JP2000298689A - Method and device for managing digital writing, recording device and reproduction device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a digital writing from being illegally copied and used by permitting a digital rights center(DRC) to receive a use application, to issue a key for decoding and to add use route information containing the identification code ID of a reproduction device which the user uses to the digital writing. SOLUTION: When DRC 22 receives the permission application of a use A, it collates the application with data in a right registration data base 14 and recognizes whether the user A is permitted to use the digital writing 12 or not. When he is already permitted, DRC 22 commands the delivery of a key for the user A to the user A. The command of the delivery of the key is given only to the user A. The identification code ID (A) of the user A and use route information 24 are contained in the key. A decoder 20 receives the delivery command of the key, decodes the digital writing 12 and transforms it to a state where the user A can use it, and adds use route information 24 to the decoded digital writing 12 by an electronic watermark.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is intended to prevent inappropriate use of digital works such as digitalized images and music when the works are used by copying or the like, and to enable appropriate and smooth distribution. The present invention relates to a digital work management method, a management system, a recording device, and a playback device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of digital signal processing technology and computer technology, various copyrighted works have been digitized easily at low cost and have been widely used. For example, general computer users (users) and many uncharacteristic users (users) such as small corporations,
You can now create your own original digital work. Also, music software such as a huge amount of commercial records owned by individuals and organizations, video software such as movies, image software such as arts and crafts and buildings, and publishing software such as books will be digitized and used. became.

[0003] Such digitized works (called digital works, digital contents, etc.) can be easily used by using a personal computer (called a PC or simply a computer) or digital equipment. In particular, the use of an information network such as the Internet makes it possible to distribute these digital works very easily to personal or very useful users. Furthermore, the user can very easily copy (copy) and modify the digital work.

[0004] On the other hand, in the conventional copyright law, the copyright owner, creator, distributor, and the like are required to copy software to lower the software quality (for example, if an image is copied, the quality of the image is worsened). It was something to protect. In other words, the right holder (author or assignee of the copyright) exercises the duplication right to allow the creator to duplicate and sell it, and to foster and develop industries and distribution systems such as records, videos, and publishing. These records, videos and publications themselves were distributed through the system to the end user.

[0005] Also, in the distribution industry of digital literary works, in the past, copyright holders have been using CD-ROMs and DVDs (Divisions).
The right to make digital package media (copy) using gital Video Disc, Digital Video Disc, or Digital Versatile Disc, etc., and the right to authorize copying on a network are given to the server of the distribution company. Therefore, users of digital works (users)
Had access to a server containing digital content masters to obtain electronic digital copies.

[0006]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, however, general personal users and small corporations / organizations have been using commercially available personal computers (P
C) and production tool software such as decoders can be easily purchased. For this reason, it has become possible for individual users, small corporations and organizations to perform content production (digitization and duplication), which was conventionally performed by software industry specialists using technology and funds. In this way, it is impossible for individuals to retain digital technology and use it for their own convenience without violating conventional copyright law, and it is impossible to take legal action as tort.

[0007] Therefore, a business that distributes a digital work encrypts the digital work distributed by itself with an encryption key, and encapsulates the encrypted work by adding control information such as a header and a trailer to the encrypted work data. It is considered to be sent to the network. In this case, the distribution company issues a key (decryption key) for decrypting the encapsulated copyrighted work in response to the use application of the user of the copyrighted work (user), and the user can use the key. Is to do so.

On the other hand, when digital works are widely spread among users, it is known that the users introduce each other. Therefore, knowing the introduction route (distribution channel) of a digital work can be an important material when distributing the same type of digital work. Such materials can be used, for example, in a system in which a user who has been introduced to a certain digital work pays a referral fee to the introducer of this work, and this referral fee promotes the spread of digital works. It is possible to do.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a digital work provided by a distribution company is freely copied and used between users without the consent of the distribution company. And a method of managing digital works that enables appropriate and smooth distribution of digital works by enabling the distribution paths (introduction paths and usage paths) of digital works to be grasped. That first
The purpose of.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a management system used directly to carry out this method. A third aim is to provide a recording device which can be used directly for implementing this method. A fourth object is to provide a playback device at the same time.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the first object of the present invention is to make it possible to use a digital work on a reproduction apparatus which has applied for a license by using the key sent from the right processing agency. At the same time, the digital work is provided with use route information indicating the use route thereof, and the use route information is rewritten each time the key is issued to a different reproducing device, whereby the digital work is rewritten. This is achieved by a digital work management method characterized in that a use route can be retrospectively investigated. Here, the use route information can be added to the digital work by a digital watermark.

The same purpose is as follows: (a) registering a digital work in a rights registration database; (b) reproducing a user together with use conditions and use route information for encapsulating the digital work and permitting its test use. (C) as a result of the user's test use, the rights processing agency transmits the identification code of the digital work sent from the user, the user's identification code, and Upon receiving the use route information of step (b) and receiving the application for the license of the digital work, (d) the rights processing agency receives the application for the license and checks it against the rights registration database, If the use is permitted, a key for enabling the use of the digital work is sent to the playback device together with the use route information; (e) the playback device
Using this key, the digital work is decrypted and made usable, and new use route information is added to the digital work; management of the digital work characterized by having the above steps (a) to (e) Method.

In this case, when the identification code of the reproducing device is not registered for the digital work, the rights processing agency issues a key after confirming that the fee is paid from the reproducing device. When the fee is not paid, a warning is preferably sent to the user. As a method of adding the use route information to the digital work, the identification code of the copied reproduction apparatus can be retroactively added or readable and appended to the reproduction apparatus every time the reproduction apparatus is copied. In order not to degrade the quality (image quality and sound quality) of the user, a method of rewriting old use route information with new use route information is preferable.

The usage fee paid by (the user of) the reproduction device includes a copyright fee paid to the copyright holder and a fee paid to the right processing agency (distribution company). In this case, the usage fee can include a referral fee paid to the introducer. In this case, it is necessary to determine the reproduction device (user of the copy source) from the use route information up to a predetermined number of times of copying and pay an introduction fee to (the user of) the reproduction device. Good. It is preferable that the ratio of the introduction fee to the usage fee is gradually reduced with an increase in the number of copy-back times, and payment of the introduction fee is stopped for a copy source before the predetermined number of copies.

The usage conditions can include at least a plurality of usage modes including demo use, rental use, and free use. In this case, the user makes an application to the right processing agency for permission to use the service including the desired usage mode, and the right processing agency issues a key for licensing the use for this usage mode.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a rights registration database for registering, using an identification code, a digital work and a reproducing device used by the user; encrypting and encapsulating the digital work; An encapsulation processing unit for adding a use condition and use route information to the playback device; and an identification code of a digital work and an identification code of the playback device provided in the playback device of the user and used by the playback device. A license application form part for transmitting the digital work, and the reproduction device can use the digital work based on the key and the use route information output by the rights processing agency, and identify the reproduction device as a digital work. A user-side decoder having a restoration key processing unit for adding use route information including a code;
An application receiving server for comparing the digital work used by the playback device and the identification code of the playback device with the rights registration database based on the identification code transmitted by the license application form unit; A key / path information issuing server that issues a key for enabling the digital work to be used in the reproduction apparatus and sends use path information including an identification code of the reproduction apparatus to the restoration key processing unit. And a right processing agent center.

[0017] The decoder provided in the reproducing apparatus can be configured to send the information to the reproducing apparatus together with the information transmitted by the encapsulation processing unit. This decoder may be set in the playback device in advance. That is, it can be recorded in advance in a non-erasable memory in the playback device.

The information transmitted by the encapsulation processing unit includes a use condition. The use condition includes a use fee of the digital work to be sent to the user and a test use condition. Here, the test use conditions include, for example, the length and number of times that the test can be used (listening) for a music work, and the preview time and the degree of image quality to be reduced for art and movie works such as paintings and movies. And so on.

The usage conditions transmitted by the encapsulation processing unit are as follows:
Demo use, rental use, and free use can be included. The demonstration use is a use form in which free use is permitted under certain conditions (for example, reproduction only once). Rental usage is to set a usage fee up to a predetermined number of times or within a predetermined period, and to consent to use only for that number of times and period. Free use is, for example, a measure that can be used without any time limit. The key issued by the key / path information issuing server includes the contents of such a use form, and the reproducing apparatus allows the use in a different form by this key.

It is preferable that a charging system be provided in the management system, and that the payment of a new key be conditioned on payment of a usage fee. In this case, a payment processing unit is provided in the decoder, a billing server is provided in the right processing agency,
Further, a charging database is provided. If the user identification code is not registered for the digital work for which the application has been made, the application reception server requests the payment processing unit for the application, and the payment processing unit sends the request to the charging server. Submit an application and pay the usage fee to the billing system. Then, the billing server sends the issuance command to the key / path information issuing server, and based on the key issuance command sent by the key / path information issuing server to the user, the decryption key processing unit decrypts the digital work and uses the path information. Is added.
In this case, the processing result is stored in a charging database or a right registration database.

The user's digital work reproduction apparatus is formed of a computer (personal computer, PC), and this computer can be connected to the right processing agency center through an information network (computer network) such as the Internet or WWW. When a large number of users and the rights processing agency are connected via the information network in this way, the rights processing agency centers use digital works that do not have appropriate use route information or identify codes that differ from users. The use of digital works marked with can be monitored through an information network.

For example, the use route of a digital work used on a user's homepage can be checked using well-known search engine software or the like, and it can be monitored whether or not the use is proper. Then, a warning can be sent to the user through the information network for inappropriate use of the digital work.

A third object is a digital work recording apparatus used in the digital work management system according to any one of claims 10 to 18, wherein the user has a license application form section and a decryption key processing section. This is achieved by a digital work recording device, comprising: a decoder; and a memory for recording a digital work to which use route information is attached by a digital watermark.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a digital work reproducing apparatus for use with the digital work recording apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the memory reads and stores the contents recorded on the storage medium of the recording apparatus, and the memory records the contents in the memory. A digital work reproducing apparatus, comprising: a decoder having a built-in decryption key processing unit that permits the use of the digital work when the digital work obtained matches the key sent from the recording device. Is done.

[0025]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment serving as a basic configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which a billing system is similarly added, and FIG. 3 is an embodiment in which an unauthorized use warning system by an information network is added. FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a digital work 1
2 (including the creator or a person to whom the right has been transferred from the creator), and the copyright holder 10 registers the digital work 12 in a rights registration database (DB) 14 (FIG. 1, Step 2).

Each digital work 12 is provided with an identification code, and the digital work 12 and its identification code are always distributed integrally. When registering this digital work 12 in the rights registration database 12,
Along with the identification code, the identification code (I
D) is registered.

Reference numeral 16 denotes an encapsulation processing unit that encrypts the digital work 12 and attaches control information such as a header and a trailer to the encrypted transmission data. Here, use conditions of the digital work 12 and a decoder 20 to be read by a reproducing device 18 composed of a user's computer are attached. This decoder 20 is of course constituted by software. Here, the usage conditions include the usage fee of the digital work and the conditions for test use, ie, the use of the demo. The test use conditions include the time and number of times of trial listening in the case of a music work, and the previewing time and number of times or the degree of lowering the image quality in the case of an art / movie work such as a painting or a movie. The usage conditions can be in various forms such as demonstration use, rental use, and free use.

A user who wishes to use the digital work 12, that is, a user A (user, client) has a digital work reproducing apparatus 18 composed of a computer and transfers the digital work 12 to an information network such as the Internet or a CD-ROM. It is copied (copied) to its own device 18 via a storage medium such as a ROM or a DVD (step).

The recording / reproducing device 18 of the user A takes in the memory incorporating the decoder 20 added by the encapsulation processing unit 16. The playback device 18 is connected to a right processing center (Digital Ri) via an information network such as the Internet.
ghts Center, DRC) 22. The software of the decoder 20 may be supplied from the DRC 20 via the information network instead of being added by the encapsulation processing unit 16. This software is a separately prepared CD-
It may be recorded on a recording medium such as a ROM and supplied to the user A.

The user can use the test (preview, preview) according to the use conditions added by the capsule processing unit 16. Digital work 1 as a result of using this test
The user A who wants to use 2 uses the decoder 20 to
An application for use permission is made to the RC 20 (step). In this application, the identification code of the digital work 12 to be used, the identification code DI (A) of the user A, and the use route information are represented by D.
This is done by sending to RC20.

Here, the use route information is digital work 1
2 is information indicating what path has been read into the reproduction device 18 of the user A through what path. Here, it is shown that the copyrighted work 12 has been transmitted to the user A from the distribution company that distributes the copyrighted work 12. The use route information is added to the encrypted digital work in the form of a digital watermark, and is integrated so as to be inseparable from the digital work.

When the DRC 20 receives the permission application, the DRC 20 checks the data against the data in the rights registration database 14 and determines whether or not the user A is registered for the digital work, that is, the user A It is confirmed whether or not a predetermined procedure such as payment has been completed and the use permission has been obtained (step). Further, the use route is confirmed in the use route management DB 14A provided in the right registration DB 14 or provided independently of the right registration DB 14, and if there is a change in the use route, it is recorded here (step).

If the use permission has already been received, DRC2
0 instructs the user A to issue a key for the user A (step). This key issuance command is issued only to the user A, and the key includes the identification code ID (A) of the user A and the use route information 24.
The decoder 18 receives the key issuance command, decrypts the digital work 12 to make it usable by the user A, and also uses the use path information 24 on the decrypted digital work 12 with a digital watermark. (Step). Therefore, the digital work 12 subsequently used by the user A is always used with the use route information 24 attached. The use route information 24 is for the user A and has a function of identifying the user A as described later.

Various methods are known for the digital watermark used here. For example, a method using a Fourier transform or a method using a wavelet transform has been proposed for audio data. For still images, wavelet transform and JPEG (JointoPhotographic Experts
Group) image compression method is used for moving images, but MPEG (Motion Picture image coding Experts Gr.
oup) A method using a compression method has been proposed. Since it is complicated to explain these methods in detail, the explanation is omitted here and only the names of documents are listed. (1) Koshio Matsui "Image Deep Encryption" Morikita Publishing, 199
3, (2) Yuichi Ishizuka, Yasuyuki Sakai, Koichi Sakurai "On Quality Evaluation of Digital Watermarking Technology Based on Frequency Transformation" IEICE, IEICE Technical Report, 1997-07, (3) Megumi Iwamura,
Koichi Sakurai, Hideki Imai "Proposal of Blind Digital Watermarking" IEICE, IEICE Technical Report, 1997-09.

The other user B has the reproducing device 18B like the user A. When the other user B is introduced by the user A and becomes interested in the digital work 12, the information encapsulated by the encapsulation processing unit 16A in the reproduction device 18 of the user A is used as information. Capture through a network. That is, copy (step). This information includes encrypted work data, usage conditions, a decoder, and usage route information.

When the user B wishes to use the digital work 12B as a result of the test use,
A permission application is made to the DRC 22 (step). This permission application is made in the same manner as in the previous step,
(B), by sending the use route information (A). D
The RC 20 checks whether the user B is permitted to use the digital work 12B by comparing it with the data in the right registration database 14 (step). Further, the use route is confirmed / changed in the use route information management DB 14A (step). As a result, when the use is permitted, the DRC 20 sends a user B key issuing command to the user B (step (10)). Use key information (A → B) indicating that the key has been copied from user A to B is attached to this key.

The decoder 20B receives the key, decrypts the digital work 12B, and uses the usage route information (A
→ B) is added to the digital work 12B by a digital watermark (step (11)). At this time, Digital Work Department 1
Since the use route information (A) of the user A is already added to 2B by a digital watermark in a step, when the use route information (A → B) is added in this step (11), rewriting or additional writing is performed. Become.

In the case of rewriting as described above, it is preferable if the degree of deterioration of the information of the original digital work 12 can be kept constant, because there is no possibility that the image quality and the sound quality are deteriorated due to repeated copying. In addition, the use route information can be recorded in order without erasing the oldest one. In this case, the copy history can be known by reading the use route information recorded here retrospectively in reverse order. Thus, the usage status of the digital work 12 can be grasped.

In this embodiment, the decoder 20 reads the encapsulated digital work together with the digital work 12 when reading the encapsulated digital work into its own reproducing apparatus 18. It can be installed in advance or incorporated in advance by a non-volatile memory.

[0041]

Next, an example of a configuration in which a charging system is added to the basic configuration of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the decoder 2 used for the reproducing device 18 of the user A is used.
0 has an application form unit 100, a payment processing unit 102, and a decryption key processing unit 104. Application form section 100
The decryption key processing unit 104 is the same as that provided in the coder 18 in the embodiment described with reference to FIG.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the DRC 20 includes an application receiving server 106, a billing server 108, and a key / path information issuing server 110. The application receiving server 106 and the key / path information issuing server 110 are the same as those provided in the DRC 20 in the embodiment of FIG. Further, the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 has a charging database 114 which forms a right management database 112 together with the right registration database 14 and the use route information management database 14A. This billing database 114 contains billing information for each user, for example, digital work 1 used.
Information such as the payment amount, payment date, payment method, etc. for 2 is recorded.

Reference numeral 116 denotes a billing system. This billing system 116 includes electronic money settlement, cash card settlement, ISP (Internet Service Provider) settlement (IS
In addition to the method in which the ISP uses the connection ID (identification code) of P to collect money, various known settlement methods and methods that can be used in the future can be adopted.

In this embodiment, the author 10 registers the digital work 12 in the rights registration DB 14 (step in FIG. 2), and when the user A copies the digital work 12 (step in FIG. 2), the decoder 20 The application form section 100 submits a use permission application to the application reception server 106 of the DRC 22 (step). This application reception server 10
6 refers to the rights registration DB 14 to check whether or not the user A has registered a license for the digital work 12 (step). Use route information DB 14A
To check whether the use route is correct (step). The operation so far is exactly the same as the embodiment of FIG.

In the embodiment of FIG.
In the case where the license is not registered (not licensed), the application receiving server 106 performs the following processing to make the user A pay the usage fee and issue the appropriate key and usage route information. Do. That is, a request is made to the payment processing unit 102 of the decoder 20 to make a main application for requesting issuance of a proper permit (step). The payment processing unit 102 applies the identification code ID (A) of the user A to the accounting server 108 based on the instruction of the user A, and makes a main application (step). At this time, the user A pays a usage fee using the charging system 116.

The billing server 108 sends a key issuing command to the license issuing server 110 on condition that the main application from the user A and payment of the fee are made (step). At this time, the issuance of the key to the user A indicates that the right registration DB1
4, and the use route information is stored in the use route information management DB1.
4A. The usage fee payment information is recorded in the charging server 114.

The key / path information issuing server 110 sends a similar delivery command to the decryption key processing unit 104 of the decoder 20 based on the delivery command (step). Decryption key processing unit 10
4 decrypts the digital work 12 based on the delivery instruction, and adds the use route information 24 including the identification code of the user A to the work 12 by an electronic watermark (step (10)). As a result, the literary work 12 becomes proper, and the user A can properly use it by himself. On the other hand, the right information management database 112
And manages the usage fee paid from and distributes the distribution to the copyright holder 10 in a timely manner (step (11)).

The billing server 108 compares the usage fee paid by the user with the copyright holder 10 and the DRC 22 at a predetermined ratio.
And introducers. The distribution ratio for the introducer changes as the number of copies increases. In other words, the ratio of the introduction fee gradually decreases with an increase in the number of retrospective copies, and the introduction fee is set to 0 for the copy source before the predetermined number.

The method of distributing the introduction fee will be described with reference to FIG. At this time, the first user A who uses the work 12 supplied from the distributor pays, for example, 80% of the usage fee to the copyright holder 10 and pays 20% to the DRC 22 as a commission. User B copying and using User A
Pays 10% of the usage fee to the user A (introducer), 70% to the copyright holder 10, and the remaining 20% to the DRC 22.
User C, who copies from User B and uses it, costs 1
0% to the direct introducer (user B), 5% to the original introducer (user A), 65% to the copyright holder 10,
Pay 20% to DRC22.

User D introduced and used by user C
Gives 10% of the usage fee to the direct introducer (user C)
% To the previous introducer (user B), 3% to the further introducer (user A), and 62% to copyright holder 1
Pay 0, 20% to DRC22. The usage fee of the user E introduced by the user D is distributed to up to three introducers, and is not distributed to earlier introducers. By paying the referral fee in this way, the copyrighted work 1
2 can be supported.

[0051]

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment to which a system for monitoring unauthorized use is added. In this embodiment, a plurality of users A, B, C,..., A right processing agency (DRC) 22 and a monitoring center 120 are connected by an information network 122 such as the Internet. Here, users A and B are users of a digital work that has been given a proper key, and user C is a user who uses the work illegally without receiving a proper key. And

The monitoring center 120 sends a warning to the unauthorized user and records information on the unauthorized user in the unauthorized information database 124.
The first method by which the monitoring center 120 discovers an unauthorized user is a case where the DRC 22 notifies the monitoring center 120 that the user does not pay the usage fee despite receiving a use permission application (FIG. Step 4 (a)).

The second method is a case where the monitoring center 120 searches for an unauthorized user through the information network 122. For example, the monitoring center 120 has users A, B, C,
.. Is opened in a timely manner, and the use route information attached to the digital work used on the homepage by a digital watermark is decrypted. Then, it is determined whether or not the decrypted use route information is appropriate for the users A, B,. The user C using the one with the improper use route information or the one without the use route information is determined to be an unauthorized user, and is determined via the information network 122 or other appropriate means. (Step (b)).

[0054]

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment, in which a digital work recording device and a reproducing device are divided, and only the reproducing device is made portable. In this figure, reference numeral 130 denotes a recording device including a computer, which reads data encapsulating a digital work together with usage conditions and the like. Note that these data may be read through an information network, or may be read from a CD (Compact Disc) player, a DVD player, or the like.

The recording device 130 is connected to the reproducing device 132A of the user A. The recording device 130 is a decoder 1 having a license application form section and a decryption key processing section.
30a and a memory 130 for recording digital works and the like
b. The playback device 132A is an IC memory 134A
And a decoder (A) 136A. This decoder (A) 136A incorporates a decryption key processing unit. User A
The encapsulating digital work desired by the user is stored in the recording device 1 together with its use conditions and use route information 138A.
The data is transferred to the memory 134A of the playback device 132A via the device 30 (step (2)). User A's Decoder 136
A is the use route information 13 added to this digital work.
From 8A, it is determined whether or not the playback device 132A of the user A is permitted to use under appropriate conditions. If the playback device 132A is appropriate, usage under that usage condition is permitted.

When the user B who has not received the use permission attempts to play back on the playback device 132B, the playback device 1
32B is connected to the recording device 130, and the desired digital work which has been encapsulated is recorded in the memory 134B together with the use conditions and use route information (step). The playback device 132B has a memory 134B and a decoder (B) 136B. Then, the data is reproduced in the form of demonstration use in accordance with the use conditions.
A use permission application is issued from the 32B to the DRC 22 (step).

Upon confirming that the DRC 22 satisfies predetermined conditions such as payment of a usage fee (step), D
The RC 22 sends the key issuance command to the user B to the playback device 132B via the recording device 130 (step,
). The decoder 136B of the reproducing device 134B permits reproduction and use on the basis of the issued key based on predetermined use conditions. The user B is stored in the memory 134B.
Is recorded.

[0058]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, as described above, the right processing agency (DRC) receives a use application, issues a decryption key, and enables this user to use a copyrighted work. Since the use path information including the identification code ID of the reproducing apparatus used by the user is added to the digital work, it is possible to prevent the digital work from being illegally copied and used. In addition, by examining the use route information attached to the digital work, it is possible to monitor whether the use is appropriate or not. By setting up such a system capable of monitoring, it is possible to prevent and suppress improper use such as copying or alteration of a digital work.

The use route information attached to the digital work is preferably attached by a digital watermark (claim 2). According to the third aspect of the invention, the same effect as the first aspect of the invention can be obtained. In this case, a billing system for confirming payment of the usage fee can be combined (claim 4). For example, when the right processing agency (DRC) determines that the permission information for the reproduction device of the digital work is not registered, it requests the user to pay the usage fee, confirms the payment, and issues the key. Good.

The use route information newly added to the digital work is a digital watermark, and the contents of the old work can be additionally written (including the parallel description) so that the old contents can be read. In this case, the use history of the digital work is recorded. This is convenient because it is possible to retroactively check (claim 5). However, in this case, the quality (image quality, sound quality, etc.) of the copyrighted work deteriorates each time a new license is added. In order to prevent this quality deterioration, it is preferable to adopt a method of erasing an old permit and rewriting it with a new permit.

The usage fee delivered from the playback device can include a copyright fee paid to the copyright holder and a fee paid to the DRC (Claim 6). It is also possible to pay a referrer retroactively to a predetermined copy source (claim 7). In this case, the introducer can be identified from the use route information attached to the digital work. In this case, the referral fee is paid up to a certain number of copy sources, and no payment is made up to the copy source before that (claim 8). By paying such a referral fee, the spread of digital works can be promoted.

The usage conditions include at least three usage modes of demo usage, rental usage, and free usage. The user selects one of the usage modes and submits a usage approval application, while the right processing agency center uses this usage mode. It is preferable to issue a key corresponding to the mode (claim 9). In this case, a plurality of usage modes can be selected, which is convenient for the user to use.

According to the tenth aspect, the second aspect of the present invention is provided.
Is achieved. That is, a decoder is provided in the reproduction apparatus of the user, and whether or not the right processing agency has already been licensed using the copyright identification code output by the decoder, the identification code of the reproduction apparatus used by the user, and the use path information. When a new use permission is issued, a key is issued and use route information is added to the digital work.

In this case, the decoder is formed by software, and this software can be incorporated into information transmitted by the encapsulation processing unit and transmitted to the reproducing apparatus.
1). The output information of the encapsulation processing unit can include a use condition and a test use condition.
2). However, this decoder may be stored in advance in a nonvolatile memory of the playback device (claim 14). The usage conditions can include at least demo usage, rental usage, and free usage (claim 13).

A combination of a charging system and a key can be issued to a new user's playback device on condition that the usage fee is paid (claim 15). According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, a specific management system combining this charging system can be obtained.

The digital work recording / reproducing apparatus of a user can be constituted by a computer (personal computer, PC, etc.). In this case, the computers of a plurality of users are connected to a delegation processing center (DRC) by an information network. (Computer network) for connection (claim 17). The information network may be the Internet (claim 18).

According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus directly used for implementing the management method. Claim 2
According to the invention of No. 0, a reproducing apparatus directly used for carrying out this management method is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a basic configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which a billing system is combined.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a distribution ratio of usage fees.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which an unauthorized use monitoring system is combined.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Copyright holder (rights holder) 12 Digital work 14 Rights registration management database 14A Usage path information management database 16 Encapsulation processing unit 18, 16B User's playback device 20, 18B decoder 22 Right processing agency (DRC) 24, 24B Usage route information 100 Application form unit 102 Payment processing unit 104 Decryption key processing unit 106 Application reception server 108 Accounting server 110 Key / route information issuing server 112 Rights information management database 114 Accounting database 120 Monitoring center 122 Information network 124 Unauthorized use information database 130 recording device 130a decoder 130b memory 132 reproduction device 134 memory 136 decoder 138 utilization path information

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) G06F 12/14 320 G06F 12/14 320B 5C053 15/00 330 15/00 330Z 5C064 17/30 H04N 7/173 640A H04N 5 / 92 G06F 15/21 330 7/167 15/40 320B 7/173 640 H04N 5/92 H 7/167 Z F-term (reference) 5B017 AA06 AA07 BA05 BA07 BB02 BB07 BB10 CA09 CA16 5B049 AA05 BB60 BB61 EE05 GG02 GG07 5B0 KK07 KK68 ND12 ND14 ND16 UU36 UU37 5B082 AA13 EA12 FA11 GA02 GA15 GC05 HA08 JA11 5B085 AC04 AE04 AE06 AE13 BG07 5C053 FA13 FA28 FA29 GA11 GB05 GB21 HA29 JA21 KA21 KA24 LA06 LA07 5BC009 BA01 BC08

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A digital work is made available to the playback device using a key sent from the rights processing agency to the playback device that has applied for a license, and the digital work is provided with a usage route. The use route information indicating the use route of the digital work can be retroactively investigated by rewriting the use route information each time the key is issued to a different playback device. How to manage digital works. 2. The digital work management method according to claim 1, wherein the use route information is added to the digital work by a digital watermark. 3. A digital work is registered in a rights registration database; and (b) the digital work is encapsulated into a reproduction device of a user together with use conditions and use route information permitting test use thereof. (C) as a result of the user's test use, the rights processing agency transmits the identification code of the digital work sent from the user, the user's identification code, and the above steps ( By receiving the use route information of b), the application for the license of the digital work is received; (d) The rights processing agency receives the application for the license, checks it against the rights registration database, and If so, a key for enabling the use of the digital work is sent to the playback device together with the use route information; (e) The playback device decrypts the digital work using the key And using the new usage route information to the digital work. The method for managing a digital work, comprising the steps (a) to (e) described above. 4. The right processing agent center, if the result of the collation in step (d) of claim 3 indicates that the use permission information for the reproduction device is not registered for the identification code of the digital work, the reproduction device 4. The method for managing digital work according to claim 3, wherein the key is issued after confirming payment of the usage fee from. 5. The use path information is added to the digital work by digital watermarking, and each time the same digital work is copied, the identification code of the copied reproducing apparatus is retroactively added and sequentially added in a decipherable manner. The method for managing digital works according to claim 3 or 4. 6. The digital work management method according to claim 4, wherein the usage fee delivered from the playback device includes a copyright fee paid to a copyright holder and a fee paid to a right processing agency. 7. The reproducing method according to claim 4, wherein the usage fee delivered from the reproducing apparatus is a copyright fee paid to a copyright holder, a fee paid to a right processing agency, and reproduction based on the use route information. A method for managing a digital work, including identifying a device up to a predetermined number of copies and introducing a referral fee paid to these playback devices. 8. The ratio of the referral fee paid to a plurality of copy sources to the usage fee according to claim 7, wherein the ratio of the referral fee gradually decreases with an increase in the number of retrospective copies, and is introduced to copy sources before the predetermined number of copies. A digital work management method with zero fee. 9. The use condition according to claim 3, wherein the use condition of the step (e) includes a plurality of use forms including demo use, rental use, and free use; Including the information indicating one of the usage modes selected from the usage conditions; in step (d), the rights processing agency sends a key permitting the usage in the selected usage mode; Management method. 10. A rights registration database for registering a digital work and a reproducing apparatus used by the user by an identification code; encrypting and encapsulating the digital work; And an encapsulation processing unit for adding the use route information and sending it to the playback device; provided in the playback device of the user;
The reproduction device transmits the identification code of the digital work to be used in the reproduction device and the license application form section for transmitting the identification code of the reproduction device, and the key and the use route information output by the rights processing agency described later. A user-side decoder having a decryption key processing unit for enabling use of the digital work and adding use path information including an identification code of the reproducing apparatus to the digital work; A digital work to be used by the playback device based on the identification code to be executed and an application receiving server for checking the identification code of the playback device with the rights registration database; Issue a key enabling the use of the playback device and decrypt the use route information including the identification code of the playback device. Management system of digital work, characterized in that it comprises: a right processing proxy center and a key / path information issuance server sends to the processing unit. 11. The digital work management system according to claim 10, wherein a decoder provided in the reproducing apparatus is formed of software, and is transmitted to the reproducing apparatus together with information transmitted by the encapsulation processing unit. 12. The digital work management system according to claim 10, wherein the use condition transmitted by the encapsulation processing unit includes a digital work use fee and a test use condition. 13. The use condition according to claim 10, wherein the use condition transmitted by the encapsulation processing unit includes a demonstration use that allows free use under a certain condition, a rental use that allows use for a certain period or a certain number of times, and no use condition. The key / route information issuing server of the right processing agency issues a different key depending on the contents of the use condition, and the decryption key processing unit of the user-side decoder uses this key. A digital copyrighted work management system, which enables use corresponding to the contents of usage conditions. 14. The digital work management system according to claim 10, wherein the decoder provided in the playback device is stored in a nonvolatile memory incorporated in the playback device in advance. 15. The billing system according to claim 10, further comprising a billing system, wherein the billing system compares the digital work and an identification code of a reproducing apparatus used by a user with the rights registration database. If the identification code of the reproducing apparatus is not registered for the identification code of the object, the key / path information issuing server is instructed to issue a key on condition that a usage fee has been paid. A digital work management system. 16. A payment processing unit provided in a decoder, a charging server provided in a right processing agency, and a charging database, wherein the application receiving server stores identification codes of a digital work and a reproducing apparatus used by a user. If the identification code of the reproduction device is not registered with respect to the identification code of the digital work as a result of collation with the rights registration database, this application request command is output to the payment processing unit, and the payment processing unit Based on this application request command, the main application is made to the charging server, and the payment processing of the usage fee is performed through the charging system. key/
16. The digital work management system according to claim 15, wherein a key issuance command is output to the path information issuing server, the processing result is stored in the right registration database, and charging information is stored in the charging database. 17. The management of a digital work according to claim 10, wherein the reproduction device of the user is formed of a computer, and the computers of a plurality of users and the rights processing agency are connected by an information network. system. 18. The digital work management system according to claim 17, wherein the information network is the Internet. 19. A digital work recording device used in the digital work management system according to claim 10, wherein a user side decoder having a license application form section and a decryption key processing section; A digital work recording device, comprising: a memory for recording a digital work to which use route information is attached by a watermark. 20. A digital work reproducing apparatus for use with the digital work recording apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the memory reads and stores the content recorded on a storage medium of the recording apparatus, and the digital work recorded on the memory. A digital work reproducing apparatus, comprising: a decoder having a built-in decryption key processing unit that permits the use of the digital work when the object matches a key sent from the recording device.