Information processing device, contents distribution server, license server, and method and computer program

• US 7,996,335 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kusakawa, Masafumi, Shirai, Taizo
• Primary Examiner(s): Reagan; James A
• Application Number:
  US10/680,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20040128252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,862 Days
• Field of Search: 705 51- 59, 705/904
• US Class Current: 705/51
• 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: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2109 Game systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data

Abstract

Usage rights information indicating a license which is usage rights corresponding to contents is stored in a license storage device, and at the time of using the contents, the rights information is output from the license storage device to a contents using device and further transmitted to a contents distribution server, and legitimacy verification of the rights information is executed at the contents distribution server, such that contents corresponding to the rights information are transmitted to the contents using device. Thus, a device and method is realized whereby distribution of contents over a network and use thereof is enabled without detracting from safety and user convenience.

Claims

1. An information processing device serving as a contents playing device that plays contents, said information processing device comprising:

a communication unit configured to execute communication processing with a license storage device storing rights information serving as usage rights information of contents associated with a user of the information processing device, and communication processing with a contents distribution server;

an encryption processing unit configured to execute encryption processing including authentication processing in said communication processing; and

a control unit configured to execute processing control for inputting rights information corresponding to contents from said license storage device, via said communication unit, to transmit said input rights information, which indicates rights to receive streaming contents, to said contents distribution server, to receive streaming contents corresponding to said rights information from said contents distribution server, and to play said streaming contents,

wherein the control unit is configured to perform, subsequent to a beginning of playing of said streaming contents by said information processing device serving as the contents playing device, subsequent authentication processing with the license storage device while the playing of the streaming contents is occurring, and is configured to stop the playing of said streaming contents when the subsequent authentication processing with the license storage device fails, said subsequent authentication at least confirming that the license storage device remains in communication with the information processing device serving as the contents playing device while the playing of the streaming contents is occurring.

2. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein said encryption processing unit has a configuration for executing verification processing for a tampering verification value attached to contents-corresponding rights information input from said license storage device, said encryption processing unit executing authentication processing at least once while the information processing device is receiving said streaming contents.

3. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein said encryption processing unit executes mutual authentication with said license storage device;

and wherein said control unit has a configuration for executing input processing of contents-corresponding rights information input from said license storage device via said communication unit, with the establishment of said mutual verification as a precondition thereof.

4. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein said encryption processing unit has a configuration for executing mutual authentication and key-sharing processing with said license storage device, and for executing verification processing for a tampering verification value attached to contents-corresponding rights information input from said license storage device via said communication unit, applying a key generated in said key-sharing processing.

5. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein said encryption processing unit has a configuration for executing mutual authentication and key-sharing processing with said contents distribution server, and for executing verification processing for a tampering verification value attached to a contents file from said contents distribution server via said communication unit, applying a key generated in said key-sharing processing.

6. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein said encryption processing unit has a configuration for executing mutual authentication and key-sharing processing with said contents distribution server, and for executing decryption of an encrypted contents encryption processing key attached to a contents file from said contents distribution server via said communication unit, applying a key generated in said key-sharing processing.

7. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein

header information of a contents file received from said contents distribution server contains RHD check mode information setting whether or not to take connection with said license storage device at the time of playing contents as a precondition thereof;

and wherein said encryption processing unit executes mutual authentication processing with said license storage device for contents playing processing wherein said RHD check mode information takes connection with said license storage device at the time of playing contents as a precondition thereof; and

wherein said control unit performs contents playing processing with establishment of said authentication as a precondition thereof.

8. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein

header information of a contents file received from said contents distribution server contains output control information of contents;

and

wherein said control unit executes output control of contents following said output control information.

9. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein

said rights information contains contents distribution server information or index server information of a server capable of providing streaming contents corresponding to said rights information;

and

wherein said control unit is of a configuration for executing processing for deciding a connection destination based on said contents distribution server information or said index server information.

10. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is of a configuration for executing processing for transmitting, to a contents distribution server providing contents, specs information including data format information of data formats playable at the information processing device serving as a contents playing device, along with said rights information.

11. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein a digital signature is attached to the rights information by using a secret key of the license storage device.

12. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the rights information includes a time period when the information processing device can receive the streaming contents from the distribution server.

13. An information processing device serving as a license storage device that stores rights information which is contents use rights information, said information processing device comprising:

a storage unit configured to store said use rights information associated with a user of the information processing device;

a communication unit configured to execute communication processing with a contents playing device for playing contents;

an encryption processing unit configured to execute encryption processing including authentication processing in said communication processing via said communication unit, the encryption processing unit executing authentication processing with said contents playing device at least once subsequent to a beginning of playing of streaming contents by said contents playing device and while the playing of the streaming contents is occurring, said authentication processing at least confirming that the license storage device remains in communication with the contents playing device while the playing of the streaming contents is occurring; and

a control unit for executing output processing of contents-corresponding rights information via said communication unit with regard to said contents playing device, with establishment of mutual authentication with said contents playing device as a precondition thereof.

14. An information processing device according to claim 13, wherein said encryption processing unit has a configuration for executing mutual authentication and key-sharing processing with said contents playing device, and for executing processing for setting a tampering verification value to rights information to be output to said contents playing device, applying a key generated in said key-sharing processing.

15. An information processing device according to claim 13, wherein

said encryption processing unit executes mutual authentication with a license purchasing device which receives rights information from a license server via a network;

and

wherein said control unit executes input processing of contents-corresponding rights information via said communication unit, with establishment of said mutual authentication as a precondition thereof.

16. An information processing device according to claim 13, wherein said encryption processing unit has a configuration for executing mutual authentication and key-sharing processing with said license purchasing device, and for executing verification processing for a tampering verification value attached to contents-corresponding rights information input from said license purchasing device via said communication unit, applying a key generated in said key-sharing processing.