Copy limitation management device and method, and content storage device

A copy limitation management device comprising:

• a content handling information processing unit configured such that, when a master content added with content handling information including copy limitation information is stored in a first content storage device, the content handling information processing unit reads the content handling information from the first content storage device and acquires content information including the copy limitation information based on the content handling information;
• a content information storage unit configured to store the content information;
• a content information service unit configured such that
• when a first request for content information output is received from a second content storage device, the content information service unit reads the content information from the content information storage unit and outputs the content information to the second content storage device, and
• when a second request for master content delivery is received from the second content storage device, the content information service unit reads content information of a designated master content according to the second request from among the content information stored in the content information storage unit, determines whether the designated master content is copiable or not based on copy limitation information included in the read content information, and generates a copy issue request if the designated master content is copiable;
• a content limitation information processing unit configured to, responsive to the copy issue request, read the content information of the designated master content from the content information storage unit, update the copy limitation information included in the read content information, and generate a copy request;
• and
• a copy processing unit configured to, responsive to the copy request, read the designated master content from the first content storage device, and deliver the read master content to the second content storage device.

A copy limitation management method comprising:

• when a master content added with content handling information including copy limitation information is stored in a first content storage device, reading the content handling information from the first storage device and acquiring content information including the copy limitation information based on the content handling information;
• storing the content information in a content information storage unit;
• when a first request for content information output is received from a second content storage device,
• reading the content information from the content information storage unit, and
• outputting the content information to the second content storage device;
• and
• when a second request for master content delivery is received from the second content storage device,
• reading content information of a designated master content according to the second request from among the content information stored in the content information storage unit,
• determining whether the designated master content is copiable or not based on copy limitation information included in the read content information, and
• generating a copy issue request if the designated master content is copiable;
• responsive to the copy issue request, reading the content information of the designated master content from the content information storage unit, updating the copy limitation information included in the read content information, and generating a copy request;
• and
• responsive to the copy request, reading the designated master content from the first content storage device, and delivering the read master content to the second content storage device.

A content storage device comprising:

• a content storage unit configured to store a master content added with content handling information including copy limitation information;
• a content handling information processing unit configured such that, when the master content is stored in the content storage unit, the content handling information processing unit reads the content handling information from the content storage unit and acquires content information including the copy limitation information based on the content handling information;
• a content information storage unit configured to store the content information;
• a content information service unit configured such that
• when a first request for content information output is received from an external device, the content information service unit reads the content information from the content information storage unit and outputs the content information to the external device, and
• when a second request for master content delivery is received from the external device, the content information service unit reads content information of a designated master content according to the second request from among the content information stored in the content information storage unit, determines whether the designated master content is copiable or not based on copy limitation information included in the read content information, and generates a copy issue request if the designated master content is copiable;
• a content limitation information processing unit configured to, responsive to the copy issue request, read the content information of the designated master content from the content information storage unit, update the copy limitation information included in the read content information, and generate a copy request;
• and
• a copy processing unit configured to, responsive to the copy request, read the designated master content from the content storage unit, and deliver the read master content to the external device.