Content distribution for multiple digital rights management

• US 7,120,250 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Candelore, Brant L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Hosuk
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, THANHNGA B
• Application Number:
  US10/318,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20040049694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 713/200, 713/168, 380/23, 380/21, 380/281, 380/284, 380200-201, 726/3, 705/52, 358/1.15, 725/31
• US Class Current: 380/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91364 the video signal being scrambled
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234345 the reformatting operation being performed only on part of the stream, e.g. a region of the image or a time segment
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23476 by partially encrypting, e.g. encrypting the ending portion of a movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/236 Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream multiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/238 Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for downstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26606 for generating or managing entitlement messages, e.g. Entitlement Control Message [ECM] or Entitlement Management Message [EMM] arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services H04H60/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43607 Interfacing a plurality of external cards, e.g. through a DVB Common Interface [DVB-CI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440245 the reformatting operation being performed only on part of the stream, e.g. a region of the image or a time segment
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440281 by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. by frame skipping television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44055 by partially decrypting, e.g. decrypting a video stream that has been partially encrypted
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 : Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4623 : Processing of entitlement messages, e.g. ECM [Entitlement Control Message] or EMM [Entitlement Management Message] arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services H04H60/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63345 : by transmitting keys key distribution for secret or secure communication H04L9/08; network support of key management H04L63/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 : involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 : Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 : for scrambling ; for copy protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 : Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 : Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/52 : Systems for transmission of a pulse code modulated video signal with one or more other pulse code modulated signals, e.g. an audio signal or a synchronizing signal assembling of a multiplex stream by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, assembling of a packetised elementary stream at server side H04N21/236; disassembling of a multiplex stream, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, extraction or processing of Service Information, disassembling of packetised elementary stream at client side H04N21/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7925 : for more than one standard

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enabling use of multiple digital rights management scenarios (DRM). Unencrypted data representing digital content is examined to identify at least segments of content for encryption. The identified segments of content are duplicated and then encrypted using a first encryption method associated with a first DRM to produce first encrypted segments. Duplicates are encrypted using a second encryption method associated with a second DRM to produce second encrypted segments. A set of pointers are generated that point to the first and second encrypted segments content. A file is then created containing first and second encrypted segments of content, pointers and unencrypted content along with DRM rights data to produce a selectively encrypted multiple DRM enabled file.

Claims

1. A method of enabling use of multiple digital rights management scenarios (DRM), comprising the following sequence of operations:

examining unencrypted data representing digital content to identify segments of the unencrypted data for encryption;

duplicating the segments of data to produce first and second copies of the identified segments of data;

after duplicating the identified segments of data, encrypting the first copy of the identified segments of data using a first encryption method associated with a first DRM to produce first encrypted segments;

after duplicating the identified segments of content, encrypting the second copy of the identified segments of content using a second encryption method associated with a second DRM to produce second encrypted segments;

generating first pointers that point to locations of the first encrypted segments;

generating second pointers that point to locations of the second encrypted segments; and

after producing the first and second encrypted segments, replacing the identified segments of data with both the first encrypted segments and the second encrypted segments in the digital content; and

after generating the first and second pointers, inserting both the first and second pointers to produce a partially encrypted dual DRM enabled file, wherein the segments identified for encryption comprise only a portion of the total segments that make up the digital content, and wherein segments that are not identified for encryption remain unencrypted in the partially encrypted dual DRM enabled file.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content comprises digitized audio.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content comprises digitized video.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising appending data to enable digital rights under the first DRM to the file.

5. The method according to claim. 1, further comprising appending data to enable digital rights under the second DRM to the file.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second pointers comprise byte offsets identifying a starting location for encrypted segments.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second encrypted segments have a duration defined by an encryption quanta.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising appending data to enable digital rights under at least one of the first DRM and the second DRM to the file;

and transmitting the file to a customer.

9. A computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor, carry out the method of method of enabling use of multiple digital rights management scenarios according to claim 1.

10. An encoder that enables use of multiple digital rights management scenarios (DRM), comprising:

means for examining unencrypted data representing digital content to identify segments of the unencrypted data for encryption;

means for duplicating the segments of data to produce first and second copies of the identified segments of data;

a first encrypter that encrypts the first copy of the identified segments of data using a first encryption method associated with a first DRM to produce first encrypted segments;

a second encrypter that encrypts the second copy of the identified segments of

duplicating the segments of data to produce first and second copies of the identified segments of data;

using a second encryption method associated with a second DRM to produce second encrypted segments;

means for generating first pointers that point to locations of the first encrypted segments;

means for generating second pointers that point to locations of the second encrypted segments; and

means for replacing the identified segments with both the first encrypted segments and the second encrypted segments in the digital content, and inserting both the first and second pointers to produce a partially encrypted dual DRM enabled file, wherein the segments identified for encryption comprise only a portion of the total segments that make up the digital content, and wherein segments that are not identified for encryption remain unencrypted in the partially encrypted dual DRM enabled file.

11. The encoder according to claim 10, wherein the content comprises at least one of digitized audio and digitized video.

12. The encoder according to claim 10, further comprising means for appending data to enable digital rights under at least one of the first DRM and the second DRM to the file.

13. The encoder according to claim 10, wherein the first and second pointers comprise byte offsets identifying a starting location for encrypted segments of content.

14. The encoder according to claim 10, wherein the first and second encrypted segments of content have a duration defined by an encryption quanta.

15. The encoder according to claim 10, further comprising appending data to enable digital rights under at least one of the first DRM and the second DRM to the file;

and transmitting the file to a customer.

16. The encoder according to claim 10, implemented in a programmed general purpose computer.

17. A method of using rights to digital content under one of a plurality of digital rights management scenarios (DRM), comprising:

carrying out a transaction to acquire digital rights to the digital content;

after carrying out the transaction, receiving the digital content containing;

segments of unencrypted data;

first encrypted segments of selected data encrypted using a first encryption method associated with a first DRM;

second encrypted segments of said selected data encrypted using a second encryption method associated with a second DRM, whereby the same selected data are separately encrypted using two different encryption methods associated with two different DRMs, and wherein the first and second encrypted segments both represent said selected data when not encrypted;

first pointers that point to locations of the first encrypted segments of said selected data;

second pointers that point to locations of the second encrypted segments of said selected data; and

DRM data that enables digital rights under at least one of the first DRM and the second DRM;

wherein the first and second pointers comprise bytes offsets identifying a starting location for encrypted segments of said selected data;

after receiving the digital content, determining that valid digital rights are available from the DRM data; and

after detecting that valid digital rights are available, decrypting one of the first and second encrypted segments of said selected data to enable playing of the content.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the content comprises at least one of digitized audio and digitized video.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the first and second encrypted segments of said selected data have a duration defined by an encryption quanta.

20. A computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor, carry out the method of using rights to digital content according to claim 17.

21. A decrypter that enables use rights to digital content under one of a plurality of digital rights management scenarios (DRM), comprising:

means for carrying out a transaction to acquire digital rights to the content;

means for receiving digital content containing;

segments of unencrypted data,

first encrypted segments of selected data encrypted using a first encryption method associated with a first DRM;

second encrypted segments of said selected data encrypted using a second encryption method associated with a second DRM, whereby the same selected data are separately encrypted using two different encryption methods associated with two different DRMs, and wherein the first and second encrypted segments both represent said selected data when not encrypted;

first pointers that point to locations of the first encrypted segments of said selected data;

second pointers that point to locations of the second encrypted segments of said selected data; and

DRM data that enables digital rights under at least one of the first DRM and the second DRM;

wherein the first and second pointers comprise bytes offsets identifying a starting location for encrypted segments of said selected data;

a DRM validator that determines that valid digital rights are available from the DRMdata; and

a decrypter that decrypts one of the encrypted segments of said selected data to enable playing the content.

22. The decrypter according to claim 21, wherein the content comprises at least one of digitized audio and digitized video.

23. The decrypter according to claim 21, wherein the first and second encrypted segments of said selected data have a duration defined by an encryption quanta.

24. The decrypter according to claim 21, implemented in a programmed general purpose computer.

25. A selectively encrypted digital content signal that enables use of multiple digital rights management scenarios (DRM) embodied as code stored in a storage medium, comprising:

segments of unencrypted data;

first encrypted segments of selected data encrypted using a first encryption method associated with a first DRM;

second encrypted segments of said selected data encrypted using a second encryption method associated with a second DRM, whereby the same selected data are separately encrypted using two different encryption methods associated with two different DRMS, and wherein the first and second encrypted segments both represent said selected data when not encrypted;

a first segment of code comprising first pointers that point to locations of the first encrypted segments of said selected data;

a second segment of code comprising second pointers that point to locations of the second encrypted segments of said selected data;

wherein the first and second pointers comprise bytes offsets identifying a starting location for encrypted segments of said selected data; and

a segment of DRM data that enables digital right under at least one of the first DRM and the second DRM.

26. The carrier wave according to claim 25, wherein the content comprises at least one of digitized audio and digitized video.

27. The carrier wave according to claim 25, wherein the first and second encrypted segments of said selected data have a duration defined by an encryption quanta.

28. A selectively encrypted digital content signal that enables use of multiple digital rights management scenarios (DRM) embodied in a computer readable medium, comprising:

segments of unencrypted data;

first encrypted segments of selected data encrypted using a first encryption method associated with a first DRM;

second encrypted segments of said selected data encrypted using a second encryption method associated with a second DRM, whereby the same selected data are separately encrypted using two different encryption methods associated with two different DRMs, and wherein the first and second encrypted segments both represent said selected data when not encrypted;

a first segment of code comprising first pointers that point to locations of the first encrypted segments of said selected data;

wherein the first and second pointers comprise bytes offsets identifying a starting location for encrypted segments of said selected data; and

a second segment of code comprising second pointers that point to locations of the second encrypted segments of said selected data;

a segment of DRM data that enables digital rights under at least one of the first DRM and the second DRM.

29. The computer readable medium according to claim 28, wherein the content comprises at least one of digitized audio and digitized video.

30. The computer readable medium according to claim 28, wherein the first and second encrypted segments of said selected data have a duration defined by an encryption quanta.

31. A method of enabling use of multiple digital rights management (DRM) systems, comprising the following sequence of operations:

examining unencrypted data representing digital content to identify segments of selected the unencrypted data for encryption;

after identifying the segments of said selected data, encrypting the identified segments of said selected data using a first encryption method associated with a first DRM to produce first encrypted segments;

after identifying the segments of said selected data, encrypting the identified segments of said selected data using a second encryption method associated with a second DRM to produce second encrypted segments;

whereby the same selected data are separately encrypted using two different encryption methods associated with two different DRMs, and wherein the first and second encrypted segments both represent said selected data when not encrypted; and

after producing the first and second encrypted segments, replacing the identified segments of said selected data with both the first encrypted segments and the second encrypted segments in the digital content, wherein the segments identified for encryption comprise only a portion of the total segments that make up the digital content, and wherein segments that are not identified for encryption remain unencrypted.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the content comprises at least one of digitized audio and digitized video.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein the content comprises digitized video.

34. The method according to claim 31, further comprising appending data to enable digital rights under at least one of the first DRM and the second DRM to the file.

35. The method according to claim 31, wherein the first and second encrypted segments have a duration defined by an encryption quanta.

36. The method according to claim 31, further comprising appending data to enable digital rights under at least one of the first DRM and the second DRM to the file;

and transmitting the file to a customer.

37. A computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor, carry out the method of method of enabling use of multiple digital rights management scenarios according to claim 31.

38. A computer readable medium storing the multiple selectively DRM encrypted file generated according to the method of claim 31.