Content transmission device and content transmission method

An integrated circuit provided in a content transmission device that encrypts and transmits each of portions that constitute content to a content reception device, the integrated circuit comprising:

• a transmission control unit operable to receive a request for transmitting a portion of the content from the content reception device, and to transmit to the content reception device (i) an encrypted portion, which is generated in response to the request, and (ii) a first key parameter, based on which a content key is generated, the content key being used for encrypting the portion;
• a key management unit operable to (i) upon receiving the request, generate the first key parameter when the first key parameter has not yet been generated, and update the first key parameter when the first key parameter has already been generated, and (ii) store therein the generated or updated first key parameter;
• and
• an encryption unit operable to generate the content key based on the first key parameter, and to encrypt the portion corresponding to the request by using the generated content key so as to generate the encrypted portion,
• wherein the key management unit receives a second key parameter from the content reception device, and calculates a difference between the first key parameter and the received second key parameter,
• wherein the transmission control unit judges, by using the difference, whether or not to change a transmission speed at which the encrypted portion is to be transmitted, selects one of a plurality of transmission speeds based on a result of the judgment, and transmits the encrypted portion at the selected transmission speed,
• wherein when the difference is greater than a first threshold value, the transmission control unit selects one of the transmission speeds that is slower than a current transmission speed,
• wherein when the difference is smaller than or equal to a second threshold, the transmission control unit selects one of the transmission speeds that is faster than the current transmission speed, and
• wherein the second threshold value is smaller than the first threshold value.

A content transmission method used by a content transmission device that encrypts and transmits each of portions that constitute content to a content reception device, the content transmission method comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving a request for transmitting a portion of the content from the content reception device, and transmitting to the content reception device (i) an encrypted portion, which is generated in response to the request, and (ii) a first key parameter, based on which a content key is generated, the content key being used for encrypting the portion;
• (b) upon receiving the request, (i) generating the first key parameter when the first key parameter has not yet been generated, and updating the first key parameter when the first key parameter has already been generated, and (ii) storing therein the generated or updated first key parameter;
• and
• (c) generating the content key based on the first key parameter, and encrypting the portion corresponding to the request by using the generated content key so as to generate the encrypted portion,
• wherein in step (b), a second key parameter is received from the content reception device, and a difference between the first key parameter and the received second key parameter is calculated,
• wherein in step (a), whether or not to change a transmission speed at which the encrypted portion is to be transmitted is judged by using the difference, one of a plurality of transmission speeds is selected based on a result of the judgment, and the encrypted portion is transmitted at the selected transmission speed,
• wherein in step (a), when the difference is greater than a first threshold value, one of the transmission speeds that is slower than a current transmission speed is selected,
• wherein in step (a), when the difference is smaller than or equal to a second threshold, one of the transmission speeds that is faster than the current transmission speed is selected, and
• wherein the second threshold value is smaller than the first threshold value.