Ticket-Based Implementation of Content Leasing

• US 20100138903A1
• Filed: 12/03/2008
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Medvinsky, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 9,548,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/107 License processing; Key processing
• 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 63/0807 using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0822 using key encryption key
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/083 involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3213 using tickets or tokens, e.g. Kerberos network architectures or network communication protocols for entities authentication using tickets in a packet data network H04L63/0807

Abstract

The present invention is a method and system for accessing digital content stored on a computing device. An agreement between a subscriber and a content provider allows the subscriber to lease the digital content from the content provider, and download the digital content from a content server operated by the content provider. The method retrieves a service ticket for the computing device, and retrieves content rights for the digital content. The service ticket includes authorization data, and a session key, where the authorization data include authorized subscription services for the computing device. The content rights include required subscription services for the digital content and are delivered authenticated with the session key. The method allows access to the digital content when the authorized subscription services included with the authorization data match the required subscription services included with the content rights.

Claims

1. A method for accessing digital content stored on a computing device, comprising:

retrieving a service ticket for the computing device, the service ticket including authorization data that includes at least one authorized subscription service for the computing device, and a session key;

retrieving content rights for the digital content, wherein the content rights include at least one required subscription service for the digital content and are delivered authenticated with the session key; and

allowing access to the digital content when said at least one authorized subscription service included with the authorization data matches said at least one required subscription service included with the content rights,

wherein an agreement between a subscriber and a content provider allows the subscriber to lease the digital content from the content provider, and download the digital content from a content server operated by the content provider.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the retrieving of the service ticket further comprises:

sending a request for a ticket granting ticket to a key distribution center for the content server;

receiving the ticket granting ticket;

storing the ticket granting ticket on the computing device;

sending a request for the service ticket to the key distribution center;

receiving the service ticket;

receiving the authorization data;

storing the service ticket on the computing device; and

storing the authorization data on the computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the retrieving of the content rights further comprises:

sending a key request for the content rights to the content server, the key request including the service ticket and the authorization data;

receiving the content rights including content rights and a content key; and

storing the content rights on the computing device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein when the agreement between the subscriber and the content provider terminates, the allowing of access to the digital content further comprises:

reinstating the agreement between the subscriber and the content provider to allow the subscriber to lease the digital content from the content provider.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device communicates via a home network with a home key distribution center, further comprising:

sending a request for a home service ticket to the home key distribution center, the home service ticket including the authorization data; and

receiving the home service ticket including home authorization data that consolidates the authorization data from other computing devices that communicate with the home key distribution center.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the home key distribution center is a media server, the method further comprising:

sending a key request to the media server for the digital content; and

receiving a key reply that includes the content rights for the digital content,

wherein the computing device allows access to the digital content when said at least one require subscription service included with the content rights matches said at least one authorized subscription service included with the authorization data.

7. A system for accessing digital content stored on a computing device, comprising:

a memory device resident in the computing device; and

a processor disposed in communication with the memory device, the processor configured to;

retrieve a service ticket for the computing device, the service ticket including authorization data that includes at least one authorized subscription service for the computing device, and a session key;

retrieve content rights for the digital content, wherein the content rights include at least one required subscription service for the digital content and are delivered authenticated with the session key; and

allow access to the digital content when said at least one authorized subscription service included with the authorization data matches said at least one required subscription service included with the content rights,

wherein an agreement between a subscriber and a content provider allows the subscriber to lease the digital content from the content provider, and download the digital content from a content server operated by the content provider.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein to retrieve the service ticket, the processor is further configured to:

send a request for a ticket granting ticket to a key distribution center for the content server;

receive the ticket granting ticket;

store the ticket granting ticket on the computing device;

send a request for the service ticket to the key distribution center;

receive the service ticket;

receive the authorization data;

store the service ticket on the computing device; and

store the authorization data on the computing device.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein to retrieve the content rights, the processor is further configured to:

send a key request for the content rights to the content server, the key request including the service ticket and the authorization data;

receive the content rights including content rights and a content key; and

store the content rights on the computing device.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein when the agreement between the subscriber and the content provider terminates, to allow access to the digital content, the processor is further configured to:

reinstate the agreement between the subscriber and the content provider to allow the subscriber to lease the digital content from the content provider.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein when the computing device communicates via a home network with a home key distribution center, the processor is further configured to:

send a request for a home service ticket to the home key distribution center, the home service ticket including the authorization data; and

receive the home service ticket including home authorization data that consolidates the authorization data from other computing devices that communicate with the home key distribution center.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the home key distribution center is a media server, the processor is further configured to:

send a key request to the media server for the digital content; and

receive a key reply that includes the content rights for the digital content,

wherein the computing device allows access to the digital content when said at least one require subscription service included with the content rights matches said at least one authorized subscription service included with the authorization data.

13. A method for accessing digital content stored on at least one computing device, each computing device communicating via a home network with a home key distribution center, comprising:

retrieving a service ticket for said at least one computing device from the home key distribution center, the service ticket including authorization data that includes at least one authorized subscription service for the home key distribution center, and a session key;

retrieving content rights for the digital content from the home key distribution center, wherein the content rights include at least one required subscription service for the digital content and are delivered authenticated with the session key; and

allowing said at least one computing device to access to the digital content when said at least one authorized subscription service included with the authorization data matches said at least one required subscription service included with the content rights,

wherein an agreement between a subscriber and a content provider allows the subscriber to lease the digital content from the content provider, and download the digital content from a content server operated by the content provider.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the retrieving of the service ticket further comprises:

sending a request for the service ticket;

receiving the service ticket; and

storing the service ticket on the computing device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the retrieving of the content rights further comprises:

sending a request for the content rights;

receiving the content rights; and

storing the content rights on the computing device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein to retrieve the content rights, the method further comprises:

sending a request for the content rights from the home key distribution center to a DRM server associated with another content provider;

receiving the content rights, and said at least one required subscription service for the digital content; and

storing the content rights, and said at least one required subscription service for the digital content on the home key distribution center.

17. A system for accessing digital content stored on at least one computing device, each computing device communicating via a home network with a home key distribution center, comprising:

a memory device resident in said at least one computing device; and

a processor disposed in communication with the memory device, the processor configured to;

retrieve a service ticket for said at least one computing device from the home key distribution center, the service ticket including authorization data that includes at least one authorized subscription service for the home key distribution center, and a session key;

retrieve content rights for the digital content from the home key distribution center, wherein the content rights include at least one required subscription service for the digital content and are delivered authenticated with the session key; and

allow said at least one computing device to access to the digital content when said at least one authorized subscription service included with the authorization data matches said at least one required subscription service included with the content rights,

wherein an agreement between a subscriber and a content provider allows the subscriber to lease the digital content from the content provider, and download the digital content from a content server operated by the content provider.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein to retrieve the service ticket, the processor is further configured to:

send a request for the service ticket;

receive the service ticket; and

store the service ticket on the computing device.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein to retrieve the content rights, the processor is further configured to:

send a request for the content rights;

receive the content rights; and

store the content rights on the computing device.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein to retrieve the content rights, the processor is further configured to:

send a request for the content rights from the home key distribution center to a DRM server associated with another content provider;

receive the content rights, and said at least one required subscription service for the digital content; and

store the content rights, and said at least one required subscription service for the digital content on the home key distribution center.