Method, system, and device for license-centric content consumption

• US 20060107046A1
• Filed: 11/18/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. (Pendrell Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. (Pendrell Corporation)
• Inventors: Chen, Eddie J., Raley, Michael Charles
• Granted Patent: US 8,660,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/105 Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/18 Licensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/358 Digital rights management

Abstract

A method, system, and device for license-centric content use or distribution, including a pre-existing digital rights management (DRM) system having a unique interface to a repository of data thereof to govern use of content; a shared license repository configured to access the data to govern the use of the content and to communicate with the unique interface of the pre-existing DRM system; and a user interface configured to interact with the pre-existing DRM system, and configured to allow the user to send a license associated with the content from the shared license repository to the pre-existing DRM system or to another shared license repository.

Claims

1. A system for license-centric content use or distribution, the system comprising:

a pre-existing digital rights management (DRM) system having a unique interface to a repository of data thereof to govern use of content;

a shared license repository configured to access the data to govern the use of the content and to communicate with the unique interface of the pre-existing DRM system; and

a user interface configured to interact with the pre-existing DRM system, and configured to allow the user to send a license associated with the content from the shared license repository to the pre-existing DRM system or to another shared license repository.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared license repository comprises a network server.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of instances of the pre-existing DRM system, wherein the shared license repository is configured to communicate with the instances of the pre-existing DRM system.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of different proprietary DRM systems, wherein the shared license repository is configured to communicate with the different proprietary DRM systems.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the content use or distribution includes content consumption.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared license repository comprises one or more hardware and/or software devices.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is standardized or proprietary.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared license repository is configured to include a license extraction functionality.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the license extraction functionality is configured as an overlay on top of the pre-existing DRM system.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the license extraction functionality is configured as a glue module in between the pre-existing DRM system and the shared license repository.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared license repository is configured to include the license sending functionality.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the license sending functionality is configured as an overlay on top of the pre-existing DRM system.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the license sending functionality is configured as a glue module in between the pre-existing DRM system and the shared license repository.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the pre-existing DRM system is not configured with support for the shared license repository.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared license repository is configured to enable the user to manage the content by managing the license associated with the content instead of a specific instance of the content.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein, with possession of the license, the system makes the content available to the user, and adapts the content to a content consumption environment of the user or a pre-existing DRM system of the user.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to allow the user to access an entirety of licenses of the user.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared license repository is configured to evaluate a plurality of DRM systems of the user in an aggregated view, including all licenses owned by the user, and where the licenses are stored.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared license repository is configured to allow the user to add a new license.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the new license is added to a DRM system of the user and which is associated with the shared license repository.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the shared license repository is configured to add the new license in a format compatible with the DRM system of the user.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein if a DRM system of the user does not have the shared license repository associated therewith, the shared license repository attempts to configure the DRM system of the user to behave in a way which honors the new license.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured as part of the shared license repository and configured for allowing the user to browse the shared license repository as a shopping experience.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured as a content service allowing the user to visit a website associated with the content service and configured to push a new license to the shared license repository.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared license repository is configured to be pre-loaded with one or more licenses.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared license repository is configured to store one or more licenses associated with one or more pre-existing DRM systems, whereby if the corresponding pre-existing DRM systems, licenses, content, format or media are lost, damaged, or obsolete, the shared license repository is configured to use the stored licenses to re-acquire corresponding license, or content adapted to a current content consumption device, format, media, or DRM system.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared license repository is configured to be used in conjunction with an escrow service that allows the user to exercise a principle of first sale.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the shared license repository is configured to submit a license of the user to the escrow service, and revoke the submitted license.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein another party submits money or other consideration, including another license to the escrow service, and the escrow service issues a new license corresponding to the submitted license to the party to complete a sale or exchange transaction associated with the submitted license.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the escrow service is configured as a high speed, low latency escrow service that allows users to trade licenses on demand.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the escrow service is configured to process a plurality of licenses associated with corresponding content, allow users to borrow licenses as the corresponding content is used, and return licenses when the users are no longer using the corresponding content.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared license repository is configured to build content usage rules based on a DRM system of the user.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the content usage rules are not based on a license physically stored in the DRM system of the user, but instead are based on an understanding by the shared license repository of the DRM system and the content usage rules at a time that extraction of corresponding content occurs.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the content usage rules are associated with a content consumption software or device, and which govern use of the corresponding content.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the content usage rules change with an update or new version of the content consumption software or device.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the shared license repository is configured to understand what the content usage rules are at a given time, and record the content usage rules in a DRM expression associated with the shared license repository, whereby the user can document content usage rules being enforced during periods of time of usage of the corresponding content.

37. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared license repository is configured as a witness, by analyzing one or more DRM systems of the user, and then securely recording licenses associated with the DRM systems of the user.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the shared license repository is configured to securely record the licenses associated with the DRM systems in at least one of paper form, as a signed digital document, and offsite storage, including a server.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the shared license repository is configured to use the secure recording to acquire or reissue a lost license or create a new license based on a new DRM system of the user.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein the user can appeal to a court to force an entity associated with the one or more DRM systems of the user or corresponding content owners to re-issue usage rights associated with the corresponding content based on testimony associated with the shared license repository.

41. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared license repository is configured to authenticate the user.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the authentication of the user is based on an authentication mechanism.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the authentication mechanism includes a license wallet including a biometric characteristic or secure digital certificate associated with the user.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the authentication mechanism includes biometric authentication of the user.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the biometric authentication of the user includes thumb print verification of the user.

46. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared license repository is configured to provide a DRM system of the user with a credential associated with the user to authenticate the user.

47. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared license repository is configured to centrally authenticate one or more licenses issued to the user for one or more corresponding DRM systems of the user.

48. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared license repository is configured as a license interpreter.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the shared license repository is configured to receive queries regarding content usage from one or more DRM systems of the user, and search for corresponding rights and permit or deny the content usage based on search results.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the shared license repository is configured to handle license interpretation and management for the DRM systems of the user.

51. The system of claim 1, wherein the user can be a human or a machine.

52. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to extract or construct a license from the pre-existing DRM system.

53. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared license repository and the pre-existing DRM system are configured to support a license in a standardized or in a proprietary format.

54. The system of claim 41, wherein the authentication of the user and content usage rules are included in a single license.

55. A computer-implemented method for license-centric content use or distribution in a system including a pre-existing digital rights management (DRM) system having a unique interface to a repository of data thereof to govern use of content, the method comprising the steps of:

accessing, via a shared license repository, the data to govern the use of the content and to communicate with the unique interface of the pre-existing DRM system; and

interacting, via a user interface, with the pre-existing DRM system, and allowing the user to send a license associated with the content from the shared license repository to the pre-existing DRM system or to another shared license repository.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the shared license repository comprises a network server.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein a plurality of instances of the pre-existing DRM system are provided, and the method includes further comprises communicating, via the shared license repository, with the instances of the pre-existing DRM system.

58. The method of claim 55, wherein a plurality of different proprietary DRM systems are provided, and the method further comprises communicating, via the shared license repository, with the different proprietary DRM systems.

59. The method of claim 55, wherein the content use or distribution includes content consumption.

60. The method of claim 55, wherein the shared license repository comprises one or more hardware and/or software devices.

61. The method of claim 55, wherein the user interface is standardized or proprietary.

62. The method of claim 55, further comprising providing, via the shared license repository, a license extraction functionality.

63. The method of claim 62, further comprising providing the license extraction functionality as an overlay on top of the pre-existing DRM system.

64. The method of claim 62, further comprising providing the license extraction functionality as a glue module in between the pre-existing DRM system and the shared license repository.

65. The method of claim 55, further comprising providing, via the shared license repository, the license sending functionality.

66. The method of claim 55, further comprising providing the license sending functionality as an overlay on top of the pre-existing DRM system.

67. The method of claim 55, further comprising providing the license sending functionality as a glue module in between the pre-existing DRM system and the shared license repository.

68. The method of claim 55, wherein the pre-existing DRM system is not configured with support for the shared license repository.

69. The method of claim 55, further comprising enabling, via the shared license repository, the user to manage the content by managing the license associated with the content instead of a specific instance of the content.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein, with possession of the license, the comprises making the content available to the user, and adapting the content to a content consumption environment of the user or a pre-existing DRM system of the user.

71. The method of claim 55, further comprising allowing, via the user interface, the user to access an entirety of licenses of the user.

72. The method of claim 55, further comprising evaluating, via the shared license repository, a plurality of DRM systems of the user in an aggregated view, including all licenses owned by the user, and where the licenses are stored.

73. The method of claim 55, further comprising allowing, via the shared license repository, the user to add a new license.

74. The method of claim 73, further comprising adding the new license to a DRM system of the user, and associating the added license with the shared license repository.

75. The method of claim 74, further comprising adding, via the shared license repository, the new license in a format compatible with the DRM system of the user.

76. The method of claim 73, wherein if a DRM system of the user does not have the shared license repository associated therewith, the method comprises attempting, via the shared license repository, to configure the DRM system of the user to behave in a way which honors the new license.

77. The method of claim 55, further comprising providing the user interface as part of the shared license repository, and allowing, the user interface, the user to browse the shared license repository as a shopping experience.

78. The method of claim 55, wherein the user interface is configured as a content service, and the method further comprises allowing, via the user interface, the user to visit a website associated with the content service, and pushing, via the user interface, a new license to the shared license repository.

79. The method of claim 55, further comprising providing the shared license repository pre-loaded with one or more licenses.

80. The method of claim 55, further comprising storing, via the shared license repository, one or more licenses associated with one or more pre-existing DRM systems, whereby if the corresponding pre-existing DRM systems, licenses, content, format or media are lost, damaged, or obsolete, the method further comprises using, via the shared license repository, the stored licenses to re-acquire corresponding license, or content adapted to a current content consumption device, format, media, or DRM system.

81. The method of claim 55, further comprising using the shared license repository in conjunction with an escrow service, and allowing, via the escrow service, the user to exercise a principle of first sale.

82. The method of claim 81, further comprising submitting, via the shared license repository, a license of the user to the escrow service, and revoking, via the shared license repository, the submitted license.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein another party submits money or other consideration, including another license to the escrow service, and the method further comprises issuing, via the escrow service, a new license corresponding to the submitted license to the party to complete a sale or exchange transaction associated with the submitted license.

84. The method of claim 81, further comprising allowing, via the escrow service configured as a high speed, low latency escrow service, users to trade licenses on demand.

85. The method of claim 84, further comprising allowing, via the escrow service configured to process a plurality of licenses associated with corresponding content, users to borrow licenses as the corresponding content is used, and return licenses when the users are no longer using the corresponding content.

86. The method of claim 55, further comprising building, via the shared license repository, content usage rules based on a DRM system of the user.

87. The method of claim 86, wherein the content usage rules are not based on a license physically stored in the DRM system of the user, but instead are based on an understanding by the shared license repository of the DRM system and the content usage rules at a time that extraction of corresponding content occurs.

88. The method of claim 87, further comprising associating the content usage rules with a content consumption software or device, and governing, via the content usage rules, use of the corresponding content.

89. The method of claim 88, further comprising changing the content usage rules with an update or new version of the content consumption software or device.

90. The method of claim 89, further comprising understanding, via the shared license repository, what the content usage rules are at a given time, and recording, via the shared license repository, the content usage rules in a DRM expression associated with the shared license repository, whereby the user can document content usage rules being enforced during periods of time of usage of the corresponding content.

91. The method of claim 55, further comprising analyzing, via the shared license repository configured as a witness, one or more DRM systems of the user, and securely recording, via the shared license repository, licenses associated with the DRM systems of the user.

92. The method of claim 91, further comprising securely recording, via the shared license repository, the licenses associated with the DRM systems in at least one of paper form, as a signed digital document, and offsite storage, including a server.

93. The method of claim 92, further comprising using, via the shared license repository, the secure recording to acquire or reissue a lost license or create a new license based on a new DRM system of the user.

94. The method of claim 91, further comprising the user appealing to a court to force an entity associated with the one or more DRM systems of the user or corresponding content owners to re-issue usage rights associated with the corresponding content based on testimony associated with the shared license repository.

95. The method of claim 55, further comprising authenticating the user, via the shared license repository.

96. The method of claim 95, wherein the authentication of the user is based on an authentication mechanism.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein the authentication mechanism includes a license wallet including a biometric characteristic or secure digital certificate associated with the user.

98. The method of claim 96, wherein the authentication mechanism includes biometric authentication of the user.

99. The method of claim 98, wherein the biometric authentication of the user includes thumb print verification of the user.

100. The method of claim 55, further comprising providing a DRM system of the user with a credential associated with the user to authenticate the user, via the shared license repository.

101. The method of claim 55, further comprising centrally authenticating, via the shared license repository, one or more licenses issued to the user for one or more corresponding DRM systems of the user.

102. The method of claim 55, wherein the shared license repository is configured as a license interpreter.

103. The method of claim 102, further comprising receiving queries regarding content usage from one or more DRM systems of the user, and searching for corresponding rights and permit or deny the content usage based on search results, via the shared license repository.

104. The method of claim 103, further comprising handling license interpretation and management for the DRM systems of the user, via the shared license repository.

105. The method of claim 55, wherein the user can be a human or a machine.

106. The method of claim 55, further comprising allowing, via the user interface, a user to extract or construct a license from the pre-existing DRM system.

107. The method of claim 55, further comprising supporting a license in a standardized or in a proprietary format, via the shared license repository and the pre-existing DRM system.

108. The method of claim 95, further comprising including the authentication of the user and content usage rules in a single license.

109. A computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable instructions configured to cause one or more computer processors to execute the steps recited in claim 55.

110. A computer system comprising one or more computer processors configured to execute the steps recited in claim 55.

111. A device for license-centric content use or distribution for use with a pre-existing digital rights management (DRM) system having a unique interface to a repository of data thereof to govern use of content, the device comprising:

a shared license repository configured to access the data to govern the use of the content and to communicate with the unique interface of the pre-existing DRM system; and

a user interface configured to interact with the pre-existing DRM system, and configured to allow the user to send a license associated with the content from the shared license repository to the pre-existing DRM system or to another shared license repository.

112. The device of claim 111, wherein the shared license repository comprises a network server.

113. The device of claim 111, wherein there are a plurality of instances of the pre-existing DRM system, and the shared license repository is configured to communicate with the instances of the pre-existing DRM system.

114. The device of claim 111, wherein there are a plurality of different proprietary DRM systems, and the shared license repository is configured to communicate with the different proprietary DRM systems.

115. The device of claim 111, wherein the content use or distribution includes content consumption.

116. The device of claim 111, wherein the shared license repository comprises one or more hardware and/or software devices.

117. The device of claim 111, wherein the user interface is standardized or proprietary.

118. The device of claim 111, wherein the shared license repository is configured to include a license extraction functionality.

119. The device of claim 118, wherein the license extraction functionality is configured as an overlay on top of the pre-existing DRM system.

120. The device of claim 118, wherein the license extraction functionality is configured as a glue module in between the pre-existing DRM system and the shared license repository.

121. The device of claim 111, wherein the shared license repository is configured to include the license sending functionality.

122. The device of claim 111, wherein the license sending functionality is configured as an overlay on top of the pre-existing DRM system.

123. The device of claim 111, wherein the license sending functionality is configured as a glue module in between the pre-existing DRM system and the shared license repository.

124. The device of claim 111, wherein the pre-existing DRM system is not configured with support for the shared license repository.

125. The device of claim 111, wherein the shared license repository is configured to enable the user to manage the content by managing the license associated with the content instead of a specific instance of the content.

126. The device of claim 125, wherein, with possession of the license, the device makes the content available to the user, and adapts the content to a content consumption environment of the user or a pre-existing DRM system of the user.

127. The device of claim 111, wherein the user interface is configured to allow the user to access an entirety of licenses of the user.

128. The device of claim 111, wherein the shared license repository is configured to evaluate a plurality of DRM systems of the user in an aggregated view, including all licenses owned by the user, and where the licenses are stored.

129. The device of claim 111, wherein the shared license repository is configured to allow the user to add a new license.

130. The device of claim 129, wherein the new license is added to a DRM system of the user and which is associated with the shared license repository.

131. The device of claim 130, wherein the shared license repository is configured to add the new license in a format compatible with the DRM system of the user.

132. The device of claim 129, wherein if a DRM system of the user does not have the shared license repository associated therewith, the shared license repository attempts to configure the DRM system of the user to behave in a way which honors the new license.

133. The device of claim 111, wherein the user interface is configured as part of the shared license repository and configured for allowing the user to browse the shared license repository as a shopping experience.

134. The device of claim 111, wherein the user interface is configured as a content service allowing the user to visit a website associated with the content service and configured to push a new license to the shared license repository.

135. The device of claim 111, wherein the shared license repository is configured to be pre-loaded with one or more licenses.

136. The device of claim 111, wherein the shared license repository is configured to store one or more licenses associated with one or more pre-existing DRM systems, whereby if the corresponding pre-existing DRM systems, licenses, content, format or media are lost, damaged, or obsolete, the shared license repository is configured to use the stored licenses to re-acquire corresponding license, or content adapted to a current content consumption device, format, media, or DRM system.

137. The device of claim 111, wherein the shared license repository is configured to be used in conjunction with an escrow service that allows the user to exercise a principle of first sale.

138. The device of claim 137, wherein the shared license repository is configured to submit a license of the user to the escrow service, and revoke the submitted license.

139. The device of claim 138, wherein another party submits money or other consideration, including another license to the escrow service, and the escrow service issues a new license corresponding to the submitted license to the party to complete a sale or exchange transaction associated with the submitted license.

140. The device of claim 137, wherein the escrow service is configured as a high speed, low latency escrow service that allows users to trade licenses on demand.

141. The device of claim 140, wherein the escrow service is configured to process a plurality of licenses associated with corresponding content, allow users to borrow licenses as the corresponding content is used, and return licenses when the users are no longer using the corresponding content.

142. The device of claim 111, wherein the shared license repository is configured to build content usage rules based on a DRM system of the user.

143. The device of claim 142, wherein the content usage rules are not based on a license physically stored in the DRM system of the user, but instead are based on an understanding by the shared license repository of the DRM system and the content usage rules at a time that extraction of corresponding content occurs.

144. The device of claim 143, wherein the content usage rules are associated with a content consumption software or device, and which govern use of the corresponding content.

145. The device of claim 144, wherein the content usage rules change with an update or new version of the content consumption software or device.

146. The device of claim 145, wherein the shared license repository is configured to understand what the content usage rules are at a given time, and record the content usage rules in a DRM expression associated with the shared license repository, whereby the user can document content usage rules being enforced during periods of time of usage of the corresponding content.

147. The device of claim 111, wherein the shared license repository is configured as a witness, by analyzing one or more DRM systems of the user, and then securely recording licenses associated with the DRM systems of the user.

148. The device of claim 147, wherein the shared license repository is configured to securely record the licenses associated with the DRM systems in at least one of paper form, as a signed digital document, and offsite storage, including a server.

149. The device of claim 148, wherein the shared license repository is configured to use the secure recording to acquire or reissue a lost license or create a new license based on a new DRM system of the user.

150. The device of claim 147, wherein the user can appeal to a court to force an entity associated with the one or more DRM systems of the user or corresponding content owners to re-issue usage rights associated with the corresponding content based on testimony associated with the shared license repository.

151. The device of claim 111, wherein the shared license repository is configured to authenticate the user.

152. The device of claim 151, wherein the authentication of the user is based on an authentication mechanism.

153. The device of claim 152, wherein the authentication mechanism includes a license wallet including a biometric characteristic or secure digital certificate associated with the user.

154. The device of claim 152, wherein the authentication mechanism includes biometric authentication of the user.

155. The device of claim 154, wherein the biometric authentication of the user includes thumb print verification of the user.

156. The device of claim 111, wherein the shared license repository is configured to provide a DRM system of the user with a credential associated with the user to authenticate the user.

157. The device of claim 111, wherein the shared license repository is configured to centrally authenticate one or more licenses issued to the user for one or more corresponding DRM systems of the user.

158. The device of claim 111, wherein the shared license repository is configured as a license interpreter.

159. The device of claim 158, wherein the shared license repository is configured to receive queries regarding content usage from one or more DRM systems of the user, and search for corresponding rights and permit or deny the content usage based on search results.

160. The device of claim 159, wherein the shared license repository is configured to handle license interpretation and management for the DRM systems of the user.

161. The device of claim 111, wherein the user can be a human or a machine.

162. The device of claim 111, wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to extract or construct a license from the pre-existing DRM system.

163. The device of claim 111, wherein the shared license repository and the pre-existing DRM system are configured to support a license in a standardized or in a proprietary format.

164. The device of claim 151, wherein the authentication of the user and content usage rules are included in a single license.