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 additional data and encrypted audio data from an external device, the additional data including genre information, equalizer information, encryption information for decrypting at least the encrypted audio data, and digital rights information associated with the encrypted audio data, wherein the equalizer information is separate from the genre information and the genre information is set by a user at the external device;   a memory configured to store the received additional data and the received encrypted audio data;   a decrypting unit;   a controlling unit configured to read the digital rights information contained in the additional data, to determine whether to allow a playback of the encrypted audio data based on the read digital rights information, and to control the decrypting unit to decrypt the encrypted audio data based on the encryption information if the controlling unit determines that the playback of the audio data is allowed;   a digital signal processor configured to decode the decrypted audio data and output the decoded audio data while conducting an equalizer function for the decoded audio data based on the equalizer information associated with equalizer adjusting parameters; and   a display unit configured to output a message for a non-allowance of the playback of the audio data if the controlling unit determines that the playback of the audio data is not allowed.   
     
     
       22. The device of claim 21, wherein the memory stores the equalizer adjusting parameters associated with the genre information. 
     
     
       23. The device of claim 21, wherein the additional data received from the external device is encrypted, and the decrypting unit decrypts the received encrypted additional data based on the encryption information. 
     
     
       24. The device of claim 21, wherein the digital rights information includes permission information and/or restriction information for the playback of the audio data. 
     
     
       25. The device of claim 21, wherein the digital rights information is set by the user at the external device. 
     
     
       26. The device of claim 21, wherein the equalizer information is associated with the genre information. 
     
     
       27. The device of claim 21, wherein the encryption information includes key information. 
     
     
       28. The device of claim 21, wherein the external device includes a personal computer. 
     
     
       29. A method for playing encrypted audio data using a device including a controlling unit, a decrypting unit, a digital signal processor and a display unit, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the device, additional data and encrypted audio data from an external device, the additional data including genre information, equalizer information, encryption information for decrypting at least the encrypted audio data, and digital rights information associated with the encrypted audio data, wherein the equalizer information is separate from the genre information and the genre information is set by a user at the external device;   storing, by the device, the received additional data and the received encrypted audio data;   reading, by the device, the digital rights information contained in the additional data;   determining, by the controlling unit, whether to allow a playback of the encrypted audio data based on the read digital rights information;   controlling, by the controlling unit, a decrypting unit to decrypt the encrypted audio data based on the encryption information if the controlling unit determines that the playback of the audio data is allowed;   decoding, by the digital signal processor, the decrypted audio data and outputting the decoded audio data while conducting an equalizer function for the decoded audio data based on the equalizer information associated with equalizer adjusting parameters; and   outputting, by the display unit, a message for a non-allowance of the playback of the audio data if the controlling unit determines that the playback of the audio data is not allowed.   
     
     
       30. The method of claim 29, further comprising storing the equalizer adjusting parameters associated with the genre information. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 29, wherein the additional data received from the external device is encrypted, and the decrypting unit decrypts the received encrypted additional data based on the encryption information. 
     
     
       32. The method of claim 29, wherein the digital rights information includes permission information and/or restriction information for the playback of the audio data. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 29, wherein the digital rights information is set by the user at the external device. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim 29, wherein the equalizer information is associated with the genre information. 
     
     
       35. The method of claim 29, wherein the encryption information includes key information. 
     
     
       36. The method of claim 29, wherein the external device includes a personal computer.