JP2004004594A - Information communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information communication system by which information is easily downloaded by using a communication network and unauthorized copy of the information is prevented. <P>SOLUTION: A computer transmits a request of digital information, general codes and individual codes of devices A, B to a server and the server transmits the digital information to the computer by applying scramble unreproducible without using the devices A, B based on the individual codes after preparing the requested digital information by specifying compression systems of the devices A, B based on the general codes and the individual codes. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information communication system for acquiring music or the like from a server at the request of a computer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various devices for converting analog information such as music and movies into digital information and recording and reproducing the information have been developed. In addition, a number of devices have been developed for recording information by compressing the information for effective use of the recording medium, and expanding and reproducing the information. In addition, since these devices can handle data as digital information, they can also download such information by wire or wirelessly, and vending machine systems have been proposed because information can be easily copied. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an automatic software communication system.
[0003]
On the other hand, many information compression methods have been proposed, and in many devices, a digital signal processor (DSP) incorporated in the device performs arithmetic processing. Recently, tape-based devices, disk media-based portable audio devices, and video devices to which these compression techniques are applied have been put to practical use. Also, a recording / reproducing apparatus in which these compression techniques are applied to a semiconductor memory has been developed. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a card-type recording / reproducing device.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-5-89360
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-8-87300
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, as the recording information of many devices is digitized, various problems as described below have occurred. One of the conveniences of digital information is that it does not deteriorate, but this poses a risk that copyrighted information such as music information may be illegally copied. Therefore, digital music information is currently flag-managed by serial copy management so that children can be made digitally from a master but not grandchildren. But it is possible to make digital copies to an infinite number of children.
[0006]
In particular, recently, it has become possible to save and duplicate music information and the like as file data of a personal computer by reducing the data amount by using a high-quality sound compression technique. As a result, copying can be easily performed in a short time, and since there is no further deterioration in data copying, there is a risk that copyrighted information such as music information is illegally copied. In addition, some personal computer application programs are designed to be able to play back such compressed information and listen to music, and the widespread use of listening to music on personal computers is also contributing to this. I have.
[0007]
Further, data transfer between a personal computer and such a digital recording / reproducing apparatus can be performed simply and instantly, as represented by a memory card. Therefore, there is a risk that the information may be illegally copied to a third party. In recent years, a service for distributing digital information for a fee using means such as wired, wireless, and vending machines has been started. Various charging methods have been proposed, but once the information is obtained for a fee, the information can be copied anywhere, so there is a risk of illegal copying.
[0008]
In addition, the music recording / reproducing apparatus has a usage of collecting and enjoying one's favorite music. In particular, recently, a number of devices having enhanced functions of editing music information have been developed, and there are also devices which allow the user to record and display titles, messages, etc., in the order of music. It is assumed that Mr. A digitally records songs S1, S2, S3, and Sn using such a device, and inputs titles and messages as T1, T2, T3, and Tn, respectively. Even if Mr. B who sees (hears) wants this copy, there is no other means than copying it in analog form. Of course, at this time, it takes a real time to perform the duplication, and it is not possible to duplicate a title, a message, and the like. Furthermore, there is a problem with copying to a third party, albeit an analog recording. As described above, it is inconvenient that it takes a great deal of effort for Mr. B to legally copy the song one by one and put the message by himself.
[0009]
Furthermore, there are the following problems in a wired vending machine. The vending machine described above is assumed to be a device to be installed on the street or in a store. However, the vending machine can be applied to the Internet technology and digital broadcasting technology that have become widespread recently. Virtual shops have already been put to practical use on the Internet. The internal processing of the vending machine is a black box, and the user cannot read the internal processing. However, information downloaded by a personal computer using, for example, the Internet can be freely handled by the user as a file. This does not solve the problem of illegal duplication. To this end, an application of a digital watermark technique for recording copyright information and the like has been proposed, but this is also one of the means, but is not perfect. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information communication system in which information can be easily downloaded using a communication network, and illegal copying of the information is prevented.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An information communication system according to the present invention is an information sales system that downloads digital information reproducible by a recording / reproducing device from a server to a computer through a communication network, wherein the computer requests the digital information and performs general processing on the recording / reproducing device. After transmitting the code and the individual code to the server, the server specifies the compression method of the recording / reproducing device based on the general code and the individual code and prepares the requested digital information, The digital information is transmitted to the computer after being scrambled, which cannot be reproduced without using the recording / reproducing device, based on the digital information.
[0011]
The information communication system according to the present invention is characterized in that the digital information transmitted from the server and stored in the computer can be reproduced by the computer via the recording / reproducing device.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, it is assumed that there are two recording / reproducing apparatuses (hereinafter, referred to as apparatus A and apparatus B), apparatus A adopts a compression scheme a, and apparatus B adopts a compression scheme b. The apparatus A is, for example, a mini-disc player (MD player) for recording and reproducing on the disk medium D, and the apparatus B is a recording / reproducing apparatus with a built-in semiconductor memory. It is assumed that the device B includes a connection connector C of, for example, a PCMCIA interface for interfacing with the outside. Both the devices A and B can record and reproduce independently.
[0013]
In the vending machine H, for example, music information is stocked as digital information. In addition, the vending machine H includes a computer CP having another database DB and communication means in case there is a request other than the stocked music information. Vending machine H can transfer this information, device A via media, and device B, for example, via PCMCIA interface C. Hereinafter, an operation example of the above device will be described.
[0014]
<Recording with device A alone>
In this example, the device A is a disk device. The operation of a typical MD player, for example, is well known and will not be described, but what is important here is the contents of the TOC information of the medium to be used, that is, the MD cartridge. This will be described in a later use example.
[0015]
<Recording with device B alone>
In this example, the device B is a recording / reproducing device incorporating a semiconductor memory. Here, the recording operation in the device B will be described with reference to FIG. When recording is instructed to the control circuit 7 by the key input means 6, the control circuit 7 controls the apparatus as follows. Audio information is input from the analog input circuit 1, and 16-bit digital information is output by the A / D conversion circuit 2 every 48 KHz. When the control circuit 7 sets the audio compression / expansion circuit (DSP) 3 to the compression mode, the DSP 3 generally compresses the data amount by a factor of several to several tens according to a compression algorithm.
[0016]
Next, the control circuit 7 scrambles the compressed data. This may be performed by software of the control circuit 7, or may be performed by a scramble circuit that automatically scrambles data output from the DSP 3 by hardware. A similar function may be incorporated in the DSP 3. When scrambling, a scramble key code unique to the apparatus is recorded in the key code ROM 10. The scramble circuit 9 performs scrambling based on this based on a certain rule. The scrambling method will be described later.
[0017]
Next, the control circuit 7 sequentially writes the scrambled data in the memory chip group (M1 to Mn). In this example, 424 bytes of compressed information (L channel = 212 bytes / R channel = 212 bytes) are written in one page. This page corresponds to a fixed recording unit represented by a sector in many disk recording media. Of course, recording may be performed according to other rules depending on the characteristics of the semiconductor memory.
[0018]
<Reproduction with device B alone>
When the reproduction is instructed to the control circuit 7 by the key input means 6 in FIG. 3, the control circuit 7 sends the compressed information written in the main area (see FIG. 4) of the memory chip group 11 to the control circuit 7. read out. The information read at this time may be descrambled by software of the control circuit 7 or may be descrambled through the scramble circuit 9. In this example, a scramble circuit 9 is used. The audio compression / expansion circuit 3 periodically requests compression information from the control circuit 7, and in the example of FIG. 3, performs expansion processing when 212 bytes (L or R channel) have been received. The expanded data is sent to the D / A conversion circuit 4 according to the sampling rate (48 KHz in the example of FIG. 3) at the time of recording, and is reproduced from the analog output circuit 5.
[0019]
<Record of sub-information by device B alone>
The recording / reproducing operation of the device B alone has been described above. Here, the sub information recording means will be described. When writing, the scramble compression information is recorded in the main area of FIG. Also, sub-information is recorded using 84 bytes of the unused area in FIG. The page shown in FIG. 4 is an example in which a page write type flash memory is used as the semiconductor memory. This page corresponds to a fixed recording unit represented by a sector in many disk recording media. Of course, the main compression information and the sub information may be recorded in other areas according to other rules. If the main information does not require secrecy, a method without scrambling is of course possible.
[0020]
The sub information includes information that can be arbitrarily input by the user and TOC information according to a certain rule. The TOC information will be described later, and here, the sub information that can be arbitrarily input by the user will be described. Hereinafter, in order to avoid confusion, the sub-information that the user can arbitrarily input is referred to as message information. An example of message information that is currently in practical use is an MD player, which is recorded on a disk using key input means of the apparatus. Of course, similarly, in a device using a semiconductor memory, it is possible to record data in a specific area of the semiconductor memory with a certain rule by using key input means of the device.
[0021]
<Interface of device B with external device>
The device B has an interface connector C as shown in FIG. This example complies with the PCMCIA standard standardized for personal computers. Normally, the memory of the device B is accessed by the control circuit 7 as described above, except that the memory of the device B is provided with the detection circuit 12 indicating that the interface connector C is prepared. Thus, when the interface connector C is prepared, the control circuit 7 and the semiconductor memory are set to be disconnected from each other by the bus switching circuit 13. This allows device B to function as a PCMCIA card. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, data may be transferred to each other via the dual port memory 20 while both the external device and the control circuit 7 of the device are activated.
[0022]
<Acquisition of information from external device in device B>
As described above, the device B functions as an information card as viewed from the host device (here, a vending machine for music information is taken as an example). Therefore, it becomes possible to charge the music vending machine H (see FIG. 1) appropriately and transfer the information to the device B. At this time, in addition to merely transferring information, the present invention has the following measures.
[0023]
First, the compression information is transferred to the device B to shorten the copy time. The audio compression method supported by the device B is recorded in the attribute information ROM 15 (see FIGS. 5 and 6), and the music vending machine H looks up the attribute information ROM 15 when a card is inserted, and It reads, acquires compression information from attributes, and prepares compression information to be transferred. When the song to be transferred is ready, the transfer is actually started. Here, since the information has already been compressed, it is input to the scramble circuit 9 without passing through the audio compression circuit. The scrambled information is sequentially recorded in the memory chip group 11.
[0024]
This procedure is shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 (control on the vending machine H side).
(A) First, it is determined whether or not the insertion of the device B into the destination insertion slot of the vending machine H has been completed (step S1). The destination refers to a copy destination.
(B) If it is NO and it is not inserted yet, it waits until it is inserted, and if it is YES and the insertion is completed,
(C) The vending machine H reads the attribute information of the device B (Step S2).
(D) Next, the vending machine H acquires the compression method indicated by the attribute information of the device B (step S3), accesses its own database from this compression method, and prepares digital data of the corresponding compression method of the corresponding music. (Step S4).
(E) Here, the remaining memory capacity and the write protection of the device B are checked (step S5), and if OK and there is no problem, the vending machine H writes the prepared digital data into the device B (step S6). If it is NG and the remaining memory or the write protection is in a state where writing cannot be performed, an error message is displayed (step S7),
(F) The vending machine H performs an end process.
[0025]
The sub-information is recorded without scrambling along the route L2 (see FIG. 5). Switching between applying and not applying scrambling may be performed by, for example, a memory mapping method. Alternatively, if the device has a digital audio interface or an analog audio input as in the related art, it can take more time than in the conventional method, but can also dub music by the same processing as recording.
[0026]
<Description of TOC>
Here, before describing the method of transferring the information of the disk D of the device A to the device B, the TOC information written on the disk will be described. The TOC (Table Of Contents) is a table for centrally managing the information written on the disc, and records a song title, an address at which the information is written, an attribute of the disc, and the like. That is, by reading the TOC, you can get an overview of the disc. There are discs called pre-mastered and read-only discs and writable discs. Here, in the present invention, means for specifying music is required.
[0027]
There are means for using the copyright number, and means for judging from the song title if it is premastered. In any case, it is necessary to establish these rules when operating this system. The most appropriate one is an identification code corresponding to each copyright. It is most preferable to record the identification code of the recorded music in the TOC of all distribution disks, whether paid or not. Further, it is preferable to distribute those distributed by wire or wireless together with an identification code individually corresponding to copyright.
[0028]
FIG. 8 shows the concept of information recorded in the TOC. In the illustrated example, the information includes INDEX, song title, start address, recording time, playback order, various flags, copyright management number, part of main information, and user area information. It should be noted that, at present, the above rules have not been established yet, so a part of the main information may be substituted for the song ID.
[0029]
<Information transfer from device A to device B>
As described above, in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the device A employs the compression system a and the device B employs the compression system b. The apparatus A is, for example, a mini-disc player (MD player) for recording and reproducing on the disk D, and the apparatus B is a recording / reproducing apparatus with a built-in semiconductor memory. It is assumed that the device B includes a connection connector C of, for example, a PCMCIA interface for interfacing with the outside. Of course, the device A and the device B can perform recording and reproduction independently.
[0030]
In the music vending machine H, for example, music information is stocked as digital information. The vending machine H is provided with a communication means with another computer when a request other than the stocked music information is made. The vending machine H can transfer this information to the device A via a medium and directly to the device B.
[0031]
Details of one example of this operation will be described in order.
(A) The user of the device A inserts the MD disk D into the source insertion slot of the vending machine H.
(B) The user of the device B sets the device B to function as a card. In the device exemplified in the embodiment of the interface with the external device in the device B, when the device is inserted into the slot, the device is automatically set to function as a card by the detecting means.
(C) The user of the device B inserts the device B into the destination insertion slot of the vending machine H.
(D) When the MD disk D is completely inserted, the vending machine H first reads the TOC of the disk.
(E) When the device B is completely inserted, the vending machine H first reads the attribute information of the device B.
(F) The vending machine H makes an appropriate billing request to the user and urges the user to confirm the execution.
(G) In response to the execution instruction, the vending machine H reads the selection code of the music described in <Description of TOC> from the TOC.
(H) The vending machine H obtains the compression method indicated by the identification code of the music and the attribute information of the device B, accesses the own database from this compression method, and prepares digital information of the compression method of the music corresponding to the compression method.
(I) The remaining memory and the write protection are checked, and the vending machine H writes the prepared digital information into the device B. At the same time, the identification code of the music is also written.
(V) The vending machine H performs an end process. These steps are merely examples, and other appropriate processing procedures are possible.
[0032]
Although the MD player and the recording / reproducing device with a built-in semiconductor memory have been described as examples, there is no fundamental restriction on the combination of the device inserted into the source side and the device inserted into the destination side. It depends on the type of connector provided in the device, the performance of its control software, and the rules for song identification. In addition, although the MD disk has been described as an example, the present invention can be applied to a CD disk and a flexible disk.
[0033]
<Transfer of sub information from device A to device B>
The procedure is the same as that described above, but the difference is that the information such as the title of the music recorded by the user on the MD disc or, if pre-mastered, is also written by the above-mentioned operation (i). The timing of writing is merely an example, and there are other appropriate processing timings.
[0034]
<Individual ID of device>
In the above procedure (e), the control software of the vending machine H can read the device ID of the device B. In addition, the vending machine H can create a database of statistical information such as the number of accesses and downloaded songs for each device ID.
[0035]
<Example of wired vending machine>
Next, an example of a service that distributes music on the Internet for a fee will be described. This requires authenticating the user by some means. Many methods have been proposed for this, but any method requires transmission and reception of a code for identification. For this code, a maker code of the device or a serial number of the device may be used. The present invention is characterized in that an element called an individual scramble code is added to the above code. Since simply transmitting and receiving a list of these codes has a problem with confidentiality, this may be encrypted again. The method does not matter. The server specifies the compression method from the received device code and the individual scramble code, and prepares the requested music information (compressed). Further, this information is scrambled from an individual scramble code and transmitted. As a result, music information that can be reproduced only by the device B has been downloaded to the receiving personal computer as a file. Of course, it is also possible to use the digital watermarking technique or the serial copy management technique described above.
[0036]
When a file is transferred from the personal computer to the device B, since the file has already been scrambled, the file can be copied along the path L2 in FIG. Even if the data is not copied to the device B, if the data is input to the scramble circuit 9 from the personal computer and the decoded information is passed through a path for sending to the DSP, the data can be reproduced from the file of the personal computer even if there is no data in the memory chips of the device B. Is possible.
[0037]
When recording in analog on the device B, the ID corresponding to the music cannot be recorded. This is because, for example, even if recorded in an FM radio broadcast or a TV song program, there is only audio information and no ID or message information for song identification exists. The user may input an ID or a message later by using the input means. However, in the present invention, in a recorder having a built-in FM multiplex broadcast receiver, digital information transmitted in conjunction with voice can be used. The currently recorded song, its ID and message can also be recorded as sub-information. Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
[0038]
There are a number of encryption techniques that have been put to practical use and are omitted here.However, the purpose of the scramble of the present invention is not scramble to avoid burst errors in the memory medium, but concealment. This is to ensure the nature. For this reason, scrambling may be of any type, such as when a meaningless signal is reproduced, when a finite signal is not reproduced, or when a reproduction operation is not performed. The sub information includes a song title ID indicating a specific song, an individual device ID, a song title, an artist name, lyrics, a message that can be arbitrarily input by a user, and the like. The information transfer means includes a memory card, a magnetic recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium, and a wired or wireless transfer means between the host device and the individual device.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, information is scrambled according to the individual code, so that the downloaded information cannot be reproduced without using the device, and the downloaded information is embedded in the device by some unauthorized means. Even if the information in the memory is read, it cannot be used by other devices, and therefore, it is effective in confidentiality of the information.
[0040]
Since the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention has means for inputting / outputting information to / from the outside, main information such as music information can be exchanged with the outside while keeping confidentiality and sub-information as it is. In particular, information can be downloaded from a recording / reproducing device to a personal computer, and data can be freely saved, copied, transferred to another company, transferred, etc. as a file of the personal computer between personal computers. Since it is scrambled and confidential, it is meaningless to transfer it to a third party. However, a person who owns the recording / reproducing apparatus can accumulate and save the information of the apparatus in a personal computer. High confidentiality because personal computers cannot be played back alone. In this way, unauthorized copying to a third party can be prevented, and music can be enjoyed without any inconvenience to the authorized user.
[0041]
Recently, an application program has been developed that reproduces music through compressed sound information via a sound board (sound processing circuit) of a personal computer. This may also promote unauthorized use, but the files taken into the personal computer according to the present invention cannot be reproduced by these applications because the files are scrambled. In order to directly reproduce the file information of the personal computer, the device may be connected to the personal computer via an interface connector. As described above, according to the present invention, the user can enjoy digitized copyrighted information (for example, music) without losing the right. This is effective for a paid distribution service of music using the Internet, which is spreading recently.
[0042]
In a system for performing error correction, there is also an effect that a burst error can be avoided by scrambling. Further, by copying the compressed information, a copy can be instantly and legally made. Also, new information stored in the server is copied, so that the sound can be copied with the highest sound quality.
[0043]
The ID of the device enables management of the purchase history and the like, and can be used for sales promotion.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the concept of an automatic vending system.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of recording of a recording / reproducing apparatus used in the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual view of reproduction of a recording / reproducing apparatus used in the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a memory recording mode of a recording / reproducing apparatus used in the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a recording / reproducing device used in the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another example of the recording / reproducing device used in the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a download from a vending machine.
FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of TOC of a disk.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Analog input circuit
5 Analog output circuit
6 key
7 Control circuit
9 Scramble generation circuit
10 Key code ROM
A, B recording and reproducing device
C interface connector
D disk
H vending machine

Claims (2)

In an information communication system for downloading digital information reproducible by a recording / reproducing device from a server to a computer through a communication network,
The computer transmits a request for the digital information and a general code and an individual code of the recording / reproducing device to the server,
After the server specifies the compression method of the recording / reproducing device based on the general code and the individual code and prepares the requested digital information, the server transmits the recording / reproducing device to the digital information based on the individual code. An information communication system characterized by transmitting to the computer after scrambling that cannot be reproduced without using it. 2. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein the digital information transmitted from the server and stored in the computer can be reproduced by the computer via the recording / reproducing device.

Images