Content Access System Using Ownership Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional content servers fail to protect the rights and interests of content creators and distributors by allowing easy copying and distribution of proprietary content, leading to unauthorized access and loss of content due to media damage or theft.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that authenticates user ownership and uses unique content keys to activate access, allowing users to access content based on their ownership level, with options to upgrade ownership through transactions, ensuring secure and convenient access while respecting content rights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If content is stored on a mass storage device for convenient user access, then user convenience and accessibility are improved, but the risk of unauthorized copying and distribution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments content into multiple instances with different ownership levels (e.g., rental, purchase, subscription). Each instance has associated metadata defining access rights, allowing the system to provide convenient access while enforcing copyright restrictions through structured content organization and access control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary authentication system that mediates between users and content. This intermediary verifies user identity and ownership status before granting access, preventing unauthorized copying while maintaining convenient access for authorized users through automated authentication processes.
2Productivity
If content is made readily accessible to users, then user satisfaction and usage increase, but protection of creators' rights deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication and ownership verification before content access is granted. By checking user credentials and ownership status in advance, the system enables high content usage for authorized users while reliably protecting creators' rights through pre-validated access control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors content access patterns and user authentication status. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt access control decisions in real-time, maintaining high productivity for legitimate users while ensuring reliable rights protection through ongoing verification.
3Ease of operation
If content is stored locally for permanent access, then user convenience is improved, but loss from media damage or theft increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system makes content universally accessible across multiple devices and locations through cloud-based storage and delivery. Users can access their content on any authorized device without relying on a single local medium, providing permanent access convenience while eliminating the risk of loss from media damage or theft through redundant distributed storage.
4Reliability
If copying protection mechanisms are implemented, then creators' rights are protected, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service authentication where users automatically present their credentials and the system automatically verifies ownership status without requiring complex manual intervention. This self-service approach provides reliable rights protection while minimizing system complexity by using automated, standardized authentication protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for accessing content on demand are described. In one embodiment, upon receiving a user request to access an instance of content (e.g., information that is independent of a particular physical medium), the identity of the user is authenticated. The request conveys a unique identifier of the instance of content and a key for activating the content corresponding thereto according to an instance of ownership stored therewith. The instance of ownership corresponding to the user in that instance of content is ascertained. Upon associating the instance of ownership corresponding to the user in the instance of content, the instance of content is activated to allow the user to access the instance of content according to the corresponding instance of ownership. Where access is demanded in excess of the instance of ownership, a transaction is initiated with which the instance of ownership can be upgraded.