Patent ID: 8166555
Filing Date: 2012-04-24
Classification: G06F,H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A content playback apparatus comprising: a license storage unit operable to store license information including a usable time period for which content is usable; a measurement unit operable to measure time; a malfunction detection unit operable to detect a malfunction of the measurement unit; a license requesting unit operable to, when the malfunction detection unit detects the malfunction, issue a request to a license server to retransmit the license information and reacquire the license information from the license server, the license server being a distribution source of the license information and being connected to the content playback apparatus via a network; a determination unit operable to, when the malfunction detection unit has not detected the malfunction, determine that playback of the content is possible when the time measured by the measurement unit is within the usable time period; a restriction unit operable to, when the malfunction detection unit detects the malfunction, place a restriction on the playback of the content until the license requesting unit reacquires the license information; and a playback unit operable to playback the content when the determination unit determines that the playback of the content is possible, wherein the playback unit plays back the content when the license requesting unit has reacquired the license information.