US 6,983,367 B2
Information providing apparatus and method, information processing apparatus and method, and program storage medium
Naomi Go, Kanagawa (Japan); and Akira Kurihara, Kanagawa (Japan)
Assigned to Sony Corporation, Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on Mar. 09, 2001, as Appl. No. 9/801,802.
Claims priority of application No. 2000-069697 (JP), filed on Mar. 14, 2000.
Prior Publication US 2001/0037452 A1, Nov. 01, 2001
Int. Cl. H04L 9/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 713—168 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An information providing apparatus comprising:
a first authentication means for authenticating a first information processing unit;
a second authentication means for authenticating a second information processing unit;
a reception control means for controlling the reception of a transmission request for data for said second information processing unit and a key from said first information processing unit;
a communication control means for controlling the communication such that a transmission request for said key on the basis of said data for identifying said second information processing unit is sent to said second information processing unit and said key is received from said second information processing unit; and
a transmission control means for controlling the transmission of said key to said first information processing unit, wherein
said information providing apparatus functions as an authentication server having a key management program and a license management program.