Multiple DRM management

• US 20070208668A1
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Candelore, Brant
• Granted Patent: US 7,555,464 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/603 Digital right managament [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0485 Networking architectures for enhanced packet encryption processing, e.g. offloading of IPsec packet processing or efficient security association look-up
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/083 involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP]

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for enabling a single assembly of content to be played on a plurality of player devices, each having at least one available digital rights management (DRM) algorithm involves registering a plurality of player devices associated with a client with a database registry, wherein each of the plurality of player devices is enabled to play content using at least one (DRM) algorithm when an appropriate license has been secured; upon registering the plurality of player devices, registering the one or more associated DRM algorithms with each player device; upon receipt of a request for delivery of specified content to the client, searching the database registry for a list of compatible devices and compatible DRM algorithms for the content; obtaining a plurality of licenses to the content, at least one for each DRM algorithm for the player devices associated with the client; obtaining the content from a content provider; and encrypting the content under each of the DRM algorithms to produce multiple DRM selectively encrypted content, wherein, the unencrypted segments of content are assembled together with each of the DRM encrypted duplicate selected segments to produce a single unified content assembly that can be played on any of the player devices. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Claims

9. A method for enabling a single assembly of content to be played on a plurality of player devices, each having at least one available digital rights management (DRM) algorithm, wherein the DRM algorithms for the player devices need not necessarily be the same, comprising:

registering a plurality of player devices associated with a client with a database registry, wherein each of the plurality of player devices is enabled to play content using at least one (DRM) algorithm when an appropriate license has been secured;

upon registering the plurality of player devices, registering the one or more associated DRM algorithms with each player device;

upon receipt of a request for delivery of specified content to the client, searching the database registry for a list of compatible devices and compatible DRM algorithms for the content;

obtaining a plurality of licenses to the content from at least one license server, at least one for each DRM algorithm for the player devices associated with the client;

obtaining the content from a content provider; and

at a DRM packager, encrypting the content under each of the DRM algorithms to produce multiple DRM selectively encrypted content, wherein the multiple DRM selectively encrypted content comprises;

segments of the specified content that are unencrypted, and

selected segments of the content which are duplicated to produce one copy of the selected content for each of the DRM algorithms with each duplicate copy of the selected segments encrypted under a different one of the DRM algorithms, and

wherein, the unencrypted segments of content are assembled together with each of the DRM encrypted duplicate selected segments to produce a single unified content assembly that can be played on any of the player devices;

the DRM packager electronically delivering the multiple DRM selective encrypted content directly to the client by either download or streaming.

10. A system for enabling a single assembly of content to be played on a plurality of player devices, each having at least one available digital rights management (DRM) algorithm, wherein the DRM algorithms for the player devices need not necessarily be the same, comprising:

a database that registers a plurality of player devices associated with a client with a database registry, wherein each of the plurality of player devices is enabled to play content using at least one (DRM) algorithm when an appropriate license has been secured;

the database further registering one or more associated DRM algorithms with each player device;

a transaction coordinator that, upon receipt of a request for delivery of specified content to the client, obtains from the database a list of compatible devices and compatible DRM algorithms for the ordered content;

the transaction coordinator further obtaining a plurality of licenses to the content, at least one for each DRM algorithm for the player devices associated with the client;

a content provider that provides the content; and

a DRM packager that encrypts the content under each of the DRM algorithms to produce multiple DRM selectively encrypted content, wherein the multiple DRM selectively encrypted content comprises;

segments of the specified content that are unencrypted, and

selected segments of the content which are duplicated to produce one copy of the selected content for each of the DRM algorithms with each duplicate copy of the selected segments encrypted under a different one of the DRM algorithms, and

wherein, the unencrypted segments of content are assembled together with each of the DRM encrypted duplicate selected segments to produce a single unified content assembly that can be played on any of the player devices.

11. The system according to claim 10, further comprising at least one licensing server that provides a plurality of licenses to the content to the transaction coordinator.

12. The system according to claim 10, further comprising means for delivering the multiple DRM selective encrypted content to the client.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the delivering of the content is by at least one of download, streaming or delivery of packaged media.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein the DRM packager delivers the multiple DRM selective encrypted content directly to the client.

15. The system according to claim 10, wherein the DRM packager delivers the multiple DRM selective encrypted content to the client via the transaction manager.

16. The system according to claim 10, wherein the database operates under control of the transaction manager.

17. The system according to claim 10, wherein the transaction manager, DRM packager and license server operate under control of the content provider.

18. The system according to claim 10, wherein the DRM packager operates under control of the content provider.

19. A system for enabling a single assembly of content to be played on a plurality of player devices, each having at least one available digital rights management (DRM) algorithm, wherein the DRM algorithms for the player devices need not necessarily be the same, comprising:

a database that registers a plurality of player devices associated with a client with a database registry, wherein each of the plurality of player devices is enabled to play content using at least one (DRM) algorithm when an appropriate license has been secured;

the database further registering one or more associated DRM algorithms with each player device;

a transaction coordinator that, upon receipt of a request for delivery of specified content to the client, obtains from the database a list of compatible devices and compatible DRM algorithms for the ordered content;

the transaction coordinator further obtaining a plurality of licenses to the content, at least one for each DRM algorithm for the player devices associated with the client;

a content provider that provides the content; and

a DRM packager that encrypts the content under each of the DRM algorithms to produce multiple DRM selectively encrypted content, wherein the multiple DRM selectively encrypted content comprises;

segments of the specified content that are unencrypted, and

selected segments of the content which are duplicated to produce one copy of the selected content for each of the DRM algorithms with each duplicate copy of the selected segments encrypted under a different one of the DRM algorithms, and

wherein, the unencrypted segments of content are assembled together with each of the DRM encrypted duplicate selected segments to produce a single unified content assembly that can be played on any of the player devices;

at least one licensing server that provides a plurality of licenses to the content to the transaction coordinator;

means for delivering the multiple DRM selective encrypted content to the client by at least one of download, streaming or delivery of packaged media.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the DRM packager delivers the multiple DRM selective encrypted content directly to the client.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein the DRM packager delivers the multiple DRM selective encrypted content to the client via the transaction manager.

22. The system according to claim 19, wherein the database operates under control of the transaction manager.

23. The system according to claim 19, wherein the transaction manager, DRM packager and license server operate under control of the content provider.

24. The system according to claim 19, wherein the DRM packager operates under control of the content provider.

25. A method for enabling a single assembly of content to be played on a plurality of player devices, each having at least one available digital rights management (DRM) algorithm, wherein the DRM algorithms for the player devices need not necessarily be the same, comprising:

registering a plurality of player devices associated with a client with a database registry, wherein each of the plurality of player devices is enabled to play content using at least one (DRM) algorithm when an appropriate license has been secured;

upon registering the plurality of player devices, registering the one or more associated DRM algorithms with each player device;

upon receipt of a request for delivery of specified content to the client, searching the database registry for a list of compatible devices and compatible DRM algorithms for the content;

obtaining a plurality of licenses to the content, at least one for each DRM algorithm for the player devices associated with the client;

obtaining the content from a content provider;

obtaining a shared key from a key generator for the one or more DRM algorithms; and

encrypting the content under each of the DRM algorithms using the shared key to produce encrypted content.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising delivering the encrypted content to the client.

28. The method according to claim 25, wherein the plurality of licenses are obtained from at least one licensing server.

29. The method according to claim 25, wherein the encrypted content is delivered to the client via a transaction manager.

30. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor, carry out a process according to claim 25.

31. A system for enabling a single assembly of content to be played on a plurality of player devices, each having at least one available digital rights management (DRM) algorithm, wherein the DRM algorithms for the player devices need not necessarily be the same, comprising:

a database that registers a plurality of player devices associated with a client with a database registry, wherein each of the plurality of player devices is enabled to play content using at least one (DRM) algorithm when an appropriate license has been secured;

the database further registering one or more associated DRM algorithms with each player device;

a transaction coordinator that, upon receipt of a request for delivery of specified content to the client, obtains from the database a list of compatible devices and compatible DRM algorithms for the ordered content;

the transaction coordinator further obtaining a plurality of licenses to the content, at least one for each DRM algorithm for the player devices associated with the client;

a content provider that provides the content;

a key generator that generates a key shared among the DRM algorithms; and

a DRM packager that encrypts the content using a key shared among the DRM algorithms to produce encrypted content.

32. The system according to claim 31, further comprising at least one licensing server that provides a plurality of licenses to the content to the transaction coordinator.

33. The system according to claim 31, further comprising means for delivering the encrypted content to the client.

34. The system according to claim 31, wherein the DRM packager delivers the encrypted content directly to the client.

35. The system according to claim 31, wherein the DRM packager delivers the encrypted content to the client via the transaction manager.

36. The system according to claim 31, wherein the database operates under control of the transaction manager.

37. The system according to claim 31, wherein the transaction manager, DRM packager and license server operate under control of the content provider.

38. The system according to claim 31, wherein the DRM packager operates under control of the content provider.

39. A transaction manager, comprising:

means for storing information in a database that registers a plurality of player devices associated with a client in a database, wherein each of the plurality of player devices is enabled to play content using at least one (DRM) algorithm when an appropriate license has been secured;

means for storing in the database one or more associated DRM algorithms with each said player device; and

means for determining one or more compatible DRM algorithm associated with the client'"'"'s player device from the database, upon receipt of a request for delivery of content to the client.

40. The transaction manager according to claim 39, further comprising means for obtaining a plurality of licenses to the content, at least one for each DRM algorithm for a plurality of player devices associated with the client.

41. The transaction manager according to claim 39, further comprising means for arranging delivery of the content requested for delivery by the user from a content provider.

43. The transaction manager according to claim 39, wherein the database operates under control of the transaction manager.

44. The transaction manager according to claim 39, wherein the transaction manager, DRM packager and license server operate under control of the content provider.

42-1. The transaction manager according to claim 42, wherein the encrypted content comprises multiple DRM selectively encrypted content which comprises:

segments of the specified content that are unencrypted, and

selected segments of the content which are duplicated to produce one copy of the selected content for each of the DRM algorithms with each duplicate copy of the selected segments encrypted under a different one of the DRM algorithms, and

wherein, the unencrypted segments of content are assembled together with each of the DRM encrypted duplicate selected segments to produce a single unified content assembly that can be played on any of the player devices;

at least one licensing server that provides a plurality of licenses to the content to the transaction coordinator;

means for delivering the multiple DRM selective encrypted content to the client by at least one of download, streaming or delivery of packaged media.

45. A DRM registry, comprising:

means for receiving information relating a plurality of player devices associated with a client and storing the information in a database;

means for determining which of one or more DRM algorithms can be used with each of the player devices and storing the information in the database; and

means for retrieval of the one or more DRM algorithms associated with one or more player devices upon receipt of an inquiry.

46. The DRM registry according to claim 45, further comprising a transaction coordinator that, upon receipt of a request for delivery of specified content to the client, issues a query to the database to obtain from the database a list of compatible devices and compatible DRM algorithms for the ordered content.

47. A DRM packager, comprising:

means for receipt of licensing information including a plurality of encryption keys for a corresponding plurality of DRM encryption algorithms;

means for receipt of content from a content provider;

an encrypter that encrypts the content under each of the plurality of DRM algorithms to produce multiple DRM selectively encrypted content, wherein the multiple DRM selectively encrypted content comprises;

segments of the specified content that are unencrypted, and

selected segments of the content which are duplicated to produce one copy of the selected content for each of the DRM algorithms with each duplicate copy of the selected segments encrypted under a different one of the DRM algorithms, and

wherein, the unencrypted segments of content are assembled together with each of the DRM encrypted duplicate selected segments to produce a single unified content assembly that can be played on any of the player devices,

48. The DRM packager according to claim 47, wherein at least one licensing server provides the license information to the DRM packager.

49. The DRM packager according to claim 47, further comprising means for delivering the multiple DRM selective encrypted content to a client by at least one of download, streaming or delivery of packaged media, and means for delivering a key package to the client.

50. The system according to claim 49, wherein the DRM packager delivers the multiple DRM selective encrypted content directly to a client.

51. The system according to claim 49, wherein the DRM packager delivers the multiple DRM selective encrypted content to the client via a transaction manager.