CONTENT PROTECTION IN A WIRELESS NETWORK

• US 20070180111A1
• Filed: 04/10/2007
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: CHMAYTELLI, Mazen, LUNDBLADE, Laurence
• Granted Patent: US 8,468,261 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• 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 21/12 Protecting executable software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/14 for detecting or protecting against malicious traffic

Abstract

A method for operating a device to protect an application from unauthorized operation is provided. The application will fail to operate on the device when the device is defined outside a selected operating region. The method includes transmitting the selected operating region for the application, and receiving the application and a geographic identifier associated with the application. The geographic identifier is configured to identify the selected operating region wherein the application will operate on the device. The method further includes transmitting a request to execute the application on the device. The request includes the geographic identifier. Further included in the method is receiving a code. The code prevents an execution of the application on the device if the code is a disable code. The disable code indicates that the device is operating outside the selected operating region. An apparatus for content protection in a wireless network is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for operating a device to protect an application from unauthorized operation, wherein the application will fail to operate on the device when the device is defined outside a selected operating region, the method comprising:

transmitting the selected operating region for the application;

receiving the application and a geographic identifier associated with the application, the geographic identifier configured to identify the selected operating region wherein the application will operate on the device;

transmitting a request to execute the application on the device, the request including the geographic identifier;

receiving a code; and

preventing an execution of the application on the device if the code is defined as a disable code, the disable code indicating that the device is operating outside the selected operating region.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing the execution of the application on the device if the code is an authorization code, the authorization code indicating that the device is operating inside the selected operating region.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

allowing the application to receive services if the code is an authorization code.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the preventing the execution of the application on the device comprises:

preventing the application from accessing information on a server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a digital signature is generated for the geographic identifier.

6. A device operable to protect an application from unauthorized operation, wherein the application will fail to operate on the device when the device is defined outside a selected operating region, the device comprising:

logic configured to transmit the selected operating region for the application;

logic configured to receive the application and a geographic identifier associated with the application, the geographic identifier configured to identify the selected operating region wherein the application will operate on the device;

logic configured to transmit a request to execute the application on the device, wherein the request includes the geographic identifier;

logic configured to receive a code; and

logic configured to prevent an execution of the application on the device if the code is a disable code, wherein the disable code indicates that the device is operating outside the selected operating region.

7. The device of claim 6, the device further comprising:

logic configured to allow the execution of the application on the device if the code is an authorization code, wherein the authorization code indicates that the device is operating inside the selected operating region.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein a digital signature is generated for the geographic identifier.

9. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

at least one instruction for transmitting the selected operating region for the application;

at least one instruction for receiving the application and a geographic identifier associated with the application, the geographic identifier configured to identify the selected operating region wherein the application will operate on the device;

at least one instruction for transmitting a request to execute the application on the device, the request including the geographic identifier;

at least one instruction for receiving a code; and

at least one instruction for preventing an execution of the application on the device if the code is defined as a disable code, the disable code indicating that the device is operating outside the selected operating region.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

at least one instruction for allowing the execution of the application on the device if the code is an authorization code, the authorization code indicating that the device is operating inside the selected operating region.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the at least one instruction for preventing the execution of the application on the device comprises:

at least one instruction for preventing the application from accessing information on a server.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising:

at least one instruction for allowing the application to receive services if the code is an authorization code.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein a digital signature is generated for the geographic identifier.

14. A device operable to protect an application from unauthorized operation, wherein the application will fail to operate on the device when the device is defined outside a selected operating region, the device comprising:

means for transmitting the selected operating region for the application;

means for receiving the application and a geographic identifier associated with the application, the geographic identifier configured to identify the selected operating region wherein the application will operate on the device;

means for transmitting a request to execute the application on the device, the request including the geographic identifier;

means for receiving a code; and

means for preventing an execution of the application on the device if the code is defined as a disable code, the disable code indicating that the device is operating outside the selected operating region.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

means for allowing the execution of the application on the device if the code is an authorization code, the authorization code indicating that the device is operating inside the selected operating region.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein a digital signature is generated for the geographic identifier.

17. A server operable to protect an application from unauthorized operation, wherein the application will fail to operate on a device when the device is defined outside a selected operating region, the server comprising:

logic configured to receive the selected operating region for the application;

logic configured to generate a geographic identifier based upon the selected region and the application, the geographic identifier configured to identify the selected operating region wherein the application will operate on the device;

logic configured to transmit the application and the geographic identifier associated with the application;

logic configured to receive a request to execute the application on the device, the request including the geographic identifier;

logic configured to determine a current location of the device;

logic configured to transmit a code; and

logic configured to prevent the execution of the application on the device if the code is a disable code, the disable code indicating that the current location of the device is outside the selected operating region.

18. The server of claim 17, the server further comprising:

logic configured to allow the execution of the application on the device if the code is an authorization code, the authorization code indicating that the current location of the device is within the selected operating region.

19. The server of claim 18, wherein the code is the authorization code, the server further comprising:

logic configured to transmit services to the application.

20. The server of claim 17, wherein the code is the disable code, the processing logic further comprising:

logic configured to prevent the device from accessing information on the server.

21. The server of claim 17, wherein a digital signature is generated for the geographic identifier.

22. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

at least one instruction for receiving the selected operating region for the application;

at least one instruction for generating a geographic identifier based upon the selected region and the application, the geographic identifier configured to identify the selected operating region wherein the application will operate on the device;

at least one instruction for transmitting the application and the geographic identifier associated with the application;

at least one instruction for receiving a request to execute the application on the device, the request including the geographic identifier;

at least one instruction for determining a current location of the device;

at least one instruction for transmitting a code; and

at least one instruction for preventing the execution of the application on the device, if the code is a disable code, the disable code indicating that the current location of the device is outside the selected operating region.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, further comprising:

at least one instruction for allowing the execution of the application on the device if the code is an authorization code, the authorization code indicating that the current location of the device is within the selected operating region.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, further comprising:

at least one instruction for transmitting services to the application.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, further comprising:

at least one instruction for preventing the application from accessing information on the server.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein a digital signature is generated for the geographic identifier.

27. A method for operating a server to protect an application from unauthorized operation, wherein the application will fail to operate on a device when the device is defined outside a selected operating region, the method comprising:

receiving the selected operating region for the application;

generating a geographic identifier based upon the selected region and the application, the geographic identifier configured to identify the selected operating region wherein the application will operate on the device;

transmitting the application and the geographic identifier associated with the application;

receiving a request to execute the application on the device, the request including the geographic identifier;

determining a current location of the device;

transmitting a code; and

preventing an execution of the application on the device, if the code is a disable code, the disable code indicating that the current location of the device is outside the selected operating region.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

allowing the execution of the application on the device if the code is an authorization code, the authorization code indicating that the current location of the device is within the selected operating region.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein a digital signature is generated for the geographic identifier.

30. A server operable to protect an application from unauthorized operation, wherein the application will fail to operate on a device when the device is defined outside a selected operating region, the server comprising:

means for receiving the selected operating region for the application;

means for generating a geographic identifier based upon the selected region and the application, the geographic identifier configured to identify the selected operating region wherein the application will operate on the device;

means for transmitting the application and the geographic identifier associated with the application;

means for receiving a request to execute the application on the device, the request including the geographic identifier;

means for determining a current location of the device;

means for transmitting a code;

means for preventing an execution of the application on the device, if the code is a disable code, the disable code indicating that the current location of the device is outside the selected operating region; and

means for allowing the execution of the application on the device, if the code is an authorization code, the authorization code indicating that the current location of the device is within the selected operating region.

31. The server of claim 30, wherein a digital signature is generated for the geographic identifier.