Information-processing device, information-processing method, and information-processing program product

• US 20060005259A1
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Saito, Takeshi, Isozaki, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,574,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/27
• 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: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4408 involving video stream encryption, e.g. re-encrypting a decrypted video stream for redistribution in a home network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4623 Processing of entitlement messages, e.g. ECM [Entitlement Control Message] or EMM [Entitlement Management Message] arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services H04H60/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58

Abstract

An information-processing device includes a first interface configured to transmit content through a network to a first communication unit having a first unique identification, a second interface configured to receive a second unique identification allocated to a second communication unit, a first storage area configured to store the second unique identification through the second interface, a first judgment unit configured to determine whether the first unique identification received through the first interface is stored in the first storage area, a content supply unit configured to transmit the content to the first communication unit via the first interface when the first judgment unit determines that the first unique identification is stored in the first storage area, a second storage area configured to store a third unique identification allocated to a third communication unit during the content supply unit transmits the content and a management unit configured to delete all unique identifications from the first storage area and shift the third unique identification from the second storage area to the first storage area when the content supply unit has transmitted the content to the first communication unit completely.

Claims

1. An information-processing device comprising:

a first interface configured to transmit content through a network to a first communication unit having a first unique identification;

a second interface configured to receive a second unique identification allocated to a second communication unit;

a first storage area configured to store the second unique identification through the second interface;

a first judgment unit configured to determine whether the first unique identification received through the first interface is stored in the first storage area;

a content supply unit configured to transmit the content to the first communication unit via the first interface when the first judgment unit determines that the first unique identification is stored in the first storage area;

a second storage area configured to store a third unique identification allocated to a third communication unit through the second interface during the content supply unit transmits the content; and

a management unit configured to delete all unique identifications from the first storage area and shift the third unique identification from the second storage area to the first storage area when the content supply unit has transmitted the content to the first communication unit completely.

2. The information-processing device according to claims 1, wherein

the first interface transmits the content in accordance with an Internet Protocol, and

the second interface receives and transmits the second unique identification only when a round trip time between the second interface and the second communication unit is less than a given threshold value.

3. The information-processing device according to claims 1, further comprising:

an authentication-and-key-exchange processor configured to perform an authentication-and-key-exchange processing so as to exchange a key for encrypting the content with the first communication unit, wherein

the management unit determines that the content is transmitted completely when the key is deleted.

4. The information-processing device according to claims 1, further comprising:

a second judgment unit configured to determine whether a fourth unique identification received from a fourth communication unit through the second interface is stored in the second storage area during the content supply unit transmits the content, the fourth unique identification is allocated to the fourth communication unit, wherein

the content supply unit transmits the content to the fourth communication unit when the second judgment unit determines that the fourth unique identification is stored in the second storage area.

5. The information-processing device according to claims 1, wherein the content supply unit denies the additional content request from the first communication unit during the content supply unit transmits the content to the first communication unit.

6. The information-processing device according to claims 1, further comprising:

a third judgment unit configured to determine whether a fifth unique identification allocated to a fifth communication unit is stored in the first storage area when the third judgment unit receives the fifth unique identification from the fifth communication unit during the content supply unit transmits the content to the first communication unit.

8. The information-processing device according to claims 6, wherein the content output management unit registers a pair of the second content identification and the third unique identification in the second storage area and permits the content supply unit to transmit the content to the fourth communication unit when the second content identification is not stored in the second storage area.

9. The information-processing device according to claims 6, wherein

the content output management unit deletes the pair of the third unique identification and the first content identification from the second storage area when the content has been transmitted completely to the first communication unit and the content is not transmitted to other communication unit than the first communication unit.

7. An information-processing device comprising:

a first interface configured to transmit content through a network to a first communication unit having a first unique identification;

a second interface configured to receive a second unique identification allocated to a second communication unit;

a first storage area configured to store the second unique identification through the second interface;

a first judgment unit configured to determine whether the first unique identification received through the first interface is stored in the first storage area;

a content supply unit configured to transmit the content to the first communication unit via the first interface when the first judgment unit determines that the first unique identification is stored in the first storage area;

a second storage area configured to store a pair of a third unique identification assigned to the first communication unit and a first content identification indicating the content transmitted to the first communication unit;

a third storage area configured to store a fourth unique identification received from a third communication unit through the second interface during the content supply unit transmits the content to the first communication unit, the fourth unique identification is allocated to a third communication unit;

a second judgment unit configured to determine whether a fifth unique identification received from a fourth communication unit through the first interface is stored in at least one of the first storage area and the third storage area, the fifth unique identification is allocated to the fourth communication unit; and

a content output management unit configured to search a sixth unique identification assigned to the fourth communication unit by using a second content identification as a search key required by the fourth communication unit in the second storage area when the second judgment unit determines that the fifth unique identification is stored in at least one of the first storage area and the third storage area, the content output management unit determines whether to transmit the content to the fourth communication unit based on a result of the search.

10. An information-processing method comprising:

transmitting content through a network from a first interface to a first communication unit having a first unique identification;

receiving a second unique identification from a second communication unit through a second interface, the second unique identification is allocated to a second communication unit;

storing the second unique identification in a first storage area through the second interface;

determining whether the first unique identification received through the first interface is stored in the first storage area;

transmitting the content to the first communication unit via the first interface when the first unique identification is stored in the first storage area;

storing a third unique identification in a second storage area during the content is transmitted, the third unique identification is allocated to a third communication unit;

deleting all unique identifications from the first storage area when the content has been transmitted to the first communication unit completely; and

shifting the third unique identification from the second storage area to the first storage area.

11. An information-processing method comprising:

transmitting content through a network from a first interface to a first communication unit having a first unique identification;

receiving a second unique identification from a second communication unit through a second interface, the second unique identification is allocated to a second communication unit;

storing the second unique identification in a first storage area through the second interface;

determining whether the first unique identification received through the first interface is stored in the first storage area;

transmitting the content to the first communication unit via the first interface when the first unique identification is stored in the first storage area;

storing a pair of a third unique identification assigned to the first communication unit and a first content identification in a second storage area, the first content identification indicates the content transmitted to the first communication unit;

storing a fourth unique identification in a third storage area, the fourth unique identification is received from a third communication unit through the second interface during the content is transmitted to the first communication unit, the fourth unique identification is allocated to a third communication unit;

determining whether a fifth unique identification received from a fourth communication unit through the first interface is stored in at least one of the first storage area and the third storage area, the fifth unique identification is allocated to the fourth communication unit;

searching the sixth unique identification assigned to the fourth communication unit by using a second content identification as a search key required by the fourth communication unit in the second storage area when the fifth unique identification is stored in at least one of the first storage area and the third storage area; and

determining whether to transmit the content to the fourth communication unit based on a result of the search.

12. An information-processing program product comprising:

instructions for transmitting content through a network from a first interface to a first communication unit having a first unique identification;

instructions for receiving a second unique identification from a second communication unit through a second interface, the second unique identification is allocated to a second communication unit;

instructions for storing the second unique identification in a first storage area through the second interface;

instructions for determining whether the first unique identification received through the first interface is stored in the first storage area;

instructions for transmitting the content to the first communication unit via the first interface when the first unique identification is stored in the first storage area;

instructions for storing a third unique identification in a second storage area during the content is transmitted, the third unique identification is allocated to a third communication unit;

instructions for deleting all unique identifications from the first storage area when the content has been transmitted to the first communication unit completely; and

instructions for shifting the third unique identification from the second storage area to the first storage area.

13. An information-processing program product comprising:

instructions for transmitting content through a network from a first interface to a first communication unit having a first unique identification;

instructions for receiving a second unique identification from a second communication unit through a second interface, the second unique identification is allocated to a second communication unit;

instructions for storing the second unique identification in a first storage area through the second interface;

instructions for determining whether the first unique identification received through the first interface is stored in the first storage area;

instructions for transmitting the content to the first communication unit via the first interface when the first unique identification is stored in the first storage area;

instructions for storing a pair of a third unique identification assigned to the first communication unit and a first content identification in a second storage area, the first content identification indicates the content transmitted to the first communication unit;

instructions for storing a fourth unique identification in a third storage area, the fourth unique identification is received from a third communication unit through the second interface during the content is transmitted to the first communication unit, the fourth unique identification is allocated to a third communication unit;

instructions for determining whether a fifth unique identification received from a fourth communication unit through the first interface is stored in at least one of the first storage area and the third storage area, the fifth unique identification is allocated to the fourth communication unit;

instructions for searching the sixth unique identification assigned to the fourth communication unit by using a second content identification as a search key required by the fifth communication unit in the second storage area when the fourth unique identification is stored in at least one of the first storage area and the third storage area; and

instructions for determining whether to transmit the content to the fourth communication unit based on a result of the search.