Controlling the downloading and recording of digital data

• US 20030229797A1
• Filed: 06/06/2002
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Solutions Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Solutions Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Newman, Peter Alfred
• Granted Patent: US 7,530,116 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/193
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 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 Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00123 the record carrier being identified by recognising some of its unique characteristics, e.g. a unique defect pattern serving as a physical signature of the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00144 involving a user identifier, e.g. a unique customer ID
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0021 involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00224 wherein the key is obtained from a remote server
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00246 wherein the key is obtained from a local device, e.g. device key initially stored by the player or by the recorder
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00514 wherein the entire content is encrypted with the same key, e.g. disc key or master key
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00528 wherein each title is encrypted with a separate encryption key for each title, e.g. title key for movie, song or data file
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00586 said format change concerning the physical format of the recording medium
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00688 said measures preventing that a usable copy of recorded data can be made on another medium
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00702 said measures preventing that data are recorded on the recording medium
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0071 involving a purchase action
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00746 wherein the usage restriction can be expressed as a specific number
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00753 wherein the usage restriction limits the number of copies that can be made, e.g. CGMS, SCMS, or CCI flags
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0084 wherein the usage restriction can be expressed as a specific time or date
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00927 wherein said defects or errors are generated on purpose, e.g. intended scratches
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10537 Audio or video recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/062 : for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as described is particularly useful to the music industry as it enables them to make audio data available over the internet but to retain control of the uses to which that audio data can be put. Thus, upon completing a financial transaction to pay for the required audio tracks, the end user is enabled to download and decrypt encrypted music tracks and to play them on the end user'"'"'s personal computer. The end user can also be allowed to burn a CD including the downloaded music tracks. However, the end user is only enabled to decrypt and record the music tracks onto the CD if the music tracks are recorded together with copy protection.

Claims

1. A method of enabling a licensed end user to record digital data, the method comprising the steps of providing, at the request of a licensed end user, digital data in encrypted form, and enabling the licensed end user to record the decrypted digital data onto a data carrier, the method further comprising the step of requiring that the decrypted digital data can only be recorded onto the data carrier together with means which provide copy protection for the decrypted digital data.

2. A method of enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising the further step of enabling the licensed end user to decrypt and play the digital data provided.

3. A method of enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the method comprises the step of licensing the end user upon completion of a financial transaction between the end user and a supplier of digital data to decrypt and play the digital data provided.

4. A method of enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the method comprises the step of licensing the end user upon completion of a financial transaction between the end user and a supplier of digital data to record the decrypted data, in copy protected form, onto a number of data carriers.

5. A method of enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in claim 4, wherein the licensed end user is only enabled to record the decrypted data, in copy protected form, onto a single data carrier.

6. A method of enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means recorded onto the data carrier to provide copy protection for the decrypted digital data comprises a digital signature and a verification routine requiring access to the digital signature.

7. A method of enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein to record means onto the data carrier to provide copy protection for the decrypted digital data, the method comprises encoding incorrect and/or inaccurate control data onto the data carrier, the control data which is incorrect and/or inaccurate being usuable by a reader of the digital data.

8. A method of enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in claim 7, wherein the incorrect control data encoded onto the data carrier is either inaccessible, not generally read, or is generally ignored during playing of the digital data.

9. A method of enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein to record means onto the data carrier to provide copy protection for the decrypted digital data, the method comprises altering format and/or control data provided on the recordable data carrier.

10. A method of enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the digital data to be recorded has been downloaded by way of the internet.

11. A method of enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the digital data is audio data, video, images and/or application files and the data carrier is an optical disc such as a CD or a DVD.

12. A method of enabling a licensed end user to obtain and record digital data as claimed in any preceding claim, the method further comprising providing digital data required by the end user after encryption of the digital data using a key generated by and stored by the end user, completing a financial transaction between the end user and the supplier of the digital data to licence the end user to obtain the digital data, and indicating the completion of the financial transaction whereby the end user is enabled to obtain and decrypt the encrypted digital data utilising the key stored by the end user.

13. A method of enabling a licensed end user to obtain and record digital data as claimed in claim 12, further comprising storing the encrypted digital data at the end user with information identifying the licensed rights obtained by the financial transaction, and, where the licensed rights include a right to record the digital data, generating a request to obtain a further key enabling recording of the decrypted digital data.

14. A method of enabling a licensed end user to obtain and record digital data as claimed in claim 13, wherein the further key is caused to expire once the licensed recording of the digital data has been undertaken.

21. A data carrier carrying copy protected digital data which has been recorded thereon by a method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 14 and/or by an apparatus as claimed in any of claims 15 to 20.

15. Apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record digital data, said apparatus comprising processing means arranged to receive digital data in encrypted form and to decrypt the received digital data, and recording means for recording the decrypted digital data onto a data carrier, the apparatus further comprising means constraining the recording means to record the decrypted digital data onto a data carrier together with means protecting the digital data against copying.

16. Apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in claim 15, said apparatus further comprising a player for playing the decrypted digital data.

17. Apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16, wherein said processing means is incorporated into an end user apparatus, and wherein said end user apparatus also incorporates a media player able to play the decrypted digital data.

18. Apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in any of claims 15 to 17, wherein said apparatus comprises an end user computer incorporating said processing means and said recording means.

19. Apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in any of claims 15 to 17, wherein the recording means is provided in a recording apparatus which also comprises decryption means for decrypting the digital data, the recording apparatus further comprising communication means arranged to receive external information enabled to control said decryption means.

20. Apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in claim 19, wherein said recording apparatus further comprises copy protection means for encoding and recording copy protection information onto a data carrier.

22. An executable application file arranged to cause the operation of an apparatus to record digital data as claimed in any of claims 15 to 20.

23. An executable application file arranged to cause an end user device to record digital data onto a data carrier, the application file comprising:

an instruction to retain a key which has been used to encrypt digital data,

an instruction to obtain a further key to enable recording of the digital data,

an instruction to decrypt the digital data using the retained encryption key, and

an instruction responsive to the receipt of the further key to cause recording of the decrypted digital data with the addition of copy protection for the digital data.

24. An executable application file as claimed in claim 23, further comprising an instruction to access a catalogue for a database containing individual digital data files, and an instruction to generate a respective one of said keys for each digital data file selected.

25. An executable application file as claimed in claim 24, wherein the instruction to generate a key is dependent upon the completion of a financial transaction between the end user and a controller of the database of digital data.

26. A method of enabling a licensed end user to record digital data, the method comprising the steps of:

licensing the end user upon completion of a financial transaction between the end user and a supplier of digital data to have agreed rights over selected digital data,

enabling the licensed end user to obtain the selected digital data and to use the selected digital data in accordance with the licensed rights, and

enabling recording by the end user of the selected digital data onto a data carrier,

wherein the selected digital data is made available in encrypted form and the end user is enabled to decrypt the selected digital data for licensed use and licensed recording.

27. A method of enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in claim 26, further comprising enabling the licensed end user to download the selected digital data over the internet.

28. A method of enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in claim 26 or claim 27, further comprising providing the selected digital data after its encryption by a key generated by and stored by the end user, the end user being enabled to decrypt the encrypted digital data using the key stored by the end user.

29. A method of enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in any of claims 26 to 28, further comprising storing the selected digital data at the end user with information identifying the licensed rights obtained by the financial transaction, and, where the licensed rights include a right to record the selected digital data, generating a request to obtain a further key enabling recording of the selected digital data.

30. A method of enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in claim 29, wherein the further key is caused to expire once the licensed recording of the selected digital data has been undertaken.

31. A method of enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in any of claims 26 to 30, the method further comprising the step of requiring that the selected digital data can only be recorded onto the data carrier together with means which provide copy protection for the selected digital data.

32. A method of enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in claim 31, wherein the means recorded onto the data carrier to provide copy protection for the selected digital data comprises a digital signature and a verification routine requiring access to the digital signature.

33. A method of enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in any of claims 26 to 32, wherein to record means onto the data carrier to provide copy protection for the selected digital data, the method comprises encoding incorrect and/or inaccurate control data onto the data carrier, the control data which is incorrect and/or inaccurate being usuable by a reader of the digital data.

34. A method of enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in claim 33, wherein the incorrect control data encoded onto the data carrier is either inaccessible, not generally read, or is generally ignored during playing of the digital data.

44. A data carrier carrying digital data which has been recorded thereon by a method as claimed in any of claims 26 to 34, and/or by an apparatus as claimed in any of claims 35 to 43.

35. Apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record selected digital data, said apparatus comprising processing means arranged to communicate with a financial server whereby a financial transaction can be completed to obtain for the end user rights over selected digital data, the processing means being arranged upon completion of the financial transaction to obtain the selected digital data and to use the selected digital data in accordance with the licensed rights, and the apparatus further comprising recording means for recording the selected digital data onto a data carrier, wherein the selected digital data is made available in encrypted form and the processing means is enabled to decrypt the selected digital data for licensed use and for licensed recording.

36. Apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in claim 35, wherein the processing means is enabled to download the selected digital data over the internet.

37. Apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in claim 35 or claim 36, further comprising means to generate and store a key, and means to communicate the key to the financial server to cause encryption of the selected digital data using the key.

38. Apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in any of claims 35 to 37, further comprising means for storing the selected digital data with information identifying the licensed rights obtained by the financial transaction, and, where the licensed rights include a right to record the selected digital data, means for generating a request to obtain a further key enabling recording of the selected digital data.

39. Apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in any of claims 35 to 38, wherein said recording means comprises copy protection means for recording copy protection information on a data carrier with the selected digital data.

40. Apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in any of claims 35 to 39, said apparatus further comprising a player for playing the selected and decrypted digital data.

41. Apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in any of claims 35 to 40, wherein said processing means is incorporated into an end user apparatus, and wherein said end user apparatus also incorporates a media player able to play the decrypted digital data.

42. Apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in any of claims 35 to 41, wherein said apparatus comprises an end user computer incorporating said processing means and said recording means.

43. Apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as claimed in any of claims 35 to 42, wherein the recording means is provided in a recording apparatus which also comprises decryption means for decrypting the digital data, the recording apparatus further comprising communication means arranged to receive external information enabled to control said decryption.

45. An executable application file arranged to cause the operation of an apparatus to record digital data as claimed in any of claims 35 to 43.

46. An executable application file arranged to enable an end user device to record digital data onto a data carrier, the application file comprising:

an instruction to complete a financial transaction with an end user for the end user to buy selected digital data,

an instruction to provide the selected and bought digital data to the end user, and

an instruction to enable the end user to decrypt and record the selected digital data.

47. An executable application file as claimed in claim 46, further comprising an instruction to enable access to a catalogue for a database containing digital data, and an instruction to generate an encryption key for each digital data file chosen by the end user.