Data processing: financial – business practice – management – or co – Business processing using cryptography – Usage protection of distributed data files
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-06
2003-06-03
Trammell, James P. (Department: 3621)
Data processing: financial, business practice, management, or co
Business processing using cryptography
Usage protection of distributed data files
C713S187000, C713S152000, C713S152000, C380S030000, C369S032010, C705S057000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06574611
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method, an information management apparatus and an information managing method, and an information providing medium and, more particularly, to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information providing medium that decrypt encrypted information.
Systems are known in which information such as music is encrypted and the encrypted information is sent to an information processing apparatus of a user with whom a predetermined contract has been concluded, and the received information is decrypted in that information processing apparatus for use. Such information is hereafter referred to as content.
However, for a user to actually receive and use content by means of an information processing apparatus and, the user and the information processing apparatus must be registered in any of the above-mentioned system. So, the user makes an application for the registration into the system by following a predetermined registration procedure. When the application has been completed, a managing company for example for managing the system executes predetermined registration processing such as credit granting. Generally, it takes several days or weeks after the application of the registration for the user and the information processing apparatus to be registered in the system after completion of the registration processing. During this period, the user cannot use the content that is provided by this system.
In addition, if a user has two or more information processing apparatuses, the user must submit the information about each information processing apparatus separately for the application at much expense in time and effort.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus and an information processing method, an information management apparatus and an information managing method, and an information providing medium that perform significantly quickly and efficiently the processing of registering users and their information processing apparatuses into content-providing systems.
In carrying out the invention and according to one aspect thereof, there is provided an information processing apparatus managed by a management apparatus to decrypt encrypted information to use resultant decrypted information, comprising: first sending means for sending a usage start signal indicative of start of use of the encrypted information to the management apparatus after predetermined registration application information including an identification of the information processing apparatus is supplied to the management apparatus; second sending means for sending the identification to the management apparatus in correspondence with the usage start signal sent by the first sending means; first storage means for receiving and storing the usage start signal supplied from the management apparatus through the first sending means, a predetermined key usable for decrypting the encrypted information only for a first period of time, the predetermined key corresponding to the identification supplied from the second sending means, and first upper limit information indicative of a predetermined upper limit amount of first charges; second storage means for receiving and storing a predetermined key usable for decrypting the encrypted information only for a second period of time, the predetermined key corresponding to the registration application information supplied from the management apparatus, second upper limit information indicative of a predetermined upper limit amount of second charges, and a predetermined settlement identification; third storage means for receiving and storing a predetermined registration condition supplied from the management apparatus; and control means for controlling an operation of the information processing apparatus on the basis of the registration condition stored in the third storage means.
In carrying out the invention and according to another aspect thereof, there is provided an information processing method for an information processing apparatus managed by a management apparatus to decrypt encrypted information to use resultant decrypted information, the method comprising: a first sending step of sending a usage start signal indicative of start of use of the encrypted information to the management apparatus after predetermined registration application information including an identification of the information processing apparatus is supplied to the management apparatus; a second sending step of sending the identification to the management apparatus in correspondence with the usage start signal sent in the first sending step; a first storage step of receiving and storing the usage start signal supplied from the management apparatus in the first sending step, a predetermined key usable for decrypting the encrypted information only for a first period of time, the predetermined key corresponding to the identification supplied in the second sending step, and first upper limit information indicative of a predetermined upper limit amount of first charges; a second storage step of receiving and storing a predetermined key usable for decrypting the encrypted information only for a second period of time, the predetermined key corresponding to the registration application information supplied from the management apparatus, second upper limit information indicative of a predetermined upper limit amount of second charges, and a predetermined settlement identification; a third storage step of receiving and storing a predetermined registration condition supplied from the management apparatus; and a control step of controlling an operation of the information processing apparatus on the basis of the registration condition stored in the third storage step.
In carrying out the invention and according to still another aspect thereof, there is provided an information providing medium for providing a computer program for making an information processing apparatus managed by a management apparatus to decrypt encrypted information to use resultant decrypted information execute processing, the processing comprising: a first sending step of sending a usage start signal indicative of start of use of the encrypted information to the management apparatus after predetermined registration application information including an identification of the information processing apparatus is supplied to the management apparatus; a second sending step of sending the identification to the management apparatus in correspondence with the usage start signal sent in the first sending step; a first storage step of receiving and storing the usage start signal supplied from the management apparatus in the first sending step, a predetermined key usable for decrypting the encrypted information only for a first period of time, the predetermined key corresponding to the identification supplied in the second sending step, and first upper limit information indicative of a predetermined upper limit amount of first charges; a second storage step of receiving and storing a predetermined key usable for decrypting the encrypted information only for a second period of time, the predetermined key corresponding to the registration application information supplied from the management apparatus, second upper limit information indicative of a predetermined upper limit amount of second charges, and a predetermined settlement identification; a third storage step of receiving and storing a predetermined registration condition supplied from the management apparatus; and a control step of controlling an operation of the information processing apparatus on the basis of the registration condition stored in the third storage step.
In the above-mentioned information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information providing medium, after predetermined registration application information including the
Ishibashi Yoshihito
Matsuyama Shinako
Backer Firmin
Frommer William S.
Frommer & Lawrence & Haug LLP
Sony Corporation
Trammell James P.
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