Method and apparatus for providing information for decrypting content, and program executed on information processor

• US 7,809,944 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kawamoto, Youji
• Primary Examiner(s): Orgad; Edan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAW, YIN CHEN
• Application Number:
  US10/134,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20020166047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,080 Days
• Field of Search: 713168-169, 713/182, 713/193, 713/189, 705 57- 59, 705/26, 705 50- 52, 726/2, 726/4, 726/7, 726 26- 29, 380/202, 380/247, 380/270, 380/278, 455/411, 455/412.1, 455/410, 709/217, 370/310
• US Class Current: 713/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/60 Digital content management, e.g. content distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3263 involving certificates, e.g. public key certificate [PKC] or attribute certificate [AC]; Public key infrastructure [PKI] arrangements network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using certificates in a packet data network H04L63/0823
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3273 for mutual authentication network architectures or network communication protocols for achieving mutual authentication in a packet data network H04L63/0869

Abstract

The authentication capability of a portable terminal connected to a playback device is used to perform user authentication, thereby providing content with a sufficient reliability while only requiring a simple mechanism.

Claims

1. A method of providing information for decrypting a content key, comprising:

connecting to a portable terminal so as to communicate data to and from a playback device containing content encrypted with the content key;

authenticating the portable terminal including,

receiving, at a licensing server from the portable terminal, information for identifying the portable terminal and a license ID for identifying the encrypted content, and

determining at the licensing server, based on the information and the license ID received, whether or not the encrypted content should be decrypted by the play back device;

authenticating a user of the portable terminal without communicating information regarding the user to the playback device; and

transmitting decryption information, including a license key, to the portable terminal when it is determined by the license server that the encrypted content should be decrypted by the portable terminal, the decryption information for decrypting an encrypted form of the content key so that the content key is decrypted in the portable terminal with the license key stored by the portable terminal and identified by the license ID, the license ID identifying the license key corresponding to specific content to be decrypted at the playback device by the decrypted content key;

wherein the decrypted content key is sent to the playback device to decrypt the specific content of the playback device corresponding to the license ID.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said authenticating the portable terminal includes authenticating the portable terminal over a telephone line.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said authenticating the portable terminal includes authenticating the portable terminal wirelessly.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

purchasing the license key when it is determined in said authenticating the portable terminal step that the portable terminal is not licensed.

5. A system for providing information for decrypting a content key, comprising:

a playback device;

means for connecting to a portable terminal so as to communicate data to and from the playback device containing content encrypted with the content key, the portable terminal including means for authenticating a user without communicating information regarding the user to the playback device;

means for authenticating the portable terminal including, means for receiving, at a licensing server from the portable terminal, information for identifying the portable terminal and a license ID for identifying the encrypted content, and

means for determining at the licensing server, based on the information and the license ID received, whether or not the encrypted content should be decrypted by the play back device; and

means for transmitting decryption information, including a license key, to the portable terminal when it is determined by the license server that the encrypted content should be decrypted by the portable terminal, the decryption information for decrypting an encrypted form of the content key so that the content key is decrypted in the portable terminal with the license key stored by the portable terminal and identified by the license ID, the license ID identifying the license key corresponding to specific content to be decrypted at the playback device by the decrypted content key;

wherein the decrypted content key is sent to the playback device to decrypt the specific content of the playback device corresponding to the license ID.

6. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including stored program instructions that cause a computer to implement a method of causing an information processing system to provide information for a decrypting content key, said method comprising:

connecting to a portable terminal so as to communicate data to and from a playback device containing content encrypted with the content key;

authenticating the portable terminal including,

receiving, at a licensing server from the portable terminal, information for identifying the portable terminal and a license ID for identifying the encrypted content, and

determining at the licensing server, based on the information and the license ID received, whether or not the encrypted content should be decrypted by the play back device;

authenticating a user of the portable terminal without communicating information regarding the user to the playback device; and

transmitting decryption information, including a license key, to the portable terminal when it is determined by the license server that the encrypted content should be decrypted by the portable terminal, the decryption information for decrypting an encrypted form of the content key so that the content key is decrypted in the portable terminal with the license key stored by the portable terminal and identified by the license ID, the license ID identifying the license key corresponding to specific content to be decrypted at the playback device by the decrypted content key;

wherein the decrypted content key is sent to the playback device to decrypt the specific content of the playback device corresponding to the license ID.

7. A method of providing information for decrypting content, comprising:

connecting to a playback device containing content encrypted with a content key;

authenticating the playback device;

receiving, from the playback device, a license ID for identifying specific content to be decrypted;

connecting to a providing device independent of the playback device using the ID of the providing device for retrieving a license key from a license server corresponding to the license ID for decrypting an encrypted form of the content key;

authenticating the providing device;

authenticating a user of the providing device without communicating information regarding the user to the playback device;

receiving, from the providing device, a license key stored by the providing device and identified by the license ID corresponding to specific content to be decrypted at the playback device by the decrypted content key for decrypting the content key according to the result of authentication of the providing device, and decrypting the encrypted form of the content key in the providing device;

providing the decrypted content key to the playback device for decrypting the specific content corresponding to the license ID.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said authenticating the user step includes authenticating the user according to a user input directly to the providing device.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said user authentication includes authenticating the user according to a password input from the user.

10. A system for providing information for decrypting content, comprising:

a playback device;

means for connecting to the playback device containing content encrypted with a content key and to a providing device, independent from the playback device, for providing information for decrypting the content;

means for authenticating the playback device, and for authenticating the providing device;

means for authenticating a user of the providing device without communicating information regarding the user to the playback device;

means for downloading from a license server to the providing device a license key corresponding to a license ID identifying specific content to be decrypted;

means for receiving, from the playback device, the license ID, for identifying the license key stored within the providing device for decrypting the encrypted content key, the providing apparatus delivering the decrypted form of the content key to the playback device.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including stored program instructions that cause a computer to implement a method of causing a portable terminal to provide information for decrypting content, said method comprising:

connecting to a playback device containing content encrypted with a content key;

authenticating the playback device;

receiving, from the playback device, a license ID for identifying specific content to be decrypted;

connecting to a providing device independent of the playback device using the ID of the providing device for retrieving a license key from a license server corresponding to the license ID for decrypting an encrypted form of the content key;

authenticating the providing device;

authenticating a user of the providing device without communicating information regarding the user to the playback device;

receiving, from the providing device, a license key stored by the providing device and identified by the license ID corresponding to specific content to be decrypted at the playback device by the decrypted content key for decrypting the content key according to the result of authentication of the providing device, and decrypting the encrypted form of the content key in the providing device;

providing the decrypted content key to the playback device for decrypting the specific content corresponding to the license ID.

12. A method of providing information for decrypting content, comprising:

connecting to a playback device containing content encrypted with a content key;

authenticating a user of a portable terminal without communicating information regarding the user to the playback device, the authentication completely performed at the portable terminal;

receiving, from the playback device, a license ID for identifying specific content to be decrypted;

determining whether or not a license key corresponding to the license ID for decrypting an encrypted form of the content key is stored in a the portable terminal according to the license ID;

providing, when the license key for decrypting the encrypted form of the content key is stored in a portable terminal, the decrypted form of the content key to the playback device by decrypting the encrypted form of the content key with the identified license key;

connecting to a providing device for providing the license key for decrypting the encrypted form of the content key when the information for decrypting the content key is not stored in the portable terminal;

receiving, from the providing device, the license key corresponding to the license 1D for decrypting the encrypted form of the content key used to encrypt the specific content in the playback device corresponding to the license ID, and decrypting the content key in the portable terminal; and

providing the decrypted content key to the playback device for decrypting the specific content corresponding to the license ID.

13. An apparatus for providing information for decrypting content, comprising:

a playback device;

means for connecting to the playback device containing content encrypted with a content key and to a providing device for providing information for decrypting the content;

means for authenticating a user of a portable terminal without communicating information regarding the user to the playback device, the authentication completely performed at the portable terminal; and

means for receiving, from the playback device, a license ID for identifying specific content to be decrypted;

for determining whether or not a license key corresponding to the license ID for decrypting an encrypted form of the content key is stored in the portable terminal according to the license ID;

for, when the license key for decrypting the encrypted form of the content key is stored in a portable terminal, the decrypted form of the content key to the playback device by decrypting the encrypted form of the content key with the identified license key;

for, when the information necessary for decrypting the content key is not self-contained, receiving, from the providing device, information necessary for decrypting the content key used to encrypt the content in the playback device and decrypting the content key in the portable terminal; and

for providing the decrypted content key to the playback device for decrypting the content.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including stored program instructions that cause a computer to implement a method of causing a portable terminal to provide information for decrypting content, said method comprising:

communicating with a playback device containing content encrypted with a content key;

authenticating a user of a portable terminal without communicating information regarding the user to the playback device, the authentication completely performed at the portable terminal;

receiving, from the playback device, a license ID for identifying specific content to be decrypted;

determining whether or not a license key corresponding to the license ID for decrypting an encrypted form of the content key is stored in the portable terminal according to the license ID;

providing, when the license key for decrypting the encrypted form of the content key is stored in a portable terminal, the decrypted form of the content key to the playback device by decrypting the encrypted form of the content key with the identified license key;

communicating with a providing device for providing the license key for decrypting the encrypted form of the content key when the information for decrypting the content key is not stored in the portable terminal;

receiving, from the providing device, information necessary for decrypting the encrypted form of the content key used to encrypt the content in the playback device, and decrypting the content key in the portable terminal; and

providing the decrypted content key to the playback device for decrypting the content.

15. A method of providing information for decrypting content, comprising:

connecting to a playback device containing content encrypted with a content key so as to communicate data to and from a user'"'"'s portable terminal;

obtaining, with a license server from the playback device, information identifying the portable terminal and a license ID identifying the encrypted content;

communicating a license key corresponding to the encrypted content from the license server to the portable terminal using the information identifying the portable terminal and the license ID;

authenticating the portable terminal;

authenticating a user of the portable terminal without communicating information regarding the user to the playback device; and

decrypting the content key in the portable terminal with the license key stored by the portable terminal, the license ID identifying the license key corresponding to specific content to be decrypted at the playback device by the decrypted content key;

wherein the content key decrypted is sent to the playback device to decrypt the specific content of the playback device corresponding to the license ID.

16. A system for providing information for decrypting content, comprising:

a playback device;

means for connecting to a user'"'"'s portable terminal and to the playback device containing content encrypted with a content key so as to communicate data to and from the portable terminal;

means for authenticating the portable terminal;

means for authenticating a user of the portable terminal without communicating information regarding the user to the playback device;

means for downloading from a license server to the portable terminal a license key corresponding to a license ID identifying specific content to be decrypted; and

means for obtaining, from the playback device, information for identifying the portable terminal;

for accessing the portable terminal according to the information for identifying the portable terminal; and

for providing information necessary, for decrypting an encrypted form of the key to the portable terminal according to the result of authentication, so that the content key is decrypted in the portable terminal with the license key stored by the portable terminal and identified by the license ID, the license ID identifying the license key corresponding to specific content to be decrypted at the playback device by the decrypted content key.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including stored program instructions that cause a computer to implement a method of causing an information processing system to provide information for decrypting content, said method comprising:

connecting to a playback device containing content encrypted with a content key so as to communicate data to and from a user'"'"'s portable terminal;

obtaining, with a license server from the playback device, information identifying the portable terminal and a license ID identifying the encrypted content;

communicating a license key corresponding to the encrypted content from the license server to the portable terminal using the information identifying the portable terminal and the license ID;

authenticating the portable terminal;

authenticating a user of the portable terminal without communicating information regarding the user to the playback device; and

decrypting the content key in the portable terminal with the license key stored by the portable terminal, the license ID identifying the license key corresponding to specific content to be decrypted at the playback device by the decrypted content key;

wherein the content key decrypted is sent to the playback device to decrypt the specific content of the playback device corresponding to the license ID.

18. A method of using a portable terminal to provide information for decrypting content, comprising:

communicating with a playback device containing content encrypted with a content key;

sending information for identifying the portable terminal to the playback device;

communicating with a licensing server via the portable terminal for retrieving a license key for decrypting an encrypted form of the content key, communicating with the licensing server according to the information for identifying the portable terminal which is sent to the playback device;

authenticating the portable terminal;

authenticating a user of the portable terminal without communicating information regarding the user to the playback device;

receiving, from the licensing server a license key corresponding to a license ID provided by the playback device, for decrypting the content key according to the result of said authentication, and decrypting the content key at the portable terminal; and

providing the decrypted content key to the playback device for decrypting the specific content identified by the license ID.

19. An apparatus for providing information for decrypting content, comprising:

an interface configured to communicate with a playback device containing content encrypted with a content key, and configured to communicate with a licensing server for providing information for decrypting the content;

an authentication unit configured to authenticate the apparatus;

an input unit configured to receive authentication information to authenticate a user of the apparatus; and

a communication unit configured to send information identifying the apparatus to the playback device without communicating information regarding a user of the apparatus;

configured to communicate with licensing server device according to the information for identifying the apparatus which is sent to the playback device;

configured to receive, from the licensing server a license key corresponding to a license ID provided by the playback device for decrypting an encrypted form of the content key according to the result of authentication, and decrypting the content key in the apparatus; and

configured to provide the decrypting content key to the playback device for decrypting the specific content identified by the license ID.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including stored program instructions that cause a computer to implement a method of causing an information processing system to provide information for decrypting content, said method comprising:

communicating with a playback device containing content encrypted with a content key;

sending information for identifying the portable terminal to the playback device;

communicating to a licensing server via the portable terminal for retrieving a license key for decrypting an encrypted form of the content key, connecting to the licensing server according to the information for identifying the portable terminal which is sent to the playback device;

authenticating the portable terminal;

authenticating a user of the portable terminal without communicating information regarding the user to the playback device;

receiving, from the licensing server a license key corresponding to a license ID provided by the playback device, for decrypting the content key according to the result of said authentication and decrypting the content key at the portable terminal; and

providing the decrypted content key to the playback device for decrypting the specific content identified by the license ID.