Enabling implementation of copyright-protected Windows Media Audio file application development solutions
Tokyo, January 23, 2006 −− Renesas Technology Corp. today announced "WMA/DRM Decode Middleware" supporting Microsoft Corporation's digital rights copyright management technology "Windows Media
® DRM 10
*1 for Portable Devices
*2" as application development software for mobile phones using an SH-Mobile
*3 application processor. The new WMA/DRM Decode Middleware will be available from January 31, 2006 in Japan.
Product Background From the standpoint of music copyright management, fee-based digital music distribution services require copyright protection such as encryption to be implemented before music is distributed. The most common means of using distribution services has been downloading via the Internet using a PC. However, with the rapid increase in mobile phones equipped with an audio playback function, there is a growing trend of music being downloaded via communication channels and played back on such mobile phones.
Meanwhile, there are a number of different digital music audio formats. The WMA (Windows Media Audio) format developed by Microsoft Corporation is one audio format widely used on PCs and so forth, with copyright protection of distributed WMA format music being provided by Windows Media DRM 10 copyright protection technology. There is a need for users who have downloaded music to a PC to be able to play WMA format music easily on a device other than a PC, but such playback requires Windows Media DRM 10 compatible decoding software.
Renesas Technology has therefore developed WMA/DRM Decode Middleware supporting “Windows Media DRM 10 for Portable Devices” as software for SuperH family middleware, and starts to provide for SH-Mobile mobile phone application processors at first. This makes it possible for copyright-protected WMA format music to be played back on a mobile phone.
Product Features This new middleware is the successor to Renesas Technology's current WMA Decode Middleware, and offers the following features.
| (1) | Easy development of a playback function for WMA format data protected by Windows Media DRM 10 |
| This middleware makes it possible to play back WMA format audio data copyright-protected by Windows Media DRM 10 in addition to normal WMA format audio data.
The specifications of the API (Application Programming Interface) written in an application program are virtually identical to those of the current product, enabling processing for playing back copyright-protected WMA format audio data to be implemented simply by inserting a decryption enabling API call instruction before the playback processing.
This allows an application using the current WMA Decode Middleware to be easily made compatible with Windows Media DRM 10, enabling the development time to be shortened.
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| (2) | Low decryption processing load |
| The CPU processing load necessary for decryption processing has been kept to an approximately 10% increase over that of current WMA Decode Middleware. This offers an ample margin, as at present, for performing other application processing such as image display while playing back copyright-protected WMA format data.
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| (3) | Support of various "Windows Media DRM 10 for Portable Devices" functions |
| This middleware supports not only WMA format data playback but also a variety of functions specified for “Windows Media DRM 10 for Portable Devices.”
Functions include license management including generation of a license request to a license issuing server and license processing, as well as secure time management functions such as an anti-rollback clock*4 and secure clock*5, making it possible to implement applications capable of performing robust copyright management.
Other functions provide for applications geared to subscription music distribution services*6 and rental music distribution services, which are expected to become increasingly popular in the future, and for direct license acquisition from a license issuing server, making possible development solutions such as applications that use music distribution services directly via a mobile phone without the need for a PC.
This middleware is not provided with a communication function for data exchange with a license issuing server.
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| (4) | Extended API allowing transfer of copyright-protected data by means of MTP communication software |
| Normally, transfer of WMA format data between a PC and portable device is performed via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port using the MTP*7 communication protocol supported by Windows Media DRM 10. Transferring copyright protection WMA format data requires license communication capability in addition to normal data transfer, and a license communication function must be incorporated in the MTP communication software itself in order to handle this.
This middleware provides a protocol extension API for easy incorporation of a license communication function in MTP communication software. Through the provision of this extension function, this middleware is operated as part of the MTP communication software during communication processing, enabling license communication to be performed.
MTP software supporting this protocol extension API will be available from Renesas Technology's partner company TEPCO UQUEST, LTD. starting in February 2006. Renesas Technology will continue to develop SuperH family middleware products enabling more efficient development of various multimedia applications for digital appliances. |
| Notes: | 1. | Windows Media DRM (Digital Rights Management) 10 : Digital copyright management technology developed by Microsoft Corporation, covering an entire copyright management system comprising variable devices including a content distribution server, license issuing server, PCs, portable devices, and network connection devices.
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| 2. | Windows Media DRM 10 for Portable Devices : A technological component within the Windows Media DRM 10 technology intended to be incorporated in a portable audio and video players, Set-top-boxes, and A/V capable mobile devices in particular.
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| 3. | SH-Mobile (SuperH Mobile Application Processor) : An original Renesas Technology processor for mobile phone systems that is connected to a baseband LSI and performs dedicated processing of audio, moving image, and similar multimedia applications.
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| 4. | Anti-rollback clock : A time management function that enables a time setting made for a past time to be detected. Used to prevent time-limited content from being used illegally by rolling back the time.
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| 5. | Secure clock : A function that obtains the current time from a reliable time management server. Used for the same purpose as an anti-rollback clock, and can also prevent illegal use by stopping the clock from advancing by removing the battery.
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| 6. | Subscription music distribution service : A music distribution service whereby payment is not made on a track-by track basis, but instead a monthly or similar fixed-term fee is paid, and any number of tracks can be downloaded during that period. After the end of the fixed period, downloading can no longer be performed and previously downloaded tracks can no longer be played.
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| 7. | MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) : A communication protocol supported by Microsoft Corporation’s Windows Media Player 10 for exchanging multimedia files between devices. At present, USB is assumed to be used as the transport layer. |
*Microsoft, Windows, and Windows Media are registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation of the United States in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product names, company names, or brands mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
Conditions of Product Provision This product is covered by certain intellectual property rights of Microsoft Corporation, and cannot be used or further distributed without a license from Microsoft Corporation.
In order to purchase or use this product, it is necessary for a "Windows Media DRM 10 for Portable Devices" license to have been obtained from Microsoft Corporation.
Typical Applications - Portable player applications supporting copyright-protected Windows Media Audio data playback in mobile phone systems using the SH-Mobile.
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Specifications | Item | Specifications |
| Applicable CPU core | SuperH compatible with SH-3 |
| Applicable OS | µ ITRON* |
| Audio format | WMA Standard (Supports Windows Media DRM10) |
| Number of channels | 1(monaural) or 2(stereo) |
| Sampling frequency | 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 KHz |
| Correspondence bit rate | 5 to 384 Kbps |
| Functions supporting Windows Media DRM 10 for Portable Devices | Direct and indirect license acquisition, license synchronization, secure clock, metering |
* ITRON : Industrial TRON. TRON is an abbreviation of "The Real-time Operating System Nucleus."
