DIGITAL CONTENT DISTRIBUTION AND CONSUMPTION

• US 20090172400A1
• Filed: 03/10/2008
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Digital Israel Limited (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SanDisk IL Ltd. (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Rave, Micha, Nochimowski, Alain
• Granted Patent: US 8,359,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0246 in block erasable memory, e.g. flash memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0604 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. storage management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0655 Vertical data movement, i.e. input-output transfer; data movement between one or more hosts and one or more storage devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0664 at device level, e.g. emulation of a storage device or system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]

Abstract

Digital content distribution and consumption that provides the advantages of digital content being locally stored under user control while concurrently having the widest acceptance by legacy players/platforms (i.e., no need to perform complex software integration) while still remaining compatible with state of the art security in order to satisfy content provider requirements.

Claims

1. A method of acquiring and consuming protected digital content having at least one restriction attached thereto by a digital content provider in accordance with a DRM scheme, the method performed by a system that includes a local storage device (LSD) having a memory array, wherein the LSD is coupled with a host device (HD) having at least a host device file system (HDFS) arranged to manage at least a portion of the memory array, the method comprising:

acquiring the protected digital content by the LSD;

securely storing the acquired protected digital content in the memory array by the LSD, wherein the acquiring and the securely storing are each in accordance with the DRM scheme and neither are initiated by the HDFS; and

consuming the protected digital content by,

converting at least some of the securely stored protected digital content into a digital data stream, and

streaming the digital data stream by the LSD, wherein if the digital data stream has the at least one restriction attached thereto that is a usage restriction, then the LSD enforces the usage restriction.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the protected digital content includes digital content and corresponding rights objects, and wherein the usage restriction includes preventing unauthorized copying of the protected digital content, or allowing a predetermined number of uses of the protected digital content.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the memory array further comprises:

at least a first portion managed by the HDFS that is visible to the HDFS and at least a second portion that is not managed by the HDFS and is invisible to the HDFS, and wherein the securely storing the protected digital content further comprises;

storing encrypted digital content in the first portion of the memory array that is visible to the HDFS, and

storing the rights objects corresponding to the digital content in the second portion of the memory array that is invisible to the HDFS.

4. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the securely storing the protected digital content further comprises:

encrypting the protected digital content; and

storing the encrypted protected digital content in the first portion of the memory array that is visible to the HDFS.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein LSD streams the digital data stream to an agent external to the LSD, and wherein if the at least one restriction includes an access restriction, then the external agent can process the digital data stream only if the external agent is an authenticated external agent having access credentials acceptable to the first DRM scheme.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the external agent resides in a second LSD connected to the HD by way of an interface.

7. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the external agent is a local digital media player renderer application running in the HD.

8. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the protected digital content is acquired from a remote device (RD) that is external to the HD and the LSD and that is included in a network.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

mutually authenticating the LSD and the RD prior to the acquiring of the protected digital content; and

initiating the acquiring of the digital content by the LSD from the RD only when the mutual authentication is successfully concluded.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the HD further comprises a network interface providing the HD access to a network.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the acquiring the protected digital content further comprises:

prompting the HD by the RD to use the network interface to establish a communication path between the LSD and the RD wherein once the communication path is established by the HD there is no further intervention by the HD except to maintain the communication path, or

prompting the HD by the LSD to use the network interface to establish the communication path between the LSD and the RD wherein once the communication path is established by the HD there is no further intervention by the HD except to maintain the communication path; and

logically interacting over the communication path by the LSD and the RD, wherein the logical interaction is invisible to the HD.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the logical interaction includes a RD command that causes the RD to send the protected digital content from the RD to the LSD and that compels the LSD to store the protected digital content in the memory array, or wherein the logical interaction includes a LSD command that causes the LSD to request that the RD send the digital content from the RD to the LSD.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the converting at least some of the securely stored protected digital content into the digital data stream comprises:

reading the protected digital content from the memory array; and

arranging the protected digital content read from the memory array into at least one data stream.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the streaming the protected digital content from the memory array by the LSD comprises:

forming a streaming channel; and

streaming the protected digital content over the streaming channel.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein if the DRM requires that the streaming channel be a secure streaming channel, then

forming the secure streaming channel;

and

streaming the protected digital content over the secure streaming channel.

16. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the protected digital content is a digital media file that includes a MP3 audio file and/or a video file.

17. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the system is arranged to concurrently acquire and consume other protected digital content that has at least one restriction attached thereto in accordance with another DRM scheme.

18. Computer program product for acquiring and consuming protected digital content having at least one restriction attached thereto by a digital content provider in accordance with a DRM scheme, the computer program product executed by a processor included in a system that includes a local storage device (LSD) having a memory array, wherein the LSD is coupled with a host device (HD) having at least a host device file system (HDFS) arranged to manage at least a portion of the memory array, the computer program product comprising:

computer code for acquiring the protected digital content by the LSD;

computer code for securely storing the acquired protected digital content in the memory array by the LSD, wherein the acquiring and the securely storing are each in accordance with the DRM scheme and neither are initiated by the HDFS;

computer code for consuming the protected digital content by converting at least some of the securely stored protected digital content into a digital data stream, and streaming the digital data stream by the LSD, wherein if the digital data stream has the at least one restriction attached thereto that is a usage restriction, then the LSD enforces the usage restriction; and

computer readable medium for storing the computer code.

19. Computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein the protected digital content includes digital content and corresponding rights objects, and wherein the usage restriction includes preventing unauthorized copying of the protected digital content, or allowing a predetermined number of uses of the protected digital content.

20. Computer program product as recited in claim 19, wherein the memory array comprises at least a first portion managed by the HDFS that is visible to the HDFS and at least a second portion that is not managed by the HDFS and is invisible to the HDFS, and wherein the computer code for securely storing the protected digital content further comprises:

computer code for storing encrypted digital content in the first portion of the memory array that is visible to the HDFS; and

computer code for storing the rights objects corresponding to the digital content in the second portion of the memory array that is invisible to the HDFS.

21. Computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein LSD streams the digital data stream to an agent external to the LSD, and wherein if the at least one restriction includes an access restriction, then the external agent can process the received digital data stream only if the external agent is an authenticated external agent having access credentials acceptable to the DRM scheme.

22. Computer program product as recited in claim 21, wherein the authorized external agent is a digital media player renderer application running in an device external to the HD.

23. Computer program product as recited in claim 21, wherein the authorized external agent is a local digital media player renderer application running in the HD.

24. Computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein the digital content is acquired from a remote device (RD) that is external to the HD and the LSD included in a network, wherein at least a portion of the digital content is stored in the RD.

25. Computer program product as recited in claim 24, further comprising:

computer code for mutually authenticating the LSD and the RD prior to the acquiring of the protected digital content; and

computer code for initiating the acquiring of the digital content by the LSD from the RD only when the mutual authentication is successfully concluded.

26. Computer program product as recited in claim 25, wherein the HD further comprises a network interface providing the HD access to a network, and wherein the first portion of the memory array is logically arranged to include at least one LBA mass storage area managed by the HDFS.

27. Computer program product as recited in claim 26, wherein the receiving the digital content further comprises:

computer code for prompting the HD by the RD to use the network interface to establish a communication path between the LSD and the RD wherein once the communication path is established by the HD there is no further intervention by the HD except to maintain the communication path, or

computer code for prompting the HD by the LSD to use the network interface to establish the communication path between the LSD and the RD wherein once the communication path is established by the HD there is no further intervention by the HD except to maintain the communication path; and

computer code for logically interacting over the communication path by the LSD and the RD, wherein the logical interaction is invisible to the HD.

28. Computer program product as recited in claim 27, wherein the logical interaction includes a command that causes the RD to send the digital content from the RD to the LSD and that compels the LSD to store the digital content at the memory array, or wherein the logical interaction includes the LSD requesting that the RD send the digital content from the RD to the LSD.

29. Computer program product as recited in claim 28, wherein the streaming the protected digital content comprises:

computer code for reading the protected digital content from the memory array;

computer code for arranging the protected digital content read from the memory array into at least one data stream.

30. Computer program product as recited in claim 29, wherein the streaming the protected digital content from the memory array by the LSD comprises:

computer code for forming a streaming channel; and

computer code for streaming the protected digital content over the streaming channel.

31. Computer program product as recited in claim 30, wherein if the DRM requires that the streaming channel be a secure streaming channel, then

computer code for forming the secure streaming channel;

and

computer code for streaming the protected digital content over the secure streaming channel.

32. Computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein the protected digital content is a digital media file.

33. Computer program product as recited in claim 32, wherein the digital media file is a MP3 audio file or a video file.

34. A system for acquiring and consuming protected digital content having at least one restriction attached thereto by a digital content provider in accordance with a DRM scheme, comprising:

a host device (HD) having at least a host device file system (HDFS); and

a local storage device (LSD) coupled with a host device (HD) that includes a memory array at least a portion of which is managed by the HDFS,

wherein the LSD acquires and securely stores the protected digital content in the memory array, wherein the acquiring and the securely storing are each in accordance with the DRM scheme and neither are initiated by the HDFS, and wherein the protected digital content is consumed by converting at least some of the securely stored protected digital content into a digital data stream and streaming the digital data stream by the LSD, wherein if the digital data stream has the at least one restriction attached thereto that is a usage restriction that prevents unauthorized copying of the protected digital content, then the LSD enforces the usage restriction.

35. A system as recited in claim 34, wherein the protected digital content includes digital content and corresponding rights objects, and wherein the usage restriction includes preventing unauthorized copying of the protected digital content, or allowing a predetermined number of uses of the protected digital content.

36. A system as recited in claim 35, wherein the memory array comprises at least a first portion managed by the HDFS that is visible to the HDFS and at least a second portion that is not managed by the HDFS and is invisible to the HDFS, and wherein the securely storing the protected digital content further comprises:

storing encrypted digital content in the first portion of the memory array that is visible to the HDFS; and

storing the rights objects corresponding to the digital content in the second portion of the memory array that is invisible to the HDFS.

37. A system as recited in claim 35, wherein the securely storing the protected digital content further comprises:

encrypting the protected digital content; and

storing the encrypted protected digital content in the first portion of the memory array that is visible to the HDFS.

38. A system as recited in claim 34, wherein LSD streams the digital data stream to an agent external to the LSD, and wherein if the at least one restriction includes an access restriction, then the external agent can process the received digital data stream only if the external agent is an authenticated external agent having access credentials acceptable to the DRM scheme.

39. A system as recited in claim 38, wherein the authorized external agent is a digital media player renderer application running in an device external to the HD.

40. A system as recited in claim 38, wherein the authorized external agent is a local digital media player renderer application running in the HD.

41. A system as recited in claim 34, wherein the digital content is acquired from a remote device (RD) that is external to the HD and the LSD included in a network.

42. A system as recited in claim 41, further comprising:

an authentication agent for mutually authenticating the LSD and the RD prior to the acquiring of the protected digital content and initiating the acquiring of the digital content by the LSD from the RD only when the mutual authentication is successfully concluded.

43. A system as recited in claim 42, wherein the HD further comprises a network interface providing the HD access to a network.

44. A system as recited in claim 43, wherein the acquiring the protected digital content further comprises:

prompting the HD by the RD to use the network interface to establish a communication path between the LSD and the RD wherein once the communication path is established by the HD there is no further intervention by the HD except to maintain the communication path, or

prompting the HD by the LSD to use the network interface to establish the communication path between the LSD and the RD wherein once the communication path is established by the HD there is no further intervention by the HD except to maintain the communication path; and

logically interacting over the communication path by the LSD and the RD, wherein the logical interaction is invisible to the HD.

45. A system as recited in claim 44, wherein the logical interaction includes a RD command that causes the RD to send the protected digital content from the RD to the LSD and that compels the LSD to store the protected digital content in the memory array, or wherein the logical interaction includes a LSD command that causes the LSD to request that the RD send the digital content from the RD to the LSD.

46. A system as recited in claim 45, wherein the streaming the protected digital content comprises:

reading the protected digital content from the memory array;

arranging the protected digital content read from the memory array into at least one data stream.

47. A system as recited in claim 46, wherein the streaming the protected digital content from the memory array by the LSD comprises:

forming a streaming channel; and

streaming the protected digital content over the streaming channel.

48. A system as recited in claim 47, wherein if the DRM requires that the streaming channel be a secure streaming channel, then

forming the secure streaming channel;

and

streaming the protected digital content over the secure streaming channel.

49. A system as recited in claim 34, wherein the protected digital content is a digital media file.

50. A system as recited in claim 49, wherein the digital media file is a MP3 audio file or a video file.

51. A computing system, comprising,

a host device (HD) having at least a host device file system (HDFS) and a LSD driver;

a local storage device (LSD) having at least one storage area managed by the HDFS; and

a requesting application external to the LSD and in communication with the HD, wherein the requesting application does not utilize any communication paths with either the HDFS or the LSD driver, and wherein the requesting application compels the LSD to read at least some of the data stored in the at least one storage area without intervention by the HDFS, and wherein the LSD then streams the data read from the at least one storage area to an external application.

52. A computing system as recited in claim 51, wherein the external application is the requesting application.

53. A computing system as recited in claim 52, further comprising:

forwarding the data received by the requesting application from the LSD to a second external application.

54. A computing system as recited in claim 51, wherein the data read from the at least one storage area is protected digital content having at least one restriction attached thereto by a digital content provider in accordance with a DRM scheme.

55. A computing system as recited in claim 54, wherein the LSD streams the protected digital content read from the at least one storage area to the external application by converting the protected digital content read from the at least one storage area into a digital data stream having the at least one restriction attached thereto, wherein if the at least one restriction attached to the digital data stream is a usage restriction, then the LSD enforces the usage restriction.

56. A computing system as recited in claim 55, further comprising:

forwarding the data received by the external application from the LSD to a second external application.