License information exchange system

• US 20030149671A1
• Filed: 01/30/2003
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lilly Pathway LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Masaya, Miura, Kouji, Oho, Masahiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,290,047 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

When license information is transferred between a server machine (101) and a client machine (103), an identifier which is unique to a series of communication sequences is provided. Such identifier is sent when a communication is performed between such two machines as well as when the license information is updated. Therefore, when a message for transferring the license information is received by the use of the same identifier, a response message is returned without updating the license information.

Claims

1. A license information exchange system to exchange license information indicating details of a right between a first device which is a server device and a second device which is a client device via a communication network, the license information exchange system comprising the first device and the second device,

wherein the first device includes:

a communication unique information generating unit operable to generate communication unique information for identifying a license information exchange communication carried out with the second device in response to a communication request from the second device;

a first data storing unit operable to hold the communication unique information at least until sending the license information to the second device; and

a first communication unit operable to perform a communication with the second device, and

the second device includes;

a second data storing unit operable to hold the communication unique information shared with the first device at least until receiving the license information from the first device; and

a second communication unit operable to perform a communication with the first device.

2. The license information exchange system according to claim 1,

wherein the second device records at least client unique information for identifying the second device in the second data storing unit in advance, and sends the client unique information to the first device through the second communication unit,

the first device generates the communication unique information through the communication unique information generating unit when receiving the client unique information through the first communication unit, stores the client unique information and the communication unique information as a set in the first data storing unit, and sends the communication unique information to the second device through the first communication unit,

the second device stores the communication unique information in the second data storing unit when receiving the communication unique information through the second communication unit, and sends at least the communication unique information to the first device when performing a communication for exchanging the license information, and

the first device updates the license information stored in the first data storing unit being associated with the communication unique information stored in the first data storing unit when the license information is sent/received from the second device.

3. The license information exchange system according to claim 1,

wherein the communication unique information generating unit issues communication unique information which is not used in a previous communication.

4. The license information exchange system according to claim 1,

wherein the second device further includes a request information generating unit operable to generate request information concerning the license information requested to be acquired,

wherein the request information generating unit generates the request information concerning the license information which the first device requires, and sends the client unique information for identifying the second device recorded in the second data storing unit in advance and the request information to the first device through the second communication unit,

the first device generates the communication unique information through the communication unique information generating unit, when receiving the client unique information and the request information through the first communication unit, stores the client unique information, the communication unique information and the request information as a set in the first data storing unit, and further sends the communication unique information to the second device through the first communication unit,

the second device stores the communication unique information in the second data storing unit, when receiving the communication unique information through the second communication unit, and sends at least the communication unique information to the first device,

the first device further includes a license information generating unit operable to generate the license information according to the request information, and

the first device searches for the request information stored in the first data storing unit based on the communication unique information, when receiving the communication unique information through the first communication unit, has the license information generating unit generate sending license information sent to the second device based on the searched request information, stores at least the sending license information and the communication unique information as a set in the first data storing unit, and sends the sending license information to the second device through the second communication unit after deleting the request information.

5. The license information exchange system according to claim 4,

wherein the first device searches for the request information and the sending license information stored in the first data storing unit based on the communication unique information, when receiving the communication including the communication unique information through the first communication unit, and

when the request information is searched, prepares the sending license information based on the searched request information, stores the prepared sending license information and the communication unique information as a set in the first data storing unit, and sends the sending license information to the second device after deleting the request information, and

when the sending license information is searched, sends the searched sending license information to the second device.

6. The license information exchange system according to claim 4,

wherein the second device stores the communication unique information in the second data storing unit when receiving the communication unique information through the second communication unit, and when returning the license information received from the first device, sends to the first device at least the communication unique information and the returned license information to be returned through the second communication unit, and

the first device records the returned license information in addition to the communication unique information stored in the first data storing unit when receiving the communication unique information and the returned license information through the first communication unit.

7. The license information exchange system according to claim 6,

wherein the second device makes the returned license information unusable before returning the returned license information to the first device.

8. The license information exchange system according to claim 4,

wherein the second device sends to the first device a cancellation request including at least the communication unique information indicating that the exchange of the license information is cancelled through the second communication unit, and

the first device searches and deletes the request information and the client unique information relating to the communication unique information stored in the first data storing unit, when receiving the cancellation request through the first communication unit,

wherein the license information generating unit deletes the set of the communication unique information and the sending license information stored in the first data storing unit after reupdating the updated license information to a state before update, when the license information generating unit already generates the sending license information and updates the license information, and sends a response message indicating that the cancellation request is received to the second device through the first communication unit, and

the second device deletes the information relating to the communication unique information stored in the second data storing unit when receiving the response message through the second communication unit.

9. The license information exchange system according to claim 8,

wherein the first device performs only the processing to send the response message indicating that the cancellation request is received to the second device when receiving the cancellation request again through the first communication unit.

10. The license information exchange system according to claim 4,

wherein the second device sends a commit request including at least the communication unique information to the first device through the second communication unit,

the first device searches for the set relating to the communication unique information from among request information and sending license information stored in the first data storing unit and deletes the searched set, when receiving the commit request through the first communication unit, and sends a response message indicating that the commit request is received to the second device through the first communication unit, and

the second device deletes the information relating to the communication unique information from the second data storing unit when receiving the response message through the second communication unit.

11. The license information exchange system according to claim 10,

wherein the commit request includes more than one piece of communication unique information.

12. The license information exchange system according to claim 10,

wherein the first device performs only the processing for sending to the second device the response message indicating that the receiving of the commit request completes, when receiving the commit request including the same communication unique information again.

13. The license information exchange system according to claim 4,

wherein the second device further includes a second communication unique information generating unit operable to generate the communication unique information,

wherein the second communication unique information generating unit issues the communication unique information according to an input from a user of the second device, and the issued communication unique information is stored in the second data storing unit as well as being sent to the first device through the second communication unit,

the first device records the communication unique information and the client unique information received through the first communication unit as a set in the first data storing unit, and sends a response message indicating that the communication unique information is received to the second device through the first communication unit,

the second device has the request information generating unit generate the request information according to a selection of the user, when receiving the response message through the second communication unit, and sends a license information request message including at least the request information and the communication unique information to the first device through the second communication unit,

the first device has the license information generating unit issue the sending license information after searching the license information compliant with the received request information, when receiving the license information request message through the first communication unit, and update the license information managed by the first device, records the communication unique information and the sending license information in the first data storing unit, and sends a response message including the sending license information to the second device through the first communication unit, and

the second device records the sending license information in the second data storing unit when receiving the response message through the second communication unit.

14. The license information exchange system according to claim 13,

wherein the second communication unique information generating unit issues communication unique information which is not used in a previous communication.

15. The license information exchange system according to claim 13,

wherein the first device sends the sending license information recorded in the first data storing unit to the second device through the first communication unit when receiving the license information request message including the same communication unique information again.

16. The license information exchange system according to claim 13,

wherein the first device stores the response message in the first data storing unit.

17. The license information exchange system according to claim 13,

wherein the second device sends a commit request including at least the communication unique information to the first device through the second communication unit after recording the sending license information in the second data storing unit,

the first device searches and deletes the set of the communication unique information and the client unique information stored in the first data storing unit, when receiving the commit request through the first communication unit, searches for the sending license information which makes the set with the communication unique information from among sending license information stored in the first data storing unit, deletes the searched set, and sends a response message indicating that the receiving of the commit request completes to the second device through the first communication unit.

18. The license information exchange system according to claim 17,

wherein the commit request includes more than one piece of communication unique information.

19. The license information exchange system according to claim 17,

wherein the first device performs only the processing for sending to the second device the response message indicating that the receiving of the commit request completes, when receiving the commit request including the same communication unique information again.

20. The license information exchange system according to claim 13,

wherein the second device sends a cancellation request including at least the communication unique information to the first device through the second communication unit after sending the license information request message,

the first device receives the cancellation request through the first communication unit, searches and deletes the request information and the client unique information relating to the communication unique information stored in the first data storing unit,

wherein the license information generating unit deletes the set of the communication unique information and the sending license information stored in the first data storing unit after reupdating the updated license information to a state before update, when the license information generating unit already generates the sending license information and updates the license information, and sends a response message indicating that the cancellation request is received to the second device through the first communication unit, and

the second device deletes the information concerning the communication unique information stored in the second data storing unit when receiving the response message through the second communication unit.

21. The license information exchange system according to claim 20,

wherein the first device performs only the processing to send the response message indicating that the cancellation request is received to the second device, when receiving the cancellation request again through the first communication unit.

22. The license information exchange system according to claim 4,

wherein the second device sends a communication unique information request message including the client unique information recorded in the second data storing unit in advance to the first device through the second communication unit,

the first device generates the communication unique information through the communication unique information generating unit, when receiving the communication unique information request message through the first communication unit, stores the client unique information and the communication unique information as a set in the first data storing unit, and further sends the communication unique information to the second device through the first communication unit,

the second device stores the communication unique information in the second data storing unit, when receiving the communication unique information through the second communication unit, has the request information generating unit generate the request information according to a selection of the user when performing a communication for exchanging the license information, and sends a license information request message including at least the communication unique information and the request information to the first device through the second communication unit,

the first device has the license information generating unit issue the sending license information after searching the license information compliant with the received request information, when receiving the license information request message through the first communication unit, and update the license information managed by the first device, records the communication unique information and the sending license information in the first data storing unit, and sends a response message including the sending license information to the second device through the first communication unit, and

the second device records the sending license information in the second data storing unit, when receiving the response message through the second communication unit, and deletes the communication unique information.

23. The license information exchange system according to claim 22,

wherein the communication unique information generating unit issues communication unique information which is not used in a previous communication.

24. The license information exchange system according to claim 22,

wherein, the first device, when receiving the license information request message again through the first communication unit, has the license information generating unit generate the sending license information according to the request information included in the license information request message received again after merging the sending license information stored in the first data storing unit with the license information managed by the first device, and stores the sending license information in the first data storing unit.

25. The license information exchange system according to claim 22,

wherein the second device checks that there is no communication unique information recorded in the second data storing unit after deleting the communication unique information from the second data storing unit, and sends a commit request including at least the client unique information to the first device through the second communication unit, and

the first device searches for the set of the client unique information and the communication unique information stored in the first data storing unit, performs a batch deletion for the searched set of the client unique information and the communication unique information, when receiving the commit request through the first communication unit, and searches for the set of the sending license information and the communication unique information stored in the first data storing unit, and performs a batch deletion for the searched set of the sending license information and the communication unique information.

26. The license information exchange system according to claim 1,

wherein the second device sends returned information including at least a set of the client unique information and first returned license information to the first device through the second communication unit when returning the license information to the first device,

the first device searches for a set of the client unique information and second returned license information stored in the first data storing unit in a previous communication when receiving the first returned information through the first communication unit, deletes the set of the client unique information and the second returned license information if recorded, stores the received set of the client unique information and the first returned license information in the first data storing unit, and sends a response message indicating that the first returned information is received to the second device through the first communication unit,

the second device deletes the first returned license information from the second data storing unit, when receiving the response message through the second communication unit, and sends a second response message indicating that the returned license information is deleted to the first device through the second communication unit, and

the first device merges the first returned license information recorded in the first data storing unit with the license information managed by the first device, when receiving the second response message through the first communication unit, and sends a third response message indicating that a return of the first returned license information completes to the second device through the first communication unit.

27. The license information exchange system according to claim 26,

wherein the second device makes the first returned license information unusable before returning the first returned license information to the first device.

28. The license information exchange system according to claim 26,

wherein the first device performs only the processing to send the third response message indicating that the return completes to the second device, when receiving the second response message again through the first communication unit.

29. A license information exchange method for exchanging license information indicating details of a right between a first device which is a server device and a second device which is a client device via a communication network, the license information exchange method comprising the first steps executed by the first device and the second steps executed by the second device,

wherein the first steps include:

a communication unique information generating step for generating communication unique information for identifying a license information exchange communication carried out with the second device in response to a communication request from the second device;

a first data storing step for holding the communication unique information at least until the first device sends the license information to the second device; and

a first communication step for performing a communication with the second device, and

the second steps include;

a second data storing step for holding the communication unique information shared with the first device at least until the second device receives the license information from the first device; and

a second communication step for performing a communication with the first device.

30. The license information exchange method according to claim 29,

wherein the second device records at least client unique information for identifying the second device in the second data storing step in advance, and sends the client unique information to the first device in the second communication step,

the first device generates the communication unique information in the communication unique information generating step, when receiving the client unique information in the first communication step, stores the client unique information and the communication unique information as a set in the first data storing step, and sends the communication unique information to the second device in the first communication step,

the second device stores the communication unique information in the second data storing step, when receiving the communication unique information in the second communication step, and sends at least the communication unique information to the first device when performing a communication for exchanging the license information, and

the first device updates the license information stored in the first data storing step being associated with the communication unique information stored in the first data storing step when the license information is sent/received from the second device.

31. The license information exchange method according to claim 29,

wherein the second steps further include a request information generating step for generating request information concerning the license information requested to be acquired,

wherein the request information concerning the license information which the first device requires is generated in the request information generating step, and the client unique information for identifying the second device recorded in the second data storing step in advance and the request information are sent to the first device in the second communication step,

the first device generates the communication unique information in the communication unique information generating step, when receiving the client unique information and the request information in the first communication step, stores the client unique information, the communication unique information and the request information as a set in the first data storing step, and further sends the communication unique information to the second device in the first communication step,

the second device stores the communication unique information in the second data storing step, when receiving the communication unique information in the second communication step, and sends at least the communication unique information to the first device,

the first steps further include a license information generating step for generating the license information according to the request information, and

the first device searches for the request information stored in the first data storing step based on the communication unique information, when receiving the communication unique information in the first communication step, generates sending license information sent to the second device in the license information generating step based on the searched request information, stores at least the sending license information and the communication unique information as a set in the first data storing step, and sends the sending license information to the second device in the second communication step after deleting the request information.

32. The license information exchange method according to claim 31,

wherein the second steps further include a second communication unique information generating step for generating the communication unique information,

wherein the communication unique information is issued according to an input from a user of the second device, and the issued communication unique information is stored in the second data storing step as well as being sent to the first device in the second communication step,

the first device records the communication unique information and the client unique information received in the first communication step as a set in the first data storing step, and sends a response message indicating that the communication unique information is received in the first communication step to the second device,

the second device generates the request information in the request information generating step according to a selection of the user, when receiving the response message in the second communication step, and sends a license information request message including at least the request information and the communication unique information to the first device in the second communication step,

the first device issues the sending license information and updates the license information managed by the first device in the license information generating step after searching the license information compliant with the received request information, when receiving the license information request message in the first communication step, records the communication unique information and the sending license information in the first data storing step, and sends a response message including the sending license information to the second device in the first communication step, and

the second device records the sending license information in the second data storing step when receiving the response message in the second communication step.

33. A first device in a license information exchange system to exchange license information indicating details of a right between the first device which is a server device and a second device which is a client device via a communication network, the first device comprising:

a communication unique information generating unit operable to generate communication unique information for identifying a license information exchange communication carried out with the second device in response to a communication request from the second device;

a first data storing unit operable to hold the communication unique information at least until sending the license information to the second device; and

a first communication unit operable to perform a communication with the second device,

wherein the second device comprises;

a second data storing unit operable to hold the communication unique information shared with the first device at least until receiving the license information from the first device; and

a second communication unit operable to perform a communication with the first device.

35. The first device according to claim 33,

wherein the second device records at least client unique information for identifying the second device in the second data storing unit in advance, and sends the client unique information to the first device through the second communication unit,

the first device generates the communication unique information through the communication unique information generating unit, when receiving the client unique information through the first communication unit, stores the client unique information and the communication unique information as a set in the first data storing unit, and sends the communication unique information to the second device through the first communication unit,

the second device stores the communication unique information in the second data storing unit when receiving the communication unique information through the second communication unit, and sends at least the communication unique information to the first device when performing a communication for exchanging the license information, and

the first device updates the license information stored in the first data storing unit being associated with the communication unique information stored in the first data storing unit when the license information is sent/received from the second device.

34. A second device in a license information exchange system to exchange license information indicating details of a right between the first device which is a server device and a second device which is a client device via a communication network,

wherein the first device comprises:

a communication unique information generating unit operable to generate communication unique information for identifying a license information exchange communication carried out with the second device in response to a communication request from the second device;

a first data storing unit operable to hold the communication unique information at least until sending the license information to the second device; and

a first communication unit operable to perform a communication with the second device,

wherein the second device comprises;

a second data storing unit operable to hold the communication unique information shared with the first device at least until receiving the license information from the first device; and

a second communication unit operable to perform a communication with the first device.

36. The second device according to claim 34,

wherein the second device records at least client unique information for identifying the second device in the second data storing unit in advance, and sends the client unique information to the first device through the second communication unit,

the first device generates the communication unique information through the communication unique information generating unit, when receiving the client unique information through the first communication unit, stores the client unique information and the communication unique information as a set in the first data storing unit, and sends the communication unique information to the second device through the first communication unit,

the second device stores the communication unique information in the second data storing unit when receiving the communication unique information through the second communication unit, and sends at least the communication unique information to the first device when performing a communication for exchanging the license information, and

the first device updates the license information stored in the first data storing unit being associated with the communication unique information stored in the first data storing unit, when the license information is sent/received from the second device.

37. A license information exchange program for a device to exchange license information indicating details of a right between a first device which is a server device and a second device which is a client device via a communication network, the license information exchange program comprising the first steps executed by the first device and the second steps executed by the second device,

wherein the first steps include:

a communication unique information generating step for generating communication unique information for identifying a license information exchange communication carried out with the second device in response to a communication request from the second device;

a first data storing step for holding the communication unique information at least until the first device sends the license information to the second device; and

a first communication step for performing a communication with the second device, and

the second steps include;

a second data storing step for holding the communication unique information shared with the first device at least until the second device receives the license information from the first device; and

a second communication step for performing a communication with the first device.

38. The license information exchange program according to claim 37,

wherein the second device records at least client unique information for identifying the second device in the second data storing step in advance, and sends the client unique information to the first device in the second communication step,

the first device generates the communication unique information in the communication unique information generating step, when receiving the client unique information in the first communication step, stores the client unique information and the communication unique information as a set in the first data storing step, and sends the communication unique information to the second device through the first communication step,

the second device stores the communication unique information in the second data storing step, when receiving the communication unique information through the second communication step, and sends at least the communication unique information to the first device when performing a communication for exchanging the license information, and

the first device updates the license information stored in the first data storing step being associated with the communication unique information stored in the first data storing step when the license information is sent/received from the second device.

39. The license information exchange program according to claim 37,

wherein the second steps further include a request information generating step for generating request information concerning the license information requested to be acquired,

wherein the request information concerning the license information which the first device requires is generated in the request information generating step, and the client unique information for identifying the second device recorded in the second data storing step in advance and the request information are sent to the first device in the second communication step,

the first device generates the communication unique information in the communication unique information generating step, when receiving the client unique information and the request information in the first communication step, stores the client unique information, the communication unique information and the request information as a set in the first data storing step, and further sends the communication unique information to the second device in the first communication step,

the second device stores the communication unique information in the second data storing step, when receiving the communication unique information in the second communication step, and sends at least the communication unique information to the first device,

the first steps further include a license information generating step for generating the license information according to the request information, and

the first device searches for the request information stored in the first data storing step based on the communication unique information, when receiving the communication unique information in the first communication step, generates sending license information sent to the second device in the license information generating step based on the searched request information, stores at least the sending license information and the communication unique information as a set in the first data storing step, and sends the sending license information to the second device in the second communication step after deleting the request information.

40. The license information exchange program according to claim 39,

wherein the second steps further include a second communication unique information generating step for generating the communication unique information,

wherein the communication unique information is issued according to an input from a user of the second device, and the issued communication unique information is stored in the second data storing step as well as being sent to the first device in the second communication step,

the first device records the communication unique information and the client unique information received in the first communication step as a set in the first data storing step, and sends a response message indicating that the communication unique information is received to the second device in the first communication step,

the second device generates the request information in the request information generating step according to a selection of the user, when receiving the response message in the second communication step, and sends a license information request message including at least the request information and the communication unique information to the first device in the second communication step,

the first device issues the sending license information and updates the license information managed by the first device in the license information generating step after searching the license information compliant with the received request information, when receiving the license information request message in the first communication step, records the communication unique information and the sending license information in the first data storing step, and sends a response message including the sending license information to the second device in the first communication step, and

the second device records the sending license information in the second data storing step when receiving the response message in the second communication step.