METHOD, SYSTEM AND SOFTWARE PRODUCT FOR TRANSFERRING CONTENT TO A REMOTE DEVICE

• US 20100228975A1
• Filed: 03/03/2008
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vividas Technologies Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Vividas Technologies Pty Limited
• Inventors: Lipka, Martin, Dubou, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 8,931,105 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1066 Hiding content
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/107 License processing; Key processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/12 Protecting executable software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for transferring content to a device, the method including the steps of: receiving a request for content from the device; delivering a uniquely identifiable, ephemeral player to the device; and transferring content to the device, for presentation on the device by the player. The invention has particular application to digital rights management in respect of the distribution of audiovisual content such as film and television programs, advertisements and live event broadcasts over communication networks such as the Internet.

Claims

1. A method for transferring content to a device, the method including the steps of:

receiving a request for content from the device;

delivering a uniquely identifiable, ephemeral player to the device; and

transferring content to the device, for presentation on the device by the player.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of delivering a uniquely identifiable ephemeral player comprises:

including a unique identifier in player code that is executable on the device to produce the player; and

delivering the player code to the device.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the unique identifier comprises a session key.

4. A method according to claim 3 including the steps of:

storing the session key; and

validating content requests from the device against the stored key.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the step of validating content requests against the stored key comprises attempting to decrypt the content request using the stored key.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein the player code comprises one or more libraries that are delivered to the device for operable interaction with one or more graphics systems associated with the device'"'"'s operating system, the libraries being generated by linking one or more object code files that are adapted to execute in the device'"'"'s native operating system, and wherein the unique identifier is included in the player code by incorporation into the object code files, whilst or before those files are linked into the libraries.

7. A method according to claim 1, including the step of delivering a loader to the device prior to the step of delivering the player, the loader being configured to:

request permission to execute code in the device'"'"'s operating system;

request delivery of the player in the event that permission is granted; and

directly load the player into memory of the device for execution.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the loader has a predetermined expiry time and wherein playback session requests made outside of the expiry time need not be fulfilled.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the loader is a byte code compiled program, such as a Java applet.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein the unique identifier is incorporated into a location within the library that is known to the loader.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transferring content to the device comprises:

dividing the content into segments; and

continually delivering segments of content in response to individual requests for content from the device.

12. A method according to claim 11, including the step of encrypting each content segment with an encryption key specified in the request for content.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein each said encryption key is unique.

14. A secure content delivery system comprising:

a content server; and

one or more devices communicatively coupled to the content server via a communications network,

wherein the content server is configured to deliver a uniquely identifiable and ephemeral player to a device in response to each individual playback session request from the device.

15. A system according to claim 14 wherein the content server includes means for generating unique player code that is executable on the or each device to produce the uniquely identifiable and ephemeral player.

16. A system according to claim 14, wherein the means for generating the unique player code comprises means for including a unique identifier in player code.

17. A system according to claim 16 wherein the unique identifier comprises a session key.

18. A system according to claim 16, wherein the player code comprises one or more libraries that operatively interact with one or more graphics systems associated with the device'"'"'s operating system, the libraries being generated by linking one or more object code files that are adapted to execute in the device'"'"'s native operating system, and wherein the unique identifier is included in the player code by incorporation into the object code files, whilst or before those files are linked into the libraries.

19. A system according to claim 14, wherein the content server includes means for delivering a loader to the device prior to delivering the player, the loader being configured to:

request permission for execution of code in the device'"'"'s native operating system;

request delivery of the player in the event that permission is granted; and

directly load the player into main memory of the device for execution.

20. A software product executable on a content server and adapted to deliver a uniquely identifiable and ephemeral player to a device in response to each individual playback session requested from the device.