Content provider system

• US 6,807,641 B1
• Filed: 06/25/2001
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tanabe, Mitsuru, Ezura, Yuichi, Sato, Ichiro, Ishiguro, Ryuji, Kawakami, Itaru, Ebihara, Munetake
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): MASKULINSKI, MICHAEL C
• Application Number:
  US09/869,124
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 705/51, 705/52, 705/58, 705/59, 714/6, 717/172, 717/173, 717/177, 717/178
• US Class Current: 714/6.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1402 Saving, restoring, recovering or retrying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1469 Backup restoration techniques
• 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 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/107 License processing; Key processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1082 Backup or restore
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload

Abstract

Even if contents data distributed over a network are once destroyed, the contents data are restored, as the copyright protection is maintained. A PC memorizes backup of distributed music contents on a hard disc, at the same time as it transmits the using log information of the music contents stored in the hard disc to an EMD server. If the music contents in the hard disc are destroyed, the PC acquires the using log information from the EMD server to reproduce the backup data memorized in the hard disc depending on the using log information.

Claims

1. A contents furnishing system comprising:

a contents server for distributing contents data over a network; and

a data processor having a reproduction control program for reproducing and/or controlling contents data, said data processor storing the contents data distributed from said contents server on a recording medium for reproduction and/or control, and storing backup data of the distributed contents data on a recording medium, said data processor also transmitting the using log information of said contents data to said contents server;

said data processor acquiring said using log information from said contents server if the contents data cease to be available from said recording medium, said data processor performing reproduction and/or control of the backup data of the contents data stored in said recording medium depending on said using log information.

2. A method for distributing contents between a data processor having a reproduction control program for reproducing and/or controlling contents data and a contents server for distributing the contents data through a network to said data processor, said method comprising the steps of:

said contents server distributing contents data to said data processor;

said data processor memorizing the contents data distributed from said contents server in a recording medium for reproduction and/or control and also memorizing backup data of the distributed contents data in a recording medium;

said data processor transmitting the using log information of said contents data to said contents server;

said contents server transmitting said using log information to said data processor if said data processor is unable to acquire said contents data from said recording medium; and

said data processor reproducing and/or controlling the backup data of the contents data stored in said recording medium responsive to said using log information.

3. A computer readable medium adapted for being installed in a data processor and having stored therein a reproduction control program for acquiring contents data distributed over a network from a contents server for reproducing and/or controlling the contents data;

said reproduction control program comprising;

memorizing the contents data distributed from said contents server in a recording medium for reproduction and/or control and memorizing backup data of the distributed contents data, and transmitting the using log information of said contents data to said contents server; and

acquiring said using log information from said contents server if the contents data cease to be available from said recording medium and reproducing and/or controlling backup data of contents data stored in said recording medium in keeping with said using log information.

4. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a playback control program for reproducing and/or controlling contents data distributed from a contents server over a network; and

a data processing device for storing the contents data distributed from said contents server for reproducing and/or controlling the contents data, said data processing device storing backup data of the distributed contents data in said recording medium or another recording medium and transmitting the use log information of said contents data to said contents server;

said data processing device when unable to acquire contents data from said recording medium acquiring data derived from said use log information from said contents server to reproduce and/or control said backup data stored in said recording medium or said other recording medium.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said use log information includes an ID of contents stored in said recording medium and the purchasing recording information of contents distributed from said contents server.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said contents data includes contents and a contents key;

said data processing device acquiring an ICV (integrity check value), derived from said use log information, from said contents server, when the contents and/or the contents key stored in said recording medium is destroyed, to reproduce and/or control said backup data stored in said recording medium or in said other recording medium.

7. An information processing method for reproducing and/or controlling contents data distributed from a contents server over a network, comprising:

storing the contents data distributed from said contents server for reproduction and/or controlling, storing backup data of the distributed contents data in said recording medium or another recording medium and transmitting the use log information of said contents data to said contents server;

acquiring data derived from said use log information from said contents server to reproduce and/or control said backup data stored in said recording medium or said other recording medium when contents data cease to be acquired from said recording medium.

8. The information processing method according to claim 7 wherein said use log information includes an ID of contents stored in said recording medium and the purchasing recording information of contents distributed from said contents server.

9. The information processing method according to claim 7 wherein said contents data includes contents and a contents key, and wherein an ICV (integrity check value), derived from said use log information, is acquired from said contents server, when the contents and/or the contents key stored in said recording medium are destroyed, to reproduce and/or control said backup data stored in said recording medium or in said other recording medium.

10. A contents distributing method for distributing contents data over a network to an information processing apparatus for reproduction and/or control, comprising:

distributing contents data to said information processing apparatus;

receiving the use log information of the distributed contents data from said information processing apparatus and storing the received use log information;

accessing from said information processing apparatus being made when the contents data cease to be acquired from a recording medium in said information processing apparatus; and

transmitting data derived from said use log information to said information processing apparatus responsive to said accessing to cause said information processing apparatus to perform reproduction and/or control of backup data of said contents data stored in said recording medium or said other recording medium in said information processing apparatus responsive to said data derived from said use log information.

11. The information processing method according to claim 10 wherein

said use log information includes an ID of contents stored in said recording medium in said information processing apparatus and the purchasing recording information of contents distributed to said information processing apparatus;

when said accessing is made, it is verified, based on said purchasing recording information, whether or not the contents data that cease to be acquired is the contents already purchased by the user; and

wherein

if it is verified that the contents data that cease to be acquired is the contents data already purchased by the user who made the accessing, the contents data that cease to be acquired are not assessed.

12. The information processing method according to claim 10 wherein

said contents data include contents and/or a contents key;

if the contents and/or the contents key stored in said recording medium in said information processing apparatus are destroyed, access is made from said information processing apparatus; and

wherein

an ICV (integrity check value) derived from said use log information is transmitted in association with said accessing to said information processing apparatus.