Managing access to content

• US 20040009815A1
• Filed: 06/26/2002
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Zotto, Banjamin O., Lamb, Steven D., Curtis, Brent E., Multerer, Boyd C., VanAntwerp, Mark D., Van, Van C., Lau, Keith K., Nikaido, Michio
• Application Number:
  US10/180,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20040009815A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/201 Playing authorisation given at platform level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/208 for storing personal settings or data of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/209 characterized by low level software layer, relating to hardware management, e.g. Operating System, Application Programming Interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels
• 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]

Abstract

Content access management allows a content request to be received from a device. In response to the content request, both an identifier of a source of the content and one or more keys that allow the device to decrypt the content are sent to the device. The device is then able to retrieve, as it desires, the content from the source and decrypt and use the content.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, from a device, a content referral request; and

sending to the device, in response to the content referral request, both an identifier of a source of the content and one or more keys that allow the device to decrypt the content.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

verifying, prior to sending the identifier and the one or more keys, that a requester of the content referral request is permitted to access the content.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the verifying further comprises verifying that an application running on the device is permitted to access the content.

4. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the requester comprises the device and wherein the verifying further comprises verifying that the device is permitted to access the content.

5. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the requester comprises a user of the device and wherein the verifying further comprises verifying that the user is permitted to access the content.

6. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the verifying further comprises verifying that the requester is associated with a country that is permitted to access the content.

7. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the verifying further comprises verifying that the requester is associated with a geographic region that is permitted to access the content.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

verifying a requester of the content referral request;

sending the identifier and the one or more keys only if the requester is verified; and

wherein the verifying comprises,

verifying that the device is permitted to access the content,

verifying that an application running on the device is permitted to access the content, and

verifying that the device is associated with a geographic region that is permitted to access the content.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

verifying a requester of the content referral request;

sending the identifier and the one or more keys only if the requester is verified; and

wherein the verifying comprises,

verifying that a user of the device is permitted to access the content,

verifying that an application running on the device is permitted to access the content, and

verifying that the user is associated with a country that is permitted to access the content.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, prior to sending the identifier and the one or more keys, a plurality of sources of the content and selecting one of the plurality of sources.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of sources has an associated ranking and wherein the selecting comprises selecting the one of the plurality of sources having the highest ranking.

12. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the selecting is based at least in part on a current load of each of the plurality of sources.

13. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the selecting is based at least in part on a geographic location of the device.

14. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the selecting is based at least in part on a subscription level of the device.

15. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the selecting is based at least in part on a subscription level of a user of the device.

16. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the selecting is based at least in part on the current availability of each of the plurality of sources.

17. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, prior to sending the identifier and the one or more keys, a plurality of sources of the content; and

wherein the sending comprises sending identifiers of the plurality of sources to the device.

18. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

authenticating a requester of the content referral request, and sending the identifier and the one or more keys only if the requester is authenticated.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the requester comprises the device.

20. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the requester comprises a user of the device.

21. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the requester comprises a plurality of users of the device.

22. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more keys comprise a symmetric key and a public key of a public/private key pair.

23. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein the symmetric key allows the device to decrypt the content and wherein the public key allows the device to authenticate the content.

24. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the source comprises a remote server device.

25. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the source comprises a local storage device.

26. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the content comprises an entire game.

27. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the content comprises a segment of a game.

28. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the content comprises new features for a game title.

29. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the content comprises one or more new modules to correct problems in previously shipped modules of a game title.

30. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the device comprises a game console.

31. A method comprising:

maintaining a record of where a plurality of content packages are stored;

maintaining a record of a plurality of keys, wherein each of the plurality of keys can be used to decrypt at least one of the plurality of content packages; and

restricting, for a particular one of the plurality of content packages, which of a plurality of requesting devices can receive an indication of where the content package is stored as well as one of the plurality of keys, wherein the one of the plurality of keys can be used to decrypt the content package.

32. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the restricting comprises restricting which of the plurality of requesting devices can receive the indication based at least in part on game titles running on the devices.

33. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the restricting comprises restricting which of the plurality of requesting devices can receive the indication based at least in part on identifiers of the devices.

34. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the restricting comprises restricting which of the plurality of requesting devices can receive the indication based at least in part on users of the devices.

35. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the restricting comprises restricting which of the plurality of requesting devices can receive the indication based at least in part on geographic regions associated with the devices.

36. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein each of the plurality of content packages can be stored at a plurality of sources, and further comprising:

selecting, for a particular device, which of the plurality of sources the device is to receive the indication of.

37. One or more computer readable media having stored thereon a plurality of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

maintain a record of a plurality of locations where content is stored;

maintain a record of a key that can be used to decrypt the content;

receive, from a device, a request for a referral to the content; and

send, to the device, both the key that can be used to decrypt the content and an identifier of one of the plurality of locations where the content is stored.

38. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 37, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to send both the key and the identifier to the device only if an application running on the device is permitted to access the content.

39. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 37, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to send both the key and the identifier to the device only if the device is permitted to access the content.

40. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 37, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to send both the key and the identifier to the device only if a user of the device is permitted to access the content.

41. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 37, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to send both the key and the identifier to the device only if the requester is associated with a geographic region that is permitted to access the content.

42. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 37, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to identify one of the plurality of locations based at least in part on a ranking associated with each of the plurality of locations.

43. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 37, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to identify one of the plurality of locations based at least in part on a current load of each of the plurality of locations.

44. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 37, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to identify one of the plurality of locations based at least in part on a geographic location of the device.

45. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 37, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to identify one of the plurality of locations based at least in part on a subscription level of the device.

46. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 37, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to identify one of the plurality of locations based at least in part on a subscription level of a user of the device.

47. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 37, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to identify one of the plurality of locations based at least in part on the current availability of each of the plurality of sources.

48. One or more computer readable media having stored thereon a plurality of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a device, causes the one or more processors to:

send, to a remote device, a request for a referral to a source of a piece of content;

receive, from the remote device, both a key that can be used to decrypt the piece of content and an identifier of the source of the piece of content;

retrieve, from the source, the piece of content;

decrypt the piece of content using the key; and

save the piece of content locally on the device.

49. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 48, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to verify the piece of content retrieved from the source by using a public key associated with the source to decrypt a digest associated with the piece of content, generating a digest for the piece of content, comparing the generated digest to the decrypted digest, and verifying that the piece of content is from the source and has not been altered if the generated digest and the decrypted digest are the same.

50. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 48, wherein the instructions that cause the one or more processors to save the piece of content comprises instructions that cause the one or more processors to save the content to a local hard drive of the device.

51. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 48, wherein the source is not known to the device prior to receipt of the identifier of the source from the remote device.

52. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 48, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to receive identifiers of a plurality of sources and to select one of the plurality of sources from which to retrieve the piece of content.

53. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 52, wherein each of the plurality of sources has an associated ranking and wherein the instructions that cause the one or more processors to select one of the plurality of sources comprise instructions that cause the one or more processors to select the one of the plurality of sources having the highest ranking.

54. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 48, wherein the device comprises a game console.

55. A method, implemented in a computing device, the method comprising:

receiving a request for content from a game console, wherein the computing device was identified to the game console by another device; and

sending the requested content to the game console, wherein the requested content is encrypted using a key communicated to the game console by the other device.

56. A method as recited in claim 55, further comprising:

sending, to the game console, a digest of the content, wherein the digest is encrypted using a private key of a public/private key pair associated with the computing device.

57. A system comprising:

a selection module configured to receive a request for a piece of content from a device;

a verification module configured to determine whether the device has permission to access the piece of content; and

wherein the selection module is further configured to pass to the device, if the verification module determines that the device has permission to access the piece of content, both a source of the piece of content and one or more keys that allow the device to decrypt the piece of content.

58. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the request comprises a request for a referral to a source from which the piece of content can be obtained.

59. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the verification module determines whether the device has permission to access the piece of content based at least in part on information in the request.

60. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the verification module determines whether the device has permission to access the piece of content based at least in part on an identifier of the device from which the request is received.

61. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the verification module determines whether the device has permission to access the piece of content based at least in part on an identifier of one or more users of the device from which the request is received.

62. A system comprising:

means for receiving a content referral request from a device;

means for determining whether the device has permission to access the content; and

the means for receiving the request further comprising means for passing to the device, if the means for determining determines that the device has permission to access the content, both a source of the content and one or more keys that allow the device to decrypt the content.