Method of converting audio data for a portable device and reproducing the converted audio data

Abstract

A method of converting audio data encrypted for anti-piracy and copyright protection to a suitable format so that the data can be played in a portable device. A computer first decrypts the encrypted audio data and inserts information for setting equalizer, then encrypts the audio data lightly with the information for setting equalizer and transmits the data to a portable device. The portable device sets equalizer suitable to the lightly-encrypted audio data using the information for setting equalizer inserted by the computer, then decrypts the lightly-encrypted audio data, and outputs the decrypted audio data while amplifying or attenuating audio data for each band according to the set equalizer. Therefore, heavily encrypted audio data can be playable in a portable device with relatively low computing power and, by setting equalizer mode suitable to a music genre, the audio data can be conveyed to a listener authentically.

1. A method for converting encrypted audio data, comprising:
 decrypting the encrypted audio data;   inserting information for setting an equalizer function in the decrypted audio data; and   re-encrypting the decrypted audio data with the information for setting the equalizer function.   
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information insertion uses lighter encryption than an original encryption which was used for the encrypted audio data. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said information for setting the equalizer function is indicative of music genre. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said information for setting the equalizer function is equalizer adjusting parameters specifying signal amplifying or attenuating rate for each band. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the re-encrypted audio data to an audio device, wherein said information for setting the equalizer function is equalizer adjusting parameters specifying signal amplifying or attenuating rate for a plurality of bands. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein said audio device is a portable device. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inserting information required for protecting copyright of the encrypted audio data. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein said information required for protecting copyright includes information indicative of whether the encrypted audio data are purchased. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein said information required for protecting copyright includes information indicative of a number of allowable playbacks of the encrypted audio data. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inserting encryption information required for decrypting the re-encryptyg audio data into the re-encrypted audio data. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said information for setting the equalizer function is also encrypted along with the decrypted audio data. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inserting information, including music genre and dynamic range management related information, into a header file. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising receiving and storing information entered by a user in the header file. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising writing an encryption key used with the re-encrypted audio data into the header file. 
     
     
       15. A method for playing encrypted audio data, comprising:
 reading play control information contained in the encrypted audio data;   determining whether to play the encrypted audio data based on the read play control information;   decrypting the encrypted audio data if determined to play; and   outputting the decrypted audio data while conducting an equalizer function for the decrypted audio data based on the read play control information.   
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein said play control information includes information for setting the equalizer function for the encrypted audio data and information required for protecting copyright of the encrypted audio data. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein said information for setting the equalizer function is indicative of music genre, and wherein said information required for protecting copyright is information indicative of how many times the encrypted audio data can be played. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising decrypting a header containing the play control information if the header is encrypted along with the audio data. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising playing the audio data and decrementing a value of a permitted play number, if the value of the permitted play number is not zero. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising determining the encrypted audio data, wherein the determining the encrypted audio data comprises:
 first decrypting a digital right management system encryption of data; and   performing a first encryption of said first decrypted data that results in the encrypted audio data,   
       wherein the first encryption has reduced computational requirements for said decrypting the encrypted audio data relative to the first decryption of the digital right management system encryption. 
     
     
       21. A device for playing encrypted audio data, comprising:
 a receiving unit configured to receive an audio data file from an external device, the audio data file including encrypted audio data, play control information, genre information of the encrypted audio data, and equalizer preset information separated from the genre information and associated with the encrypted audio data, wherein the equalizer preset information is set at the external device, and wherein the equalizer preset information includes an equalizer parameter specifying a signal amplifying or attenuating rate for a band of the audio data;   a decrypting unit configured to decrypt the encrypted audio data; and   a controller configured to:   read the play control information and determine whether to play the audio data based on the play control information,   control the decrypting unit to decrypt the encrypted audio data when determined to play according to a result of the determination, and   output the decrypted audio data that is equalized while conducting an equalizing function for the decrypted audio data based on the play control information, wherein the equalizing function is performed using at least the equalizer preset information.   
     
     
       22. The device of claim 21, wherein the play control information includes permission information and/or restriction information for a playback of the audio data. 
     
     
       23. The device of claim 21, wherein the equalizer preset information is configured for being set at the external device by a user. 
     
     
       24. The device of claim 21, wherein the receiving unit further receives key information corresponding to the encrypted audio data, the key information being used by the decrypting unit for decrypting the encrypted audio data. 
     
     
       25. The device of claim 21, wherein the external device includes a personal computer. 
     
     
       26. The device of claim 21, wherein the genre information is metadata information. 
     
     
       27. A method for playing encrypted audio data, the method being performed by a playing device and comprising:
 receiving an audio data file from an external device, the audio data file including encrypted audio data, play control information, genre information of the encrypted audio data, and equalizer preset information separated from the genre information and associated with the encrypted audio data, wherein the equalizer preset information is set at the external device, and wherein the equalizer preset information includes an equalizer parameter specifying a signal amplifying or attenuating rate for a band of the audio data;   reading the play control information and determining whether to play the audio data based on the play control information;   decrypting the encrypted audio data when determined to play according to a result of the determining step; and   outputting the decrypted audio data that is equalized while conducting an equalizing function for the decrypted audio data based on the play control information, wherein the equalizing function is performed using at least the equalizer preset information.   
     
     
       28. The method of claim 27, wherein the play control information includes permission information and/or restriction information for a playback of the audio data. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 27, wherein the equalizer preset information is configured for being set at the external device by a user. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 27, further comprising receiving key information corresponding to the encrypted audio data, the key information being used for decrypting the encrypted audio data. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 27, wherein the external device includes a personal computer. 
     
     
       32. The method of claim 27, wherein the genre information is metadata information.