Content use management system, content use management method, and client device
First Claim
1. A content usage management system comprising:
- a client apparatus that reproduces distributed content;
at least one distribution server; and
a database configured to store content to be distributed, the database storing the content on a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, whereinsaid client apparatus includes a usage control data receiving unit operable to receive usage control data including a key used for reproduction of the distributed content from said at least one distribution server, and a reproduction unit operable to reproduce the distributed content using the usage control data, andsaid at least one distribution server includes a confirmation unit operable to confirm whether or not the content distributed to said client apparatus is content having a limited number of authorized reproduction times indicated by the usage control data, and a usage control data distribution unit operable to;
(a) distribute the usage control data by a unicast distribution method where the usage control data is distributed in response to a request from said client apparatus, when the number of authorized reproduction times of the content is limited, and(b) distribute the usage control data to a plurality of client apparatuses including said client apparatus by a multicast distribution method where the usage control data is distributed to said plurality of client apparatuses simultaneously at a predetermined distribution time, when the number of authorized reproduction times of the content is not limited.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A content distribution system distributes a content key and content use conditions for controlling a content use in a client apparatus to the client apparatus, via a communication channel, from either a multicast distribution server or a unicast distribution server. A content distribution management server determines by which distribution method to send the content key and content use conditions of each content according to an attribute of the content (a compression format, a compression ratio, a content holder, and the like). An encrypted content distribution server distributes only encrypted content whose content key and content use conditions are to be distributed by the unicast, and the multicast distribution server distributes encrypted content whose content key and content use conditions are superimposed by the multicast.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A content usage management system comprising:
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a client apparatus that reproduces distributed content; at least one distribution server; and a database configured to store content to be distributed, the database storing the content on a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, wherein said client apparatus includes a usage control data receiving unit operable to receive usage control data including a key used for reproduction of the distributed content from said at least one distribution server, and a reproduction unit operable to reproduce the distributed content using the usage control data, and said at least one distribution server includes a confirmation unit operable to confirm whether or not the content distributed to said client apparatus is content having a limited number of authorized reproduction times indicated by the usage control data, and a usage control data distribution unit operable to; (a) distribute the usage control data by a unicast distribution method where the usage control data is distributed in response to a request from said client apparatus, when the number of authorized reproduction times of the content is limited, and (b) distribute the usage control data to a plurality of client apparatuses including said client apparatus by a multicast distribution method where the usage control data is distributed to said plurality of client apparatuses simultaneously at a predetermined distribution time, when the number of authorized reproduction times of the content is not limited. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A content usage management method comprising:
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storing, in a database, content to be distributed, the database storing the content on a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium; confirming, at an at least one distribution server, whether or not the content distributed to a client apparatus that reproduces distributed content, is content having a limited number of authorized reproduction times indicated by the usage control data; distributing, from the at least one distribution server, usage control data including a key used for reproduction of distributed content, by a unicast distribution method where the usage control data is distributed in response to a request from the client apparatus, when the number of authorized reproduction times of the content is limited, and distributing, from the at least one distribution server, the usage control data to a plurality of client apparatuses including the client apparatus by a multicast distribution method where the usage control data is distributed to the plurality of client apparatuses simultaneously at a predetermined distribution time, when the number of authorized reproduction times of the content is not limited; receiving, at the client apparatus, the usage control data from the at least one distribution server; and reproducing the content at the client apparatus using the usage control data.
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15. A distribution server which distributes usage control data to a client apparatus, the distribution server comprising:
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a database configured to store content to be distributed, the database storing the content on a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium; a confirmation unit operable to confirm whether or not content distributed to said client apparatus is content having a limited number of authorized reproduction times indicated by the usage control data; and a usage control data distribution unit operable to; (a) distribute the usage control data by a unicast distribution method where the usage control data is distributed in response to a request from sai4the client apparatus, when the number of authorized reproduction times of the content is limited, and (b) distribute the usage control data to a plurality of client apparatuses including the client apparatus by a multicast distribution method where the usage control data is distributed to the plurality of client apparatuses simultaneously at a predetermined distribution time, when the number of authorized reproduction times of the content is not limited, wherein the usage control data is data for controlling usage of content in the client apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A program recorded on a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for causing a computer to function at least as:
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a confirmation unit operable to confirm whether or not content distributed to a client apparatus is content having a limited number of authorized reproduction times indicated by usage control data; and a usage control data distribution unit operable to; (a) distribute usage control data by a unicast distribution method where the usage control data is distributed in response to a request from the client apparatus, when the number of authorized reproduction times of the content is limited, and (b) distribute the usage control data to a plurality of client apparatuses including the client apparatus by a multicast distribution method where the usage control data is distributed to the plurality of client apparatuses simultaneously at a predetermined distribution time, when the number of authorized reproduction times of the content is not limited, wherein the usage control data is data for controlling usage of content in the client apparatus.
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Specification