Flash memory distribution of digital content

• US 20050086419A1
• Filed: 08/27/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TGBW Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TGBW Incorporated
• Inventors: Anderson, Michael W., Neble, Rhyan
• Granted Patent: US 7,536,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/100
• 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: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/80 in storage media based on magnetic or optical technology, e.g. disks with sectors preventing unauthorised reproduction or copying of disc-type recordable media G11B20/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2121 Chip on media, e.g. a disk or tape with a chip embedded in its case
• 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 20/00275 the key being stored on a chip attached to the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00876 wherein physical copy protection means are attached to the medium, e.g. holograms, sensors, or additional semiconductor circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2537 Optical discs

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for distributing digital content. One embodiment comprises an apparatus comprising: a device (100) communications bus; coupled to the device communications bus (150), a bi-directional communications controller (110) capable of communicatively interfacing with a computer (710); coupled to the device communications bus (150), an integrated processor (130) capable of executing (270) computer-executable instructions; and coupled to the integrated processor (130), a storage module (140) capable of storing computer-executable instructions.

Claims

1. A method for distributing digital content, the method comprising the steps of:

coupling a nonvolatile memory device to a computer via a bi-directional data juncture;

installing a device driver on the computer;

establishing functional communications between the nonvolatile memory device and the computer;

decrypting, on the nonvolatile memory device, the computer-executable instructions;

executing, on the nonvolatile memory device, the computer-executable instructions; and

communicating resulting data to the computer through the bi-directional data juncture.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the nonvolatile memory device comprises:

a device communications bus;

coupled to the device communications bus, a bi-directional communications controller capable of interfacing with the computer communicatively;

coupled to the device communications bus, an integrated processor capable of executing computer-executable instructions; and

coupled to the integrated processor, a storage module capable of storing computer-executable instructions.

3. Apparatus for distributing digital content, the apparatus comprising:

a device communications bus;

coupled to the device communications bus, a bi-directional communications controller capable of communicatively interfacing with a computer;

coupled to the device communications bus, an integrated processor capable of executing computer-executable instructions; and

coupled to the integrated processor, a storage module capable of storing computer-executable instructions.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the bi-directional communications controller communicatively coupled to a driver module, the driver module storing computer-readable instructions capable of independently initializing drive letter assignment with the computer.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the storage module is partitioned with at least one partition comprising read-only computer-executable instructions containing installation drivers.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the storage module comprises a user data region.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the storage module comprises an extensible region.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a power source.

9. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising an antenna suitable for wireless communication.

10. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the integrated processor is capable of a processing speed greater than the communication interface speed of the bi-directional communications controller.

11. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the bi-directional communication controller comprises a device driver capable of providing the computer with access to the storage module via the integrated processor and allowing the computer to recognize the storage module and integrated processor as software.

12. At least one computer-readable medium containing computer program instructions for securely distributing digital content, the computer program instructions performing the steps of:

coupling a nonvolatile memory device to a computer via a bi-directional data juncture;

installing a device driver on the computer;

establishing functional communications between the nonvolatile memory device and the computer;

decrypting, on the nonvolatile memory device, the computer-executable instructions;

executing, on the nonvolatile memory device, the computer-executable instructions; and

communicating resulting data to the computer through the bi-directional data juncture.

13. A method for securely distributing digital content, the method comprising the steps of:

storing encrypted digital content on a storage medium;

providing a security module on the storage medium, wherein the security module comprises at least one encryption key and a communicator module capable of communicating the encryption key to a decryption module;

communicating the encryption key to the decryption module, wherein the decryption module is capable of decrypting digital content and capable of performing digital to analog conversion; and

decrypting encrypted digital content prior to digital to analog conversion.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the security module comprises an integrated circuit housing the encryption key.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one encryption key changes over time.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one encryption key is static over time.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one encryption key is communicated to the decryption module via a radio frequency identification system.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one encryption key changes as the encrypted digital content is decrypted.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the security module is programmable and capable of storing computer-executable instructions.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of extracting the encryption key from encrypted digital content.

21. A method for securely distributing digital content, the method comprising the steps of:

reading encrypted digital content from a storage medium;

receiving at least one encryption key from the storage medium, wherein the at least one encryption key is positioned separately from the digital content on the storage medium; and

decrypting the encrypted digital content using the at least one encryption key; and

converting the decrypted digital content to analog content.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of accessing at least one encryption algorithm for each encryption key.

23. At least one computer-readable medium containing computer program instructions for securely distributing digital content, the computer program instructions performing the steps of:

storing encrypted digital content on a storage medium;

providing a security module on the storage medium, wherein the security module comprises at least one encryption key and a communicator module capable of communicating the encryption key to a decryption module;

communicating the encryption key to the decryption module wherein the decryption module is capable of decrypting digital content and of performing digital to analog conversion; and

decrypting encrypted digital content prior to digital to analog conversion.

24. At least one computer-readable medium containing computer program instructions for securely distributing digital content, the computer program instructions performing the steps of:

reading encrypted digital content from a storage medium;

receiving at least one encryption key from the storage medium, wherein the at least one encryption key is positioned separately from the digital content on the storage medium;

decrypting the encrypted digital content using the at least one encryption key; and

converting the decrypted digital content to analog content.

25. A method for securely distributing digital content, the method comprising:

maintaining at least two encrypted enumerated lists, wherein each encrypted enumerated list identically identifies a location of digital content stored on a storage medium;

associating an encryption key with each encrypted enumerated list, defining a first key associated with a first enumerated list and a second key associated with a second enumerated list;

receiving at least one request for content associated with the lists;

accessing the first enumerated list;

accessing the first encryption key;

decrypting the first enumerated list with the first encryption key;

distributing decrypted contents associated with the first enumerated list;

generating a new first encryption key for the first enumerated list;

assigning a binary operator to the first enumerated list, wherein the binary operator associates the new first encryption key with the first enumerated list;

encrypting the first enumerated list with the new first encryption key; and

retrieving the second key list and associated second encryption key upon receiving subsequent requests for content associated with the lists.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein encrypting the first enumerated list with the new first encryption key occurs upon expiration of a predetermined period.

27. At least one computer-readable medium containing computer program instructions for securely distributing digital content, the computer program instructions performing the steps of:

maintaining at least two encrypted enumerated lists, wherein each encrypted enumerated list identically identifies a location of digital content stored on a storage medium;

associating an encryption key with each encrypted enumerated list, defining a first key associated with a first enumerated list and a second key associated with a second enumerated list;

receiving at least one request for content associated with the lists;

accessing the first enumerated list;

accessing the first encryption key;

decrypting the first enumerated list with the first encryption key;

distributing decrypted contents associated with the first enumerated list;

generating a new first encryption key for the first enumerated list;

assigning a binary operator to the first enumerated list, wherein the binary operator associates the new first encryption key with the first enumerated list;

encrypting the first enumerated list with the new first encryption key; and

retrieving the second key list and associated second encryption key upon receiving subsequent requests for content associated with the lists.

28. A method for securely distributing digital content, the method comprising the steps of:

associating a first encryption key on a storage medium with encrypted digital content stored on the storage medium;

detecting the first encryption key;

extracting the first encryption key from encrypted digital content stored on the storage medium;

decrypting the encrypted digital content; and

retaining the first encryption key in memory until a second encryption key associated with encrypted digital content is detected.

29. At least one computer-readable medium containing computer program instructions for securely distributing digital content, the computer program instructions performing the steps of:

associating a first encryption key on a storage medium with encrypted digital content stored on the storage medium;

detecting the first encryption key;

extracting the first encryption key from encrypted digital content stored on the storage medium;

decrypting the encrypted digital content; and

retaining the first encryption key in memory until a second encryption key associated with encrypted digital content is detected.