Information distribution system, information distribution device, information receiving device, information distribution method, information distribution program, recording medium recording the information distribution program, information receiving method, information receiving program, and recording medium recording the information receiving program

• US 7,428,512 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2001
• Issued: 09/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NK Works Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nozaki, Iwao, Marumoto, Yoshinari
• Primary Examiner(s): ELISCA, PIERRE E
• Application Number:
  US09/994,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20020036800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,492 Days
• Field of Search: 705/57, 705/58, 705/59, 705/50, 705/51
• US Class Current: 705/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document

Abstract

In the case of modifying available copy count information which is contained in distribution data, the distribution data being distributed from a distribution server and stored in a PC which serves as a receiving device, the PC sends a reuse request to the distribution server. Thereafter, the PC receives a reuse information key from the distribution server so as to rewrite the available copy count of the distribution data based on the reuse information key, thereby making it possible to reuse the distribution data already distributed once.

Claims

1. An information distribution system which distributes contents data via a communications network, the contents data being provided by an information source provider, comprising:

a distribution device for distributing distribution data containing the contents data; and

a receiving device for receiving and storing the distribution data,

wherein;

the distribution data further contains use limitation information of the distribution data, and

the receiving device rewrites the use limitation information of the stored distribution data upon receipt of permission by the distribution device, wherein;

the receiving device receives from the distribution device a reuse information key indicative of details of changes made in the use limitation information and rewrites use limitation information of the distribution data stored in the receiving device based on the reuse information key.

2. The information distribution system set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the use limitation information is reproducible count information of the distribution data.

3. The information distribution system set forth in claim 1, wherein the use limitation information is usable environment information of the distribution data.

4. The information distribution system set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the receiving device is a PC which is connected to the Internet.

5. The information distribution system set forth in claim 1, wherein:

when the distribution device receives from the receiving device a request for rewriting use limitation information of distribution data, the distribution device judges whether or not the distribution device is authorized to give permission to rewrite the use limitation information of the distribution data.

6. The information distribution system set forth in claim 5, wherein:

when rewriting of the use limitation information of distribution data cannot be permitted as a result of judgment by the distribution device, the distribution device sends information showing refusal of the request for rewriting the use limitation information of the distribution data with respect to the receiving device.

7. The information distribution system set forth in claim 6, wherein:

when rewriting of the use limitation information of distribution data cannot be permitted as a result of judgment by the distribution device, the distribution device transfers the request for rewriting the use limitation information of the distribution data to a different distribution device.

8. The information distribution system set forth in claim 1, wherein:

when the distribution device receives from the receiving device a request for rewriting use limitation information of distribution data, the distribution device judges whether or not the receiving device has right to receive permission to rewrite the use limitation information of the distribution data.

9. The information distribution system set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the use limitation information of the distribution data is contained in the distribution data by electronic watermarking.

10. An information distribution device, which is connected to a communications network and distributes distribution data containing contents data which is provided by an information source provider with respect to a receiving device, wherein:

the distribution data further contains use limitation information of the distribution data,

the device comprising;

a reuse request information receiving section for receiving from the receiving device a request for rewriting use limitation information of the distribution data stored in the receiving device; and

a reuse permission section for giving permission to rewrite the use limitation information of the distribution data stored in the receiving device, wherein;

the reuse permission section sends a reuse information key indicative of details of changes made in the use limitation information with respect to the receiving device, and

the receiving device rewrites the use limitation information of the distribution data stored in the receiving device based on the reuse information key.

11. The information distribution device set forth in claim 10, wherein:

the use limitation information is reproducible count information of the distribution data.

12. The information distribution device set forth in claim 10, wherein:

the use limitation information is usable environment information of the distribution data.

13. The information distribution device set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

a reuse permission section which, when the reuse request information receiving section receives from the receiving device a request for rewriting use limitation information of distribution data, judges whether or not the distribution device is authorized to give permission to rewrite the limitation information of the distribution data.

14. The information distribution device set forth in claim 10, wherein:

when the reuse request information receiving section receives from the receiving device a request for rewriting use limitation information of distribution data, the reuse permission section judges whether the receiving device has right to receive permission to rewrite the use limitation information of the distribution data.

15. The information distribution device set forth in claim 10, wherein:

the use limitation information of the distribution data is contained in the distribution data by electronic watermarking.

16. An information receiving device, which is connected to a communications network and receives from a distribution device distribution data containing contents data which is provided by an information source provider, wherein:

the distribution data further contains use limitation information of the distribution data,

the device comprising;

an order placing section for sending a request for rewriting use limitation information of distribution data which is stored in the information receiving device with respect to the distribution device; and

a reuse setting section for rewriting the use limitation information of the stored distribution data when obtaining permission to rewrite the use limitation information of the distribution data from the distribution device, wherein

the reuse setting section receives from the distribution device a reuse information key indicative of details of changes made in the use limitation information and rewrites the use limitation information of the distribution data based on the reuse information key.

17. The information receiving device set forth in claim 16, wherein:

the use limitation information is reproducible count information of the distribution data.

18. The information receiving device set forth in claim 16, wherein:

the use limitation information is usable environment information of the distribution data.

19. The information receiving device set forth in claim 16, which is made up of a PC connected to the Internet.

20. The information receiving device set forth in claim 16, wherein:

the use limitation information of the distribution data is contained in the distribution data by electronic watermarking.

21. An information distribution method, which is connected to a communications network and distributes distribution data containing contents data from a distribution device to receiving devices, the contents data being provided by an information source provider,

the method wherein the distribution data further contains use limitation information of the distribution data,

the method comprising the steps of:

receiving from the receiving device a request for rewriting the use limitation information of distribution data which is stored in the receiving device;

giving permission to rewrite the use limitation information of the distribution data stored in the receiving device;

providing a reuse information key indicating a change in the use limitation information being supplied to the receiving device; and

the receiving device rewriting the use limitation information of the distribution area stored in the receiving device reference to the reuse information key.

22. A computer readable recording medium storing a program that is executed by a computer to perform an information distribution program, which is connected to a communications network and distributes distribution data containing contents data from a distribution device to receiving devices, the contents data being provided by an information source provider,

the program wherein:

the distribution data further contains use limitation information of the distribution data, and

the program using a computer to execute the processes of;

receiving from the receiving device a request for rewriting the use limitation information of distribution data which is stored in the receiving device; and

giving permission to rewrite the use limitation information of the distribution data stored in the receiving device,

providing a reuse information key indicating a change in the use limitation information being supplied to the receiving device; and

the receiving device rewriting the use limitation information of the distribution area stored in the receiving device reference to the reuse information key.

23. A recording medium having the information distribution program of claim 22 recorded therein.

24. An information receiving method, which is connected to a communications network and receives distribution data containing contents data from a distribution device, the contents data being provided by an information source provider,

the method wherein the distribution data further contains use limitation information of the distribution data,

the method comprising the steps of:

sending a request for rewriting use limitation information of distribution data which is stored in the information receiving device with respect to the distribution device,

rewriting the use limitation information of the stored distribution data when obtaining permission to do so from the distribution device,

providing a reuse information key indicating a change in the use limitation information being supplied to the receiving device, and the receiving device rewriting the use limitation information of the distribution area stored in the receiving device reference to the reuse information key.

25. A computer readable recording medium storing a program that is executed by a computer to perform an information receiving program, which is connected to a communications network and receives from a distribution device distribution data containing contents data provided by an information source provider,

the program wherein the distribution data further contains use limitation information of the distribution data,

the program using a computer to execute the processes of:

sending a request for rewriting the use limitation information of distribution data which is stored in the information receiving device with respect to the distribution device;

rewriting the use limitation information of the stored distribution data when obtaining permission to do so from the distribution device;

providing a reuse information key indicating a change in the use limitation information being supplied to the receiving device and the receiving device rewriting the use limitation information of the distribution area stored in the receiving device reference to the reuse information key.

26. A recording medium having the information receiving program of claim 25 recorded therein.