License synchronization

• US 20060089917A1
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cutter, Benjamin Brooks Jr., Strom, Clifford Paul, Evans, Brian Patrick, Fox, Christopher John
• Application Number:
  US10/971,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20060089917A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/59
• 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: 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 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32

Abstract

A method of synchronizing. A method of synchronizing comprising, transferring at least one license of a plurality of licenses from a first PC, populating a license store on a CE device with the at least one license of the plurality of licenses from the first PC, populating a synchronization list with all licenses having state, filtering the synchronization list according to at least one threshold value to create a filtered synchronization list of licenses to be refreshed and refreshing the licenses to be refreshed.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing comprising:

transferring at least one license of a plurality of licenses from a first PC;

populating a license store on a CE device with the at least one license of the plurality of licenses from the first PC;

populating a synchronization list with all licenses having state;

filtering the synchronization list according to at least one threshold value to create a filtered synchronization list of licenses to be refreshed; and

refreshing the licenses to be refreshed.

2. The method of synchronizing of claim 1 in which the synchronization operates in a DRM environment.

3. The method of synchronizing of claim 1 in which the at least one threshold value includes a play count.

4. The method of synchronizing of claim 1 in which the at least one threshold value includes an expiration date.

5. The method of synchronizing of claim 1 in which the at least one threshold value includes a value less than a play count.

6. The method of synchronizing of claim 1 in which the at least one threshold value includes a value in before an expiration date.

7. The method of synchronizing of claim 1 in which the at least one threshold value includes a license state.

8. The method of synchronizing of claim 1 in which the synchronization list is populated at the time content is transferred to the device.

9. The method of synchronizing of claim 1 in which the synchronization list is populated prior to the time content is transferred to the device.

10. The method of synchronizing of claim 1 in which the synchronization list includes renewal criteria.

11. The method of synchronizing of claim 1 in which the synchronization list includes a play count.

12. A method of synchronizing comprising:

transferring at least one license of a plurality of licenses from an internet service provider;

populating a license store on a CE device with the at least one license of the plurality of licenses from the internet service provider;

populating a synchronization list with all licenses having state;

filtering the synchronization list according to at least one threshold value to create a filtered synchronization list of licenses to be refreshed; and

refreshing the licenses to be refreshed.

13. The method of synchronizing of claim 12 in which the synchronization operates in a DRM environment.

14. The method of synchronizing of claim 12 in which the at least one threshold value includes a play count.

15. The method of synchronizing of claim 12 in which the at least one threshold value includes an expiration date.

16. The method of synchronizing of claim 12 in which the at least one threshold value includes a value less than a play count.

17. The method of synchronizing of claim 12 in which the at least one threshold value includes a value in before an expiration date.

18. The method of synchronizing of claim 12 in which the at least one threshold value includes a license state.

19. The method of synchronizing of claim 12 in which the synchronization list is populated at the time content is transferred to the device.

20. The method of synchronizing of claim 12 in which the synchronization list is populated prior to the time content is transferred to the device.

21. The method of synchronizing of claim 12 in which the synchronization list includes renewal criteria.

22. The method of synchronizing of claim 12 in which the synchronization list includes a play count.

23. One or more computer-readable media containing executable instructions that, when executed, perform a method comprising:

transferring at least one license of a plurality of licenses to a CE device;

populating a license store on a CE device with the at least one license of the plurality of licenses transferred to the CE device;

populating a synchronization list with all licenses having state;

filtering the synchronization list according to at least one threshold value to create a filtered synchronization list of licenses to be refreshed; and

refreshing the licenses to be refreshed.

The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 23, in which the method further comprises [step C]

24. The method of synchronizing of claim 23 in which the synchronization operates in a DRM environment.

25. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 23, in which the at least one threshold value includes a play count.

26. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 23, in which the at least one threshold value includes an expiration date.

27. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 23, in which the at least one threshold value includes a value less than a play count.

28. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 23, in which the at least one threshold value includes a value in before an expiration date.

29. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 23, in which the at least one threshold value includes a license state.

30. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 23, in which the synchronization list is populated at the time content is transferred to the device.

31. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 23, in which the synchronization list is populated prior to the time content is transferred to the device.

32. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 23, in which the synchronization list includes renewal criteria.

33. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 23, in which the synchronization list includes a play count.

34. A system for refreshing licenses comprising:

a means for populating a synchronization list;

a means for filtering the synchronization list; and

a means for refreshing a license listed on the synchronization list.

35. A DRM system comprising:

a CE device including a synchronization list; and

a service provider coupled to the CE device to provide digital media to the CE device.

36. The DRM system of claim 35, in which the service provider is coupled to the CE device through a computer having an internet connection.

37. The DRM system of claim 35, in which the service provider is coupled to the CE device through an internet connection.

38. The DRM system of claim 35, in which the synchronization list includes at least one of a plurality of licenses to be refreshed.

39. The DRM system of claim 38, in which the synchronization list includes at least one of a plurality of licenses to be refreshed that has been added through a filtering process.