Abstract:
A content storage device comprises a content storage unit which stores master content with content handling information including conditions of copy limitations added thereto, content information management units which acquire to individually manage content information related to the conditions of the copy limitations from the content handling information added to the stored content in storing the master content, a content information provision unit which reads to provide management information in response to a request, and a copy limitation processing unit which determines the conditions of the copy limitations from the management information of the content information management unit in copy requesting of the master content and instructs execution of copy processing only when the conditions are satisfied, and updates the conditions of the copy limitations in accordance with instructing execution of the copy processing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-041866, filed Feb. 22, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a copy limitation management device and method which manages handling related to copy for content with the copy limitations imposed thereon, such as content of digital broadcast program, and a content storage device which adopts the method as a function. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Recently, as broadband spreads and its communication rate increases, services, which use communication lines to deliver pre-stored content in response to requests, have appeared. Meanwhile, even in general homes, systems which store program content received through broadcast radio waves or broadband, copy the stored program content to recording media to listen by means of other sets of reproduction equipment have become widely used, with such a situation in mind, content which has been primarily stored is recognized as master content, and copy limitations so as to permit only movement in principle have been imposed. However, in a case of the limitations permitting only the movement, master content may be eliminated due to troubles of the reproduction equipment or information recording media, etc., and resulting disadvantages are caused to users. Therefore, cases of limitations of the number of timers of copies including backup copies become frequent. 
         [0006]    When making copies of master content with copy limitations to sets of other equipment or information recording media, it is necessary to correctly manage the number of times of copies. Systems are required, which transfer and present content information, what content with copy limitations exists, and how many times of copies is permitted. If the limitations of the number of times of delivery permission are imposed also on content delivery agents, it is necessary to correctly manage the number of times of copies from the master content. 
         [0007]    An example of copy processing of content with conventional copy limitations imposed thereon is disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2007-124475 and Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-022338. 
         [0008]    That is, in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2007-124475, a method, which imposes limitations on the next copying for the same content as that has already been copied, or on original content on the recording medium that is an source of copying for every copying at the recording device when it is permitted to make copies by the prescribed number of times, is disclosed. 
         [0009]    In Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI publication No. 2003-022338, a technique, which stores information on the number of times of copying control of the content at the copy source, updates the number of copyable times control information stored in the copy source before copy processing in accordance with a fixed rule when the content is copied from the copy source to a copy destination, generates the number of copyable times control information to be stored in the copy source and the number of copyable times control information to be stored in the copy destination, performs copy processing at the copy source after the generation on the basis of the number of copyable times control information stored in the copy source, and performs the copy processing for the content recorded on the recording medium after the generation on the basis of the number of copyable times control information recorded on the recording medium, is disclosed. 
         [0010]    As described above, the conventional content storage device does not have a function of appropriately managing conditions of copy limitations for the stored content with copy limitations, and the user has to confirm the information about conditions of copy limitations and the remaining number of copyable times imposed on the content for each copying of the content. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    An object of the invention is to provide a copy limitations management device and a method, and content storage device which is configured to appropriately and integrally manage information about copy limitations for each item of stored content with copy limitations and present a situation of the copy limitations to a user. 
         [0012]    According to the present invention, there is provided a copy limitations management device, comprising: content information management module to acquire at least content information related to the conditions of the copy limitations from the content handling information added to storage content in storing the master content to manage the content information for each storage content; content information provision module which reads to provide content information of specified content from the content information management module in response to a request; and copy limitation processing module to determine the conditions of the copy limitations of the content information managed by the content information management module in copy requesting of the master content, disabling copying if the conditions are not satisfied, and instructing execution of copy processing if the conditions are satisfied, wherein the content information management module updates the conditions of the copy limitations while instructing the execution of the copy processing of the copy limitation processing module. 
         [0013]    According to the present invention, there is provided a copy limitations management method, comprising: acquiring at least content information related to the conditions of the copy limitations from the content handling information added to storage content in storing the master content to manage the content information for each storage content; providing content information of content during the management in response to a request; determining the conditions of the copy limitations from content information of content during the management in requesting copying of the master content, disabling copying if the conditions are not satisfied, and executing copy processing if the conditions are satisfied; and updating the conditions of the copy limitations when the copy processing is completed. 
         [0014]    According to the present invention, there is provided a content storage device, comprising: content storage module to store master content with content handling information including conditions of copy limitations added thereto; content information management module to acquire at least content information related to the conditions of the copy limitations from the content handling information added to the stored content in storing the master content; content information provision module which reads to provide content information of specified content from the content information management module in response to a request; and copy limitation processing module to determine the conditions of the copy limitations of the content information managed by the content information management module in copy requesting of the master content, disabling copying if the conditions are not satisfied, and instructing execution of copy processing if the conditions are satisfied, wherein the content information management module updates the conditions of the copy limitations while instructing the execution of the copy processing of the copy limitation processing module. 
         [0015]    That is, the invention generates to manage information related to handling how master content with copy limitations is limited (copy disablement, copyable by nine times, output disablement to another equipment, etc.) when the master content with copy limitations is stored. 
         [0016]    When the content is limited in the number of copyable times, etc., for making a copy on another equipment of an information recording medium, the invention manages limitation information so as to count up the number of times of copying from the master content on the basis of the information managed in the manner given above and disable the copying when the resulting count-up reaches an upper limit. 
         [0017]    When connecting another set of equipment, via a communication line, to the terminal with the master content with copy limitations stored therein to intend cooperation of content, the invention provides information showing what content exists and what limitations are imposed, accepts selection by the user, and enables copying the content. 
         [0018]    At this time, at the terminal on the reception side, the limitation of copy disablement is imposed. Thereby, the invention can correctly manages the number of times at which the master content with copy limitations is copied to another set of equipment, or to information recording media, make copies, and improve the convenience by selecting the content on the basis of content information showing what content with copy limitations exists and how many times the content is copyable for each terminal. 
         [0019]    According to the invention, the copy limitation management device and its method, and the content storage device configured to appropriately and integrally manage the information relating to copy limitations for each item of stored content with copy limitations and present the situation of the copy limitations to the user. 
         [0020]    Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0021]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary block diagram depicting an embodiment of a system using a content storage device of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary view depicting an example of a content information display of the system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary flowchart depicting a processing flow of a content handling information processing unit of a master side device for use in the system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary flowchart depicting a processing flow of the content limitation information processing unit of the master side device for the use in the system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is an exemplary sequence view depicting communication processing between content information acquisition unit of a slave side device and a content information service unit of the master side device used in the system shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is an exemplary sequence view depicting communication processing between the content information acquisition unit of the slave side device and the content information service of the master side device which follow the  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram depicting an embodiment of a system using a content storage device of the invention. In  FIG. 1 , the content storage device includes a master side content storage device (a master side device) A and a slave side content storage device (a slave side device) B, and the master side device A and the slave side device B are connected to each other via a communication line C. The communication line C may any one of a public telephone line, a LAN and a home network. 
         [0030]    The master side device A comprises a content storage unit  11 , a content handling information processing unit  12 , a content information storage unit  13 , a content information service unit  14 , a presentation processing unit  15 , a content limitation information processing unit  16 , a copy processing unit  17 , and an information recording medium recording and reproduction unit  18 . While not showing in  FIG. 1 , the master side device A includes a content acquisition unit which selects to receive content provided through a terrestrial digital broadcast, a BS digital broadcast, an Internet Protocol (IP) broadcast, a network download, etc. The content acquisition unit itself may be disposed outside the master side device A. 
         [0031]    The master side device A stores the content acquired by the selection and reception of the content provided through the terrestrial digital broadcast, BS digital broadcast, IP broadcast, network download, etc., as master content, in the content storage unit  11 . Here, content handling information including copy limitations is added to the acquired content. 
         [0032]    The content handling information processing unit  12  acquires the content handling information from the master content stored in the content storage unit  11 , determines, from the content handling information, whether or not the content is at least one which can be copied, or whether how many times the copying is permitted if the content can be copied, and stores a determination result, as handling and limitation information, in the content information storage unit  13 . At this time, if necessary, the storage unit  13  stores content related information, such as identification information (terrestrial digital broadcast waves, BS digital broadcast waves, IP broadcast, network download, etc.) in an acquisition form from the externally specified information, source information of the content, acquisition time zones, title names, outlines, performers, volumes, hours, information output permission and condition information to another content storage device, and information required to associated with objective content, together with handling and limitation information, as the content information. 
         [0033]    The content information service unit  14  receives an output request of the content information based on a user&#39;s instruction input, acquires the information of the content required from the content information storage unit  13 , and issues to present the information of the content on the presentation processing unit  15 . The service unit  14  receives an output request of the content information from another content storage device B via the communication line C, acquires the information of the content required from the storage unit  13 , and issues the information of the content to a request source. At this moment, the service unit  14  issues the number of copyable times in addition to the title name, etc., as the content information. 
         [0034]    The service unit  14  receives content copy requests to information recording medium (a DVD-RAM, DVD-R/W, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD+R/W, CD-R, CD-RW, IC card [SD], etc.) based on the user&#39;s instruction input, or content copy requests from another content storage device B via the communication line C, acquires the handling and limitation information of the required content from the storage unit  13  to determine whether the copying is disabled or not disabled, and if it is not disabled, instructs a copy destination to the content limitation information processing unit  16  to make a copy issue request by instructing the copy destination. Here, as regards the determination whether the copying is disabled or not disabled, at least confirmation whether or not the remaining number of copyable times has reached an upper limit is performed. 
         [0035]    The information processing unit  16  receives the copy issue request from the service unit  14 , acquires the information of the corresponding-content from the storage unit  13 , counts up the number of copyable times to rewrite the content handling and limitation information of the storage unit  13 , and also instructs the copy processing unit  17  on copy processing of the required content. Here, if the number of copyable times reaches the upper limit due to count-up, the information processing unit  16  disables the copying after this and makes the copy processing unit  17  enable to specify only the “movement”. 
         [0036]    The copy processing unit  17  reads the corresponding-content from the content storage unit  11  on the basis of the instruction from the information processing unit  16 , rewrites the number of copy permission times of the content handling information to “0”, and delivers the read content to the specified copy destination, namely, information recording medium recording and reproduction unit  18  or request source content storage device B. After completion of copying, the copy processing unit  17  issues processing completion report to the content limitation information processing unit  16  to fix the count-up. After reaching the upper limit, if the “movement” is specified, the copy processing unit  17  deletes copy source content stored in the content storage unit  11  after the completion of the copying. 
         [0037]    Meanwhile, the slave side device B includes a content information acquisition unit  21 , a presentation processing unit  22  and a content storage unit  23 . 
         [0038]    The information acquisition unit  21  confirms the presence of another content storage device (the master side device) A capable of providing the content information via the communication line C, accesses the service unit  14  of the master side device A in response to the user&#39;s instruction input, issues the content information output request to acquire the content information, and makes the presentation processing unit  22  present the content information. Here, the information acquisition unit  21  may display the devices capable of proving the content information through the communication line C in a list form, and after selecting the devices, and may cooperate with the content information service unit of the selected device to acquire the content information. Other than this, the information acquisition unit  21  acquires the content information of the content stored in the content storage unit  23  from the storage unit  23  in the self device in response to the user&#39;s instruction input, and makes the presentation processing unit  22  present the content information. 
         [0039]    The information acquisition unit  21  receives the content acquisition request from the source of the content information in response to the user&#39;s instruction input, connects to the corresponding-content storage device (master side device A), and issues a content datively request to the information service unit  14 . 
         [0040]    The presentation processing unit  22  acquires the content information from the information acquisition unit  21  to issue the content information to a presentation device such as a display unit (not shown).  FIG. 2  shows an example of a display on the display unit. In the example, whereabouts of content (A, B, C, . . . ), title names (a, b, c, . . . ), segmentations (master or copy), proprieties of copying (copyable, not copyable), maximum number of copyable times, and remaining number of copyable times are shown. The user determines, from the displayed table, which content is stored in which device, and can easily recognize the propriety of copying and the number of copying times. 
         [0041]    The presentation processing unit  22  receives a content audio-visual request to issue the request to a presentation device such as a display unit. If the content has been encrypted, the presentation processing unit  22  performs decryption processing. In this case, the presentation processing unit  22  may acquire key information in order to decrypt the encryption of the objective content into the content information acquired by the information acquisition unit  21 . 
         [0042]    It is preferable for each processing which has been separately described in the content storage device A and the content storage device B to exist together in one terminal device. 
         [0043]    In the foregoing configuration, the following will describe a processing operation of each constituent element. 
         [0044]      FIG. 3  shows a flowchart depicting the processing flow of the content handling information processing unit  12  of the master side device A. In  FIG. 3 , when the information processing unit  12  stores the master content with copy limitations in the content storage unit  11 , the information processing unit  12  acquires the information in the content (Step S 11 ), and in addition to this, the processing unit  12  acquires the externally specified information (Step S 12 ). The processing unit  12  then generates the acquisition form identification information (terrestrial digital broadcast waves, BS digital broadcast waves, IP broadcast, network download, etc.) and output source information of the content from the acquired information (Step S 13 ). 
         [0045]    Here, the processing unit  12  determines whether or not the content is copyable (Step S 14 ), if the content is copyable, the processing unit determines haw many times of the copying is permitted (Step S 15 ), and generates information of output permission and conditions to another content storage device (Step S 16 ). 
         [0046]    After the aforementioned determination, the processing unit  12  generates a determination result (Step S 17 ), generates acquisition time zones, title names, outlines, performers, volumes, hours, and information required to associate with the objective content (Step S 18 ) to store them in the content information storage unit  13  (Step S 19 ). 
         [0047]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart depicting a processing flow of the content limitation information processing unit  16  of the master side device A. In  FIG. 4 , when the information processing unit  16  receives the copy issue request (Step S 21 ), the information processing unit  16  acquires information of the corresponding-content from the information storage unit  13  (Step S 22 ), and counts up the number of copyable times (Step S 23 ). Here, the information processing unit  16  determines whether the number of copyable times reaches an upper limit (Step S 24 ). And if the number of copyable times reaches the upper limit, the information processing unit  16  generates the information in order to disable copying after this (Step S 25 ). 
         [0048]    The information processing unit  16  then specifies the corresponding-content and copy site information to issue the copy request to the copy processing unit  17  (Step S 26 ). Here, the information processing unit  16  specifies, as the copy site information, the information of the information recording medium (the DVD-RAM, DVD-R/W, DVD-R, CD-RW, IC card [SD], etc.)  17  connected or set to its own terminal, or the information of another content storage device B via the communication line C. When acquiring the copy processing completion report from the copy processing unit  17  (Step S 27 ), the information processing unit  16  generates count-up information (Step S 28 ), and stores the count-up information in the handling and limitation information storage unit  13  (Step S 29 ). 
         [0049]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are sequence views each depicting communication processing between the content information acquisition unit  21  of the slave side device B and the content information service unit  14  of the master side device A. 
         [0050]    In  FIG. 5 , when the information acquisition unit  21  receives the confirmation request from the user&#39;s instruction input (Step S 31 ), the information acquisition unit  21  confirms the existence of another content storage device (master side device A) capable of providing the content information via the communication line C (Step S 32 ), displays, in a list form, the devices capable of providing the content information, receives the specification of the content storage device from the user, and connects to log in the specified content storage device (transmits user ID, password, user terminal device information, etc.) (Step S 33 ). When connection determination is performed at a partner&#39;s side device (Step S 34 ), and receiving the connection determination result (“OK”: authentication information, “NG”: authentication error), the information processing unit  16  determines the propriety of connection (Step S 35 ), if the connection is disabled, reports “NG” (Step S 36 ), and if the connection is not disabled, requires the content information output to the content information device unit  14  of the partner&#39;s side device. 
         [0051]    When receiving the output request of the content information (step S 37 ), the information service unit  14  acquires the corresponding-information from the information storage unit  13  (Step S 38 ), and generates the content information (title names, the number of copyable times, etc.) in a prescribed form to report the content information to the request source (Step S 39 ). 
         [0052]    When the content information acquisition unit  21  receives content information from the information service unit  14  (Step S 40 ), the information acquisition unit  21 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , generates a content information list by putting the content information of the content stored in the content storage unit  23  in its own device together, and presents the list in the form shown in  FIG. 2  (Step S 41 ). When receiving the content acquisition request by means of the user&#39;s instruction input (Step S 42 ), the information acquisition unit  21  connects itself to the concerned content storage device to log in the storage device (transmits the user ID, password, user terminal device information, etc.). The partner&#39;s side device determines the connection (Step S 43 ), when receiving the log-in determination result (“OK”: authentication information, “NG”: authentication error), the information acquisition unit  21  determines the propriety of connection (Step S 44 ), if the connection is disabled, reports “NG” (step S 45 ), and if the connection is not disabled, requires the content delivery to the information service unit  14  of the partner&#39;s side device. 
         [0053]    When the information service unit  14  receives the content delivery request (Step S 46 ), the information service unit  14  acquires the information of the required content from the information storage unit  13  (Step S 47 ), and determines the propriety of copying (Step S 48 ). If the copying is not disabled, the information service unit  14  generates the copying issue request to send it to the copy processing unit  17 , and makes the copy processing unit  17  execute copy processing (content delivery) (Step S 49 ). If the copying is disabled, the information service unit  14  reports the disablement of the copying to the information acquisition unit  21  (Step S 50 ). When receiving the report of the disablement of the copying, the information acquisition unit  21  makes the presentation processing unit  22  present the disablement of the copying (Step S 51 ). 
         [0054]    With the aforementioned processing performed, copy management of the master content is integrally managed for both its own device and another device; any one of its own device and another device may present the content information in response to the user&#39;s request. Thereby, as regards each of the stored content with copy limitations, the information of the copy limitations may be appropriately and integrally managed, and the situation of the copy limitations may be presented to the user. 
         [0055]    While the aforementioned embodiment has been described that the master side device A and the slave side device B are different from each other, they may be integrated as one device. While the master side device A has been described as the content storage device, the master side device A can be used as a copy limitation management device by separating a copy limitation management part of the content. 
         [0056]    Further, the invention is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein, and in an implementation phase, this invention may be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept thereof. Various types of the invention can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the foregoing embodiments. Some of the elements, for example, may be omitted from the whole of the constituent elements shown in the embodiments mentioned above. Further, the constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined. 
         [0057]    Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.