Information processing device, information processing method, and computer program

• US 20040255135A1
• Filed: 03/19/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kuriya, Shinobu, Kitaya, Yoshimichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,090,102 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/193
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1063 Personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/107 License processing; Key processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1082 Backup or restore
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2107 File encryption

Abstract

To provide an apparatus and method for realizing an improved content preview process in a content using mechanism based on content usage-right information. A client obtains default usage-right information (Default Usage Right) when it is registered to a license server, and determines, based on the default usage-right information, whether or not the content can be played back in a content preview process without purchasing the content. The client which is permitted to preview the content is limited to a client which has been registered to the license server to obtain the default usage-right information. This prevents preview-data from being randomly distributed.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for controlling decoding and using of encrypted content, said information processing apparatus comprising:

control means for controlling content use based on usage-right information (usage right) corresponding to the content according to an instruction to use the content; and

recording means for recording default usage-right information, the default usage-right information being recorded in manufacturing or being obtained at a service registration time,

wherein said control means permits the content to be decoded and used based on the description of the default usage-right information when the content includes information indicating association with the default usage-right information.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content which is permitted for use based on the default usage-right information is provided for the purpose of sampling, and

said control means determines whether or not the content includes a flag indicating sample content, and permits playback of the content according to a determination result.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

sending means for sending a service registration request; and

receiving means for receiving the default usage-right information sent from a license server in response to the registration request.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said receiving means further receives key information necessary for decoding the content.

5. An information processing apparatus for issuing a usage right having usage rules of encrypted content, said information processing apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving a registration request; and

sending means for sending key information and default usage-right information in response to the registration request, the key information being necessary for decoding the encrypted content.

6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the content which is permitted for use based on the default usage-right information is provided for the purpose of sampling, and

the default usage-right information includes a description indicating that playback of the content is permitted when the content includes a flag indicating sample content.

7. An information processing method for controlling decoding and using of encrypted content, said information processing method comprising a control step of controlling content use based on usage-right information (usage right) corresponding to the content according to an instruction to use the content,

wherein said control step includes:

a step of determining whether or not the content includes information indicating association with default usage-right information recorded in manufacturing or default usage-right information obtained at a service registration time; and

a step of permitting the content to be decoded and used based on the description of the default usage-right information when the content includes the information indicating association with the default usage-right information.

8. An information processing method according to claim 7, wherein the content which is permitted for use based on the default usage-right information is provided for the purpose of sampling, and

said control step further includes a step of determining whether or not the content includes a flag indicating sample content, and permitting playback of the content according to a determination result.

9. An information processing method according to claim 7, further comprising:

a sending step of sending a service registration request; and

a receiving step of receiving the default usage-right information sent from a license server in response to the registration request.

10. An information processing method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of receiving key information necessary for decoding the content.

11. An information processing method for issuing a usage right having usage rules of encrypted content, said information processing method comprising:

a receiving step of receiving a registration request; and

a sending step of sending key information and default usage-right information in response to the registration request, the key information being necessary for decoding the encrypted content.

12. An information processing method according to claim 11, wherein the content which is permitted for use based on the default usage-right information is provided for the purpose of sampling, and

the default usage-right information includes a description indicating that playback of the content is permitted when the content includes a flag indicating sample content.

13. A computer program for performing an information process for controlling decoding and using of encrypted content, said computer program including a control step of controlling content use based on usage-right information (usage right) corresponding to the content according to an instruction to use the content,

wherein said control step includes:

a step of determining whether or not the content includes information indicating association with default usage-right information recorded in manufacturing or default usage-right information obtained at a service registration time; and

a step of permitting the content to be decoded and used based on the description of the default usage-right information when the content includes the information indicating association with the default usage-right information.

14. A computer program according to claim 13, wherein the content which is permitted for use based on the default usage-right information is provided for the purpose of sampling, and

said control step further includes a step of determining whether or not the content includes a flag indicating sample content, and permitting playback of the content according to a determination result.

15. A computer program according to claim 13, wherein the computer program further includes:

a sending step of sending a service registration request; and

a receiving step of receiving the default usage-right information sent from a license server in response to the registration request.

16. A computer program according to claim 15, wherein the computer program further includes a step of receiving key information necessary for decoding the content.

17. A computer program for performing an information process for issuing a usage right having usage rules of encrypted content, said computer program including:

a receiving step of receiving a registration request; and

a sending step of sending key information and default usage-right information in response to the registration request, the key information being necessary for decoding the encrypted content.

18. A computer program according to claim 17, wherein the content which is permitted for use based on the default usage-right information is provided for the purpose of sampling, and

the default usage-right information includes a description indicating that playback of the content is permitted when the content includes a flag indicating sample content.

19. A content usage management system including a content using apparatus for decoding and using encrypted content, and a usage-right issuing apparatus for issuing a usage right having usage rules of the encrypted content, wherein said content using apparatus comprises:

sending means for sending a service registration request; and

receiving means for receiving default usage-right information sent from a license server in response to the registration request, and

said usage-right issuing apparatus comprises;

receiving means for receiving the registration request; and

sending means for sending key information and the default usage-right information in response to the registration request, the key information being necessary for decoding the encrypted content.

20. A content usage managing method for a content usage management system including a content using apparatus for decoding and using encrypted content, and a usage-right issuing apparatus for issuing a usage right having usage rules of the encrypted content, said content usage managing method comprising:

a registration-request sending step of sending a service registration request from the content using apparatus to the usage-right issuing apparatus;

a data sending step of, in the usage-right issuing apparatus, receiving the registration request and sending key information and default usage-right information in response to the registration request, the key information being necessary for decoding the encrypted content; and

a receiving step of, in the content using apparatus, receiving the default usage-right information.