Systems and methods for secure transaction management and electronic rights protection

• US 20090132815A1
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intertrust Technologies Corporation (Fidelio Acquisition Co LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intertrust Technologies Corporation (Fidelio Acquisition Co LLC)
• Inventors: Van Wie, David M., Ginter, Karl L., Spahn, Francis J., Shear, Victor H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,006,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/164
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/109 by using specially-adapted hardware at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/33 using certificates
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/71 to assure secure computing or processing of information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2151 Time stamp
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/023 the neutral party being a clearing house
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 : Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 : with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 : specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 : Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/306 : using TV related infrastructures external card used for payment with client device H04N21/4185
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/308 : using the Internet of Things
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/16 : Copy protection or prevention
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 : Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 : Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 : Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 : Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 : Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 : Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 : Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 : Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 : Intellectual property management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 : Electronic negotiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 : Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 : for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 : Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/60 : Digital content management, e.g. content distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 : applying security measures for digital rights management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 : applying security measure for e-commerce
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/103 : applying security measure for protecting copyright
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 : for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 : for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0435 : wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply symmetric encryption, i.e. same key used for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for symmetric key encryption H04L9/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 : wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 : using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 : using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 : Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 : received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/16 : Implementing security features at a particular protocol layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/168 : above the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 : for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/006 : involving public key infrastructure [PKI] trust models network architecture or network communication protocol for supporting authentication of entities using certificates in a packet data network H04L63/0823
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0819 : Key transport or distribution, i.e. key establishment techniques where one party creates or otherwise obtains a secret value, and securely transfers it to the other(s) network architectures or network communication protocols for key distribution in a packet data network H04L63/062
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0838 : Key agreement, i.e. key establishment technique in which a shared key is derived by parties as a function of information contributed by, or associated with, each of these network architectures or network communication protocols for key exchange in a packet data network H04L63/061
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0861 : Generation of secret information including derivation or calculation of cryptographic keys or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3218 : using proof of knowledge, e.g. Fiat-Shamir, GQ, Schnorr, ornon-interactive zero-knowledge proofs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 : involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3263 : involving certificates, e.g. public key certificate [PKC] or attribute certificate [AC]; Public key infrastructure [PKI] arrangements network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using certificates in a packet data network H04L63/0823
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91364 : the video signal being scrambled
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 : involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23476 : by partially encrypting, e.g. encrypting the ending portion of a movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 : Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 : Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 : Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 : Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2547 : Third Party Billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 : involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 : embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42646 : for reading from or writing on a non-volatile solid state storage medium, e.g. DVD, CD-ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 : by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 : Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 : Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 : involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 : Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 : OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 : for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 : Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 : involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 : Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/83555 : using a structured language for describing usage rules of the content, e.g. REL
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 : involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 : for scrambling ; for copy protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/162 : Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 : Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for secure transaction management and electronic rights protection. Electronic appliances such as computers equipped in accordance with the present invention help to ensure that information is accessed and used only in authorized ways, and maintain the integrity, availability, and/or confidentiality of the information. Such electronic appliances provide a distributed virtual distribution environment (VDE) that may enforce a secure chain of handling and control, for example, to control and/or meter or otherwise monitor use of electronically stored or disseminated information. Such a virtual distribution environment may be used to protect rights of various participants in electronic commerce and other electronic or electronic-facilitated transactions. Distributed and other operating systems, environments and architectures, such as, for example, those using tamper-resistant hardware-based processors, may establish security at each node. These techniques may be used to support an all-electronic information distribution, for example, utilizing the “electronic highway.”

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sending, via an electronic network, a request for a piece of electronic content to a remote site;

receiving, via the electronic network, first information regarding a first location at which a first portion of the piece of electronic content is located and second information regarding a second location at which a second portion of the piece of electronic content is located;

obtaining, via the electronic network, the first portion from the first location in a first secure electronic container;

obtaining the second portion from the second location in a second secure electronic container; and

using the piece of electronic content in accordance with control information associated therewith.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

combining the first portion and the second portion to form the piece of electronic content.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

downloading software from the remote site, the software being configured for use in performing the steps of obtaining the first portion, obtaining the second portion, and combining the first portion and the second portion.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

connecting to the remote site using browser software;

providing authentication information to the remote site;

browsing a content catalog, the content catalog including a reference to the first piece of electronic content.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

sending usage information to the remote site regarding use of the piece of electronic content.

6. A method performed by an electronic appliance, the method comprising:

receiving a secure electronic container comprising one or more content objects;

separately receiving first electronic control information configured for use in governing access to or other use of the one or more content objects, the first electronic control information comprising second control information specified by a first entity, and third control information specified by a second entity; and

using tamper-resistant hardware and/or software to make use of at least one of the one or more content objects in accordance with the first electronic control information, wherein the tamper-resistant hardware and/or software is resistant to tampering by a user of the electronic appliance.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving fourth electronic control information, the fourth electronic control information configured for use in governing access to or other use of the one or more content objects, the fourth electronic control information being specified by a third entity; and

selecting the first electronic control information over the fourth electronic control information to govern use of the one or more content objects.

8. The method of claim 6, in which the first electronic control information comprises an electronic object including permission information and an encrypted first key, the first key being configured to decrypt at least one of the one or more content objects.

9. The method of claim 8, in which a second key associated with the electronic appliance is configured for use in decrypting the first key.

10. The method of claim 6, in which the second control information comprises information specifying a quantity-based usage limitation, and in which the third control information comprises a time-based usage limitation.

11. A method performed by a first electronic appliance, the method comprising:

receiving first electronic control information configured for use in governing access to or other use of an electronic content object;

determining that the first electronic control information permits modifications to the first electronic control information to be made;

modifying the first electronic control information to yield second electronic control information; and

sending the second electronic control information to a second electronic appliance, the second electronic appliance comprising tamper-resistant hardware and/or software for enabling use of the electronic content object in accordance with electronic control information, the tamper-resistant hardware and/or software being resistant to tampering by users of the second electronic appliance.

12. The method of claim 11, in which the first electronic control information comprises an electronic object including an encrypted first key, the first key being configured to decrypt the electronic content object, the method further comprising:

decrypting the first key using a second key associated with the first electronic appliance;

encrypting the first key using a third key associated with the second electronic appliance and including the result in the second electronic control information.

13. The method of claim 11, in which the step of determining that the first electronic control information permits modifications to the first electronic control information to be made comprises determining that the first electronic control information requires modifications to the first electronic control information to be made.

14. The method of claim 12, in which the decrypting and encrypting steps are performed using a secure processing unit.

15. The method of claim 11, in which the first control information includes a first limitation relating to usage of the electronic content object, and in which the second control information includes a second, more restrictive limitation relating to usage of the electronic content object.

16. A method performed by an electronic appliance, the method comprising:

receiving an electronic content object;

receiving electronic control information configured for use in governing access to or other use of the electronic content object, the electronic control information comprising a first key associated with a first auditor and a second key associated with a second auditor, the electronic control information requiring audit information to be collected regarding at least one use of the electronic content object;

making the at least one use of the electronic content object in accordance with the control information;

collecting audit information regarding the at least one use of the electronic content object;

encrypting at least a first portion of the audit information using the first key; and

encrypting at least a second portion of the audit information using the second key;

wherein the electronic appliance comprises tamper-resistant hardware and/or software for governing use of the electronic content object in accordance with control information, the tamper-resistant hardware and/or software being resistant to tampering by users of the electronic appliance.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

sending the encrypted first portion and the encrypted second portion to a first clearinghouse, the first clearinghouse being operable to send the encrypted first portion to the first auditor and the encrypted second portion to the second auditor.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

sending the encrypted first portion and the encrypted second portion to the first auditor, the first auditor being operable to send the encrypted second portion to the second auditor.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving an acknowledgement that at least the first portion of the audit information was received by the first auditor; and

deleting, compressing, and/or summarizing a copy of the first portion of the audit information.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

modifying control information to reflect receipt of the acknowledgement.

21. A method comprising:

embedding, into an electronic container, a first piece of electronic content and first control information for use in governing access to or other use of the first piece of electronic content, the electronic container comprising at least a second piece of electronic content and second control information for use in governing access to or other use of the second piece of electronic content.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

embedding, into the electronic container, a third piece of electronic content and third control information for use in governing access to or other use of the third piece of electronic content.

23. The method of claim 21, in which the electronic container comprises third control information for use in governing access to or other use of the first piece of electronic content and the second piece of electronic content.

24. The method of claim 21, in which the first control information is configured to limit access to the first piece of electronic content to a first class of users.

25. The method of claim 21, in which the first control information comprises control information associated with viewing the first piece of electronic content and control information associated with editing the first piece of electronic content.