said receiving device the digital data encrypted with the first encryption system and the decryption key based on a direction from said distribution front end, the digital data and the decryption key being stored in said distribution digital data storage means,

said encryption conversion means decrypts the digital data that is encrypted with the first encryption system and distributed by said digital data distribution means, using the decryption key distributed by said digital data distribution means, and encrypts the decrypted digital data with a second encryption system,

said key encryption means encrypts the key that has been utilized when said encryption conversion means encrypted the digital data with the second encryption system, using said media ID detected by said media ID detecting means,

said storage media access control means controls said storage media access means and writes the key encrypted by said key encryption means in said storage media,

said secure communication means of said adapter and said secure communication means of said distribution server communicate with each other, thereby establishing a secure communication path between said adapter and said distribution server,

the communication between each structural element within said adapter and each structural element within said distribution server is conducted through said secure communication path that has been established,

said distribution front end authorizes a user based on said adapter ID sent from said adapter ID detecting means, and

said distribution front end determines whether the digital data with respect to which distribution is requested can be distributed, by referring to said obtained rights administration database, said history database, said digital data administration database, and said storage media administration database, in order to execute processes in response to a request for distribution of digital data from the authorized user.

3. A profit sharing method for sharing profits earned from a digital data distribution system, wherein

in said digital data distribution system set forth in claim 2,

said profit sharing means refers to said history database and said profit sharing database, said profit sharing means calculating based on the information the amount to be allocated to each right holder and conducting a closing process based on the calculated amount.