License management in a media network environment

• US 20040117483A1
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Pictures Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Pictures Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Lakamp, Brian David, Singer, Mitch Fredrick
• Granted Patent: US 7,934,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1012 to domains
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2585 Generation of a revocation list, e.g. of client devices involved in piracy acts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43622 : Interfacing an external recording device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 : involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4367 : Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 : involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 : involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 : Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44231 : Monitoring of peripheral device or external card, e.g. to detect processing problems in a handheld device or the failure of an external recording device configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network H04L12/2823; monitoring the status of connected device in data switched networks H04L43/0817
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63345 : by transmitting keys key distribution for secret or secure communication H04L9/08; network support of key management H04L63/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for managing devices and content in a network environment. In one implementation, a method of acquiring a license in a hub network includes: sending a license request from a client to a server; sending a connection confirmation from said client to said server; and receiving license data at said client from said server; wherein said client and said server are connected in a hub network, said license request identifies a sub-copy version stored on said client, said sub-copy version includes sub-copy locked content data, and said license data is bound to said hub network.

Claims

1. A method of acquiring a license in a hub network, comprising:

sending a license request from a client to a server;

sending a connection confirmation from said client to said server; and

receiving license data at said client from said server;

wherein said client and said server are connected in a hub network,

said license request identifies a sub-copy version stored on said client,

said sub-copy version includes sub-copy locked content data, and

said license data is bound to said hub network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

synchronizing a client clock with a server clock by setting said client clock according to said server clock before receiving said license data at said client;

wherein said client clock is a secure clock of said client,

said server clock is a secure clock of said server.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating a sub-copy license for a sub-copy version stored on said client;

wherein said sub-copy license corresponds to said sub-copy version, and

updating license data for said sub-copy version includes updating said sub-copy license according to said received license data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said license data is a sub-copy license indicating permissions for using said sub-copy version.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

said sub-copy license indicates an expiration period, and

said expiration period indicates an amount of time for which said sub-copy license is valid.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

setting an expiration time according to said expiration period including resetting said expiration time if said expiration time was previously set to a different value;

wherein said client has a secure client clock,

when said client clock indicates that the current expiration time has been reached, said sub-copy license expires and becomes disabled, and

said client will not decrypt said sub-copy locked content data when said sub-copy license is disabled.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said license request indicates said sub-copy version.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said connection confirmation indicates said client is connected to said server.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said connection confirmation indicates said client is within a local environment of said server, and

said local environment is a limited area defined relative to said server.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a security confirmation from said client to said server,

wherein said security confirmation indicates a state of security data stored on said client.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a security update at said client from said server;

wherein said security update includes new security data.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

said security data includes a new key for decryption.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting an expiration time according to said received license data.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving said sub-copy version from a device that is a member of a different hub network from said hub network.

15. A method of providing a license in a hub network, comprising:

receiving a license request from a client at a server;

sending a connection confirmation request from said server to said client; and

sending license data from said server to said client;

wherein said client and said server are connected in a hub network,

said license request identifies a sub-copy version stored on said client, and

said license data is bound to said hub network.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

synchronizing a client clock with a server clock by setting said client clock according to said server clock before sending said license data to said client;

wherein said client clock is a secure clock of said client,

said server clock is a secure clock of said server.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein:

said license data corresponds to a sub-copy license for said sub-copy version and includes data for updating said sub-copy license.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein:

said license data is a sub-copy license indicating permissions for using said sub-copy version.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

said sub-copy license indicates an expiration period,

said expiration period indicates an amount of time for which said sub-copy license is valid, and

when said expiration time has been reached after sending said license data, said sub-copy license expires and becomes disabled.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein:

said license request indicates said sub-copy version.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein:

said connection confirmation request requests confirmation that said client is connected to said server.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein:

said connection confirmation request requests confirmation that said client is within a local environment of said server, and

said local environment is a limited area defined relative to said server.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sending a security confirmation request from said server to said client,

wherein said security confirmation request requests confirmation of a state of security data stored on said client.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving a security confirmation at said server from said client;

wherein said security confirmation indicates said state of said security data stored on said client.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

sending a security update from said server to said client.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein:

wherein said security update includes a new key for decryption.

27. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

checking a revocation list to determine whether said client is included in said revocation list;

wherein said revocation list is stored on said server.

28. A method of acquiring a license in a hub network, comprising:

sending a license request from a client to a server through an intermediary device;

sending a connection confirmation from said client to said server through said intermediary device; and

receiving license data at said client from said server through said intermediary device;

wherein said client and said server are not connected in a hub network,

said license request identifies a sub-copy version stored on said client,

said sub-copy version includes sub-copy locked content data, and

said license data is bound to said hub network.

29. A method of providing a license in a hub network, comprising:

receiving a license request from a client at a server through an intermediary device;

sending a connection confirmation request from said server to said client through said intermediary device; and

sending license data from said server to said client through said intermediary device;

wherein said client and said server are not connected in a hub network,

said license request identifies a sub-copy version stored on said client, and

said license data is bound to said hub network.

30. A method of refreshing a license in a hub network, comprising:

sending a refresh request from a client to a server;

sending a connection confirmation from said client to said server;

receiving updated license data at said client from said server; and

updating a sub-copy license stored on said client according to said updated license data;

wherein said client and said server are connected in a hub network,

said refresh request identifies a sub-copy version stored on said client,

said sub-copy version includes sub-copy locked content data,

said sub-copy license corresponds to said sub-copy version, and

said sub-copy license is bound to said hub network.

31. A method of refreshing a license in a hub network, comprising:

receiving a refresh request from a client at a server;

sending a connection confirmation request from said server to said client; and

sending updated license data from said server to said client;

wherein said client and said server are connected in a hub network,

said refresh request identifies a sub-copy version stored on said client,

said updated license data is for updating a sub-copy license corresponding to said sub-copy version, and

said sub-copy license is bound to said hub network.