Wireless data transmitting and receiving system, server device, and server device controlling method

• US 7,089,321 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2001
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hayashi, Morihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiley, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): JEAN GILLES, JUDE
• Application Number:
  US09/977,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20020073229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,758 Days
• Field of Search: 709/237, 709245-246, 713160-181, 370/211, 370/230, 370/235, 455/567, 380277-279
• US Class Current: 709/237
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• 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: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4367 Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4516 involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 : Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9261 : involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 : Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 : Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 : Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 : Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 : Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 : Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 : Backbone network devices

Abstract

A wireless data transmitting and receiving system is disclosed which comprises a server device connected wirelessly to a plurality of client devices constituting a wireless network. The system allows the server device to transmit externally acquired reproduction-destined data to specific client devices in a secure manner.

Claims

1. A wireless data transmitting and receiving system having a server device connected wirelessly to a plurality of client devices constituting a wireless network for transmitting and receiving data packets on a time division basis between said server device and said plurality of client devices over said wireless network,

wherein each of said client devices comprises:

first wireless communicating means for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data to and from said server device;

first identification data storing means for storing device identification data unique to each of the plurality of client devices connected wirelessly to said wireless network;

first packet evaluating means for evaluating the data packets received by said first wireless communicating means so as to extract from the received data packets only those data packets addressed to the respective client device based on said device identification data stored in said first identification data storing means;

first encryption key storing means for storing an encryption key shared only by the client devices connected to said wireless network, said encryption key being used to encrypt and decrypt data communicated over said wireless network;

first decrypting means for decrypting encrypted data by use of said first encryption key stored in said encryption key storing means;

reproducing means for reproducing the data decrypted by said first decrypting means;

operating means for inputting a command requesting said server device to transmit the data to be reproduced by said reproducing means;

first encrypting means for encrypting control data to be transmitted to said server device by use of said encryption key stored in said first encryption key storing means;

packet composing means for composing said control data encrypted by said first encrypting means into packets each furnished with said device identification data stored in said first identification data storing means and with receiving device identification data designating said server device as the device to receive said control data; and

first controlling means for controlling, based on said command for controlling said server device, said encrypting means, said packet composing means and said first wireless communicating means so as to cause said first wireless communicating means to transmit the data packets for controlling said server device by way of said first wireless communicating means, and

wherein said server device comprises;

second wireless communicating means for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data packets to and from said client devices over said wireless network;

second identification data storing means for storing the device identification data unique to each of the client devices connected wirelessly to said wireless network;

second packet evaluating means for evaluating the data packets received by said second wireless communicating means so as to extract from the received packets only those packets addressed to the server device based on said device identification data stored in said second identification data storing means;

second identification data holding means for holding first device identification data for identifying the device that transmitted the extracted packets;

second encryption key storing means for storing said encryption key shared only by the client devices connected to said wireless network, said encryption key being used to encrypt and decrypt the data communicated over said wireless network;

second decrypting means for decrypting the encrypted control data transmitted in the data packets that were received and extracted, the decryption being done by use of said second encryption key stored in said second encryption key storing means;

inputting means for inputting data destined for reproduction by said client devices;

compressing means for compressing the reproduction-destined input data;

second encrypting means for encrypting the compressed reproduction-destined data based on said encryption key stored in said second encryption key storing means;

packet composing means for composing the encrypted reproduction-destined data into packets each furnished with said device identification data stored in said second identification data storing means and with device identification data designating the wireless device receiving said encrypted reproduction-destined data; and

second controlling means which, based on the control data extracted by said second packet evaluating means and decrypted by said second decrypting means, causes said inputting means to input the reproduction-destined data as designated by said control data;

causes said second encrypting means to encrypt the reproduction-destined input data by use of said encryption key stored in said second encryption key storing means;

causes said packet composing means to compose packets to be transmitted, each of the composed packets being constituted by the encrypted reproduction-destined data, by said second device identification data which are held in said second identification data holding means and which identify the device having transmitted said control data, and by said device identification data which are held in said first identification data storing means and which identify the device transmitting said encrypted reproduction-destined data; and

causes said wireless communicating means to transmit the composed packets over said wireless network, wherein said server device further comprises;

schedule inputting means for inputting a schedule list regarding reproduction-destined data to be input in future based on said control data from said client devices;

preset table creating means for creating a preset table for presetting the reproduction-destined data to be input in future based on the input schedule list and on said control data from said client devices; and

time counting means for counting time,

wherein said second controlling means of said server device causes the preset reproduction-destined data to be input selectively through said inputting means based on said preset table and on the time counted by said time counting means.

2. The wireless data transmitting and receiving system according to claim 1, wherein each said server device further comprises reproduction-destined data storing means for storing said reproduction-destined input data;

and

wherein said second controlling means of said server device causes said reproduction-destined input data to be stored into said reproduction-destined data storing means based on said control data from the respective client device.

3. The wireless data transmitting and receiving system according to claim 2, wherein said server device transmits said reproduction-destined data stored in said reproduction-destined data storing means to the respective client device based on said control data from said client device.

4. The wireless data transmitting and receiving system according to claim 2, wherein said reproduction-destined data stored in said reproduction-destined data storing means are the data compressed by said compressing means.

5. The wireless data transmitting and receiving system according to claim 1, wherein said server device has a plurality of inputting means;

and

wherein said second controlling means of said server device causes said reproduction-destined data to be input through said plurality of inputting means in a standby state based on said control data from said plurality of client devices.

6. The wireless data transmitting and receiving system according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction-destined data input through said inputting means of said server device include reproduction restriction information,

wherein said first controlling means of each of said client devices transmits to said server device user attributes input through said operating means of the respective client device, and

wherein said second controlling means of said server device determines whether to transmit the reproduction-destined input data to each of said client devices based on said user attributes sent from said client devices and on said reproduction restriction information included in said reproduction-destined data.

7. The wireless data transmitting and receiving system according to claim 1, wherein one of the client devices outputs a reference signal that serves as a basis for counting time over said wireless network and remaining client devices transmit signals based on said reference signal.

8. A server device connected wirelessly to a plurality of client devices constituting a wireless network, said server device transmitting and receiving data packets to and from the wirelessly connected client devices on a time division basis over said wireless network, wherein each of said client devices transmits data packets constituted by control data used by the respective client device to request said server device to transmit data destined for reproduction and by unique identification data identifying the requesting client device, said requesting client device further selecting from the received packets those packets addressed to the respective client device and extracting from the selected packets said data destined for reproduction, said server device comprising:

wireless communicating means for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data packets to and from the wirelessly connected plurality of client devices over said wireless network;

identification data storing means for storing device identification data unique to each of the plurality of client devices connected wirelessly to said wireless network;

packet evaluating means for evaluating the packets received by said wireless communicating means so as to extract from the received packets only those packets addressed to the respective client device based on said device identification data stored in said identification data storing means;

identification data holding means for also holding the device identification data for identifying the client device that transmitted the extracted packets;

encryption key storing means for storing an encryption key shared only by the client devices connected to said wireless network, said encryption key being used to encrypt and decrypt the data communicated over said wireless network;

decrypting means for decrypting encrypted control data transmitted in the data packets by use of said encryption key stored in said encryption key storing means;

inputting means for inputting data destined for reproduction by said client devices;

compressing means for compressing the reproduction-destined input data;

encrypting means for encrypting the compressed reproduction-destined data based on said encryption key stored in said encryption key storing means;

packet composing means for composing the encrypted reproduction-destined data into data packets each furnished with said device identification data stored in said identification data storing means and with device identification data designating the client device receiving said encrypted reproduction-destined data;

controlling means which, based on the control data extracted by said packet evaluating means and decrypted by said decrypting means, causes said inputting means to input the reproduction-destined data as designated by said control data, causes said encrypting means to encrypt the reproduction-destined input data by use of said encryption key stored in said encryption key storing means, causes said packet composing means to compose packets to be transmitted, each of the composed packets being constituted by the encrypted reproduction-destined data, by said device identification data which are held in said identification data holding means and which identify the client device that transmitted said control data, and by said device identification data which are held in said identification data storing means and which identify the client device transmitting said encrypted reproduction-destined data, and causes said wireless communicating means to transmit the composed packets over said wireless network;

schedule inputting means for inputting a schedule list regarding reproduction-destined data to be input in future based on said control data from said client devices;

preset table creating means for creating a preset table for presetting the reproduction-destined data to be input in future based on the input schedule list and on said control data from said client devices; and

time counting means for counting time,

wherein said controlling means causes the preset reproduction-destined data to be input selectively through said inputting means based on said preset table and on the time counted by said time counting means.

9. The server device according to claim 8, further comprising reproduction-destined data storing means for storing said reproduction-destined input data,

wherein said controlling means causes said reproduction-destined input data to be stored into said reproduction-destined data storing means based on said control data from the respective client device.

10. The server device according to claim 9, wherein said server device transmits said reproduction-destined data stored in said reproduction-destined data storing means to the respective client device based on said control data from said client device.

11. The server device according to claim 9, wherein said reproduction-destined data stored in said reproduction-destined data storing means of said server device are the data compressed by said compressing means.

12. The server device according to claim 8, further comprising a plurality of inputting means,

wherein said controlling means causes said reproduction-destined data to be input through said plurality of inputting means in a standby state based on said control data from said plurality of client devices.

13. The server device according to claim 8, wherein the reproduction-destined data input through said inputting means include reproduction restriction information,

wherein each of said client devices transmits to said server device user attributes input through said operating means of the respective client device, and

wherein said controlling means determines whether to transmit the reproduction-destined input data to each of said client devices based on said user attributes sent from said client devices and on said reproduction restriction information included in said reproduction-destined data.

14. A server device controlling method for controlling a server device connected wirelessly to a plurality of client devices constituting a wireless network, said server device wirelessly transmitting and receiving data packets to and from said plurality of client devices on a time division basis over said wireless network, wherein each of said plurality of client devices transmits packets each constituted by control data used by the client device in question to request said server device to transmit data destined for reproduction and by unique identification data identifying the requesting client device, said requesting client device further selecting from the received data packets those data packets addressed to the respective client device and extracting from the selected data packets the reproduction-destined data, said server device controlling method comprising the steps of:

causing said server device to receive data packets from the wirelessly connected plurality of client devices over said wireless network;

extracting from the received data packets only those data packets addressed to the client device based on device identification data included in each data packet and unique to each of the plurality of client devices connected wirelessly to said wireless network;

separating from the extracted packets the device identification data for identifying the device that transmitted said extracted packets and retaining the separated device identification data;

decrypting encrypted control data transmitted in the data packets by use of an encryption key shared only by the devices connected to said wireless network upon encrypting and decrypting data communicated over said wireless network;

extracting data to be transmitted to said requesting client device out of reproduction-destined input data based on the decrypted control data, the extracted data being input selectively;

compressing the reproduction-destined data selectively input;

encrypting the compressed reproduction-destined data based on said encryption key;

composing packets each constituted by the encrypted reproduction-destined data, by said device identification data, and by said device identification data that was retained;

transmitting the data packets thus composed over said wireless network;

acquiring a schedule list regarding reproduction-destined data to be input in future based on said control data from said client devices;

creating a preset table for presetting the reproduction-destined data to be input in future based on the acquired schedule list and on said control data from said client devices; and

selectively inputting in a timed manner the preset reproduction-destined data based on said preset table.

15. The server device controlling method according to claim 14, wherein said server device further comprises reproduction-destined data storing means for storing said reproduction-destined input data and further comprising the step of causing said reproduction-destined input data to be stored into said reproduction-destined data storing means based on said control data from the respective client device.

16. The server device controlling method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of causing said server device to transmit said stored reproduction-destined data to the respective client device based on said control data from said client device.

17. The server device controlling method according to claim 14, wherein the reproduction-destined input data include reproduction restriction information and further comprising the steps of:

allowing each of said client devices to transmit to said server device user attributes input through operating means of the respective client device; and

causing said server device to determine whether to transmit said reproduction-destined input data to each of said client devices based on said user attributes sent from said client devices and on said reproduction restriction information included in said reproduction-destined data.