Method for limiting utilizing terminal of contents, and storage device and system for method

• US 7,953,098 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2006
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands BV (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Takano, Haruko, Hirai, Tatsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam; Phirin
• Application Number:
  US11/453,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20060282511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,812 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/223, 709/229
• US Class Current: 370/401
• 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 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• 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: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources

Abstract

The invention flexibly limits a terminal able to play content and prevents unfair utilization of the content. In one embodiment, an identifier proper to each terminal device is allocated to discriminate each playback equipment. The identifier of a terminal which is allowed to play the content is registered to this license. When the content is played, authentication is performed between the terminal device as a license transfer destination and a memory device as a license transfer source. The identifier of the terminal device itself is transmitted to the memory device as a transfer source at an authenticating time. The memory device collates the identifier sent from the terminal device with an identifier registered to the license. If these identifiers are the same identifier, the memory device transfers the license to the terminal device. In contrast to this, if these identifiers are different identifiers, the memory device stops the transfer of the license.

Claims

1. A storage device able to communicate with an external device, said storage device comprising:

a memory area for storing identifiers in an identifier list for allowing utilization of contents of said external device;

means for receiving an identifier belonging to a certain external device from said external device said external device comprising;

a user accessible area for recording an encryption content acquired from said storage device; and

a tamper resistant area for recording a license acquired from said storage device, said tamper resistant area comprising a structure sealed by resin such that a circuit is broken if the resin is removed therefrom;

means for judging whether said received identifier is included in said identifier list or not;

means for starting an operation for allowing utilization of contents to said external device when said identifier is included in said identifier list;

means for determining whether a registering space is available in said memory area of said identifier list;

in an event that said registering space is available in said memory area, said storage device registers said identifier to said memory area of said identifier list when no identifier is included in said identifier list;

in an event that said registering space is not available in said memory area, said storage device stops said operation; and

wherein said storage device is a magnetic disk drive, said magnetic disk drive comprising;

a magnetic head;

a magnetic disk; and

a read-write channel.

2. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein a contents key for decoding encrypted contents is further stored to said memory area, and said operation for allowing utilization of said contents is an operation for reading-out said contents key and transmitting said contents key to said external device.

3. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein said receiving means receives said identifier and a second identifier to be deleted, and said storage device further comprises means for deleting said second identifier from said identifier list and being able to add a new identifier to said identifier list when said identifier and said second identifier are included in said identifier list.

4. The storage device according to claim 3, wherein said means for deleting said second identifier from said identifier list further sets matter that said identifier is an identifier of said external device having deleting authority to a condition of a deletion.

5. A method for limiting a terminal device utilizing contents by a storage device, said method comprising:

receiving an identifier belonging to said terminal device and transmitted by said terminal device said terminal device comprising;

a user accessible area for recording an encryption content acquired from said storage device; and

a tamper resistant area for recording a license acquired from said storage device, said tamper resistant area comprising a structure sealed by resin such that a circuit is broken if the resin is removed therefrom;

judging whether said received identifier is included in an identifier list of said terminal device stored to a memory area or not;

in an event that said identifier is included in said identifier list, said terminal device starts processing for utilizing contents;

in an event that said identifier is not included in said identifier list, determining whether said memory area of said identifier list has an available registering space;

in an event that said registering space is available, said storage device additionally registers said identifier to said registering space of said identifier list; and

in an event that said registering space is not available, said storage device stops processing for utilizing said contents; and

wherein said storage device is a magnetic disk drive, said magnetic disk drive comprising;

a magnetic head;

a magnetic disk; and

a read-write channel.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

storing a contents key for decoding encrypted contents to said memory area,

wherein processing for utilizing said contents is a processing for reading-out said contents key and transmitting said contents key to said terminal device.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

receiving said identifier and a second identifier to be deleted; and

deleting said second identifier from said identifier list and adding a new identifier to said identifier list when said identifier and said second identifier are included in said identifier list.

8. The method for according to claim 7, further comprising:

setting matter that said identifier is an identifier of said external device having deleting authority to a condition of a deletion.

9. A storage device able to communicate with an external device, said storage device comprising:

a memory area for storing identifiers in an identifier list for allowing utilization of contents of said external device;

a receiving module configured to receive an identifier belonging to a certain external device from said external device said external device comprising;

a user accessible area for recording an encryption content acquired from said storage device; and

a tamper resistant area for recording a license acquired from said storage device, said tamper resistant area comprising a structure sealed by resin such that a circuit is broken if the resin is removed therefrom;

a judging module configured to judge whether said received identifier is included in said identifier list or not;

a starting module configured to start an operation for allowing utilization of contents to said external device when said identifier is included in said identifier list;

a space determining module configured to determine whether a registering space is available for accepting a new identifier;

a registering module configured to register additionally said identifier to said identifier list when no identifier is included in said identifier list and said new identifier can be added to said identifier list; and

wherein said storage device is a magnetic disk drive, said magnetic disk drive comprising;

a magnetic head;

a magnetic disk; and

a read-write channel.

10. The storage device according to claim 9, wherein a contents key for decoding encrypted contents is further stored to said memory area, and said operation for allowing utilization of said contents is an operation for reading-out said contents key and transmitting said contents key to said external device.

11. The storage device according to claim 9, wherein said receiving module receives said identifier and a second identifier to be deleted, and said storage device further comprises a deleting module configured to delete said second identifier from said identifier list and being able to add a new identifier to said identifier list when said identifier and said second identifier are included in said identifier list.

12. The storage device according to claim 11, wherein said deleting module further sets matter that said identifier is an identifier of said external device having deleting authority to a condition of a deletion.