Appliance-Specific Digital Content Encryption System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for secure distribution and usage control of digital content are complex and lack effective security, often failing to restrict usage to specific authorized devices and usage rights, especially with the advent of digital content distribution which reduces costs and complicates proprietary protection.
Innovation Solution
A system and methodology that uses Appliance Identification generated within a remote appliance to encrypt content, allowing selective viewing, exporting, and executing, while providing appliance-specific control through a partial decryption key, ensuring content is usable only on designated devices with defined usage rights, implemented via production and consumer subsystems for secure distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If encryption and proprietary conversion techniques are used for secure distribution, then security and protection of proprietary rights are improved, but device complexity and user confusion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the encryption key into two separate components: a public key that is distributed with the content and a private key that remains with the user. This segmentation allows secure distribution without requiring complex key management systems, as each component can be independently handled. The public key enables content encryption while the private key maintains user security control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a third-party notary public as an intermediary to verify and certify the authenticity of the private key and usage rights. This intermediary validates the cryptographic relationships and ensures that the content can only be accessed by authorized users on approved devices, simplifying the overall security architecture by centralizing verification functions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple encryption schemes and formats are provided, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but ease of operation and user understanding deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal encryption system where a single public key can encrypt content for multiple authorized users and devices. The private key serves multiple functions: decrypting content, verifying usage rights, and controlling access. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for users to manage multiple encryption schemes while maintaining broad adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables users to independently manage their own encryption keys and usage rights without requiring intervention from content providers or technical support. Users can generate their own private keys, receive content encrypted with their public key, and autonomously control access to their purchased content, simplifying operation while maintaining versatility.
3Reliability
If content is made appliance-specific through encryption, then protection of proprietary rights is improved, but adaptability and ease of distribution deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic encryption where the encryption key changes based on the specific appliance or device. Each device has a unique public key that is used to encrypt content for that specific device. This dynamic approach ensures that content is protected and cannot be copied to other devices, while still allowing flexible distribution to multiple authorized devices over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary verification of device authenticity and usage rights before content encryption. The notary public verifies that the device is authorized to receive content, and the public key is generated in advance based on the device's unique characteristics. This preliminary action ensures protection is built-in from the start while maintaining ease of distribution to pre-approved devices.
4Loss of information
If usage control and distribution regulation are implemented, then loss of information and proprietary protection are improved, but device complexity and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the usage control and verification functions from the content itself and places them in separate, standalone components. The private key and usage rights are separated from the encrypted content, allowing independent management and verification. This extraction simplifies operational complexity by enabling centralized control of usage rights without embedding complex control logic within the content.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the notary public continuously verifies usage rights and device authenticity before allowing content access. This feedback loop ensures that proprietary information is protected by validating each access attempt against stored usage rights, maintaining strong protection while simplifying operation through automated verification rather than manual control.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to data rights management and more particularly to a secured system and methodology and production system and methodology related thereto and to apparatus and methodology for production side systems and are consumer side systems for securely utilizing protected electronic data files of content (protected content), and further relates to controlled distribution, and regulating usage of the respective content on a recipient device (computing system) to be limited strictly to defined permitted uses, in accordance with usage rights (associated with the respective content to control usage of that respective content), on specifically restricted to a specific one particular recipient device (for a plurality of specific particular recipient devices), or usage on some or any authorized recipient device without restriction to any one in specific, to control use of the respective content as an application software program, exporting, modifying, executing as an application program, viewing, and/or printing of electronic data files.