METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GAP BASED ANTI-PIRACY

• US 20100186095A1
• Filed: 01/20/2009
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Alkove, James M., Schnell, Patrik, Turkstra, Chris M., McMichael, Lonny Dean, Leyvand, Tommer, Ray, Kenneth D
• Application Number:
  US12/356,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20100186095A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1083 Partial license transfers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/603 Digital right managament [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/76 Proxy, i.e. using intermediary entity to perform cryptographic operations network architectures or network communication protocols using hop-by-hop encryption H04L63/0464
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3236 using cryptographic hash functions

Abstract

In order to achieve a more robust level of piracy protection, a gap protection scheme is utilized. This protection scheme may utilize the notion of a gap, which may comprise any entity or component that is withheld from a distribution that is required in order to run or execute a software title or is required in order to play and enjoy any other type of protected asset.

Claims

1. A method for controlling piracy of an asset comprising:

generating a gap by factoring out of the asset functionality which is required to use the asset;

receiving an indication that the asset is attempting to gain access to or use the gap;

allowing access to the gap when a user is authorized to access the asset; and

restricting access to the gap when the user is not authorized to access the asset.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is received through a gate that controls access to the gap and/or functionality enabled within the gap.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the gap comprises functionality that is tied to a specific instance of the asset.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the asset is a software title.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the gap comprises functionality that is title specific.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the gap is separate software.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the separate software is protected by a security processor and is run as proxy executed code.

8. A system for controlling piracy of an asset comprising:

a gap generated by factoring out of the asset functionality which is required to use the asset; and

a processor operative to execute instructions comprising;

receiving an indication that the asset is attempting to gain access to or use the gap;

allowing access to the gap when a user is authorized to access the asset; and

restricting access to the gap when the user is not authorized to access the asset.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the indication is received through a gate that controls access to the gap and/or functionality enabled within the gap.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the asset is a software title.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the gap comprises functionality that is title specific.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the gap is separate software.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the separate software is protected by a security processor and is run as proxy executed code.

14. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions comprising:

generating a gap by factoring out of the asset functionality which is required to use the asset;

receiving an indication that the asset is attempting to gain access to or use the gap;

allowing access to the gap when a user is authorized to access the asset; and

restricting access to the gap when the user is not authorized to access the asset.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the indication is received through a gate that controls access to the gap and/or functionality enabled within the gap.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the gap comprises functionality that is tied to a specific instance of the asset.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the asset is a software title.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the gap comprises functionality that is title specific.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the gap is separate software.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the separate software is protected by a security processor and is run as proxy executed code.