CONTENT DISTRIBUTION SERVER AND CONTENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM USING THE SAME

• US 20090063859A1
• Filed: 04/05/2006
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heartland
• Original Assignee: Heartland
• Inventors: Maeda, Yukitoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,874,014 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/168
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00224 wherein the key is obtained from a remote server
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00862 wherein the remote server can grant the permission to use a content
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00869 wherein the remote server can deliver the content to a receiving device
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/60 Digital content management, e.g. content distribution
• 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 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 9/083 involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0866 involving user or device identifiers, e.g. serial number, physical or biometrical information, DNA, hand-signature or measurable physical characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/321 involving a third party or a trusted authority

Abstract

The present invention relates to a content distribution server or the like, capable of more surely preventing an unauthorized use of a content. Content distribution servers 2 and 3 are arranged to be connectable via a telecommunication circuit to a user terminal device, and include: a distribution-content storing section 14 for storing a distribution content file composed of: content data; and a regulatory program including a first key for regulating reproducing the content data; a key storing section 15 for storing a second key which forms a pair with the first key; a key generating section 34 for generating, when receiving the terminal identification information transmitted from the user terminal device, a third key including the received terminal identification information and information of the second key; and transmitting controllers 16 and 34 for transmitting the third key to the user terminal device. When the distribution content file is opened on the user terminal device, the regulatory program transmits the terminal identification information to the content distribution servers 2 and 3 before the content data are reproduced.

Claims

1. A content distribution server arranged to be connectable via a telecommunication circuit to a user terminal device, comprising:

a distribution-content storing section which stores a distribution content file subject to distribution, the distribution content file being composed of;

content data; and

a regulatory program for enforcing a regulation reproducing the content data, the regulatory program including a first key required for the regulation;

a key storing section for storing a second key which forms a pair with the first key;

a key generating section for generating, when receiving the terminal identification information transmitted from the user terminal device, based on the received terminal identification information and the second key stored in the key storing section, a third key including these pieces of information; and

a transmitting controller for transmitting, in response to a request from the user terminal device, to the user terminal device the distribution content file stored in the distribution-content storing section, and transmitting to the user terminal device the third key generated by the key generating section, wherein

the regulatory program is configured to;

when the distribution content file is opened on the user terminal device at least for a first time, firstly execute the regulatory program, and thereafter, reproduce the content data; and

to perform a process in which on the user terminal device, the terminal identification information based on unique information of the user terminal device is generated and is transmitted to the content distribution server, a process in which the third key transmitted from the content distribution server is received, information corresponding to the second key and the terminal identification information are each recognized from the received third key, whether the recognized second key is a key which forms a pair with the first key in the regulatory program is confirmed, and whether the recognized terminal identification information agrees with the generated terminal identification information is confirmed, and a process in which when the recognized second key is the key which forms a pair with the first key and the recognized terminal identification information agrees with the generated terminal identification information, the content data are reproduced.

2. The content distribution server according to claim 1, wherein the distribution-content storing section is stored with a plurality of distribution content files each provided with the different content data,

the regulatory program is configured such that the first key is differed depending on the content data, and is configured to transmit, upon performing a process for transmitting the terminal identification information to the content distribution server, the content identification information for identifying the content data, together with the terminal identification information,

the key storing section is stored with the content identification information and the second key which forms a pair with the first key in the regulatory program corresponding to the content data specified by the content identification information in a manner to be associated with each other,

the key generating section is configured, when receiving the terminal identification information and the content identification information transmitted from the user terminal device, to refer to data stored in the key storing section based on the received content identification information, recognize the second key associated with the content identification information, and generate, based on the recognized second key and the received terminal identification information, the third key including these pieces of information.

3. The content distribution server according to claim 2, wherein the key generating section confirms, upon generating the third key, whether a certain condition previously set by each content identification information is satisfied, and when satisfied, generates the third key.

4. The content distribution server according to claim 1, wherein the distribution-content storing section is stored with a plurality of distribution content files each provided with the different content data,

the regulatory program is configured such that the first key is differed depending on the content data, and is configured, upon performing a process for transmitting the terminal identification information to the content distribution server, to transmit distribution-file identification information for individually identifying the distribution content files, the distribution-file identification information being set by each distribution content file transmitted to the user terminal device, together with the terminal identification information,

the key storing section is stored with the distribution-file identification information and the second key which forms a pair with the first key in the regulatory program in the distribution content file specified by the distribution-file identification information in a manner to be associated with each other,

the key generating section, when receiving the terminal identification information and the distribution-file identification information transmitted from the user terminal device, refers to data stored in the key storing section based on the received distribution-file identification information, recognizes the second key associated with the distribution-file identification information, and generates, based on the recognized second key and the received terminal identification information, the third key including these pieces of information.

5. The content distribution server according to claim 4, wherein the key generating section confirms, upon generating the third key, whether a certain condition previously set by each distribution-file identification information is satisfied, and when satisfied, generates the third key.

6. The content distribution server according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the distribution-content storing section is stored with a distribution content file provided with content data encrypted by the first key in the regulatory program, and

the regulatory program decodes, upon performing a process for reproducing the content data, the content data by the second key.

7. The content distribution server according to claim 6, wherein the regulatory program is configured, firstly, to perform a process for confirming whether an execution is a first time, and when the execution is the first time, the regulatory program further performs, in addition to each of the processes, a process for storing the generated terminal identification information into a storing section of the user terminal device, and when the execution is other than the first time, the regulatory program performs a process in which the terminal identification information is generated again, and whether the re-generated terminal identification information agrees with the terminal identification information stored in the storing section of the user terminal device is confirmed, and when agreement is determined, a process for reproducing the content data.

8. The content distribution server according to claim 7, further comprising:

a data storing section for storing the content data; and

a distribution-content generating section for generating the distribution content file by adding the regulatory program to the content data stored in the data storing section, generating the second key which forms a pair with the first key of the regulatory program, and storing the generated distribution content file into the distribution-content storing section and the generated second key into the key storing section.

9. A content distribution system configured such that a content distribution server and a user terminal device are connected via a telecommunication circuit, wherein

the content distribution server is formed of a content distribution server according to claim 8.