JP2001006278A - Data reproducing device, data supply device and system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make reproducible digital data without strongly being conscious of a code, etc. for protection against an unfair copying by automatically setting an environment required for reproducing the digital data based on obtained device information. SOLUTION: A microcomputer 11 records device information such as inherent information (ID), etc. of a data reproducing device P on a semiconductor medium M. The device information contains the information related to the resources (CPU, maximum clock, a loaded memory, possessed reproducing programs and their use frequency, open key, etc.) of the data reproducing device P in addition to the ID. The microcomputer 11 decodes musical digital data, etc. recorded on the semiconductor medium in the state locked with the open key by a secret key held in the reproducing device P, and refers to the ID of the device information, and when the agree, further, refers to the conditions of the use periods, etc. of the data incorporated in the information required for reproduction at need, and when those conditions are satisfied, the reproducing processing is allowed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a data reproducing apparatus,
More specifically, the present invention relates to a data supply device and a data supply system.
The present invention relates to a data reproducing device, a data supplying device, and a data supplying system for reproducing digital data such as character information and supplying the digital data to the recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent advancement of high-efficiency coding technology and the spread of the Internet, digital data such as music and video can be supplied and used by relatively low-speed communication means and small-capacity recording media. The environment in which people can exchange information is being prepared. When music and video are handled as digital data, it is easier to transfer and copy while maintaining product quality than with analog signals. There is a possibility of changing the sales form and rental form of the service. For example, if a user wants a package that contains songs from multiple artists that he or she likes, in a package-based sales format, the user purchases a package that contains songs for each artist. Alternatively, the user has to rent, obtain a desired song to listen to, and record it on a separately prepared recording medium such as a cassette tape or MD. On the other hand, in the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-135228, if a user specifies his desired music, only the digital data corresponding to the desired music is purchased in the form of an electric signal. It is possible to receive. In the technique described in the above publication, a user uses a portable memory card with a playback function as a music player. Digital data such as music is provided to the memory card with a playback function from a terminal device serving as an information server. The terminal device corresponds to a vending machine for cigarettes and juices, and the digital data is stored in a built-in hard disk or the like. Also, the distributor is connected to a digital communication line, and digital data can be supplemented as needed. When a user wishes to receive digital data, the memory card with a reproduction function is connected to the terminal device via a connector. In the above terminal device, the genre of digital data and the content name are displayed in a hierarchical manner, so that the user selects the desired content based on the displayed content. When the content name is specified by the user, if the content is stored on the hard disk of the terminal device, only the specified content is transferred from the hard disk to the memory card with a playback function via the bus and the connector. Will be transferred. If the content is not stored in the terminal device, the content is transferred from the vendor to the terminal device through a communication line, and then provided to the memory card with a playback function. Incidentally, when digital data is sold in the form of electric signals as in the above example, a particular problem arises.
This is to prevent unauthorized copying of the content. Since the digital data does not cause signal deterioration even by copying, unless illegal copying is prevented, the value of the content to be provided is relatively reduced. Of course, the provider of the content cannot substantially provide the content to such a sales system unless its copyright is sufficiently protected. Therefore, according to the technology described in the above publication, a password is required from a user when a digital signal is reproduced. This password is notified to the user when purchasing the memory card with the playback function. If the password input by the user does not match the password registered in the memory card with the reproducing function, the digital data is not reproduced. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-181965 discloses an electronic rental system for renting electronic data using a satellite line or CATV as a communication line. Even in this electronic rental system, only the electronic data is rented without renting mainly the package. In this case, in addition to preventing unauthorized copying, it is necessary to define a rental period. In the above-mentioned electronic rental system, monitoring of unauthorized copying and rental period is performed using a public key.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-1 / 5-1
According to the technique described in Japanese Patent No. 35228, when digital data is reproduced by the memory card having the reproduction function,
Many procedures such as power-on, playback operation, password input, etc. had to be performed, which was troublesome. Also,
There are various methods for compressing and encoding music, video, etc., but even if the memory card with the playback function supports a plurality of compression encoding methods, users strongly consider the methods. It was not possible to sufficiently perform automatic processing for performing a reproduction operation without being conscious. Further, when digital data is recorded on the memory card with the reproducing function, even if an empty area is generated, the empty area is not effectively utilized. In the case of transmitting and receiving electronic data using a communication line such as a satellite line or a CATV as in the electronic rental system, a data communication device, a terminal device,
Many facilities, such as a satellite broadcast tuner, are required on the user side, and there is a problem that introduction costs are high. In order to solve the problems in the prior art, the present invention improves a data reproducing apparatus, a data supply apparatus, and a data supply system, and uses a compression encoding method, encryption for preventing unauthorized copying, and the like. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive data reproducing apparatus, a data supplying apparatus, and a data supplying system that automatically execute a procedure for reproducing the digital data without being strongly conscious and supply or reproduce digital data. Is what you do.

[0004]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data reproducing apparatus for reproducing digital data recorded on a removable recording medium. Device information recording means for pre-recording device information related to the digital data, and necessary information for reproducing the digital data on the device based on the device information recorded by the device information recording means. The necessary information obtaining means obtained from the recording medium on which the digital data is recorded, and the environment necessary for reproducing the digital data are automatically set based on the necessary information obtained by the required information obtaining means. The data reproducing apparatus comprises an automatic setting means. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the data reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising a writable storage unit for storing one or a plurality of reproduction programs for reproducing the digital data; The recording means records device information including information on the reproduction program stored in the storage means of the device on the recording medium, and the necessary information acquisition means stores the reproduction program contained in the necessary information recorded on the recording medium. That the automatic setting means transfers the reproduction program corresponding to the digital data to the storage means based on the information on the reproduction program acquired by the necessary information acquisition means. And

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the data reproducing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, when the recording medium is mounted, the mounting of the recording medium is detected and the power supply of the apparatus is turned off. The gist of the present invention is that the device information is input and the device information recording means or the necessary information obtaining means and the automatic setting means are activated. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the data reproducing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the apparatus information includes unique information unique to the apparatus. The gist of the present invention is to control permission / restriction on the reproduction of the digital data. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the data reproducing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the recording medium is a semiconductor medium. The invention according to claim 6 is the same as the above claim 1.
6. The data reproducing apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 5,
The gist is that the digital data is one or both of music data and character data.

[0006] According to the data reproducing apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 6, for example, the apparatus is previously stored in a recording medium such as a semiconductor medium for recording digital data such as music data and character data. When the digital data is actually reproduced, when the digital data is supplied to the recording medium, the device information is written based on the device information. The required information is obtained, and the environment necessary for reproducing the digital data is automatically set based on the obtained device information. It is possible to provide an inexpensive data reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing the digital data without strongly considering the encryption or the like.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data supply apparatus for supplying digital data designated by a user to a recording medium detached from a data reproducing apparatus for reproducing digital data. Device information detecting means for detecting the recorded device information relating to the data reproducing device; and reproducing the designated digital data on the data reproducing device based on the device information detected by the device information detecting device. Necessary information discriminating means for discriminating necessary information necessary for the recording; and recording means for recording the necessary information discriminated by the necessary information discriminating means on the recording medium to which the designated digital data is supplied. It is configured as a data supply device. The invention according to claim 8 is the data supply device according to claim 7, wherein
The gist of the invention is that when the recording medium is mounted, the mounting is detected, the power of the apparatus is turned on, and the apparatus information detecting means, necessary information determining means, and recording means are activated.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the data supply device according to the seventh or eighth aspect, a free area detection for detecting a free area of the recording medium on which the digital data and the device information are not recorded. Means, according to the empty area detected by the empty area detecting means,
The gist of the present invention is to provide a message information adding means for adding message information addressed to a user. According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the data supply device according to any one of the seventh to ninth aspects, the gist is that the recording medium is a semiconductor medium. The invention according to claim 11 is the data supply device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the digital data is one or both of music data and character data. Make a summary.

According to the data supply apparatus of any one of claims 7 to 11, when digital data such as music data and character data is recorded on a recording medium such as a semiconductor medium, the recording medium can be used. Device information about the data reproducing device recorded in advance is detected. Based on the detected device information, necessary information necessary for reproducing digital data designated by the user on the data reproducing device is detected. Since the determined necessary information is recorded on the recording medium together with the digital data, the user does not have to be conscious of the compression encoding method or encryption for preventing unauthorized copying, and so on. A data supply device capable of receiving supply can be provided.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data reproducing apparatus for reproducing digital data recorded on a removable recording medium, and a data supplying apparatus for supplying digital data designated by a user to the recording medium. A data supply system comprising: a data supply device configured to detect device information about the data reproduction device recorded on the recording medium in advance;
Based on the device information detected by the device information detecting means, required information determining means for determining necessary information required to reproduce the specified digital data on the data reproducing device; and Recording means for recording the necessary information determined by the required information determining means on the recording medium to which digital data is supplied,
The data reproducing apparatus supplies the necessary information recorded by the recording means to the same recording medium based on the required information acquiring means for acquiring the required information from the recording medium and the necessary information acquired by the required information acquiring means. And an automatic setting means for automatically setting an environment necessary for reproducing the designated digital data.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the data supply system according to the twelfth aspect, the data reproducing apparatus stores one reproduction program for reproducing the digital data supplied to the recording medium. Or writable storage means for storing a plurality of data,
The device information includes information related to a reproduction program stored in the storage unit of the data reproduction device, and the necessary information determination unit of the data supply device determines the necessary information based on the device information recorded on the recording medium. It is determined whether or not a reproduction program corresponding to the designated digital data is stored in the storage means of the data reproducing apparatus. The reproduction program corresponding to the designated digital data is determined by the necessary information determination means. If it is determined that the digital data is not stored in the storage means of the data reproducing apparatus, it is determined that the recording means records at least a reproduction program corresponding to the designated digital data on the recording medium. This is the gist.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the data supply system according to the thirteenth aspect, when the recording medium is mounted on the data reproducing apparatus, the data reproducing apparatus mounts the recording medium. Is detected, the power is turned on, and the necessary information acquiring means and the automatic setting means are activated. When the necessary information is acquired from the recording medium by the necessary information acquiring means, the automatic setting means The gist is that the reproduction program recorded on the recording medium is transferred to the storage means based on the necessary information. Further, the invention according to claim 15 is the above-described claim 1.
15. The data supply system according to any one of 2 to 14, wherein the device information includes unique information unique to the device, and permission for reproduction of the digital data by the data reproducing device based on the unique information. -The gist is to control restrictions. Claim 1
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the data supply system according to any one of the twelfth to twelfth aspects, when the recording medium is mounted on the data supply device, the data supply device detects the mounting, and The gist is that power is turned on and the device information detecting means, the necessary information determining means, and the recording means are activated. According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the data supply system according to any one of the twelfth to sixteenth aspects, the data supply device includes a storage medium for storing the digital data and the device information. The system comprises a free area detecting means for detecting a free area, and a message information adding means for adding message information addressed to a user according to the free area detected by the free area detecting means. Make a summary. According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the data supply system according to any one of the twelfth to seventeenth aspects, the recording medium is a semiconductor medium. The invention according to claim 19 is the data supply system according to any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein the digital data is one or both of music data and character data. Make a summary.

According to the data supply apparatus of the present invention, digital data such as music data and character data is reproduced from the data supply apparatus via a recording medium such as a semiconductor medium. When supplying the data to the device, first the device information on the device is recorded on the recording medium on the data reproducing device side, and then the device information recorded on the recording medium is detected on the data supply device side. After the necessary information necessary for reproducing the digital data designated by the user on the data reproducing device is determined based on the detected device information, the required information determined is replaced with the digital data. And the necessary information recorded on the recording medium is acquired by the data reproducing device, The environment necessary for reproducing the digital data is automatically set based on the obtained necessary information. Therefore, the user is strongly conscious of the compression encoding method, encryption for preventing unauthorized copying, and the like. It is possible to provide a data supply system which can receive the supply of the digital data without any cost and can be used at low cost.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention.
The following embodiment is a specific example of the present invention and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. A data supply system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a data reproduction device and a data supply device. The data reproducing apparatus is embodied as a small portable data reproducing apparatus for reproducing digital music data recorded on a removable semiconductor medium. On the other hand, the data supply device is embodied as a data supply device for supplying music digital data specified by a user to the semiconductor medium detached from the data reproduction device for reproducing music digital data. For example, it is installed in a state where it is installed in a vending machine for drinking water, or installed as a dedicated vending machine in a convenience store, a railway station, or the like. FIG.
The schematic configuration of the data reproducing apparatus is shown in FIG. The data reproducing device P includes a microcomputer 1 for controlling the entire device.
1, a connector 12 to which a semiconductor medium (an example of a recording medium) M is mounted; a program memory (an example of a storage unit) 13 for storing a reproduction program for reproducing music digital data recorded on the semiconductor medium M; A DSP 14 for reading a reproduction program from the program memory 13 and reproducing the music digital data in accordance with a command signal from the microcomputer 11;
A DAC 15, an amplifier 16, and an earphone 17 for outputting the music digital data reproduced by the digital audio device as sound. The data reproducing apparatus according to the present invention includes the semiconductor medium M
Device information recording means for pre-recording device information relating to the device, and device information recording means which is based on the device information recorded by the device information recording device and which is necessary for reproducing the music digital data on the device. The information is transferred to the semiconductor medium M on which the music digital data is recorded.
And automatic setting means for automatically setting an environment necessary for reproducing the music digital data based on the necessary information obtained by the necessary information obtaining means. However, these functions are realized by the microcomputer 11.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the data supply device. As shown in FIG. 2, the data supply device S includes:
A microcomputer 21 for controlling the entire apparatus, a connector 22 for mounting the semiconductor medium M, a storage means 2 for storing a plurality of compression-encoding programs and music digital data
3 and so on. The data supply device according to the present invention includes a device information detecting means for detecting device information relating to the data reproducing device recorded in advance on the semiconductor medium M, and a device information detecting device based on the device information detected by the device information detecting device. Required information determining means for determining necessary information required for reproducing music digital data specified by a user on the data reproducing apparatus, and determining the required information on the recording medium to which the specified digital data is supplied. A recording means for recording the necessary information determined by the means is provided as a function. These functions are realized by the microcomputer 21. In the above data supply system, the user attaches the semiconductor medium M formatted by the data reproduction device P to the data supply device S to purchase or rent music digital data. It is important to prevent unauthorized use of digital music data and to provide convenience to users.

The details of the data reproducing device P, the data supply device S, and the data supply system including both will be described below. In the data supply system, music digital data is supplied by the data supply device S only to the semiconductor medium M that is previously formatted by the data reproduction device P owned by the user. The format of the data reproducing device P is determined by the user by using the switch 18 of the data reproducing device P.
In addition to being started when is pressed, it can also be started automatically by detecting that the semiconductor medium M is mounted. FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of an insertion port of the semiconductor medium M formed in the housing of the data reproducing apparatus P. As shown in FIG. 3, an insertion opening 121 for the semiconductor medium M is formed in a casing of the data reproducing apparatus P in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. At the deepest part of the insertion port 121, the connector 12
(Not shown in FIG. 3). Along the guide 122 constituting the insertion port 121, the semiconductor medium M
Is inserted into the insertion opening 121, the semiconductor medium M and the connector 12 are appropriately connected. In addition to the connector 12, a pair of electrodes 123 is provided at a deep portion of the insertion port 121. These electrodes 123 are connected to the microcomputer 11. The above electrode 123
When the semiconductor medium M is inserted, the lower electrode 123b of the drawing is pushed upward in the drawing, and the convex portion 124 provided in the vicinity of the tip thereof is connected to the upper electrode 123a of the drawing.
Contact

FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of a connection circuit for connecting the above-mentioned electrodes to a microcomputer. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a voltage transition at point A in FIG. The switch Sw1 in FIG. 4 corresponds to the pair of electrodes 123. When the semiconductor medium M is not inserted, the switch Sw1 is open. At this time, the potential at the point A shown in FIG. 4 is the battery voltage _{Vbat as shown} in FIG. When the semiconductor medium M is inserted, the switch Sw
1 is closed. When the switch Sw1 is closed,
Once the potential at the point A suddenly drops. A decreased above
The potential of the point gradually rises as the capacitor C1 is charged, and eventually reaches a value obtained by _{dividing the} battery voltage _Vbat by the resistors R1 and R2. The pulse once formed by suddenly lowering the potential is
The signal is input to the inverting AND circuit 41. Invert A
When the pulse is input to the ND circuit 41, the power supply monitoring RS latch 42 is set. The RS latch 42
Is set, an operation command is sent to the power converter 43. As a result, power supply to the entire circuit is started,
The microcomputer 11 is also supplied with power of voltage _Vcc .
Note that, in the circuit example of FIG.
Can be determined by the microcomputer 11 when there is a switch input due to, for example, being pressed by the user, and when the above-described semiconductor medium M is mounted. For this purpose, in the circuit example of FIG. 4, the RS latch 44 is connected between the point A and the microcomputer 11. When the switch Sw1 is turned on due to the mounting of the semiconductor medium M, the pulse generated at the point A sets the RS latch 42 and also sets the RS latch 44. When the RS latch 44 is set, the microcomputer 11
A pulse is input to the I / O input of. On the other hand, when there is a switch input by the switch 18 or the like, a pulse is input to the inverting AND circuit 41 and the RS latch 42 is set, but the RS latch 44 is not set. That is, when there is a pulse input to the I / O input of the microcomputer 11, it is possible to determine that the RS latch 42 has been set by mounting the semiconductor medium M.

When the microcomputer 11 is started, it is determined whether or not the semiconductor medium M is inserted into the insertion slot 121 at that time. This determination is necessary, for example, when the RS latch 42 is set by a switch input by the switch 18 or the like, because the user may not be wearing the semiconductor medium M. The determination is made, for example, when the voltage at the point A is the power supply voltage V
This is performed based on whether or not it is _cc . If the voltage at the point A is the power supply voltage _Vcc, it is determined that the switch Sw1 is off and the semiconductor medium M is not inserted. On the other hand, if the voltage at the point A is not the power supply voltage _Vcc , it is determined that the switch Sw1 is on and the semiconductor medium M is also inserted. If the semiconductor medium M has been inserted into the insertion slot 121, it is determined whether or not the semiconductor medium M has already been formatted. Now, assuming that the semiconductor medium M is unused, the microcomputer 11 automatically starts formatting the semiconductor medium M. It is also possible for the user to instruct the format by pressing a switch or the like.

The microcomputer 11 formats the semiconductor medium M,
The device information such as the unique information (ID) of the data reproducing device P is recorded. This device information includes information on the resources (CPU, maximum clock, mounted memory, reproduction program held, frequency of use of the reproduction program, public key, etc.) of the data reproducing device P in addition to the ID. The above ID is
For example, it is a serial number or the like sequentially given to all of the manufactured data reproducing devices P. The above ID is
In addition, a code that can uniquely determine each data reproducing device P,
Any number may be used. The stored reproduction program is stored in the program memory 13 provided in the data reproduction device P.
And the type of the reproduction program stored in. The reproduction program stored in the program memory 13 is, for example, NTT Cyber Space Laboratories (former N
TT Human Interface Laboratory) is a decoding program compatible with compression coding formats such as TwinVQ. The types of the reproduction programs include those having different sampling frequencies in addition to those having different compression encoding formats. For example, if the sampling frequency is 4
Playback program of 4 kHz and sampling frequency of 2
It is assumed that it is handled as a type different from the 2 kHz reproduction program. The frequency of use of the reproduction program refers to the frequency of use of each reproduction program stored in the program memory 13. Further, the secret key corresponding to the public key is recorded only in one device. The secret key is preferably recorded in hardware rather than being stored as data. The recording process of the device information by the microcomputer 11 as described above corresponds to the device information recording means in the data reproducing device of the present invention.

When the formatting of the semiconductor medium M is completed, the user is informed of the completion by, for example, displaying it on the LCD 19 of the data reproducing apparatus P. The user uses the data reproducing device P owned by the user to format the semiconductor medium M formatted as described above.
Is attached to the data supply device S, the music digital data can be supplied from the data supply device S. Here, FIG. 6 briefly shows a flow from data supply by the data supply device to data reproduction by the data reproduction device. The data supply device S
Then, when the formatted semiconductor medium M is mounted, the mounting is detected by the same mechanism as that of the data reproducing apparatus P. When the mounting of the semiconductor medium M is detected, the microcomputer 21 of the data supply device S is started. When the microcomputer 21 is started, the device information (including the public key) that should have been recorded on the semiconductor medium M is read out via the connector 22 (S6).
01). If the unformatted semiconductor medium M is mounted, the fact is displayed on the LCD 24 of the data supply device S, and the data supply process is stopped. The reading of the device information by the microcomputer 21 corresponds to the device information detecting means of the data supply device in the present invention. On the other hand, when the device information recorded on the semiconductor medium M is read by the microcomputer 21, the content name of the music digital data recorded on the storage means 23 of the data supply device S is displayed on the LCD 24. You. At this time,
In addition to the content name, a method in which the content is compression-encoded, sound quality information corresponding to the sampling frequency, and the like are also displayed on the LCD 24. These pieces of information do not necessarily need to be displayed collectively, and only the content name may be displayed first, and the sound quality information and the like may be displayed after the content name is selected. Further, the content name may be displayed in a state where the content name is classified according to the compression encoding method or the genre. The above-mentioned compression coding method includes TwinVQ described above, other MP3, ATRAC
Etc. can be used. For the sound quality information, the sampling frequency may be directly displayed, but in order to promote the user's understanding, a display such as a CD quality or an FM quality may be displayed.
The music digital data recorded in the storage means 23 may be simply linear PCM encoded data, or may be data already compressed and encoded in a predetermined compression encoding format. When the music digital data is recorded in the storage means 23 in a format such as linear PCM encoding, when the music digital data is provided to the data reproducing apparatus P, a compression code using a DSP (not shown) is used. The conversion process is performed. On the other hand, when the music digital data is recorded in the storage means 23 in a state where the music digital data has been compression-coded in advance, the same music digital data is stored in the storage means 23 in a number corresponding to the kind of compression coding format that can be provided. 23.

The storage means 2 of the data supply device S
3 may be displayed on the LCD 24, but may not be used by the data reproducing apparatus P. Therefore, based on the device information recorded on the semiconductor medium M and detected by the microcomputer 21, the microcomputer 21 determines music digital data, compression coding method, sound quality information and the like which can be used, and displays them on the LCD 24. You may do so. If it is determined by the microcomputer 21 based on the apparatus information that the data reproducing apparatus P cannot perform reproduction at a relatively high sampling frequency due to, for example, resources, the data reproducing apparatus P P displays only the sound quality information that can be reproduced. The user selects the desired content name of the digital music data, the compression encoding format, the sound quality information and the like based on the information displayed on the LCD 24 in this manner. The information such as the content name, the compression encoding format, and the sound quality information selected by the user by pressing the button switch 25 is
It is sent to the microcomputer 21. When the information such as the content name is supplied to the microcomputer 21, a reproduction program corresponding to the compression encoding format of the designated sampling frequency is stored in the program memory 13 of the data reproducing apparatus P which has formatted the semiconductor medium M. Whether it is recorded or not is determined based on the reproduction program held in the device information. The semiconductor media M
When the microcomputer 21 determines that the reproduction program corresponding to the compression encoding format of the sampling frequency designated by the user is recorded in the program memory 13 of the data reproducing apparatus P in which Music digital data corresponding to the designated content name, compression encoding method, sound quality information, etc. is read from the storage means 23.

When the music digital data is read from the storage means 23, the microcomputer 21 stores the music digital data and necessary information necessary for reproducing the music digital data in a locked state using, for example, a public key included in the device information. Is recorded on the semiconductor medium M (S602).
The information necessary for the reproduction includes, in addition to the type of the compression encoding method and the sound quality information, data such as a period in which the music digital data can be used. When the period is expressed by the number of days, if it is a rental, the time at which the music digital data was recorded and the number of available days are recorded on the semiconductor medium M. Also, when the user purchases the music digital data, it is unlikely that the rental will cover a number of days corresponding to several years. The playback device P is caused to make a determination. Thus, the same data format can be used for rental and purchase. When the microcomputer 21 determines that the reproduction program corresponding to the compression encoding format of the sampling frequency specified by the user is not recorded in the program memory 13 of the data reproducing apparatus P which has formatted the semiconductor medium M, Means that not only the music digital data specified by the user but also the corresponding reproduction program
Will be recorded. At this time, the reproduction program stored in the device information stored in the semiconductor medium M is rewritten as necessary. Note that the reproduction program itself is also included in the necessary information. The discrimination processing of the reproduction program and the like by the microcomputer 21 corresponds to the necessary information discriminating means of the data supply device of the present invention, and the recording processing by the microcomputer 21 for recording the discriminated necessary information on the semiconductor medium M. Corresponds to the recording means of the data supply device in the present invention.

When the semiconductor medium M is a flash memory, block erasure is performed to erase data recorded on the semiconductor medium M. For this reason, when the music digital data includes data of a plurality of music pieces, it is preferable to set the head of the data of each music piece to the head of the block. However, if the head of the data of each music piece is set to the head of a block, an area in which no data is recorded is generated behind each block. This area is not large enough to record music digital data for one song, but is left unused, so that the recording capacity of the semiconductor medium M is wasted as a whole. Therefore, in the data supply device S according to the present invention, when the music digital data and the stored reproduction program are recorded on the semiconductor medium M, an unused area where no data is recorded occurs due to the recording structure. , Message information addressed to the user is recorded in the unused area. That is, in the microcomputer 21, the music digital data is divided and stored in accordance with the blocks of the semiconductor medium M. At this time, the amount of each divided data is compared with the size of each block. The capacity of the unused area of each block is detected from the difference between the two. The microcomputer 21 selects the message information according to the detected capacity of the unused area, and records the message information in the unused area. Examples of the message information include character information relating to other data of the same player as the music digital data designated by the user, ranking information of popular music digital data at that time,
Information on music digital data newly supplied by the data supply device S, and other information, such as advertising information, public information, sightseeing information, traffic information, and information on the area where the vending machine is installed, are included. These message information may be recorded in the storage means 23 in which the music digital data is recorded, or may be separately recorded in other recording means. The genre of the message information to be added may also be displayed on the LCD 24 so that the user can select the genre of the message information. Note that the free area detection processing by comparing each data with the unused area by the microcomputer 21 corresponds to the free area detection means of the data supply device in the present invention. Further, the process in which the microcomputer 21 records the message information in the unused area based on the detected free area corresponds to the message information adding means of the data supply device in the present invention.

The music digital data recorded on the semiconductor medium M as described above is reproduced by the data reproducing apparatus P when the user moves the semiconductor medium M and mounts it on the data reproducing apparatus P. (S60
3). The reproduction process by the data reproducing device P can be started automatically by a user pressing a button, or can be automatically performed according to the mounting of the semiconductor medium M. In the data reproducing apparatus P, as in the case of formatting the semiconductor medium M, when the insertion of the semiconductor medium M is detected and the microcomputer 11 is activated, the microcomputer 11 causes the microcomputer 11 to store music digital data in the semiconductor medium M. Is recorded. When music digital data is recorded on the semiconductor medium M, the microcomputer 11 uses the secret key held in the data reproducing apparatus P by the microcomputer 11 in a state locked by a public key. Music digital data or the like recorded in M is decrypted (S604). When the music digital data or the like is decrypted by the secret key, the ID of the device information recorded on the semiconductor medium M is referred to, and it is confirmed whether or not the ID matches the ID of the data reproducing device P. (S
605). If the ID of the device information recorded on the semiconductor medium M matches the ID of the data reproducing device P, conditions such as a use period of data included in the information necessary for the reproduction are further used. Is referred to as necessary, and if the conditions such as the usage period are satisfied, the reproduction process by the data reproduction device P is permitted (S606). On the other hand, if the ID of the device information recorded on the semiconductor medium M does not match the ID of the data reproducing device P, the reproduction process by the data reproducing device P is not permitted, and Is displayed on the LCD 19 of the data reproducing apparatus P (S60).
7). That is, the reproduction of the music digital data recorded on the semiconductor medium M is permitted only to the data reproducing apparatus P, and is not permitted even if the semiconductor medium M is mounted on another data reproducing apparatus P.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the data reproducing apparatus after the microcomputer of the data reproducing apparatus has been activated and the reproduction processing has been permitted. As shown in FIG.
When the reproduction process is permitted, the microcomputer 11 stores the program memory 1 in the semiconductor medium M.
It is searched whether there is a reproduction program different from the reproduction program recorded in No. 3 (S701). The search is performed, for example, by comparing a reproduction program recorded in the semiconductor medium M with a reproduction program recorded in the program memory 13 or by using the data supply device S to record the program recorded on the semiconductor medium M. If the type of the reproduction program of the device information is rewritten, it can be performed by referring to it. When directly comparing the reproduction program recorded on the semiconductor medium M with the reproduction program recorded on the program memory 13, the reproduction program recorded on the program memory 13 is also recorded on the semiconductor medium M in advance. Although it is necessary to keep the program, the playback program transferred from the program memory 13 to the semiconductor medium M for comparison is used only for comparison, and is not actually used for playback of the music digital data. Therefore, the capacity of the semiconductor medium M is wasted. For this reason, for the reproduction program already recorded in the program memory 13, the capacity of the semiconductor medium M is saved by transferring only the dummy information without transferring the substance of the reproduction program to the semiconductor medium M. be able to. In this case, if the user uses a plurality of semiconductor media M, a reproduction program that cannot be present may occur due to a difference in the order of mounting the semiconductor media M to the data reproducing apparatus P. Can be handled by detecting that there is no actual state of the playback program, notifying the user, and manually mounting a card having the same.

If the microcomputer 11 determines that a reproduction program different from that recorded in the program memory 13 is recorded in the semiconductor medium M, the capacity of the reproduction program is determined by the microcomputer 11. The free space of the program memory 13 is compared. If the capacity of the reproduction program is smaller than the free space of the program memory 13, the reproduction program is transferred from the semiconductor medium M to the program memory 13. If the search is performed with reference to the type of the reproduction program of the device information recorded on the semiconductor medium M, the program is recorded in the program memory 13 in accordance with the transferred reproduction program. The information of the type of the playback program being written is rewritten. On the other hand, if the capacity of the playback program is larger than the free space of the program memory 13, the free space of the playback program already recorded in the program memory 13 is secured in order to secure a free space corresponding to the capacity of the playback program. All or a part is deleted from the program memory 13 (S
702). The selection of the reproduction program to be deleted from the program memory 13 is performed based on, for example, a priority determined according to the frequency of use of each reproduction program. When a reproduction program with a low priority is deleted from the program memory 13 and the free space of the program memory 13 is secured, the semiconductor medium M
Is transferred to the program memory 13 (S703). Then, such transfer processing of the reproduction program is repeated until there is no more different reproduction program recorded on the semiconductor medium M. The transfer of the reproduction program to the program memory 13 starting from the search for the reproduction program recorded on the semiconductor medium M may not always be necessary. For example, when the power of the data reproducing apparatus P is turned off while the semiconductor medium M is still mounted, the microcomputer 1 is controlled based on a switch input by the user using the switch 18 or the like.
In the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to determine whether the power is supplied by mounting or switch input. In the case of the above-described switch input, The transfer process of the reproduction program may be omitted. As a result, the processing at the time of startup can be reduced, the processing time can be reduced, and power consumption can be reduced. Also, as described above, the semiconductor medium M
The process of searching for a reproduction program recorded in the computer 11 and referring to the period of use of the public key and music digital data and other device information is performed under the control of the microcomputer 11, which is realized by the microcomputer 11. The function corresponds to a necessary information acquisition unit in the present invention. Further, as a result of the search for the reproduction program, a process of transferring the reproduction program from the semiconductor medium M to the program memory 13 or preparing an environment necessary for another reproduction based on the necessary information is automatically set in the present invention. It corresponds to a means.

When a reproduction program necessary for reproducing the new music digital data supplied to the semiconductor medium M is transferred to the program memory 13, an instruction such as pressing a button automatically or by a user is given. Thus, the reproduction processing of the music digital data is performed. That is, when the digital music data recorded on the semiconductor medium M is read by the microcomputer 11 via the connector 12, a reproduction program corresponding to the digital data is read by the DSP 14 under the control of the microcomputer 11, and the music is stored in the DSP 14. Digital data is supplied in a timely manner. Since the selection of the reproduction program is automatically performed by the microcomputer 11 referring to the compression encoding method of the music digital data from the semiconductor medium M, the work required by the user at the time of reproduction is reduced. Of course, when the compression encoding method is the same and the sampling frequency is different, a usable reproduction program may be displayed on the LCD 19 so that the user can select the same, and the user may select the reproduction program. Alternatively, the microcomputer 11 may determine its own resource and select an appropriate one. In the DSP 14, the music digital data is decoded using the read reproduction program. The music digital data decoded by the DSP 14 is supplied to the DAC 15 and converted into an analog electric signal. The analog electric signal is amplified by an amplifier 16 and then the earphone 17.
And an electroacoustic transducer such as a speaker. And
The sound signal is converted into an acoustic signal by the earphone 17 and output to the user's ear as music. Further, the message information recorded on the semiconductor medium M is read out to the microcomputer 11 at the same time or independently of the reproduction processing.
The message information read by the microcomputer 11 is transmitted to the LCD 19 under the control of the microcomputer 11.
, Or converted into voice by the DSP 14, and output as voice via the DAC 15, the amplifier 16, and the earphone 17.

As described above, according to the data reproducing apparatus, the data supplying apparatus, and the data supplying system according to the embodiment of the present invention, music digital data is supplied from the data supplying apparatus to the data reproducing apparatus via the semiconductor medium. In this case, first, device information on the device is recorded on the semiconductor medium on the data reproducing device side, and then device information recorded on the semiconductor medium is detected on the data supply device side. After the necessary information necessary for reproducing the music digital data designated by the user on the data reproducing apparatus is determined based on the obtained device information, the determined necessary information is added together with the music digital data. Recorded on the semiconductor medium, and then recorded on the semiconductor medium by the data reproducing apparatus. The necessary information is acquired, and the environment necessary for reproducing the music digital data is automatically set based on the acquired necessary information. It is possible to provide an inexpensive data reproducing device, a data supplying device, and a data supplying system which can receive the supply of the music digital data without strongly considering the encryption for the purpose. Further, in the data supply device, the presence or absence of additional recording of the reproduction program required for reproduction is determined based on the type of the reproduction program included in the device information recorded in advance on the semiconductor medium. Since the additional recorded reproduction program is transferred to the program memory based on the priority such as the frequency of use of the reproduction program, even if the capacity of the program memory is not large, the reproduction processing corresponding to various compression encoding methods can be performed. It is possible to do. In the above-described embodiment, music digital data is used as an example of digital data. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A data reproducing apparatus that reproduces or supplies a digital signal or character data of an image is used. The present invention can be applied to a data supply device, a data supply system, and a data supply system. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the circuit of FIG. 4 capable of discriminating between switch input and mounting has been described as an example of a circuit capable of detecting the mounting of the semiconductor medium M. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Fig. 8 with mounting detection only
The configuration may be simplified by using such a circuit. The circuit of FIG. 8 has substantially the same configuration for detecting the insertion of the semiconductor medium M. That is, also in the circuit of FIG. 8, when the semiconductor medium M is not inserted, the switch Sw1 is open. At this time,
The potential at point A shown in FIG. 8 is the battery voltage V _{bat as shown} in FIG. When the semiconductor medium M is inserted, the switch Sw1 is closed. Switch S
Once w1 is closed, the potential at point A once drops sharply. The lowered potential at the point A gradually increases as the capacitor C1 is charged, and eventually reaches a value obtained by _{dividing the} battery voltage V _bat by the resistors R1 and R2. The pulse formed by suddenly lowering the potential is supplied to the RS latch 42, and the RS latch 42 is set. When the RS latch 42 is set, an operation command is sent to the power converter 43. As a result, power supply to the entire circuit is started, and power of the voltage _Vcc is also supplied to the microcomputer 11.

[0029]

As described above, according to the data reproducing apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 6, for example, a semiconductor medium for recording digital data such as music data and character data. Device information including the specific information of the device and the type of the stored reproduction program are written in advance on the recording medium, and when the digital data is actually reproduced, the digital data is supplied to the recording medium. At the same time, necessary information determined based on the device information is acquired, and an environment necessary for reproducing the digital data is automatically set based on the acquired device information. Provided is an inexpensive data reproducing apparatus that can reproduce the digital data without being strongly aware of the method and encryption for preventing unauthorized copying. It is possible. In addition, the above-mentioned claim 7
According to the data supply device described in any one of the above-described items, when digital data such as music data or character data is recorded on a recording medium such as a semiconductor medium, data recorded in advance on the recording medium is used. Device information relating to the reproducing device is detected, and necessary information necessary for reproducing digital data designated by the user on the data reproducing device is determined based on the detected device information. Since the necessary information is recorded together with the digital data on the recording medium, the user can receive the digital data without having to be conscious of the compression coding method or encryption for preventing unauthorized copying. A supply device can be provided. Also, according to the data supply device according to any one of claims 12 to 19, for example, digital data such as music data and character data is transferred from the data supply device to the data reproduction device via a recording medium such as a semiconductor medium. When the data is supplied to the data reproducing device, the device information on the device is recorded on the recording medium on the data reproducing device side, and then the device information recorded on the recording medium is detected on the data supplying device side. Based on the detected device information, necessary information necessary for reproducing the digital data designated by the user on the data reproducing device is determined, and the determined required information is added together with the digital data. The necessary information recorded on the recording medium and then recorded on the recording medium is acquired by the data reproducing apparatus. The environment necessary for reproducing the digital data is automatically set based on the necessary information, so that the user does not have to be conscious of the compression encoding method and encryption for preventing unauthorized copying. It is possible to provide a data supply system which can receive the digital data and can be used at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a data reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic device of a data supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a mechanism for detecting insertion of a semiconductor medium.

FIG. 4 is a discrimination circuit for detecting insertion of a semiconductor medium.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a state of a potential change at a predetermined point in the determination circuit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for briefly explaining a flow when digital data is supplied from the data supply device to the data reproduction device via a semiconductor medium.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an operation in the case where a reproduction program is transferred from the semiconductor medium to a program memory in the data reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of the determination circuit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11, 21 ... microcomputer 12, 22 ... connector 13 ... program memory 14 ... DSP 18, 25 ... switch 19, 24 ... LCD 23 ... storage means P ... data reproduction device S ... data supply device M ... semiconductor media

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Toshiaki Shimoda 1-5-5 Takatsukadai, Nishi-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture Inside Kobe Research Institute, Kobe Steel Ltd. (72) Inventor Tetsuya Takahashi 1-chome, Takatsukadai, Nishi-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. No.5-5 Kobe Steel, Ltd. Kobe Research Institute (72) Inventor Yoshiro Nishimoto 1-5-5 Takatsukadai, Nishi-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo Prefecture Kobe Steel Co., Ltd. Kobe Research Institute F-term (reference) 5D044 AB05 BC10 CC08 DE42 DE49 DE50 FG18 GK12 GK17

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A data reproducing apparatus for reproducing digital data recorded on a removable recording medium, comprising: a device information recording unit for preliminarily recording device information relating to the device on the recording medium; Necessary information acquisition means for acquiring, from the recording medium on which the digital data is recorded, information necessary for reproducing the digital data on the apparatus, based on the obtained device information; A data reproducing apparatus comprising: automatic setting means for automatically setting an environment necessary for reproducing the digital data based on necessary information obtained by the information obtaining means. 2. A recording apparatus comprising: a writable storage unit for storing one or a plurality of reproduction programs for reproducing the digital data; wherein the device information recording unit stores information on the reproduction program stored in the storage unit of the device; Is recorded on the recording medium, the required information acquiring means acquires information on a reproduction program included in the required information recorded on the recording medium, and the automatic setting means acquires the required information acquiring means. 2. The data reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a reproducing program corresponding to the digital data is transferred to the storage means based on the information on the reproducing program acquired by the method. 3. When the recording medium is mounted, the mounting of the recording medium is detected, the power of the apparatus is turned on, and the apparatus information recording means or the necessary information acquisition means and the automatic setting means are activated. The data reproducing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the device information includes device-specific information, and permission / restriction on reproduction of the digital data is controlled based on the device-specific information. A data reproducing device according to the item. 5. The data reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording medium is a semiconductor medium. 6. The digital data according to claim 1, wherein the digital data is one or both of music data and character data.
6. The data reproducing apparatus according to any one of items 5 to 5. 7. A data supply apparatus for supplying digital data designated by a user to a recording medium detached from a data reproduction apparatus for reproducing digital data, the data supply apparatus comprising: Device information detecting means for detecting device information; and determining necessary information necessary for reproducing the specified digital data on the data reproducing device based on the device information detected by the device information detecting means. And data recording means for recording the required information determined by the required information determining means on the recording medium to which the designated digital data is supplied. apparatus. 8. When the recording medium is mounted, the mounting is detected, and the power of the apparatus is turned on.
8. The data supply device according to claim 7, wherein the necessary information determination means and the recording means are activated. 9. A vacant area detecting means for detecting a vacant area of the recording medium on which the digital data and the device information are not recorded, and a user according to the vacant area detected by the vacant area detecting means. 9. The data supply device according to claim 7, further comprising message information adding means for adding message information addressed to the data supply device. 10. The data supply device according to claim 7, wherein said recording medium is a semiconductor medium. 11. The digital data is one or both of music data and character data.
11. The data supply device according to any one of items 10 to 10. 12. A data supply device comprising: a data reproduction device for reproducing digital data recorded on a removable recording medium; and a data supply device for supplying digital data designated by a user to the recording medium. In the system, the data supply device is configured to detect device information about the data reproducing device recorded in advance on the recording medium, based on the device information detected by the device information detecting device. Necessary information judging means for judging necessary information necessary for reproducing the designated digital data on the data reproducing apparatus, and judging by the necessary information judging means on the recording medium supplied with the specified digital data. Recording means for recording the required information recorded by the data reproducing apparatus. Required information obtaining means for obtaining the required information obtained from the recording medium, and reproducing the specified digital data supplied to the same recording medium based on the required information obtained by the required information obtaining means. Automatic setting means for automatically setting an environment necessary for the data supply. 13. The data reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a writable storage means for storing one or more reproduction programs for reproducing the digital data supplied to the recording medium, wherein the apparatus information includes The data reproducing apparatus includes information related to a reproduction program stored in the storage means, and the necessary information determining means of the data supply apparatus determines the necessary information of the data reproducing apparatus based on the apparatus information recorded on the recording medium. It is determined whether or not a reproduction program corresponding to the specified digital data is stored in the storage means, and the reproduction program corresponding to the specified digital data is stored in the data reproduction apparatus by the necessary information determination means. If it is determined that the data is not stored in the storage means, the recording means sets at least the finger 13. The data supply system according to claim 12, wherein a reproduction program corresponding to the determined digital data is recorded on the recording medium. 14. When the recording medium is mounted on the data reproducing apparatus, the data reproducing apparatus detects the mounting of the recording medium, turns on the power, and turns on the necessary information acquiring means and the automatic setting means. Is activated, and when the required information is acquired from the recording medium by the required information acquiring means,
14. The data supply system according to claim 13, wherein the automatic setting means transfers a reproduction program recorded on the recording medium to the storage means based on the necessary information. 15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said device information includes device-specific information, and permission / restriction of reproduction of said digital data by said data reproducing device is controlled based on said device information. Any one of 14
Data supply system according to the paragraph. 16. When the recording medium is mounted on the data supply device, the data supply device detects the mounting and turns on the power, and the device information detection means, the necessary information determination means, and the recording medium. The means is activated.
The data supply system according to any one of claims 15 to 15. 17. A data storage device comprising: a free area detecting means for detecting a free area of the recording medium on which the digital data and device information are not recorded; and a free area detecting means for detecting the free area detected by the free area detecting means. 17. The data supply system according to claim 12, further comprising message information adding means for adding message information addressed to a user in response. 18. The data supply system according to claim 12, wherein said recording medium is a semiconductor medium. 19. The digital data according to claim 1, wherein the digital data is one or both of music data and character data.
19. The data supply system according to any one of 2 to 18.