Controlling content access and related actions on a DLNA network

• US 9,847,888 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2011
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kannan, Navneeth N., Reichgott, Samuel H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chokshi, Pinkal R
• Application Number:
  US13/219,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20130055303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,304 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• 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 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6334 for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed

Abstract

A method of controlling ability of a client device to access media content available from a server device on a network is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving with the server device a request from the client device via the network for media content and determining with the server device a type of the client device and a type of the media content. Thereafter, a step of applying a policy stored in software form in the server device for determining actions allowable for the client device with respect to the media content is performed. After the applying step, access of the media content is provided to the client device only to an extent defined and permitted by the policy. A server device for functioning as a Digital Media Server (DMS) on a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) network is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for controlling access to media content provided by a service provider to a server device on a network, the method comprising:

receiving, by the server device, a request to perform a specific action with respect to a specific media content from a client device via the network;

determining, by the server device, a type of the specific media content;

determining, by the server device, a type of the client device, wherein the determining the type of the client device comprises determining whether the client device is managed by the service provider based at least in part on whether identity information relating to the client device is received by the server device from a management device of the service provider, wherein receiving the identity information by the server device from the management device indicates the client device is managed by the service provider;

determining, by the server device, a policy from a plurality of policies based on the type of the client device and the type of the specific media content, each policy being defined in a respective allowable action filter vector from a plurality of allowable action filter vectors, wherein each respective allowable action filter vector associates a respective type of client device with a respective type of media content, defines a plurality of different actions that are performed on media contents, and, for each of the plurality of different actions, defines whether performance of the different action is permitted or not permitted on media contents of the respective type associated with the respective allowable action filter vector given the respective type of the client device associated with the respective allowable action filter vector;

applying the policy, by the server device, to the request to perform the specific action with respect to the specific media content; and

in response to applying the policy, selectively allowing the specific action from the request to be performed with respect to the specific media content by the client device based at least in part on the allowable action filter vector defining the applied policy when the specific action is defined as permitted in the allowable action filter vector.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different actions in each of the allowable action filter vectors comprise at least one of list, add, modify, delete, play, or transfer the specific media content.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the policy, by the server device, from a multiple video provider (MVP) via a remote connection with the MVP, wherein the service provider is the MVP.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the policy via a user interface device associated with the network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is a digital network operating in accordance with a defined protocol.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising configuring the server device to function as a digital media server (DMS) of the digital network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the DMS comprises at least one of a leased server device that is leased from a multiple video provider (MVP), a remotely managed server device that is remotely managed by the MVP, or a set top box.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the request further comprises a request for a listing of the media content available from the server device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the listing of the media content is a content directory service (CDS) listing.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising, in connection with the applying of the policy, transmitting a filtered listing of media content that lists only media content the client device is permitted to access, as defined in the policy, to the client device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of the client device comprises at least one of a digital media player, a digital media renderer, a digital media controller, a mobile digital media uploader, a mobile digital media downloader, or a media interoperability unit.

12. A server device for controlling access to media content provided by a service provider on a network, the server device comprising:

a processor executing computer program instructions; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer program instructions executable to perform steps comprising;

receiving a request to perform a specific action with respect to a specific media content from a client device via the network;

determining a type of the specific media content;

determining a type of the client device, wherein the determining the type of the client device comprises determining whether the client device is managed by the service provider based at least in part on whether identity information relating to the client device is received by the server device from a management device of the service provider, wherein receiving the identity information by the server device from the management device indicates the client device is managed by the service provider;

determining a policy from a plurality of policies based on the type of the client device and the type of the specific media content, each policy being defined in a respective allowable action filter vector from a plurality of allowable action filter vectors, wherein each respective allowable action filter vector associates a respective type of client device with a respective type of media content, defines a plurality of different actions that are performed on media contents, and, for each of the plurality of different actions, defines whether performance of the different action is permitted or not permitted on media contents of the respective type associated with the respective allowable action filter vector given the respective type of the client device associated with the respective allowable action filter vector;

applying the policy, by the server device, to the request for the specific media content; and

in response to applying the policy, selectively allowing the specific action from the request to be performed with respect to the specific media content by the client device based at least in part on the allowable action filter vector defining the applied policy when the specific action is defined as permitted in the allowable action filter vector.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer program instructions for controlling access to media content provided by a service provider on a network, the instructions executable by a processor of a server device to perform steps comprising:

receiving a request to perform a specific action with respect to a specific media content from a client device via the network;

determining a type of the specific media content;

determining a type of the client device, wherein the determining the type of the client device comprises determining whether the client device is managed by the service provider based at least in part on whether identity information relating to the client device is received by the server device from a management device of the service provider, wherein receiving the identity information by the server device from the management device indicates the client device is managed by the service provider;

determining a policy from a plurality of policies based on the type of the client device and the type of the specific media content, each policy being defined in a respective allowable action filter vector from a plurality of allowable action filter vectors, wherein each respective allowable action filter vector associates a respective type of client device with a respective type of media content, defines a plurality of different actions that are performed on media contents, and, for each of the plurality of different actions, defines whether performance of the different action is permitted or not permitted on media contents of the respective type associated with the respective allowable action filter vector given the respective type of the client device associated with the respective allowable action filter vector;

applying the policy, by the server device, to the request for the specific media content; and

in response to applying the policy, selectively allowing the specific action form the request to be performed with respect to the specific media content by the client device based at least in part on the allowable action filter vector defining the applied policy when the specific action is defined as permitted in the allowable action filter vector.