Method, manufacture, and apparatus for configuring multiple content protection systems

• US 9,785,759 B1
• Filed: 06/25/2012
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• 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, Scherkus, Andrew, Kaiser, Christian, Lacey, Stephen John
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Ellen
• Application Number:
  US13/532,738
• Time in Patent Office: 1,933 Days
• Field of Search: 713 26, 713 27, 380200
• 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 data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/103 applying security measure for protecting copy right protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment, e.g. protection the software providers copyright G06F21/10; data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; secrecy systems or subscription systems H04N7/16
• 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

A method, apparatus, and manufacture for configuring multiple content protection systems is provided. A client media player is employed to determine whether media content is protected. The client media player includes an application, and further includes a media engine that is a distinct program from the application. At least one type of content protection system supported by the media engine is determined. The application is employed to get a key and/or a license for the protected media content in accordance with the determined type of content protection system. The application is employed to instruct the media engine to play the media content. The key and/or the license for the determined type of content protection system is sent from the application to the media engine.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

employing a client media player to determine whether media content is protected, wherein the client media player includes an application, and further includes a media engine that is a distinct program from the application;

determining at least one type of content protection system supported by the media engine by employing the application to poll the media engine to determine at least one type of content protection system supported by the media engine;

employing the application to acquire a key and/or a license for the protected media content in accordance with the determined type of content protection system;

employing the application to instruct the media engine to play the media content; and

sending the key and/or the license from the application to the media engine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the application is configured to be capable of employing a plurality of different types of content protection systems, and to employ the determined at least one type of content protection system supported by the media engine to acquire the key and/or license via a framework;

and wherein the application employs the framework to acquire the key and/or license regardless of which of the content protection systems is used to acquire the key and/or license.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein

the application includes an application programming interface (API) for acquiring the key and/or the license, wherein the API is generic to the particular content protection system employed, and wherein employing the application to acquire the key and/or the license is accomplished using the API.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein employing the application to get the key and/or the license for the protected media content in accordance with the determined type of content protection system includes, depending on the determined type of content protection system, at least one of:

acquiring the key and/or the license from a server in accordance with the determined type of content protection system, retrieving the key and/or the license from the application in accordance with the determined type of content protection system, retrieving the key and/or license locally in accordance with the determined type of content protection system, or acquiring the key and/or the license from a local network in accordance with the determined type of content protection system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein employing the application to get the key and/or the license for the protected media content includes acquiring the key and/or the license from a server via a digital rights management system, wherein determining at least one type of content protection system supported by the media engine includes employing at least one digital rights management system supported by the media engine, and wherein employing the application to acquire a key and/or a license for the protected media content in accordance with the determined type of content protection system includes employing the application to acquire a key and/or a license for the protected media content in accordance with the determined type of digital rights management system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the media content is protected is accomplished by the application, and wherein the application is employed to instruct the media engine to the play the media content after the application is employed to get the key and/or the license for the protected media content.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the media content is protected is accomplished by the media engine after the media engine is instructed to play the media content.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the application is a web application running in a client browser, wherein the web application includes HyperText Markup Language (HTML) and/or a scripting language, and wherein the media engine is a media stack that is part of the client browser.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the media content is accessed via an HTML media element, and wherein employing the application to instruct the media engine to play the media content includes:

parsing the web application;

if the web application includes an auto play attribute for the HTML media element employing the client browser to cause the media stack to play the media content;

else

instructing the media engine to play the media content in a time and manner that is in accordance with web application.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein employing the application to poll the media engine is accomplished by polling the media engine, one content protection system at a time, as to whether the polled content protection system is supported by the media engine, and ceasing the polling if the polled content protection system is supported by the media engine.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein polling the media engine is accomplished in a preference order of content protection systems.

12. A client device, comprising:

a memory component for storing data; and

a processing component that is configured to execute data that enables actions, including;

employing a client media player to determine whether media content is protected, wherein the client media player includes an application, and further includes a media engine that is a distinct program from the application;

determining at least one type of content protection system supported by the media engine by employing the application to poll the media engine to determine at least one type of content protection system supported by the media engine;

employing the application to acquire a key and/or a license for the protected media content in accordance with the determined type of content protection system;

employing the application to instruct the media engine to play the media content; and

sending the key and/or the license from the application to the media engine.

13. The client device of claim 12, wherein the processing unit is further configured to employ the application to get the key and/or the license for the protected media content in accordance with the determined type of content protection system such that getting the key and/or license for the protected media content includes at least one of:

acquiring the key and/or the license from a server in accordance with the determined type of content protection system, retrieving the key and/or the license from the application in accordance with the determined type of content protection system, retrieving the key and/or license locally in accordance with the determined type of content protection system, or acquiring the key and/or the license from a local network in accordance with the determined type of content protection system.

14. The client device of claim 12, wherein the application is configured to be capable of employing a plurality of different types of content protection systems, and to employ the determined at least one type of content protection system supported by the media engine to acquire the key and/or license via a framework;

and wherein the application is configured to employ the framework to acquire the key and/or license regardless of which of the content protection systems is used to acquire the key and/or license.

15. The client device of claim 12, wherein

the application includes an application programming interface (API) for acquiring the key and/or the license, wherein the API is generic to the particular content protection system employed, and wherein the employing the application to acquire the key and/or the license is accomplished using the API.

16. A manufacture, including a non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having processor-executable code encoded therein, which when executed by one or more processors, enables actions, comprising:

employing a client media player to determine whether media content is protected, wherein the client media player includes an application, and further includes a media engine that is a distinct program from the application;

determining at least one type of content protection system supported by the media engine by employing the application to poll the media engine to determine at least one type of content protection system supported by the media engine;

employing the application to acquire a key and/or a license for the protected media content from a server in accordance with the determined type of content protection system;

employing the application to instruct the media engine to play the media content;

sending the key and/or the license from the application to the media engine; and

employing the media engine to decode the media content using the key and/or the license.

17. The manufacture of claim 16, wherein employing the application to get the key and/or the license for the protected media content in accordance with the determined type of content protection system includes, depending on the determined type of content protection system, at least one of:

acquiring the key and/or the license from a server in accordance with the determined type of content protection system, retrieving the key and/or the license from the application in accordance with the determined type of content protection system, retrieving the key and/or license locally in accordance with the determined type of content protection system, or acquiring the key and/or the license from a local network in accordance with the determined type of content protection system.

18. The manufacture of claim 16, wherein the application is configured to be capable of employing a plurality of different types of content protection systems, and to employ the determined at least one type of content protection system supported by the media engine to acquire the key and/or license via a framework;

and wherein the application is configured to employ the framework to acquire the key and/or license regardless of which of the content protection systems is used to acquire the key and/or license.

19. The manufacture of claim 16, wherein

the application includes an application programming interface (API) for acquiring the key and/or the license, wherein the API is generic to the particular content protection system employed, and wherein the employing the application to acquire the key and/or the license is accomplished using the API.

20. The manufacture of claim 16, wherein determining at least one type of content protection system supported by the media engine comprises:

employing the application to poll the media engine a plurality of times, each poll requesting whether the media engine supports a different content protection system; and

employing the application to receive a plurality of responses to the plurality of polls from the media engine, each response indicating whether the media engine supports a particular content protection system.