JPH11232094A - Reproduced information management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manage reproduced software information on the side of respective users without the network of a large scale and to collect information service charges without difficulty by providing a second information recording/ reproducing means for transferring updated information from a center to an update management means or vice versa. SOLUTION: A MODEM 12 is provided for a player 10 and a card recording/ reproducing machine (MODEM adapter) 30 is also provided, to which the MO DEM 12 is connected. Information is transferred from a center to the player or vice versa by the machines 30 and 36 with a card 32 as a medium. Namely, reproduction/management information from a player-side is recorded in the card 32 by the MODEM 12 and the machine 30. In a rental store, the card 32 of a user is inserted into the machine 36. Then, the machine 36 is connected to the service center 16 and reproduction/management information is transferred from the card 32 to the service center 16 or vice versa. At this time, the user pays the service charge of information to the rental store 34.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information recording medium,
In particular, the present invention relates to an optical disk reproduction information management system, and more specifically, to an improvement of an optical disk reproduction information management system suitable for managing optical disk reproduction information using a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a system for managing disk playback information such as billing using a network. According to this,
Although the player itself is slightly more expensive than a general player, the disc itself is provided at a very low price. Each player is connected to a service center through a public telephone line, and the degree of use of information by the user is grasped. In the service center, the user is charged according to the amount of information used.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a special player 10 for the present system, in which a modem 12 is provided. The modem 12 is connected to a center 16 via a telephone line 14. As the disk 18, BC
A signal in which an A (Burst Cutting Area) signal 20 is recorded is used, and is used for calculating the information usage amount. Between the player 10 and the center 16, for example, the title of the reproduced disc 18 and the BC
The serial number recorded by the A signal, the model name and serial number of the player 10, user information, additional viewing time desired by the user, information for designating time specification and removal of restrictions, charging information according to the additional viewing time, remaining Information such as the reproducible time is exchanged.

[0004] A user purchases the disk 18 at low cost. This disc can be reproduced only by a player for this system, and can be freely reproduced for a certain period after the first reproduction. The disk 18 does not need to be returned. Therefore, there is no need for late fees. Even after the initial reproduction period has elapsed, it is possible to add viewing rights or switch to indefinite viewing.
Information on the addition of these viewing rights and switching to indefinite viewing is performed between the player 10 and the center 16 via a telephone line.

[0005]

However, in the background art described above, a large-scale network system is required for connecting to the player of each user and transmitting and receiving usage information and billing information. Also, depending on the user,
It may be difficult to collect information usage fees. The present invention focuses on the above points, and has as its object to improve the above problems.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an update management medium on which update information for updating use restriction information is recorded; A reproducing apparatus for reproducing software information recorded on an information recording medium; a first information recording / reproducing apparatus for exchanging update information between the reproducing apparatus and the update management medium; And a second information recording / reproducing means for exchanging update information between the center and the update management medium.

According to one of the main modes, the reproducing apparatus reproduces the software information and the reproduction management information from the information recording medium on which the software information to be reproduced and the medium-specific reproduction management information are recorded. Means: software use information storage means for accumulating and storing the use amount of the software information; use restriction information storage means for storing use restriction information indicating the availability of the software information; use restriction information storage means; A reproduction judging unit for judging reproduction permission / non-permission of the software information based on the information stored in the information storage unit; and using the use restriction information stored in the use restriction information storage unit with the first information recording / reproduction. Means for updating use restriction information through an apparatus.

Another embodiment is characterized in that a display means for displaying a reproducible time based on the contents stored in the use restriction information storage means is provided. Still another mode is characterized in that the reproducing apparatus and the first information recording / reproducing apparatus are connected by a communication means that can also be connected to the center. Still another mode is characterized in that the playback device is connected by a communication unit that can also be connected to the center.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail. First, an outline of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration of the player 10 is the same as that of the awe-inspiring technique, and a modem 12 is provided. In this embodiment, a card recording / reproducing machine (modem adapter) 30 is additionally provided. Then, the modem 12 of the player 10
It is connected to this card recording / reproducing machine 30. Card recording / reproducing machine 30
Then, the reproduction information is exchanged with the card recording / reproducing machine 36 installed in the disk rental shop 34. The card recording / reproducing machine 36 on the rental store side is connected to the service center 16 by a telephone line or the like. As the card 32, a card such as an IC card or a magnetic card capable of rewriting software use information or use restriction update information by an appropriate method is used.

According to this embodiment, the information transfer between the center and the player in the background art is performed by the card recording / reproducing machine 30.3.
6 through the card 32. That is,
The reproduction management information from the player is recorded on the card 32 by the modem 12 and the card recording / reproducing device 30. The user goes to the rental store 34 with the card 32. At the rental store 34, the card 32 is set on a card recording / reproducing machine 36. Then, the card recording / reproducing device 36 is connected to the service center 16, and reproduction management information is exchanged between the card 32 and the service center 16. At this time, the user pays the usage fee for the information to the rental store 34.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the card 32
The player 10 and the service center 16 are indirectly connected to each other via the media. The service center 16 only needs to be connected to the rental shop 34 via a telephone line, and need not be connected to each player. Therefore, the scale of the network can be significantly reduced. In addition, the collection of the information usage fee can be performed at the rental shop 34.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 shows the player 1
0 shows the main configuration, and FIGS. 4 to 6 show the state of main use. First, the player 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

The disc reproducing unit 50 includes a software information reproducing unit 52 and a reproduction management information detecting unit 54. The software information reproducing unit 52 reproduces software information such as a movie recorded on the disk 18. The reproduction management information detection unit 54 reproduces reproduction management information such as the BCA 20.

The usage information of the software reproduced by the disk reproducing unit 50, for example, information on which BCA disk movie has been reproduced for how long is associated with the reproduction management information detected by the reproduction management information detecting unit 54. , Are cumulatively stored in the software usage information storage unit 56. On the other hand, usage restriction information,
For example, information such as a certain period from the first reproduction or additional viewing time is stored in the use restriction information storage unit 58 in association with the reproduction management information and the software use information stored in the software use information storage unit 56. ing. Playback determination unit 6
0, when the disc 18 is set in the reproducing unit 50 by the user, the use restriction information stored in the use restriction information storage unit 58 and the software use information storage unit 56
The software usage information stored in the storage device is compared to determine whether or not reproduction is possible. The disc reproducing unit 50 reproduces the disc based on the determination result. Note that the remaining time of reproduction, which is the content stored in the usage restriction information storage unit 58, is
It is displayed on the display unit 62 for the convenience of the user.
In this way, reproduction and use management can be performed for each disc.

The information display unit may use an information recording / reproducing card as a management medium, and display the use information and / or use restriction information on the information display unit of the card immediately before the card is taken out. .

The use restriction information recorded in the use restriction information storage section 58 is stored in the use restriction information update section 64 and the modem 1.
2, updated through the card recording / reproducing machine 30. Hereinafter, the operation of updating the usage restriction information will be described with reference to FIGS. When the use of the disc is to be updated, the disc 18 to be updated is set in the player 10 as shown in FIG. It is set on the machine 30 again. At this time, the display section 62 of the player 10 displays, for example, "You can view XX more minutes." When the user performs a switch operation to update the usage restriction, the player's model name and serial number, the set title of the disc 18 and the A serial number and the like are transmitted, and a confirmation signal is transmitted from the card recording / reproducing apparatus side to the player side. As a result, the user and the software whose use restriction is to be updated are stored in the card 32.

The user brings the card 32 to the rental shop 34 and has the usage limit update information corresponding to the software stored on the card 32 recorded. FIG. 5 shows this state. The user's card 32 is set in the card recording / reproducing machine 36 of the rental store 34. Rental store 3
At 4, the user information is first confirmed using, for example, a personal computer 80 or the like. That is, card 3
From 2, user information, player model name and serial number,
Information such as the title and serial number of the disc is captured. Then, according to the user's request, the corresponding additional viewing time information (time designation or designation for removing the use restriction) is recorded on the card 32. At this time, the user pays a fee to the rental store according to the additional viewing time.

The computer 80 of the rental shop 34
The user information and the disc information updated with the usage restriction information and the additional viewing time information are accumulated. Therefore, the service center 16 can obtain software usage information of many users simply by connecting to the computer 80 of the rental shop 34 by a telephone line or the like. Done.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the user sets the updated disc 18 in the player 10 and sets the updated card 32 in the rental store in the card recording / reproducing section 70 of the card recording / reproducing machine 30. I do. Card recording / playback part 7
At 0, the update information recorded on the card 32 is read, and further, the storage information in the use restriction information storage unit 58 is updated to new use restriction information by the use restriction information update unit 64 via the modems 72 and 12. . At this time, the display unit 62 displays, for example, "The remaining XX minutes are available for viewing" after the updated viewing time. In this way,
The usage restriction information is updated. The updated disc contents can be played within the updated limits.

In the above-described embodiment, a fee is paid for renewal of the update. However, various modes are possible, such as only paying a fixed amount in advance and paying the rest later.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to manage software playback information for each user without requiring a large-scale network, and it is difficult to collect information usage fees. There is an effect that it can be performed without.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a conventional technique.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a player.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a mode at the time of updating usage restriction information in the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a mode at the time of updating usage restriction information in the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a mode at the time of updating usage restriction information in the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Player 12 ... Modem 14 ... Telephone line 16 ... Service center 18 ... Disk 20 ... BCA 30 ... Card recording / reproducing machine 32 ... Card 34 ... Rental store 36 ... Card recording / reproducing machine 50 ... Disk reproducing part 52 ... Software information reproducing part 54 playback management information detection unit 56 software usage information storage unit 58 usage restriction information storage unit 60 playback determination unit 62 display unit 64 usage restriction information updating unit 70 card recording / reproducing unit 72 modem 98 computer

Claims (5)

[Claims] An update management medium on which update information for updating use restriction information is recorded; a reproducing apparatus for reproducing software information recorded on an information recording medium within a range of updatable use restriction information A first information recording / reproducing device for exchanging update information between the playback device and the update management medium; a center for performing playback management of the software information; A reproduction information management system comprising: a second information recording / reproducing means for exchanging update information; 2. A reproduction means for reproducing the software information and reproduction management information from an information recording medium on which the reproduction apparatus reproduces the software information to be reproduced and the medium-specific reproduction management information; Software usage information storage means for accumulating and storing; usage restriction information storage means for storing usage restriction information indicating the availability of the software information; the usage restriction information storage means; and information stored in the software usage information storage means. Reproduction determining means for determining permission / non-permission of reproduction of the software information based on the information of the software information; updating the use restriction information stored in the use restriction information storage means through the first information recording / reproducing apparatus 2. The reproduction information management system according to claim 1, further comprising: means. 3. The reproduction information management system according to claim 2, further comprising display means for displaying a reproducible time based on the contents stored in said use restriction information storage means. 4. The reproduction information management system according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction device and the first information recording / reproducing device are connected by a communication unit that can also be connected to the center. 5. The reproduction information management system according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction device is connected to the center by a communication means connectable to the center.