FLASH MEMORY DISTRIBUTION OF DIGITAL CONTENT

• US 20100205456A1
• Filed: 04/03/2009
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael W. Anderson, Rhyan Neble
• Original Assignee: Michael W. Anderson, Rhyan Neble
• Inventors: Anderson, Michael W., Neble, Rhyan
• Granted Patent: US 7,979,722 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/189
• 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 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• 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 21/78 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 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/80 in storage media based on magnetic or optical technology, e.g. disks with sectors preventing unauthorised reproduction or copying of disc-type recordable media G11B20/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2121 Chip on media, e.g. a disk or tape with a chip embedded in its case
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00275 the key being stored on a chip attached to the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00876 wherein physical copy protection means are attached to the medium, e.g. holograms, sensors, or additional semiconductor circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2537 Optical discs

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for distributing digital content. One embodiment comprises an apparatus comprising: a device (100) communications bus; coupled to the device communications bus (150), a bi-directional communications controller (110) capable of communicatively interfacing with a computer (710); coupled to the device communications bus (150), an integrated processor (130) capable of executing (270) computer-executable instructions; and coupled to the integrated processor (130), a storage module (140) capable of storing computer-executable instructions.

Claims

1. At least one computer-readable medium containing computer program instructions for securely distributing digital content, the computer program instructions performing the steps of:

coupling a nonvolatile memory device to a computer via a bi-directional data juncture wherein the nonvolatile memory device includes a security module inaccessible by the computer;

installing a device driver on the computer wherein the driver resides on the nonvolatile memory device in an unencrypted state and automatically interacts with the computer creating on the nonvolatile memory device a secure runtime environment independent of the computer;

establishing functional communications between the nonvolatile memory device and the computer;

accessing by the device driver, on the nonvolatile memory device, at least a portion of the digital content on the non-volatile memory device that is otherwise inaccessible by the computer via the security module; and

communicating at least a portion of the digital content to the computer through the bi-directional data juncture.

2. A method for securely distributing digital content, the method comprising:

maintaining at least two encrypted enumerated lists on a nonvolatile storage medium, wherein each encrypted enumerated list identically identifies a location of digital content stored on the nonvolatile storage medium;

associating an encryption key with each encrypted enumerated list, defining a first key associated with a first enumerated list and a second key associated with a second enumerated list;

establishing functional communications between the nonvolatile storage medium and a host computer;

receiving from the host computer at least one request for content associated with the lists via a device driver, wherein the device driver is interposed between the nonvolatile storage medium and the host computer;

accessing the first enumerated list;

accessing the first encryption key;

decrypting the first enumerated list with the first encryption key and caching decrypted contents associated with the first enumerated list;

generating a new first encryption key for the first enumerated list;

assigning a binary operator to the first enumerated list, wherein the binary operator associates the new first encryption key with the first enumerated list;

encrypting the first enumerated list with the new first encryption key; and

distributing decrypted contents associated with the first enumerated list to the host computer via the device driver subsequent to encrypting the first enumerated list with the new first encryption key.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein encrypting the first enumerated list with the new first encryption key occurs upon expiration of a predetermined period.

4. At least one computer-readable medium containing computer program instructions executable by a machine for securely distributing digital content, the computer program instructions performing the steps of:

maintaining at least two encrypted enumerated lists, wherein each encrypted enumerated list identically identifies a location of digital content stored on a storage medium;

associating an encryption key with each encrypted enumerated list, defining a first key associated with a first enumerated list and a second key associated with a second enumerated list;

establishing functional communications between the storage medium and a host computer via a drive letter independent distribution driver;

receiving at least one request for content associated with the lists;

accessing the first enumerated list;

accessing the first encryption key;

decrypting the first enumerated list with the first encryption key;

generating a new first encryption key for the first enumerated list;

assigning a binary operator to the first enumerated list, wherein the binary operator associates the new first encryption key with the first enumerated list;

encrypting the first enumerated list with the new first encryption key; and

distributing decrypted contents associated with the first enumerated list to the host computer via the drive letter independent distribution driver subsequent to encrypting the first enumerated list with the new first encryption key.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 4 wherein the computer program instruction further include encrypting the first enumerated list with the new first encryption key upon expiration of a predetermined period.

6. An device for secure distribution of digital content, the device comprising:

a storage medium to store encrypted digital content;

a security module coupled to the storage medium wherein the security module includes a key for use in decrypting the encrypted digital content stored on the storage medium; and

an antenna coupled to the security module for wirelessly communicating the key to a decryption module apart from the security module for use in delivering encrypted digital content stored on the storage medium to the decryption module and decrypting said encrypted digital content.