Removable content repositories

• US 6,865,551 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. (Pendrell Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. (Pendrell Corporation)
• Inventors: Pirolli, Peter L. T., Stefik, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abdi, Kambiz
• Application Number:
  US10/401,887
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 705 50- 59, 380200-204, 713200-201
• US Class Current: 705/51
• 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 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2115 Third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/146 using digital cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1496 involving discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0464 using hop-by-hop encryption, i.e. wherein an intermediate entity decrypts the information and re-encrypts it before forwarding it
• 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 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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 21/835 : Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10

Abstract

A repository for storing digital works and controlling the use of digital works in accordance with usage rights associated with the digital works and including a manner of use for the digital work. The repository receives requests for digital works and determines whether a request for a digital work should be granted based on usage rights associated with the digital work. The repository can include a device for storing digital works. The device can be a removable storage device. Alternatively, the entire repository can be removable.

Claims

1. A repository for storing digital works and controlling the use of digital works in accordance with usage rights associated with the digital works and including a manner of use for the digital work, said repository comprising:

means for receiving requests for digital works;

means for determining whether a request for a digital work should be granted based on usage rights associated with the digital work;

means for storing digital works, said means for storing comprising a removable storage device;

an identification certificate associated with said repository;

wherein said means for determining determines whether a manner of use specified in the request corresponds to a manner of use included in the usage rights and grants the request if the manner of use specified in the request corresponds to a manner of use included in the usage rights,

said means for storing stores a contents file of a digital work and description tree file including usage rights associated with the digital work,

the contents file is stored on said removable storage device,

the description tree file is stored on said removable storage device,

use of said digital work in accordance to said usage rights is subject to fulfillment of a condition, and

said condition is that said removable storage device is determined to be an authorized device.

2. A repository as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for receiving is operative to receive requests generated by a requester repository.

3. A repository as recited in claim 1, further comprising a secure housing in which said means for determining and said means for storing are contained.

4. A repository as recited in claim 1, wherein said removable storage device is a repository.

5. A repository as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for determining comprises software instructions executed by a processor.

6. A repository as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for determining comprises an ASIC chip.

7. A repository as recited in claim 1, wherein the manner of use specifies a specific instance of how the digital work may be used.

8. A repository as recited in claim 7 wherein the usage rights include at least one condition that must be satisfied to exercise the manner of use.

9. A repository as recited in claim 8, wherein said means for determining determines if the at least one condition is satisfied.

10. A repository as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for assigning the usage rights to content of the digital work.

11. A repository as recited in claim 1, wherein the digital work is a composite work comprising plural components.

12. A repository as recited in claim 11, wherein the components are stored in different memory locations.

13. A repository as recited in claim 12, wherein, at least some of the components have distinct usage rights associated therewith.

14. A repository as recited in claim 13, wherein the usage rights are created from a usage rights language.

15. A repository as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for determining comprises means for accomplishing one or more transactions with respect to a computer program.

16. A repository as recited in claim 15, wherein said means for accomplishing comprises means for accomplishing at least one of copy, transfer, loan, play, print, backup, restore, delete, directory, folder, extract, embed, edit, authorization, install, and uninstall transactions.

17. A repository as recited in claim 1, wherein the usage rights are expressed by a grammar.

18. A repository as recited in claim 1, wherein the usage rights are stored in said repository.

19. A repository as recited in claim 15, wherein said means for accomplishing comprises means for accomplishing session initiation transactions.

20. A repository as recited in claim 15, wherein, wherein said means for accomplishing comprises means for accomplishing registration transactions.

21. A repository as recited in claim 19, wherein said means for accomplishing further comprises means for establishing secure and trusted communication.

22. A repository as recited in claim 15, wherein said means for accomplishing comprises means for accomplishing a billing transaction.

23. A repository as recited in claim 22, wherein the billing transaction is based on use of the digital work.

24. A repository as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for storing comprises a master repository.

25. A repository as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for using encryption schemes for protecting the digital works.

26. A repository as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for disabling said repository is security if compromised.

27. A repository as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for determining comprises at least one microprocessor.

28. A repository as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for determining comprises at least one of ROM and RAM.

29. A repository as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for storing comprises a solid state storage.

30. A repository as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for storing comprises an optical disk.

31. A repository as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for determining comprises a clock.

32. A repository as recited in claim 31, wherein said means for determining comprises means for time stamping.

33. A repository as recited in claim 1, further comprising an uninterruptible power supply.

34. A repository as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for providing network connectivity.

35. A repository as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for determining comprises an operating system.

36. A repository as recited in claim 1, wherein one of plural security levels is assigned to said repository.

37. A repository as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for detecting tampering and reporting tampering to a remote system.

38. A repository as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for erasing designated content of digital works if tampering is detected.

39. A repository as recited in claim 1, further comprising security sensors for detecting tampering.

40. A repository as recited in claim 38, further comprising means for saving digital work description records of history if tampering is detected.

41. A repository as recited in claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface for allowing a user to interact with the repository.

42. A repository as recited in claim 1, wherein said repository is embedded in another device.

43. A repository as recited in claim 42, wherein said another device is a card.

44. A repository as recited in claim 41, wherein said user interface comprises at least one of a display, a keyboard, and a cursor control device.

45. A repository as recited in claim 1, wherein said repository is a handheld device.

46. A repository as recited in claim 1, further comprising a rendering device.

47. A repository as recited in claim 46, wherein said rendering device comprises at least one of means for printing content of digital works and means for displaying content of digital works.

63. The removable repository as recited in claim 24, wherein said means for determining comprises means for accomplishing one or more transactions with respect to a computer program.

67. The removable repository as recited in claim 63, wherein said means for accomplishing includes means for accomplishing session initiation transactions.

68. The removable repository as recited in claim 63, wherein, said means for accomplishing includes means for accomplishing registration transactions.

69. The removable repository as recited in claim 67, wherein said means for accomplishing further includes means for establishing secure and trusted communication.

70. The removable repository as recited in claim 63, wherein said means for accomplishing transactions comprises means for accomplishing a billing transaction.

71. The removable repository as recited in claim 70, wherein the billing transaction is based on use of the digital work.

96. A repository as recited in claim 1, wherein said removable storage device comprises an optical disk.

97. A repository as recited in claim 96, wherein said usage rights are stored on said optical disk.

98. A repository as recited in claim 1, wherein said removable storage device comprises an optical disk.

100. A repository as recited in claim 98, wherein said usage rights are stored on said optical disk.

48. A removable repository for storing digital works and controlling the use of digital works in accordance with usage rights associated with the digital works, said removable repository comprising:

a housing;

means for receiving requests for digital works;

means for determining whether a request for a digital work should be granted based on usage rights associated with the digital work;

means for storing digital works; and

an identification certificate associated with said repository,

wherein said means for determining determines whether a manner of use specified in the request corresponds to a manner of use included in the usage rights and grants the request if the manner of use specified in the request corresponds to a manner of use included in the usage rights,

said means for storing stores a contents file of a digital work and description tree file including usage rights associated with the content,

the contents file is stored on a removable storage device,

the description tree file is stored on a removable storage device,

said digital work in accordance to said usage rights is subject to fulfillment of a condition, and

said condition is that said means for storing digital works is determined to be an authorized device.

49. The removable repository as recited in claim 48, wherein said means for receiving comprises an interface adapted to be inserted into a slot of a computer system.

50. The removable repository as recited in claim 49, wherein the slot is a PCMCIA slot.

51. The removable repository as recited in claim 48, wherein the housing is in the form of a card.

52. The removable repository as recited in claim 48, wherein said means for receiving is operative to receive requests generated by a requester repository.

53. The removable repository as recited in claim 48, wherein said means for determining comprises software instructions executed by a processor.

54. The removable repository as recited in claim 48, wherein said means for determining comprises an ASIC chip.

55. The removable repository as recited in claim 48, wherein the usage rights include a manner of use specifying a specific instance of how the digital work may be used.

56. The removable repository as recited in claim 55, wherein the usage rights include at least one condition that must be satisfied to exercise the manner of use.

57. The removable repository as recited in claim 56, wherein said means for determining determines if the at least one condition is satisfied.

58. The removable repository as recited in claim 48, further comprising means for assigning the usage rights to content of the digital work.

59. The removable repository as recited in claim 48, wherein the digital work is a composite work comprising plural components.

60. The removable repository as recited in claim 59, wherein the components are stored in different memory locations.

61. The removable repository as recited in claim 60, wherein, wherein at least some of the components have distinct usage rights associated therewith.

62. The removable repository as recited in claim 48, wherein the usage rights are created from a usage rights language.

64. The removable repository as recited in claim 48, wherein said means for accomplishing comprises means for accomplishing at least one of copy, transfer, loan, play, print, backup, restore, delete, directory, folder, extract, embed, edit, authorization, install, and uninstall transactions.

65. The removable repository as recited in claim 48, wherein the usage rights are expressed by a grammar.

66. The removable repository as recited in claim 48, wherein the usage rights are stored in said repository.

72. A repository as recited in claim 48, wherein said means for storing comprises a master repository.

73. A repository as recited in claim 48, wherein said repository uses encryption schemes for protecting the digital works.

74. A repository as recited in claim 48, further comprising means for disabling said repository if security is compromised.

75. A repository as recited in claim 48, wherein said means for determining comprises at least one microprocessor.

76. A repository as recited in claim 48, wherein said means for determining comprises at least one of ROM and RAM.

77. A repository as recited in claim 48, wherein said means for storing comprises a solid state storage.

78. A repository as recited in claim 48, wherein said means for storing comprises an optical disk.

79. A repository as recited in claim 48, wherein said means for determining comprises a clock.

80. A repository as recited in claim 79, wherein said means for determining comprises means for time stamping.

81. A repository as recited in claim 48, further comprising an uninterruptible power supply.

82. A repository as recited in claim 48, further comprising means for providing network connectivity.

83. A repository as recited in claim 48, wherein said means for determining comprises an operating system.

84. A repository as recited in claim 48, wherein one of plural security levels is assigned to said repository.

85. A repository as recited in claim 48, further comprising means for detecting tampering and reporting tampering to a remote system.

86. A repository as recited in claim 48, further comprising means for erasing designated content of digital works if tampering is detected.

87. A repository as recited in claim 48, further comprising security sensors for detecting tampering.

88. A repository as recited in claim 86, further comprising means for saving digital work description records of history if tampering is detected.

89. A repository as recited in claim 48, further comprising a graphical user interface for allowing a user to interact with the repository.

90. A repository as recited in claim 48, wherein said repository is embedded in another device.

91. A repository as recited in claim 90, wherein said another device is a card.

92. A repository as recited in claim 89, wherein said user interface comprises at least one of a display, a keyboard, and a cursor control device.

93. A repository as recited in claim 48, wherein said repository is a handheld device.

94. A repository as recited in claim 48, further comprising a rendering device.

95. A repository as recited in claim 94, wherein said rendering device comprises at least one of means for printing content of digital works and means for displaying content of digital works.

99. A repository as recited in claim 48, wherein said means for storing digital works comprises an optical disk.