Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program storage medium

• US 7,143,445 B1
• Filed: 05/23/2000
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ooishi, Tateo, Okaue, Takumi, Ishiguro, Ryuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAFORGIA, CHRISTIAN A
• Application Number:
  US09/576,621
• Time in Patent Office: 2,380 Days
• Field of Search: 713/201, 713/185, 713/189, 705/51, 705/52, 705/53, 705/54, 705/55, 705/56, 705/57, 726/2, 726/31, 726/32
• US Class Current: 726/31
• 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 20/0021 involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00333 the key being stored in header data, e.g. in sector headers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00666 involving a step of erasing or nullifying data, e.g. data being overwritten with a random string
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0071 involving a purchase action
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00789 wherein the usage restriction limits the number of functional copies, which can be accessed at a time, e.g. electronic bookshelf concept, virtual library, video rentals or check-in/check out
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/1883 Methods for assignment of alternate areas for defective areas
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/1889 with discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers

Abstract

When a content is moved from a flash memory into a content database, a usage rule management program updates a variable seq-1, stored in a 0th defective block of a media defect list stored in the flash memory, to a new value seq-2. The usage rule management program calculates an MAC value (hash value) on the basis of the content stored in the data portion of the flash memory, an encrypted encryption key, and important information including the variable seq#. The usage rule management program then compares the calculated value with an MAC value stored in the header portion of the flash memory. If these two values are not equal, the usage rule management program disables reproduction of the content thereby preventing the content from being copied in an unauthorized manner.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

means for storing content data;

means for setting a sequential number corresponding to the content data, the sequential number incremented by one when an operation is performed on the content data stored in the means for storing content data;

means for calculating a hash value corresponding to the content data by performing a predetermined calculation using at least a part of the management data associated with the content data and the sequential number;

means for comparing a previously calculated hash value included in a header of the content data with the hash value of the content data calculated by the means for calculating upon receiving a request to perform an operation on the content data; and

means for controlling reproduction of the content data based on the result of the comparison performed by the means for comparing.

2. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store content data;

a setting unit configured to set a sequential number corresponding to the content data, the sequential number incremented by one when an operation is performed on the content data stored in the memory;

a calculation unit configured to calculate a hash value corresponding to the content data by performing a predetermined calculation using at least a part of the management data associated with the content data and the sequential number;

a comparison unit configured to compare a stored hash value included in a header of the content data with the hash value of the content data calculated by the calculation unit upon receiving a request to perform an operation on the content data; and

a control unit configured to control reproduction of the content data based on the result of the comparison performed by the comparison unit.

3. An information processing apparatus comprising:

means for storing content, said content comprising management information and calculation information;

means for storing a sequential number incremented upon each operation on the content stored in content storage, the sequential number associated with the content stored in the content storage;

means for calculating the calculation information based on the management information and a latest sequential number stored in the memory;

means for incrementing the sequential number upon receiving a request to perform an operation on the content and storing the incremented sequential number in the means for storing a sequential number;

means for updating the management information upon receiving a request to perform an operation on the content, and storing the updated management information in the means for storing content;

means for reading the calculation information included in the content from the means for storing content, the management information included in the content, and the latest sequential number from the means for storing a sequential number;

means for comparing calculation information included in the content read by the reading means with calculation information calculated by the calculation means upon receiving a request to perform an operation on the content; and

means for controlling an operation on the content based on a result of the comparison done by the means for comparing.

4. The information processing apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

means for calculating performs said calculation by applying a hash function to the calculation information included in the content.

5. The information processing apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

the content is music data; and

the management information includes identification information identifying the music data.

6. An information processing method, comprising the steps of:

storing content in a first memory, said content comprising management information and calculation information;

storing a sequential number incremented upon each operation on the content stored in a second memory, the sequential number associated with the content stored in the first memory;

calculating the calculation information based on the management information and a latest sequential number stored in the second memory;

incrementing the sequential number upon receiving a request to perform an operation on the content and storing the incremented sequential number in the second memory;

updating the management information upon receiving a request to perform an operation on the content, and storing the updated management information in the first memory;

reading the calculation information included in the content from the first memory, the management information included in the content, and the latest sequential number from the second memory;

comparing calculation information included in the content read in the reading step with calculation information calculated in the calculating step upon receiving a request to perform an operation on the content; and

controlling an operation on the content based on a result of the comparing step.

7. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a content memory configured to store content comprising management information and calculation information;

a memory configured to store a sequential number incremented upon each operation on the content stored in the content memory, the sequential number associated with the content stored in the content memory;

a processor configured to calculate the calculation information based on the management information and a latest sequential number stored in the memory;

the processor configured to increment the sequential number upon receiving a request to perform an operation on the content and storing the incremented sequential number in the memory;

the processor configured to update the management information upon receiving a request to perform an operation on the content, and storing the updated management information in the content memory;

the processor configured to read the calculation information included in the content from the content memory, the management information included in the content, and the latest sequential number from the memory;

the processor configured to compare calculation information included in the content read by the processor with calculation information calculated by the processor upon receiving a request to perform an operation on the content; and

a controller configured to control an operation on the content based on a result of the comparison performed by the processor.

8. The information processing apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the processor performs said calculation by applying a hash function to the calculation information included in the content.

9. The information processing apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the content is music data; and

the management information includes identification information identifying the music data.