text: Patent US6837430 - Content reproduction apparatus - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA content reproduction apparatus includes a CPU 18, and the CPU measures a power-on time period Ton, which is from a point of time that a main power switch 42 is turned-on until a point of time that it is turned-off, and a power-off time period Toff, which is from a point of time that the main power...http://www.google.com/patents/US6837430?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6837430 - Content reproduction apparatusAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6837430 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/343,328PCT numberPCT/JP2002/005322Publication dateJan 4, 2005Filing dateMay 30, 2002Priority dateJun 4, 2001Fee statusLapsedAlso published asUS20040011869, WO2002099654A1Publication number10343328, 343328, PCT/2002/5322, PCT/JP/2/005322, PCT/JP/2/05322, PCT/JP/2002/005322, PCT/JP/2002/05322, PCT/JP2/005322, PCT/JP2/05322, PCT/JP2002/005322, PCT/JP2002/05322, PCT/JP2002005322, PCT/JP200205322, PCT/JP2005322, PCT/JP205322, US 6837430 B2, US 6837430B2, US-B2-6837430, US6837430 B2, US6837430B2InventorsTomohiro YamadaOriginal AssigneeSanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (9), Referenced by (2), Classifications (12), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetContent reproduction apparatus
  US 6837430 B2Abstract
  A content reproduction apparatus includes a CPU 18, and the CPU measures a power-on time period Ton, which is from a point of time that a main power switch 42 is turned-on until a point of time that it is turned-off, and a power-off time period Toff, which is from a point of time that the main power switch 42 is turned-off until a point of time that it is turned-on once again. Furthermore, a total sum T of the measured time periods Ton and Toff is evaluated, and the audio data is rendered invalid (not reproducible) when the evaluated total sum T exceeds a term of validity Ta of the audio data recorded in a memory card 12. Images(7) Claims(3)
  The present invention relates to a content reproduction apparatus for reproducing a content such as music, an image and so on. More specifically, the present invention relates to a content reproduction apparatus for reproducing a content having a term of validity.
  In such a kind of a conventional content reproduction apparatus, a term of validity of a content is managed by taking advantage of a calendar function that the apparatus itself owns. That is, a date of the calendar of the apparatus itself and the term of validity of the content are verified, thereby invalidating (rendering not producible) the content when the date of the calendar of the apparatus itself elapses the term of validity of the content.
  Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel content reproduction apparatus.
  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing schematic structure of a first embodiment of the present invention;
  A content reproduction apparatus 10 in this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a portable type, for example, and an apparatus for reproducing audio data such as voices or sounds, a music, or the like as a content recorded in a memory card 12. The memory card 12 is an attachable/detachable recording medium, and electrically connected to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 18 via a memory interface 16 when attached to a slot 14. It is noted that the audio data is recorded in the memory card 12 in a compressed state according to a predetermined compressing format such as an MP3 (MPEG-1 AUDIO Layer 3), an AAC (MPEG-2 Advanced Audio Coding), or the like. Furthermore, a decoding software (decoding or decrypting program) for expanding the compressed audio data is also recorded in the memory card 12.
  Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4740890 *Dec 22, 1983Apr 26, 1988Software Concepts, Inc.Software protection system with trial period usage code and unlimited use unlocking code both recorded on program storage mediaUS5014234 *Aug 25, 1986May 7, 1991Ncr CorporationSystem with software usage timer and counter for allowing limited use but preventing continued unauthorized use of protected softwareJP2000057057A Title not availableJP2000242565A Title not availableJP2001117824A Title not availableJP2001147803A Title not availableJPH03290733A Title not availableJPH05173895A Title not availableJPS60176157A Title not available* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7363511 *Jun 27, 2002Apr 22, 2008Nokia CorporationMethod for processing audiovisual information in an electronic device, a system, and an electronic deviceUS7437574 *Aug 5, 2002Oct 14, 2008Nokia CorporationMethod for processing information in an electronic device, a system, an electronic device and a processing block* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification235/435International ClassificationG06F9/06, G06F21/24, G06K7/00, H04N5/91, G06F21/00, G06F12/14, H04N7/173Cooperative ClassificationG06F2221/2135, G06F2221/2137, G06F21/10European ClassificationG06F21/10Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionFeb 24, 2009FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20090104Jan 4, 2009LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesJul 14, 2008REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedFeb 6, 2003ASAssignmentOwner name: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD., JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:YAMADA, TOMOHIRO;REEL/FRAME:014411/0293Effective date: 20030129Owner name: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD. 5-5, KEIHANHONDORI 2-CHOMFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:YAMADA, TOMOHIRO /AR;REEL/FRAME:014411/0293RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services