Content distribution system, content distribution method, and client terminal

• US 20040030930A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nomura, Ryosuke
• Granted Patent: US 7,600,262 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• 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: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/00 Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00; network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00; security arrangements for protecting computers or computer systems against unauthorised activity G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8549 Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

The user of any one portable terminal sends a content information request including a user ID to a distribution server. In response, the distribution server distributes a stream data of content that can be used on the user'"'"'s terminal. If the user of a first portable terminal intends to let a second portable terminal try out a certain content, the user sends to the distribution server the trial permission information including the user'"'"'s own user ID, a content ID of the content of interest, and a digital signature. The distribution server authenticates the received information before distributing a streaming data of a trial-oriented content with the content ID and user ID attached to it as search keys. This allows the content that can be used on a given user terminal to be tried out on another user terminal without the latter user having recourse to the steps of searching for the content in question.

Claims

1. A content distribution system for distributing contents over a network, comprising:

A distribution server for giving permission to use contents; and

a plurality of client terminals for reproducing distributed contents;

wherein any one of said client terminals, in possession of content trial permission information for permitting the another client terminal in question to use contents, offers the information to another client terminal, any one of said client terminals further receiving said content trial permission information from another client terminal so as to reproduce the contents corresponding to the received information; and

wherein said distribution server permits the use of contents in response to a request for the contents from any one of said client terminals;

2. A content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said distribution server permits the use of contents in response to a request for the contents from any one of said client terminals after authenticating the client terminal in question by use of an encryption key.

3. A content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein any one of said client terminals sends to said distribution server said content trial permission information received from another client terminal;

wherein said distribution server sends the contents corresponding to said content trial permission information received from the client terminal; and

wherein said client terminal reproduces said content sent from said distribution server.

4. A content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein any one of said client terminals authenticates a user attempting to use the client terminal in question;

and

wherein every single user is authenticated before acquiring the permission to use any content.

5. A content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the contents corresponding to said content trial permission information offered by one client terminal to another client terminal are subject to predetermined restrictions.

6. A content distribution system according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined restrictions controls a predetermined number of times the corresponding contents can be reproduced.

7. A client terminal for reproducing contents of which the use is permitted by a distribution server;

wherein said client terminal offers another client terminal the content trial permission information about contents of which the use is permitted on said client terminal, said client terminal further reproducing contents based on said content trial permission information offered by another client terminal.

8. A client terminal according to claim 7, wherein said client terminal authenticates a user attempting to use the client terminal in question;

and

wherein every user is authenticated before acquiring the permission to use any contents.

9. A content distribution system according to claim 7, wherein the contents corresponding to said content trial permission information offered by another client terminal are subject to predetermined restrictions.

10. A content distribution system according to claim 9, wherein said predetermined restrictions controls a predetermined number of times the corresponding contents can be reproduced.

11. A content distribution method for distributing contents over a network consists of a distribution server for giving permission to use contents and by a plurality of client terminals for reproducing contents, said content distribution method comprising the steps that are:

said distribution server permits the use of contents in response to a request for the contents from any one of said client terminals; and

any one of said clients terminals, in possession of content trial permission information offers the client the said information to another client terminal; and

any one of said client terminals, upon receipt of said content trial permission information from another client terminal reproduces the contents corresponding to the received information.

12. A content distribution method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of commanding said distribution server to authenticate the client terminal in question by use of an encryption key;

whereby said distribution server permits the use of contents in response to a request from said client terminal.

13. A content distribution method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

commanding any one of said client terminals to send to said distribution server said content trial permission information received from another client terminal; and

commanding said distribution server to send the contents corresponding to said content trial permission information received from the said client terminal.

14. A content distribution method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of commanding any one of said client terminals to authenticate personally a user attempting to use the client terminal in question;

whereby every user is authenticated before acquiring the permission to use any contents.

15. A content distribution method according to claim 11, further characterized by predetermined restrictions, which controls reproduction of the contents corresponds to said content trial permission information offered by one client terminal to another client terminal.

16. A content distribution method according to claim 15, wherein said predetermined restrictions rule a predetermined number of times the corresponding contents can be reproduced.