JPH08335209A - Information provision device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To provide an information providing device that allows only authorized persons to use information and prevents unauthorized use of information. [Configuration] The central control device 31 in the karaoke device 10 is
It is determined whether or not a predetermined period has passed since the previous password update, and when the predetermined period has passed, the password stored in the hard disk 33 is read and transmitted to the information center 1. On the other hand, in the information center 1, the received password is collated with the already registered password, and if they match, the new password is transmitted to the karaoke device 10 for the first time. If this process is not successful, the central controller 31 scrambles all the karaoke piece information stored in the hard disk 33, for example, to make it unusable. Further, the central control unit 31 causes the television monitor 29 to display a message such as “Please contract with the information center”.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus provided with an information storage means for storing information and an information providing means for providing information using the stored information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an information storage means for storing information,
There is an information providing device provided with an information providing means for providing information using the stored information, and a karaoke device can be cited as an example.

As a karaoke device, a stand-alone type which executes karaoke performance by using karaoke piece information stored in a storage medium such as a laser disk (LD) or a compact disk (CD), and a karaoke apparatus are acquired through a communication line. There is known a communication type in which karaoke performance is executed by using the karaoke piece information.

In the stand-alone type, in order to add karaoke piece information, it is necessary to purchase a storage medium such as an LD or a CD. In the communication type, however, such a storage medium is not required. It can be said that this point is excellent. Further, in the communication type, the karaoke piece information is distributed according to a contract made between the karaoke piece information distribution side and the karaoke piece information reception side (owner side of the karaoke device), for example, depending on the number of karaoke piece information distributions. Usually, the usage fee for the karaoke piece information is paid from the karaoke piece information receiving side to the karaoke piece information distributing side.

[0005]

However, in the communication type karaoke apparatus, even if the karaoke apparatus is used by a person who is not authorized to use the karaoke apparatus due to, for example, cancellation of the above-mentioned contract or theft of the karaoke apparatus. It was difficult for the information distribution side to stop the use of the karaoke device (more precisely, the use of the karaoke piece information).

Such a problem is not limited to the karaoke apparatus, but requires payment of the price when using the information,
For example, there is an information providing apparatus in which some restrictions are imposed on the use of information such that it cannot be used by anyone other than the contractor. The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an information providing apparatus which allows only authorized persons to use information and prevents unauthorized use of information. Has an aim.

[0007]

As means for solving the above-mentioned problems, an information providing apparatus according to claim 1 executes information provision using information storage means for storing information and the stored information. And a permission information determining unit that obtains operation permission information from a host device, and permission information that determines whether the permission information is right or wrong by subjecting the permission information to predetermined arithmetic processing. Determination means,
Provision means for prohibiting the provision of information is provided when the valid permission information is not acquired by a predetermined time limit.

An information providing apparatus according to claim 2 is the information providing apparatus according to claim 1.
In the information providing apparatus described above, the permission information determining means uses a secret code unique to the information providing apparatus in performing a predetermined arithmetic process on the permission information. The information providing apparatus according to claim 3 is, in the information providing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, an acquisition instruction for instructing the permission information acquisition means to acquire the permission information before the predetermined time limit is reached. Means are provided.

[0009]

In the information providing apparatus having the above structure, the information storing means stores the information, and the information providing means executes the information providing using the stored information.

The permission information acquisition means acquires operation permission information from the host device. The permission information determination means performs a predetermined calculation process on the permission information to determine whether the permission information is correct or incorrect. As the permission information, for example, a series of numeral strings is exemplified. As the predetermined arithmetic processing, for example, processing such as calculating the sum of each numeral forming the numeral string or calculating a product with a specific prime number. Is exemplified. Further, a method or the like for determining whether the result of the arithmetic processing is a positive value or a wrong value is exemplified.

[0011] The provision prohibition means prohibits the information provision when the valid permission information is not acquired by a predetermined time limit. Examples of this predetermined time limit include a time limit of one month from the last acquisition of the permission information, and a time limit based on the number of times of information provision such as 1000 times of information provision from the last acquisition of the permission information. It If the valid permission information is not acquired by such a predetermined time limit, there is a high possibility that normal communication with the host device cannot be performed, that is, contract expiration or device theft. Therefore, if the information provision is prohibited in such a case, it is possible to permit the use of the information only to a person who has the right to use the information and prevent the unauthorized use of the information.

As an example of prohibiting the information provision, the information providing device cannot be turned on, the device itself is not operated, and the key for inputting a command required for the information provision is not operated. , Some functions of the device are stopped, the device itself is normal, but the information cannot be read from the storage means, or the information stored in the storage means is scrambled and the scramble is not released. Etc. In short, it is good if normal information cannot be provided.

In the information providing apparatus according to claim 2,
The permission information determining means uses a secret code unique to the information providing device when performing a predetermined arithmetic process on the permission information. For example, if this secret code is input by the owner of the information processing device prior to the arithmetic processing, the resistance against unauthorized use due to theft or the like increases.

In the information providing apparatus according to claim 3,
The acquisition instruction means instructs the permission information acquisition means to acquire the permission information before the predetermined time limit is reached. Upon receiving this instruction, the permission information acquisition means acquires the permission information. Since the permission information is automatically acquired, the owner or the like does not need to perform an operation for obtaining the permission information. In addition, even if the owner of the information providing device forgets the predetermined time limit, for example, no inconvenience occurs because the permission information is not acquired.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment in which the information providing device of the present invention is embodied as a karaoke device will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, the configuration of this embodiment will be described. Figure 1 to refer to
Is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication system including the karaoke apparatus of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the karaoke apparatus of the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a configuration of an information center which is a host device of the communication system. It is a block diagram shown.

As shown in FIG. 1, this communication system
An information center 1 as a host device and a karaoke device 10 as an information providing device are connected via an information communication network 5. As shown in FIG. 2, the karaoke device 10 includes a central control device 31 which is a control means and functions as a permission information determination means and a provision prohibition means according to claim 1 and an acquisition instruction means according to claim 3. The central controller 31 is configured as a well-known microcomputer.

The central control unit 31 is connected to a communication control unit 27 which is a communication unit and also a permission information obtaining unit according to the first aspect. The communication control device 27 is connected to the information communication network 5, and the central control device 31 can communicate with the information center 1 through the communication control device 27 and the information communication network 5.

The central control unit 31 has a multipurpose input key 32 as an input means for inputting various instructions,
A hard disk 33 corresponding to the information storage means according to claim 1 and also a storage means for storing an operation program of the central control unit 31, a memory 34 including a plurality of RAMs serving as a work area of the central control unit 31, a current date. The calendar / timer 39 as a calendar means for calculating the time, the screen display control device 26 and the sound source device 35 functioning as the information providing means according to claim 1 are connected. The screen display control device 26 includes a television monitor 2 as display means.
9 is connected, and a mixer amplifier 38 is connected to the sound source device 35. Further, a speaker 41 and a microphone 43 are connected to the mixer amplifier 38.

Although the karaoke piece information for several thousand pieces is stored in the hard disk 33 in advance, new karaoke piece information is additionally stored, and for example, karaoke piece information which is extremely rarely used is deleted. The contents can be updated. In the present embodiment, each piece of karaoke piece information is composed of identification information such as a piece name and a piece number for identifying each piece of music (more precisely, each piece of karaoke piece information) and entity information for karaoke performance. .

The entity information is the well-known MIDI (Musical In
Instrument Digital Interface) performance information for playback of performance sound, lyrics information for lyrics telop, title information for displaying title screen including song name, lyricist name, composer name, etc. It is composed of video information for background video reproduction.

Further, in the present embodiment, the scramble information is added to the karaoke piece information, and it is necessary to cancel the scramble information in order to use the karaoke piece information. The password for canceling the scramble information is acquired through communication with the information center 1. Once the password is acquired, the scramble information is canceled only for one month thereafter, and during that time, the karaoke piece information can be used at any time. The process related to the acquisition of the scramble information will be described in detail later.

Next, the structure of the information center 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the information center 1
Is a host computer 51 as control means, a storage device 53 as storage means, and an input device 5 as input means.
5, a communication control device 57 as a communication unit, a printer 59 as a printing unit, and a CRT 61 as a display unit.

The storage device 53 is a host computer 51.
Control programs for operating the karaoke device 1
Karaoke information for distribution to 0, each karaoke device 1
The password for each 0 is stored, and the distribution record of karaoke piece information for each karaoke device, the history of password update for each karaoke device 10, various data transmitted from each karaoke device 10, etc. are stored. be able to. It should be noted that karaoke piece information can be added or deleted.

The host computer 51 passes through the communication control device 57 and the information communication network 5 to each karaoke device 10.
It is possible to send and receive information to and from. In addition, the host computer 51 can identify each karaoke device 10 using the password stored in the storage device 53.

Various commands can be input to the host computer 51 by the input device 55. To give a specific example, the host computer 51
To create a list of distribution records of karaoke piece information and password update records of each karaoke device 10 stored in the storage device 53, send these as print data to the printer 59, and display the CRT 61 as display data. Can be sent to.

Next, a flow chart of the operation control process shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 shows an operation control process which the central control device 31 periodically executes to determine whether or not to operate the karaoke device 10. A description will be given with reference to a communication sequence diagram between the karaoke device 10 and the information center 1. In this embodiment, the central controller 31
In the configuration, the operation control process is executed every time the karaoke device 10 is started and every time the date is changed.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the operation control process is started, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not a predetermined period has passed since the last password update (step 10).
0, hereinafter the step is simply referred to as S). In this example,
Since the predetermined period is set to one month, the central control device 31 determines whether one month has passed since the last password update. If one month has not elapsed (S100: NO), the central control unit 31 ends this operation control process. On the other hand, if one month has passed (S100: YES), the central controller 31
The process proceeds to S110 and the process for password reception is executed.

The process for receiving the password will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the central control unit 31 instructs the communication control unit 27 to make a call to the information center 1. The central controller 31 waits for an incoming call to the information center 1 and transmits the password read from the hard disk 33.

In the information center 1, the host computer 5
1 receives the password sent from the karaoke device 10 via the communication control device 57, performs terminal verification with the line number or password of the communication line to which the karaoke device 10 is connected, and the information center 1 If the karaoke device 10 is registered, normal verification is returned.

The central control unit 31 of the karaoke apparatus 10 is
Following the reception of the verification result, a new password transmission request is sent. Upon receiving this request, the host computer 51 of the information center 1 transmits the new password. When the new password is sent, the central control unit 31 of the karaoke device 10 receives the new password and temporarily stores it in the memory 34.

Returning to the explanation of FIG. Karaoke device 1
When the communication with the information center 1 is completed, the central controller 31 of 0 determines whether the password reception process is completed normally (S120). If it has not ended normally (S120: NO), the central control device 31 performs a process for inhibiting the operation of the karaoke device 10 (S13).
0). Specifically, with respect to all the karaoke piece information stored in the hard disk 33, the addition of the scramble information is restored so that the karaoke piece information cannot be used. As a result, the karaoke device 10 substantially stops its function.

As described above, the function of the karaoke apparatus 10 is stopped because the communication with the information center 1 cannot be normally executed, for example, the communication line itself is not connected, or even if the communication line is connected. It is assumed that the line number is different or that the information center 1 is not registered, but this does not occur if there is a regular contract with the operator of the information center 1 (provider of karaoke song information). . Therefore,
If the communication with the information center 1 cannot be normally executed, it can be regarded as a non-contract, so that the use of the karaoke piece information by the karaoke apparatus 10 is prohibited as described above.

Next, the central control unit 31 causes the television monitor 29 to display a message for canceling the non-contract state such as "please contract with the information center" (S140), and this operation control process is executed. finish. On the other hand, if the communication with the information center 1 is normally completed (S120:
YES), the central controller 31 determines whether the new password is a correct password (S150). This determination is made, for example, based on whether the new password is different from the password received in the past, whether the result obtained by performing the predetermined arithmetic processing on the new password is the set result, or the like. This steals the past password of this karaoke device 10 or the password of another karaoke device 10 by some method, and when such a password is transmitted, the karaoke device 10 is operated with an invalid password. This is to deal with the act of trying to cause it.

If the new password is a legitimate password (S150: YES), the central controller 31 stores this password in the hard disk 33 (S16).
0). Subsequently, the central controller 31 gives an instruction to release the scramble information of the karaoke piece information stored in the hard disk 33 as an operation permission instruction (S170),
The operation control process ends.

In this operable state, when the user inputs a request using the multipurpose input key 32 or a remote controller (not shown), the central control unit 31 reads the karaoke piece information corresponding to the request from the hard disk 33, and Transfer the performance information in the sound source device 35,
The title information, the lyrics information, and the video information are transferred to the screen display control device 26.

The tone generator 35 synthesizes a performance signal based on the performance information and outputs it to the mixer amplifier 38. The mixer amplifier 38 mixes the user's singing voice signal and the performance signal input from the microphone 43, amplifies them, and outputs them to the speaker 41. From the speaker 41, a performance sound and a singing voice are output as voice.

Further, the screen display control device 26 outputs a video signal such as a title screen, a background video, and a lyrics telop superimposed on the background video to the television monitor 29 at a timing synchronized with the performance signal. TV monitor 29
, A title screen is displayed at the start of the performance, and the lyrics telop superimposed on the background image is displayed as the performance progresses.

In this way, the user can enjoy karaoke. However, if the new password is not a legitimate password (S150: NO), the central control unit 31 sets S1.
Proceeding to 30, the function of the karaoke apparatus 10 is stopped as described above.

As described above, when the password cannot be received normally or the password is not the proper password,
Since the function of the karaoke device 10 is stopped, it is possible to allow the use of the karaoke piece information only to a person who has the right to use the karaoke piece information and to prevent the use of the illegal karaoke piece information.

Although the present invention has been described according to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. In the embodiments, a karaoke device is mentioned as an example of the information providing device, but the present invention can be applied to an information providing device other than the karaoke device, such as a video game machine, a fortune telling device, or a street terminal device.

Further, in the embodiment, the karaoke piece information is not used unless the proper password is acquired = information provision is prohibited, but the method for prohibiting information provision is not limited to this. Absent. As a method for prohibiting information provision, a use prohibition flag that prohibits reading of information from the information storage means is set, and if there is a legitimate password, the use prohibition flag is erased to read information. Examples of possible configurations, configurations that do not operate part or all of the information providing device,
The point is that the information cannot be provided normally, and the method is arbitrary.

[0042]

As described above, according to the information providing apparatus of the first aspect, only the person who has the right to use the information can use the information, and the unauthorized use of the information can be prevented.

According to the information providing apparatus of the second aspect, the resistance to unauthorized use due to theft or the like is enhanced. Claim 3
According to the described information providing apparatus, the permission information is automatically acquired, so that the owner or the like does not need to perform the operation for acquiring the permission information. In addition, even if the owner of the information providing device forgets the predetermined time limit, for example, no inconvenience occurs because the permission information is not acquired.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication system including a karaoke device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a karaoke device according to an embodiment.

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information center which is a host device of the communication system of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of operation control processing executed by the central control device of the karaoke device of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a communication sequence diagram between the karaoke apparatus and the information center of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information center (host device), 5 ... Information communication network, 10 ... Karaoke device (information providing device), 26 ... Screen display control device (information providing means), 27 ... Communication Control device (permission information acquisition means), 29 ... Television monitor, 31 ... Central control device (permission information determination means, provision prohibition means, acquisition instruction means), 32 ... Multipurpose input key, 33 ... Hard disk (information storage means), 35 ... Sound source device (information providing means), 38 ... Mixer amplifier, 39 ... Calendar / timer, 51 ... Host computer, 53 ... Storage device, 57 ... -Communication control device.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An information providing apparatus, comprising: an information storage means for storing information; and an information providing means for executing information provision using the stored information, and obtaining permission information for obtaining operation permission information from a host device. Means for performing a predetermined arithmetic processing on the permission information to correct the permission information,
An information providing apparatus comprising: a permission information determining unit that determines fraud; and a provision prohibiting unit that prohibits the information provision when the valid permission information is not acquired by a predetermined time limit. 2. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the permission information determining unit uses a personal identification code unique to the information providing apparatus when performing predetermined arithmetic processing on the permission information. Providing device. 3. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an acquisition instruction means for instructing the permission information acquisition means to obtain the permission information before the predetermined time limit is reached. An information providing device characterized by: