Information recording apparatus, information reproducing apparatus, and information distribution system

Abstract

An information recording apparatus comprises an encryption section encrypting contents information and also a license condition referred to limit use of the contents information and a decoding key for decoding the encrypted contents information to generate license information, and a recording section recording the encrypted contents information and the generated license information on a recording medium. An information reproducing apparatus comprises a decoder unit decoding the license information recorded on the recording medium using a second decoding key for decoding the license information and deciding on the basis of the license condition contained in the decoded license information whether the contents information can be used. If it is decided that the contents information can be used, the encrypted contents information recorded on the recording medium is decoded using the first decoding key contained in the decoded license information.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented information recording method for encrypting contents information and for storing the contents information on a storage medium, comprising:

encrypting contents information to generate encrypted contents information;

merging (a) a first key for decoding the encrypted contents information and (b) use information relevant only to use of the contents information, to produce a merged result;

encrypting the merged result using a second key to produce a merged and encrypted result including the first key and the use information relevant only to use of the contents information, the first key and the use information being inseparably combined; and

storing the encrypted contents information together with the merged and encrypted result in the storage medium.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the contents information comprises accounting object information.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the accounting object information comprises a digitized work.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of encrypting the contents information comprises encrypting the contents information using a third key corresponding to the first key to generate encrypted contents information.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the use information relevant only to use of the contents information comprises a license condition.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the license condition comprises an expiration date of the accounting object information.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the license condition comprises a license information write time.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein the license condition comprises a contents ID.

9. A method according to claim 5, wherein the license condition comprises a medium ID.

10. A method according to claim 5, wherein the license condition comprises a decoder unit ID.

11. A computer-implemented information recording system for storing encrypted contents information on a storage medium, comprising:

a contents information input section configured to input encrypted contents information;

an encryption section configured to merge (a) a first key for decoding the encrypted contents information and (b) information indicating an ability to use the contents information, to produce a merged result, and configured to encrypt the merged result using a second key to produce a merged and encrypted result including the first key and the use information relevant only to use of the contents information, the first key and the use information being inseparably combined;

a condition input section configured to input to the encryption section the information indicating an ability to use the contents information;

a key input section configured to input the first key for decoding the encrypted contents information; and

a recording section configured to receive the encrypted contents information input by the contents information input section and the merged and encrypted result, and configured to store in the storage medium the encrypted contents information together with the merged and encrypted result.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the contents information input section comprises an accounting object information input section, and the contents information comprises accounting object information.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the accounting object information comprises a digitized work.

14. A system according to claim 11, wherein the condition input section comprises a license condition input section, and the use information relevant only to use of the contents information comprises a license condition.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the license condition comprises an expiration date of the contents information.

16. A system according to claim 14, wherein the license condition comprises a license information write time.

17. A system according to claim 14, wherein the license condition comprises a contents ID.

18. A system according to claim 14, wherein the license condition comprises a medium ID.

19. A system according to claim 14, wherein the license condition comprises a decoder unit ID.

20. A system according to claim 11, wherein the key input section comprises a decoding key input section.

21. A system according to claim 11, wherein the contents information has been encrypted using a third key corresponding to the first key.

22. A system according to claim 11, wherein the recording section is further configured to record on the storage medium the encrypted contents information and the merged and encrypted result.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein the storage medium is one of a DVD-RAM, a DVD-ROM, and a hard disk.

24. A computer-implemented information recording system for encrypting contents information and for storing the contents information on a storage medium, comprising:

means for encrypting contents information to generate encrypted contents information;

means for merging (a) a first key for decoding the encrypted contents information and (b) use information relevant only to use of the contents information to produce a merged result;

means for encrypting the merged result using a second key to produce a merged and encrypted result including the first key and the use information relevant only to use of the contents information, the first key and the use information being inseparably combined; and

means for storing the encrypted contents information together with the merged and encrypted result in the storage medium.

25. A system according to claim 24, wherein the contents information comprises accounting object information.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein the accounting object information comprises a digitized work.

27. A system according to claim 24, wherein the means for encrypting the contents information comprises means for encrypting the contents information using a third key corresponding to the first key to generate encrypted contents information.

28. A system according to claim 24, wherein the use information relevant only to use of the contents information comprises a license condition.

29. A system according to claim 28, wherein the license condition comprises an expiration date of the accounting object information.

30. A system according to claim 28, wherein the license condition comprises a license information write time.

31. A system according to claim 28, wherein the license condition comprises a contents ID.

32. A system according to claim 28, wherein the license condition comprises a medium ID.

33. A system according to claim 28, wherein the license condition comprises a decoder unit ID.

34. A system according to claim 24, wherein the storage medium is one of a DVD-RAM, a DVD-ROM, and a hard disk.

35. A computer-implemented information system for providing encrypted contents information, comprising:

a contents information input section configured to input encrypted contents information;

an encryption section configured to merge (a) a first key for decoding the encrypted contents information and (b) use information relevant to only use of the contents information, to produce a merged result, and configured to encrypt the merged result using a second key to produce a merged and encrypted result including the first key and the use information relevant only to use of the contents information, the first key and the use information being inseparably combined;

a condition input section configured to input to the encryption section the use information relevant only to use of the contents information;

a key input section configured to input the first key for decoding the encrypted contents information; and

a providing section configured to receive the encrypted contents information input by the contents information input section and the merged and encrypted result, and configured to store in the storage medium the encrypted contents information together with the merged and encrypted result.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an information recording apparatus for recording information on a recording medium such as a DVD, an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on a recording medium such as a DVD, and an information distribution system including an information recording/reproducing apparatus for charging for use of information recorded on a recording medium or distributed through a network or by broadcasting.

In recent years, the advance of digital information processing technology and communication technology such as a broadband ISDN, and the development of an advanced information recording medium such as a DVD which realizes a large capacity and high-quality image and sound are progressing. Along with such development of a variety of advanced information transmission means, the circumstances are allowing users to make use of an enormous number of digitized works which are distributed to the users through a network, a recording medium, or the like. These circumstances increase opportunities for copies and alterations without permission of authors or distribution unintended by authors, so copyright holders are anxious about infringement on their benefits.

An important challenge for wiping out such anxiety of copyright holders is the development of a system which allows quick and easy distribution of digitized works and provides a fair digital information usage environment assuming protection by copyright.

A DVD is a large-capacity personal computer medium replacing a CD-ROM, and various applications to movie, music, game, karaoke, and the like can be expected. For popularization of DVDs, inexpensive DVD titles or spread of a rental DVD market is expected. From these viewpoints as well, it is essential to provide an information distribution system assuming protection by copyright of information, i.e., a system based on a concept of charging not for possession of a digitized work recorded on a recording medium such as a DVD but for use of the digitized work.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an information recording apparatus, an information reproducing apparatus, and an accounting apparatus to constitute an information distribution system which allows quick and easy distribution of digitized works and provides a digital information usage environment assuming protection by copyright.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an information recording apparatus for quickly and easily distributing digitized works which are distributed through a network or a recording medium and constituting a digital information usage environment assuming protection by copyright by charging for use of digital information, an apparatus for reproducing the recorded information, and an accounting apparatus for charging for use of information.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information recording apparatus comprising an encryption section for encrypting contents information, a license information generator for encrypting at least a license condition referred to limit use of the contents information and a decoding key for decoding the encrypted contents information to generate license information, and a recording section for recording the contents information encrypted by the encryption section and the license information generated by the license information generator on a recording medium.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information reproducing apparatus comprising a storage section for storing second decoding key information for decoding license information, a first decoder section for decoding the license information recorded on the recording medium using the second decoding key stored in the storage section, a decision section for deciding, on the basis of a license condition contained in the license information decoded by the first decoder section, whether contents information can be used, a second decoder section for decoding the encrypted contents information recorded on the recording medium using the first decoding key contained in the license information decoded by the first decoder section when the decision section decides that the contents information can be used, and a reproduction section for reproducing the contents information decoded by the second decoder section.

According to the information recording apparatus of the present invention, the encrypted contents information and the license condition of the contents information are in separately recorded on the recording medium. only the information reproducing apparatus having an authentic decoding key for decoding the license information can reproduce the contents information recorded on the recording medium. In addition, since, before decoding, it is always decided on the basis of the license condition contained in the license information whether the contents information can be used, use of the contents information under an illicit use condition is disabled. Therefore, digital information assuming protection by copyright of the contents information can be quickly and easily distributed.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an accounting apparatus for charging for use of contents information recorded on a recording medium, comprising an input section for inputting a desired condition for use of the contents information recorded on the recording medium, a fee claiming section for claiming a fee for use of the contents information on the basis of the condition input by the input section, and a recording section for, upon confirming fee payment in response to the claim, recording, on the recording medium, license information containing at least a license condition for limiting use of the contents information recorded on the recording medium on the basis of the condition input by the input section. With this arrangement, for the recording medium on which the contents information and the license information containing the license condition for limiting use of the contents information are recorded, appropriate charging for use of the contents information is enabled. In addition, digital information assuming protection by copyright of the contents information can be quickly and easily distributed.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an accounting apparatus for charging for use of contents information through a recording medium on which contents information and encrypted license information containing at least a license condition referred to limit the use of the contents information are recorded, comprising a license information input section for inputting the encrypted license information recorded on the recording medium, a decoder section for decoding the encrypted license information input by the license information input section, a condition acceptance section for accepting a desired condition for use of the contents information, a fee claiming section for claiming a fee for use of the contents information on the basis of the condition accepted by the condition acceptance section, a license information update section for, upon confirming fee payment in response to the claim, updating the license information decoded by the decoder section, on the basis of the condition input by the condition input section, an encryption section for encrypting the license information updated by the license information update section, and an output section for outputting the license information encrypted by the encryption section. With this arrangement, for the recording medium on which the contents information and the license information containing the license condition for limiting use of the contents information are recorded, appropriat =e charging for use of the contents information is enabled. In addition, digital information assuming protection by copyright of the contents information can be quickly and easily distributed.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a decision apparatus for deciding, on the basis of encrypted license information containing at least a license condition referred to to limit use of contents information and key information for decoding the contents information, whether the contents information can be used, comprising a key generator for generating a public key used to encrypt the license information and a secret key for decoding the license information at a predetermined timing, the secret key corresponding to the public key, a decoder section for decoding the input license information using the secret key generated by the key generator, a decision section for deciding, on the basis of the license condition contained in the license information decoded by the decoder section, whether the contents information can be decoded, and an output section for outputting key information contained in the license information decoded by the decoder section when the decision section decides that the contents information can be used.

According to the present invention, since the secret parameter for decoding the license information is generated in a decoder unit A at a predetermined timing and used only within a predetermined period, information security for the license information containing the license condition of the contents information and contents information decoding key can be improved.

According to an update apparatus of the present invention, which updates license information on the basis of a request for updating the license information upon receiving at least a newly designated license condition and second key generation information necessary for generating second key information from a decision device for deciding, on the basis of encrypted license information containing at least a license condition referred to to limit use of contents information, encrypted first key information for decoding the contents information, and first key generation information necessary for generating the second key information for decoding the encrypted first key information, whether the contents information can be used, the license condition and the first key generation information are updated, the second key information is updated on the basis of the updated first key generation information and the second key generation information, and the first key information is encrypted using the updated second key information to generate encrypted license information containing at least the updated license condition, the first key information encrypted using the updated second key information, and the updated first key generation information.

According to the present invention, when the license information is to be updated, the license information can be updated while ensuring the information security without supplying the contents decoding key.

According to an update apparatus of the present invention, which updates license information on the basis of a request for updating the license information upon receiving at least a newly designated license condition, second key generation information necessary for generating second key information, and an updated public key from a decision device for deciding, on the basis of the license information containing at least a license condition referred to to limit use of contents information, encrypted first key information for decoding the contents information, and first key generation information necessary for generating the second key information for decoding the encrypted first key information, whether the contents information can be used, the license information being encrypted using a public key, the license condition and the first key generation information are updated, the second key information is updated on the basis of the updated first key generation information and the second key generation information, and the first key information is encrypted using the updated second key information to generate license information containing at least the updated license condition, the first key information encrypted using the updated second key information, and the updated first key generation information, and the generated license information is encrypted using the supplied public key.

According to the present invention, when the license information is to be updated, the license information can be updated while ensuring the information security without supplying the contents decoding key.

According to the present invention, there is provided an information usage apparatus which receives encrypted first key information for decoding encrypted contents information and first key generation information necessary for generating second key information for decoding the first key information and decodes and uses the contents information, wherein second key generation information necessary for generating the second key information for decoding the first key information is held, the second key information is generated on the basis of the second key generation information and the input first key generation information, and the encrypted contents information is decoded using the generated second key information.

According to the present invention, since the decoding key (first key information) of the contents information is input to the information usage apparatus while being kept encrypted, the information security between the device for outputting the first key information and the information usage apparatus can be improved.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing contents information from a recording medium on which encrypted contents information and license information containing at least a license condition referred to to limit use of the contents information and first key information for decoding the contents information are recorded, comprising an instrument section for measuring a date and time, a decision section for deciding, on the basis of the date and time measured by the instrument section and the license information recorded on the recording medium, whether the contents information can be used, and an information reproduction section for, when the decision section decides that the contents information can be used, decoding and reproducing the contents information recorded on the recording medium using the first key information output from the decision section, wherein information for notifying the decision section of the date and time from the instrument section and the first key information output from the decision section to the information reproduction section are encrypted.

According to the present invention, the security of information to be transferred among the functional units (the instrument section, the decision section, and the information reproduction section) in the information generation device can be improved.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information recording method of recording, on a recording medium on which at least encrypted contents information is recorded, encrypted license information containing at least a license condition referred to limit use of the contents information and a decoding key of the contents information, comprising transmitting information for designating second key information for encrypting first key information for encrypting the license information to a decision device for deciding whether the contents information can be used, receiving, from the portable recording medium, the first key information for encrypting the license information, which is encrypted using the designated second key information, and recording, on the recording medium, license information generated on the basis of a designated license condition and encrypted using the first key information.

According to the present invention, the contents information recorded on the recording medium cannot be normally decoded unless the decision device which has been used to record the license information in the recording medium is not used. Therefore, illicit use of the contents information can be prevented.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinbefore.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments give below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the first arrangement of an information recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the first information recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the second arrangement of the information recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the second information recording apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 5B are views for explaining a method of separating accounting object information;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are views for explaining another method of separating accounting object information;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the third arrangement of the information recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the first arrangement of an information reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a decoder unit shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the first information reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the decoder unit shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing another arrangement of the decoder unit having a clock for disabling time update;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the clock of the decoder unit, which disables time update;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the decoder unit shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of the clock of the decoder unit capable of updating time;

FIG. 16 is a flow chart for explaining the time update operation of the clock shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a view showing a system constituted by a client and a server to update time of the clock of the decoder unit through a network;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a time setting client shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a time setting server shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the time setting client shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the time setting server shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the time setting server shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a clock incorporated in the time setting client shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 24 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the clock shown in FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the clock shown in FIG. 23;

FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of an information reproducing apparatus (second information reproducing apparatus) having a function of updating license information and performing charging;

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a decoder unit shown in FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the decoder unit shown in FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a license information update client section shown in FIG. 26;

FIG. 30 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the license information update client section shown in FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a license information update server shown in FIG. 26;

FIG. 32 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the license information update server shown in FIG. 31;

FIG. 33 is a view showing an example of contents of fee claiming for use of accounting object information output from the license information update server;

FIG. 34 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the entire system (the server and the client communicating with each other through the network) shown n FIG. 26;

FIG. 35 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a license information update unit;

FIG. 36 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the license information update unit shown in FIG. 35;

FIG. 37 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the license information update unit shown in FIG. 35;

FIG. 38 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of an accounting apparatus for charging for use of accounting object information;

FIG. 39 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a decoder unit in an information reproducing apparatus with a measure for an illicit copy of accounting object information (decision is made on the basis of a decoder unit ID);

FIG. 40 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the decoder unit shown in FIG. 39;

FIG. 41 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a license information update unit with a measure for an illicit copy of accounting object information;

FIG. 42 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the license information update unit shown in FIG. 41;

FIG. 43 is a block diagram showing another arrangement of the decoder unit with a measure for an illicit copy of accounting object information (decision is made on the basis of a decoder unit ID and medium ID);

FIG. 44 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the decoder unit shown in FIG. 43;

FIG. 45 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a copying apparatus;

FIG. 46 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the copying apparatus shown in FIG. 45;

FIG. 47 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a license information copy unit shown in FIG. 45;

FIG. 48 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the license information copy unit shown in FIG. 47;

FIG. 49 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of an information reproducing apparatus (third information reproducing apparatus) according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which reproduces subsidiary information;

FIG. 50 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of the third information reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 49;

FIG. 51 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a decoder unit shown in FIG. 49;

FIG. 52 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the decoder unit shown in FIG. 51;

FIG. 53 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of an information distribution system using the information recording apparatus and information reproducing apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 54 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a decoder unit A according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 55 is a view showing an example of license information input to the decoder unit A;

FIG. 56 is a view showing an example of updated information output from the decoder unit A;

FIG. 57 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the decoder unit A;

FIG. 58 is a flow chart for explaining the schematic procedure of key generation processing in a key holder section and key generation section of the decoder unit A;

FIG. 59 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a decoder unit B;

FIG. 60 is a view showing an example of license information input to the decoder unit B;

FIG. 61 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the decoder unit B;

FIG. 62 is a view showing an example of updated information output from the decoder unit B;

FIG. 63 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a decoder unit C;

FIG. 64 is a view showing an example of updated information output from the decoder unit C;

FIG. 65 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a decoder unit D;

FIG. 66 is a view showing an example of license information input to the decoder unit D;

FIG. 67 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the decoder unit D;

FIG. 68 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the decoder unit D;

FIG. 69 is a view showing an example of updated information output from the decoder unit D;

FIG. 70 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a decoder unit D';

FIG. 71 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a license information update apparatus corresponding to the decoder unit A;

FIG. 72 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the license information update apparatus shown in FIG. 71;

FIG. 73 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a license information update apparatus corresponding to the decoder unit B;

FIG. 74 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the license information update apparatus shown in FIG. 73;

FIG. 75 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of an information distribution system according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 76 is a block diagram showing another arrangement of the information distribution system according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 77 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of the main part of an information reproducing apparatus in which a decoding decision card is mounted;

FIG. 78 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the information reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 77 which is used in the information distribution system shown in FIG. 75;

FIG. 79 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of the main part of the decoding decision card;

FIG. 80 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the decoding decision card shown in FIG. 79;

FIG. 81 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a time transfer section in the decoding decision card shown in FIG. 79;

FIG. 82 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a certification section in the time transfer section shown in FIG. 81;

FIG. 83 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the certification section shown in FIG. 82;

FIG. 84 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a contents key transfer section in the decoding decision card shown in FIG. 79;

FIG. 85 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a certification section in the contents key transfer section shown in FIG. 84;

FIG. 86 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the certification section shown in FIG. 85;

FIG. 87 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a clock shown in FIG. 77;

FIG. 88 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a certification section in the clock shown in FIG. 87;

FIG. 89 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the certification section shown in FIG. 88;

FIG. 90 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a decoding decision section shown in FIG. 79;

FIG. 91 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the decoding decision section shown in FIG. 90;

FIG. 92 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of an information reproduction section shown in FIG. 77;

FIG. 93 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the information reproduction section shown in FIG. 92;

FIG. 94 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a certification section in the information reproduction section shown in FIG. 92;

FIG. 95 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the certification section shown in FIG. 94;

FIG. 96 is a block diagram showing another arrangement of the information reproduction section shown in FIG. 77;

FIG. 97 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a license update apparatus;

FIG. 98 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the license update apparatus;

FIG. 99 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of the main part of a decoding decision card as an interface with the update IF of the license update apparatus;

FIG. 100 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the decoding decision card in updating the license;

FIG. 101 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a license server;

FIG. 102 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the license server;

FIG. 103 is a block diagram showing a system configuration constituted by a user terminal, a license server, and an electronic banking apparatus in updating the license using electronic banking;

FIG. 104 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a license update apparatus in the system configuration shown in FIG. 103;

FIG. 105 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of the license server in the system configuration shown in FIG. 103;

FIG. 106 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the entire system in updating the license in the system configuration shown in FIG. 103;

FIG. 107 is a block diagram showing an entire arrangement of an information reproduction system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 108 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a license decision unit shown in FIG. 107;

FIG. 109 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the information reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 107;

FIG. 110 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the information reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 107;

FIG. 111 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the information reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 107 until license information is stored in a license database;

FIG. 112 is a flow chart for explaining the license information decoding key generation processing of the information reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 107;

FIG. 113 is a view showing a structure of contents information;

FIG. 114 is a view showing a structure of license information;

FIG. 115 is a view showing an example of storage of license information in a license information database;

FIG. 116 is a view showing a structure of license update information;

FIG. 117 is a view showing another example of storage of license information in the license information database;

FIG. 118 is a block diagram showing another arrangement of the information reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 107;

FIG. 119 is a block diagram showing another arrangement of the license decision unit shown in FIG. 107;

FIG. 120 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the information reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 118 until encrypted license information and decoding key seed information are separated from a received broadcasting wave to generate a decoding key;

FIG. 121 is a view showing an example of the data structure of a broadcasting wave;

FIG. 122 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of an information distribution system according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 123 is a view showing an example of data recorded on a rental disk;

FIG. 124 is a view showing an example of storage of a disk key in a contents database prepared in a center;

FIG. 125 is a view schematically showing the disk key distribution scheme in the information distribution system shown in FIG. 122;

FIG. 126 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a license creation device;

FIG. 127 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a license issuing device;

FIG. 128 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a card;

FIG. 129 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a card adapter;

FIG. 130 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a player;

FIG. 131 is a flow chart for explaining the disk information creation processing of the license creation device;

FIG. 132 is a view showing an example of storage of disk information in a license database in the license issuing device;

FIG. 133 is a view showing the schematic sequence of a disk key distribution procedure in the information distribution system shown in FIG. 122 about subscription to a disk rental service, rental of a disk, and reproduction of contents;

FIG. 134 is a flow chart showing the disk key distribution procedure shown in FIG. 133 in more detail;

FIG. 135 is a flow chart showing the disk key distribution procedure shown in FIG. 133 in more detail;

FIG. 136 is a flow chart showing the disk key distribution procedure shown in FIG. 133 in more detail;

FIG. 137 is a flow chart showing the disk key distribution procedure shown in FIG. 133 in more detail;

FIG. 138 is a flow chart showing the disk key distribution procedure shown in FIG. 133 in more detail;

FIG. 139 is a flow chart showing the disk key distribution procedure shown in FIG. 133 in more detail;

FIG. 140 is a flow chart showing the disk key distribution procedure shown in FIG. 133 in more detail;

FIG. 141 is a view showing the schematic sequence of another disk key distribution procedure in the information distribution system shown in FIG. 122 about subscription to a disk rental service, rental of a disk, and reproduction of contents;

FIG. 142 is a flow chart showing the disk key distribution procedure shown in FIG. 141 in more detail;

FIG. 143 is a flow chart showing the disk key distribution procedure shown in FIG. 141 in more detail;

FIG. 144 is a flow chart showing the disk key distribution procedure shown in FIG. 141 in more detail;

FIG. 145 is a flow chart showing the disk key distribution procedure shown in FIG. 141 in more detail:

FIG. 146 is a flow chart showing the disk key distribution procedure shown in FIG. 141 in more detail;

FIG. 147 is a flow chart for explaining encryption parameter update processing;

FIG. 148 is a flow chart for explaining encryption parameter update processing; and

FIG. 149 is a flow chart for explaining encryption parameter update processing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawing.

The entire configuration of an information distribution system using an information recording apparatus and information reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described first.

FIG. 53 shows an arrangement of an information distribution system using the information recording apparatus and information reproducing apparatus of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 53, a license information generation section 1002 and an information storage section 1003 are equivalent to those shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 7, or the like, and a decoder unit 1013 is equivalent to that shown in FIG. 9, 12, 27, 39, 43, or the like. A reproduction section 1014 and a readout section 1012 are also equivalent to those in the information reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 8 or the like.

The operation of the entire system shown in FIG. 53 will be briefly described below. Accounting object information is encrypted by an encryption key ke(1) (accounting object information ke(1)). First, a decoding key kd(1) of the accounting object information and a license condition such as an expiration date are input to the license information generation section 1002 (steps S701 and S702).

The license information generation section 1002 merges the decoding key kd(1) with the license condition and then performs encryption using the encryption key ke to generate license information and sends it to the information storage section 1003 (step S703). The encrypted accounting object information is also input to the information storage section 1003 (step S704) a nd recorded on an information storage section 1004 together with the license information (step 705).

The information storage section 1004 comprises a medium such as a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, or a hard disk. Information recorded on this medium is transferred to another medium (i.e., an information storage section 1015) directly or through broadcasting or the Internet and read out by the readout section 1012 in an information reproducing apparatus 1011 (step S706). The readout license information is sent to the decoder unit 1013 (step S707). The de coder unit 1013 holding the decoding key kd corresponding to the encryption key ke decodes the license information and extracts the decoding key kd(1) and license condition of the accounting object information. The decoder unit 1013 checks the license condition to decide whether the accounting object information can be used. If the accounting object information is usable, the decoder unit outputs the decoding key kd(1) to the reproduction section 1014 (step S708). The reproduction section 1014 extracts the [accounting object information] ke(1) from the readout section 1012 (step S709) and decodes it using the decoding key kd(1) to reproduce the accounting object information.

The decoder unit 1013 holds the decoding key kd and an algorithm for decoding license information. To avoid attack on security, the decoder unit 1013 is preferably mounted not as software but as, e.g., an IC chip. In this case, the decoder unit 1013 comprises an IC chip having a license information input section and an output section for outputting the decoding key of accounting object information (upon deciding that the accounting object information is usable). Decoding and decision of the use enable/disable condition are performed in the chip.

As one gist of the present invention, the license information generation section 1002 merges the decoding key kd(1) of accounting object information with the license condition and then performs encryption. Generally, encryption is performed by scrambling information bits to be encrypted. Therefore, once encryption is performed, two pieces of information which have simultaneously been encrypted cannot be separated (without using decoding). It is important to disable separation of accounting object information from the license condition using the nature of encryption.

In the above-described example, the accounting object information is encrypted by the encryption key ke(1). Therefore,

1. To use the accounting object information, the decoding key kd(1) is required. However, the decoding key kd(1) is encrypted into license information such that the decoding key and the license condition are inseparable. Although the license information and the accounting object information can be separated from each other, invalid license information does not contain the decoding key for properly decoding the accounting object information, so "substitution" of license information is meaningless.

2. To obtain the correct decoding key kd(1), valid license information must be decoded. However,

3. Only a proper decoder unit having the decoding key kd can perform this decoding.

4. The proper decoder unit always refers to the license condition contained in the license information to decide the use enable/disable condition. Therefore,

5. In the apparatus including the license information generation section and decoder unit of the present invention, the accounting object information cannot be used under an invalid license condition in principle.

If the decoder unit 1013 decides that the accounting object information cannot be used and does not output the decoding key kd(1), the license information must be updated or valid license information must be added to use the accounting object information. At this timing, accounting for the user of the information is generated. The user must update the license information or acquire new license information somehow by a shop or vending machine or through the Internet. An apparatus or vending machine set in a shop or a network server holds the decoding key kd and the encryption key ke and therefore can decode the license information and rewrite and reencrypt the information so as to update the license information.

If the user wants to update the license information (or obtain new license information), (one of) the license information added to the accounting object information must be sent to an apparatus having a license information update function.

1'. Only a proper apparatus having the decoding key kd and the encryption key ke can decode/separate the decoding key kd(1) and the license condition of the accounting object information.

2'. Only a proper apparatus having the decoding key kd and the encryption key ke can reencrypt the license information after the rewrite of the license condition.

The updated license information is output from the license information update apparatus (a license information update client section 403 shown in FIG. 26, a license information update unit 603 shown in FIG. 38, a license information update unit 702 shown in FIG. 41, or a license information update unit 804 shown in FIG. 47) and returned to the user's medium. The license information is kept encrypted outside the license information update apparatus.

3'. Since the license information has undergone encryption as a characteristic feature of the present invention, the license condition cannot be inadequately changed.

Generally, to transmit a decoding key through a network, the decoding key is often reencrypted using another key. However, as the characteristic feature of the present invention, the decoding key kd(1) for decoding the encrypted accounting object information is merged with the license condition and then encrypted. This provides a significant effect in protection and charge for accounting object information such as a work, as described above.

The arrangements and operations of the information recording apparatus, the information reproducing apparatus, and the accounting apparatus of the present invention will be described below in detail.

(1) Information Recording Apparatus

(1-1) First Example of Information Recording Apparatus

FIG. 1 shows the first arrangement of an information recording apparatus according to the present invention. More specifically, FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of an information recording apparatus which encrypts contents information (to be referred to as accounting object information hereinafter) as an accounting object such as a digitized work, encrypts the license condition of the accounting object information and a decoding key for decoding the encrypted accounting object information to generate license information, and records the encrypted accounting object information and license information on a predetermined recording medium.

The information recording apparatus roughly comprises an accounting object information input section 2, a license information generation section 3, and a recording section 8.

Accounting object information is encrypted in advance using the encryption key ke(1) and input to the accounting object information input section 2. A decoding key corresponding to the encryption key ke(1) is the decoding key kd(1). Encryption of information X using an encryption key K will often be expressed as [X] k hereinafter, as needed.

The license information generation section 3 is constituted by a license condition input section 4, a decoding key input section 5, a key holder section 6, and an encryption section 7.

The encryption key ke is stored in the key holder section 6 in advance. This encryption key ke does not always agree with the encryption key ke(1).

A license condition is input to the license condition input section 4. The license condition includes at least one of the expiration date of the accounting object information, the license information write time, the contents ID, the medium ID, and the decoder unit ID.

The decoding key kd(1) corresponding to the encryption key ke(1), which is used to decode the encrypted accounting object information, is input to the decoding key input section 5.

The license condition and the decoding key kd(1) are input to the encryption section 7 respectively through the license condition input section 4 and the decoding key input section 5. The license condition and the decoding key kd(1) are merged.

After this, the merged license condition and decoding key kd(1) are encrypted using the encryption key ke stored in the key holder section 6. Generally, encryption schema are roughly classified into a public key scheme and a secret key scheme, and either can be employed. The encrypted data is called license information. As the characteristic feature of the encryption section 7, the license condition and the encryption key ke(1) are inseparably combined by merging and encryption. Therefore, an apparatus capable of decoding data encrypted using the encryption key ke, i.e., an apparatus having the decoding key kd corresponding to the encryption key ke can exclusively separate the license condition from the encryption key ke(1). The decoding key kd(1) is a key for decoding the encrypted accounting object information, so the accounting object information and the license condition are inseparably combined. The accounting object information and the license information as data can be always separated. However, without valid license information, the accounting object information cannot be decoded to use the contents.

The recording section 8 writes the license information in an information storage section 9 and then writes the encrypted accounting object information subsequent to the license condition.

The information storage section 9 may be a recording medium such as a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, or a hard disk. Such a recording medium having information is set in a predetermined reproducing apparatus to reproduce the information. Alternatively, the information may be transferred from the information storage section 9 to another recording medium through a network such as the Internet or by broadcasting and reproduced by a predetermined reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of an information recording apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1. First, the encrypted accounting object information ke(1) is input to the accounting object information input section 2 (step S1), the license condition is input to the license condition input section 4 (step S2), and the decoding key kd(1) is input to the decoding key input section 5 (step S3). The encrypted accounting object information is transferred from the accounting object information input section 2 to the recording section 8 (step S4), the license condition is transferred from the license condition input section 4 to the encryption section 7 (step S5), and the decoding key kd(1) is transferred from the decoding key input section 5 to the encryption section 7 (step S6). The encryption key ke held in the key holder section 6 in advance is transferred to the encryption section 7 (step S7). The encryption section 7 merges the license condition and the decoding key kd(1) and then performs encryption using the encryption key ke to generate license information (step S8). The generated license information is transferred to the recording section 8 (step S9). The recording section 8 merges the encrypted accounting object information and license information and records them on the information storage section 9 (step S10).

(1-2) Second Example of Information Recording Apparatus

FIG. 3 shows the second arrangement of an information recording apparatus according to the present invention. More specifically, FIG. 3 shows an arrangement of an information recording apparatus which encrypts part of accounting object information as an accounting object such as a digitized work together with a license condition to generate license information and records the remaining portion of the accounting object information and license information in a predetermined recording medium. As in the first arrangement shown in FIG. 1, part of accounting object information is encrypted together with a license condition to in separately combine the accounting object information with the license condition.

The information recording apparatus roughly comprises a data separation section 12, a license information generation section 13, and a recording section 18.

The data separation section 12 divides accounting object information into two parts. FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6A, and 6B show examples of data separation by the data separation section. For the descriptive convenience, a still picture will be exemplified, though this method can be used for a motion picture and the like.

As shown in FIG. 5A, part (face regions in FIG. 5A) of a still picture may be extracted, and the face regions as shown in FIG. 5B may be encrypted as part of license information. In this case, the image can be seen without decoding the license information (i.e., without paying the fee) although the image is partially omitted. As shown in FIG. 6A, an image is subjected to Fourier transformation to extract a frequency component. A high-frequency component as shown in FIG. 6B may be encrypted as part of license information. In this case, unless the license information cannot be decoded (i.e., unless the fee is paid), no clear image can be obtained by reproducing the image with the frequency component shown in FIG. 6A.

The license information generation section 13 is constituted by a license condition input section 14, an encryption section 17, and a key holder section 16.

The key holder section 16 stores the encryption key ke in advance. The license condition input section 14 receives a license condition. The license condition includes at least one of the expiration date of the accounting object information, the license information write time, the contents ID, the medium ID, and the decoder unit ID. The license condition is input to the encryption section 17 through the license condition input section 14. Part of accounting object information, which is obtained by dividing the accounting object information into two parts, is also input from the data separation section 12 to the encryption section 17. The license condition and part of the accounting object information are merged and then encrypted using the encryption key ke stored in the key holder section 16 to generate license information.

The recording section 18 writes the license information in an information storage section 19 and then writes the remaining part of the accounting object information, which is obtained by dividing the accounting object information into two parts by the data separation section 12, subsequent to the license information.

The information storage section 19 may be a recording medium such as a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, or a hard disk. Such a recording medium having information is set in a predetermined reproducing apparatus to reproduce the information. Alternatively, the information may be transferred from the information storage section 19 to another recording medium through a network such as the Internet or by broadcasting and reproduced by a predetermined reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of an information recording apparatus 11 shown in FIG. 3. Accounting object information is input to the data separation section 12 (step S21), and the license condition is input to the license condition input section 14 (step S22). The data separation section 12 divides the input accounting object information into two parts (step S23), transfers one part of the accounting object information to the encryption section 17 (step S24), and transfers the remaining part of the accounting object information to the recording section 18 (step S25). The license condition is transferred from the license condition input section 14 to the encryption section 17 (step S26). The encryption key ke is transferred from the key holder section 16 to the encryption section 17 (step S27). The encryption section 17 merges the license condition and the part of the accounting object information transferred from the data separation section 12 and then encrypts them to generate license information (step S28). The generated license information is transferred to the recording section 18 (step S29). The recording section 18 merges the part of the accounting object information transferred from the data separation section 12 and the license information and records them on the information storage section 19 (step S30).

(1-3) Third Example of Information Recording Apparatus

As still another example, the entire accounting object information may be encrypted together with a license condition to inseparately combine the accounting object information with the license condition.

FIG. 7 shows the third arrangement of the information recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals as in FIG. 3 denote the same parts in FIG. 7, and only different parts will be described below. In FIG. 7, the data separation section 12 in FIG. 3 is replaced with the accounting object information input section 2 so that the accounting object information input to the accounting object information input section 2 is directly transferred to the encryption section 17. The encryption section 17 merges the entire accounting object information with the license condition and then encrypts them using the encryption key ke.

As described above, in the first example of the information recording apparatus, the decoding key kd(1) for decoding the encrypted accounting object information and the license condition are merged and encrypted using the encryption key ke to generate license information. In addition, the encrypted accounting object information and the license information are merged and recorded on the information storage section 9, so the accounting object information and the license condition can be inseparately combined. In this case, only an information reproducing apparatus having the encryption key ke corresponding to the encryption key ke can separate the license condition and the decoding key kd(1) from each other so the encrypted accounting object information can be decoded using the separated decoding key kd(1) and reproduced.

In the second example of the information recording apparatus, part of the accounting object information and the license condition are merged and encrypted using the encryption key ke to generate license information. The remaining part of the accounting object information and the license information are merged and stored in the information storage section 19. With this processing, the accounting object information and the license condition can be inseparately combined. In this case, only an information reproducing apparatus having the decoding key kd corresponding to the encryption key ke can decode the part of the accounting object information and the license condition and separate them from each other so the accounting object information can be reproduced from the decoded and separated part of the accounting object information and the remaining part.

In the third example of the information recording apparatus, the entire accounting object information and the license condition are merged, encrypted using the encryption key ke, and recorded on the information storage section 19, thereby inseparately combining the accounting object information with the license condition. In this case, only an information reproducing apparatus having the decoding key kd corresponding to the encryption key ke can decode, separate, and reproduce the accounting object information and the license condition.

All of these arrangements disable to separate the accounting object information from the license condition without decoding.

The information storage section 9 or 19 may be a recording medium such as a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, or a hard disk. Such a recording medium having information is set in a predetermined reproducing apparatus to reproduce the information. Alternatively, the information may be transferred from the information storage section 9 or 19 to another recording medium through a network such as the Internet or by broadcasting and reproduced by a predetermined reproducing apparatus.

(2) Information Reproducing Apparatus

(2-1) First Example of Information Reproducing Apparatus

FIG. 8 shows the first arrangement of an information reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. More specifically, FIG. 8 shows an arrangement of an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on the information storage section 9 or 19 in the first information recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the second information recording apparatus shown in FIG. 3, or the third information recording apparatus shown in FIG. 7 and distributed to a user by a recording medium or through a network or broadcasting.

The unit information recorded on, e.g., the information storage section 9 in the first information recording apparatus includes accounting object information encrypted and merged with license information generated by encrypting the decoding key kd(1) for decoding the accounting object information together with the license condition using the encryption key ke.

The license condition includes, e.g., the expiration date. The expiration date means an expiration date of accounting object information corresponding to a predetermined fee paid by the user. The license condition may also include the license information recording time. The license information recording time is a time when the license information has been recorded on, e.g., the information storage section 9 in the first information recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and, more specifically, time information read from, e.g., a clock incorporated in the license condition input section 4 in generating the license information by the license information generation section 3.

Referring to FIG. 8, the information reproducing apparatus roughly comprises an information storage section 101, a readout section 102, a decoder unit 103, and a reproduction section 104.

The information storage section 101 may be a recording medium such as a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, or a hard disk. Alternatively, information recorded on the information storage section 101 may be transferred from the information storage section 9 or 19 shown in FIG. 1, 3, or 7 through a network such as the Internet or by broadcasting.

The readout section 102 reads out one unit of information from the information storage section 101, transfers the license information to the decoder unit 103, and transfers the encrypted accounting object information to the reproduction section 104.

The decoder unit 103 decodes the license information using the decoding key kd stored in advance and decides on the basis of the obtained license condition whether the decoding key kd(1) for decoding the encrypted accounting object information is to be output to the reproduction section 104, thereby realizing protection by copyright.

Since the accounting object information is encrypted using the encryption key ke(1), the accounting object information cannot be reproduced unless the reproduction section 104 obtains the decoding key kd(1) corresponding to the encryption key ke(1). The decoding key kd(1) is transferred from the decoder unit 103 to the reproduction section 104. When the decoding key kd(1) is to be transferred from the decoder unit 103 to the reproduction section 104, the decoding key kd(1) is normally protected. This is because if the decoding key kd(1) is acquired/stored during transfer, reproduction is enabled without intervening the decoder unit 103, and protection by copyright such as license condition check by the decoder unit 103 becomes meaningless. A specific example of transfer protection is described in, e.g., "News Report, Nikkei Electronics", Nov. 18, 1996 (No. 676), pp. 13-14.

The reproduction section 104 has a decoder section 105. The decoder section 105 decodes the encrypted accounting object information transferred from the readout section 102 using the decoding key kd(1) transferred from the decoder unit 103. The reproduction section 104 performs predetermined decoding for displaying the accounting object information obtained upon decoding by the decoder section 105 and displays the accounting object information on a predetermined display device.

FIG. 9 shows an arrangement of the decoder unit 103. The decoder unit 103 comprises a license information input section 103a, a decoder section 103b, a decoding key holder section 103c, a decision section 103d, a clock reference section 103e, and a clock 103f.

The license information input section 103a receives license information transferred from the readout section 102 and outputs the license information to the decoder section 103b.

The decoder section 103b decodes the license information using the decoding key kd stored in the decoding key holder section 103c in advance and outputs the obtained license condition, i.e., the expiration date and the decoding key kd(1) to the decision section 103d.

The clock reference section 103e reads time (clock time) indicated by the clock 103f.

The decision section 103d compares the clock time (indicating the current time) acquired from the clock reference section 103e with the expiration date. If clock time .English Pound. expiration date, the decision section 103d decides that the accounting object information can be used (i.e., the decoding key kd(1) can be output) and outputs the decoding key kd(1) to the reproduction section 104.

When the license condition also includes license information recording time, check of the expiration date and the license information recording time is also performed. More specifically, when the expiration date is valid, the decision section 103d compares the clock time with the license information recording time. If clock time 3 license information recording time holds, the decision section 103d outputs the decoding key kd(1) to the reproduction section 104. This check is performed to only confirm the fact that "the license information has been recorded in the past", though it has great significance. The clock 103f to be referred to by the clock reference section 103e is not always correct. Especially, excessive time delay in the clock is not preferable from the viewpoint of observance of the expiration date. Check of the license information recording time is meaningful in preventing time delay to some extent. Assume that the clock indicates time one month ago. Also, assume that the license information recording time is 12:00 in a certain day, and the expiration date is set at 12:00 one week after the license information recording time. If the license information recording time is not checked, the user can use the accounting object information for one week +one month. By checking the license information recording time, use of the accounting object information can be inhibited even when the clock time is largely delayed.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the information reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 8. The readout section 102 reads out the unit information, i.e., the encrypted accounting object information and license information recorded on the information storage section 101 (step S41), transfers the license information to the decoder unit 103 (step S42), and transfers the encrypted accounting object information to the reproduction section 104 (step S43). The decoder unit 103 decodes the license information using the decoding key kd stored in advance to obtain the license condition (expiration date) and the decoding key kd(1). It is decided on the basis of the license condition (expiration date) whether the accounting object information can be used (step S44). If the expiration date is valid, and it is decided that the accounting object information can be used (YES in step S45), the decoder unit 103 transfers the decoding key kd(1) to the reproduction section 104 (step S46). If it is decided that use of the accounting object information is disabled, notification representing that the decoding key kd(1) cannot be output is output to the reproduction section 104, and processing is ended. The reproduction section 104 decodes the encrypted accounting object information using the decoding key kd(1) and further performs decoding to reproduce the accounting object information (step S47).

The flow of processing operation of the decoder unit 103 in steps S44 to S46 in FIG. 10 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 and the flow chart shown in FIG. 11. The license information input section 103a of the decoder unit 103 receives license information transferred from the readout section 102 (step S51) and transfers the license information to the decoder section 103b (step S52). When the decoding key kd is transferred from the decoding key holder section 103c (step S53), the decoder section 103b decodes the license information using the decoding key kd (step S54). Data obtained by decoding the license information is transferred to the decision section 103d (step S55). When the clock time is transferred from the clock reference section 103e (step S56), the decision section 103d compares the license condition (expiration date) with the clock time to decide whether the accounting object information can be used (i.e., whether the decoding key kd(1) is to be output to the reproduction section 104) (step S57). If it is decided that the accounting object information can be used, the decoding key kd(1) is output to the reproduction section 104 (steps S58 and S59). If it is decided that the accounting object information cannot be used, notification representing that the decoding key kd(1) cannot be output is output to the reproduction section 104 (steps S58 and S60).

(2-2) Arrangement of Decoder Unit and Clock Incorporated in Decoder Unit

When the expiration date for accounting object information is to be used as a license condition, and the expiration date is to be set for the accounting object information, the accuracy of the clock 103f incorporated in the decoder unit 103 shown in FIG. 9 is important. In that sense, a mechanism for disabling the user from arbitrary setting time is necessary. FIG. 12 shows a decoder unit with such a mechanism. The same reference numerals as in FIG. 9 denote the same parts in FIG. 12.

As shown in FIG. 12, the clock 103f has a time setting section 111, a time setting disabling section 112, and a time counter 113. The operation of the clock 103f shown in FIG. 12 will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 13. When time setting designation information containing set time information is input through the time setting section 111 in shipment from a factory (step S71), the designated set time is set in the time counter 113 (steps S72 and S73). After this, the time setting disabling section 112 takes a measure to disable time setting through the time setting section 111 (steps S74 and S75). For example, the time setting disabling section 112 flows an overcurrent to a circuit for connecting the time setting section 111 and the time counter 113 to physically disconnect the time setting section 111 and the time counter 113. Upon taking the time setting disabling measure, any time setting becomes impossible.

An error evaluation section 103g determines the maximum cumulative error by, e.g., the following method. The error evaluation section holds the "maximum time delay" and "maximum time advance" of the clock 103f. The error evaluation section 103g also has a time counter for error evaluation. This time counter adds the maximum delay or maximum advance per hour and transfers the cumulative maximum delay or cumulative maximum advance (these are inclusively called a cumulative error) as a sum value to the decision section 103d.

The cumulative maximum advance or cumulative maximum delay means the cumulative time of errors generated due to, e.g., the abnormal operation of the clock 103f itself. Therefore, when the clock time indicated by the clock 103f is to be compared with the expiration date or license information recording time, this cumulative error must be taken into consideration.

In this case, the decision section 103d of the decoder unit 103 checks whether the following relationships hold.

Clock time .English Pound. expiration date+cumulative maximum advance

Clock time 3 license information recording (update) time-cumulative maximum delay

If the two relations simultaneously hold, it is decided that the accounting object information can be used. When information recorded on the information storage section 9 by the first information recording apparatus is to be reproduced, it is decided that the decoding key kd(1) can be output. When information recorded on the information storage section 19 by the second information recording apparatus is to be reproduced, it is decided that part of the accounting object information can be output.

The processing operation of the decoder unit shown in FIG. 12 will be described next with reference to the flow chart in FIG. 14. The license information input section 103a of the decoder unit 103 receives license information transferred from the readout section 102 (step S81) and transfers the license information to the decoder section 103b (step S82). When the decoding key kd is transferred from the decoding key holder section 103c (step S83), the decoder section 103b decodes the license information using the decoding key kd (step S84). Data obtained upon decoding the license information is transferred to the decision section 103d (step S85). The clock reference section 103e acquires clock time from the clock 103f (step S86) and transfers the acquired clock time to the decision section 103d (step S87). The decision section 103d acquired the cumulative error from the error evaluation section 103g (step S88) and compares the license condition (expiration date) with the clock time in consideration of the cumulative error of the clock 103f to decide whether the accounting object information can be used (i.e., whether the decoding key kd(1) is to be output to the reproduction section 104) (step S89). If it is decided that the accounting object information can be used, the decoding key kd(1) is output to the reproduction section 104 (steps S90 and S91). If it is decided that the accounting object information cannot be used, notification representing that the decoding key kd(1) cannot be output is output to the reproduction section 104 (steps S90 and S92).

(2-3) Time Setting No. 1 for Clock Incorporated in Decoder Unit

FIG. 15 shows another arrangement of the clock 103f incorporated in the decoder unit 103 and, more specifically, an arrangement of the clock 103f for setting time on the basis of encrypted time setting designation information.

As shown in FIG. 15, the clock 103f comprises a set time input section 121, a decoder section 122, a command certification section 123, a time setting section 124, and a time counter 125.

The operation of the clock 103f with this arrangement will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 16. Time setting designation information containing set time information is encrypted in advance. When the encrypted time setting designation information is input to the set time input section 121 (step S101), the set time input section 121 transfers the encrypted time setting designation information to the decoder section 122 (step S102). The decoder section 122 decodes the encrypted time setting designation information (step S103) and transfers the decoded time setting designation information to the command certification section 123 (step S104). The command certification section 123 confirms the command format of the time setting designation information (step S105). If the format is correct (YES in step S106), set time information contained in the time setting designation information is transferred to the time setting section 124 (step S107). The time setting section 124 sets time of the time counter 125 in accordance with the set time information (step S108).

When the clock 103f has the arrangement shown in FIG. 15, the time setting designation information to be input to the clock 103f must always be encrypted using a predetermined encryption key. For this reason, an apparatus which cannot perform encryption (i.e., an apparatus having no encryption key) cannot be used to set time. Therefore, the user cannot easily set time of the clock 103f, either.

(2-4) Time Setting No. 2 for Clock Incorporated in Decoder Unit

Time setting for the clock 103f incorporated in the decoder unit 103 through a network will be described next.

FIG. 17 is a view showing the concept of network time setting. A time setting client includes a clock to be subjected to time setting, i.e., the clock 103f incorporated in the decoder unit 103 of the first information reproducing apparatus as shown in FIG. 8. The time indicated by this clock will be called a client time. A time setting server also incorporates a clock, and the time indicated by this clock will be called a server time. In this form, the time setting server sets time for the clock incorporated in the time setting client through a network.

Relatively complex processing is required to set time for the clock incorporated in the decoder unit. The reason for this is as follows. The advance in a clock 201 of the client must be checked. An operation of confirming that one minute of client time is almost equivalent to one minute of server time must be performed. This confirmation is made by i) designating certification information transmission time from the server, and ii) designating certification information arrival time (setting time out). The certification information is transmitted from the client to the server to prevent false declaration. This is because the server measures the advance in client time using the certification information arrival time. In addition, it must be guaranteed that the time setting command transmitted from the server is input to the clock 201 immediately after it has arrived at the client. To guarantee such quick input, time-out (time setting designation receiving time) is set for the clock 201 of the client.

FIG. 18 shows an arrangement of the time setting client. As shown in FIG. 18, the time setting client is constituted by a network communication section 202, a client certification key storage section 203, and an encryption section 204.

FIG. 19 shows an arrangement of the time setting server.

An operation of setting time for the clock 201 of the time setting client from the time setting server through a network will be described next with reference to FIGS. 20 to 22 showing flow charts of the operations of the time setting client and time setting server, FIG. 23 showing a block diagram of an arrangement of the clock 201 of the time setting client, and FIGS. 24 and 25 showing flow charts of the operation of the clock 201.

First, the time setting client sends current client time t1 indicated by the clock 201 to the time setting server through the network communication section 202 (steps S111 and S112 in FIG. 20). More specifically, as shown in FIG. 23, a time readout section 302 reads out the current client time t1 from a time counter 301 (S161 in FIG. 24) and outputs the current client time t1 to the network communication section 202 shown in FIG. 18 (step S162 in FIG. 24).

The time setting server receives the client time t1 through a network connection section 211 (step S131 in FIG. 21) and transfers the client time t1 to a time designation section 212 (step S132). The time designation section 212 notifies an arrival time period setting section 213 of arrival of the time t1 from the client (step S133), adds a predetermined numerical value to the client time t1 to determine certification information transmission time (client time) t2 (step S134), and transfers the certification information transmission time t2 to the time setting client through the network connection section 211 (step S135). The certification information transmission time t2 is stored in a designation time storage section 218 (step S136). Upon receiving the time arrival notification, the arrival time period setting section 213 acquires arrival time (server time) T1 of the time t1 from the client (step S137), adds a predetermined numerical value to the arrival time T1 to determine certification information arrival time (server time) T2 (step S138), and stores the time T2 in an arrival time period storage section 215 (step S139).

Upon receiving the certification information transmission time t2 through the network communication section 202 (step S113 in FIG. 20), the time setting client transfers it to the clock 201 (step S114) and waits until the client time t2. At the client time t2, the clock 201 reads out the certification information and outputs it to the encryption section 204. At this time, the certification information may be time "t2" (step S115). More specifically, as shown in FIG. 23, the clock 201 receives the certification information transmission time t2 and stores it in a designation time storage section 303 (step S163 in FIG. 24). A time comparison section 304 reads out the certification information transmission time t2 stored in the designation time storage section 303 and compares the certification information transmission time t2 with a client time t indicated by the time counter 301 while occasionally referring to the client time t. When the certification information transmission time t2 coincides with the client time t, the time readout section 302 is designated to read out the client time (steps S164 to S168 in FIG. 24). Upon receiving this designation, the time readout section 302 reads out the client time (in this case, the time t2) indicated by the time counter 301 and outputs the readout time to the encryption section 204 shown in FIG. 18 (step S169 in FIG. 24). The clock 201 of the time setting client adds a predetermined numerical value to the time t2 to determine time setting designation receiving time (client time) t3 and stores the time t3 in a time setting designation receiving time storage section 309 (step S170 in FIG. 24).

When an encryption key k's is transferred from the client certification key storage section 203 (step S116), the encryption section 204 of the time setting client encrypts the time "t2" as certification information using the encryption key k's (step S117) and transfers the encrypted certification information ([t2] k's) to the time setting server through the network communication section 202 (steps S118 and S119). In the time setting server, a decoding key k'p corresponding to the encryption key k's is held in a server certification key storage section 219.

Upon receiving the encrypted certification information from the time setting client through the network connection section 211 (step S140), the time setting server transfers the certification information to an arrival time period verification section 216 (step S141). The arrival time period verification section 216 extracts the certification information arrival time T2 which has been stored in the arrival time period storage section 215 and reads out, from a clock 214, time T (server time) at which the encrypted certification information is received (steps S142 to S144). The certification information receiving time T is compared with the certification information arrival time T2. If T>T2, it is decided that the delay time is too long, and processing is ended (step S145). If T .English Pound. T2, the encrypted certification information is transferred to a decoder section 217 (step S146 in FIG. 22) and decoded using the decoding key k'p stored in the server certification key storage section 219 (steps S147 and S148). The decoded certification information is transferred to a designation time confirmation section 220 (step S149). The certification information transmission time t2 which has been stored in the designation time storage section 218 is also transferred to the designation time confirmation section 220. By comparing these times, the clock of the time setting client is certified (steps S150 to S152). In this case, the time "t2" is confirmed. If certification of the clock of the time setting client fails, processing is ended. If certification of the clock of the time setting client is successful, the designation time confirmation section 220 transmits a time setting designation to a time setting designation generation section 221 (step S153). Upon receiving this designation, the time setting designation generation section 221 reads out the server time at that time point from the clock 214 and generates a time setting command containing the server time. The time setting command is encrypted using an encryption key k't. The clock of the time setting client holds a decoding key k'q corresponding to the encryption key k't (steps S154 and S155). The encrypted time setting command is transmitted to the time setting client through the network connection section 211 (steps S156 and S157).

Upon receiving the encrypted license server through the network communication section 202, the time setting client inputs the time setting command to the clock 201 (steps S120 and S121 in FIG. 20).

As shown in FIG. 23, when the encrypted time setting command is received by a set time input section 305, the clock 201 notifies a time setting designation input time reference section 310 of it (steps S171 and S172 in FIG. 24). Upon receiving this notification, the time setting designation input time reference section 310 acquires the client time t from the time counter 301 and outputs the client time t to a time comparison section 311 (steps S173 and S174 in FIG. 24). The time comparison section 311 reads out the time setting designation receiving time t3 which has been stored in the time setting designation receiving time storage section 309 and compares the time t3 with the client time t. At this time, the time comparison section 311 may do comparison/decision using allowable delay time At stored in an allowable delay time storage section 312 in advance (steps S175 to S177 in FIG. 24). If t>t3+.DELTA.t, it is decided that the delay time is too long, and processing is ended (step S178 in FIG. 24). If t .English Pound. t3, the time comparison section 311 notifies the set time input section 305 of a time setting allowance (steps S178 and S179 in FIG. 24). In response to this notification, the clock 201 of the time setting client performs the time setting operation on the basis of the time setting designation (command) transmitted from the time setting server.

As shown in FIG. 23, upon receiving the time setting allowance notification, the set time input section 305 of the clock 201 of the time setting client transfers the encrypted time setting designation to a decoder section 306 (step S180 in FIG. 25). The decoder section 306 decodes the encrypted time setting designation using the decoding key k'q and transfers the decoded time setting designation to a command verification section 307 (steps S181 and S182 in FIG. 25). The command verification section 307 confirms the command format of the time setting designation. If the command format is correct, the server time in the time setting designation is transferred to a time setting section 308 (step S183 to S185 in FIG. 25). The time setting section 308 sets the client time indicated by the time counter in accordance with the server time received from the command verification section 307 (step S186 in FIG. 25).

(2-5) Second Example of Information Reproducing Apparatus (the License Condition Includes an Accounting Object Information ID)

Accounting object information has an accounting object information ID for identifying the accounting object information. The license condition includes at least the expiration date and the accounting object information ID. A case wherein license information which has been stored in the information storage section of an information reproducing apparatus is updated through a network under this condition will be described.

FIG. 26 shows the arrangement of the second information reproducing apparatus and the entire arrangement of a system for updating license information. The second information reproducing apparatus comprises an information storage section 401, a decoder unit 402, a license information update client section 403, a reproduction section 404, a network connection section 405, and an electronic banking section 406.

The information storage section 401 in the information reproducing apparatus is the same as the information storage section 101 in the first information reproducing appara thus shown in FIG. 8. Of the unit information read out by an information readout section (not shown in FIG. 26), license information is sent to the decoder unit 402.

FIG. 27 shows an arrangement of the decoder unit 402 shown in FIG. 26. The same reference numerals as in FIG. 9 denote the same parts in FIG. 27. The arrangement shown in FIG. 27 is different from that shown in FIG. 9 in that an accounting object information ID output section 103g for outputting the accounting object information ID included in the license condition is added.

The operation of the decoder unit shown in FIG. 27 will be described next with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 28. The license information is input to the license information input section 103a of the decoder unit 402 and sent to the decoder section 103b (steps S201 and S202). The decoder section 103b decodes the license information using the decoding key kd held in the decoding key holder section 103c and transfers the decoded license information to the decision section 103d (steps S203 to S205). When clock time is transferred from the clock reference section 103e (step S206), the decision section 103d compares the license condition (expiration date) with the clock time to decide whether the accounting object information can be used (i.e., whether the decoding key kd(1) is to be output to the reproduction section 404). If it is decided that the accounting object information can be used, the decoding key kd(1) is output to the reproduction section 404 (steps S206 to S209). The above operation is the same as that of the decoder unit shown in FIG. 9. On the other hand, if the decision section 103d decides that the accounting object information cannot be used, the accounting object information ID contained in the license condition is transferred to the accounting object information ID output section 103g, and simultaneously, notification representing that the decoding key kd(1) cannot be output is output to the reproduction section 404 (steps S210 and S211). The accounting object information ID output section 103g outputs the accounting object information ID to the license information update client section 403 (step S212).

The arrangement and operation of the license information update client section 403 will be described next mainly with reference to FIGS. 29 and 30. The accounting object information ID sent from the decoder unit 402 is input to a license information input section 403a (step S221). At this time, license information other than the accounting object information ID may be input to the license information input section 403a. License information containing at least the accounting object information ID is input to the license information input section 403a. The license information input to the license information input section 403a is output to the network connection section 405 through a license information transfer section 403b and then transmitted to a license information update server 407 shown in FIG. 26 (steps S222 and S223). The license information transfer section 403b may encrypt the license information and output it to the network connection section 405.

When an encrypted fee claim (including a field ID) is transmitted from the license information update server 407 shown in FIG. 26 in correspondence with the accounting object information ID, the second information reproducing apparatus receives the encrypted fee claim through the network connection section 405 and transfers the fee claim to a fee claiming input section 403c of the license information update client section 403 (step S224). The encrypted fee claim is also transferred to a decoder section 403d (step S225). The decoder section 403d decodes the encrypted fee claim and transfers it to a payment confirmation section 403e (steps S226 and S227). The payment confirmation section 403e displays the contents of the fee claim on, e.g., a predetermined display device and confirms the user's will about fee payment for use of the accounting object information (step S228).

If the user designates to pay the fee through a predetermined input device, a payment designation section 403f is requested to issue a payment designa5 tion (steps S229 and S230). The payment designation generated by the payment designation section 403f is transmitted to a server 408 of an electronic banking agency through the electronic banking section 406 and then a predetermined network (step S231).

When account payment is confirmed by the server 408 of the electronic banking agency, the license information update server 407 is notified of it. Upon receiving this notification, the license information update server 407 generates new license information by postponing the expiration date, encrypts the new license information, and transmits it to the second information reproducing apparatus. Upon receiving the updated license information through the network connection section 405 of the second information reproducing apparatus, the license information is input to a license information input section 403g in the license information update client section 403 and then transferred to a license information update section 403h (steps S232 and S233). The license information update section 403h overwrites the received license information on the license information of the accounting object information, which has already been recorded on the information storage section 401, thereby updating the license information (step S234).

The arrangement and operation of the license information update server 407 will be described next with reference to FIGS. 31 and 32. The license information transmitted from the second information reproducing apparatus in step S223 in FIG. 30 is received by a network connection section 407a in the license information update server 407 and transferred to a license information update unit 407b (steps S241 and S242 in FIG. 32). The license information is decoded, as needed, and the decoded license information is registered in a license information database 407c (step S243). At this time, the license information database 407c adds a field ID to the license information to manage the license information update history. The license information update unit 407b is also notified of this field ID. An accounting database retrieval section 407d searches an accounting database 407e on the basis of the accounting object information ID contained in the license information to generate a fee claim (steps S244 to S246).

As the contents of the fee claim, the accounting object information ID, the fee to be paid for use of the accounting object information (fee corresponding to the expiration date), a fee payment destination, and the like are described, as shown in FIG. 33.

The generated fee claim is transferred to an encryption section 407f together with the field ID, encrypted, transferred to the network connection section 407a, and then transmitted to the second information reproducing apparatus through the network (steps S247 to S250). The encrypted fee claim and field ID are received by the second information reproducing apparatus and subjected to processing from step S224 in FIG. 30.

In the second information reproducing apparatus, payment for use of the accounting object information is performed by issuing a payment designation in step S231 in FIG. 30. When the fee claim presented for the user has contents as shown in FIG. 33, the contents of the payment designation are described as, e.g., "10 yen/week for "ABCD" to abc, reference number: field ID", and payment is performed through the electronic banking section 406. The reference number is the field ID added to the license information. The server 408 of the electronic banking agency which has received the payment designation performs payment processing and then sends a payment confirmation to the license information update server 407 together with a specification "10 yen/week for "ABCD" from A to abc, reference number: field ID". In this case, A is the user ID.

When the license information update server 407 receives the payment confirmation through a network connection section 407g, the license information update unit 407b searches the license information database 407c for license information to be updated, on the basis of the reference number, i.e., the field ID (steps S251 to S253). The license information update unit 407b updates the license condition in the license information with reference to the payment confirmation, encrypts the license information (step S254), and transmits the encrypted license information to the second information reproducing apparatus through the network connection section 407a (steps S255 and S256).

The fee claim to be transmitted from the license information update server to the second information reproducing apparatus is encrypted due to the following reason. The communication path used to transmit the fee claim is a public line such as the Internet, and generally, security therefor is not guaranteed. For this reason, the fee claim may be changed, and the user may pay the fee for a wrong destination. The fee claim is encrypted to prevent this.

FIG. 34 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the entire system including the second information reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 26. The reference numerals (steps S261 to S286) in FIG. 34 correspond to those in FIG. 26, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(3) License Information Update Unit

A license information update unit will be described next. The license information update unit mainly updates the license condition in license information. For example, the license information update unit can be used as an independent unit to update license information recorded on the information storage section by the first information recording apparatus together with accounting object information. To update the license information, the license information update unit must cancel (decode) encryption of the license information, input a desired license condition which has been newly input, confirm whether payment for the license condition has been done, and then, encrypt the license information, and output it as updated license information.

FIG. 35 shows an arrangement of the license information update unit. The arrangement and operation of the license information update unit shown in FIG. 35 will be described below with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. 36 and 37.

In license information update processing, first, license information is input to a license information input section 501, and a desired license condition is input to a desired license condition input section 506 (step S301 in FIG. 36 and step S308 in FIG. 37). In this case, the license information is constituted by the license condition and the decoding key kd(1) of the encrypted accounting object information, which have been described with reference to the first information recording apparatus. The desired license condition means the license condition of a user's choice and is input from the user side through an appropriate interface.

The license information input to the license information input section 501 is decoded by a license information decoder section 502 using the decoding key held in a decoding key holder section 503 (step S302 in FIG. 36) to separate the license condition and the accounting information decoding key from each other such that the license information (especially the license condition) can be updated, and simultaneously, information necessary for charging, such as an accounting object information ID, is sent to a fee claiming output section 507 (step S303 in FIG. 36 and step S310 in FIG. 37). The license information which can be updated is rewritten by a license information update section 505 to the license condition input by the desired license condition input section 506 (step S304 in FIG. 36). To charge for the desired license condition, the desired license condition input section 506 outputs the desired license condition to the fee claiming output section 507 to prompt to charge for the input desired license condition. The fee claiming output section 507 outputs, outside the apparatus, the desired license condition input from the desired license condition input section 506 and the information necessary for accounting, such as the accounting object information ID, input from the license information decoder section 502 on the basis of a predetermined protocol (step S310 in FIG. 37). In response to this output, the external apparatus starts the accounting procedure. The fee claiming information to be output is determined by the usage environment of the information distribution system (i.e., the information distribution system constituted by the information recording apparatus and the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention) for protection by copyright and accounting, which incorporates the license information update unit. If the copyright holder of the accounting object information has been specified, the accounting object information ID need not be output. If the license condition has been set for all accounting object information in advance, the desired license condition input section 506 can be omitted, and the license condition need not be output from the fee claiming output section 507. As described above, the license information update unit of this embodiment takes some self-explanatory variations depending on its usage environment.

Upon completing fee payment for the fee claiming information, a payment confirmation signal is sent from the external apparatus to a payment confirmation section 508. When this signal is sent, the updated license information input from the license information update section 505 is sent to an updated license information encryption section 509 so the license information is encrypted using a predetermined encryption key held in an encryption key holder section 510 (steps S305 and S306 in FIG. 36). At this time, the updated license information is not sent to the updated license information encryption section 509 unless the signal is received. With this function, the license information update unit of this embodiment prevents the updated license information from being output when payment has not been performed yet.

The updated license information encrypted by the updated license information encryption section 509 is sent to an updated license information output section 511 and output to the external apparatus (step S307). In this case, the accounting object information ID means the ID of the accounting object information, which represents the copyright holder of the information and is necessary for specifying to the accounting amount or the accounting target.

The license information update unit shown in FIG. 35 can be applied not only to update the license information recorded on a recording medium or the like by the above-mentioned first information recording apparatus but also to update license information recorded on a recording medium or the like by the second or third information recording apparatus as a modification of the first information recording apparatus.

The license information update unit shown in FIG. 35 can be used as an independent unit, combined with the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention, or incorporated in the information reproducing apparatus. Alternatively, the license information update unit can be used as the license information update unit 407b in the license information update server shown in FIG. 31.

(4) Accounting Apparatus for Protection by Copyright

FIG. 38 shows an arrangement of the main part of an accounting apparatus for performing accounting for protection by copyright on the basis of license information recorded on a recording medium or the like by the above-described information recording apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 38, license information is loaded from a recording medium 615 such as a magnetic disk, a DVD, or a CD by a license information loading section 601. Simultaneously, a desired license condition is input from a desired license condition input section 602 through an input medium 616 such as a keyboard or a mouse. The license information and the desired license condition are input to a license information update unit 603 and subjected to the same license information update processing as in the above-described license information update unit so that accounting information as a fee claim is sent to an accounting information retrieval section 604. The accounting information is necessary for specifying the desired license condition and accounting target. The accounting information retrieval section 604 searches an accounting information database 609 for accounting amount information on the basis of the accounting information. If the accounting amount has been determined in advance, the desired license condition need not be output from the license information update unit 603, and the accounting amount itself can be output. In this case, accounting information retrieval need not be performed. If the copyright holder of the accounting object information has been specified, the accounting information such as an accounting object information ID need not be output from the license information update unit 603. In this case, an accounting history administration section 608 need to administer only the accounting amount information and not the accounting object information ID. As described above, the accounting information to be output from the license information update unit 603 takes self-explanatory variations depending on the situation of application of the accounting apparatus.

The accounting information and accounting amount information are sent to an accounting amount information output section 605, so the accounting amount is presented to the user. When the user pays the presented account by some method, a payment decision section 606 confirms the payment and sends a signal confirming the payment to the payment confirmation section 508 in the license information update unit. If the user is to pay the fee in cash, a note/coin insertion section and a decision section are arranged, and a signal is sent to the payment decision section 606 in accordance with decision by the decision section. The payment is done by various methods using an electronic money, a credit card, or a prepaid card, so the decision is also made by various methods.

If the payment decision section 606 decides that payment is complete, the payment decision section 606 sends the accounting information to the accounting history administration section 608 such that the accounting information is stored and administered.

It is assumed that the accounting apparatus of this embodiment is not connected to an external apparatus through a network or the like, so banking is not complete at that point. For this reason, in this embodiment, the method of distributing such payment must be administered, so the accounting history administration section 608 is required. The history information stored in the accounting history administration section 608 is periodically read by a predetermined administrator, so the banking is performed by an appropriate section.

Finally, the license information update unit 603 which has received the signal representing completion of payment from the payment decision section 606 outputs the updated license information to an updated license information write-in section 607 through the same procedure as that in the above-described license information update unit. The write-in section 607 writes the updated license information at an appropriate portion of the input recording medium 615.

When the accounting apparatus of this embodiment is combined with the information reproducing apparatus of the present invention, a vending machine for information with a copyright, which has a so-called license information update function, can be realized. As a characteristic feature, the characteristic function of the present invention is realized in one machine. With this arrangement, when accounting object information with a copyright is to be rented or sold, and it is assumed that the (encrypted) accounting object information has already been input to a portable recording medium such as a DVD or CD, appropriate accounting processing can be performed by inserting the recording medium in the accounting apparatus of this embodiment, so anyone is allowed anytime to conveniently buy the license for the contents.

(4-1) License Information Update Unit Taking Measure for Preventing Illicit Copy of Accounting Object Information and Decoder Unit in Information Reproducing Apparatus Corresponding to the License Information Update Unit

As can be easily understood, when permanent use of accounting object information with a copyright or a very late expiration date is permitted, the storage medium itself may be copied. If copies are distributed in a large volume, the copyright cannot be protected. To solve this problem, when permanent use or a long-term expiration date is to be permitted as a license condition, the decoder unit and license information update unit of this embodiment exclusively allow one incorporated decoder unit to reproduce the accounting object information. In the following description, a "definite license" or "permanent license" includes permission of permanent use or a long-term expiration date (this also applies to a description of (4-2) and the like). With this arrangement, even when a different decoder unit is used, the use is refused. Copies of information yield no benefit, and accordingly, the copyright is protected. In this case, however, the permanent license of accounting object information cannot be purchased without knowing the decoder unit ID (ID which specifies a decoder unit). For this reason, as the characteristic feature of the license information update unit of this embodiment, the decoder unit ID is added to the license condition at the first use of permanent license purchase contents. The decoder unit ID is identification information for identifying a decoder unit and can be, e.g., the manufacturing number of the decoder unit.

FIG. 39 shows an arrangement of the decoder unit of this embodiment. The arrangement and operation of a decoder unit 701 will be described below with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 40.

When license information is input from a license information input section 711 (step S401), the license information is sent to a decoder section 712. The decoder section decodes the license information using a decoding key held in a decoding key holder section 713 (step S402). The decoded license information is sent to a license condition change necessitating decision section 714 (step S403). When the expiration date in the license condition is indefinite, the decision section 714 decides whether the expiration date is limited to a specific decoder unit ID. If the expiration date is not limited to a specific decoder unit ID, the decision section 714 decides that the license condition need be changed and causes a license information update unit 702 to update the license condition. More specifically, the decision section 714 receives the decoded license information, loads the license condition from the license information, and decides whether the expiration date is indefinite (step S404). If YES in step S404, it is decided whether the license condition is limited to a decoder unit ID (step S405). If YES in step S405, the license condition is sent to a decision section 715. The decision section 715 sends a designation for presenting the decoder unit ID to a decoder unit ID reference section 716 (step S406). The decoder unit ID presented by the reference section 716 is compared with the decoder unit ID described in the license condition (step S407). If the decoder unit IDs agree with each other, the decoding key kd(1) of the encrypted accounting object information (contents) is output, and processing is ended (step S408). If the decoder unit IDs do not agree with each other, e.g., a NULL code (the NULL code is normally set at "0") is output to indicate that decoding is disabled, and processing is ended (step S409). If the expiration date is indefinite, and no decoder unit ID is described in the license condition, the license condition change necessitating decision section 714 decides that the decoder unit ID need be described in the license condition, acquires the decoder unit ID from the decoder unit ID reference section 716, and sends the acquired decoder unit ID and the encrypted license information to the license information update unit 702 (step S410).

If the license condition is not indefinite (NO in step S404), the license condition is sent to the decision section 715. The decision section 715 receives the current time from a clock reference section 717 (step S411) and decides on the basis of the time whether the accounting object information can be used. If use of the accounting object information is enabled, the decoding key kd(1) of the encrypted accounting object information (contents) is output, and processing is ended (steps S412 and S413); otherwise, the NULL code is output, as described above, and processing is ended (step S414).

FIG. 41 shows an arrangement of the license information update unit 702. The arrangement and operation of the license information update unit 702 shown in FIG. 41 will be described below with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 42.

The license information update unit 702 sends license information input to a license information input section 721 to a license information decoder section 723. The license information decoder section 723 decodes the information on the basis of the decoding key from a decoding key holder section 724 (steps S421 and S422). The decoded license information is sent to a license information update section 725 to extract the license condition (step S423). On the other hand, the decoder unit ID input to a decoder unit ID input section 722 is sent to the license information update section 725 (step S424). The license information update section 725 adds a limitation of the decoder unit ID to the extracted license condition, thereby updating the license condition (step S425). New license information is generated on the basis of the updated license condition and sent to an updated license information encryption section 726. The updated license information encryption section 726 encrypts the updated license information on the basis of the encryption key presented by an encryption key holder section 727 (step S426) and then sends the license information to an updated license information output section 728, so the license information is sent outside the license information update unit 702 (step S427).

The license information update unit 702 and the decoder unit 701 may be integrated into one unit and replaced with, e.g., the license information update unit 603 in the information distribution system shown in FIG. 38.

(4-2) Another Example of Decoder Unit Taking Measure for Preventing Illicit Copy of Accounting Object Information

As described above in (4-1), when permanent license or a long-term expiration date (these two cases will be included in the category of permanent license hereinafter) is permitted, the accounting object information may be copied, and protection by copyright cannot be ensured. This problem is substantially solved by using the license information update unit described in (4-1) and the decoder unit corresponding to the license information update unit. That is, use of accounting object information for which permanent license is permitted is limited to one decoder unit ID. As a problem in this case, the decoder unit ID of the purchaser may be unknown in purchasing the permanent license. In the second decoder unit to be described below, when accounting object information with permanent license is used for the first time, the decoder unit ID to be used is written in the portion where the permanent license is described to prevent use of other decoder unit IDs.

In this scheme, however, the accounting object information may be copied before the first use. If an enormous volume of the copied accounting object information with the permanent license is distributed, the copyright cannot be protected. For this reason, in the second decoder unit, a media ID is added to the permanent license and referred to before use. The media ID means the manufacturing number of a DVD or CD. It is generally assumed that the media ID is written in a ROM area to prevent the ID from being changed. Since this license condition is limited to a specific media ID, a copy on another medium cannot be used because the media ID on the copy side does not match the original media ID.

FIG. 43 shows an arrangement of the second decoder unit. The arrangement and operation of the second decoder unit shown in FIG. 43 will be described below with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 44.

License information is input to a license information input section 741 and sent to a decoder section 742 (step S431). The decoder section 742 decodes the license information using a decoding key held in a decoding key holder section 743 to separate the license condition from the remaining information (step S432). The separated license condition is sent to a license condition change necessitating decision section 744 to decide whether the limitation of the decoder unit ID is to be added to the license condition. More specifically, as described in (4-1), if the expiration date is indefinite, and the decoder unit ID is not limited to a specific decoder unit, the limitation of the decoder unit ID must be added to the license condition. Only in such a case, it is decided that the license condition need be changed. The decoder unit ID is acquired from a decoder unit ID reference section 746 and sent to a license information update unit 732 together with the extracted license information (steps S434, S435, and S447). Otherwise, the license condition information is sent to a decision section 745 to decide the license condition.

The decision section 745 performs the following processing to decide whether the license condition is valid. If the license condition contains an indefinite expiration date, and the decoder unit ID is limited to a specific decoder unit, it is decided whether the license condition contains a limitation of the media ID. If the license condition contains the limitation of the media ID, the media ID of the medium having the accounting object information, which is held in a media ID holder section 748, is referred to and compared with the media ID as the limitation in the license condition. If both the media IDs coincide with each other, the decoding key kd(1) is output, and processing is ended (steps S434 to S440). If the media IDs do not coincide with each other, a signal representing that the use is refused, e.g., a NULL code is output, and processing is ended (step S441). If the limitation of the media ID is absent (NO in step S438), the decoding key kd(1) is output, and processing is ended (step S442). The media ID to be referred to at this time is input from a media ID input section 747 and held in the media ID holder section 748.

If the license condition has a definite expiration date (NO in step S434), the current time i