System and method for managing multimedia contents in intranet

• US 7,685,643 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2004
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Byung-rae, Chang, Kyung-ah
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Kimyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, NIRAV B
• Application Number:
  US10/762,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20040158712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,251 Days
• Field of Search: 726 26- 33, 726/12, 713/189, 713/193, 713/150, 713/160, 713/153, 713/165, 709/225, 709/229, 380200-201, 380/210, 725/30, 725/28, 705/50, 705 51- 53, 705/57, 705/59
• US Class Current: 726/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/105 Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1063 Personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1073 Conversion
• 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 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 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32

Abstract

A system and method for managing non-free multimedia contents in an intranet. The system includes proxy managers provided in a server of the intranet, for example, a media center or set-top box, and clients, for example, DRM smart clients in wired/wireless digital information appliances, such as Digital TVs or PDAs. Various kinds of encrypted multimedia contents and license information are converted by the proxy managers into multimedia contents and license information having a format executable by the DRM smart clients.

Claims

1. A system for managing multimedia contents in an intranet, comprising:

a server, comprising a processor and a memory, wherein if the server receives multimedia contents from one of a plurality of DRM server groups having a unique DRM solution respectively, the server performs communication relating to services with the corresponding DRM server group according to the DRM solution of the received multimedia contents, converts the received multimedia contents into multimedia contents having a format suitable for at least one client of the intranet and transmits the converted multimedia contents to the client;

wherein the server comprises a plurality of proxy managers constructed according to DRM server groups, the proxy managers each comprising;

a platform authentication unit operable to request a license for multimedia contents from a corresponding DRM server group which provides the multimedia contents, and performing registration of the client;

a content conversion unit operable to decrypt multimedia contents received from the corresponding DRM server group, and converting the decrypted multimedia contents into multimedia contents having a format suitable for the client; and

a license translation unit operable to translate a license received from the corresponding DRM server group into a license having a format suitable for the client,

wherein each DRM server group has the unique DRM solution to be executable on different applications,

wherein the converted multimedia contents are encrypted and transmitted to the client; and

wherein the encrypted is performed using a group key of the server.

2. The multimedia content management system according to claim 1, wherein the server translates a license received through the Internet to be suitable for the client of the intranet and additionally transmits the translated license to the client.

3. The multimedia content management system according to claim 2, wherein the translated license is encrypted and transmitted to the client.

4. The multimedia content management system according to claim 2, wherein the proxy manager further comprises a report/billing unit operable to arrange multimedia content usage details of the client, and to transmit the arranged multimedia content usage details to the DRM server group, and to transmit information relating to billing.

5. A system for managing multimedia contents in an intranet, comprising:

at least one client operable to receive and execute multimedia contents, converted by a server, comprising a processor and a memory, of the intranet into multimedia contents having a format suitable for the client of the intranet, wherein if the server receives multimedia contents from one of a plurality of DRM server groups having a unique DRM solution respectively, the server performs communication relating to services with the corresponding DRM server group according to the DRM solution of the received multimedia contents, converts the received multimedia contents into multimedia contents having a format suitable for at least one client of the intranet and transmits the converted multimedia contents to the client;

wherein the server comprises a plurality of proxy managers constructed according to DRM server groups, the proxy managers each comprising;

a platform authentication unit operable to request a license for multimedia contents from a corresponding DRM server group which provides the multimedia contents, and performing registration of the client;

a content conversion unit operable to decrypt multimedia contents received from the corresponding DRM server group, and converting the decrypted multimedia contents into multimedia contents having a format suitable for the client; and

a license translation unit operable to translate a license received from the corresponding DRM server group into a license having a format suitable for the client,

wherein each DRM server group has the unique DRM solution to be executable on different applications;

wherein the license translated by the server is encrypted and transmitted to the client;

wherein the encryption of the license is performed using a group key of the server; and

wherein the client comprises;

a rights management unit operable to decrypt the license which is encrypted and transmitted, and to check whether decrypted multimedia contents are executed in the client to be suitable for the decrypted license.

6. The multimedia content management system according to claim 5, wherein the multimedia contents converted by the server are encrypted and transmitted.

7. The multimedia content management system according to claim 6, wherein the client is additionally operable to receive a license translated to be suitable for the client of the intranet by the server.

8. The multimedia content management system according to claim 5, wherein the client further comprises:

an authentication and access control unit operable to perform registration of the client on the server and access to the server;

a content decryption unit operable to decrypt the multimedia contents which are encrypted and transmitted.

9. The multimedia content management system according to claim 8, wherein the encryption of the multimedia contents is performed using a group key of the server.

10. The multimedia content management system according to claim 9, wherein the decryption is performed using a client key corresponding to the group key of the server.

11. The multimedia content management system according to claim 8, wherein the client further comprises a report unit for reporting usage details of the transmitted multimedia contents to the server.

24. The multimedia content management system according to claim 10, wherein said client key is assigned to register DRM smart clients through the platform authentication and access control unit.

12. A method of managing multimedia contents in an intranet, comprising:

a server, comprising a processor and a memory, of the intranet performing communication relating to services with the corresponding DRM server group according to the DRM solution of the received multimedia contents if receiving multimedia contents from one of a plurality of DRM server groups having a unique DRM solution respectively, converting the received multimedia contents into multimedia contents having a format suitable for at least one client of the intranet and transmitting the converted multimedia contents to the client;

wherein the server comprises a plurality of proxy managers constructed according to DRM server groups, the proxy managers each comprising;

a platform authentication unit operable to request a license for multimedia contents from a corresponding DRM server group which provides the multimedia contents, and performing registration of the client;

a content conversion unit operable to decrypt multimedia contents received from the corresponding DRM server group, and converting the decrypted multimedia contents into multimedia contents having a format suitable for the client; and

a license translation unit operable to translate a license received from the corresponding DRM server group into a license having a format suitable for the client,

encrypting the converted multimedia contents,

wherein each DRM server group has the unique DRM solution to be executable on different applications, and

wherein the encryption is performed using a group key of the server.

13. The multimedia content management method according to claim 12, further comprising translating a license received through the Internet to be suitable for the client of the intranet and transmitting the translated license to the client by the server.

14. The multimedia content management method according to claim 13, further comprising encrypting the translated license and transmitting the encrypted license to the client.

15. The multimedia content management method according to claim 12, further comprising:

receiving multimedia content usage details of the client by the server; and

arranging the multimedia content usage details of the client and transmitting the arranged multimedia content usage details to a DRM server group.

16. The multimedia content management method according to claim 15, further comprising transmitting information relating to billing to the DRM server group by the server.

17. A method of managing multimedia contents in an intranet, comprising:

receiving and executing multimedia contents, converted by a server, comprising a processor and a memory, of the intranet into multimedia contents having a format suitable for at least one client of the intranet, by the client, wherein if the server receives multimedia contents from one of a plurality of DRM server groups having a unique DRM solution respectively, the server performs communication relating to services with the corresponding DRM server group according to the DRM solution of the received multimedia contents, converts the received multimedia contents into multimedia contents having a format suitable for at least one client of the intranet and transmits the converted multimedia contents to the client;

wherein the server comprises a plurality of proxy managers constructed according to DRM server groups, the proxy managers each comprising;

a platform authentication unit operable to request a license for multimedia contents from a corresponding DRM server group which provides the multimedia contents, and performing registration of the client;

a content conversion unit operable to decrypt multimedia contents received from the corresponding DRM server group, and converting the decrypted multimedia contents into multimedia contents having a format suitable for the client; and

a license translation unit operable to translate a license received from the corresponding DRM server group into a license having a format suitable for the client,

wherein each DRM server group has the unique DRM solution to be executable on different applications,

wherein the license translated by the server is encrypted and transmitted to the client; and

wherein the encryption of the license is performed using a group key of the server; and

checking whether the decrypted multimedia contents are executed in the client to be suitable for a decrypted license.

18. The multimedia content management method according to claim 17, wherein the multimedia contents converted by the server are encrypted and transmitted.

19. The multimedia content management method according to claim 18, further comprising receiving a license translated to be suitable for the client of the intranet by the server.

20. The multimedia content management method according to claim 17, further comprising:

decrypting the encrypted multimedia contents; and

decrypting the encrypted license.

21. The multimedia content management method according to claim 20, wherein the encryption of the multimedia contents is performed using a group key of the server.

22. The multimedia content management method according to claim 21, wherein the decryption is performed using a client key corresponding to the group key of the server.

23. The multimedia content management method according to claim 20, further comprising reporting usage details of the transmitted multimedia contents to the server.