System and method for delivering licenses to a playback device

• US 20050273438A1
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acer Cloud Technology, Inc. (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: David Blythe, John Princen, Pramila Srinivasan, Wei Yen
• Inventors: Yen, Wei, Srinivasan, Pramila, Princen, John, Blythe, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,464,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1077 Recurrent authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/51 at application loading time, e.g. accepting, rejecting, starting or inhibiting executable software based on integrity or source reliability
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/52 during program execution, e.g. stack integrity ; Preventing unwanted data erasure; Buffer overflow
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/71 to assure secure computing or processing of information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/73 by creating or determining hardware identification, e.g. serial numbers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/74 operating in dual or compartmented mode, i.e. at least one secure mode

Abstract

Dynamic assignment of rights to content, such as in a closed distribution system. Noting state information generated by an item of current content, and modifying state or rights of new content in response. Preloading or dynamically sending new content to the owner of the current content, with rights being enabled only at a later time, in the playback device, with predetermined conditions. In response to current state information, dynamically sending a license for new content from a server. Conditional or dynamic licenses to new content, including a set of rights associated with a class of possible sets of state information. Assignment of limited rights to a content, with support in a secure player to enforce them; for purposes of rental, bonus content, trials and other business models.

Claims

1. A system, including

a license server capable of delivering a conditional license to a playback device;

and

a secure processor at the playback device capable of determining if a condition associated with the conditional license is satisfied.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the condition associated with the conditional license is responsive to a time of execution.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein the conditional license includes a data structure maintained in secure storage.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the conditional license includes a data structure maintained in storage, the data structure being secured by a digital signature or a secure hash.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein the conditional license includes a description of new rights to content;

whereby the playback device is capable of exercising those new rights in response to the condition associated with the conditional license.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein the conditional license includes a description of new rights to content;

whereby the content server is capable of delivering that content in response to the new rights.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein new rights are responsive to a state of content available to the playback device.

8. A system as in claim 7, wherein

the license server is able to obtain information regarding the state of content currently available to the playback device;

and

the condition associated with the conditional license is determined substantially by the license server.

9. A system as in claim 7, wherein

the license server is able to obtain information regarding the state of content currently available to the playback device;

and

the new rights are determined substantially by the license server.

10. A system as in claim 7, wherein the condition associated with the conditional license is determined substantially locally to the playback device.

11. A system as in claim 7, wherein the new rights are determined substantially locally to the playback device.

12. A system as in claim 7, wherein the condition associated with the conditional license is determined substantially remotely from the playback device.

13. A system as in claim 7, wherein the new rights are determined substantially remotely from the playback device.

14. A system as in claim 7, wherein the state of content currently available to the playback device includes at least one of:

a game score, a time played, a minimum or maximum measure thereof, a statistical measure determined in response thereto.

15. A system as in claim 7, wherein the state of content currently available to the playback device includes at least one of:

a value determined in response to a plurality of playback devices, a minimum or maximum measure thereof, a statistical measure determined in response thereto.

16. A system as in claim 7, wherein the condition associated with the conditional license is represented by a data structure describing or pointing to a set of instructions capable of being executed or interpreted.

17. A system as in claim 16, wherein the instructions are capable of being executed or interpreted by the license server.

18. A system as in claim 16, wherein the instructions are capable of being executed or interpreted by the secure processor.

19. A system, including:

a content server capable of delivering content to a playback device;

a license server capable of delivering a conditional license to the playback device; and

a secure processor at the playback device capable of combining static and dynamic rules to determine if a condition associated with the conditional license is satisfied.

20. A system as in claim 19, wherein the condition associated with the conditional license is responsive to a date or time.

21. A system as in claim 19, wherein the conditional license includes a data structure maintained in secure storage.

22. A system as in claim 19, wherein the conditional license includes a data structure maintained in storage, the data structure being secured by a digital signature or a secure hash.

23. A system as in claim 19, wherein the conditional license includes a description of new rights to content;

whereby the playback device is capable of exercising those new rights in response to the condition associated with the conditional license.

24. A system as in claim 19, wherein the conditional license includes a description of rights to new content;

whereby the content server is capable of delivering that new content in response to the condition associated with the conditional license.

25. A system as in claim 19, wherein the condition associated with the conditional license is responsive to a state of content currently available to the playback device.

26. A system as in claim 25, wherein

the license server is able to obtain information regarding the state of content currently available to the playback device;

and

the condition associated with the conditional license is determined substantially by the license server.

27. A system as in claim 25, wherein the condition associated with the conditional license is determined substantially locally to the playback device.

28. A system as in claim 25, wherein the condition associated with the conditional license is determined substantially remotely from the playback device.

29. A system as in claim 25, wherein the state of content currently available to the playback device includes at least one of:

a game score, a time played, a minimum or maximum measure thereof, a statistical measure determined in response thereto.

30. A system as in claim 25, wherein the state of content currently available to the playback device includes at least one of:

a value determined in response to a plurality of playback devices, a minimum or maximum measure thereof, a statistical measure determine in response thereto.

31. A system as in claim 25, wherein the condition associated with the conditional license is represented by a data structure describing or pointing to a set of instructions capable of being executed or interpreted.

32. A system as in claim 31, wherein the instructions are capable of being executed or interpreted by the license server.

33. A system as in claim 31, wherein the instructions are capable of being executed or interpreted by the secure processor.