i
Appendix A - Music Handling
Internet
(host PC)
Memory Stick Car Stereo
CD
Check out 1
Check out 2
Speaker
Network Walkman
Head
phones
Appendix A - Music Handling
Electronic Music Distribution (EMD)
Electronic Music Distribution, or EMD, are companies that freely distribute or sell digital audio contents via the
Internet. In order to download (EMD) music for conversion to OpenMG format, the following conditions are
required:
• Internet access via a PC (access provided by an Internet service provider or ISP).
• Several programs need to be downloaded from the EMD service (e.g., EMD key installer).
• Registration or / and payment with the EMD service provider.
After installing the OpenMG application (and rebooting the PC), an icon called “OpenMG (name of the device)
Registration” will appear on the desktop. The name of the device will change depending on which model (Memory
Stick Walkman or Music Clip) is being used. Double clicking on this icon will start the customer registration for
this project and begin the installation process of the EMD services. The EMD installation process will install
necessary files and programs onto the PC to enable the PC to access EMD services.
Once the EMD software is downloaded and installed on the computer, this service can be accessed again by
simply clicking on the Internet connection icon in the OpenMG Jukebox application. Once the user accesses the
EMD service, they can purchase and download music directly into the OpenMG jukebox. These downloaded
music files can then be played back (listened to) via the PC or uploaded (checked out) to the portable device
such as the MS Walkman.
Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI)
The Secure Digital Music Initiative was established in December 1998 by a group of about 130 companies in the
fields of recorded audio content, computers and consumer electronics. SDMI aims to protect the copyrights of
digital music and to develop a unified system of copyright protection technology that can be used all over the
world.
SDMI is working to create a framework for preventing improper usage of audio files and to promote legal music
distribution services. The copyright protection technologies MagicGate and OpenMG are based on the SDMI
standard.
MagicGate
MagicGate (MG) technology supports copyright protection between devices such as the Memory Stick Walkman
and MagicGate Memory Sticks. IC chips in both the MS Walkman and MG Memory Stick are used to provide the
encryption and decryption of data transferred between the devices. This data encryption alters the data signal so
that a device equipped with the proper decryption technology can only read it.
OpenMG Jukebox Software
OpenMG technology supports copyright protection of music content from Electronic Music Distribution (Internet)
sites and Audio CDs that are then stored on a PC. First, the OpenMG Jukebox application software is installed
on a PC. Then song files within its conversion ability are expanded (opened) and ATRAC compressed along with
encryption. Finally, the digital music content is recorded on a hard drive.
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