JP2004289365A - Method and system for providing contents - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a system for providing contents which can save labor of collecting charges only to users who acquire legitimate rights regarding the method and the system for providing the contents. <P>SOLUTION: The method and the system for providing the contents comprises a provided storage medium operating device 10 which is composed of a provided storage medium 40 for decoding the contents using a restoration key, a reading part 1 for reading the provided storage medium 40, a first storage part 2 for storing an installer in the provided storage medium 40 and for storing the contents, a first connector 4 to be connected with a contents center 20, and a control unit 3 for controlling the reading part, the storage part, and the connection part; and the contents center 20 which is composed of a second connection part 21 which is connected to the provided storage medium operating device 10 and banks or credit card companies, a second storage 23 for storing the restoration key of the provided storage medium 40, and a control unit 22 for controlling the connector and the second storage. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a content providing method and system, and more particularly, to providing a function improvement of content, saves the trouble of collecting a fee only to a user who has obtained a legitimate right, and allows a sales representative to automatically return without having to revisit. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a content providing method and system capable of providing a function in an integrated manner. Here, the content refers to, for example, music data, video data, document data such as a book, still image data, computer software, and the like. Hereinafter, a case in which educational contents are mainly used will be described.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, contents are recorded on media such as CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs and provided to users. After purchasing the media, the user plays the media on a playback device such as a personal computer.
[0003]
As a conventional technique of this kind, there is a content reproduction restriction / cancellation service system that restricts reproduction of a content recorded on a medium and releases the reproduction restriction (for example, see Patent Document 1). In this prior art, reproduction is restricted to a part other than the viewing unit, and the media is limited to listening.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-325460 A (FIG. 3, FIG. 1)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventionally, in sales of educational contents, sales staff frequently visit users to sell contents (or update the level), and sales efficiency is poor, and costs have not been justified. In addition, once delivered, the user frequently updates the level and has difficulty in collecting the price. Furthermore, if the secret key that encrypts the content leaks, the same encrypted content sold to another user is restored, and it is difficult to collect the price. In addition, there is a problem that it is expensive to answer a question to the inquiry.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and in providing a function improvement of content, only a user who has acquired a legitimate right saves the trouble of collecting a fee, and a sales representative visits again. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content providing method and system that do not need to be provided.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
(1) The invention described in claim 1 is as follows. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the principle of the method of the present invention. According to the present invention, in a system in which a provision storage medium operation device and a content center are connected, a provision storage medium in the provision storage medium operation device includes an identifier for identifying a medium, an installer for performing storage processing in a storage unit, and Storing the unencrypted basic content and the content encrypted with the secret key (step 1); and storing the secret key of the provided storage medium in the storage unit of the content center. (Step 2), the provision storage medium operation device, after confirming the identifier by the installer, storing the contents from the provision storage medium to the storage unit, and operating the basic content (Step 3); Notifying the content center of an identifier (step 4); Calculating the secret key of the storage medium, obtaining the original restoration key, and notifying the provision storage medium operation device (step 5); and the provision storage medium operation device performs the inverse operation of the identifier and the original restoration key by the installer. A step of obtaining a secret key, restoring the encrypted content, performing storage processing on the storage unit, and operating the encrypted content (step 6);
It is characterized by comprising.
[0008]
With this configuration, when the provision storage medium operation device notifies the content center of the identifier of the provision storage medium, the content center notifies the provision storage medium restoration device of the provision storage medium recovery key, and the provision storage medium operation device On the side, the encrypted content can be restored based on the notified restoration key. ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, content update is attained, without a salesperson going to a user.
(2) According to a second aspect of the present invention, in step 1 of the first aspect, the content encrypted with the secret key is prepared in a plurality of stages, and is restored by the secret key for each stage.
[0009]
With this configuration, the content can be restored for each stage, and higher security can be obtained, and a price can be set for each stage.
(3) The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that in step 5 and step 6 of the above claim 1, the operation and the inverse operation are omitted and the secret key is notified.
[0010]
With this configuration, the sequence can be simplified.
(4) The invention described in claim 4 is characterized in that in step 6 of claim 1, the original restoration key notified by some method is manually input.
[0011]
With this configuration, the content can be restored based on the manually input restoration key.
(5) The invention described in claim 5 is characterized in that, in step 6 of claim 1, the provided storage medium itself is restored.
[0012]
According to this configuration, when a large amount of content is shipped, the storage amount increases, and the number of provided storage media can be reduced.
(6) The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that in step 1 and step 6 of the above-mentioned claim 1, a content storage accessible by inputting a password is used instead of the encrypted content storage.
[0013]
With this configuration, the content can be obtained using the password.
(7) The invention according to claim 7 is as follows. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a system in which a provided storage medium operation device 10 and a content center 20 are connected. On the provision storage medium operation device 10 side, reference numeral 40 denotes a provision storage medium that encrypts and stores various contents and decrypts the contents using a restoration key.
[0014]
1 is a provided storage medium reading unit that reads the contents of the provided storage medium 40, 2a and 2b are first storage units that store an installer unit in the provided storage medium 40 and store basic contents, and 4 is the contents storage unit. A first connection unit 3 connected to the center 20 is a control unit that controls the provided storage medium reading unit 1, the first storage units 2a and 2b, and the connection unit 4. The first storage unit 2 includes a storage unit 2a including a memory and a hard disk 2b. The storage unit 2a is used as a work area for calculation, and the storage unit 2b is used for storing content. The provision storage medium 40, the provision storage medium reading unit 1, the first storage units 2a and 2b, the connection unit 4, and the control unit 3 constitute the provision storage medium operation device 10.
[0015]
In the content center 20, reference numeral 21 denotes a second connection unit for connecting to the provision storage medium operation device 10 and the bank 32 or credit company 31, and reference numeral 23 denotes a second storage for storing a restoration key of the provision storage medium 40. The unit 22 is a control unit that controls the connection unit 21 and the second storage unit 23. The connection unit 21, the control unit 22, and the second storage unit 23 constitute a content center 20.
[0016]
Reference numeral 30 denotes the Internet as a network connecting the provided storage medium operation device 10 and the content center 20. The bank 32 and the credit company 31 are connected to the Internet 30. Note that the network is not limited to the Internet, and other types of networks can be used.
[0017]
With this configuration, the encrypted content can be restored by notifying the restoration center from the content center 20 to the provision storage medium operation device 10 via the network 30.
(8) In the system according to the eighth aspect, in the system according to the seventh aspect, the provided storage medium includes an identifier storage unit that stores an identifier for identifying the provided storage medium; An installer for restoring encrypted content while storing information in a storage; a basic content storage for storing unencrypted basic content; and an encryption for storing content encrypted with a secret key. And an encrypted content storage unit.
[0018]
With this configuration, by receiving the restoration key from the content center, the content stored in the content storage unit can be decrypted and stored in the first storage unit.
(9) The invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that the restoration key notified from the content center according to claim 7 is an original key calculated with an identifier for identifying the provided storage medium.
[0019]
With such a configuration, a recovery key with high security can be provided.
(10) The invention according to claim 10 is characterized in that the second connection unit according to claim 7 connects to a bank or a credit company.
[0020]
With this configuration, it is possible to collect a fee required for content restoration from a bank or a credit company.
(11) According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the length of the identifier for identifying the provided storage medium according to the seventh aspect is the same as the length of the secret key.
[0021]
With this configuration, the calculation can be easily performed.
(12) According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, a content accessible by inputting a password is used in place of the content encrypted by the secret key according to the seventh aspect.
[0022]
With this configuration, it is possible to access and operate the content using a password instead of the secret key.
[0023]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0024]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the provision storage medium 40. In the figure, reference numeral 41 denotes an installer unit for storing information in the first storage unit 2 of the provided storage medium operating device 10 and restoring the encrypted content, and 42 stores an identifier for identifying the provided storage medium. An identifier storage unit 43 is a basic content storage unit for storing unencrypted basic contents, and an encrypted content storage unit 44 is for storing contents encrypted with a secret key.
[0025]
With this configuration, by receiving the restoration key from the content center 20, the content stored in the content storage unit can be decrypted and stored in the first storage unit 2.
[0026]
Here, encryption refers to a state in which data cannot be used or referred to, and normal use and reference can be performed by performing predetermined restoration. In the present invention, the encryption / decryption employs a secret key method with a high processing time. In addition, the provision storage medium 40 suppresses the production cost by duplication except for the identifier (ID). Therefore, the secret key is common to all of the provided storage media that have been copied, thereby facilitating management.
[0027]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an encrypted content restoration key (secret key) of a sale item. This encryption restoration key is stored in the storage unit 23 of the content center 20. An encrypted content restoration key (secret key) is stored for each provided storage medium (sale product). For example, the restoration key of the content with the product name “Kentakun” is “FFFFFFFFFFF”.
[0028]
5 and 6 are flowcharts showing an example of the operation of the present invention. This will be described with reference to the configurations shown in FIGS. In the drawing, “E” surrounded by a circle indicates an end (END). First, on the provision storage medium operation device 10 side, the operator inputs the ID of the provision storage medium 40 (S1). If it is a regular purchase, the determined ID is stored in the ID storage unit 42.
[0029]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a list of items for sale. An ID is stored for each product name (content). For example, IDs from AHSB0000001 to AHSB99999999 are assigned to product names (Kentakun). The control unit 3 checks whether the input ID matches the ID stored in the ID storage unit 42 (S2).
[0030]
If the IDs match, the control unit 3 causes the provided storage medium reading unit 1 to read the basic content of the basic content unit 43 of the provided storage medium 40, and causes the storage unit (HD) 2b to install the basic content by the installer unit 41 (S3). The provided storage medium operation device 10 operates and executes the basic content of the basic content unit 43 stored in the storage unit 2b (S4). Since the basic content is not encrypted, it can be read and executed as it is.
[0031]
In this case, the operation of the basic content allows the operator to learn how to view and operate the data. The salesperson attends at the user, provides guidance services, and collects the basic content price.
[0032]
Next, it is checked whether the user desires to purchase the encoded content at a later date (S5). If the user desires to purchase the encrypted content, the operator inputs a payment method (S6). Here, examples of the payment method include a bank transfer and a credit. When paying by credit, enter the credit number. Next, the control unit 3 issues a request for restoring the encrypted content to the content center 20 (S7). In this case, an encrypted content restoration request is made with the ID of the provided storage medium attached.
[0033]
FIG. 8 shows a list of request codes. Here, it is composed of a code, its meaning, and additional information. For example, if the code is “0001”, it is an encrypted content restoration request, and if the code is “0002”, it is an original restoration key transmission request. In this case, the original restoration key number is added.
[0034]
On the content center 20 side that has received the encrypted content restoration request, the control unit 22 checks whether the request is an encrypted content restoration key request (S9). If so, it is checked whether the payment method is bank transfer (S10). If it is a bank transfer, the control unit 22 queries the bank account (S11). The bank receiving the inquiry checks whether it is an account inquiry (S12), and if so, notifies the content center 20 of the account inquiry result (S13).
[0035]
In step S10, if the payment method is not bank transfer, it is checked whether the payment method is credit (S14). If the payment method is credit, the control unit 22 queries the credit company (S15). Upon receipt of this notification, the credit company checks whether it is a credit inquiry (S16). If so, a credit inquiry is notified to the content center 20 (S17).
[0036]
The content center 20 checks whether it is possible to receive a fee from a bank or a credit company (S18). If the fee collection is possible, the control unit 22 notifies the provision storage medium operation device 10 that the fee collection is possible (S19). In this way, it is possible to collect a fee for restoring content from a bank or a credit company.
[0037]
The content center 20 calculates the encrypted content restoration key and the ID to obtain an original restoration key (S20), and notifies the original storage key to the providing storage medium operation device 10 (S21).
[0038]
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the original restoration key creation operation. For example, when the provided storage medium ID is “AHSB5555555” and the encrypted content restoration key (secret key) is “FFFFFFFFFFFF”, the control unit 22 determines the exclusive OR of the numerical value part of the ID and the encrypted content decryption key corresponding part. To obtain the original restoration key. The original restoration key obtained at this time is “FFFFAAAAAAAA”.
[0039]
As described above, according to the present invention, a recovery key with high security can be provided.
[0040]
On the provision storage medium operation device 10 side, after confirming the fee payment notice OK (S22), the control unit 3 checks whether or not the control unit 3 has received the original restoration key (S23). When the original restoration key is received, it is checked whether the mode is the automatic mode (S24). If the mode is not the automatic mode, the operator inputs the original restoration key obtained by any method (S25). According to this, the content can be restored based on the manually input restoration key.
[0041]
In the case of the automatic mode or after the original restoration key is input manually, the original restoration key and the provided storage medium ID are inversely operated to obtain the encrypted content restoration key (S26). Next, using the encrypted content restoration key, the encrypted content stored in the encrypted content storage unit 44 is read from the provided storage medium by the provided storage medium reading unit 1, and the encrypted content is restored by the installer unit 41. Then, it is stored in the storage unit 2b (S27). Next, operation and execution of the restored encrypted content are attempted (S28).
[0042]
In the case of creating the provided storage medium, a process of storing the installer (including the encryption / recovery function), the basic content, the encrypted content, and the ID for identifying the provided storage medium is performed on the provided storage medium (S29). .
[0043]
In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the content is encrypted with the secret key and decrypted with the recovery key. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and a password may be used. That is, the content can be accessed using the password, and the content can be operated and executed. This makes it possible to access and operate the content using the password instead of the secret key.
[0044]
In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which a restoration key is created using an operation and an inverse operation, and encoded content is restored based on the restoration key. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If security is ensured, a restoration key that can immediately restore the encrypted content can be stored in the storage unit 23. By doing so, the sequence can be simplified.
[0045]
According to the present invention, it is also possible to prepare a plurality of stages of contents encrypted with the secret key and restore the contents with the secret key for each stage. According to this, the content can be restored for each stage, and further higher security can be obtained, and at the same time, the price for each stage can be set.
[0046]
According to the present invention, the provided storage medium itself can be restored. In this way, when a large amount of content is shipped, the storage amount increases, and the number of provided storage media can be reduced.
[0047]
Further, according to the present invention, the length of the identifier for identifying the provided storage medium can be the same as the length of the secret key. In this way, the calculation can be easily performed.
[0048]
Although the above-described embodiment is a preferred application example in which the content is educational content, the present invention is not limited to this, and other contents such as music data, video data, document data, and still image data It can also be applied to computer software and the like.
[0049]
According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The new function can be provided only to the user who wants to provide the service while minimizing the burden on the service provider. According to the present invention, the cost can be reduced because only one provision is required.
{Circle around (2)} Since the content is purchased after mastering the handling method, inquiries are reduced and the cost required for questions / answers can be reduced.
(3) Since the content price to be provided is automatically settled, the collection cost can be reduced.
{Circle around (4)} Even if the restoration key is leaked, it cannot be restored by another user, and the cost can be prevented from being defeated.
{Circle around (5)} Since the secret key is common to the copy-produced provided storage medium, the secret key management can be facilitated.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) According to the first aspect of the invention, when the providing storage medium operating device notifies the content center of the medium identifier, the content center notifies the providing storage medium operating device of the restoration key of the providing storage medium and provides the providing medium. On the storage medium operation device side, the encrypted content can be restored based on the notified restoration key. ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, content update is attained, without a salesperson going to a user.
(2) According to the second aspect of the present invention, the content can be restored for each stage, higher security can be obtained, and a price can be set for each stage.
(3) According to the third aspect of the invention, the sequence can be simplified.
(4) According to the invention described in claim 4, the content can be restored based on the manually input restoration key.
(5) According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the storage amount increases when a large amount of content is shipped, so that the number of storage media can be reduced.
(6) According to the invention described in claim 6, the content can be acquired using the password.
(7) According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the encrypted content can be restored by notifying the provided storage medium operating device of the restoration center from the content center via the network.
(8) According to the invention of claim 8, by receiving the restoration key from the content center, the content stored in the content storage unit can be decrypted and stored in the first storage unit.
(9) According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, a recovery key with high security can be provided.
(10) According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to collect a fee for restoring content from a bank or a credit company.
(11) According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the length of the identifier for identifying the provided storage medium according to the seventh aspect is the same as the length of the secret key.
[0051]
With this configuration, the calculation can be easily performed.
(12) According to the twelfth aspect, it is possible to access and operate the content using a password instead of the secret key.
[0052]
As described above, according to the present invention, a content providing method that eliminates the trouble of collecting a fee only for a user who has acquired a legitimate right and eliminates the need for a sales representative to revisit on a screen for providing a function improvement of the content And a system can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the principle of the method of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a principle block diagram of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a provided storage medium.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an encrypted content restoration key of a sale item.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a sales item list ID.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a request code list.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an original restoration key creation operation.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 provided storage medium reading units 2a, 2b storage unit 3 control unit 4 connection unit 10 provided storage medium operation device 20 content center 21 connection unit 22 control unit 23 storage unit 30 Internet 31 credit company 32 bank 40 provided storage medium

Claims (12)

In a system in which the provided storage medium operating device and the content center are connected, the provided storage medium in the provided storage medium operating device is an identifier for identifying the medium, an installer for performing storage processing in the storage unit, and an encrypted storage medium. Storing the basic content that has not been encrypted and the content encrypted with the secret key (step 1);
Storing a secret key of the provided storage medium in the storage unit of the content center (step 2);
In the provision storage medium operation device, after the identifier is confirmed by the installer, the storage is performed from the provision storage medium to the storage unit to operate the basic content (step 3);
Notifying the content center of the identifier of the provided storage medium (step 4);
A step of calculating the identifier and the secret key of the provided storage medium to obtain an original restoration key, and notifying the provided storage medium operation device (step 5);
The provision storage medium operation device performs the inverse operation of the identifier and the original restoration key by the installer to obtain a secret key, restores the encrypted content, performs storage processing on the storage unit, and operates the encrypted content (step 6)
Content providing method composed of: 2. A content providing method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of stages of contents encrypted by the secret key are prepared in step 1 of the step 1, and the contents are restored by the secret key for each stage. 3. A content providing method according to claim 1, wherein in step 5 and step 6, the operation and the inverse operation are omitted and the secret key is notified. 2. A content providing method according to claim 1, wherein in step 6, the original restoration key notified by any method is manually input. 2. The content providing method according to claim 1, wherein the providing storage medium itself is restored in step 6 of the claim 1. 3. A content providing method according to claim 1, wherein in step 1 and step 6, content storage accessible by inputting a password is used instead of encrypted content storage. In a system in which the provided storage medium operation device and the content center are connected,
A providing storage medium for encrypting and storing various contents, and decrypting the contents using a recovery key;
A reading unit that reads the contents of the provision storage medium, a first storage unit that stores an installer unit in the provision storage medium, and stores contents, a first connection unit that is connected to the content center, A provision storage medium operation device including a reading unit, a storage unit, and a control unit that controls a connection unit;
A second connection unit that connects to the provision storage medium operation device and a bank or a credit company, a second storage unit that stores a restoration key of the provision storage medium, and the connection unit and the second storage unit. A content center comprising a control unit for controlling the content center;
And a decryption key is notified from the content center to the provided storage medium operation device to restore the encrypted content. The system according to claim 7, wherein the provision storage medium stores an identifier for identifying the provision storage medium;
An installer unit for performing a process of storing information in a first storage unit of the provided storage medium operation device and restoring encrypted content;
A basic content storage unit that stores unencrypted basic content;
A content storage unit for storing content encrypted by the secret key,
A content providing system comprising: 8. The content providing system according to claim 7, wherein the restoration key notified from the content center is an original key calculated using an identifier for identifying the provided storage medium. The content providing system according to claim 7, wherein the second connection unit connects to a bank or a credit company. The content providing system according to claim 7, wherein the length of the identifier for identifying the provided storage medium is the same as the length of the secret key. A content providing system, wherein a content accessible by inputting a password is used instead of the content encrypted with the secret key according to claim 7.

Images