MANAGEMENT APPARATUS AND COPYING APPARATUS

• US 20110208967A1
• Filed: 02/23/2011
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Minami, Masataka, Nakano, Toshihisa, Yamamoto, Masaya, Yamaguchi, Takahiro, Murase, Kaoru
• Granted Patent: US 8,607,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/169
• 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 20/00115 wherein the record carrier stores a unique medium identifier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0021 involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00231 wherein the key is obtained from a local external medium, e.g. a card
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00246 wherein the key is obtained from a local device, e.g. device key initially stored by the player or by the recorder
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00253 wherein the key is stored on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00528 wherein each title is encrypted with a separate encryption key for each title, e.g. title key for movie, song or data file
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00731 involving a digital rights management system for enforcing a usage restriction
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00855 involving a step of exchanging information with 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: G11B 2020/10833 Copying or moving data from one record carrier to another
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2541 Blu-ray discs; Blue laser DVR discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs

Abstract

The management apparatus 105a manages copying of information from an original recording medium 101a to a copy recording medium 102a. The management apparatus 105a comprises: a transmission/reception unit 701a configured to receive an original-medium identifier from the copying apparatus 104a and to transmit permission information to the copying apparatus 104a, the original-medium identifier identifying the original recording medium, and the permission information indicating permission for the copying of the information; and a control unit 708a configured to determine whether to permit the copying of the information based on the received original-medium identifier and a registered original-medium identifier that identifies a registered original recording medium, and to allow the transmission/reception unit 701a to transmit the permission information when determining to permit the copying.

Claims

1. A management apparatus for managing copying of information from an original recording medium that stores the information thereon to a copy recording medium, the management apparatus comprising:

a transmission/reception unit configured to receive an original-medium identifier from a copying apparatus and to transmit permission information to the copying apparatus, the original-medium identifier identifying the original recording medium, and the permission information indicating permission for the copying of the information; and

a control unit configured to determine whether to permit the copying of the information based on the received original-medium identifier and a registered original-medium identifier that identifies a registered original recording medium, and to allow the transmission/reception unit to transmit the permission information when determining to permit the copying.

2. The management apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a management unit configured to hold a database for storing therein the registered original-medium identifier that identifies the registered original recording medium, wherein

the control unit determines whether the received original-medium identifier matches the registered original-medium identifier that identifies the registered original recording medium, and allows the transmission/reception unit to transmit the permission information when determining that the received original-medium identifier matches the registered original-medium identifier.

3. The management apparatus of claim 2, wherein

the transmission/reception unit is further configured to transmit/receive part or all of the database to/from another management apparatus, and

the management unit is further configured to share part or all of the database with the other management apparatus.

4. The management apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the transmission/reception unit is further configured to receive a copy-medium identifier from the copying apparatus, the copy-medium identifier identifying the copy recording medium, and

the control unit performs the determination further based on the received copy-medium identifier and a registered copy-medium identifier that identifies a registered copy recording medium.

5. The management apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:

a management unit configured to hold a database for storing therein the registered original-medium identifier that identifies the registered original recording medium and the registered copy-medium identifier that identifies the registered copy recording medium in association with each other, wherein

the control unit determines whether the received original-medium identifier matches the registered original-medium identifier that identifies the registered original recording medium and whether the received copy-medium identifier matches the registered copy-medium identifier that identifies the registered copy recording medium, and allows the transmission/reception unit to transmit the permission information when determining that the received original-medium identifier matches the registered original-medium identifier and the received copy-medium identifier does not match the registered copy-medium identifier, and

when the control unit determines that the received original-medium identifier matches the registered original-medium identifier and the received copy-medium identifier does not match the registered copy-medium identifier, the management unit registers the received copy-medium identifier into the database in association with the registered original-medium identifier.

6. The management apparatus of claim 5, wherein

the transmission/reception unit is further configured to receive from the copying apparatus a retransmission request for retransmitting the permission information, and

the control unit, in response to the retransmission request from the copying apparatus, determines whether the received original-medium identifier matches the registered original-medium identifier that identifies the registered original recording medium and whether the received copy-medium identifier matches the registered copy-medium identifier that identifies the registered copy recording medium, and allows the transmission/reception unit to retransmit the permission information when determining that the received original-medium identifier matches the registered original-medium identifier and the received copy-medium identifier matches the registered copy-medium identifier.

7. The management apparatus of claim 6, wherein

the transmission/reception unit is further configured to receive a device identifier from the copying apparatus, the device identifier identifying the copying apparatus,

the management apparatus further comprises a holding unit for holding a permitted retransmission count threshold and a retransmission request count in association with the device identifier that identifies the copying apparatus, the retransmission request count indicating a count of retransmission requests made by the copying apparatus identified by the device identifier, and

the control unit is further configured to count up the retransmission requests to obtain the retransmission request count, and to prohibit the transmission/reception unit from retransmitting the permission information when the retransmission request count exceeds the permitted retransmission count threshold.

8. The management apparatus of claim 5, wherein

the transmission/reception unit is further configured to transmit/receive part or all of the database to/from another management apparatus, and

the management unit is further configured to share part or all of the database with the other management apparatus.

9. The management apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the transmission/reception unit is further configured to receive an information identifier from the copying apparatus, the information identifier identifying the information stored on the original recording medium, and

the control unit determines whether to permit the copying of the information further based on the received information identifier and a registered information identifier that identifies information stored on the registered original recording medium.

10. The management apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

a management unit configured to hold a database for storing therein the registered information identifier that identifies the information stored on the registered original recording medium and the original-medium identifier that identifies the original recording medium, in association with each other, wherein

the control unit determines whether the received information identifier matches the registered information identifier that identifies the information stored on the registered original recording medium and whether the received original-medium identifier matches the registered original-medium identifier that identifies the registered original recording medium, and allows the transmission/reception unit to transmit the permission information when determining that the received information identifier matches the registered information identifier and the received original-medium identifier matches the registered original-medium identifier.

11. The management apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the information stored on the original recording medium is an encrypted content generated by encrypting a content by using a title key,

the management apparatus further comprises an encryption unit configured to generate an encrypted title key as the permission information by encrypting the title key, and

the transmission/reception unit transmits the encrypted title key as the permission information.

12. The management apparatus of claim 11, wherein

the transmission/reception unit is further configured to receive a copy-medium identifier from the copying apparatus, the copy-medium identifier identifying the copy recording medium,

the management apparatus further comprises a key conversion unit configured to generate a key by using the received copy-medium identifier, the key being available only for the copy recording medium, and

the encryption unit encrypts the title key by using the key generated by the key conversion unit.

13. The management apparatus of claim 12, wherein

the transmission/reception unit is further configured to receive a key group from the copying apparatus, the key group being a group of one or more encrypted media keys,

the management apparatus further comprises a key group processing unit configured to extract from the key group an encrypted media key that corresponds to the management apparatus, and to generate a media key by decrypting the extracted encrypted media key by using a device key held therein, and

the key conversion unit generates the key that is available only for the copy recording medium, by using both the generated media key and the copy-medium identifier received by the transmission/reception unit.

14. The management apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

a mutual authentication unit configured to perform mutual authentication with the copying apparatus, to share a common key with the copying apparatus, and to establish a secure communication path, wherein

the encryption unit encrypts the encrypted title key by using the shared key.

15. The management apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the transmission/reception unit is further configured to receive a retransmission request and a device identifier, the retransmission request being a request for retransmitting the permission information, and the device identifier identifying the copying apparatus,

the management apparatus further comprises a holding unit for holding a permitted retransmission count threshold and a retransmission request count in association with the device identifier that identifies the copying apparatus, the retransmission request count indicating a count of retransmission requests made by the copying apparatus identified by the device identifier, and

the control unit is further configured to count up the retransmission requests to obtain the retransmission request count, and to prohibit the transmission/reception unit from retransmitting the permission information when the retransmission request count exceeds the permitted retransmission count threshold.

16. A copying apparatus for copying information from an original recording medium that stores the information thereon to a copy recording medium, the copying apparatus comprising:

an identifier acquisition unit configured to acquire an original-medium identifier that identifies the original recording medium;

a transmission/reception unit configured to transmit the acquired original-medium identifier to a management apparatus, and to receive permission information from the management apparatus, the permission information indicating permission for the copying of the information;

a reading unit configured to read the information from the original recording medium; and

a writing unit configured to write the read information onto the copy recording medium, and when receiving the permission information, to write the received permission information onto the copy recording medium.

17. The copying apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

a determination unit configured to determine whether the information stored on the original recording medium is for the copying; and

a control unit configured to cause the transmission/reception unit to transmit the acquired original-medium identifier to the management apparatus when the determination unit determines that the information stored on the original recording medium is for the copying, wherein

the transmission/reception unit transmits the acquired original-medium identifier to the management apparatus, under control of the control unit.

18. The copying apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

a determination unit configured to determine whether the information stored on the original recording medium is for the copying and whether the original-medium identifier is stored on the original recording medium;

a display unit configured to display a message for prompting a user to input the original-medium identifier when the determination unit determines that the information stored on the original recording medium is for the copying and the original-medium identifier is not stored on the original recording medium; and

an input reception unit configured to receive the original-medium identifier from the user, wherein

the transmission/reception unit transmits the received original-medium identifier to the management apparatus.

19. The copying apparatus of claim 16, wherein

the original recording medium stores thereon the original-medium identifier that identifies the original recording medium, and

the identifier acquisition unit acquires the original-medium identifier by reading the original-medium identifier from the original recording medium.

20. The copying apparatus of claim 19 further comprising:

a display unit configured to display the original-medium identifier acquired by the identifier acquisition unit, and a message for prompting a user to select whether to cause the transmission/reception unit to transmit the original-medium identifier read from the original recording medium or to manually input another original-medium identifier;

an input reception unit configured to receive the other original-medium identifier from the user when the user selects to manually input the other original-medium identifier, wherein

the input/reception unit transmits the original-medium identifier read from the original-recording medium when the user selects to cause the transmission/reception unit to transmit the original-medium identifier read from the original recording medium, and transmits the other original-medium identifier when the user selects to manually input the other original-medium identifier.

21. The copying apparatus of claim 16, wherein

the identifier acquisition unit acquires the original-medium identifier by receiving the original-medium identifier from a user.

22. The copying apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

a capacity check unit configured to compare a size of a free space on the copy recording medium with a size of the information recorded on the original recording medium; and

a display unit configured to display a message for prompting a user to replace the copy recording medium with another copy recording medium when the size of the free space is smaller than the size of the information.

23. The copying apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

a connection state check unit configured to determine whether the copy recording medium is used as a local storage for the copying apparatus; and

a display unit configured to display a message for prompting a user to replace the copy recording medium with another copy recording medium when the connection state check unit determines that the copy recording medium is used as a local storage for the copying apparatus.

24. The copying apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

a connection state check unit configured to determine whether the copy recording medium is directly coupled to the copying apparatus or is coupled to a mobile apparatus that is connected to the copying apparatus via a wired/wireless connection;

an input reception unit configured to receive an identifier of the mobile apparatus;

a list holding unit configured to hold a list that shows, in association with the identifier of the mobile apparatus, whether the copying apparatus is permitted to copy the information recorded on the original recording medium to the mobile apparatus when the mobile apparatus is connected to the copying apparatus via a wired/wireless connection;

a determination unit configured to determine whether the copying apparatus is under a condition that allows the copying apparatus to copy the information to the copy recording medium via the mobile apparatus, based on the received identifier and the determination by the connection state check unit; and

a display unit configured to display a message for prompting a user to connect the mobile apparatus to the copying apparatus in a different manner when the determination unit determines that the copying apparatus is not under a condition that allows the copying apparatus to copy the information to the copy recording medium via the mobile apparatus.

25. The copying apparatus of claim 24, wherein

the list holding unit receives and holds the list that has been updated and is transmitted from the management apparatus via the transmission/reception unit.

26. The copying apparatus of claim 16, wherein

the original recording medium stores thereon a plurality of information sets for the copying, and

the copying apparatus further comprises:

an input reception unit configured to receive an identifier of the mobile apparatus;

a list holding unit configured to hold a list that shows functions that the mobile apparatus has;

a selection unit configured to select a recommended information set from among the plurality of information sets by using the list and the identifier of the mobile apparatus; and

a display unit configured to display the recommended information set selected by the selection unit.

27. The copying apparatus of claim 26, wherein

the list holding unit receives and holds the list that has been updated and is transmitted from the management apparatus via the transmission/reception unit.

28. A management method used in a management apparatus for managing copying of information from an original recording medium that stores the information thereon to a copy recording medium, the management method comprising:

a transmission/reception step of receiving an original-medium identifier from a copying apparatus and transmitting permission information to the copying apparatus, the original-medium identifier identifying the original recording medium, and the permission information indicating permission for the copying of the information; and

a control step of determining whether to permit the copying of the information based on the received original-medium identifier and a registered original-medium identifier that identifies a registered original recording medium, and allowing the transmission/reception step to transmit the permission information when determining to permit the copying.

29. The management method of claim 28, wherein

in the transmission/reception step, a copy-medium identifier is further received from the copying apparatus, the copy-medium identifier identifying the copy recording medium, and

in the control step, the determination is performed further based on the received copy-medium identifier and a registered copy-medium identifier that identifies a registered copy recording medium.

30. The management method of claim 28, wherein

in the transmission/reception step, an information identifier is further received from the copying apparatus, the information identifier identifying the information stored on the original recording medium, and

in the control step, whether to permit the copying of the information is determined further based on the received information identifier and a registered information identifier that identifies information stored on the registered original recording medium.

31. A copying method used in a copying apparatus for copying information from an original recording medium that stores the information thereon to a copy recording medium, the copying method comprising:

an identifier acquisition step of acquiring an original-medium identifier that identifies the original recording medium;

a transmission/reception step of transmitting the acquired original-medium identifier to a management apparatus, and receiving permission information from the management apparatus, the permission information indicating permission for the copying of the information;

a reading step of reading the information from the original recording medium; and

a writing step of writing the read information onto the copy recording medium, and when receiving the permission information, writing the received permission information onto the copy recording medium.

32. The copying method of claim 31 further comprising:

a determination step of determining whether the information stored on the original recording medium is for the copying; and

a control step of causing the transmission/reception step to transmit the acquired original-medium identifier to the management apparatus when the information stored on the original recording medium is determined in the determination step as being for the copying, wherein

in the transmission/reception step, the acquired original-medium identifier is transmitted to the management apparatus, under control of the control step.

33. The copying method of claim 31 further comprising:

a determination step of determining whether the information stored on the original recording medium is for the copying and whether the original-medium identifier is stored on the original recording medium;

a display step of displaying a message for prompting a user to input the original-medium identifier when the information stored on the original recording medium is determined in the determination step as being for the copying and the original-medium identifier is determined in the determination step as not being stored on the original recording medium; and

an input reception step of receiving the original-medium identifier from the user, wherein

in the transmission/reception step, the received original-medium identifier is transmitted to the management apparatus.

34. The copying method of claim 31, wherein

the original recording medium stores thereon the original-medium identifier that identifies the original recording medium, and

in the identifier acquisition step, the original-medium identifier is acquired by reading the original-medium identifier from the original recording medium.

35. An integrated circuit included in a management apparatus for managing copying of information from an original recording medium that stores the information thereon to a copy recording medium, the integrated circuit comprising:

a transmission/reception circuit configured to receive an original-medium identifier from a copying apparatus and to transmit permission information to the copying apparatus, the original-medium identifier identifying the original recording medium, and the permission information indicating permission for the copying of the information; and

a control circuit configured to determine whether to permit the copying of the information based on the received original-medium identifier and a registered original-medium identifier that identifies a registered original recording medium, and to allow the transmission/reception circuit to transmit the permission information when determining to permit the copying.

36. An integrated circuit included in a copying apparatus for copying information from an original recording medium that stores the information thereon to a copy recording medium, the integrated circuit comprising:

an identifier acquisition circuit configured to acquire an original-medium identifier that identifies the original recording medium;

a transmission/reception circuit configured to transmit the acquired original-medium identifier to a management apparatus, and to receive permission information from the management apparatus, the permission information indicating permission for the copying of the information;

a reading circuit configured to read the information from the original recording medium; and

a writing circuit configured to write the read information onto the copy recording medium, and when receiving the permission information, to write the received permission information onto the copy recording medium.

37. A computer-readable program recording medium storing thereon a management computer program used in a management apparatus for managing copying of information from an original recording medium that stores the information thereon to a copy recording medium, the management computer program causing a computer to perform:

a transmission/reception step of receiving an original-medium identifier from a copying apparatus and transmitting permission information to the copying apparatus, the original-medium identifier identifying the original recording medium, and the permission information indicating permission for the copying of the information; and

a control step of determining whether to permit the copying of the information based on the received original-medium identifier and a registered original-medium identifier that identifies a registered original recording medium, and allowing the transmission/reception step to transmit the permission information when determining to permit the copying.

38. A computer-readable program recording medium storing thereon a copying computer program used in a copying apparatus for copying information from an original recording medium that stores the information thereon to a copy recording medium, the copying computer program causing a computer to perform:

an identifier acquisition step of acquiring an original-medium identifier that identifies the original recording medium;

a transmission/reception step of transmitting the acquired original-medium identifier to a management apparatus, and receiving permission information from the management apparatus, the permission information indicating permission for the copying of the information;

a reading step of reading the information from the original recording medium; and

a writing step of writing the read information onto the copy recording medium, and when receiving the permission information, writing the received permission information onto the copy recording medium.

39. An information copying system that includes (i) a management apparatus for managing copying of information from an original recording medium that stores the information thereon to a copy recording medium and (ii) a copying apparatus for copying the information,

the management apparatus comprising:

a transmission/reception unit configured to receive an original-medium identifier from the copying apparatus and to transmit permission information to the copying apparatus, the original-medium identifier identifying the original recording medium, and the permission information indicating permission for the copying of the information; and

a control unit configured to determine whether to permit the copying of the information based on the received original-medium identifier and a registered original-medium identifier that identifies a registered original recording medium, and to allow the transmission/reception unit to transmit the permission information when determining to permit the copying, and

the copying apparatus comprising;

an identifier acquisition unit configured to acquire the original-medium identifier that identifies the original recording medium;

a transmission/reception unit configured to transmit the acquired original-medium identifier to the management apparatus, and to receive the permission information from the management apparatus, the permission information indicating permission for the copying of the information;

a reading unit configured to read the information from the original recording medium; and

a writing unit configured to write the read information onto the copy recording medium, and when receiving the permission information, to write the received permission information onto the copy recording medium.