U.S. patent application number 10/829310 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-21 for music-content using apparatus capable of managing copying of music content, and program therefor.
This patent application is currently assigned to YAMAHA CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Ikeda, Takashi, Okamoto, Tetsuo, Yanase, Tsutomu.
Application Number | 20040210539 10/829310 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32985539 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040210539 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ikeda, Takashi ; et
al. |
October 21, 2004 |
Music-content using apparatus capable of managing copying of music
content, and program therefor
Abstract
When new music content is generated on the basis of replication
of original music content, additional information including
information indicating that the generated new music content is
based on replication and replication source information identifying
a replicated-from source of the replicated content is generated and
added to the new music content based on the replication. When the
new (i.e., replicated) music content is to be used, a search is
made for original music content on the basis of information
identifying a replicated-from source and use of the new
(replicated) music content is permitted only when the c original
music content has been successfully found. Such arrangements
reliably allow the replicated content to be used by a given person
only when the person possesses the original music content.
Inventors: |
Ikeda, Takashi;
(Hamamatsu-shi, JP) ; Okamoto, Tetsuo;
(Hamamatsu-shi, JP) ; Yanase, Tsutomu;
(Hamamatsu-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MORRISON & FOERSTER, LLP
555 WEST FIFTH STREET
SUITE 3500
LOS ANGELES
CA
90013-1024
US
|
Assignee: |
YAMAHA CORPORATION
Hamamatsu-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
32985539 |
Appl. No.: |
10/829310 |
Filed: |
April 20, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/80 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 21/6209 20130101;
G06F 2221/0711 20130101; G06Q 50/188 20130101; G06F 21/10 20130101;
G10H 2240/091 20130101; G10H 2240/026 20130101; G10H 1/0058
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/080 |
International
Class: |
H04K 001/00; H04L
009/00; G06F 017/60; G06F 007/00; G06F 017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 21, 2003 |
JP |
2003-115666 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A music-content using apparatus comprising: an acquisition
section that acquires original music content; a replicated content
generation section that generates new music content on the basis of
replication of the original music content acquired via said
acquisition section; and an additional information generation
section that, when said replicated content generation section
generates the new music content, generates additional information
including information indicating that the generated new music
content is based on replication and replication source information
identifying a replicated-from source of the replicated content,
wherein the additional information generated by said additional
information generation section is added to the new music content
generated by said replicated content generation section.
2. A music-content using apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein
said replicated content generation section replicates the original
music content and generates, as the new music content, the
replicated music content that comprises a replication of at least
some of substance data of the original music content.
3. A music-content using apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein
the new music content comprises a replication of all of the
substance data of the original music content.
4. A music-content using apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein
said replicated content generation section replicates the original
music content and performs editing to change at least some of
substance data of the replicated music content, to thereby
generate, as the new music content, the replicated music content
that includes at least the substance data changed by the
editing.
5. A music-content using apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein
the new music content includes, as its substance data, only the
substance data changed by the editing.
6. A music-content using apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein
the new music content does not include the substance data not
changed by the editing, and a storage location of the new music
content is indicated by the replication source information included
in the additional information added to the new music content.
7. A music-content using apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein
the new music content generated by said replicated content
generation section includes a management data region and substance
data region, and the additional information generated by said
additional information generation section is stored in the
management data region.
8. A music-content using apparatus as claimed in claim 1 which
further comprises: a search section that, when the new music
content is to be used, searches for the acquired original music
content on the basis of the replication source information included
in the additional information; and a use section that permits use
of the new music content only when the original music content has
been successfully found by said search section.
9. A music-content using apparatus as claimed in claim 1 which
further comprises: a storage medium that stores music content; and
an encryption section that encrypts, with medium information
specific to said storage medium, music content to be stored in said
storage medium and then storing the encrypted music content in said
storage medium.
10. A music-content using apparatus comprising: an acquisition
section that acquires music content including additional
information added thereto, the additional information including
information indicating that the music content is based on
replication and replication source information identifying a
replicated-from source of the music content; a search section that
searches for original music content on the basis of the source
information included in the additional information added to the
music content acquired via said acquisition section; and a use
section that permits use of the acquired music content only when
the original music content has been successfully found by said
search section.
11. A music-content using apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein
the music content acquired via said acquisition section includes a
management data region and substance data region, and the
additional information is stored in the management data region.
12. A music-content using apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein,
in the management data region, there are included substance data of
the acquired music content that comprise a replication of at least
some of substance data of the original music content.
13. A music-content using apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein,
in the management data region, there are included substance data of
the acquired music content obtained by changing at least some of
substance data of the original music content.
14. A music-content using apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein,
when use of the acquired music content is being permitted and if
the at least some of substance data of the original music content
are not included in the substance data region of the acquired music
content, said use section acquires the at least some of substance
data from the original music content found by said search
section.
15. A music-content using apparatus as claimed in claim 10 which
further comprises: a storage medium that stores music content; and
an encryption section that encrypts, with medium information
specific to said storage medium, music content to be stored in said
storage medium and then storing the encrypted music content in said
storage medium.
16. A program containing a group of instructions for causing a
computer to perform a music-content using method, said
music-content using method comprising: an acquisition step of
acquiring original music content; a replicated content generation
step of generating new music content on the basis of replication of
the original music content acquired via said acquisition step; and
an additional information generation step of, when said replicated
content generation step generates the new music content, generating
additional information including information indicating that the
generated new music content is based on replication and replication
source information identifying a replicated-from source of the
replicated content, wherein the additional information generated by
said additional information generation step is added to the new
music content generated by said replicated content generation
step.
17. A program as claimed in claim 16 which further comprises: a
search step of, when the new music content is to be used, searching
for the original music content on the basis of the replication
source information included in the additional information; and a
step of permitting use of the new music content only when the
original music content has been successfully found by said search
step.
18. A program containing a group of instructions for causing a
computer to perform a music-content using method, said
music-content using method comprising: an acquisition step of
acquiring music content including additional information added
thereto, the additional information including information
indicating that the music content is based on replication and
replication source information identifying a replicated-from source
of the music content; a search step of searching for original music
content of the acquired music content on the basis of the
replication source information included in the additional
information added to the music content acquired via said
acquisition step; and a step of permitting use of the acquired
music content only when the original music content has been
successfully found by said search step.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to music-content using
apparatus and computer programs for using music content received
via wired or wireless communication networks, such as the Internet.
More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved
music-content using apparatus and computer program which are
arranged to inhibit use of copied music content unless presence,
within a predetermined area, of corresponding original music
content has been confirmed.
[0002] Music-content using apparatus have been known, for example,
from Japanese Patent No. 2639245, which allow any interested user
to access a music content distribution server (hereinafter referred
to simply as a "server") via a wired or wireless communication
network, typified by the Internet, purchase desired music content
from the accessed server and then use the purchased music content
at any desired place at any desired time. Namely, the music-content
using apparatus can acquire, from the predetermined music content
distribution server accessed via the communication network, desired
original music content (hereinafter also referred to as original
content), such as automatic performance data (e.g., MIDI data) to
be used for an automatic performance of a music piece or musical
score data to be used for visually displaying a musical score, so
that the user, having duly acquired (purchased) the original
content, can enjoy using the acquired original content, e.g.
listening to the music piece, displaying the musical score or the
like.
[0003] In the conventionally-known music-content using apparatus,
no user is allowed to alter as desired the acquired original
content with a view to protecting a copyright of the creator of the
music content; instead, an interested user is allowed to copy
duly-acquired original content to generate copied content. For
example, an interested user of the apparatus is allowed to copy
duly-acquired original content, only within a scope of personal use
not intended for re-delivery to any other person, e.g. in cases
where the user wants to copy the acquired original content and then
store the copied content under a user-desired name, different that
should facilitate subsequent identification and sort or handling of
the content, where the user wants to edit part of the acquired
original content (e.g., modify a tone color and/or volume balance
of automatic performance data) and then store the edited content
under a user-desired name. However, in each of these cases, the
user is not allowed to store the copied or edited content under the
same name as the original content. Namely, with the conventional
music-content using apparatus, users can not only merely use
duly-acquired original content but also produce and use a copy of
the acquired original content.
[0004] Further, when a copy of duly-acquired content is to be
produced with the music-content using apparatus, it has been
conventional for the apparatus to produce the copy with quality
intentionally lowered, for example, by deleting a predetermined one
or more of a plurality of performance parts, deteriorating a sound
quality or otherwise, so as to prevent re-delivery, to any other
person, of the music content beyond a range of personal use by the
user and thereby protect a copyright of the creator of the music
content etc. However, although lowering the quality of the copied
music content as noted above may be suitable from the viewpoint of
the copyright protection, it tends to be inconvenient where the
user copies the music content only for personal use. Namely,
because it has been conventional for the using apparatus to produce
copied music content always with a lowered quality even when the
copying is just for persona use by a duly-authorized user, there
would arise the inconvenience that the copied music content can not
be used satisfactorily even by the authorized user having duly
acquired the music content.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a music-content using apparatus and computer
program which allow a user to use duly-acquired music content
satisfactorily within a scope of personal use while still realizing
effective copyright protection of the music content, by inhibiting
use of a copy of the acquired music content unless presence of the
original music content has been confirmed.
[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an improved music-content using apparatus, which
comprises: an acquisition section that acquires original music
content; a replicated content generation section that generates new
music content on the basis of replication of the acquired original
music content; and an additional information generation section
that, when the replicated content generation section generates the
new music content, generates additional information including
information indicating that the generated new music content is
based on replication and replication source information identifying
a replicated-from source of the replicated content. Here, the
additional information generated by the additional information
generation section is added to the new music content generated by
the replicated content generation section.
[0007] In the present invention, when original music content has
been replicated to generate new or replicated music content,
additional information, including information indicating that the
new music content is based on replication and replication source
information identifying a replicated-from source of the generated
new content, is generated and added to the new music content. Thus,
use of the replicated music content (e.g., whether the use of the
replicated music content should be permitted or not) can be managed
properly by ascertaining presence/absence and content of the
additional information. For example, when the new (i.e.,
replicated) music content is to be used, a search may be made for
the original music content on the basis of the replication source
information included in the additional information added to the new
music content, and the use of the new music content may be
permitted only when the original music content has been
successfully found, i.e. when the presence of the original music
content has been confirmed.
[0008] Namely, in the present invention, replication of content is
managed through addition of the additional information including
the replication source information, unlike in the case of the
conventionally-known plain copying. Thus, the present invention can
prevent the use of the replicated music content without the
presence of the original music content being confirmed in the
music-content using apparatus in question or peripheral equipment
connected thereto. As a result, the present invention can allow an
authorized user to use replicated music content, generated through
replication of duly-acquired original content, satisfactorily in a
similar manner to the original content while still realizing
effective copyright protection of the music content from
infringement by unfair copying.
[0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided an improved music-content using apparatus, which
comprises: an acquisition section that acquires music content
including additional information added thereto, the additional
information including information indicating that the music content
is based on replication and replication source information
identifying a replicated-from source of the music content; a search
section that searches for the original music content on the basis
of the source information included in the additional information
added to the acquired music content; and a use section that permits
use of the acquired music content only when the original music
content has been successfully found by the search section. Even if
the replicated music content has been re-delivered unfairly, such
inventive arrangements can effectively prevent a copyright of the
content infringement from being infringed due to the unfair
re-delivery, because the replicated music content can not be used
unless presence of the replicated-from original music content is
confirmed. Namely, the inventive arrangements can reliably permit
use, by a given person, of the replicated content only when the
given person possesses the original music content.
[0010] The present invention may be constructed and implemented not
only as the apparatus invention as discussed above but also as a
method invention. Also, the present invention may be arranged and
implemented as a software program for execution by a processor such
as a computer or DSP, as well as a storage medium storing such a
software program. Further, the processor used in the present
invention may comprise a dedicated processor with dedicated logic
built in hardware, not to mention a computer or other
general-purpose type processor capable of running a desired
software program.
[0011] The following will describe embodiments of the present
invention, but it should be appreciated that the present invention
is not limited to the described embodiments and various
modifications of the invention are possible without departing from
the basic principles. The scope of the present invention is
therefore to be determined solely by the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] For better understanding of the object and other features of
the present invention, its preferred embodiments will be described
hereinbelow in greater detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a general hardware setup of an
electronic musical instrument to which is applied a music-content
using apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 2A is a conceptual diagram of a data format of original
music content, and FIGS. 2B and 2C are conceptual diagrams showing
examples of data formats of replicated music content;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an example of a music content
acquisition process; and
[0016] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of a music-content
using process.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0017] In this specification, the term "replication" is used to
refer to production of copied content by the music-content using
apparatus of the invention, to distinguish from the term "copying"
used to refer to production of copied content by ordinary computers
or the like; namely, the content replication by the invention is
different from the plain copying by the conventional computers or
the like.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a general hardware setup of an
electronic musical instrument to which is applied the music-content
using apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0019] The electronic musical instrument of FIG. 1 is controlled by
a microcomputer that comprises a microprocessor unit (CPU) 1, a
read-only memory (ROM) 2 and a random-access memory (RAM) 3. The
CPU 1 controls all operations of the electronic musical instrument.
To the CPU 1 are connected, via a data and address bus 1D, the
above-mentioned ROM 2 and RAM 3, detection circuits 4 and 5, a
display circuit 6, a tone generator (T.G.) circuit 7, an effect
circuit 8, an external storage device 10, a MIDI interface (I/F) 11
and a communication interface 12. Also connected to the CPU 1 is a
timer 1A for counting various time periods, for example, to signal
interrupt timing for a timer interrupt process. For example, the
timer 1A generates tempo clock pulses, which are given to the CPU 1
as processing timing instructions or as interrupt instructions. The
CPU 1 carries out various processes in accordance with such
instructions.
[0020] The ROM 2 has prestored therein various programs to be
executed by the CPU 1 and various data. The RAM 3 is provided for
temporarily storing music content, such as automatic performance
data or musical score data, received via a communication network X
from a server computer 12A that distributes items of music content.
The RAM 12 is also used as a working memory for temporarily storing
various data generated as the CPU 1 executes a predetermined
program, as a memory for storing the currently-executed program and
data related thereto, and for various other purposes. Predetermined
address regions of the RAM 3 are allocated to various functions and
used as registers, flags, tables, etc. Performance operator unit 4A
comprises, for example, a keyboard including a plurality of keys
for selecting a pitch of each tone to be generated, which also
includes a plurality of key switches provided in corresponding
relation to the keys. The performance operator unit 4A can be used
not only as input means for tone performances, but also as input
means for entering a pitch, rhythm, etc. of an automatic
performance. The detection circuit 4 produces detection outputs by
detecting depression and release of the keys on the performance
operator unit 4A.
[0021] Setting operator unit 5A includes switches for selecting
desired music content to be acquired from the server computer 12A,
switches for entering various information pertaining, for example,
to an automatic performance, etc. Needless to say, the setting
operator unit 5A may also include various other operators to be
used for selecting, setting and controlling a tone pitch, color,
effect, etc., such as a numeric keypad for entering numerical value
data, a keyboard for entering character and text data, a mouse for
operating a predetermined pointing element displayed on a display
6A, and/or the like. The detection circuit 5 constantly detects
respective operational states of the individual operators on the
setting operator unit 5A and outputs switch information,
corresponding to the detected operational states of the operators,
to the CPU 1 via the data and address bus 1D. The display circuit 6
visually displays, on the display 6A in the form of a liquid
crystal display (LCD), cathode ray tube (CRT) and/or the like, not
only various information pertaining to a multiplicity of items of
music content stored in the server computer 12A accessed by the
electronic musical instrument, but also various information
pertaining to acquired music content and automatic performance,
controlling states of the CPU 1, etc.
[0022] The tone generator (T.G.) circuit 7, which is capable of
simultaneously generating tone signals in a plurality of channels,
receives automatic performance data supplied thereto via the data
and address bus 1D and generates tone signals on the basis of the
received automatic performance data. Each of the tone signals thus
generated by the tone generator circuit 7 is audibly reproduced or
sounded by a sound system 9, including an amplifier, speaker, etc.,
after imparted with an effect by the effect circuit 8. The effect
circuit 8 includes a plurality of effect units that can impart
different effects to tone signals output from the tone generator
circuit 7. The tone generator circuit 7, effect circuit 8 and sound
system 9 may be constructed in any desired conventionally-known
manner. For example, any desired tone signal synthesis method may
be used in the tone generator circuit 7, such as the FM, PCM,
physical model or formant synthesis method. Further, the tone
generator circuit 7 may be implemented by either dedicated hardware
or software processing performed by the CPU 1.
[0023] The external storage device 10, such as a hard disk, is
provided for storing original music content received from the
server computer 12A, content produced by replicating the received
original music content, data relating to control of various
programs executed by the CPU 1, etc. Details of the original music
content and replicated content will be discussed later in relation
to FIG. 2. In a case where a particular control program is not
prestored in the ROM 2, the control program may be stored in the
external storage device (e.g., hard disk device) 10, so that, by
reading out the control program from the external storage device 10
into the RAM 3, the CPU 1 is allowed to operate in exactly the same
way as in the case where the particular control program is stored
in the ROM 2. This arrangement greatly facilitates version upgrade
of the control program, addition of a new control program, etc. The
external storage device 10 may use any of various removable-type
media other than the hard disk (HD), such as a flexible disk (FD),
compact disk (CD-ROM or CD-RAM), magneto-optical disk (MO) and
digital versatile disk (DVD). Alternatively, the external storage
device 10 may use a semiconductor memory.
[0024] The MIDI interface (I/F) 11 is an interface provided for
receiving or delivering automatic performance data of a MIDI format
(MIDI data) from or to other MIDI equipment 11A or the like
externally connected with the electronic musical instrument. The
other MIDI equipment 11A may be one including an operator unit of a
keyboard type, stringed instrument type, wind instrument type,
percussion instrument type, body-attached type or any other desired
structural or operating type as long as it can generate MIDI data
in response to operation by the user. Note that the MIDI interface
11 may be a general-purpose interface rather than a dedicated MIDI
interface, such as RS-232C, USB (Universal Serial Bus) or IEEE1394,
in which case other data than MIDI event data may be communicated
at the same time. In the case where any general-purpose interface
as mentioned above is used as the MIDI interface 11, the other MIDI
equipment 11A may be arranged to communicate other data than MIDI
event data. Of course, the automatic performance data may be of any
other data format than the MIDI format, in which case the MIDI
interface 11 and other MIDI equipment 11A are constructed in
conformity to the data format.
[0025] The communication interface 12 is connected to a wired or
wireless communication network X, such as a LAN (Local Area
Network), the Internet or telephone network, via which it may be
connected to a desired sever computer 12A so as to input desired
music content, control program, various data etc. to the electronic
musical instrument. Namely, the communication interface 12 is used
not only to download user-desired music content from the sever
computer 12A, but also to download a particular control program and
various data from the sever computer 12A in a case where the
particular control program and data are not contained in the ROM 2,
external storage device (e.g., hard disk) 10 or other storage
device of the electronic musical instrument. Such a communication
interface 12 may be constructed to be capable of both wired and
wireless communication rather than either one of the wired and
wireless communication.
[0026] In the embodiment of the electronic musical instrument, the
performance operator unit 4A may be of any other type than a
keyboard type, such as a stringed instrument type, wind instrument
type or percussion instrument type. Furthermore, the electronic
musical instrument is not limited to the type where the performance
operator unit 4A, display device 6A, tone generator circuit 7, etc.
are incorporated together within the musical instrument; for
example, the electronic musical instrument may be constructed in
such a manner that the above-mentioned components are provided
separately and interconnected via communication facilities such as
a MIDI interface, various network and/or the like. Moreover, the
music-content using apparatus of the present invention may be
applied to any other apparatus than the electronic musical
instrument, such as a portable communication terminal like a
personal computer or portable phone, karaoke apparatus or game
apparatus. In the case where the music-content using apparatus is
applied to a portable communication terminal, the predetermined
functions may be performed as a whole system, comprising the
terminal and a server, by causing the server to perform part of the
functions, rather than causing the terminal performing all of the
predetermined functions.
[0027] Next, a description will be given about data formats of
music content used in the music-content using apparatus of the
present invention, with primary reference to FIGS. 2A to 2C. FIG.
2A is a conceptual diagram of a data format of original music
content (hereinafter also referred to simply as original content)
downloaded from the server computer 12A to the electronic musical
instrument, and FIGS. 2B and 2C are conceptual diagrams showing
examples of data formats of replicated music content produced by
replicating original content downloaded to the electronic musical
instrument (or by replicating replicated content).
[0028] As seen from FIG. 2A, the original content is of the data
format including at least management data and music-content
substance data. The management data include information necessary
to manage and identify the original content, such as information
indicating that the content is original content, a file name, e.g.
in the form of a music piece name, assigned to the original
content, a management number uniquely identifying the original
content (hereinafter "ID management number") and the like. The
music-content substance data include substance data of the music
content, such as MIDI data, audio data, musical score data, video
data, image data and text data. The music content may comprise a
plurality of types of data, in which case a plurality of types of
substance data are included as the music-content substance data.
When delivery, from the server to the music-content using apparatus
(electronic musical instrument), of original content is requested,
the original content is delivered in a form encrypted with
predetermined unique information (i.e., apparatus-specific
information) allocated in advance to the music-content using
apparatus, as will be later described more fully in relation to
FIG. 3. The music-content using apparatus decrypts the received
encrypted original content in accordance with the
apparatus-specific information previously allocated thereto and
then stores the content in an external storage medium after
re-encrypting the content on the basis of unique information (i.e.,
medium-specific information) allocated to the external storage
medium.
[0029] As seen from FIG. 2B, one example of the replicated content
is of a data format including at least management data and
music-content substance data similarly to the original content, but
these data are somewhat different from those of the original
content. Namely, in the replicated content, the management data
include additional information necessary to manage and identify the
replicated content, such as information indicating that the content
is replicated content (i.e. content based on replication),
replication source information identifying a replication
(replicated-from) source from which the content was replicated
(e.g., an ID management number of the replicated-from source), a
file name assigned to the replicated content and an ID management
number uniquely identifying the replicated content. The
music-content substance data, on the other hand, include substance
data of the music content and may of course comprise a plurality of
types of data, similarly to the original content. When replicated
content is to be produced by replicating original content,
encrypted original content stored in an external storage medium is
decrypted in accordance with the medium-specific information of the
storage medium, the thus-decrypted content is replicated to provide
the desired replicated content, and the resultant replicated
content is then stored in the same or other external storage
medium, as will be later described in more detail in relation to
FIG. 4. In the event that the replicated content has been edited
after the production thereof, it is stored with a relevant portion
of the music-content substance data varied accordingly.
[0030] As seen from FIG. 2C, another example of the replicated
content may be of a data format including at least management data
and music-content substance data having only edited substance data.
Namely, in the replicated content, the management data include
additional information necessary to manage and identify the
replicated, similarly to the replicated content of FIG. 2B. The
music-content substance data, on the other hand, include only
substance data edited by the user from among those of the music
content, such as MIDI data, audio data, musical score data, video
data, image data and text data. For example, when a tone color
change (re-voice) or tone volume balance change (mixer) has been
made to MIDI data, only information related to the tone color or
volume balance change, such as a place of the change and contents
of the changed substance data, is included or stored in the
music-content substance data; no other substance data than the
edited ones are included or stored. Namely, unlike the replicated
content of FIG. 2B, the replicated content of FIG. 2C does not
include any information related to the non-edited substance data;
for the non-edited substance data, reference is made, as necessary,
to the replicated-from original content (or replicated content) in
accordance with the information identifying the replication source
included in the management data.
[0031] The music-content using apparatus of the present invention
is intended to allow the user to replicate original music content,
downloaded or acquired from the server, to thereby enjoy the
acquired music content within a scope of personal use while
preventing re-delivery of the music content from the user to
another person (i.e., protecting the copyright of the music
content). Therefore, various processes performed by the
music-content using apparatus (electronic musical instrument) for
accomplishing the objectives will be explained hereinbelow. First,
with reference to FIG. 3, a description will be given about a
"music content acquisition process" for downloading original music
content from the server to the music-content using apparatus. FIG.
3 is a flow chart showing an example of the music content
acquisition process. The example of the music content acquisition
process is shown as carried out by the music-content using
apparatus performing a music content purchase process and the sever
performing a music content delivery process.
[0032] At step S1, the music-content using apparatus accesses the
server storing a music site desired by the user of the using
apparatus, and then transmits, to the server, a purchase request
for a particular item of music content selected through user's
operation, such as one for searching through the music site for the
particular music content, and apparatus-specific information
allocated to that using apparatus, such as a unique ID previously
assigned to the using apparatus. Once the purchase request and
apparatus-specific information have been received, the server
identifies the particular music content on the basis of the
purchase request and carries out a billing operation for charging
the user a price for acquisition of the identified music content,
at step S5. Then, at step S6, the identified music content is
encrypted on the basis of the received apparatus-specific
information. At next step S7, the encrypted music content is
delivered to the music-content using apparatus. Such encrypted
music content to be delivered by the server is imparted with a
unique ID management number generated in any suitable manner.
Because the music content is encrypted on the basis of the
apparatus-specific information, any other person, who has succeeded
in illegally or unfairly acquiring the music content somewhere on a
delivery path, can not decrypt the unfairly-acquired music content
since such an other person is unable to acquire the
apparatus-specific information; therefore, any other person having
unfairly acquired the music content can not use the music
content.
[0033] Upon receipt of the encrypted music content from the server,
the music-content using apparatus decrypts the received music
content on the basis of the apparatus-specific information
previously allocated thereto, at step S2. Then, at step S3, the
music-content using apparatus again encrypts (re-encrypts) the
decrypted music content on the basis of medium-specific information
allocated to an external storage medium where the music content is
to be stored, such as a medium ID assigned to a semiconductor
memory. At next step S4, the re-encrypted music content is stored
in the external storage medium. Namely, the original music content
is stored in the external storage medium in the form re-encrypted
on the basis of the medium-specific information; thus, even when
the original content has been read out from the external storage
medium by being copied to another storage medium via a computer or
the like, the thus-copied original content can not be decrypted
since the medium-specific information used to re-encrypt the
original content and medium-specific information of the copied-to
storage medium do not match each other. In other words, even when
the original content stored in the external storage medium has been
copied to an external storage medium or the like belonging to
another computer, the copied original content can not be used. In
this way, the instant embodiment can reliably prevent unauthorized
use of music content attempted by unfair copying, through a
computer or the like, of the music content. Needless to say, in the
instant embodiment, arrangements are made such that any external
storage medium having no medium-specific information allocated
thereto can not store original content at all.
[0034] Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a description will be given
about a "music-content using process" for using original or
replicated music content stored in an external storage medium. FIG.
4 is a flow chart showing an example of the music-content using
process.
[0035] At step S11 of FIG. 4, the music-content using apparatus
loads desired music content, stored in an external storage medium,
into its internal memory. At step S12, the music content loaded
into the internal memory is decrypted on the basis of the
medium-specific information of the external storage medium. Because
the music content stored in the external storage medium was
re-encrypted previously at the time of storage therein (see step S3
of FIG. 3), there is a need here to decrypt the content in
accordance with the same medium-specific information as used at the
time of the re-encryption, in order to permit use of the music
content. At step S13, a determination is made as to whether or not
the music content has been decrypted successfully on the basis of
the medium-specific information of the external storage medium. If
the decryption has failed (NO determination of step S13), an "NG
(No Good)" warning is issued at step S14, after which this
music-content using process is brought to an end. If the music
content is stored in a proper external storage medium (i.e.
external storage medium of the same medium-specific information as
used at the time of the re-encryption), then the medium-specific
information used at the time of the re-encryption and the
medium-specific information of that external storage medium
referred to in the above-mentioned decryption operation match each
other, so that the music content can be decrypted successfully. If,
on the other hand, the music content is stored in an improper
external storage medium, other than the proper one, by being
unfairly copied thereto, the medium-specific information used at
the time of the re-encryption and the medium-specific information
of that external storage medium do not match, so that the
decryption of the music content fails. In this case, the user of
the apparatus is judged as having no due authorization to use the
music content in question, and an NG warning, such as one
indicative of "Decryption Failed", is issued to prevent the user
from attempting to use the music content.
[0036] If the music content is stored in the proper external
storage medium and thus the decryption of the music content has
succeeded (YES determination of step S13), it is further determined
at step S15 whether the decrypted music content is replicated
content, by referring to the additional information included in the
management data of the music content. If it has been determined
that the decrypted music content is original content, not
replicated content (NO determination at step S15), the
music-content using process jumps to step S18. Namely, if the
successfully-decrypted music content is original content as
determined at step S15, the user is allowed to use the music
content with no particular condition imposed. If, on the other
hand, the successfully-decrypted music content is replicated
content (YES determination at step S15), a search is made through
the external storage medium for the replicated-from original
content in accordance with the replication source information
included in the additional information of the management data, at
step S16. Area or range to be searched through the external storage
medium may be either all directories in the medium or only
directories under which replicated content is stored.
Alternatively, in a case where a plurality of external storage
media are attachable to the using apparatus, all of the attached
external storage media may be searched. In still another
alternative, the search may also be made through any other storage
device externally connected to the music-content using apparatus
(personal computer), in addition to the external storage media.
[0037] Then, at step S17, a determination is made as to whether or
not there has been found the replicated-from (replication-source)
original content in the searched range, i.e. whether presence of
the original content has been confirmed in the searched range. If
the replicated-from original content has not been found in the
searched range (NO determination at step S17), an NG warning, such
as one indicative of "No Original Content", is issued at step S14,
after which the process is brought to an end. Namely, such a
situation where there exists only replicated content with no
corresponding original content occurs, for example, where another
external storage medium than one having the original content stored
therein is attached to the music-content using apparatus and
replicated content is stored in the other external storage medium.
In such a case, the replicated content is judged as a result of
unfair copying and the person having copied the music content is
judged to have no due authorization to use the replicated music
content, so that a warning is issued accordingly. If there has been
found the replicated-from original content in the searched range
(YES determination at step S17), then the replicated content is
judged as fairly replicated content, and music-content using
operations are carried out as necessary at step S18. Further,
music-content editing operations are carried out as necessary at
step S19. The music-content using operations include, for example,
a tone generation operation, musical score display operation, etc.,
and the music-content editing operations include, for example,
re-voice and mixer operations, arrangement and other editing of
lyrics and the like.
[0038] At step S20, it is determined whether or not the music
content has been replicated or stored under another name than the
name of the original music content. If answered in the affirmative
at step S20, information identifying the replicated-from source
(i.e., replication source) is recorded as the management data, at
step S21. Here, if the replication is from the original content,
i.e. if the replication is "first-generation" replication, the
original content is recorded as the replicated-from source. If, on
the other hand, the replication is from other replicated content,
i.e. if the replication is replication of second-, third- or
subsequent-generation, then only the replicated-from replicated
content may be recorded as the replicated-from source;
alternatively, the original content may be identified by
sequentially referring to the management data of every
replicated-from replicated content so that the thus-identified
original content is recorded as the replicated-from source. Note
that, if the replication is second-, third- or
subsequent-generation replication and if only the replicated-from
replicated content has been recorded as the replicated-from source
in the "replicated-from content search" operation (see step S16),
there arises a need to identify the original content by referring
to every replicated-from content in a stepwise fashion. Then, other
management data are recorded. At step S22, all the substance data
or only the substance data of only an edited portion are
re-encrypted on the basis of the medium-specific information of the
music content external storage medium where the replicated content
is to be stored. At next step S23, the thus re-encrypted music
content is stored into the external storage medium. In the case
where only the music content substance data of the edited portion
are stored as the replicated content (see FIG. 2C), and if only
replication has been performed with no music content editing, no
substance data is stored. Further, when the replicated content with
only the music content substance data of the edited portion is to
be used or edited in the above-described music-content using
operations or editing operations (see steps S18 and S19), reference
is made to the replicated-from music content so as to deprive all
of the substance data.
[0039] With the above-described arrangements, the instant
embodiment can permit both satisfactory use, by an authorized user,
of music content and protection of a copyright from unfair use of
the music content by any unauthorized user. The following
paragraphs describe various advantages of the instant embodiment in
relation to various possible cases.
[0040] (A) In the Case Where Original Content is to be Used:
[0041] When desired original content is to be downloaded from the
server to the music-content using apparatus, the server encrypts
the original content in accordance with the apparatus-specific
information of the music-content using apparatus and thereby
delivers the encrypted original content to the using apparatus.
Thus, even when an improper or unauthorized user has unfairly
acquired the encrypted original content during the delivery, the
unauthorized user can not use the unfairly-acquired encrypted
original content since the content can not be decrypted. Proper or
authorized user, on the other hand, can decrypt and hence use the
acquired original content, and the authorized user re-encrypts the
once-decrypted original content in accordance with the
medium-specific information of a desired external storage medium
and stores the re-encrypted original content in the external
storage medium. When the authorized user wants to use the external
storage medium, he or she can decrypt the original content on the
basis of the medium-specific information of that external storage
medium and hence use the original content.
[0042] Further, even another person, having borrowed the external
storage medium from the authorized user, can use the original
content read out from the borrowed external storage medium.
However, where the other person wants to copy the original content
from the borrowed external storage medium to his or her own
external storage medium by means of a computer or the like (as
noted above, the "copying" performed via the computer or the like
is plain copying that is different from the "replication" performed
by the music-content using apparatus of the invention), the other
person can not use the copied original content since, in this case,
the medium-specific information of the borrowed (i.e., copied-from)
external storage medium and the medium-specific information of the
copied-to external storage medium of the other person does not
match.
[0043] (B) In the Case Where Replicated Content is to be Used:
[0044] When an authorized user has replicated original content,
read out from an external storage medium, to produce replicated
content, the replicated content is encrypted on the basis of the
medium-specific information of a desired external storage medium
and then stored into the desired external storage medium in the
encrypted form. When the authorized user uses the external storage
medium, the user can use the replicated content read out from the
medium since the read-out replicated content can be decrypted on
the basis of the medium-specific information of the external
storage medium.
[0045] Further, even another person, having borrowed the external
storage medium, can use the replicated content read out from the
borrowed external storage medium since the replicated content read
out from the external storage medium can be decrypted on the basis
of the medium-specific information of the external storage medium,
in a similar manner to the original content. However, in case the
original content, which is the source of the replicated content, is
not stored together with the replicated content, the other person
can not use the replicated content read out from the external
storage medium. Further, where the other person wants to copy the
replicated content from the external storage medium to his or her
own external storage medium by means of a computer or the like, the
other person, having no original content of the replicated content,
can not use the replicated content. Furthermore, even where the
other person has copied not only the replicated content but also
the original content, the other person can not use the replicated
content since the other person is unable to use the original
content.
[0046] Where the replicated content is second- or
subsequent-generation replicated content, and if the
"replicated-from content search operation" (see step S16 of FIG. 4)
has found that only one replicated-from content just one generation
before the replicated content in question is recorded as a
replicated-from source, there arises a need to ultimately identify
the original content by sequentially referring to every previous
replicated-from content.
[0047] When replicated content having only substance data of an
edited portion (see FIG. 2C) is to be used, all of the substance
data are obtained by referring to the replicated-from music
content, as necessary, in the above-described "music-content using
operations" and "music-content editing operations" (see steps S18
and S19 of FIG. 4).
[0048] Whereas the embodiment has been described above in relation
to the case where original music content is first encrypted on the
basis of the apparatus-specific information of the music-content
using apparatus and then re-encrypted, after temporary decryption,
on the basis of the medium-specific information of a desired
external storage medium so that the original music content is
stored in the desired external storage medium in the encrypted
form. However, the present invention is not so limited. For
example, original music content may be encrypted on the basis of
only the apparatus-specific information of the music-content using
apparatus or the medium-specific information of the external
storage medium. Alternatively, original music content may be
encrypted on the basis of any other suitable information than the
above-mentioned. In any case, what is necessary is that original
music content be arranged to prevent unfair use thereof by any
unauthorized user.
[0049] In the present invention, the destination to which music
content is to be stored (i.e., storage destination of music
content" need not necessarily be an external storage medium and may
be a storage device or storage medium within the music-content
using apparatus; all or only some of items of content may be stored
in the storage device or storage medium within the music-content
using apparatus. In such a case, the above-mentioned searched range
of original content (see FIG. S16 of FIG. 4) may of course be
extended to the storage device or storage medium within the
music-content using apparatus.
[0050] The music-content using apparatus of the present invention
may be applied to any other types of equipment than the electronic
musical instrument, such as an automatic music performance
sequencer, effector, personal computer, game machine and multimedia
equipment.
[0051] In summary, the present invention is characterized in that,
when replicated music content is to be used, a search is made for
corresponding original music content on the basis of information
identifying a replicated-from source and use of the replicated
music content is permitted only when the corresponding original
music content has been successfully found within a predetermined
area or range. With such arrangements, the present invention can
allow the user to use the music content satisfactorily within a
scope of personal use while still realizing effective copyright
protection of the music content.
* * * * *