Content data reproducing apparatus with temporary data memory

• US 20060219087A1
• Filed: 03/15/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Yanase, Tsutomu, Oshima, Ikuro
• Granted Patent: US 8,220,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/602
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/64 Browsing; Visualisation therefor generation of a list or set of audio data G06F16/638
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• 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 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/305 for record players
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00666 involving a step of erasing or nullifying data, e.g. data being overwritten with a random string
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00695 said measures preventing that data are read from the recording medium
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00797 wherein the usage restriction limits the number of times a content can be reproduced, e.g. using playback counters
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0084 wherein the usage restriction can be expressed as a specific time or date
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10759 content data

Abstract

In a content data reproducing apparatus having a temporary memory for stream reproduction, a content data acquisition section acquires content data from an external content provision server. A storage control section temporarily stores the content data acquired by the content data acquisition section in the temporary memory such that the stored content data should be erased from the temporary memory when a power supply is turned off. A reproduction condition acquisition section acquires reproduction condition data which defines a reproduction condition for reproducing the content data. A reproduction section reproduces the content data read from the temporary memory. A reproduction control section operates in case that the reproduction condition is satisfied for supplying the reproduction section with the content data read from the temporary memory for the reproduction, and operates in case that the reproduction condition is no more satisfied for erasing the content data from the temporary memory even before the power supply is turned off.

Claims

1. A content data reproducing apparatus having a temporary memory for stream reproduction, comprising:

a content data acquisition section that acquires content data from an external content provision server;

a storage control section that temporarily stores the content data acquired by the content data acquisition section in the temporary memory such that the stored content data should be erased from the temporary memory when a power supply is turned off;

a reproduction condition acquisition section that acquires reproduction condition data which defines a reproduction condition for reproducing the content data;

a reproduction section that reproduces the content data read from the temporary memory; and

a reproduction control section operative for supplying the reproduction section with the content data read from the temporary memory for the reproduction in case that the reproduction condition is satisfied, and operative for erasing the content data from the temporary memory before the power supply is turned off in case that the reproduction condition is not satisfied.

2. The content data reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content data acquisition section acquires the content data which contains the reproduction condition data, and the reproduction condition acquisition section extracts the reproduction condition data from the acquired content data.

3. The content data reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preproduction condition acquisition section acquires the reproduction condition data together with destination information of the content data from an external content provision server, and the content data acquisition section acquires the content data from another external content provision server which is specified by the acquired destination information.

4. The content data reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a time control section that acquires current date and time data from an external time source before acquiring the content data, and that sets an internal date and time according to the acquired current date and time data, wherein the reproduction control section determines whether the reproduction condition is satisfied or not with reference to the set internal date and time.

5. The content data reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction condition acquisition section acquires the reproduction condition data which determines the condition for reproducing the content data in terms of a maximum running time allowed for reproducing the content data, a maximum session count allowed for repeated sessions of reproducing the content data, or a maximum time period within which the reproducing of the content data is only allowed.

6. The content data reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage control section temporarily stores the content data in the temporary memory which is provided in a part of a random access memory.

7. The content data reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage control section temporarily stores the content data in the temporary memory which is provided in a part of a nonvolatile storage device.

8. A method of controlling a content data reproducing apparatus having a temporary memory for stream reproduction, the method comprising the steps of:

acquiring content data from an external content provision server;

temporarily storing the acquired content data in the temporary memory such that the stored content data should be erased from the temporary memory when the content data reproducing apparatus is turned off;

acquiring reproduction condition data which defines a reproduction condition for reproducing the content data;

determining whether the content data reproducing apparatus satisfies the reproduction condition each time the content data is to be reproduced;

reproducing the content data read from the temporary memory in case that the reproduction condition is satisfied; and

erasing the content data from the temporary memory even before the content data reproducing apparatus is turned off in case that the reproduction condition is no more satisfied.

9. A machine readable medium for use in a content data reproducing apparatus having a processor and a temporary memory for stream reproduction, the medium containing a program executable by the processor for causing the content data reproducing apparatus to perform a method comprising the steps of:

acquiring content data from an external content provision server;

temporarily storing the acquired content data in the temporary memory such that the stored content data should be erased from the temporary memory when the content data reproducing apparatus is turned off;

acquiring reproduction condition data which defines a reproduction condition for reproducing the content data;

determining whether the content data reproducing apparatus satisfies the reproduction condition each time the content data is to be reproduced;

reproducing the content data read from the temporary memory in case that the reproduction condition is satisfied; and

erasing the content data from the temporary memory even before the content data reproducing apparatus is turned off in case that the reproduction condition is no more satisfied.