Relay device and communication device realizing contents protection procedure over networks

Abstract

A relay device and a communication device capable of realizing the contents protection procedure between devices that are not connected to the same network are disclosed. A relay device and a communication device are so configured that between a device/service/sub-unit on the second network and a device on the first network which are a pair that is carrying out transmission or reception of contents to be protected, a device on the first network or a device/service/sub-unit on the second network can carry out the contents protection procedure while recognizing the target of the contents protection procedure as the relay device, so that there is no need for a device on the first network or a device/service/sub-unit on the second network to account for the other network that is connected via the relay device.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . A communication device, comprising: 
 an interface unit connected to a network;    a copy protection processing unit for carrying out a prescribed contents protection procedure including at least an authentication procedure and/or a key exchange procedure, with respect to another device/service/sub-unit on the network;    a contents transmission unit for transmitting encrypted contents to which an address of the communication device is attached, either through a virtual channel on the network or by further attaching an identifier by which the encrypted contents can be uniquely identified by the communication device, to another device on the network;    a reception unit for receiving a query regarding a service/sub-unit/plug that is transferring the encrypted contents either through the virtual channel or by attaching the identifier, from said another device on the network; and    a notification unit for notifying a service/sub-unit/plug that is transferring the encrypted contents, to said another device on the network in response to the query.    
   
   
       13 . A communication device, comprising: 
 an interface unit connected to a network;    a copy protection processing unit for carrying out a prescribed contents protection procedure including at least an authentication procedure and/or a key exchange procedure, with respect to another device/service/sub-unit on the network;    a contents reception unit for receiving encrypted contents to which an address of another device on the network is attached, either through a virtual channel on the network or in a form having an identifier by which the encrypted contents can be uniquely identified by said another device further attached thereto, from said another device;    a transmission unit for transmitting a query regarding a service/sub-unit/plug that is transferring the encrypted contents either through the virtual channel or by attaching the identifier, to said another device on the network; and    a reception unit for receiving a notification regarding a service/sub-unit/plug that is transferring the encrypted contents, from said another device in response to the query.    
   
   
       14 . A communication device, comprising: 
 an interface unit connected to a network;    a contents transfer unit for transmitting or receiving encrypted contents with respect to another device on the network, through a flow identified by a set of a source address, a source port, a destination address, and a destination port; and    a copy protection processing unit for carrying out a prescribed contents protection procedure including at least an authentication procedure and/or a key exchange procedure with respect to said another device, using a prescribed logical port, in units of the flow.    
   
   
       15 . The communication device of  claim 14 , wherein an identifier of the flow is attached to information exchanged in at least a part of procedures included in the prescribed contents protection procedure.  
   
   
       16 . A communication device, comprising: 
 an interface unit connected to a network;    a copy protection processing unit for carrying out a prescribed contents protection procedure including at least an authentication procedure and/or a key exchange procedure, with respect to another device on the network; and    a contents transmission and reception unit for transmitting or receiving encrypted contents to which an address of a transmitting side device is attached, either through a virtual channel on the network or in a form having an identifier by which the encrypted contents can be uniquely identified by said transmitting side device further attached thereto, with respect to said another device;    wherein at least one of an identifier of a service, a sub-unit, a virtual channel, or a plug that carries out exchange of the encrypted contents, and an identifier by which the encrypted contents can be uniquely identified by said transmitting side device, is attached to information exchanged in at least a part of procedures included in the prescribed contents protection procedure.    
   
   
       17 - 19 . (canceled)