# US 7,614,087 B2 · Apparatus, method and computer program for controlling use of a content > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,614,087 B2 - Document ID: US7614087B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/667,872 - Filed: 2003-09-22 - Published: 2004-03-25 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2002-09-24 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Inventors: Takehiko Nakano - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7614087B2 ## CPC - G06F 21/10: Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material (protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16) {; Digital rights management [DRM]} - G06F 2221/2137: Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A content usage control apparatus prevents a content managed by an end user from being illegally used. To prevent a content from being used by an apparatus or user other than an authorized apparatus or user, a content usage control apparatus registers the authorized apparatus or user and determines, before providing the content, whether the content is going to be provided to the authorized apparatus or user. The content usage control apparatus also has the capability of imposing a limitation on rewriting of registration. The above-described capabilities of the content usage control apparatus make it possible to protect copyright of information to be provided. A specific example of the content usage control apparatus is a server which stores contents such as movie contents or music contents, and may be used in a system in which a content is provided in response to a request from a client such as a portable telephone, a TV set, or a personal computer, connected to the server. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A content usage control apparatus comprising: acquisition means for acquiring first user identification information identifying a first user requesting use of content; registration means for registering the first user identification information in a database, and for subsequently registering a second user requesting use of the content by replacing the first user identification information in the database with second user identification information identifying the second user; change limitation means for preventing the registration means from further replacing the second user identification information in the database in accordance with a limitation on replacing user identification information, wherein the limitation is a maximum number of times user identification information can be replaced; limitation modifying means for modifying the limitation on replacing user identification information to increase the maximum number of times user identification information can be replaced; and usage control means for, in response to the request for use of the content issued by the second user, determining whether the use of the content is allowed on the basis of whether the second user identification information is currently registered in the database. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A content usage control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the registration means performs registration in response to a request issued by the first user. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A content usage control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the registration means performs new registration only when a current number of registrations is smaller than a predetermined maximum allowable number of registrations. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A content usage control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the registration means stores, together with the first user identification information, an invalidation flag for controlling provision of a service to the first user; and the usage control means limits the use of the content by the first user if the invalidation flag associated with the first user is set. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A content usage control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the registered first user identification information is replaced with the second user identification information, the change limitation means requests the second user to perform a particular operation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A content usage control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the registered first user identification information is replaced with the second user identification information, the change limitation means requests submission of change permission information from the second user. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A content usage control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the change limitation means charges fees for changing the maximum number of times user identification information can be replaced. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A content usage control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the limitation on replacing user information is modified the change limitation means requests submission of change permission information from a different apparatus or a manager. ### Claim 9 A content usage control method implemented by a computer comprising a central processing unit, the method comprising steps of: acquiring first user identification information identifying a first user requesting use of content; registering the first user identification information in a database and subsequently registering a second user requesting use of the content by replacing the first user identification information in the database with second user identification information identifying the second user; preventing further replacement of the registered second user identification in the database information in accordance with a limitation on replacing user identification information, wherein the limitation is a maximum number of times user identification information can be replaced; modifying, by the central processing unit of the computer, the limitation on replacing user identification information to increase the maximum number of times user identification information can be replaced; and in response to the request for use of the content issued by the second user, determining whether the use of the content is allowed on the basis of whether the second user identification information is currently registered in the database. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A content usage control method according to claim 9, wherein registration is performed in response to a request issued by the first user. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A content usage control method according to claim 9, wherein new registration is performed only when a current number of registrations is smaller than a predetermined maximum allowable number of registrations. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) A content usage control method according to claim 9, wherein an invalidation flag for controlling provision of a service to the first user is stored together with the first user identification information; and the use of the content by the first user is limited, if the invalidation flag associated with the first user is set. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) A content usage control method according to claim 9, wherein when the registered first user identification information is replaced with the second user identification information for a second client, the second user is requested to perform a particular operation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) A content usage control method according to claim 9, wherein, when the registered first user identification information is replaced with the second user identification information, submission of change permission information is requested from the second user. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) A content usage control method according to claim 9, further comprising charging fees for changing the maximum number of times user identification information can be replaced. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) A content usage control method according to claim 9, wherein when the limitation on replacing user information is modified, submission of change permission information is requested from a different apparatus or a manager. ### Claim 17 A computer-readable storage medium containing processor readable instructions for causing a processor to execute a method comprising: acquiring first user identification information identifying a first user requesting use of content; registering the first user identification information in a database and subsequently registering a second user requesting use of the content by replacing the first user identification information in the database with second user identification information identifying the second user; preventing further replacement of the registered second user identification in the database information in accordance with a limitation on replacing user identification information, wherein the limitation is a maximum number of times user identification information can be replaced; modifying the limitation on replacing user identification information to increase the maximum number of times user identification information can be replaced; and in response to the request for use of the content issued by the second user, determining whether the use of the content is allowed on the basis of whether the second user identification information is currently registered in the database. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The content usage control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the limitation is stored in a tamper proof storage unit that physically prevents the limitation from being overwritten from outside the content usage control apparatus.