Method and system for managing rights in digital information over a network

• US 20060078112A1
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Meyers, Stephan
• Granted Patent: US 7,986,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/109 by using specially-adapted hardware at the client
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; 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 21/418 External card to be used in combination with the client device, e.g. for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58

Abstract

A method and system for distributing digital information is disclosed. Preferably, a user acquires a tangible object which contain a code authorizing access to the digital information. The user reads the tangible object through a reader, which sends the code to a server on which the digital information is stored. The server then authorizes access to the digital information to one or more access devices listed in registries belonging to the user. The user may use the digital information on the terms he agrees to, and, while in use by the user, access to the digital information to other users or other playback devices is disabled. Once the user no longer is using the digital information, the access device erases the digital information, and signals the server that the digital information is no longer in use, thereby re-enabling access to the digital information by the other playback devices listed in the registry.

Claims

1. A method of distributing digital information, comprising:

registering a digital object containing said digital information

registering an access device for receiving said digital object;

requesting that access to said digital object be granted to said access device;

transmitting said digital object to said access device;

registering said digital object as being in use by said access device; and

denying further transmission of said digital object to any other access device while said digital object is in use by said access device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

registering a plurality of access devices for receiving said digital object, said plurality of access devices having common rights of access to said digital object; and

wherein said step of registering said digital object as being in use by said access device grants access to said digital object to all of said plurality of access devices having common access rights, but to no more than one of said plurality of access devices at a time.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said plurality of access devices includes access devices of different types, and said digital object is transmitted to each of said types of access device in a form specific to each of said types of access device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said plurality of access devices includes access devices of different types, and said digital object is transmitted to each of said types of access device with a content specific to each of said types of access device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

identifying said digital object with a unique identifying code, said unique identifying code being contained in a physical object.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said physical object includes one of the group consisting of:

a magnetic memory, a bar code, an optical memory and an RF tag.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting said digital object to said access device includes transmitting said digital object over a computer network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said computer network includes the internet.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein said access device is capable of reading said physical object to access said unique identifying code and said step of requesting that access to said digital object be granted to said access device further comprises the step of reading said physical object.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

establishing an encryption protocol for transmitting said digital information to said registry of access devices;

encrypting said digital information in accordance with said encryption protocol;

transmitting said digital information to said at least one of said access devices having common access rights to said digital information in encrypted form;

decrypting said digital information on receipt thereof by said at least one of said access devices having common access rights to said digital information.

10. (canceled)

12-21. -21. (canceled)