System and method for generating new licenses

• US 7,464,058 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acer Cloud Technology, Inc. (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadon Communications Corp. (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yen, Wei, Srinivasan, Pramila, Princen, John, Blythe, David
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEUNG, MARY DA ZHI WANG
• Application Number:
  US11/203,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20050273438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 705 50- 59, 713150-162, 713165-170, 707 9- 10, 726 1- 7, 726 17- 21, 726 26- 34
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1077 Recurrent authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/51 at application loading time, e.g. accepting, rejecting, starting or inhibiting executable software based on integrity or source reliability
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/52 during program execution, e.g. stack integrity ; Preventing unwanted data erasure; Buffer overflow
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/71 to assure secure computing or processing of information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/73 by creating or determining hardware identification, e.g. serial numbers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/74 operating in dual or compartmented mode, i.e. at least one secure mode

Abstract

Dynamic assignment of rights to content, such as in a closed distribution system. Noting state information generated by an item of current content, and modifying state or rights of new content in response. Preloading or dynamically sending new content to the owner of the current content, with rights being enabled only at a later time, in the playback device, with predetermined conditions. In response to current state information, dynamically sending a license for new content from a server. Conditional or dynamic licenses to new content, including a set of rights associated with a class of possible sets of state information. Assignment of limited rights to a content, with support in a secure player to enforce them; for purposes of rental, bonus content, trials and other business models.

Claims

1. A system, including

a license server wherein, in operation, the license server:

delivers a conditional license to a playback device;

obtains information regarding the execution state of a content executable associated with a game currently available to the playback device, wherein execution state includes a game asset output from the content executable;

evaluates the condition associated with the conditional license using the execution state of the game at the playback device;

a secure processor at the playback device wherein, in operation, the secure processor determines the conditional license is satisfied;

wherein new rights are available at the playback device if the license is satisfied.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the condition associated with the conditional license at the playback device is responsive to a time of execution.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein the conditional license includes a data structure maintained in secure storage at the playback device.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the conditional license at the playback device includes a data structure maintained in storage, the data structure being secured by a digital signature or a secure hash.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein the conditional license at the playback device includes a description of the new rights to the game;

wherein, in operation, the playback device exercises the new rights in response to the condition associated with the conditional license.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein the conditional license at the playback device includes a description of the new rights to the game, further including;

a content server wherein, in operation, the content server delivers the game in response to the new rights.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein

the license server obtains information regarding the execution state of the game currently available to the playback device;

and

the license server determines the new rights, using the execution state of the game currently available to the playback device, at the license server.

8. A system as in claim 1, wherein the condition associated with the conditional license is evaluated locally to the playback device.

9. A system as in claim 1, wherein the new rights are determined locally to the playback device.

10. A system as in claim 1, wherein the condition associated with the conditional license is evaluated remotely from the playback device.

11. A system as in claim 1, wherein the new rights are determined remotely from the playback device.

12. A system as in claim 1, wherein the execution state of the content currently available to the playback device includes a game score.

13. A system as in claim 1, wherein the execution state of the game currently available to the playback device includes at least one of:

a value determined in response to a plurality of playback devices, a minimum or maximum measure thereof, a statistical measure determined in response thereto.

14. A system as in claim 1, wherein the condition associated with the conditional license at the playback device is represented by a data structure describing or pointing to a set of instructions.

15. A system as in claim 14, wherein the instructions are executed or interpreted by the license server.

16. A system as in claim 14, wherein the instructions are executed or interpreted by the secure processor.

17. A system, including:

a content server wherein, in operation, the content server delivers a game to a playback device;

a license server wherein, in operation, the license server;

delivers a conditional license to the playback device;

obtains information regarding the execution state of a content executable associated with the game currently available to the playback device, wherein execution state includes a game asset associated with the content executable;

evaluates the condition associated with the conditional license using the execution state of the content at the playback device;

a secure processor at the playback device wherein, in operation, the secure processor combines static and dynamic rules to determine if a condition associated with the conditional license is satisfied;

wherein, if the condition is satisfied, a portion of the game associated with the condition is playable by the playback device.

18. A system as in claim 17, wherein the condition associated with the conditional license at the playback device is responsive to a date or time.

19. A system as in claim 17, wherein the conditional license at the playback device includes a data structure maintained in secure storage.

20. A system as in claim 17, wherein the conditional license at the playback device includes a data structure maintained in storage, the data structure being secured by a digital signature or a secure hash.

21. A system as in claim 17, wherein the conditional license at the playback device includes a description of new rights to content;

wherein, in operation, the playback device exercises the new rights in response to the condition associated with the conditional license.

22. A system as in claim 17, wherein the conditional license at the playback device includes a description of rights to new content;

wherein, in operation, the content server delivers the new content in response to the condition associated with the conditional license.

23. A system as in claim 17, wherein the condition associated with the conditional license is evaluated locally to the playback device.

24. A system as in claim 17, wherein the condition associated with the conditional license is evaluated remotely from the playback device.

25. A system as in claim 17, wherein the execution state of content currently available to the playback device includes a game score.

26. A system as in claim 17, wherein the execution state of the game currently available to the playback device includes at least one of:

a value determined in response to a plurality of playback devices, a minimum or maximum measure thereof, a statistical measure determine in response thereto.

27. A system as in claim 17, wherein the condition associated with the conditional license is represented by a data structure describing or pointing to a set of instructions.

28. A system as in claim 27, wherein the instructions are executed or interpreted by the license server.

29. A system as in claim 27, wherein the instructions are executed or interpreted by the secure processor.