Protection of digital data content
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of communicating digital data over a communications network, comprising:
- separating the digital data into at least first and second units of data, transmitting the units of data over a communications network in a manner that the units of data maintain their separate identities, processing the at least first and second units of data received over the communications network in different respective ones of at least first and second electronic systems, combining the processed units of data in the first electronic system, and utilizing the combined units of data in the second electronic system.
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Abstract
Various embodiments include an apparatus, system, and method to control the distribution and usage of copyrighted digital content. The processing of a data file received over a communications network such as the Internet occurs both in a host digital appliance, such as a personal computer, notebook computer, audio player, video player, and the like, and in a very small digital rights management (DRM) module that is removably connected with the host. The processing makes it extremely difficult for the content of the data file to be obtained by an unauthorized person and/or utilized with an unauthorized DRM module.
187 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of communicating digital data over a communications network, comprising:
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separating the digital data into at least first and second units of data, transmitting the units of data over a communications network in a manner that the units of data maintain their separate identities, processing the at least first and second units of data received over the communications network in different respective ones of at least first and second electronic systems, combining the processed units of data in the first electronic system, and utilizing the combined units of data in the second electronic system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. In a combination of a digital appliance and a digital rights management (DRM) device removably connected therewith, a method of processing a data file received by the digital appliance, comprising:
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receiving the data file in a form of at least first and second separate units of data, processing the first unit of data in the DRM device and the second unit of data in the digital appliance, combining the processed first and second units of data in the DRM device, and utilizing the combined data in the digital appliance. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. In a digital appliance having a digital rights management (DRM) device connected thereto, a method of processing a data file received by the digital appliance, comprising:
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receiving the data file in a form of at least first and second separate units of data, processing the first unit of data in the DRM device and the second unit of data in the digital appliance, combining the processed first and second units of data in the DRM device, and utilizing the combined data in the digital appliance. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A digital rights management (DRM) module, comprising:
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a microprocessor, a semiconductor memory, an interface for communicating data into and out of the module, and software code stored within the memory and executed by the microprocessor to;
extract at least first and second parts from a data file received through the interface, process the first part of the received data file to form a processed first part, send the second part of the received data file back through the interface, receive the second part of the data file through the interface after processing as a processed second part, combine the processed first and second parts of the data file, and send at least a representation of the combined processed parts of the data file back though the interface. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A system for serving digital content, comprising:
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at least one server storing at least two units of data derived from digital content such that the digital content cannot be reconstructed from any one of the units alone but rather requires that processing be performed and the results of the processing combined in order to reconstruct the digital content, and an interface adapted to send the derived at least two units of data as a single data stream over a network in response to a request received over the network for the digital content. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification