JP4516225B2 - Electronic data content distribution system, distribution method and distribution apparatus, and recording medium on which electronic data content distribution program is recorded - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a distribution system, distribution method and distribution apparatus for electronic data content, and a recording medium recording a distribution program for electronic data content, and in particular, for distributing electronic data content in which ID information is integrated. The present invention relates to a system, a method and an apparatus, and a recording medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a conventional online shopping system for buying and selling electronic data contents (hereinafter simply referred to as “contents”) in the form of electronic files. The conventional system includes a network 10 that provides an online shopping function and a platform 12 connected to the network.
[0003]
The network 10 includes a service providing function 14 that provides an online shopping service, a personal security management function 16 that manages personal information of individual consumers, and a product management function 18 that manages products of contents provided to consumers. ing. The service providing function 14 is realized by a service provider operating a content sales site. The personal security management function 16 is realized by a security management center operated by a credit card company. The product management function 18 is implemented by a company that provides content.
[0004]
The system shown in FIG. 10 is a system for buying and selling contents in an electronic file format via the network 10. Specifically, according to this system, digital video files, digital music files, application programs represented by game software, electronic publication files such as books, etc. can be bought and sold online.
[0005]
Hereinafter, a procedure when the consumer # 1 purchases content will be described.
The platform 12 includes a content search function 20 for searching for content provided as a product on a home page operated by the service providing function 14. After the consumer # 1 accesses the home page of the service provider 14, first, the consumer # 1 uses the function 20 to search for content to be purchased.
[0006]
The platform 12 also has a function 22 for transmitting consumer-side personal information and security information, that is, an e-mail address, address and name, and credit card number. When the consumer # 1 purchases desired content, the consumer # 1 uses the function 22 to transmit personal information and security information to the network 10.
[0007]
The platform 12 further has a function 24 for receiving content provided from the network 10. When the security information of the consumer # 1 is processed by the service providing function 14, and as a result, the content is transmitted by the service providing function 14, the platform 12 receives the content using the function 24.
[0008]
The service providing function 14 includes a content sales processing unit 26 for selling content on a home page and a content storage server 28 for storing and transmitting content. The content sales processing unit 26 browses content in response to a consumer's request, and uses the personal security management function 16 to check the consumer's credit when security information is transmitted from the consumer. The content storage server 28 stores content in preparation for sale, transmits content desired to be purchased to a consumer whose credit confirmation has been obtained, and also stores content ID information with the product management function 18, That is, information such as licenses and product codes related to contents is exchanged.
[0009]
Communication between the network 10 and the platform is performed by the TCP / IP protocol used in the Internet. When selling the content described above, as shown in FIG. 10, the communication C-1 associated with the content search process, the communication C-2 for transmitting personal information and security information, and the communication C-3 associated with the content exchange Are performed sequentially.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
CD-ROMs that record game software and books that are tangibles are actively sold in the secondhand market. A market for the purpose of resale from the primary consumer to the secondary consumer may also be formed for the content distributed on the network 10. Furthermore, regarding content such as digital video, content owned by the primary consumer may be widely provided to third parties in the form of so-called on-demand video distribution.
[0011]
A tangible object such as a CD-ROM or a book is traded by exchanging the object with a consideration. For this reason, the problem of unauthorized copying does not occur for tangible objects with resale. However, for electronic data content, a large amount of copies can be easily produced by unauthorized copying. For this reason, when resale of content is assumed, it is necessary to prevent distribution of illegally copied copies.
[0012]
In addition, if the primary consumer can freely provide the content owned by the primary consumer to the secondary consumer, the situation where the content is illegally used outside the scope of the license, for example, distribution only for non-profit purposes. It is expected that content will be distributed for a fee if allowed. Therefore, when it is assumed that the content is used by a secondary consumer, it is necessary to effectively prevent an illegal act that deviates from the usage conditions.
[0013]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. It is a first object of the present invention to provide an electronic data content distribution system that can effectively prevent fraud associated with secondary use of content. Objective.
It is a second object of the present invention to provide a method for distributing electronic data content for effectively preventing fraud associated with secondary use of content.
A third object of the present invention is to provide an electronic data content distribution apparatus that is effective in effectively preventing fraud associated with secondary use of content.
Furthermore, a fourth object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium on which a program for realizing the above distribution device is recorded on a computer.
[0014]
  The invention according to claim 1 is an electronic data content distribution system,
  A content providing unit that provides electronic data content with integrated ID information to consumers;
  An ID management unit for managing ID information integrated with each electronic data content;
  An ID information detection unit for detecting ID information from electronic data content uploaded from a consumer;
  An ID information reading unit for reading ID information of the electronic data content uploaded from a consumer from the ID management unit;
  A comparison / collation unit that collates ID information detected from the electronic data content and ID information read from the ID management unit to determine whether the electronic data content is a legitimate content;
  A content delivery unit that enables delivery of only what is determined to be regular electronic data content in the comparison and collation unit;With
  The ID information includes usage conditions for each electronic data content,
  The content distribution unit
  Allowing distribution of the electronic data content within the usage conditions;
  A destruction request confirmation unit for confirming whether or not the usage condition of the uploaded electronic data content includes a clause for discarding data remaining on the consumer side after the upload;
  A revocation certificate confirmation unit that makes electronic data content regulated by the clauses distributable only when a revocation certificate is received from the consumer;
  It is characterized by providing.
[0017]
  Claim2The described invention is claimed.1The electronic data content distribution system described in the above,
  The ID information is integrated with electronic data content in the form of a digital watermark,
  The content providing unit includes a key information providing unit that provides digital ID key information embedded in electronic data content provided to a consumer to the ID management unit,
  The ID information detection unit includes a key information detection unit that detects key information corresponding to uploaded electronic data content from the ID management unit.
[0019]
  The invention according to claim 3 is a method of distributing electronic data content,
  A content providing step of providing electronic data content with integrated ID information to a consumer;
  ID information of each electronic data contentID management departmentAn ID management step to record;
  An ID information detection step of detecting ID information from electronic data content uploaded from a consumer;
  An ID information reading step of reading ID information of the electronic data content uploaded from a consumer from the ID management unit;
  A comparison and collation step of collating the ID information detected from the electronic data content with the ID information read from the ID management unit to determine whether the electronic data content is legitimate content;
  Comparison verificationStepA distribution permission step for enabling distribution of only those determined to be legitimate electronic data content in
  The ID information includes usage conditions for each electronic data content,
  A content distribution step of allowing distribution of the electronic data content within the range of the usage conditions;
  in frontWritingThe content distribution step
  A destruction request confirmation step for confirming whether or not the usage condition of the uploaded electronic data content includes a clause for discarding data remaining on the consumer side after the upload,
  A destruction certification confirmation step for making electronic data content regulated by the above clauses distributable only when a destruction certification is received from the consumer;
  It is characterized by including.
[0022]
  Claim4The described invention is claimed.3A method for distributing electronic data content as described above,
  The ID information is integrated with electronic data content in the form of a digital watermark,
  The content providing step includes a key information providing step of providing digital ID key information embedded in electronic data content provided to a consumer to the ID management unit,
  The ID information detecting step includes a key information detecting step of detecting key information corresponding to the uploaded electronic data content from the ID management unit.
[0024]
  Claim5The described invention is an electronic data content distribution apparatus,
  An ID information detection unit for detecting ID information integrated with the electronic data content from the electronic data content uploaded from the consumer;
  An ID information reading unit that reads ID information of the electronic data content from an ID management unit in which ID information of the individual electronic data content is recorded;
  A comparison and collation unit that collates ID information detected from the electronic data content and ID information read from the ID management unit to determine whether or not the electronic data content is legitimate content;
  A content delivery unit that enables delivery of only what is determined to be regular electronic data content in the comparison and collation unit;With
  The ID information includes usage conditions for each electronic data content,
  The content distribution unit
  Allowing distribution of the electronic data content within the usage conditions;
  A destruction request confirmation unit for confirming whether or not the usage condition of the uploaded electronic data content includes a clause for discarding data remaining on the consumer side after the upload;
  A revocation certificate confirmation unit that makes electronic data content regulated by the clauses distributable only when a revocation certificate is received from the consumer;
  It is characterized by providing.
[0027]
  Claim6The described invention is claimed.5An electronic data content distribution apparatus according to claim 1,
  The ID information is integrated with electronic data content in the form of a digital watermark,
  In the ID management unit, digital watermark key information embedded in each electronic data content provided to the consumer is recorded,
  The ID information detection unit includes a key information detection unit that detects key information corresponding to uploaded electronic data content from the ID management unit.
[0028]
  The invention according to claim 7 is a computer-readable recording medium,
  ID information detection processing for detecting ID information integrated with the electronic data content from the electronic data content uploaded from the consumer;
  ID information read processing for reading ID information of the electronic data content from an ID management unit in which ID information of each electronic data content is recorded;
  A comparison and collation process for collating ID information detected from the electronic data content with ID information read from the ID management unit to determine whether the electronic data content is legitimate content;
  Comparison verificationprocessingContent distribution processing in which only those determined to be legitimate electronic data content can be distributed,
  Records the program that causes the computer to execute
  The ID information includes usage conditions for each electronic data content,
  The content distribution process includes:
  Including a process of allowing distribution of the electronic data content within the range of the usage conditions;
  A destruction request confirmation process for confirming whether or not the usage condition of the uploaded electronic data content includes a clause for discarding the data remaining on the consumer side after the upload;
  A destruction certificate confirmation process for making electronic data content regulated by the above clauses distributable only when a destruction certificate is received from the consumer;
  It is characterized by including.
[0031]
  Claim8The described invention is claimed.7A recording medium according to claim 1,
  The ID information is integrated with electronic data content in the form of a digital watermark,
  In the ID management unit, digital watermark key information embedded in each electronic data content provided to the consumer is recorded,
  The ID information detection process includes a key information detection process for detecting key information corresponding to the uploaded electronic data content from the ID management unit.
[0032]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the element which is common in each figure, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0033]
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the content distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the distribution system of this embodiment includes an IP service provider group 30 that provides a content distribution service on a network such as the Internet, a content manufacturer 32 that manufactures content outside the network, and a network. It is constructed by a consumer group 34 or the like who receives content via the Internet.
[0034]
The content manufacturer 32 has a function 36 for issuing ID information and the like necessary for content management in accordance with content manufacture and provision.
FIG. 2 is a chart showing an example of content management information issued by the issuing function 36 described above. As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, three types of information, content information 38, ID information 40, and key information 42, are used to manage the content distribution state.
[0035]
The content information 38 is information representing the content of the content provided to the market. For example, information such as a product name, a file name, or a classification indicating the type of music content, video content, or the like corresponds to the content information 38.
[0036]
The ID information 40 is information relating to a license attribute representing a content attribute for identifying individual content provided to the market, a range of licenses assigned to the individual content, and the like. Specifically, the content attribute includes a content serial number, a manufacturer, a manufacturing date, version information, and the like. The license attribute includes a license number, a purchaser name, a purchase date, distribution restrictions, and provisions for determining damage compensation for violation of restrictions.
[0037]
In the present embodiment, the ID information 40 is provided to the market in a state of being embedded in the content in the form of a digital watermark. In this embodiment, since the resistance to tampering is excellent, the ID information 40 is integrated with the content using the form of the digital watermark. However, if the ID information 40 is integrated with the content, It is not necessary to take the form of a digital watermark. That is, the ID information 40 may be integrated with the content as header information, for example.
[0038]
The key information 42 is information necessary for detecting ID information embedded in the content in the form of a digital watermark from the content. For example, the algorithm used for embedding the digital watermark, the random number initial value used for the embedding, and the embedding strength of the digital watermark correspond to the key information 42 described above.
The content manufacturer 32 provides the content embedded with the ID information 40 to the IP service provider group 30 together with the content information 38 and the key information 42.
[0039]
In this embodiment, the IP service provider group 30 includes a content provider 44 (content cafeteria: hereinafter referred to as “Seller A”) that primarily (firstly) supplies content to the consumer group 34, and a consumer group A content distributor 46 (Internet Service Provider: hereinafter referred to as “Seller B”) that secondarily (again) supplies the content uploaded from 34 to the consumer group 34 is included.
[0040]
Further, the merchant A44 is provided with an ID collation function 48 for providing the content delivered by the content manufacturer 32 and an ID issuing function 50 for providing the self-produced content to the consumer group 34. On the other hand, the trader B 46 has an ID collation function 52 for providing the content uploaded from the consumer group 34 to the consumer group 34 again.
[0041]
According to the ID collation function 48 provided in the merchant A44, the ID information 40 embedded in the form of a digital watermark in the content delivered from the content manufacturer 32 can be detected. When the merchant A44 provides the content delivered from the content manufacturer 32 to the consumer group 34, the merchant A44 detects the ID information 40 of the content by the ID collation function 48. The ID information 40 thus detected is managed inside the network as will be described later so that information can be shared between the trader A 44 and the trader B 46 together with the content information 38 and the key information 42.
[0042]
The ID issuing function 50 provided in the merchant A44 can issue the content management information shown in FIG. 2 in the same manner as the ID issuing function 36 provided in the content manufacturer 32. The ID information 40 issued by the ID issuing function 36 is provided to the consumer group 34 in a state of being embedded in the content in the form of a digital watermark. The ID information 40 of the content manufactured and provided by the vendor A, together with the content information 38 and the key information 42 of the content, can be shared between the vendor A 44 and the vendor B 46 as described later. Managed by.
[0043]
According to the ID collation function 52 provided in the merchant B46, it is possible to detect the ID information 40 embedded in the form of a digital watermark in the content uploaded from the consumer group 34. When the content is uploaded from the consumer group 34, the vendor B46 collates the ID information 40 detected from the content with the ID information 40 managed inside the network. Then, based on the result of the collation, the trader B46 determines whether or not to distribute the uploaded content or in what form. The contents of this process will be described later in detail.
[0044]
The consumer group 34 obtains content that is primarily provided by the merchant A44, and uploads the content to the merchant B46. The consumer # 2 obtains content that is secondarily distributed by the merchant B46. And are included. When the content is provided from the merchant A44, the license attribute of the content, specifically, content distribution restrictions and damage compensation clauses are explained (presented) to the consumer # 1. It is to be noted that key information necessary for reading out the license attribute embedded in the content is provided to the consumer # 1, and the match between the license attribute embedded in the content and the license attribute described in the acquisition is determined by the consumer # 1. 1 may be confirmed.
[0045]
The consumer # 1 can use the acquired content within the range permitted by the license attribute. For example, if resale is permitted for a certain content at a predetermined minimum price or higher, the consumer # 1 may exhibit the content at an auction hosted by the trader B46 using the minimum price as a start price. it can.
[0046]
As described above, according to the distribution system of the present embodiment, the consumer # 1 can reassign the content primarily acquired from the merchant A44 to the consumer # 2 via the merchant B46. When content is distributed in such a form in the market, it is necessary to prevent illegal distribution in violation of distribution conditions and outflow of unauthorized copies of content. The distribution system according to the present embodiment is characterized in that the above-described unauthorized distribution and unauthorized copying are effectively prevented using the ID information 40 embedded in the content.
[0047]
Hereinafter, the operation of the distribution system of the present embodiment will be described while specifically explaining how the content is distributed.
In this embodiment, the content is provided to the consumer # 1 by following one of the following two paths.
(1) Content manufacturer 32 → ID collation function 48 of vendor A44 → Consumer # 1
(2) ID issuing function of trader A44 → Consumer # 1
[0048]
Furthermore, according to the system of the present embodiment, content owned by the consumer # 1 can be provided to the consumer 2 along the following path.
(3) Consumer # 1 → Contractor B → Consumer 2
[0049]
In describing the operation of the distribution system according to the present embodiment, the difference between the route (1) and the route (2) is not substantially meaningful. Therefore, the case where content is provided to the consumer # 1 via the route (2) and further delivered to the consumer # 2 via the route (3) will be described below with reference to FIG.
[0050]
FIG. 3A shows a flowchart for explaining a procedure in which the consumer # 1 acquires desired content from the dealer A44 and uploads the content to the dealer B46.
The platform used by the consumer # 1 has a function of searching for desired content on the homepage operated by the trader A44. Further, the platform has a function of transmitting personal information and security information on the consumer # 1 side, that is, an e-mail address, an address and name, a credit card number, and the like to the merchant A44. After the consumer # 1 accesses the homepage of the merchant A44, first, using the former function, the content to be purchased is searched. When purchasing the desired content, the latter function is used to transmit personal information and security information to the trader A (step 60).
[0051]
The platform used by the consumer # 1 further has a function of receiving content provided from the vendor A44. When the security information of the consumer # 1 is processed by the merchant A44 and, as a result, the content is transmitted from the merchant A44, the platform receives the content using the above function (step 62).
At this time, the contents of the license are presented to the consumer # 1 by the trader A44 as described above.
[0052]
The platform used by the consumer # 1 preferably has a function of detecting a part of information (information on the license) of the digital watermark embedded in the content, and the detected information and the information presented by the vendor A44. A function to verify is provided. The digital watermark key information is used as a public key in a range necessary for detecting license-related information, for example, on the website of the trader A. When the platform has the above function, after receiving the content, the platform detects and verifies the license information (step 64).
Of the ID information 40 embedded in the form of a digital watermark, information relating to content attributes cannot be detected on the consumer side from the viewpoint of preventing fraud such as falsification of information.
[0053]
The platform of consumer # 1 has a function of uploading content to the merchant B46. When the consumer # 1 intends to reassign the content he owns to a third party, the content obtained primarily from the vendor A44, that is, the content in which the ID information 40 is embedded in the form of a digital watermark, Upload to the merchant B46 using the function.
[0054]
FIG. 3B shows a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing executed in the IP service provider group 30.
As shown in FIG. 3B, the personal security management center 74 and the content ID management center 75 are linked to the IP service provider group 30 to which the traders A44 and B46 belong. The personal security management center 74 is an organization that manages consumer personal information, and is operated by a credit card company or the like. The content ID management center 75 is an organization operated to manage the distribution state of content by a company that provides the content.
[0055]
The service function (hereinafter referred to as “IP service function A”) possessed by the merchant A44 is realized by a content sales processing unit 70 for selling content on a home page and a content storage server 72 for storing and transmitting content. Has been.
[0056]
According to the IP service function A, when the content search is requested by the consumer # 1, the content sales processing unit 70 browses the content and specifies the desired content. When security information is transmitted from the consumer # 1, the consumer's credit is confirmed using the personal security management center 74.
[0057]
The content storage server 72 is a part that stores content for sale and transmits desired content to the consumer # 1 when the credit confirmation of the consumer # 1 is obtained.
[0058]
Since the merchant A shares management information of content distributed in the market between the merchant A and the merchant B, when transmitting the content to the consumer # 1, the content information 38 of the content, the ID information 40, and the key Information 42 is provided to the content ID management center 75.
[0059]
The service function (hereinafter referred to as “IP service function B”) possessed by the dealer B 46 is realized by the content reception processing unit 76, the digital watermark detection / ID collation processing unit 77, and the content distribution server 78.
[0060]
According to the IP service function B, when content is uploaded from the consumer # 1, the content reception processing unit 76 receives the content.
[0061]
Next, the digital watermark detection / ID collation processing unit 77 detects the ID information embedded in the content in the form of a digital watermark, and further collates the detected ID information with the ID information recorded in the content ID management center. Is done. Based on the result of the collation, it is determined whether the uploaded content is regular content.
[0062]
As a result of the above collation, if the content that has been uploaded can be determined to be legitimate content, the vendor B makes the content available for distribution to a third party within the range permitted by the license. Details of specific processing executed by the content reception processing unit 76 and the digital watermark detection / ID collation processing unit 77 will be described later in detail with reference to FIGS.
[0063]
The content distribution server 78 stores content that can be distributed to a third party. When a search for content is requested by the consumer # 2, the content distribution server 78 browses the stored content and identifies the desired content. Thereafter, when security information is transmitted from the consumer # 2, the personal security management center 74 is accessed to check the trust of the consumer # 2. Then, after the credit confirmation is obtained, the desired content is distributed to the consumer # 2.
[0064]
The merchant B shares the management information of the content distributed in the market between the merchant A and the merchant B, and therefore when the content is distributed to the consumer # 2, information related to the distribution is provided to the content ID management center 75. To do.
[0065]
FIG. 3C shows a flowchart for explaining a procedure when the consumer # 2 receives distribution of desired content from the dealer B46.
The platform used by the consumer # 2 has a function of searching for desired content on the homepage operated by the trader B46. Furthermore, the platform has a function of transmitting personal information and security information on the consumer # 2 side to the trader B46. After consumer # 2 accesses the homepage of vendor B46, consumer # 2 first searches for the desired content using the former function. When the distribution of desired content is requested, the latter function is used to transmit personal information and security information to the trader B46 (step 80).
[0066]
The platform used by the consumer # 2 further has a function of receiving content provided from the vendor B46. When the security information of the consumer # 2 is processed by the merchant B46 and, as a result, content is distributed from the merchant B46, the platform receives the content using the above function (step 82).
[0067]
Communication is performed between the IP service provider group 30 and the consumer group 34 using the TCP / IP protocol used on the Internet. In providing and distributing the above-described content, as shown in FIG. 3, communication C-1 and C-4 associated with content search processing and personal information and security information transmission processing, communication C-2 associated with content download and C-5 and communication C-3 associated with content upload are performed as appropriate.
[0068]
As described above, in the distribution system according to the present embodiment, information is provided from the vendor A and the vendor B to the content ID management center 75, so that management information on the content distributed in the market is shared between the vendor A and the vendor B. Has been. In FIG. 1, a dashed arrow drawn between the ID collation function 48 of the trader A 44 and the ID collation function 52 of the trader B, and between the ID issue function 50 of the trader A 44 and the ID collation function 52 of the trader B The broken-line arrows drawn in (1) schematically represent that the management information is shared between the trader A44 and the trader B46 as described above.
[0069]
FIG. 4 illustrates how content management information is shared between vendors A44 and B46, and how the management information is used to embed and detect digital watermarks. The figure for doing is shown.
The ID management database 90 shown in FIG. 4 is a database corresponding to the content ID management center 75 shown in FIG. At least one ID management database 90 is provided in the IP service provider group 30. When a plurality of ID management databases 90 are provided, data processing is performed via the network so that the information recorded in them is always the same.
[0070]
The digital watermark embedding processing unit 92 shown in FIG. 4 is a unit for embedding the issued ID information 40 in the content, and corresponds to a part of the ID issuing function 50 provided in the vendor A44 in the block diagram shown in FIG. is doing. Digital watermark key information 42 and ID information 40 are supplied from the ID management database 90 to the digital watermark embedding processing unit 92. The digital watermark embedding processing unit 92 embeds the ID information 40 in the content in the form of a digital watermark using the method and conditions specified by the key information 42. The ID information 40 and the key information 42 used for embedding the digital watermark in this way are managed inside the ID management database 90 in a state associated with the content information 38 of each content.
[0071]
The digital watermark detection processing unit 94 shown in FIG. 4 is a unit for detecting a digital watermark embedded in content. The comparison / collation unit 96 shown in FIG. 4 is a unit for comparing and collating ID information detected from the content with ID information managed in the ID management database 90. These two units 94 and 96 correspond to a part of the ID issuing function 50 provided in the dealer B46 in the block diagram shown in FIG.
[0072]
Upon receiving the content uploaded from the consumer # 1, the digital watermark detection processing unit 94, based on the content information 38 of the content, detects key information 42 for detecting the digital watermark embedded in the content. Is read from the ID management database 90. Then, using the key information 42 read out as described above, the ID information 40 embedded in the content in the form of a digital watermark is detected.
[0073]
The comparison and collation unit 96 compares and collates the ID information 40 detected from the content as described above and the ID information 40 managed in the ID management database 90, and determines whether or not they match. Then, based on the result of the collation, it is determined whether or not the uploaded content is regular content. In the distribution system of the present embodiment, unauthorized distribution of content is prevented by excluding those that are determined not to be legitimate content by the above processing from the distribution targets.
[0074]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a first example of processing executed in the trader B46 in order to prevent unauthorized distribution of content.
According to the series of processes shown in FIG. 5, when the content uploaded from the consumer group 30 is received by the business B46 (Step 100), the management information recorded in the content ID management center 75 regarding the content is stored in the business B Obtained by B46 (step 102). Here, in addition to the three types of information 38, 40, and 42 shown in FIG. 2, information such as an occupation right transfer history is also acquired as management information.
[0075]
Next, the ID information 40 embedded in the content is detected using the key information 42 acquired in step 102 (step 104).
[0076]
The ID information 40 detected as described above is compared with the management information acquired from the content ID management center 75 together with information about the consumer who has uploaded the content (step 106). If the uploaded content is correctly distributed, the information to be compared and matched is the same. On the other hand, if the uploaded content is an illegally copied product, or if the content contains falsified ID information 40, the results of the comparison and collation do not match.
[0077]
Therefore, in this embodiment, when the two types of information to be compared and matched match each other, it is determined that the uploaded content is a genuine product. It is determined that it is not a product (step 108).
[0078]
If it is determined in the above step 108 that the uploaded content is a genuine product, the vendor B46 makes the content available for distribution within the scope of the license approved for the content ( Step 110).
Specifically, for example, when a lower limit price at the time of reassignment is set, only sales at the lower limit price or higher are allowed. If the reassignment itself is not permitted, the upload of the content is rejected by the processing in step 110 even if the content is genuine.
[0079]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step 108 that the uploaded content is not a genuine product, the vendor B46 rejects the upload of the content (step 112).
[0080]
According to the above processing, it is possible to effectively suppress fraud associated with the reassignment of content while realizing a distribution form in which the content acquired primarily by consumer # 1 is secondarily acquired by consumer # 2. Can do. Therefore, according to the distribution system of the present embodiment, it is possible to increase the value of use of the content or the degree of freedom of the consumer regarding the use of the content without inducing unauthorized distribution of the content.
[0081]
Next, with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a second example of a process executed by the dealer B46 in order to prevent unauthorized distribution of content will be described.
When reassignment of content is permitted under the license agreement, in order to prevent unauthorized copying, the consumer # 1 who uploads the content is requested to discard the content data remaining on the platform after the upload, and the destruction It is effective to treat only uploads that have been certified as proper.
[0082]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a series of processes executed on the consumer # 1 platform in order to realize the above-described functions. Here, it is assumed that a data discarding program is attached to the content provided from the vendor A44, and the data discarding program is activated when the content is uploaded, and the processing shown in FIG. 6 is executed.
[0083]
In the series of processes shown in FIG. 6, first, the process of uploading the content to the dealer B 46 is started (step 120).
[0084]
Next, it is determined whether or not the content to be uploaded is requested to be discarded after the upload according to the license agreement (step 122).
[0085]
As a result, if it is determined that the data destruction is not requested, the process for simply uploading the content is continued.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the data destruction is requested, a process for discarding the content data remaining on the platform is executed (step 124).
[0086]
When the data is destroyed, a data destruction certificate is issued on the consumer # 1 platform, and the certificate is uploaded to the merchant B46 together with the content (step 126).
[0087]
According to the above process, when uploading content that requires data destruction, the consumer side platform can automatically execute the data destruction process and the destruction certificate upload process. .
[0088]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a series of processes executed on the platform of the merchant B46 in order to process the content uploaded with the certificate of destruction. In FIG. 7, the processing of steps 100 to 108 and the processing of steps 110 and 112 are the same as the processing shown in FIG. Therefore, description of these steps is omitted or simplified here.
[0089]
According to the series of processes shown in FIG. 7, when it is determined that the content uploaded by the process of step 108 is a legitimate content, the license agreement requires that the content be discarded at the time of upload. It is determined whether or not (step 130).
[0090]
As a result, if it is determined that the discarding of data is not requested, thereafter, in step 110, as in the case shown in FIG. 5, the content can be distributed within the scope of the license.
On the other hand, if it is determined that data destruction is requested for the uploaded content, it is determined whether a destruction certificate for the content has been received (step 132).
[0091]
Then, if the destruction certificate has been received, the processing of step 110 is subsequently executed. On the other hand, if the revocation certificate has not been received, the process of step 112 is executed to reject the upload.
[0092]
According to the above-described processing, when a content requesting data destruction is uploaded, it is possible to force the consumer # 1 to discard the data of the content. Therefore, according to the processes shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, illegal distribution of content can be prevented more effectively than the process shown in FIG.
[0093]
In the example of processing shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a case is described in which data destruction is requested for one upload, but the present invention is not limited to this example. In other words, the destruction of the data accompanying the upload of the content can be requested after a certain number of uploads or after a certain period according to a license agreement. In such a case, it is possible to request the issuance of a destruction certificate at the time of uploading after a certain number of times or after a certain period, and to handle uploading within a certain number of times or within a certain period as valid without the destruction certificate.
[0094]
By the way, in the system of the first embodiment described above, the content manufacturer 32 and the vendor A44 are separated in order to explain that the content manufacturer can exist inside or outside the network. However, the present invention is not limited to such a form. That is, the content manufacturer may exist only within the network, or may exist only outside the network. That is, the route through which the content is supplied to the consumer # 1 may be limited to the route (1) or the route (2).
[0095]
In the first embodiment described above, for convenience of explanation, the IP service provider group 30 includes one content provider (trader A) and one content distributor (trader B). The present invention is not limited to such a form. That is, the content provider and the content distributor may be integrated. Furthermore, there may be a plurality of content providers and content distributors included in the IP service provider group 30.
[0096]
In the first embodiment described above, the provision of content from the merchant A44 to the consumer # 1 and the distribution of content from the merchant B46 to the consumer 2 may both be charged or free of charge.
[0097]
Embodiment 2. FIG.
Next, a distribution system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an outline of the distribution system of the present embodiment. In the first embodiment described above, the content distributor (trader B) 46 is configured by an Internet service provider that distributes file data. On the other hand, in the distribution system of the present embodiment, the content distributor (trader B) 140 is configured by a real-time video distribution server supplier that distributes moving images.
[0098]
In the present embodiment, the dealer B140 distributes content (moving image) to a plurality of consumers # 2 to #n that receive the moving image distribution service. According to the distribution system of the present embodiment, a real-time video distribution service can be provided to each of the consumers # 2 to #n in the form of so-called on-demand video distribution.
[0099]
In FIG. 8, the roles and functions of the content manufacturer 32, content provider (vendor A) 44, and consumer # 1 are the same as those in the first embodiment. However, in the first embodiment, it is assumed that a general user is mainly a consumer # 1, whereas in the second embodiment, content that is mainly owned in the same way as a video rental company or the like is unspecified. It is assumed that a consumer # 1 to #n or a provider that provides a charge to consumers # 2 or #n, or an educational institution that provides educational contents widely to consumers # 2 to #n for free will become the consumer # 1.
[0100]
The trader B140 has an ID collation function 52 for collating ID information 40 and the like of the content uploaded from the consumer # 1, and also has a moving image distribution server function for distributing moving image data. Consumers # 2 to #n can receive a broadcast-type video service in the same way as in the case of ordinary cable TV, and select specific content on the homepage operated by the vendor B140, and provide the video service on demand. You can also receive it.
[0101]
Data communication between the video distribution server of the vendor B140 and the platforms of the consumers # 2 to #n via a high-speed Internet line having transmission characteristics similar to those of the cable TV network according to the TCP / IP communication protocol Is done. Further, the moving image distribution server owned by the vendor B140 and the platforms of the consumers # 2 to #n may be connected to each other by LAN using 100Base of Ethernet. In this case as well, communication between the two is performed according to the TCP / IP communication protocol.
[0102]
Hereinafter, a state in which content and content management information flow inside the distribution system of the present embodiment will be described. The consumer # 1 can place an order for desired content with the content manufacturer, that is, the content manufacturer 32 or the vendor A44 via the network. In response to this ordering action, the content embedded with the ID information 40 is, in the same way as in the first embodiment, the consumer # 1 in the file format via the route {circle around (1)} or {circle around (2)}. To be downloaded.
[0103]
The consumer # 1 can also upload the content in which the ID information 40 is embedded to the dealer B 140 via the network. The management information (see FIG. 2) of the content distributed in the market is shared between the merchant A44 and the merchant B140 that belong to the IP service provider group 30, as in the first embodiment. The merchant B140 uses the management information to check the ID information 40 of the uploaded content and determines whether the content is a genuine product.
[0104]
In the distribution system of the present embodiment, content is transferred in the file format until this stage. That is, content is distributed from the merchant B140 to the consumers # 2 to #n not in a file format but in a moving image data format. Therefore, according to the system of the present embodiment, unlike the case of the first embodiment, a problem relating to the transfer of the content itself or the ID information 40 does not occur with the distribution of the content.
[0105]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining how the content is provided from the merchant A44 to the consumer # 1, is further uploaded from the consumer # 1 to the merchant B140, and is then distributed to the consumer # 2. More specifically, FIG. 9A shows a flowchart of processing executed on the platform of the consumer # 1, FIG. 9B shows a flowchart of processing executed by the IP service provider group 30, and FIG. 9C is a flowchart of processing executed on the consumer # 2 platform.
[0106]
The flowcharts shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C show that the content distribution server 142 constituting a part of the IP service function B transmits a moving image and that the platform of the consumer # 2 receives the moving image. 3 is the same as FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C referred to in the first embodiment. Therefore, detailed description thereof is omitted here.
[0107]
According to the system of the present embodiment, the consumer # 1 who owns the content can start the moving image distribution business by so-called on-demand distribution in a form of entrusting distribution to the content provider B140. Furthermore, according to the system of the present embodiment, the dealer B 140 distributes each content easily and surely under conditions according to the license based on the ID information 40 integrated with the content in the form of a digital watermark. can do. For this reason, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to enable distribution of moving images via a network while effectively preventing illegal distribution of content.
[0108]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the content of electronic data is provided to the market in a state of being integrated with the ID information of the content. Then, it is determined whether the content uploaded by the consumer is regular content based on the ID information. Only uploaded content that has been determined to be genuine according to the above-described determination can be distributed. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to increase the utility value of content while effectively preventing illegal distribution of content.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a distribution system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of content management information used in the distribution system according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a processing flow when content is distributed in the distribution system according to the first embodiment;
4 is a diagram for explaining how content management information is shared in a network in the distribution system of Embodiment 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a first example of processing executed by a contractor B in the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed on the platform of consumer # 1 in the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a second example of processing executed by the trader B in the first embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a distribution system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a processing flow when content is distributed in the distribution system according to the second embodiment;
FIG. 10 is a block diagram for explaining a conventional online shopping technique for handling electronic data content;
[Explanation of symbols]
30 IP Service Provider Group
32 Content manufacturer
34 Consumer Group
38 Product Name
40 ID information
42 Key information
44 Content provider (supplier A)
46; 140 Content distributor (supplier B)
74 Personal Security Management Center
76 Content ID Management Center
90 ID management database
92 Digital watermark embedding processor
94 Digital Watermark Detection Processing Unit
96 Comparison verification part

Claims (8)

A content providing unit that provides electronic data content with integrated ID information to consumers;
An ID management unit for managing ID information integrated with each electronic data content;
An ID information detection unit for detecting ID information from electronic data content uploaded from a consumer;
An ID information reading unit for reading ID information of the electronic data content uploaded from a consumer from the ID management unit;
A comparison / collation unit that collates ID information detected from the electronic data content and ID information read from the ID management unit to determine whether the electronic data content is a legitimate content;
A content distribution unit that makes it possible to distribute only what is determined to be legitimate electronic data content in the comparison and collation unit,
The ID information includes usage conditions for each electronic data content,
The content distribution unit
Allowing distribution of the electronic data content within the usage conditions;
A destruction request confirmation unit for confirming whether or not the usage condition of the uploaded electronic data content includes a clause for discarding data remaining on the consumer side after the upload;
A revocation certificate confirmation unit that enables electronic data content regulated by the above clause to be delivered only when a revocation certificate is received from the consumer;
An electronic data content distribution system comprising: The ID information is integrated with electronic data content in the form of a digital watermark,
The content providing unit includes a key information providing unit that provides digital ID key information embedded in electronic data content provided to a consumer to the ID management unit,
2. The electronic data content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the ID information detection unit includes a key information detection unit that detects key information corresponding to the uploaded electronic data content from the ID management unit. A content providing step of providing electronic data content with integrated ID information to a consumer;
An ID management step of recording ID information of each electronic data content in an ID management unit ;
An ID information detection step of detecting ID information from electronic data content uploaded from a consumer;
An ID information reading step of reading ID information of the electronic data content uploaded from a consumer from the ID management unit;
A comparison and collation step of collating the ID information detected from the electronic data content with the ID information read from the ID management unit to determine whether the electronic data content is legitimate content;
A distribution permission step for allowing only those determined as legitimate electronic data content in the comparison and collating step to be distributed, and
The ID information includes usage conditions for each electronic data content,
A content distribution step of allowing distribution of the electronic data content within the range of the usage conditions;
Before Kiko content delivery step,
A destruction request confirmation step for confirming whether or not the usage condition of the uploaded electronic data content includes a clause for discarding data remaining on the consumer side after the upload,
A destruction certification confirmation step for making electronic data content regulated by the above clauses distributable only when a destruction certification is received from the consumer;
A method for distributing electronic data content, comprising: The ID information is integrated with electronic data content in the form of a digital watermark,
The content providing step includes a key information providing step of providing digital ID key information embedded in electronic data content provided to a consumer to the ID management unit,
4. The electronic data content distribution method according to claim 3, wherein the ID information detection step includes a key information detection step of detecting, from the ID management unit, key information corresponding to the uploaded electronic data content. An ID information detection unit for detecting ID information integrated with the electronic data content from the electronic data content uploaded from the consumer;
An ID information reading unit that reads ID information of the electronic data content from an ID management unit in which ID information of the individual electronic data content is recorded;
A comparison and collation unit that collates ID information detected from the electronic data content and ID information read from the ID management unit to determine whether or not the electronic data content is legitimate content;
A content distribution unit that makes it possible to distribute only what is determined to be legitimate electronic data content in the comparison and collation unit,
The ID information includes usage conditions for each electronic data content,
The content distribution unit
Allowing distribution of the electronic data content within the usage conditions;
A destruction request confirmation unit for confirming whether or not the usage condition of the uploaded electronic data content includes a clause for discarding data remaining on the consumer side after the upload;
A revocation certificate confirmation unit that allows electronic data content regulated by the above clause to be delivered only when a revocation certificate is received from the consumer;
An electronic data content distribution apparatus comprising: The ID information is integrated with electronic data content in the form of a digital watermark,
In the ID management unit, digital watermark key information embedded in each electronic data content provided to the consumer is recorded,
6. The electronic data content distribution apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the ID information detection unit includes a key information detection unit that detects key information corresponding to the uploaded electronic data content from the ID management unit. ID information detection processing for detecting ID information integrated with the electronic data content from the electronic data content uploaded from the consumer;
An ID information read process for reading the ID information of the electronic data content from an ID management unit in which the ID information of the individual electronic data content is recorded;
A comparison and collation process for collating ID information detected from the electronic data content with ID information read from the ID management unit to determine whether the electronic data content is legitimate content;
A content distribution process in which only what is determined to be legitimate electronic data content in the comparison and collation process can be distributed;
Records the program that causes the computer to execute
The ID information includes usage conditions for each electronic data content,
The content distribution process includes:
Including a process of allowing distribution of the electronic data content within the range of the usage conditions;
A destruction request confirmation process for confirming whether or not the usage condition of the uploaded electronic data content includes a clause for discarding the data remaining on the consumer side after the upload;
A destruction certificate confirmation process for making electronic data content regulated by the above clauses distributable only when a destruction certificate is received from the consumer;
A computer-readable recording medium comprising: The ID information is integrated with electronic data content in the form of a digital watermark,
In the ID management unit, digital watermark key information embedded in each electronic data content provided to the consumer is recorded,
8. The recording medium according to claim 7, wherein the ID information detection processing includes key information detection processing for detecting key information corresponding to uploaded electronic data content from the ID management unit.

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