System, and associated terminal, method and computer program product for forwarding content and providing digital rights management of the same

• US 20060135127A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Aarnio, Ari, Muhonen, Ahti, Vainio, Antti-Pentti, Paqvalen, Kenneth, Hannikainen, Ari
• Granted Patent: US 7,606,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/14 Arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/90 Wireless transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

A system is provided for forwarding content. The system includes a terminal capable of sending a request to transfer content, the request being sent from a terminal over a first network such as a wireless or other high latency network, and over a second network such as a wireline or other low latency network. The system also includes a source capable of sending the content, and a destination capable of receiving the content, both over the second network independent of the first network to thereby transfer the content from the source to the destination. By transferring content independent of the first network, the system can transfer content without the latency that follows from transferring content over such a wireless or other high latency network. Digital rights management of content transferred from a source to a destination is also provided.

Claims

1. A system for forwarding content, the system comprising:

a terminal capable of sending a request to transfer content, the request being sent from a terminal over a first network and a second network;

a source capable of sending the content; and

a destination capable of receiving the content,

wherein the source is capable of sending, and the destination capable of receiving, the content over the second network independent of the first network to thereby transfer the content from the source to the destination.

2-9. -9. (canceled)

10. A system for providing digital rights management of content, the system comprising:

an entity capable of providing at least one digital rights service group including at least one of at least one source and at least one destination, wherein the entity is also capable of associating the at least one of at least one source and the at least one destination with at least one digital rights service group identifier based upon the defined at least one digital rights service group such that access rights of at least one of the source and destination to content can be verified based upon the digital rights service group identifier to thereby permit a transfer of the content from the source to the destination if the access rights of at least one of the source and destination are verified.

11-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A terminal capable of directing the forwarding of content from a source to a destination, the terminal comprising:

a controller capable of operating a client agent, wherein the client agent is capable of sending a request to transfer content such that the content can be transferred from the source to the destination over the second network independent of the first network, the request being sent from a terminal over a first network and a second network.

21. A terminal according to claim 20, wherein the client agent is capable of receiving content before sending a request to transfer content, the content being received from the source over the first network and the second network, and wherein the client agent is capable of sending a request to transfer the same content from the source to the destination.

22. A terminal according to claim 21 further comprising:

a memory capable of storing the content after the client agent receives the content,

wherein the client agent is capable of removing the content from the memory after the content is transferred from the source to the destination.

23. A terminal according to claim 20, wherein the client agent is further capable of sending authorization information such that an identity of at least one of the terminal and terminal user can be verified based upon the authorization information before the content is transferred from the source to the destination.

24. A terminal according to claim 23, wherein the client agent is capable of encrypting the authorization information before sending the authorization information, the encrypted authorization information including a time stamp defining a period of time the authorization information is capable of being decrypted, and wherein the client agent is capable of encrypting the authorization information such that the authorization information can be decrypted within the period of time defined by the time stamp before the identity of at least one of the terminal and terminal user is verified.

25. A terminal according to claim 20, wherein at least one of the terminal, source and destination is included within at least one digital rights service group, and correspondingly associated with at least one digital rights service group identifier, wherein the client agent is capable of sending a request to transfer content such that access rights of at least one of the terminal, source and destination to the content are capable of being verified based upon the at least one digital rights service group identifier before the content is transferred, and such that the content is transferred if the access rights of at least one of the terminal, source and destination are verified.

26. A terminal according to claim 25, wherein at least one digital rights service group identifier is stored in at least one of a home location register (HLR) and a visitor location register (VLR), and wherein the client agent is capable of sending a request to transfer content such that the access rights are capable of being verified by communicating with at least one of the HLR and VLR to receive at least one digital rights service group identifier, and thereafter verifying access rights based upon the received at least one digital rights service group identifier and the content.

27. A terminal according to claim 25, wherein at least one digital rights service group identifier defines access to protected content available from a content origin, wherein at least one digital rights service group identifier comprises at least one supplemental group identifier defining access to at least one specified piece(s) of content available from one of the same content origin and a different content origin, and

wherein the client agent is capable of sending a request to transfer content such that access rights are capable of being verified based upon at least one of a digital rights service group identifier and a supplemental group identifier.

28. A terminal according to claim 20, wherein the client agent is capable of sending a request to transfer content such that the transfer of content from the source to the destination is capable of being monitored such that at least one creator of the content is capable of receiving compensation based upon at least one of the transfer and a transfer frequency of the content.

30. A method according to claim 20 further comprising:

receiving content at the terminal before sending a request to transfer content, the content being received from the source over the first network and the second network,

wherein sending a request comprises sending a request to transfer the same content from the source to the destination.

31. A method according to claim 30 further comprising:

storing the content in a memory of the terminal after receiving the content; and

removing the content from the memory after transferring the content from the source to the destination.

32. A method according to claim 20, wherein sending a request further comprises sending authorization information, and wherein the method further comprises:

verifying an identity of at least one of the terminal and terminal user based upon the authorization information before transferring the content.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein sending authorization information further comprises encrypting the authorization information, the encrypted authorization information including a time stamp defining a period of time the authorization information is capable of being decrypted, and wherein the method further comprises:

decrypting the authorization information within the period of time defined by the time stamp before verifying the identity of at least one of the terminal and terminal user.

29. A method of forwarding content from a source to a destination, the method comprising:

sending a request to transfer content from the source to the destination, the request being sent from a terminal over a first network and a second network; and

transferring the content from the source to the destination over the second network independent of the first network.

34. A method according to claim 29, wherein at least one of the terminal, source and destination is included within at least one digital rights service group, and correspondingly associated with at least one digital rights service group identifier, wherein the method further comprises:

verifying access rights of at least one of the terminal, source and destination to the content based upon the at least one digital rights service group identifier, and

wherein transferring the content comprises transferring the content if the access rights of at least one of the terminal, source and destination are verified.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein at least one digital rights service group identifier is stored in at least one of a home location register (HLR) and a visitor location register (VLR), and wherein verifying access rights comprises:

communicating with at least one of the HLR and VLR to receive at least one digital rights service group identifier; and

verifying access rights based upon the received at least one digital rights service group identifier and the content.

36. A method according to claim 34, wherein at least one digital rights service group identifier defines access to protected content available from a content origin, wherein at least one digital rights service group identifier comprises at least one supplemental group identifier defining access to at least one specified piece(s) of content available from one of the same content origin and a different content origin, and

wherein verifying access rights comprises verifying access rights based upon at least one of a digital rights service group identifier and a supplemental group identifier.

37. A method according to claim 29 further comprising:

monitoring the transfer of content from the source to the destination such that at least one creator of the content is capable of receiving compensation based upon at least one of the transfer and a transfer frequency of the content.

38. A method of providing digital rights management of content, the method comprising:

providing at least one digital rights service group including at least one of at least one source and at least one destination; and

associating the at least one of at least one source and the at least one destination with at least one digital rights service group identifier based upon the defined at least one digital rights service group such that access rights of at least one of the source and destination to content can be verified based upon the digital rights service group identifier to thereby permit a transfer of the content from the source to the destination if the access rights of at least one of the source and destination are verified.

39. A method according to claim 38 further comprising:

storing at least one digital rights service group identifier in at least one of a home location register (HLR) and a visitor location register (VLR) after defining the at least one digital rights service group such that at least one digital rights service group identifier can be received from at least one of the HLR and VLR such that access rights can be verified based upon the received at least one digital rights service group identifier and the content.

40. A method according to claim 38, wherein providing at least one digital rights service group comprises providing at least one digital rights service group defining access to protected content available from a content origin, and at least one digital rights service group defining access to at least one specified piece(s) of content available from one of the same content origin and a different content origin, and

wherein associating the at least one of at least one source and at least one destination with at least one digital rights service group identifier comprises associating the at least one of at least one source and at least one destination, included within the at least one digital rights service group defining access to at least one specified piece(s) of content, with at least one supplemental group identifier such that access rights can be verified based upon at least one of a digital rights service group identifier and a supplemental group identifier.

41. A method according to claim 38 further comprising:

verifying access rights to content based upon at least one digital rights service group identifier and the content; and

transferring the content from the source to the destination if the access rights of at least one of the source and destination are verified.

42. A method according to claim 41 further comprising:

monitoring the transfer of content from the source to the destination such that at least one creator of the content is capable of receiving compensation based upon at least one of the transfer and a transfer frequency of the content.

43. A method according to claim 41 further comprising:

sending a request to transfer content from the source to the destination, the request being sent from a terminal over a first network and a second network,

wherein providing at least one digital rights service group comprises providing at least one digital rights service group including at least one of the terminal, the at least one source and the at least one destination,

wherein associating the at least one of at least one source and at least one destination with at least one digital rights service group identifier comprises associating the at least one of the terminal, the at least one source and the at least one destination with at least one digital rights service group identifier, and

wherein transferring the content comprises transferring the content from the source to the destination over the second network independent of the first network if the access rights of at least one of the terminal, source and destination are verified.

44. A method according to claim 43 further comprising:

receiving content at the terminal before sending a request to transfer content, the content being received from the source over the first network and the second network,

wherein sending a request comprises sending a request to transfer the same content from the source to the destination.

45. A method according to claim 44 further comprising:

storing the content in a memory of the terminal after receiving the content; and

removing the content from the memory after transferring the content from the source to the destination.

46. A method according to claim 43, wherein sending a request further comprises sending authorization information, and wherein the method further comprises:

verifying an identity of at least one of the terminal and terminal user based upon the authorization information before transferring the content.

47. A method according to claim 46, wherein sending authorization information further comprises encrypting the authorization information, the encrypted authorization information including a time stamp defining a period of time the authorization information is capable of being decrypted, and wherein the method further comprises:

decrypting the authorization information within the period of time defined by the time stamp before verifying the identity of at least one of the terminal and terminal user.

48. A computer program product for forwarding content from a source to a destination, the computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion for sending a request to transfer content from the source to the destination, the request being sent from a terminal over a first network and a second network; and

a second executable portion for transferring the content from the source to the destination over the second network independent of the first network.

49-56. -56. (canceled)

57. A computer program product for providing digital rights management of content, the computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion for providing at least one digital rights service group including at least one of at least one source and at least one destination; and

a second executable portion for associating the at least one of at least one source and the at least one destination with at least one digital rights service group identifier based upon the defined at least one digital rights service group such that access rights of at least one of the source and destination to content can be verified based upon the digital rights service group identifier to thereby permit a transfer of the content from the source to the destination if the access rights of at least one of the source and destination are verified.

58-91. -91. (canceled)