Patent ID: 6859790

Claim:
A data distribution system, comprising: a data distributing device which adds to desired contents data which is the object of distribution use control information containing information of the number of permitted times of use, which is the number of times that use including either one or both of recording and playing said contents data is to be permitted; and generates distribution data; and a data processing device which, based on the information of the number of permitted times of use of said contents data of said generated distribution data, detects whether or not the use of said contents data is permitted, uses said contents data in the event that use thereof is permitted, and updates said use control information so as to decrease said number of permitted times of use based on said usage; wherein said data processing device comprises a signal processing device wherein external observation and alteration of the signal processing state is impossible, and wherein said signal processing device performs detection of whether or not use of said contents data is permitted, control of use of said contents data based on said detection results, and updating of said use control information based on said use; wherein in the event of recording said contents data, said data processing device generates new distribution data by adding to said contents data said use control information containing said information of the number of permitted times of use that has been newly, and performs recording with said distribution data as a unit; and further comprising an administration device which is connected so as to be capable of communication with at least said data processing device, and which performs billing processing relating to the use of said contents data, based on information relating to use of said contents data sent from said data processing device; wherein said data processing device sends information relating to the use of said contents data to said administration device; wherein said data distributing device generates said distribution data by adding to said desired data information relating to the billing format whereby settlement can be made at said data processing device at the time of using said contents data, as said use control information; wherein said data processing device determines the billing format for use of said contents data, based on said information relating to billing format from said use control information of said distribution data; wherein said data processing device sends information relating to the determined billing format to said administration device; and wherein said administration device performs billing processing relating to use of said contents data, based on said information relating to billing format sent from said data processing device.