Content control systems and methods

• US 20070186062A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Promethean Storage, LLC
• Inventors: Reh, Jeffrey, Bruner, Curtis, Squires, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 7,577,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/154
• 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 21/6209 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 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices

Abstract

A control system comprises an interface configured to receive a content request from a request source wherein the content request identifies content stored on a storage medium. The control system also comprises a processing system coupled to the interface and configured to process the content request to determine when the request source is a valid destination for the content based on a first identifier stored with the content. The interface is further configured to transfer the content to the request source when the request source is a valid destination.

Claims

1. A control system comprising:

an interface configured to receive a content request from a request source wherein the content request identifies content stored on a storage medium;

a processing system coupled to the interface and configured to process the content request to determine when the request source is a valid destination for the content based on a first identifier stored with the content; and

the interface configured to transfer the content to the request source when the request source is a valid destination.

2. The control system of claim 1 wherein the processing system is configured to generate a response to the content request and wherein the interface is configured to transfer the response.

3. The control system of claim 2 wherein the response comprises an error message when the request source is not a valid destination for the content.

4. The control system of claim 2 wherein the response comprises invalid data when the request source is not a valid destination for the content.

5. The control system of claim 2 wherein the processing system withholds a response when the request source is not a valid destination for the content.

6. The control system of claim 1 wherein the interface is further configured to receive a second identifier.

7. The control system of claim 6 wherein the processing system is configured to process the first identifier and the second identifier to determine when the request source is a valid destination for the content.

8. The control system of claim 1 wherein the storage medium comprises a rotating storage medium.

9. The control system of claim 1 wherein the storage medium comprises a semiconductor based storage medium.

10. The control system of claim 1 wherein the request source comprises a host system and wherein the first identifier identifies a subsystem on the host system.

11. A method of operating a control system comprising:

receiving a content request from a request source wherein the content request identifies content stored on a storage medium;

processing the content request to determine when the request source is a valid destination for the content based on a first identifier stored with the content; and

transferring the content to the request source when the request source is a valid destination.

12. The method of claim 11 comprising generating a response to the content request and transferring the response.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the response comprises an error message when the request source is not a valid destination for the content.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the response comprises invalid data when the request source is not a valid destination for the content.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising withholding a response when the request source is not a valid destination for the content.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising receiving a second identifier.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising processing the first identifier and the second identifier to determine when the request source is a valid destination for the content.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the storage medium comprises a rotating storage medium.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the storage medium comprises a semiconductor based storage medium.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the request source comprises a host system and wherein the first identifier identifies a subsystem on the host system.

21. A storage system comprising:

a storage medium configured to store content; and

a control system coupled to the storage medium and configured to receive a content request from a request source wherein the content request identifies content stored on a storage medium, process the content request to determine when the request source is a valid destination for the content based on a first identifier stored with the content, and transfer the content to the request source when the request source is a valid destination.

22. A device comprising:

a host system; and

a storage system coupled to the host system and configured to receive a content request from a request source wherein the content request identifies content stored on a storage medium, process the content request to determine when the request source is a valid destination for the content based on a first identifier stored with the content, and transfer the content to the request source when the request source is a valid destination.

23. A device comprising:

a storage system having a storage medium; and

a host system coupled to the storage system and comprising a control system configured to receive a content request from a request source wherein the content request identifies content stored on the storage medium, process the content request to determine when the request source is a valid destination for the content based on a first identifier stored with the content, and transfer the content to the request source when the request source is a valid destination.