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The invention relates to a device for the distribution of music
information, which comprises, on the supplier side, a central memory
device which is connected to a communications network or is integrated
therein and has a databank of digitized music information and, on the
consumer side, a terminal which can be connected to the central memory
device via the communications network, the central memory device being
equipped with a server module and the terminal being equipped with a
retrieval module and the two modules having the capability to interact via
the communications network in order to order and transmit selectively
chosen music information. The invention further relates to an information
object for the transportation and distribution of music information in
digitally coded form.
In the present context, music information is understood to mean all
information which is associated in any form with pieces of music. This
includes, in particular, actual pieces of music (audibly reproducible
sound and tone information) as well as titles, texts, librettos;
statements relating to copyright holders such as composers, lyricists,
arrangers, interpreters, orchestras, producers, audio technicians; playing
duration statements, recording data, orchestra formation, composition,
instruments; score material such as musical scores, individual tunes,
arrangements, extracts; illustrative and video material, such as cover
illustrations, video clips, and musical films.
Such music information is supplied and distributed in a conventional manner
in a very different form, such as pieces of music on records, magnetic
tapes, compact disks, which are obtainable mainly in music shops and
department stores, score material as individual sheet music, leaflets or
books which are on sale in bookshops and music specialists, etc.
It is in this case disadvantageous for the consumer that no common
reference source is available which would allow mutually associated parts
such as, for example, a music recording, the associated original music
score and the arrangement on which the recording is based to be obtained
as a unit. Furthermore, the music information must in each case be
obtained as an entity in the form supplied, even if, for example, only one
individual piece on a compact disk or an individual instrumental tune of a
composition is of interest.
In addition, there are major problems associated with the previous
distribution forms for the producers and suppliers with respect to
ensuring their copyrights and the payments associated with them, since
both audio and video media and printed documents can easily be copied or
rerecorded, as is known, in an unauthorized manner.
In principle, digital information and computer technology could lead to new
solutions here since, with its present level of development, it offers
various options for the transmission and distribution of digital data and
thus, inherently, of music information in digital form as well. Suitable
techniques which may allow the abovementioned problems to be solved on
this basis have not yet become known, however.
It is thus an object of the present invention to create a device and an
information object of the type mentioned initially which allow the
present-day options of digital information and computer technology to be
utilized and, at the same time, on the one hand simplify the distribution
for the consumer with improved service and, on the other hand, ensures
effective protection of the copyrights.
It is accordingly proposed to organize the music information with a defined
format in a digital music information object. In this case, the music
information object has a core which includes specific basic information,
namely at least one object information code, information on the object
structure, a consumer code and an encryption table, as well as one or more
additional layers which are attached to the core and include the actual
music information. Furthermore, the central memory device has an
encryption module for encryption of the music information object before
its transmission, and the terminal has a decryption module for decryption
of the music information object before its reproduction, encryption and
decryption being based on the encryption table which is included in the
core. In addition, the terminal is provided with an authorization device
with identification information for identification of the terminal and/or
of the consumer. The interpretation and reproduction conditioning of the
music information object is carried out by an interpretation module which
is present in the terminal, it being possible for the interpretation
module or, possibly, the decryption module as well to call up
identification information of the authorization device for authorization
checking before the reproduction conditioning.
The combination of the decryption module in the terminal, the encryption
table embedded in the music information object and the authorization
device associated with the terminal forms a very highly effective safety
mechanism for protection against unauthorized use of the music information
included in the music information object, since all the involved
components, that is to say the corresponding module in the terminal, the
music information object and the terminal must first be matched to one
another and must secondly be authorized by the supplier for their
reproduction conditioning in each case. Illegal copying and rerecording of
music information are in this way prevented with high reliability, and
observance of the copyrights is thus enforced.
According to a preferred embodiment, the core of the music information
object additionally includes an authorization checking program part which
can be called up by the interpretation module or the decryption module for
authorization checking. The arrangement of such an authorization checking
program part in the music information object itself offers a simple
capability of modifying the method of operation of the authorization check
from time to time and thus of protecting the safety mechanism to an
increased extent against potential imitators, in the long term as well.
For this purpose, the authorization checking program part must
advantageously and individually be modified into newly distributed music
information objects, and the other components which are involved with the
reproduction conditioning can continue to be used without modification.
In order to make possible rapid and cost-effective remote data
transmission, the music information object is expediently compressed using
a data compression method. For this purpose, the central memory device can
have a compression module for compression before transmission, and the
terminal can have a decompression module for decompression before
reproduction.
It is preferably intended for the terminal to be provided with a data
recording device by means of which the transmitted music information
objects can be stored locally on a data medium. In addition to the
subsequent reuse of the music information objects which is made possible
in this way, this allows an administration module to be provided in the
terminal, which administration module assists the consumer in searching
for desired music information in the locally existing music information
objects and can make further functions available for their automatic
reproduction.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the central memory device has a
billing module which, by interacting with the server module, determines
the costs of the music information supplied to the consumer, bills these
costs to the consumer and, possibly, also maintains a book on the
copyright holder outgoings incurred. Furthermore, the core of the music
information object can expediently include billing information by means of
which the provision costs and, possibly, the transmission costs can be
displayed to the consumer.
According to a preferred embodiment in the sense of a largely or completely
self-descriptive information object in the respective additional layer,
the music information object can include associated data description
information and/or specific program parts, in particular for reproduction
of the music information, in addition to the music information. Different
layer classes are expediently provided for the additional layers, which
layer classes are preferably subdivided as follows:
audio layer class, suitable for audio information; score layer class,
suitable for information which is to be conditioned graphically, in
particular score material; text layer class, suitable for text
information, for example title or interpretation statements, recording
data etc.; video layer class, suitable for video information, in
particular illustrative material, video clips, films. The structure, which
is split into any desired number of additional layers, of the music
information object furthermore allows, in an advantageous embodiment, the
music information which is included in the respective additional layer to
be coded in a format which is matched to the respective layer class.
In summary, the invention creates an especially suitable technique for the
transmission and distribution of music information in digital form. This
provides, on the one hand, the necessary mechanisms for protection of the
copyrights and, on the other hand, defines a music information object
whose design allows a standardizable structure, which can nevertheless be
extended in a flexible manner and can be matched to the wide ranging forms
of music information and its reproduction.
In addition to the already mentioned advantages, the invention is
furthermore distinguished by the fact that:
the expensive and cost-intensive production of audio and video media as
well as their packaging,.storage and transportation are avoided;
the production of media materials, which are difficult to dispose of, is
avoided;
scores and texts need not be printed to be held in stock;
the immediate availability of the desired music information from the
databank is ensured;
music information can be collated and transmitted in accordance with the
consumer's requirement; and
license rights can be billed effectively in accordance with use.
An exemplary embodiment is described in the following text, with reference
to the attached drawings, in order to explain the invention in more
detail, in which drawings:
FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a device according to the
invention for the distribution of music information,
FIG. 2 shows an illustrative representation of a music information object
having a core and attached additional layers and
FIG. 3 shows the music information object in a schematic illustration with
a core illustrated in detail.
In the case of the device which is illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 for
the distribution of music information, 2 designates a central memory
device which is connected to a communication network 4. As a rule, the
central memory device 2 will be a relatively large computer system, a host
computer, which is operated by a supplier, for example a music press. An
integrated-service digital network (ISDN), a packet-switching network or
an ATM network is expediently provided as the communications network 4,
which networks have the required performance data corresponding to the
relatively large amount of data to be transmitted. In the sense of an
integrated-service network, the central memory device 2 can also be
integrated in the communications network 4 and can be maintained directly
by the network operator, for example the national telephone company.
A terminal 6 is used at the consumer end. This terminal 6 must be suitable
for digital data processing, that is to say equipped at least with a
processor, associated memory and data input and output devices, and is
preferably a personal computer or a workstation. The terminal 6 can be
connected to the communications network 4, and via this network to the
central memory device 2, in a conventional manner, for example by an ISDN
telephone set or a corresponding built-in board.
The central memory device 2 has a databank 8 with a supply of digitized
music information. The central memory device 2 is equipped with a server
module 10 and the terminal 6 with a retrieval module 11, for access to the
databank 8. The server module and retrieval module interact via the
communications network and supply the consumer with the functions
necessary for searching, selection and ordering as well as transmission of
the desired music information. The databank 8 is preferably of
object-oriented design and is provided with access mechanisms which allow
searching on the basis of criteria which are as varied as possible, in
particular on the basis of titles, text contents, copyright holder
statements, recording data, composition, instruments, information on
existing score material, etc. In addition, it is, of course, also possible
to make statements required for ordering available to the consumer in a
different way. This includes, inter alia, catalogs, advertising offers in
the various media and insertions into current radio and television
transmissions.
According to the invention, the music information selected by the consumer
for transmission is organized in a digital music information object 12
whose design is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The music information object
12 may be a binary data signal. In a preferred embodiment, the music
information object 12 may include a core 14 and one or more additional
layers 16. The core 14 and the layers 16 each have a data structure of at
least 256 bits. By way of example, three additional layers 16.1, 16.2 and
16.3 are assumed in FIG. 2, and the designation 16.n for the last layer in
FIG. 3 indicates that the music information object 12 may include a number
of additional layers.
The core 14 includes the basic information for the whole of the music
information object. This information in principle comprises an object
identification code 18 for unambiguous identification of the music
information object, object structure information 20 which describes the
design of the music information object, in particular the number and type
of additional layers 16, a consumer code 22 which is assigned
unambiguously to one consumer and is assigned by the supplier or, for
example, can also be the network subscriber number, as well as an
encryption table 24, which will be described in more detail further below.
In addition, the core 14 can include still further basic information, for
example a supplier code 26 or billing information 28, which provides
information on the costs of the supplied music information billed to the
consumer.
The contents of the additional layers 16 are formed by the actual music
information desired by the consumer. The composition of a music
information object is carried out by the server module 10 in accordance
with the selection by the consumer. If, for example, the consumer selects
a piece of music and an associated score arrangement, then the server
module produces a core 14 with the corresponding basic information and
attaches the required additional layers 16 to this information. In this
case, for example, in each case one additional layer can be provided for
the audio information of the piece of music which can be reproduced
audibly, for the graphical information of the score material and for the
associated text information (name of the piece of music, statements
relating to the participants etc.). Further additional layers are attached
in the same manner (and the basic information in the core is
correspondingly supplemented) if the consumer also wishes to receive other
music information with the same order.
The music information is expediently presented in a format which is in each
case matched to the specific data type, the selection of any desired
format and any desired description language being possible in the context
of the invention. Thus, for example, the audio data can be digitized
directly via an analog to digital convertor or else can be described by
means of the GMIDI (General Musical Digital Instrument Interface)
architecture which has already been in use for a relatively long time in
digital musical equipment. A description language such as Postscript and
one of the known video formats for video data are likewise possible for
graphical information. In addition to the actual music information, an
additional layer can include associated data description information or
else program parts which are used for reproduction conditioning.
In the case of a preferred embodiment of the music information object,
dedicated layer classes having a standardized design which is matched to
the data type are provided for the various data types. In an especially
preferred embodiment, audio information is included in an additional layer
in the audio layer class, score material which is to be conditioned
graphically is included in an additional layer in the score layer class,
text information is included in an additional layer in the text layer
class, and video information is included in an additional layer in the
video layer class.
The music information object 12 is encrypted for transmission. The central
memory device 2 has an encryption module 30 for this purpose. The
encryption is based on the encryption table 24 which--as mentioned further
above--is likewise included in the core 14, and is carried out, for
example, using a pixel-matrix cryptography method.
In order to be able to reproduce the contents of the music information
object, the terminal 6 must have a decryption module 32, which in turn
operates using the encryption table 24 which is included in the core 14 of
the music information object, as well as an interpretation module 34 which
interprets the additional layers 16 on the basis of the basic information
included in the core 14 and conditions the music information into a form
which is suitable for reproduction.
As an additional safety precaution, the terminal 6 must furthermore be
equipped with an authorization device 36, for example in the form of a
dongle, a chipboard, a PCMCIA board or a CD-ROM, which is made available
by the supplier of the music information. Identification information for
the identification of the consumer or of the terminal, such as the
consumer code for example, is stored in encoded form on the authorization
device, such that it can be called up by the decryption module 32 or by
the interpretation module 34 for the purpose of checking authorization.
In this way, the music information object 12 can be reproduced only if both
the decryption module 32 and the interpretation module 34 as well as the
authorization device 36 and the encryption table 24 which is included in
the music information object are correctly present.
These safety mechanisms are preferably further reinforced by the core 14 of
the music information object additionally including an authorization
checking program part 38 which can be called up by the decryption module
32 or by the interpretation module 34 for authorization checking. Since
the authorization checking program part 38 is in each case transmitted
with the music information object, the supplier has the capability to vary
the sequence of the authorization check from time to time and thus further
reinforce the safety against the copying protection being circumvented.
For rapid and cost-effective transmission of the music information object,
it is advantageous to compress this music information object using a data
compression method. For this purpose, the central memory device 2 can have
a compression module 40, and the terminal 6 can have a decompression
module 42.
If the music information is conditioned for reproduction by the
interpretation module 34 in the terminal 6, it can be output in a known
manner on audio or visual reproduction devices. These can be provided in
the terminal or, as is designated by the reference symbols 44, 46 and 48
in FIG. 1, can be connected thereto. Suitable reproduction devices are,
for example, a sound board, to which loudspeakers or a music system are
connected, a monitor or a printer with graphics capability. The consumer
is thus able to listen to the transmitted pieces of music, to view video
films on a monitor and to output text information, score material and
illustrations on a monitor or a printer. The music information, in
particular musical data in the GMIDI format or illustrative data, can
possibly be processed further by the consumer, as well, as required by
means of corresponding, known programs.
As a rule, the terminal 6 is additionally equipped with a data recording
device 50 by means of which the music information objects, once they have
been transmitted, can be stored locally on a data medium, for example a
diskette, a magnetic, optical or magnetooptic storage disk or a
semiconductor memory.
As a further component, the terminal 6 can have an administration module 52
which provides additional functions for organization and reproduction of
the locally stored music information objects. In a simple version, which
is provided primarily for private users, the functions comprise, for
example, searching for specific music information, automatic playing of
any desired sequence of pieces of music and the collation of music
programs for specific purposes, including pauses and individual
recordings, for example announcements or speeches. More far-reaching
functions are conceivable in extended versions, in particular for
discotheques or radio and television studios, for example the display of
information on the currently running piece of music on the monitor,
automatic program design using the statements relating to the pieces of
music in the music information objects, addressing of other pieces of
music which are present in archives, or automatic recording of advertising
blocks.
The incorporation of additional functions is, of course, also possible at
the supplier's end. Thus, for example, a billing module 54 can be provided
in the central memory device 2, which billing module 54 takes account of
the charges to the consumer arising from statements on the transmitted
music information objects and, possibly, bills outgoings incurred on
behalf of the copyright holders.
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