Apparatus for transferring licensed digital content between users
First Claim
1. A digital rights management (DRM) storage device, comprising:
- a non-volatile memory configured to store content and license data, the license data including content use data and content transfer data, the content transfer data disallowing transfer of the content to a second DRM device, via a host digital appliance, without prior consent by a third party licensing authority, anda memory controller,wherein the memory controller is configured to;
access the content and the content use data stored in the memory in order to provide rendition of the content to the host digital appliance in accordance with the content use data;
in response to a request via the host digital appliance for a license from the third party licensing authority, the request indicative of commanding that the DRM storage device send the content from the DRM storage device to the second DRM device, receive the license from the third party licensing authority in a license communication;
in response to receiving the license, determine, based on the content transfer data and the received license, whether to transfer the content to the second DRM device;
in response to determining to transfer the content, transmit the content through an interface for transfer to the second DRM device via the host digital appliance;
receive a modify license command in a license modification communication from the third party licensing authority, wherein the memory controller is configured to receive the license communication and the license modification communication as two separate communications;
in response to receiving the modify license command from the third party licensing authority, modify the license data based on the modify license command received via the host digital appliance in order to thereafter prevent the DRM storage device from any further use of the content; and
in response to determining to not transfer the content, prohibit transmission of the content via the host digital appliance.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are described for reselling digital data content, such as books, other types of documents, music, video, software and games. Such data are stored in a small portable digital rights management (DRM) device, such as a non-volatile memory card or flash drive, along with a license that defines the extent of the use permitted of the data. The content and license data are processed by a microprocessor that is included in the memory card or flash drive, including modification of the license in response to the data content being resold and transferred to another memory card or flash drive. The process is a digital version of selling a book, CD, DVD or the like in a second-hand market.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A digital rights management (DRM) storage device, comprising:
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a non-volatile memory configured to store content and license data, the license data including content use data and content transfer data, the content transfer data disallowing transfer of the content to a second DRM device, via a host digital appliance, without prior consent by a third party licensing authority, and a memory controller, wherein the memory controller is configured to; access the content and the content use data stored in the memory in order to provide rendition of the content to the host digital appliance in accordance with the content use data; in response to a request via the host digital appliance for a license from the third party licensing authority, the request indicative of commanding that the DRM storage device send the content from the DRM storage device to the second DRM device, receive the license from the third party licensing authority in a license communication; in response to receiving the license, determine, based on the content transfer data and the received license, whether to transfer the content to the second DRM device; in response to determining to transfer the content, transmit the content through an interface for transfer to the second DRM device via the host digital appliance; receive a modify license command in a license modification communication from the third party licensing authority, wherein the memory controller is configured to receive the license communication and the license modification communication as two separate communications; in response to receiving the modify license command from the third party licensing authority, modify the license data based on the modify license command received via the host digital appliance in order to thereafter prevent the DRM storage device from any further use of the content; and in response to determining to not transfer the content, prohibit transmission of the content via the host digital appliance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A server configured to facilitate transfer of licensed content from a first digital rights management (DRM) device to a second DRM device, the server comprising:
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one or more interfaces for communicating with the first DRM device and the second DRM device; a tangible memory; a hardware controller in communication with the one or more interfaces and the tangible memory, the hardware controller configured to; receive a request originated from a first digital appliance, the request indicative of commanding that the first DRM device send the licensed content from the first DRM device to the second DRM device, the first digital appliance operatively coupled to the first DRM device, configured to conduct negotiations directly with a second digital appliance coupled to the second DRM device without communication with the server, and configured to receive payment from the second digital appliance; in response to receiving the request; send a license to the first DRM device in a license communication, the license to transfer the licensed content from the first DRM device to the second DRM device; send a modify license command to the first DRM device in a license modification communication, the modify license command indicative to the first DRM device to terminate rights of the first DRM device to the licensed content so that the first DRM device is prevented from any further use of the licensed content, wherein hardware controller is adapted to send the license communication and the license modification communication as two separate communications. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification