Method for using communication channel round-trip response time for digital asset management

• US 7,398,392 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2002
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cable Television Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cable Television Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Weber, Joseph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron, Jr.; Gilberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lipman; Jacob
• Application Number:
  US10/295,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20040098583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,062 Days
• Field of Search: 380/258, 713/168, 726/4
• US Class Current: 713/168
• 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 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

The present method for using communication channel round-trip response time for digital asset management utilizes a predetermined distance between a sending device and a receiving device to prevent unauthorized receipt of digital content when the unauthorized receiving device is located beyond the predetermined distance. When the receiving device requests digital content from the sending device, the sending device replies with a request for an acknowledgement. The receiving device sends the requested acknowledgement. The time between sending the request for an acknowledgement and receipt of the acknowledgement is the actual round-trip response time. The actual round-trip response time is compared to a predetermined response time limit for the predetermined distance and if the actual response time is within the predetermined response time limit, the request for digital content is granted and if the actual round-trip response time is not within the predetermined response time limit, the request for digital content is denied.

Claims

1. A method for distributing digital content from a sending device to an authorized receiving device which is located at a predetermined location and whose authentication data has been compromised by an unauthorized receiving device, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a predetermined distance from said sending device to said authorized receiving device, where said authorized receiving device is located at a predetermined location that is known to said sending device;

receiving a request for digital content from a device purporting to be said authorized receiving device;

sending, in response to said request for digital content, a request for acknowledgement to said purported receiving device;

receiving an acknowledgement, including device authentication data, from said unauthorized receiving device that corresponds to valid device authentication data from said authorized receiving device;

determining, in response to receiving said acknowledgement from said purported receiving device, an actual round-trip response time for said request for said acknowledgement and the associated acknowledgement; and

using said actual round-trip response time to determine if said purported receiving device is located a distance from said sending device corresponding to said predetermined distance from said sending device to said authorized receiving device.

2. The method for distributing digital content of claim 1 wherein said step of using said round-trip response time comprises:

if said actual round-trip response time corresponds to a response time for said predetermined distance, said request for digital content is granted and if said actual round-trip response time does not correspond to a response time for said predetermined distance, denying said request for digital content.

3. The method for distributing digital content of claim 1 wherein said predetermined location is identified by a one of location specific parameters including:

a physical address representing a present physical location of said receiving device, and a geographical area in which said receiving device is located.

4. The method for distributing digital content of claim 1 wherein the step of sending a request for acknowledgement comprises:

recording a first rime representing when said request for said acknowledgement was sent.

5. The method for distributing digital content of claim 4 wherein the step of determining an actual round-trip response time comprises:

recording a second time representing when said acknowledgement was received at said sending device.

6. The method for distributing digital content of claim 5 wherein the step of determining an actual round-trip response time comprises:

comparing said first time and said second time to determine said actual round-trip response time.

7. A method for detecting a request for digital content from an unauthorized receiving device which has compromised the authentication of an authorized receiving device, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a predetermined reference distance between a sending device and an authorized receiving device, said predetermined reference distance having a corresponding predetermined response time;

receiving said request for digital content at said sending device from said unauthorized receiving device;

in response to receiving said request for digital content, sending a request for an acknowledgement to said unauthorized receiving device;

receiving an acknowledgement including device authentication data, from said unauthorized receiving device that corresponds to valid device authentication data from said authorized receiving device;

in response to receiving said acknowledgement from said unauthorized receiving device at said sending device, determining an actual round-trip response time; and

comparing said actual round-trip response time to said predetermined response time, wherein if said actual round-trip response time fails to correspond to said predetermined round-trip response limit for said authorized receiving device, said unauthorized receiving device is not authorized to receive said digital content.

8. The method for detecting a request for digital content from an unauthorized receiving device of claim 7 wherein the step of determining an actual round-trip response time comprises:

calculating a difference between sending said request for said acknowledgement from said sending device and receiving said acknowledgement from said unauthorized receiving device at said sending device.

9. The method for detecting a request for digital content from an unauthorized receiving device of claim 7 wherein said authorized receiving device is identified by a one of location specific parameters including:

a physical address representing a present physical location of said authorized receiving device, and a geographical area in which said authorized receiving device is located.

10. The method for detecting a request for digital content from an unauthorized receiving device of claim 7 wherein the step of sending a request for an acknowledgement comprises:

recording a time representing when said request for said acknowledgement was sent to said receiving device.

11. The method for detecting a request for digital content from an unauthorized receiving device of claim 10 wherein the step of receiving said acknowledgement from said unauthorized receiving device comprises:

recording a receive time representing when said acknowledgement was received at said sending device.

12. The method for detecting a request for digital content from an unauthorized receiving device of claim 10 wherein the step of determining an actual round-trip response time comprises:

calculating a difference between said send time and said receive time to determine said actual round-trip response time.

13. A method for preventing distribution of digital content from a source device to an unauthorized destination device located outside of a predetermined geographical area, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a predetermined reference distance between a source device and an authorized receiving device located in said predetermined geographic area, said predetermined reference distance having a corresponding predetermined response time;

receiving a request from a destination device for said digital content;

said sending device requesting an acknowledgement from said destination device;

receiving an acknowledgement, including device authentication data, from said destination device that corresponds to valid device authentication data from said authorized receiving device;

recording a first time denoting the time that said request for acknowledgement was sent to said destination device;

recoding a second time denoting the time that said acknowledgement from said destination device was received at said source device;

calculating a difference between said first time and said second time to determine a round-trip response time; and

comparing said round-trip response time to said predetermined response time, if said round-trip response time fails to correspond to said predetermined response time, denying said request for digital content and if said round-trip response time corresponds to said predetermined response time, granting said request for said digital content.