Broadcasting method and broadcast receiver

• US 20020097879A1
• Filed: 08/31/2001
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Hasegawa, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,406,702 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/278
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/40 Arrangements for broadcast specially adapted for accumulation-type receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/04 Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/16 on playing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26241 involving the time of distribution, e.g. the best time of the day for inserting an advertisement or airing a children program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63345 by transmitting keys key distribution for secret or secure communication H04L9/08; network support of key management H04L63/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

A broadcasting method and a broadcast receiver whereby contents are first distributed only for storage so that the stored contents are later played back in a time period predetermined by the distributing party, the contents being encrypted for protection against unauthorized reproduction in any time period other than the intended one. A content is transmitted together with a begin store command in a first time period for storage onto a storage medium at the receiving side. In a time period subsequent to the first time period, a play command is broadcast so as to retrieve the content from storage for playback. The content should preferably be encrypted. The encrypted content is decrypted and played back using a decryption key transmitted along with the play command in the second time period. The decryption key is deleted the moment the decryption process is terminated.

Claims

1. A broadcasting method comprising the steps of:

broadcasting contents along with a begin store command in a first time period, said begin store command causing said contents to be stored onto a storage medium at a receiving side; and

broadcasting a play command in a second time period subsequent to said first time period, said play command causing said contents stored on said storage medium to be retrieved therefrom for output of the contents.

2. A broadcasting method according to claim 1, wherein said contents broadcast in said first time period are encrypted, and wherein said play command broadcast in said second time period includes a decryption key for decrypting the encrypted contents.

3. A broadcasting method according to claim 1, wherein said contents broadcast in said first time period includes an identifier identifying said contents, and wherein said play command broadcast in said second time period include an identifier allowing said contents to be retrieved from said storage medium for output.

4. A broadcasting method according to claim 1, wherein said contents broadcast in said first time period include an end store command for terminating the storing of said contents onto said storage medium.

5. A broadcast receiver comprising:

a receiver for receiving contents broadcast in a first time period along with a begin store command causing said contents to be stored, and a play command broadcast in a second time period subsequent to said first time period, said play command causing the stored contents to be retrieved for output;

a storage medium for storing said contents received; and

a processor for storing said contents onto said storage medium in accordance with the received begin store command and for retrieving said contents from said storage medium for output when said processor finds the play command is received.

6. A broadcast receiver according to claim 5, wherein said contents broadcast in said first time period are encrypted, wherein said play command broadcast in said second time period includes a decryption key for decrypting the encrypted contents, and wherein said processor retrieves the encrypted contents from said storage medium and decrypts the retrieved contents for output.

7. A broadcast receiver according to claim 5, wherein said contents broadcast in said first time period and stored on said storage medium include a first identifier identifying said contents, wherein said play command includes a second identifier, and wherein said processor retrieves for playback said contents stored on said storage medium along with said first identifier if said first identifier coincides with said second identifier included in said play command.

8. A broadcast receiver according to claim 5, wherein said contents broadcast in said first time period include an end store command for terminating the storing of said contents onto said storage medium, and wherein said processor terminates the storing of said contents onto said storage medium the moment said end store command is received.

9. A broadcast receiver according to claim 6, wherein said processor stores the received decryption key into a memory and deletes said decryption key from said memory after decrypting the encrypted contents using said decryption key.

10. A broadcasting method comprising the steps of:

broadcasting contents to be stored onto a storage medium at a receiving side; and

broadcasting a play command in a second time period subsequent to said first time period, said play command causing said contents stored on said storage medium to be output for playing.

11. A program stored on a computer readable storage medium executing a contents playback method on a computer, comprising instructions of:

finding a begin store command in a broadcast,

storing contents in said broadcast in response to said begin store command in a storage medium,

finding a play command in a broadcast, said play command including an identifier which identifies contents broadcasted beforehand,

playing the stored contents identified with said play command when said play command is found in the broadcast.

12. A program stored on a computer readable storage medium according to claim 11, wherein said contents are encrypted, and said play command includes a decryption key for decrypting the encrypted contents, and wherein said step for playing includes a step for decrypting the contents before playing.

13. A program stored on a computer readable storage medium according to claim 11, further comprising steps of:

finding an end store command in a broadcast; and

terminating the storing of contents onto said storage medium in response to said end store command is received.

14. A program stored on a computer readable storage medium according to claim 12, further comprising a step of deleting said decryption key after decrypting the encrypted contents.