Digital work structure

• US 7,809,644 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2005
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• 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): Fischer; Andrew J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEST, THOMAS C
• Application Number:
  US11/175,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20050251482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,916 Days
• Field of Search: 705 50- 79
• 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: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• 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 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• 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 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• 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 63/0823 : using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 : Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 : Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 : Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 : received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 : Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 : Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A digital work and data structure for use within a system for enforcing usage rights associated with digital content, including a description tree file including descriptor blocks organized in a hierarchical manner. The descriptor blocks include usage rights associated with the digital content, and specifying a manner of use of the digital content, a content identifier including a unique identifier of the digital content, and a usage rights portion including the usage rights. The digital content includes plural content portions, and the usage rights portion includes a rights code field including a code indicative of the manner of use of the digital content and a status information field including information relating to a state of the manner of use.

Claims

1. A non-transitory digital work organized into an acyclic structure for use within a system for enforcing usage rights associated with digital content, the digital work comprising:

a contents file including information related to digital content that is interpreted by an interpreter; and

a description tree file including descriptor blocks organized in a hierarchical manner, at least some of the descriptor blocks including usage rights associated with the digital content, the usage rights specifying a manner of use of the digital content,

wherein at least one of the descriptor blocks comprises a content identifier and a usage rights portion, the content identifier including a identifier of the digital content and the usage rights portion including the usage rights,

the contents file comprises plural content portions,

the usage rights portion comprises a rights code field including a code indicative of the manner of use of the digital content and a status information field including information relating to a state of the manner of use,

the usage rights information is included in a data structure, and

the data structure is a lookup table including the usage rights information.

2. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the descriptor blocks does not include a content identifier and includes a pointer to a child descriptor block and a usage rights portion including usage rights information associated with the child descriptor block.

3. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 1, wherein the interpreter is a rendering device for rendering the digital content into a desired form.

4. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 1, wherein the contents file comprises a stream of addressable bytes representing the information related to the digital content.

5. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 1, wherein the content portions are stored linearly.

6. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the content identifiers include a pointer to one of the content portions.

7. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 1, wherein the digital content comprises at least one content object.

8. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 1, wherein the digital content comprises audio information.

9. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 1, wherein the digital content comprises video information.

10. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 1, wherein the digital content comprises textual information.

11. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 1, wherein the digital content comprises graphical information.

12. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 1, wherein the digital content comprises a computer program.

13. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 1, wherein the contents file and the description tree file are adapted to be stored on the same device.

14. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 1, wherein the contents file and the description tree file are adapted to be stored on different devices.

15. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 1, wherein the contents file remains with the description tree file.

16. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 1, wherein the transaction related parameters specify a financial account.

17. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 1, wherein the usage rights portion further comprises a label indicating the manner of use specified by the transactional component.

18. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 1, wherein the manner of use is a manner of rendering the digital content.

19. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 18, wherein the digital content is rendered by a rendering system as the interpreter.

20. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 18, wherein the manner of rendering is a manner of displaying.

21. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 18, wherein the manner of rendering is a manner of playing.

22. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 19, wherein the manner of rendering is a manner of printing.

23. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 12, wherein the manner of use is a manner of executing the computer program.

24. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 1, the usage rights portion comprises a transactional component including a specification of the manner of use of the associated digital content and a specifications component specifying conditions that must be satisfied to exercise the manner of use or transaction related parameters.

25. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 24, wherein the transactional component further comprises software instructions which implement the manner of use specified by the usage rights.

26. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a data structure for specifying usage rights that are associated with digital content for use within a system for enforcing use of the digital content in accordance with the usage rights recorded thereon, the data structure comprising:

a description tree file including descriptor blocks organized in a hierarchical manner, at least some of the descriptor blocks including usage rights associated with the digital content, the usage rights specifying a manner of use of the digital content, at least one of the descriptor blocks comprises a identifier of the digital content and a usage rights portion including the usage rights,

wherein the digital content comprises plural content portions,

the usage rights portion comprises a rights code field including a code indicative of the manner of use of the digital content and a status information field including information relating to a state of the manner of use,

the usage rights information is included in a data structure, and

the data structure is a lookup table including the usage rights information.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium data structure as recited in claim 26, wherein the usage rights portion further comprises a label indicating the manner of use.

28. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium data structure as recited in claim 26, wherein the manner of use is a manner of rendering the digital content.

29. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 28, wherein the manner of rendering is a manner of displaying.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 28, wherein the manner of rendering is a manner of playing.

31. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 28, wherein the manner of rendering is a manner of printing.

32. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium data structure as recited in claim 26, wherein the manner of use is a manner of executing the digital content comprising a computer program.

33. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 26, wherein at least one of the descriptor blocks does not include a content identifier and includes a pointer to a child descriptor block and a usage rights portion including usage rights information associated with the child descriptor block.

34. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium data structure as recited in claim 26, wherein the usage rights portion comprises a transactional component including a specification of the manner of use of the digital content and a specifications component specifying conditions that must be satisfied to exercise the manner of use or transaction related parameters.

35. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium data structure as recited in claim 34, wherein the transactional component further comprises software instructions which implement the manner of use specified by the usage rights.

36. A non-transitory digital work organized into an acyclic structure for use within a system for enforcing usage rights associated with content, the digital work comprising:

a content file including information representing the content that can be rendered by a rendering device; and

a description tree file including descriptor blocks organized in a hierarchical manner, at least one of the descriptor blocks including usage rights associated with the content, the usage rights specifying a manner of use for the content,

wherein at least one of the descriptor blocks comprises a content identifier and a rights portion, the content identifier including an identifier of content and the rights portion including the usage rights; and

wherein the rights portion comprises a rights code field including a code indicative of a manner of use of the content and a status information field including information relating to a state of the manner of use.

37. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 36, wherein the usage rights information is included in a data structure.

38. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 37, wherein the data structure is a lookup table including the usage rights information.

39. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 36, wherein the content file comprises a stream of addressable bytes representing the information related to the content.

40. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 36, wherein the contents file comprises plural content portions.

41. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 40, wherein the content portions are stored linearly.

42. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 40, wherein the content identifier includes a pointer to one of the content portions.

43. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 36, wherein the content comprises at least one content object.

44. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 36, wherein the content comprises audio information.

45. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 36, wherein the content comprises video information.

46. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 36, wherein the content comprises textual information.

47. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 36, wherein the content comprises graphical information.

48. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 36, wherein the content comprises a computer program.

49. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 36, wherein the content file and the description tree file are adapted to be stored on the same rendering device.

50. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 36, wherein the content file and the description tree file are adapted to be stored on different devices.

51. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 36, wherein the content file remains with the description tree file.

52. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 36, wherein the usage rights portion comprises a transactional component including a specification of the manner of use for the content and a specifications component specifying conditions that must be satisfied to exercise the manner of use or transaction related parameters.

53. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 52, wherein the transaction related parameters specify a financial account.

54. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 52, wherein the usage rights portion further comprises a label indicating the manner of use specified by the transactional component.

55. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 52, wherein the transactional component further comprises software instructions which implement the manner of use specified by the usage right.

56. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 36, wherein the manner of use is a manner of rendering the content.

57. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 56, wherein the manner of rendering is a manner of displaying.

58. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 56, wherein the manner of rendering is a manner of playing.

59. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 56, wherein the manner of rendering is a manner of printing.

60. A non-transitory digital work as recited in claim 48, wherein the manner of use is a manner of executing the computer software.

61. A non-transitory digital work organized into an acyclic structure for use within a system for enforcing usage rights associated with content, the digital work comprising:

a content file including information representing content that can be rendered by a rendering device; and

a description tree file including descriptor blocks organized in a hierarchical manner, at least one of the descriptor blocks including usage rights associated with the content, the usage rights specifying a manner of use for the content,

wherein at least one of the descriptor block comprises a content identifier and a rights portion, the content identifier including an identifier of content and the rights portion including the usage rights; and

wherein at least one of the descriptor blocks includes a content identifier, a usage rights portion including usage rights information, and a pointer to a child descriptor block.

62. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a data structure for specifying usage rights that can be associated with content for use within a system for enforcing use of the content in accordance with the usage rights recorded thereon, said data structure comprising:

a description tree file including descriptor blocks organized in a hierarchical manner,

at least one of said descriptor blocks including usage rights associated with the content,

said usage rights specifying a manner of use for the content,

at least one of said descriptor block comprises a identifier of content and a rights portion comprising a rights code field including a code indicative of a manner of use of the content and a status information field including information relating to a state of the manner of use.

63. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 62, wherein said rights portion further comprises a label indicating the manner of use.

64. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 62, wherein the manner of use is a manner of rendering and the content.

65. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 64, wherein the manner of rendering is a manner of displaying.

66. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 64, wherein the manner of rendering is a manner of playing.

67. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 64, wherein the manner of rendering is a manner of printing.

68. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium data structure as recited in claim 62, wherein the manner of use is a manner of executing the computer software.