9944B1
`
`
`
`2J
`
`US0070
`
`a2) United States Patent
`US 7,039,944 BI
`(10) Patent No.:
`May2, 2006
`Choet al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`
`(54) DIGITAL DATA FILE MANAGEMENT
`METHOD AND RECORDING MEDIUMFOR
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`RECORDING DIGITAL DATA FILE
`MANAGEMENT PROGRAM THEREON
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Young-Soon Cho, Pyungtaek (KR);
`Jae-Young Kim, Seoul (KR); Han
`Jung, Seoul (KR)
`.
`.
`:
`(73) Assignee: LG Electronics Inc., Seoul (KR)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to anydisclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/500,573
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Feb. 10, 2000
`
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,982,506 A * LL/1999 Kata wee eee 358/405
`6,577,735 BL*
`6/2003 Bharat
`.....sssssseescesseeees 380/286
`
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`0715247 Al *
`5/1996
`0715247 AL *
`6/1996
`
`EP
`EP
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Gregory Morse
`Assistant Examiner—Thomas Ho
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Birch,Stewart,Kolasch &
`Birch,LLP
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Feb. 10, 1999
`
`.
`(KR) ee eeeesecseseeeeseeseeeenes 99-4560
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`HO4L 9/00
`(52) US. C1. cic ceeesteersscsneneeeneateneees 726/2; 705/59
`(58) Field of Classification Search ........0.. 713/200
`713/165; 705/59; 709/203, 219; 707/9;
`726/2, 26
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`The digital data file management method reads a header of
`the digital datafile stored on an external medium. Based on
`the read header, the digital data file is selectively uploaded
`and/or managed.
`
`16 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`a —----- ~-5
`Daf ee 7!
`{
`|
`{ot
`
`‘
`
`/
`
`“
`
`|
`1
`;
`/
`tt
`|
`1
`!
`f
`
`DIGITAL DATA
`
`STORAGE MEDIUM
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DIGITAL DATA
`VENDING
`MACHINE
`
`
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1116
`APPLE 1116
`
`1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May2, 2006
`
`Sheet 1 of 2
`
`US 7,039,944 B1
`
`FIG.
`
`1
`
`“IND
`
`
`DIGITAL DATA
`
`DIGITAL DATA
`
`VENDING
`
`STORAGE MEDIUM
`
`
`
`MACHINE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May2, 2006
`
`Sheet 2 of 2
`
`US 7,039,944 B1
`
`FIG. 2A
`
`
`
`[ee[weiore
`
`FIG. 2B
`
`
`
`PD[aiciware
`
`FIG. 2C
`
`FIG. 2D
`
`[2Ja] DICITAL DATA FILE |
`
`HEADER
`
`3
`
`

`

`US 7,039,944 B1
`
`1
`DIGITAL DATA FILE MANAGEMENT
`METHOD AND RECORDING MEDIUM FOR
`RECORDING DIGITAL DATA FILE
`MANAGEMENT PROGRAM THEREON
`
`BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates in general to a method for
`managing digital data files, such as a digital audio data file
`and a digital video data file, and a recording medium
`including a program for performing such management.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Generally, an MP3 playeris a type of digital data player
`for processing digital data files. The MP3 player is new
`notional, portable digital audio equipment capable ofreadily
`downloading and reproducing desired music from a com-
`puter communication network using an audio data compres-
`sion coding technique prescribed in MPEG1 Layer3. In
`particular, the MP3 playerhasfew faults and excellent sound
`quality because it stores music in the form of an MP3file.
`Further, the MP3 playeris smallin size andlight in weight,
`thereby allowing high activity uses such as being carried
`during physical exercise. For these reasons, this product is
`being touted as an alternative to a portable cassette tape
`recorder and compact disk (CD)player.
`For use in such an MP3 player, a digital data file is
`downloaded from a file supplier (server) to a personal
`computer terminal via a communication network such as the
`Internet and, in turn, to the MP3 player. The digital datafile
`downloaded as mentioned above may be uploaded from the
`MP3 player to the personal computer terminal,
`thereby
`causing a problem in regard to copyright infringement.
`Ontheother hand, when the supplyofdigital data players,
`like the MP3 player, become more widely spread and issues
`such a copyrightprotection are settled between digital data
`file suppliers and copyright holders, digital data file pur-
`chasing routes will be extended to vending machines, encod-
`ers, etc. In this case,file uploading from a digital data player
`to, for example, a personal computer terminalwill have to be
`permitted at least under certain restrictions.
`However, there is no conventional technique capableof,
`when a digital data file is intended to be uploaded from the
`digital data player to the personal computer terminal, iden-
`tifying a provider of the digital data file and permitting the
`uploading within limits in accordance with the identified
`result. This fact becomes an obstacle to the proliferation of
`the digital data player.
`
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`me 0
`
`a an
`
`25
`
`45
`
`Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of
`the above problems and it
`is an object of the present
`invention to provide a method for managinga digital audio
`data file such as MP3 and a digital video data file such as
`JPEG anda recording medium including a programfor such
`management.
`These and other objects are achieved by providing a
`method for managinga digital data file, comprising reading
`aheaderofa digital datafile stored by an external device and
`controlling whether to upload said digital data file based on
`said read header.
`
`These and other objects are further achieved by providing
`a program (or script) embodied on a computer-readable
`medium for managing a digital data file, said computer
`readable medium comprisinga first program code segment
`to read a header of a digital data file stored by an external
`
`2
`device; and a second program code segment to control
`whether to upload said digital data file based on said read
`header.
`
`These and other objects are still further achieved by
`providing a computer data signal comprising a first signal
`segment to read a headerof a digital data file stored by an
`external device, and a second signal segment to control
`whether to upload said digital data file based on said read
`header.
`
`
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The above and other objects, features and advantages of
`the present invention will be more clearly understood from
`the following detailed description taken in conjunction with
`the accompanying drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the movement of
`digital data files from/to a digital data player; and
`FIG.2 is a view illustrating identification codesof digital
`data files in accordance with the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the movement of
`digital data files from/to a digital data player, which is
`provided for the description of a digital data file duplication
`prevention method according to the present invention. A
`personal computer terminal 1 is connected to a communi-
`cation network (not shown) suchas the Internet for down-
`loading a digital data file, which is supplied at a charge or
`free of charge. The personal computer terminal 1 stores the
`downloaded digital data file on a hard disk therein and
`reproduces the stored digital data file or downloads it to a
`digital data player 2. When the digital data player 2 intends
`to upload its digital data file, the personal computer terminal
`1 checks an identification (ID) code in a headerofthe digital
`data file and permits the uploading within restrictions in
`accordance with the checked result. The digital data player
`2 stores the digital data file downloaded from the personal
`computer terminal 1 in a digital data storage medium 3 and
`reproducesthe stored digital data file. Also, the digital data
`player 2 reproduces an output digital data file received from
`a digital data vending machine 4 or an encoder 5, or the
`digital data player 2 uploads the received digital data file to
`the personal computer terminal 1.
`Thedigital data storage medium 3 is made in a removable
`form and stores the digital data file from the digital data
`player 2 therein. Alternatively, as shown by dashedlines, the
`digital data file is directly downloaded to the digital data
`storage medium 3,or, within the restrictions associated with
`the header, is directly uploaded from the digital data storage
`medium 3 to the personal computer terminal 1.
`The digital data vending machine 4 is connected to a
`communication network such as the Internet andis installed
`
`at a roadside or a public place where many people pass, for
`selling digital data files at a charge. The encoder 5 down-
`loads a digital data file transmitted over a specific transmis-
`sion line and supplies the downloaded digital data file to the
`digital data player 2. As with the personal computer terminal
`1, digital data files could be directly downloaded from the
`digital data vending machine 4 or the encoder5 to the digital
`data storage medium 3 (not shown).
`Now, a detailed description will be given of the digital
`data file duplication prevention method according to the
`present invention with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
`
`4
`
`

`

`US 7,039,944 B1
`
`3
`Firstly, the user has to register with a digital data file
`supplier in order to receive a digital data file from a digital
`data server (not shown). For user registration, the user is
`assigned an ID numberand password from the digital data
`file supplier. Then, the user downloads a digital data soft-
`ware player in a software form from the digital data server
`through the communication network and sets the down-
`loaded digital data software playeras a digital data software
`player in the personal computer terminal 1. Thereafter, in
`order to downloada desired digital datafile from the digital
`data server through the personal computer terminal 1 and
`communication network, the user may have to pay a corre-
`sponding charge to the digital datafile supplier and transmits
`his ID number and password to the digital data server
`through the personal computer terminal 1 and communica-
`tion network. The digital data serveridentifies the user on
`the basis of the transmitted ID number and password, and
`supplies the desired digital data file to the user in accordance
`with the identified result. At this time, the digital data server
`appends an ID code “01” to a header of the desired digital
`data file to inhibit
`that
`file from being uploaded, and
`transmits the resultant digital data file to the personal
`computer terminal 1.
`The personal computer terminal 1 stores the digital data
`file transmitted from the digital data server on the hard disk
`therein. Underthis condition, upon receiving a reproduction
`request from the user, the personal computer terminal 1
`decrypts and reproducesthe stored digital data file through
`the digital data software player. Asa result, the user is able
`to listen to the desired music whenthe digital data file is an
`audio file such as an MP3 file and/or view the video when
`
`the digital datafile is a video file such as a JPEGfile at any
`time through the personal computer terminal 1.
`If the user intends to reproduce (listen and/or view) the
`digital data file purchased along the above path using the
`digital data player 2, then the personal computer terminal 1
`downloads the purchased digital data file to the digital data
`player 2. Then, the digital data player 2 stores the down-
`loaded digital data file in the digital data storage medium 3,
`which is preferably made in the form of a removable
`memory card. If the user requests the digital data player 2 to
`reproduce the digital data stored in the digital data storage
`medium 3, then the digital data player 2 reads the stored
`digital data file from the storage medium 3 and reproduces
`it through a decoder therein. Asa result, the user can listen
`and/or view the digital data file anywhere using the digital
`data player 2. On the other hand, in the case where a user
`tries to load a digital data file received along the abovepath,
`but via a different personal computer, to the personal com-
`puter terminal 1 or to upload it through the digital data
`player 2, the personal computer terminal 1 identifies the
`digital data file on the basis of the ID code “01” and thus
`inhibits it from being loaded or uploaded.
`Secondly, an ID code “00”is assigned to a header of a
`digital data file whichis distributed withoutrestriction (e.g.,
`free of charge) to the personal computer terminal 1 on the
`communication network. If the user receives such a digital
`data file through the personal computer terminal 1, he can
`reproduce the received file freely through the personal
`computer terminal 1 or digital data player 2 as stated
`previously. Namely, when the user tries to upload the
`unrestricted digital data file from the digital data player 2 to
`the personal computer terminal 1, the personal computer
`terminal 1 identifies the digital data file as unrestricted on the
`basis of the ID code “00”, and thus permits that file to be
`uploaded withoutrestriction.
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`Thirdly, an ID code “10” is assigned to a header of a
`digital data file which is distributed with limited restrictions
`(e.g., at a charge from the digital data vending machine 4
`installed on a city roadside or a public place where many
`people pass). For example,
`in a preferred embodiment,
`limited restriction digital data may be uploadedonce. If the
`user receives sucha limited restriction digital data file and
`tries to upload the limitedrestriction digital data file from the
`digital data player 2 to the personal computerterminal1, the
`personal computer terminal 1 determines onthe basis of the
`ID code “10”that the digital data file has limited restrictions
`(e.g., was sold from the digital data vending machine 4) and
`permits thatfile to be uploaded onlyonce. After permitting
`such uploading, the personal computer terminal 1 changes
`the ID code from “10” to “O01”to inhibit further uploading.
`Asa result, the user is able to upload the limited restriction
`digital data file only once to the personal computer terminal
`1.
`
`
`
`Fourthly, an ID code “11” is assigned to a header of a
`digital datafile transmitted through a particular means, such
`as the encoder 5, and purchased under a desired contract
`with a supplier. In the case where the user downloads the
`digital data file through the encoder 5 andtries to upload the
`downloaded digital datafile from the digital data player 2 to
`the personal computer terminal 1, the personal computer
`terminal 1 determines on the basis of the ID code “11” that
`
`the downloadeddigital data file was transmitted through the
`encoder 5 and thus permits that file to be uploaded with no
`restriction.
`While being described as resident at the personal com-
`puter terminal 1, the method accordingto the present inven-
`tion is, ina further embodiment, initially stored as a program
`on a recording medium such as a magnetic oroptical disk.
`This program is then uploaded to the personal computer
`terminal 1. Alternatively, this program forms part of the
`digital data player 2 transmitted to the personal computer
`terminal 1.
`As apparent from the above description, according to the
`presentinvention,the digital data file is assigned with a code
`capable of identifying a provider. For example, when the
`digital data file is purchased at a charge and intended to be
`uploaded from the digital data player, it can be permitted to
`be uploaded undercertain restrictions according to its code
`value. Therefore, the digital data file can be prevented from
`being illegally duplicated.
`Althoughthe preferred embodimentsof the present inven-
`tion have been disclosed for illustrative purposes,
`those
`skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications,
`additions and substitutions are possible, without departing
`from the scope andspirit of the invention as disclosed in the
`accompanying claims.
`Whatis claimedis:
`
`1. A method oftransferring a digital data file comprising:
`connecting a digital data player or a memoryofthe digital
`data player to a communication network via a first
`personal computer;
`downloading a digital data file with an attached code
`segment
`from the communication network to the
`memory of the digital data player;
`connecting the digital data player or the memory of the
`
`digital data player to a second personal computer,
`ce
`
`
`different than the first personal computer;
`initiating an upload request to upload the digital data file
`from the memory of the digital data player to the
`second personal computer:
`uploading software from the digital data player to the
`second personal computer:
`
`5
`
`

`

`US 7,039,944 B1
`
`5
`reading the code segment attached to the digital data file
`using the uploaded software in the second personal
`computer; and
`controlling whether or not the uploading of the digital
`data file is permitted to occur based upon the uploaded
`software in the second personal computerinterpreting
`the code segment.
`2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the software
`that reads the code segment and controls whetheror not the
`uploading of the digital data file is permitted is downloaded
`from the communication network to the memoryof the
`digital data player along with the digital data file with the
`attached code.
`3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the memory
`of the digital data player is removable.
`4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the com-
`munication network is the Internet.
`
`5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the software
`permits the uploading of the digital data file to the second
`personal computer, and changes the code segmentattached
`to the digital datafile.
`6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the changed
`code segment
`inhibits the digital data file from being
`uploaded to another computer at a later time.
`7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the digital
`data file is encoded using a compression coding technique
`prescribed in MPEG1, layer 3.
`8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the code
`segment indicates a provider of the digital data file and is
`included in a header of the digital data file.
`9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the digital
`data player is an MP3 player, and whereinthe digital data
`file is a digital audio datafile.
`10. Amethodoftransferring a digital data file comprising:
`connecting a digital data player or a memory ofthe digital
`data player to a communication network via a vending
`machine;
`downloading a digital data file with an attached code
`segment
`from the communication network to the
`memoryofthe digital data player;
`
`6
`connecting the digital data player or the memory of the
`digital data player to a personal computer, different
`than the vending machine;
`initiating an upload request to upload the digital data file
`from the memory of the digital data player to the
`personal computer;
`uploading software from the digital data player to the
`personal computer;
`reading the code segment attachedto the digital data file
`using the uploaded software in the personal computer;
`and
`
`controlling whether or not the uploading of the digital
`data file 1s permitted to occur based upon the uploaded
`software in the personal computerinterpreting the code
`segment.
`11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the
`software that reads the code segment and controls whether
`or not the uploading of the digital data file is permitted is
`downloaded from the vending machine or communication
`network to the memoryofthe digital data player along with
`the digital data file with the attached code.
`12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the
`software permits the uploading ofthe digital datafile to the
`personal computer, and changes the code segment attached
`to the digital data file.
`13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the
`changed code segment inhibits the digital data file from
`being uploaded to another computer at a later time.
`14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the digital
`data file is encoded using a compression coding technique
`prescribed in MPEG1, layer 3.
`15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the code
`segment indicates a provider of the digital data file and is
`included in a header of the digital data file.
`16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the digital
`data player is an MP3 player, and wherein the digital data
`file is a digital audio datafile.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`ee F FF
`
`6
`
`