Method for limiting utilizing terminal of contents, and memory device and system for method

• US 20060282511A1
• Filed: 06/14/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands BV (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Takano, Haruko, Hirai, Tatsuya
• Granted Patent: US 7,953,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• 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 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources

Abstract

The invention flexibly limits a terminal able to play content and prevents unfair utilization of the content. In one embodiment, an identifier proper to each terminal device is allocated to discriminate each playback equipment. The identifier of a terminal which is allowed to play the content is registered to this license. When the content is played, authentication is performed between the terminal device as a license transfer destination and a memory device as a license transfer source. The identifier of the terminal device itself is transmitted to the memory device as a transfer source at an authenticating time. The memory device collates the identifier sent from the terminal device with an identifier registered to the license. If these identifiers are the same identifier, the memory device transfers the license to the terminal device. In contrast to this, if these identifiers are different identifiers, the memory device stops the transfer of the license.

Claims

1. A memory device able to communicate with an external device, the memory device comprising:

a memory area for storing a list of identifiers for allowing utilization of contents of an external device;

means for receiving the identifier belonging to a certain external device from the external device;

means for judging whether the received identifier is included in said identifier list or not; and

means for starting an operation for allowing the utilization of the contents to the external device when the identifier is included in said identifier list.

2. The memory device according to claim 1, wherein a contents key for decoding encrypted contents is further stored to said memory area, and the operation for allowing the utilization of said contents is an operation for reading-out said contents key and transmitting the contents key to the external device.

3. The memory device according to claim 1, wherein the memory device further comprises means for additionally registering the identifier to said identifier list when no identifier is included in said identifier list and a new identifier can be added to said identifier list.

4. The memory device according to claim 3, wherein said receiving means receives the identifier and a second identifier to be deleted, and the memory device further comprises means for deleting said second identifier from said identifier list and being able to add a new identifier to the identifier list when the identifier and said second identifier are included in said identifier list.

5. The memory device according to claim 4, wherein the means for deleting said second identifier from said identifier list further sets the matter that the identifier is an identifier of the external device having deleting authority to a condition of the deletion.

6. A method for limiting a terminal device utilizing contents by a memory device, the method comprising:

receiving an identifier belonging to the terminal device and transmitted by the terminal device; and

judging whether the received identifier is included in a list of identifiers of the terminal device stored to a memory area or not,

wherein and the terminal device starts processing for utilizing the contents when the identifier is included in said identifier list.

7. The method for limiting the utilizing terminal of the contents according to claim 6, further comprising:

storing a contents key for decoding encrypted contents to said memory area,

wherein the processing for utilizing said contents is processing for reading-out said contents key and transmitting the contents key to the terminal device.

8. The method for limiting the utilizing terminal of the contents according to claim 6, further comprising:

additionally registering the identifier to said identifier list when no identifier is included in said identifier list and a new identifier can be added to said identifier list.

9. The method for limiting the utilizing terminal of the contents according to claim 8, further comprising:

receiving the identifier and a second identifier to be deleted; and

deleting said second identifier from said identifier list and adding a new identifier to the identifier list when the identifier and said second identifier are included in said identifier list.

10. The method for limiting the utilizing terminal of the contents according to claim 9, further comprising:

setting the matter that the identifier is an identifier of the external device having deleting authority to a condition of the deletion.

11. A memory device able to communicate with an external device, the memory device comprising:

a memory area for storing a list of identifiers for allowing utilization of contents of an external device;

a receiving module configured to receive the identifier belonging to a certain external device from the external device;

a judging module configured to judge whether the received identifier is included in said identifier list or not; and

a starting module configured to start an operation for allowing the utilization of the contents to the external device when the identifier is included in said identifier list.

12. The memory device according to claim 11, wherein a contents key for decoding encrypted contents is further stored to said memory area, and the operation for allowing the utilization of said contents is an operation for reading-out said contents key and transmitting the contents key to the external device.

13. The memory device according to claim 11, wherein the memory device further comprises a registering module configured to register additionally the identifier to said identifier list when no identifier is included in said identifier list and a new identifier can be added to said identifier list.

14. The memory device according to claim 13, wherein said receiving module receives the identifier and a second identifier to be deleted, and the memory device further comprises a deleting module configured to delete said second identifier from said identifier list and being able to add a new identifier to the identifier list when the identifier and said second identifier are included in said identifier list.

15. The memory device according to claim 14, wherein the deleting module further sets the matter that the identifier is an identifier of the external device having deleting authority to a condition of the deletion.