JP2001117592A - Music reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a music reproducing device which can actualize a copyright protecting function using the identification number of a semiconductor recording medium by using a general reader writer and a device driver on a PC side even when the specifications of the semiconductor recording medium and the manufacturer are different as to a music reproducing device which takes music data out of a recording medium having a semiconductor memory including a flash memory and reproduces the data. SOLUTION: This is a music reproducing device 1 which reproduces music data from a memory card 2 where an identification number is written and has a system control part 7 which reads the identification number of the memory card 2 and deciphers the music data according to the identification number when judging that a copyright protecting function is not added to the music data. Or the device has a system control part 7 which reads the identification number out and copies the identification number to an area that the computer on a computer can reads in a recording area of the memory card 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a music reproducing apparatus for extracting music data from a recording medium having a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory and reproducing the music data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional music reproducing apparatus includes a magnetic tape on which music data is recorded and a compact disk (hereinafter, referred to as a CD).
Or mini-disc (hereinafter referred to as MD)
Music data is taken out from a magnetic (or magneto-optical) recording medium such as. On the other hand, in recent years, a recording medium incorporating a semiconductor memory (hereinafter, referred to as a semiconductor recording medium) has been put to practical use, and a portable music reproducing apparatus using the recording medium has appeared. This semiconductor recording medium is connected to a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as P
C, the music data stored in a magnetic disk device (hereinafter referred to as an HDD) mounted on a PC can be transferred to a semiconductor memory and stored. By setting a semiconductor recording medium on which music data is recorded in a music reproducing apparatus and pressing a play button, the recorded music data can be reproduced from a speaker or an earphone.

[0003] By using this semiconductor recording medium,
This eliminates the need for a rotary drive system for rotating a magnetic recording medium, such as a conventional music playback device, thereby preventing the occurrence of sound skipping due to vibration and further improving portability and portability. Further, since a semiconductor recording medium can record digitally recorded high-quality music data, extremely high-quality music can be reproduced from a music reproducing apparatus using the recording medium.

[0004] By the way, music data is WAV (ADP).
(CM system: analog-digital pulse code modulation system) When stored in a HDD as a file, for example, one minute of music requires a storage capacity of about 10 MB (megabytes). Therefore, usually, for example, ISO
MP3 (MPEG1 Audio La), which is an international standard for audio compression technology defined by
The music data is compressed to about 1 MB / 1 minute using yer 3) or the like and recorded in the semiconductor memory.

In general, there are three methods for recording music data in MP3 format on a semiconductor recording medium. The first is
P using a music distribution system via the Internet
After importing MP3 format music data to C HDD,
This is a method of transferring data to a semiconductor recording medium. The second is a method of directly inserting a semiconductor recording medium into a music distribution terminal installed in a retail store or the like and taking in desired MP3 music data. Third, music data recorded on a CD, MD, or the like is ripped (sucked out) using a PC or the like to create a WAV file, and the WAB file is converted into MP3 data by software called an encoder and recorded on a semiconductor. It is a method of transferring to a medium.

By the way, in order to use the above-described music reproducing apparatus using a semiconductor recording medium, it is extremely important to take measures for not infringing the copyright of the recorded music data. In recent years, proposals have been made to assign a different identification number to each semiconductor recording medium and implement copyright protection using the identification number as a key.

[0007] For example, even if the music data is copied from a semiconductor recording medium recording music data encrypted based on the identification number to another semiconductor recording medium, the identification number of the destination semiconductor recording medium is copied. Does not match the copyright protection key of the music data, it is possible to make reproduction by the music reproduction device impossible. By using this function, unauthorized duplication of music data between semiconductor recording media can be prevented. In order to realize the copyright protection function by the above method, a process of reading an identification number from a semiconductor recording medium is essential. However, the procedure for reading the identification number from the semiconductor recording medium differs depending on the specifications of the semiconductor recording medium and the manufacturer. Therefore, in order to connect a data read / write device for transferring data to the semiconductor recording medium to the PC and read the identification number of the semiconductor recording medium, a special data reading / writing device is required according to the specifications of the semiconductor recording medium. It is necessary to prepare a writing device and a device driver.

FIG. 4 shows a flow of processing for reading an identification number from a semiconductor recording medium. In FIG. 4, PC1
Reference numeral 00 denotes that the semiconductor recording medium 2 can be accessed via the read / write device 106. PC10
0 contains a copyright protection application 102 and a dedicated device driver 104 for driving a dedicated read / write device 106. First, as shown by an arrow (a) in FIG. 4, the copyright protection application 102 issues a read command of the identification number of the semiconductor recording medium to the dedicated device driver 104. The dedicated device driver 104 reads the read command from the copyright protection application 102 and reads / writes the read / write device 1.
The command is converted into an identification number read command that can be interpreted by the reference number 06 and sent to the read / write device 106 (arrow (b)).
The read / write device 106 reads the identification number together with the transmission / reception of a control signal (arrow (c)) with the semiconductor recording medium 2 based on the identification number read command, and reads the identification number.
(Arrow (d)). Dedicated device driver 1
04 receives the identification number and transfers it to the copyright protection application 102 (arrow (e)).

[0009]

As described above, in order to read the identification number by the conventional method, different device drivers must be individually prepared on the PC side according to the specifications of the semiconductor recording medium and the regulations of the manufacturer. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to realize copyright protection using a general-purpose data read / write device for a semiconductor recording medium.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a copyright protection function using an identification number of a semiconductor recording medium by using a general-purpose read / write device and a device driver on the PC side even if the specifications and manufacturers of the semiconductor recording medium are different. An object of the present invention is to provide a music playback device that can be realized.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a music reproducing apparatus for reproducing music data from a semiconductor recording medium on which an identification number is written, wherein it is determined that a copyright protection function is not added to the music data. Then, the present invention is achieved by a music reproducing device having a control unit that reads the identification number and performs an encryption process on the music data based on the identification number.

The object is also a music reproducing apparatus for reproducing music data from a semiconductor recording medium on which an identification number is written, wherein the identification number is read and an OS of a computer is stored in a recording area of the semiconductor recording medium. The present invention is attained by a music reproducing apparatus having an identification number copying means for copying the identification number in an area from which data can be read.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A music reproducing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a music reproducing device 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG.
Has interfaces 4a and 4b for transferring digital data between two memory cards (semiconductor recording media) 2a and 2b each having a semiconductor memory as a music recording medium. The memory cards 2a, 2b are detachably attached to the interfaces 4a, 4b, respectively. As the memory cards 2a and 2b, various memory cards 2, for example, MultiMedia Card
"MMC (Mul
flashMedia such as "tiMedia Card)" and "Memory Stick (trademark of Sony Corporation)"
M cards can be used. In addition, CFA (Com
Compact Flash Memory Card "Compa"
ct Flash (registered trademark of SanDisk Corporation) "and S
"SmartMe" standardized by SFDC Forum
dia (registered trademark of Toshiba Corporation) "and the like.

The interfaces 4a and 4b are controlled by the system control unit 7, and the music data transferred from the interfaces 4a and 4b is transferred to the reproduction output unit via the system control unit 7. .
The system control unit 7 controls each circuit in the device 1 in addition to controlling the interfaces 4a and 4b.

When the memory card 2a or 2b is connected to the interface 4a or 4b, the system control unit 7 refers to the area A stored in the header of the music data file in the memory card 2a or 2b. It has become. The area A includes information on whether or not the copyright protection function has been added to the music data. Further, the system control unit 7 has a function of reading an identification number stored in the memory card 2 corresponding to various types of memory cards 2. Further, the system control section 7 can also encrypt the music data file based on the read identification number and transfer the music data file to the memory cards 2a and 2b.

The music reproducing apparatus 1 has a display 6 composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display. The display 6 is electrically connected to the display control unit 5 and can display the title of the music being played, the playing time of the music, the remaining battery level, and the like. These display data are included in the music data read from the memory cards 2a, 2b via the interfaces 4a, 4b. System control unit 7
Sends these display data to the display control unit 5 from the read music data. The display control unit 5 controls the liquid crystal display device so that the display data sent is displayed on the display 6 in a predetermined manner.

The music reproducing apparatus 1 is an audio DS.
P8 and D / A converter 9 are provided. The audio DSP 8 and the D / A converter 9
It is controlled from the. The DSP 8 performs data processing such as compression / expansion processing of music data input from the system control unit 7 and effect processing as necessary, under the control of the system control unit 7. The processed music data is returned to the system control unit 7 again or output to the D / A converter 9.

The DSP 8 according to the present embodiment has a plurality of decoder functions corresponding to each data format so that a plurality of music data created in various data formats can be reproduced. Therefore, for example, even if MP3 data is recorded on the memory card 2a and music data by TwinVQ (a data compression method developed by NTT) is recorded on the memory card 2b, all of them are controlled by the system control unit 7. You can play it. The output terminal of the D / A (digital-analog) converter 9 is connected to the output terminal 14.

The music data received by the system control unit 7 when the music is reproduced is sent to the DSP 8 if compression processing such as MP3 is performed, and expansion processing is performed. The expanded music data is sent to the D / A converter 9 and output from the output terminal 14 as an analog music signal.
The music data that has not been subjected to the compression processing is directly input from the system control unit 7 to the D / A converter 9 and output from the output terminal 1
4 is output as an analog music signal.

Further, a signal from a control switch 16 used by a user of the music reproducing apparatus 1 is input to the system control section 7. Specifically, the control switch 16 may be a mechanical switch provided outside the housing of the music playback device 1, or a remote control switch provided in the middle of a cable of a headphone or an earphone connected to the output terminal 14. There may be. The control switch 16 can be provided with various switching functions as needed. For example, a signal for switching on / off the power of the music reproducing apparatus 1, switching the reproduction mode, switching music data to be reproduced, or skipping music is sent to the system control unit 7. You may. Alternatively, a signal for switching the display data to be displayed on the display 6 described above is transmitted to the system controller 7.
May be sent to The system control unit 7 receives the signal from the control switch 16 and controls each circuit so as to be in a desired state.

Next, the power supply of the music reproducing apparatus 1 will be described. The music playback device 1 has a built-in secondary battery 11 for supplying power to each circuit in the music playback device 1. As the secondary battery 11, for example, a nickel-metal hydride battery or a lithium ion can be used. The music reproducing device 1 also has a built-in charging circuit 10 for charging the secondary battery 11. The charging circuit 10 is connected to an external AC adapter terminal 13. External AC adapter terminal 13
The secondary battery 11 can be charged by applying a predetermined voltage to the charging circuit 10 by connecting the output terminal of the AC adapter to the power supply.

Further, a voltage of, for example, 2.4 V can be applied to each circuit from the side of the secondary battery 11 while charging the secondary battery 11. The output terminal of the secondary battery 11 is also connected to a booster circuit 12, so that a voltage of 3.3 V can be applied from the booster circuit 12 to each circuit.

Next, the music reproducing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment
The operation of will be described. First, when a command to turn on the power of the music reproducing device 1 is input by operating the control switch 16 by a user, power is supplied from the secondary battery 11 to each circuit.

The interfaces 4a and 4b perform error detection and protocol processing of the data signal of the music data input from the memory card 2, and perform control for the memory card 2 to recognize the music reproducing apparatus 1 as a device. I do. At this time, the interfaces 4a and 4b
In order to realize the control procedure between the system control unit 7 and the memory cards 2a and 2b, the data transmitted from the system control unit 7 is converted into data suitable for the interface of the memory cards 2a and 2b. Also, interface 4
The processes a and 4b convert data and commands sent from the memory cards 2a and 2b into a format that can be interpreted by the system control unit 7, or convert the data and commands into an electrical interface suitable for the system control unit 7.

Next, a case where an earphone or the like is connected to the output terminal 14 to reproduce and listen to music will be described. First,
Music data recorded on the memory cards 2a, 2b is input via the interface 4. If the input music data is MP3 data, the music data is input to the DSP 8 via the system control unit 7 and subjected to data expansion, then converted into analog music data by the D / A converter 9 and output from the output terminal 14. . If the music data recorded on the memory cards 2a and 2b has not been compressed,
Since the decompression process by the DSP 8 is not performed, the music data is directly output from the system control unit 7 to the D / A converter 9.

During the above operation, when the AC adapter is connected to the external AC adapter input terminal 13, the voltage is applied to the charging circuit 10.
The secondary battery 11 supplies power to each circuit in the music reproducing device 1 while being charged. In the above operation, the system control unit 7 performs control for switching the playback mode from the user through the control switch 16 and switching the playback medium to another memory card 2. Further, the system control unit 7 controls the display control unit 5 to cause the display 6 to display necessary data as needed in response to an instruction from the control switch 16. While the above operation is being performed, power is continuously supplied from the secondary battery 11 to each circuit.

Next, a copyright protection function for music data by the music reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is based on the premise that the music data file stored in the memory card 2 has an area (area A) indicating whether or not a copyright protection function is added in the file header. It has features.

First, an operation of storing a music data file in which data indicating whether or not the copyright protection function is added to the area A into the memory card 2 will be described. First, on the PC side, data indicating that the copyright protection function is not added to the area A of the music data file to be transferred to the memory card 2 among the music data stored in the HDD or the like. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the value of the area A is 0, it indicates that the copyright protection function is not added, and when the value of the area A is 1, the copyright protection function is added. Is written into the area A (see FIG. 2A). The work of defining the area A in the header of the music data file can be easily performed by slightly changing the copyright protection application on the PC side or the server side application of the on-demand music distribution system installed in the store. be able to.

Next, the memory card 2 is connected to the PC via the read / write device, and
Is written into the music data file α (see FIG. 2A). In the above-described series of data writing using a PC as an example, since the PC does not perform processing for acquiring the identification number stored in the memory card 2, a general-purpose device driver for a general-purpose read / write device is used. Read / write devices can be used. The file α stored in the memory card 2 in the above-described processing has not been encrypted.

Next, when the memory card 2 storing the desired music data by the above processing is connected to the music reproducing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment via the interface 4, the system control unit of the music reproducing apparatus 1 7 checks the area A of the music data file together with the above-mentioned interface operation to confirm whether or not the copyright protection function is added.

When the system control unit 7 determines in the confirmation processing that the area A is 0 and the copyright protection function is not added, the system control unit 7 shifts to an operation of reading the identification number stored in the memory card 2. The system control unit 7 performs an encryption process on the music data using the read identification number as a key, and overwrites the music data file β (see FIG. 2B) to which the copyright protection function has been added to the file α. Stored in the memory card 2. Next, the system control unit 7
Is information A indicating that the copyright protection function is added.
= 1 is written in the area A of the file (see FIG. 2B).

With the above procedure, the copyright protection operation by the music reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment ends. When the memory card 2 that has been subjected to the above processing is later inserted into the music reproducing apparatus 1, the area A is 1, so that the music reproducing apparatus 1 has a copyright protection function added to the music data file. , The identification number is read from the memory card 2, the music data is decoded, and the music is reproduced.

According to the present embodiment, the identification number of the memory card 2 is read out by the music reproducing device instead of being read out by the PC. There is an advantage that it is not necessary to prepare. Further, even if the PC has only a general-purpose read / write device and its device driver and stores music data for which copyright protection does not function in the memory card 2, the memory card 2 can reproduce the music data. When inserted into the device 1, a memory card 2 storing music data to which a copyright protection function has been added is obtained. Therefore, copyright infringement such as unauthorized duplication by the memory card 2 can be prevented. Note that FIG.
As shown in (a), another measure is required to prevent the value of the area A of the file α to which the copyright protection function is not added from being easily rewritten.

Next, a music reproducing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. The physical and mechanical configuration of the music playback device 1 according to the present embodiment and the operation in music playback are the same as those of the music playback device 1 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. I do. Music playback device 1 according to the present embodiment
Is characterized in that it has a copyright protection function different from that of the first embodiment. First, the procedure of the copyright protection function according to the present embodiment will be described below.

First, the memory card 2 is inserted (connected) into the music reproducing apparatus 1, and the identification number of the memory card 2 is read out by the system control section 7. Next, under the control of the system control unit 7, the identification number is written in the storage area (area B) of the memory card 2 accessible by the OS (operating system) of the PC. Next, the memory card 2 on which the above processing has been performed is connected to a PC via a general-purpose read / write device, and an identification number is read from the area B of the memory card 2. Next, the music data file to which the copyright protection function is to be added is subjected to encryption processing or the like using the read identification number as a key, and stored in the memory card 2. The above is the outline of the procedure of the copyright protection function according to the present embodiment.

Next, a specific example of the copyright protection function for music data according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As an example, a PC / AT compatible machine is used
S uses Windows (trademark of Microsoft Corporation), and the file system of the memory card 2 is FAT.
The system shall be used.

FIG. 3 shows a logical structure of a memory area in the memory card 2. A free area of the master boot record 20 can be used as a storage area (the above-described area B) in the memory card 2 that can be accessed by the OS of the PC. Further, by operating the partition table in the master boot record 20, the partition table between the master boot record 20 and the first partition 24, and the n-th partitions (n = 1, 2, 3) 24, 28, 32 and ( (n + 1) between the partitions 28, 32, 36, and further behind the last partition, the free areas 21, 26,
30, 34, 38 can be created. Therefore, at least one of the empty areas 21, 26, 30, 34, and 38 can be used as the area B. Also,
If you do not mind disclosing the identification number to general users,
The area B may be created in the data area in each partition.

The memory card 2 is inserted into the music reproducing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, and the identification number of the memory card 2 is copied to any of the above-mentioned areas. The memory card 2 is inserted into a general-purpose read / write device and connected to a PC having a general-purpose device driver, and the area B is referred to using a normal read command prepared by the OS of the PC. Read the identification number of 2,
Music data can be encrypted. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the memory card 2
The copyright protection function can be realized without a special device driver or the like according to the specifications and the manufacturer.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, general-purpose read / write can be performed even if the specifications and manufacturers of semiconductor recording media are different.
By using the writing device and the device driver on the PC side, a copyright protection function using the identification number of the semiconductor recording medium can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a music playback device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a copyright protection function for music data in the music playback device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a logical structure of a semiconductor recording medium for realizing a copyright protection function in a music playback device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flow of processing for reading an identification number from a semiconductor recording medium in a conventional copyright protection system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Music reproduction device 2a, 2b Memory card 4a, 4b 2nd interface 5 Display control unit 6 Display 7 System control unit 8 DSP 9 D / A converter 10 Charging circuit 11 Secondary battery 12 Boost circuit 13 External AC adapter terminal 14 Output terminal 16 Control switch 20 Master boot record 21, 26, 30, 34, 38 Free space 24, 28, 32, 36 Each partition 100 PC 102 Copyright protection application 104 Dedicated device driver 106 Read / write device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A music reproducing apparatus for reproducing music data from a semiconductor recording medium on which an identification number is written, wherein if it is determined that the music data does not have a copyright protection function, the identification number is read out. And a control unit for performing encryption processing on the music data based on the identification number. 2. A music reproducing apparatus for reproducing music data from a semiconductor recording medium on which an identification number is written, wherein the identification number is read out and an area of the recording area of the semiconductor recording medium is readable by an OS of a computer. Music reproducing apparatus, further comprising an identification number copying means for copying the identification number.