Patent Publication Number: US-2004049392-A1

Title: Content outputting apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a content outputting apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a content outputting apparatus that outputs from a digital terminal content data reproduced from a recording medium, and outputs from an analog terminal an analog signal based on the content data.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004] Such the kind of a conventional content outputting apparatus has a digital terminal and an analog terminal for outputting to an external device such as an audio device content data such as music data, and etc. According to a user&#39;s instruction, the content outputting apparatus reproduces the music data recorded in an internal memory or an external recording medium attached to the content outputting apparatus and outputs this music data from the digital terminal to the external device, and converts the reproduced content data into an analog music signal and outputs this analog signal from the analog terminal to the external device.  
       [0005] However, the music data is nothing less the music data recorded in an original recording media, or the data decodable to the music data equal in quality to the music data to which a digital compression/modulation is applied, and as a result, these are easily duplicated (copied), thus a problem that gives an unlawful drawback to a copyright owner of the music data.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a content outputting apparatus capable of appropriately limiting an output of content data that needs a copyright protection.  
       [0007] The present invention is a content outputting apparatus that outputs from a digital terminal content data reproduced from a storing medium, and outputs from an analog terminal an analog signal based on the content data, and comprises: a determiner for determining whether or not an output of the content data from the digital terminal is limited; and a lowerer for lowering a quality of the content data output from the digital terminal when a determination result of the determiner is affirmative.  
       [0008] A content outputting apparatus according to the present invention outputs the content data reproduced from the recording medium from the digital terminal, and outputs the analog signal generated based on the content data from the analog terminal. When the content data is reproduced from the recording medium, it is determined whether or not the output of the content data from the digital terminal is limited. In a case that the determination result is herein affirmative, that is, in a case that the output is limited, a quality of the content data is lowered, and then, output from the digital terminal.  
       [0009] In a case that an entire or a portion of a quality of the content data is lowered, and in a case that a portion of the quality of the content data is lowered, for example, the quality of the content data output from the digital terminal is intermittently lowered.  
       [0010] According to the present invention, in a case that the output from the digital terminal is limited, the quality of the content data is lowered, thus possible to appropriately limit the output of the content data that needs a copyright protection.  
       [0011] The above described objects and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0012]FIG. 1 is an illustrative view showing one example of electric structure of a content outputting apparatus according to the present invention;  
     [0013]FIG. 2 is an illustrative view showing an output of music data according to a presence or absence of a license and kinds of the license;  
     [0014]FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing one portion of an output process of music data of an MCU shown in FIG. 1 embodiment; and  
     [0015]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another portion of the output process of the music data of the MCU shown in FIG. 1 embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a content outputting apparatus (hereinafter briefly referred to as “outputting apparatus”)  10  of this embodiment includes an MCU  12 , and a memory  14  is connected to the MCU  12 . Furthermore, a DSP  16 , a display  18 , an operation panel  20 , and a noise generator  22  are connected to the MCU  12 .  
     [0017] In addition, an adder  24  and a D/A converter  26  are connected to the DSP  16 , and the noise generator  22  is connected to the adder  24 . Furthermore, a digital terminal  28  is connected to the adder  24 , and an analog terminal  30  is connected to the D/A converter  26 .  
     [0018] Music data, that is, content data, is stored in memory  14 , for example. Such the music data is nothing less than the music data to which a copyright protection is applied or the data having such the music data to which a compression/modulation is applied according to a predetermined format such as an MP3, an AAC, and etc. However, the music data to which the copyright protection is not applied is also recorded.  
     [0019] In a case of reproducing (outputting) the music data, a list of the music data recorded in the memory  14 , i.e. a reproduction list, is displayed on the display  18 . A user looks at this reproduction list, and operates the operation panel  20 , and as a result, the user can select a desired song (music) and input a reproduction instruction (output instruction). When the output instruction is input, the MCU  12 , in response thereto, reads-out from the memory  14  the data (music data) corresponding to the music to which the output instruction is applied, and applies the same to the DSP  16 . The DSP  16  demodulates the music data according to the predetermined format. It is noted that the music data to which the compression/modulation is not applied is not subjected to a demodulation process in the DSP  16 . The music data output from the DSP  16  is output from the digital terminal  28  to an audio device (external device) via the adder  24 . In addition, the music data output from the DSP  16  is converted into an analog music signal in by the D/A converter  26 , and then, output from the analog terminal to the external device.  
     [0020] It is noted that the music data output from the digital terminal  28  is the music data equal in quality to the original music data, and therefore, unless no treatment is applied, the music data will be easily duplicated (copied). As a result, an unlawful drawback will be given to a copyright owner of the music data.  
     [0021] Thus, in this embodiment, when the music data is read-out from the memory  14 , it is determined whether or not the copyright protection is applied to the music data. That is, it is determined whether or not a limit or restriction is present in the output of the music data from the digital terminal  28 . Then, in a case that the limit is present in the output of the music data from the digital terminal  28 , it is further determined whether or not an outputting authority (license) of the music data is present, and according to a presence or absence of the license and kinds of the license of the music data, the output of the music data is to be limited or restricted.  
     [0022] Herein, the license means information including permission information indicative of an output permission or a limited output permission of the music data (content data), and number of times limiting information indicative of the number of times capable of outputting. Therefore, in a case of the music data to which the copyright protection is applied, and not having such the license, it is absolutely not permitted to output the music data.  
     [0023] It is noted that the music data to which no copyright protection is applied is reproducible (outputtable) at will, irrespective of the presence or absence, and etc. of the license.  
     [0024] More specifically, in a case of absence of the license for the music data, as shown in FIG. 2(A), even if the user inputs the output instruction of the music data, the MCU  12  does not reproduce the music data recorded in the memory  14 , and warns the user of not being possible to reproduce (output). The MCU  12  displays a warning message on the display  18 , for example. However, a warning sound may be issued, and both the display of the warning message and the issuing of the warning sound may be executed.  
     [0025] On the other hand, in a case of presence of the license for the music data, and in addition, in a case of presence of the license entirely permitting to output the music data (hereinafter referred to as “full license” in this embodiment), as shown in FIG. 2(B), when the user inputs the output instruction of the music data, the MCU  12  outputs the music data recorded in the memory  14  onto the DSP  16 . At this time, the noise generator  22  is disabled by the MCU  12 .  
     [0026] However, even in a case of presence of the license of the music data, and however, in a case of presence of the license that does not entirely permit to output the music data, that is, the license indicative of the limited output permission (hereinafter referred to “commercial license” in this embodiment), as shown in FIG. 2(C), when the user input the output instruction of the music data, the noise data is added to a portion of the music data, and output from the digital terminal  28 . That is, the MCU  12  outputs the music data to the DSP  16 , enables the noise generator  22  on predetermined time intervals, and inputs the noise data into the adder  24  on the predetermined time intervals. As a result, the noise data is accumulated (added) to the music data.  
     [0027] Thus, if the noise data is to be added to the music data, it becomes possible to lower a quality of the music data, and as a result, the external device cannot use the music data as such, thus making it possible to protect a copyright concerning the music data. Furthermore, this does not mean that only the noise is output, and a portion of the music is still audible, thus making it possible to encourage a willingness to purchase of the user who has no full license.  
     [0028] However, the noise data may be added to all portions of the music data as long as the noise data is not so loud as to be capable of hearing the reproduced music.  
     [0029] In addition, even in a case of presence of the full license or the commercial license, and however, in a case that the number of times information shows 0, determining that the license is invalid, the music data is not output, and the warning message informing that the license is invalid is displayed on the display  18 .  
     [0030] More specifically, the MCU  12  processes flowcharts shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 3, when a main power of the outputting apparatus  10  is turned on, the MCU  12  starts processing so as to determine whether or not the reproduction instruction is input in a step S 1 . If “NO” in the step S 1 , that is, if there is no reproduction instruction, the process directly returns to the step S 1 .  
     [0031] On the other hand, if “YES” in the step S 1 , that is, if the reproduction instruction is present, a designated music is checked in a step S 3 . More specifically, it is determined whether or not the copyright protection is applied as to the music data corresponding to the designated music, and in a case that the copyright protection is applied, the presence or absence of the license and kinds of the license are further determined.  
     [0032] In a succeeding step S 5 , it is determined whether or not the license is present. If “NO” in the step S 5 , that is, if the license is not present, determining that it is not possible to output the content data (in this embodiment, the music data), the warning message is displayed on the display  18  in a step S 7 , and then, the process returns to the step S 1 .  
     [0033] On the other hand, if “YES” in the step S 5 , that is, if the license is present, it is determined whether or not the license is the full license in a step S 9 . That is, it is determined whether or not the output of the music data is limited based on the permission information of the license. If “YES” in the step S 9 , that is, if the full license is present, the music data being instructed to output is output to the DSP  16  in a step S 11 , the noise generator  22  is suspended (disabled) in a step S 13 , and then, the process proceeds to a step S 15 . Therefore, the music data stored in the memory  14  is demodulated by the DSP  16 , and the demodulated music data is directly output from the digital terminal  28  via the adder  24 . In addition, the music data demodulated by the DSP  16  is converted into an analog music signal by the D/A converter  26 , and output from the analog terminal  30 . It is noted that if no compression/modulation process was applied to the music data, the DSP  16  directly outputs the music data to a circuit component at a following stage.  
     [0034] In the step S 15 , it is determined whether or not a reproduction of the music is ended. If “NO” in the step S 15 , that is, if the reproduction of the music is not ended, the process directly returns to the step S 15 . On the other hand, if “YES” in the step S 15 , that is, if the reproduction of the music is ended, the process returns to the step S 1 .  
     [0035] Furthermore, if “NO” in the step S 9 , that is, if the full license is not present, it is determined whether or not the license is the commercial license based on the permission information in a step S 17 . If “NO” in the step S 17 , that is, if also not having the commercial license, the process returns to the step S 5  so as to determine the presence or absence of the license once again, determining that a determination in the step S 5  is incorrect.  
     [0036] On the other hand, if “YES” in the step S 17 , that is, if the commercial license is present, the music data being instructed to output is output to the DSP  16  in a step S 19  shown in FIG. 4, a timer  12   a  included in the MCU  12  is started (reset and started) in a step S 21 , and the noise generator  22  is stopped in a step S 23 .  
     [0037] Then, in a step S 25 , referring to the timer  12   a , it is determined whether or not a predetermined time period T1 (10 seconds, for example) has passed. If “NO” in the step S 25 , that is, if the predetermined time period T1 has not elapsed, the process directly returns to the step S 23 . On the other hand, if “YES” in the step S 25 , that is, if the predetermined time period T1 has passed, the timer  12   a  is started (reset and started) in a step S 27 , and the noise is output in a step S 29 . That is, the noise generator  22  is enabled, and the noise data is input into the adder  24 .  
     [0038] In a succeeding step S 31 , referring to the timer  12   a , it is determined whether or not a predetermined time period T2 (in this embodiment, 10 seconds) has elapsed. If “NO” in the step S 31 , that is, if the predetermined time period T2 has not passed, the process directly returns to the step S 29 . On the other hand, if “YES” in the step S 31 , that is, if the predetermined time period T2 has passed, it is determined whether or not the reproduction is ended in a step S 33 .  
     [0039] If “NO” in the step S 33 , that is, if the reproduction is not ended, the process returns to the step S 21 . On the other hand, if “YES” in the step S 33 , that is, if the reproduction is ended, the process returns to the step S 1  as shown in FIG. 3.  
     [0040] It is noted that for the sake of simplicity, in the processes shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, in a case of presence of the full license and the commercial license, the music data is output irrespective of the number of times information, and in a case that the number of times information shows 0, however, the warning message of informing that the license is invalid is displayed on the display  18 .  
     [0041] According to this embodiment, in a case of absence of the license of the music data, the music data is not output, and even in a case of presence of the license of the music data, the noise data is added to portions of or the entire of the music data corresponding to the kind of the license, thus lowering the quality of the music data. Thus, the output of the music data that needs the copyright protection is appropriately limited so that it is possible to protect the copyright owner.  
     [0042] It is noted that in the above-described embodiment, the specific times T1 and T2 are predetermined to the same time; however, it is not always the case, and these times may freely be set by a system designer, a developer, and et al.  
     [0043] Furthermore, the content data is not always the music data, and various data protected by the copyright such as image data, map data, text data, and etc. are included. Each of such the image data, the map data, text data, and etc. is output to an external device such as a computer, a display, and etc. In a case of limiting such the output, instead of the noise, a mosaic (mask) may be applied to a portion of the image, the map, and the text, and a blurring may be added to all or a portion thereof, for example.  
     [0044] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, in a case of absence of the license, the output of the music data is completely not permitted. However, in such the case, the noise data that corresponds to an audibly unbearable sound is output from the noise generator  22 , and added to the music data, and then, only the analog music signal may be output.  
     [0045] Still furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the memory is provided within the outputting apparatus. However, the memory may be an external storing device such as a secure multimedia card, a memory stick, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or a hard disk drive, and attachable to the outputting apparatus.  
     [0046] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the music data compressed/modulated according to the predetermined format such as the MP3, the AAC, and etc. is demodulated to be output from the digital terminal. However, this music data may be directly output without being demodulated.  
     [0047] Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, the noise data is added to all or a portion of the music data (content data), and as a result, the quality of the content data is lowered. However, a mask may be applied to all or a portion of the content data, or a scramble may be applied. In such the case, instead of the noise generator, a circuit component for applying the mask or the scramble is provided.  
     [0048] Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.