Dynamically changing stream quality of protected content based on a determined change in a platform trust

• US 9,686,234 B1
• Filed: 08/15/2012
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Dorwin, David Kimbal
• Primary Examiner(s): Sison, June
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, STEVEN C
• Application Number:
  US13/586,492
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 709231
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3003 Monitoring arrangements specially adapted to the computing system or computing system component being monitored
• 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 21/1062 Editing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1073 Conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/50 Monitoring users, programs or devices to maintain the integrity of platforms, e.g. of processors, firmware or operating systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/602 Providing cryptographic facilities or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/603 Digital right managament [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/103 applying security measure for protecting copyright
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/801 Real time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/805 QOS or priority aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/00 Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00; network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00; security arrangements for protecting computers or computer systems against unauthorised activity G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 : based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 : Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 : Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1108 : Web based protocols, e.g. webRTC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 : for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 : at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 : Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0631 : Substitution permutation network [SPN], i.e. cipher composed of a number of stages or rounds each involving linear and nonlinear transformations, e.g. AES algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0861 : Generation of secret information including derivation or calculation of cryptographic keys or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 : including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 : involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/24 : Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth, upstream requests monitoring of server performance or load G06F11/34; arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 : involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 : involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 : embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 : involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4516 : involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available

Abstract

Embodiments are directed towards dynamically changing a quality of content being played when a robustness or level of trust is determined to have changed for a computing device, or platform, currently playing at least one stream of the content. An initial level of trust is determined for the computing device, and is used to select a quality of content from the at least one stream of content for play. During play, when a change in the level of trust is detected for the computing device, a different quality of the content may be selected, and replaces the currently playing content.

Claims

1. A client device, comprising:

a non-transitory memory storing executable computer program instructions; and

one or more processors in communication with the memory and adapted to execute the computer program instructions to perform actions including;

receiving, by the client device, at least one stream of content from a remote server via a network interface, the at least one stream of content having a plurality of subset bitstreams of different levels of defined quality of content;

detecting, by the client device, a level of trust for the client device responsive to one or more security checks performed on the client device;

selecting, by the client device, a subset bitstream of the received at least one stream of content having a level of defined quality of content based on the detected level of trust;

playing, by the client device, the selected subset bitstream having the selected level of defined quality; and

while playing the subset bitstream having the selected level of defined quality, the client device;

monitoring to detect a change in the level of trust for the client device;

when the level of trust is detected to decrease for the client device, seamlessly switching play to a subset bitstream having a decreased level of defined quality of content such that no interruption occurs between playing the subset bitstream having the selected level of defined quality and the subset bitstream having the decreased level of defined quality; and

when the level of trust is detected to increase for the client device, seamlessly switching play to a subset bitstream having an increased level of defined quality of content such that no interruption occurs between playing the subset bitstream having the selected level of defined quality and the subset bitstream having the increased level of defined quality.

2. The client device of claim 1, wherein at least one stream of content comprises a scalable video coding stream that comprises the plurality of subset bitstreams, each bitstream having a different level of defined quality of content than an other bitstream in the plurality of subset bitstreams.

3. The client device of claim 1, wherein the different level of defined quality differs based on at least one of a spatial resolution, temporal resolution, a video quality, an audio quality, a bit rate, or a dimensional feature.

4. The client device of claim 1, wherein monitoring to detect a change in the level of trust for the client device comprises monitoring for changes to at least one of an operating system, one or more drivers, or a hardware component of the client device.

5. The client device of claim 1, wherein monitoring to detect a change in the level of trust for the client device comprises detecting a change in a network connection type of a network connection connecting the client device to a display device.

16. The client device of claim 1, wherein monitoring to detect a change in the level of trust for the client device comprises:

determining whether a suspect product is detected on the client device.

17. The client device of claim 1, wherein monitoring to detect a change in the level of trust for the client device comprises:

determining whether a component of the client device has been improperly modified.

18. The client device of claim 1, wherein monitoring to detect a change in the level of trust for the client device comprises:

actively probing components of the client device to detect a response indicating a change to the level of trust for the client device.

19. The client device of claim 1, wherein selecting the subset bitstream having the level of defined quality of content comprises:

using a scalable CODEC to combine one or more of the plurality of subset bitstreams to produce a stream of content having the defined quality of content.

6. A computer-based method operating on a client device, comprising:

receiving, by the client device, at least one stream of content from a remote server via a network interface, the at least one stream of content having a plurality of subset bitstreams of different levels of defined quality of content;

detecting, by the client device, a level of trust for the client device responsive to one or more security checks performed on the client device;

selecting, by the client device, a subset bitstream of the received at least one stream of content having a level of defined quality of content based on the detected level of trust;

playing, by the client device, the selected subset bitstream having the selected level of defined quality; and

while playing the subset bitstream having the selected level of defined quality, the client device;

monitoring to detect a change in the level of trust for the computer device;

when the level of trust is detected to decrease for the computer device, seamlessly switching play to a subset bitstream having a decreased level of defined quality of content such that no interruption occurs between playing the subset bitstream having the selected level of defined quality and the subset bitstream having the decreased level of defined quality; and

when the level of trust is detected to increase for the computer device, seamlessly switching play to a subset bitstream having an increased level of defined quality of content such that no interruption occurs between playing the subset bitstream having the selected level of defined quality and the subset bitstream having the increased level of defined quality.

7. The computer-based method of claim 6, wherein at least one stream of content comprises a scalable video coding stream that comprises the plurality of subset bitstreams, each bitstream having a different level of defined quality of content than an other bitstream in the plurality of subset bitstreams.

8. The computer-based method of claim 6, wherein the different level of quality differs based on at least one of a spatial resolution, temporal resolution, a video quality, an audio quality, a bit rate, or a dimensional feature.

9. The computer-based method of claim 6, wherein monitoring to detect a change in the level of trust for the computer device comprises monitoring for changes to at least one of an operating system, one or more drivers, or a hardware component of the computer device.

10. The computer-based method of claim 6, wherein monitoring to detect a change in the level of trust for the computer device comprises detecting a change in a network connection type of a network connection connecting the computer device to a display device.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, that in response to execution by a computer processor, cause the computer processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving, by a client device, at least one stream of content from a remote server via a network interface, the at least one stream of content having a plurality of subset bitstreams of different levels of defined quality of content;

detecting, by the client device, a level of trust for the client device responsive to one or more security checks performed on the client device;

selecting, by the client device, a subset bitstream of the received at least one stream of content having a level of defined quality of content based on the detected level of trust;

playing, by the client device, the selected subset bitstream having the selected level of defined quality; and

while playing the subset bitstream having the selected level of defined quality, the client device;

monitoring to detect a change in the level of trust for the computing device;

when the level of trust is detected to decrease for the computing device, seamlessly switching play to a subset bitstream having a decreased level of defined quality of content such that no interruption occurs between playing the subset bitstream having the selected level of defined quality and the subset bitstream having the decreased level of defined quality; and

when the level of trust is detected to increase for the computing device, seamlessly switching play to a subset bitstream having an increased level of defined quality of content such that no interruption occurs between playing the subset bitstream having the selected level of defined quality and the subset bitstream having the increased level of defined quality.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein at least one stream of content comprises a scalable video coding stream that comprises the plurality of subset bitstreams, each bitstream having a different level of defined quality of content than an other bitstream in the plurality of subset bitstreams.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the different level of defined quality differs based on at least one of a spatial resolution, temporal resolution, a video quality, an audio quality, a bit rate, or a dimensional feature.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein monitoring to detect a change in the level of trust for the client device comprises monitoring for changes to at least one of an operating system, one or more drivers, or a hardware component of the computing device.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein monitoring to detect a change in the level of trust for the client device comprises detecting a change in a network connection type of a network connection connecting the computing device to a display device.