Conversion cable and electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11836226-B2
Application number	US-201917256749-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2019
Priority date	Jul 2, 2018
Publication date	Dec 5, 2023
Grant date	Dec 5, 2023

Abstract

There is provided a conversion cable including: a connector to be connected to an electronic device that outputs a digital voice signal; an IC having a function of converting a digital voice signal supplied through the connector into an analog voice signal; and an output unit for an analog voice signal output from the IC, in which the IC holds an encryption key for permitting the electronic device to output a digital voice signal that requires copyright protection.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A conversion cable comprising:
a connector to be connected to an electronic device that outputs a digital voice signal;
an IC having a function of converting a digital voice signal supplied through the connector into an analog voice signal; and
an output unit for an analog voice signal output from the IC,
wherein the IC holds an encryption key for permitting the electronic device to output a digital voice signal that requires copyright protection,
a relay cable connects the IC and the output unit,
the relay cable is a coaxial structure line, and a shield wire of the coaxial structure line functions as an antenna for receiving a digital broadcast,
the connector has a configuration of a plug,
an RF signal of a digital broadcast is supplied to the plug,
a first array including a plurality of pins and a second array including a plurality of pins are provided substantially in parallel in the plug, and
both or any of a first pin and a second pin is set for supplying an RF signal, the first pin being included in the first array, the second pin being included in the second array and positioned diagonally to the first pin.

2. The conversion cable according to claim 1 , wherein, in a case where an electronic device executes an application for outputting a digital voice signal that requires the copyright protection, authentication processing using the encryption key is performed.

3. The conversion cable according to claim 1 , wherein, in a case where an electronic device executes an application for outputting a digital voice signal that does not require copyright protection, authentication processing using the encryption key is not performed.

4. The conversion cable according to claim 1 , wherein a signal line between an electronic device and the connector uses differential transmission.

5. The conversion cable according to claim 1 , wherein the output unit for a voice signal is an earphone jack, an earphone, a headset, or a speaker for analog.

6. An electronic device, wherein an application for outputting a digital voice signal that requires content protection is installed, the conversion cable according to claim 1 is authenticated by using the application with the encryption key, and only in a case where the conversion cable is authenticated, a digital voice signal is output to the conversion cable.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6 , wherein the electronic device is a mobile device.

8. The electronic device according to claim 6 , wherein a unit is connectable to a connection terminal, and in a case where the conversion cable is authenticated, a digital voice signal is output from the unit to the conversion cable.

9. The electronic device according to claim 7 , wherein the mobile device is one of a smartphone or a tablet.

Assignees

• Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corp

Inventors

• Yoshino Yoshitaka
• Tsuboi Satoru
• Maeda Nao

Classifications

• G06F21/10 Primary

  Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material (protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16) {; Digital rights management [DRM]} · CPC title

• G06F3/162

  Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs · CPC title

• H04L9/32

  including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system {or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials} · CPC title

• G06F2221/0737

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F21/16

  Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking · CPC title