Method, system and software product for transferring content to a remote device

• US 8,931,105 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2008
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vividas Technologies Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Vividas Technologies Pty Limited
• Inventors: Lipka, Martin, Dubov, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): HERZOG, MADHURI R
• Application Number:
  US12/528,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20100228975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,500 Days
• Field of Search: 726 26- 33, 713150-152, 713164-167, 713/189, 380200-203, 380259-263, 380268-269, 380 36- 37, 380 28- 30, 717162-178
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1066 Hiding content
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/107 License processing; Key processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/12 Protecting executable software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• 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 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for transferring content to a device, the method including the steps of: receiving a request for content from the device; delivering a uniquely identifiable, ephemeral player to the device; and transferring content to the device, for presentation on the device by the player. The invention has particular application to digital rights management in respect of the distribution of audiovisual content such as film and television programs, advertisements and live event broadcasts over communication networks such as the Internet.

Claims

1. A method for transferring content to a device, the method including the steps of:

receiving a request for content from the device;

delivering a loader to the device;

receiving a request for a player from the loader;

generating a uniquely identifiable, ephemeral player by;

incorporating a unique identifier into an object code file at a location that is known to the loader; and

linking the object code file into one or more dynamic link libraries that are adapted to execute in the device'"'"'s native operating system to produce the player without being installed on the operating system or written to the device'"'"'s non-volatile storage;

delivering the generated player to the device; and

transferring content to the device, for presentation on the device by the player.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the unique identifier comprises a session key.

3. A method according to claim 2 including the steps of:

storing the session key; and

validating content requests from the device against the stored session key.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the step of validating content requests against the stored session key comprises attempting to decrypt the content request using the stored key.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more dynamic link libraries that are operable for interaction with one or more graphics systems associated with the device'"'"'s operating system.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the loader is configured to:

request permission to execute code in the device'"'"'s operating system;

request delivery of the player in the event that permission is granted; and

directly load the generated player into memory of the device for execution.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the loader has a predetermined expiry time and wherein playback session requests made outside of the expiry time are not fulfilled.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the loader is a byte code compiled program.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transferring content to the device comprises:

dividing the content into segments; and

continually delivering segments of content in response to individual requests for content from the device.

10. A method according to claim 9, including the step of encrypting each content segment with an encryption key specified in the request for content.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein each said encryption key is unique.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating is in response to the request for a player from the loader.

12. A secure content delivery system comprising:

a content server; and

one or more devices communicatively coupled to the content server via a communications network,

wherein the content server is configured to;

receive a playback session request from a device;

deliver a loader to the device;

receive a request for a player from the loader;

generate a uniquely identifiable and ephemeral player by;

incorporating a unique identifier into an object code file at a location that is known to the loader; and

linking the object code file into one or more dynamic link libraries that are adapted to execute in the device'"'"'s native operating system to produce the player without being installed on the operating system or written to the device'"'"'s non-volatile storage; and

delivering the generated player to the device.

13. A system according to claim 12 wherein the unique identifier comprises a session key.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein the loader is configured to:

request permission for execution of code in the device'"'"'s native operating system;

request delivery of the player in the event that permission is granted; and

directly load the player into main memory of the device for execution.

16. A system according to claim 12, wherein the content server generates the uniquely identifiable and ephemeral player in response to the request for a player from the loader.