Abstract: An information apparatus connectable with plural external apparatuses including an audio visual data outputting portion, a command input portion which inputs a command from an external apparatus for requesting audio visual data, an information managing portion which manages a number of external apparatuses to audio visual data can be distributed to be simultaneously viewed or recorded and a controller portion which controls distribution of the data to the external apparatus which sent the command depending upon a distributing condition. The controller portion makes a decision on whether the number of external apparatuses to which data can be distributed is equal to or smaller than a limited number, and controls the distribution of data to the external apparatus based on a result of the decision.

Abstract: An information apparatus connectable with plural external apparatuses including an audio visual data outputting portion, a command input portion which inputs a command from an external apparatus for requesting audio visual data, an information managing portion which manages a number of external apparatuses to audio visual data can be distributed to be simultaneously viewed or recorded and a controller portion which controls distribution of the data to the external apparatus which sent the command depending upon a distributing condition. The controller portion makes a decision on whether the number of external apparatuses to which data can be distributed is equal to or smaller than a limited number, and controls the distribution of data to the external apparatus based on a result of the decision.

Abstract: An information apparatus connectable with plural external apparatuses including an audio visual data outputting portion, a command input portion which inputs a command from an external apparatus for requesting audio visual data, an information managing portion which manages a number of external apparatuses to audio visual data can be distributed to be simultaneously viewed or recorded and a controller portion which controls distribution of the data to the external apparatus which sent the command depending upon a distributing condition. The controller portion makes a decision on whether the number of external apparatuses to which data can be distributed is equal to or smaller than a limited number, and controls the distribution of data to the external apparatus based on a result of the decision.

Abstract: A content transmission apparatus including: an authenticator configured (i) to perform authentication, (ii) to share an authentication key, (iii) to request transmission range acknowledgement and authentication information, (iv) to receive a response, and (v) to share an exchange key; an encryptor to encrypt based on the exchange key; and a timer measuring a time interval between transmission of said request for transmission range acknowledgement and reception of a response; wherein, said authenticator measures said time interval using said timer, and if a time measurement value exceeds a predetermined value, said authenticator does not share said exchange key; and wherein, said response of said request for transmission range acknowledgement includes a data generated based on said authentication information and said authentication key, and if said data is incorrect, said authenticator does not share said exchange key.

Abstract: An information apparatus connectable with plural external apparatuses including an audio visual data outputting portion, a command input portion which inputs a command from an external apparatus for requesting audio visual data, an information managing portion which manages a number of external apparatuses to audio visual data can be distributed to be simultaneously viewed or recorded and a controller portion which controls distribution of the data to the external apparatus which sent the command depending upon a distributing condition. The controller portion makes a decision on whether the number of external apparatuses to which data can be distributed is equal to or smaller than a limited number, and controls the distribution of data to the external apparatus based on a result of the decision.

Abstract: Before content transmission, the content transmitting device and the content receiving device mutually authenticate each other to verify that the other device respects copyright and rightfully handles content, and then content is encrypted by shared key data and transmitted. It is arranged that in an authentication process, a time from transmission of an authentication request or a time from transmission of an authentication response until arrival of receipt acknowledgement data is measured and only when a measured time is less than a fixed upper-limit value, content is transmitted.

Abstract: An information apparatus connectable with plural external apparatuses including an audio visual data outputting portion, a command input portion which inputs a command from an external apparatus for requesting audio visual data, an information managing portion which manages a number of external apparatuses to audio visual data can be distributed to be simultaneously viewed or recorded and a controller portion which controls distribution of the data to the external apparatus which sent the command depending upon a distributing condition. The controller portion makes a decision on whether the number of external apparatuses to which data can be distributed is equal to or smaller than a limited number, and controls the distribution of data to the external apparatus based on a result of the decision.

Abstract: A content transmission apparatus including: an authenticator configured (i) to perform authentication, (ii) to share an authentication key, (iii) to request transmission range acknowledgement and authentication information, (iv) to receive a response, and (v) to share an exchange key; an encryptor to encrypt based on the exchange key; and a timer measuring a time interval between transmission of said request for transmission range acknowledgement and reception of a response; wherein, said authenticator measures said time interval using said timer, and if a time measurement value exceeds a predetermined value, said authenticator does not share said exchange key; and wherein, said response of said request for transmission range acknowledgement includes a data generated based on said authentication information and said authentication key, and if said data is incorrect, said authenticator does not share said exchange key.

Abstract: A copyright of a content is protected by preventing creation of illegal copies of the content and the content is prevented from being transmitted beyond a range of personal use in a process to transmit the content through a LAN. Before transmission of a content, a content transmission apparatus and a content reception apparatus perform a determination of authentication information available in a predetermined command accompanying authentication information, or an authentication determination based on a time until reception of a response to a predetermined command request accompanying predetermined authentication information. If the authentication is unsuccessful, the requested content is not transmitted to the content reception apparatus. With such arrangement, it is possible to effectively protect a copyright when a content is transmitted by way of a network.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to simplify the user's initial setup operation when connecting a new network device to a network in his/her house/room, and further to prevent connection of a network device that is unknown to that user. A network connection management device, when receiving a network connection request from a new network device, sends the request to other network devices connected already to the network. The request then is displayed on each respective displaying means in order to prompt the user to confirm the request. The confirmation data inputted by the user through the inputting means of any of these network devices is sent to the network connection management device, which then determines whether to permit the connection to said network. When the decision result is “YES” (permit), the new network device is connected to the network.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide network devices and a network device control method which enable control network devices connected to an IP network, AV devices connected over 1394IF through gateway devices from the IP network, and home devices connected to ECHONET to be controlled without distinction among them. To achieve this object, a network device to serve as a controller comprises a controller application that detects a service of a target network device, using a message complying with an information exchange protocol common to the network, collects information such as an access method for the service, a function name, and parameters, and controls the network device upon request, and an information exchange protocol processing part that exchanges messages according to a protocol common to the network devices.

Abstract: An authentication information and a verification information are previously generated and the authentication information is stored to an authentication data generating apparatus, while the verification information is stored to a gateway. When a controller tries to make communication With a customer premises apparatus, the authentication data generating apparatus connected to the controller generates an authentication data using the authentication information and the gateway verifies the authentication data using the verification information. Moreover, the gateway restricts, when connected to the authentication data generating apparatus, the communication between the controller located in the outside of customer premises and the customer premises apparatus. Moreover, the gateway changes, while connected to the authentication data generating apparatus, an address of the customer premises apparatus and stores the changed address to the authentication data generating apparatus.

Abstract: Before content transmission, the content transmitting device and the content receiving device mutually authenticate each other to verify that the other device respects copyright and rightfully handles content, and then content is encrypted by shared key data and transmitted. It is arranged that in an authentication process, a time from transmission of an authentication request or a time from transmission of an authentication response until arrival of receipt acknowledgement data is measured and only when a measured time is less than a fixed upper-limit value, content is transmitted.

Abstract: Before content transmission, the content transmitting device and the content receiving device mutually authenticate each other to verify that the other device respects copyright and rightfully handles content, and then content is encrypted by shared key data and transmitted. It is arranged that in an authentication process, a time from transmission of an authentication request or a time from transmission of an authentication response until arrival of receipt acknowledgement data is measured and only when a measured time is less than a fixed upper-limit value, content is transmitted.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide network devices and a network device control method which enable control network devices connected to an IP network, AV devices connected over 1394IF through gateway devices from the IP network, and home devices connected to ECHONET to be controlled without distinction among them. To achieve this object, a network device to serve as a controller comprises a controller application that detects a service of a target network device, using a message complying with an information exchange protocol common to the network, collects information such as an access method for the service, a function name, and parameters, and controls the network device upon request, and an information exchange protocol processing part that exchanges messages according to a protocol common to the network devices.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide network devices and a network device control method which enable control network devices connected to an IP network, AV devices connected over 1394IF through gateway devices from the IP network, and home devices connected to ECHONET to be controlled without distinction among them. To achieve this object, a network device to serve as a controller comprises a controller application that detects a service of a target network device, using a message complying with an information exchange protocol common to the network, collects information such as an access method for the service, a function name, and parameters, and controls the network device upon request, and an information exchange protocol processing part that exchanges messages according to a protocol common to the network devices.

Abstract: In transmission of stream data protected for copyright on a bus, transcription of stream data once recorded on a recording apparatus to a medium of another recording apparatus is realized. Authentication is carried out between a stream recording and playback apparatus and another recording apparatus to interchange a key for data scramble. By using this key, data is added with copy control information used when the data is recorded initially and thereafter the data is transmitted. After the data has been recorded on the recording apparatus, the data is deleted from an original recording medium. During transmission of the data, authentication from a different apparatus is rejected to prevent a plurality of copies from being made.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to simplify the user's initial setup operation when connecting a new network device to a network in his/her house/room, and further to prevent connection of a network device that is unknown to that user. A network connection management device, when receiving a network connection request from a new network device, sends the request to other network devices connected already to the network. The request then is displayed on each respective displaying means in order to prompt the user to confirm the request. The confirmation data inputted by the user through the inputting means of any of these network devices is sent to the network connection management device, which then determines whether to permit the connection to said network. When the decision result is “YES” (permit), the new network device is connected to the network.

Abstract: For providing a receiving contract service being convenient or friendly to both the broadcast service providers and the viewers, and in particular, for providing a digital broadcast receiver set, an information apparatus and a digital broadcasting receiving system, there is provided a system in which a digital broadcast receiver set 100, an output apparatus 110 and recording apparatuses 120 and 130 are connected with a control bus 10, wherein there are provided a designated program devising portion 203 for extracting a plurality of programs at the same time, a receiving contract managing portion 212 for managing information relating to receiving contacts, and an output destination supervising portion 213 for managing distributing destination of the broadcast programs at the present, thereby distributing the broadcast programs to the output apparatus 110 and/or the recording apparatuses 120 and 130, on a basis of the contents of the receiving contracts.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus that, when a copying is limited as “Copy One Generation”, prevent the copying from being made into infinite number of storage media without limitation, and thereby protect the profit of a copyright holder concerned. In the present invention, when outputting digital information whose copying is limited to external appliances connected to plural outputting circuits (315A, 315B, or 72A to 72D), the total number of external appliances to which the digital information is to be outputted is limited within a predetermined constant. In particular, a control circuit (311, or 73) limits the number in which to perform authentications of the external appliances connected to the plural outputting circuits. This makes it possible to limit, within the predetermined constant, the total number of the external appliances to which the digital information is to be outputted.