Output protection levels

• US 20060235798A1
• Filed: 04/15/2005
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cutter, Benjamin B. Jr., Strom, Clifford P., Alkove, James M., Evans, Brian P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,725,646 B2
• 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: G06F 2221/2113 Multi-level security, e.g. mandatory access control

Abstract

A system of controlling playback of digital media. A system of controlling playback of digital media comprising a CE device having an output path and a license having a specified output protection level disposed upon the CE device in which the specified output protection level controls playback of the digital media over the output path.

Claims

1. A system of controlling playback of digital media comprising:

a CE device having an output path; and

a license having a specified output protection level disposed upon the CE device in which the specified output protection level controls playback of the digital media over the output path.

2. The system of controlling playback of digital media of claim 1, further comprising a policy engine for applying the specified output protection level to control playback of the digital media over the output path.

3. The system of controlling playback of digital media of claim 1, further comprising an external component coupled to the output path.

4. The system of controlling playback of digital media of claim 3, in which the external component is a video display.

5. The system of controlling playback of digital media of claim 3, in which the external component is a speaker.

6. The system of controlling playback of digital media of claim 3, in which the output path is digital uncompressed video.

7. The system of controlling playback of digital media of claim 3, in which the output path is digital compressed video.

8. The system of controlling playback of digital media of claim 2, in which the policy engine assigns an output type to the output path present on the CE device, and compares the output protection level specified in the license to determine if playback is allowed.

9. The system of controlling playback of digital media of claim 8, in which the output type is specified by a numerical level.

10. The system of controlling playback of digital media of claim 1, in which the license is rendered in XML.

11. The system of controlling playback of digital media of claim 1, in which the license is rendered in binary.

12. A method of controlling playback of a media file in a CE device comprising:

setting an output protection level in a license controlling playback of the media file;

applying the output protection level to a playback policy;

determining output type present on the CE device; and

comparing the output protection level to the output type.

13. The method of controlling playback of a media file in a CE device of claim 12, further comprising allowing playback if the output type corresponds to the output protection level.

14. The method of controlling playback of a media file in a CE device of claim 12, further comprising denying playback if the output type does not correspond to the output protection level.

15. A computer memory product having stored thereon a digital data file, the memory product comprising:

a computer readable memory; and

a license data file including;

at least two digital data portions;

a first digital data portion containing data representing licensing information identifying a media file licensed and providing information to allow secure transmission of the media file; and

a second digital portion containing data indicating a permissible output protection level wherein the license data file provides for secure transmission of the media file over a network, and secure playback on an external component.

16. The computer memory product having stored thereon a digital data file, the memory product of claim 15, further comprising a third digital portion containing data indicating a permissible copy protection level wherein the license data file provides for secure transmission of the media file over a network, and secure copying on an external component.

17. The computer memory product having stored thereon a digital data file, the memory product of claim 15, further comprising a third digital portion containing data indicating a permissible copy exclusion level wherein the license data file provides for secure transmission of the media file over a network, and secure prohibition of copying on an external component.

18. The computer memory product having stored thereon a digital data file, the memory product of claim 15, further comprising a third digital portion containing data indicating a permissible copy count wherein the license data file provides for secure transmission of the media file over a network, and copying on an external component limited to the quantity specified in the permissible copy count.

19. The computer memory product having stored thereon a digital data file, the memory product of claim 15, further comprising a third digital portion containing data indicating a permissible down-sampling playback.